So this stuff happened like a month and a half ago. I suck at blogging.
So one other main reason for stopping by NYC was to hit a game at Yankee stadium before it is torn to shreds. This game was made all the better by the fact that it was against the Bo Sox. In a way I guess that kind of made it suck because ticket prices were outrageous, nonetheless this was the game to go to.
As we went to the game I was rooting for the Yankees. Unlike most I don't hate them purely because they win a lot. In fact you have to admire what Steinbrenner has done. Also I wanted them to win because it would help the White Sox in the wild card spot if they found themselves falling out of the lead in the central. However my preference for the Yankees waned a little after I had to deal with the ridiculousness that was Yankee Stadium.
The area was not that great as expected, but we found a bar to get some drinks at before the game. Then we headed to the front of the stadium to take the classic picture. This was blocked a bit by construction, but I think Tim and I got some quality pics. After that we moved to get in and that is when the experience lost its luster. All bleacher seats (the only ones we could afford) had to be reached by a separate entrance. I had my camera in my hand from taking the photos at the front of the stadium and during the pat down I was forced to go across the street and check my camera because it was a "video camera". I assured her it was not better than a normal camera and had no film, but she would hear nothing of it. I tried to use reason and tell her that all digital cameras take video, but again she just escorted me out of the stadium. So instead of getting to take pictures of the game I got to walk across the street and spend 5 bucks to keep my camera in storage for the game. Pretty fucking sweet right? So much for memories. I had contemplated wrapping the camera in a hanky and sticking it in my underwear (now you know why I always carry two), but felt they would like want me to show them the claim ticket and couldn't think of something else to check. In the end I just fucking checked it. Also in this bar were hundreds of back packs because apparently you can't take them in either. This is probably due to some irrational terrorist fear. Pisses me off.
So I jaywalked back across the street in front of cops (I love New York) and went in the stadium. Of course when I got back the lady was gone which means I had to argue my way in. Luckily they let me in because unfortunately my excuse was all too plausible. When I got in I realized that we really couldn't leave the shit hole that kind of is the bleachers. The upper deck of Comiskey has this "feature" as well. The bonus of the feature here is that the seats were labeled alcohol free. We figured that we would at least be able to go get beers away from the section like at Safeco, but we were trapped in our ghetto. Apparently the Yankees decided that poor people shouldn't be able to drink even if they could afford to. Well at least they are helping me keep my memories.
So since I was finally in and unable to escape the ghetto I went and sat down. The left field was so far from the action because by the time you add in a VIP section and then some bullpens you were set quite a bit back from the fence. This made you seem quite a distance from the action. This affect was multiplied by the fact that the only speaker is in centerfield facing the stands. Also Tim and I both wanted to see the memorials, but I guess you had to do that before the game. It is still unclear if we would have been able to do that with our tickets, but it is probably our fault for not figuring that out beforehand.
So we stayed through the 7th inning stretch, but then headed across the street to get my camera and finish off the game. Notable game notes were that A Rod got booed hardcore. He had 2 or 3 strikeouts and grounded into at least 1 double play. He had multiple chances to put the Yankees back in the game, but messed up and was probably responsible for most of the red sox runs through crappy fielding. I guess he only has like 1 or 2 RBIs in the 8th or later this year. Pretty sad. Also no fights between the fans were seen. Also pretty sad.
Well we had a couple more beers and then headed back to Graves. Overall I was really glad to get to see the stadium. I just hope the Steinbrenners' use a better contractor than the Babe did.
Speaking of hankies, you should get this bullet proof one:
http://www.srulirecht.com/index.php/projects/DAMDUR-THE-DAMNED.html
Posted by: Ming | October 09, 2008 at 10:27 AM