The Fans

I am a people watcher. I have been for years. I used to do it from onstage when I was performing. I did it in airports when I was flying somewhere, and I did it from the cab of my rig when I was on a run. I always do it when I go to a ballpark.

It started when I first went to the coliseum to watch a Dodger game.  There were so many people there of so many different walks of life. The first game I went to there, I saw the first celebrity I had ever seen up close. TV western star, John Russell. He of Lawman fame. And he was actually sitting out in the knothole section with us peons.

The smells, noise and people were so much different that you would meet in everyday life. And I also noticed as time wore on and I grew older, that fans at different events showed different levels of intensity. I have gone to 2 college football games in my life. One, a USC-UCLA game in the early 60’s, and the other a Sun Bowl contest in El Paso. That was 1973, and Auburn played Missouri. The tickets were free, and Missouri beat Auburn 34-17.

I remember the student sections as being pretty loud. But the rest of the crowd seemed a lot more subdued. But it was a fun game to watch. Interesting also because both teams had the same mascot, Tigers. I have been to minor league games at a number of venues. The fans there usually have a major league connection to the team. They are interested in seeing the stars of the future.

Thus going to Rancho is fun for Dodger fans who want to see the kids play, and it is inexpensive compared to Dodger Stadium, and within a reasonable driving distance.

Been to only one pro football game, Rams got crushed by the Colts in the early 60’s, and one Laker game. Glad I got to see Elgin and Jerry on the court together. But baseball has always been my sport anyway, so I have seen more baseball fans than any other sport. The only thing that comes close is the Country music fans I have seen over the years. And their loyalty to their favorite artist matches the loyalty of most fans to their ball club.

The sights and sounds at a baseball game are unique. The fans are the same. Go to Dodger stadium, and just look down the row you are sitting in. There can be family’s, single girls, little leaguers, sometimes a baby or two. Old young, avid and casual. All types in one lone row. Multiply that, and you have a diversity seldom seen anywhere but the USA.

I sat one time next to Hubie Brooks uncle and a couple of his cousins. We talked baseball more than we watched the game. You will see some people still keep a scorecard. I miss them selling them at the stadium. They give them out free now in that little handout you get when you come to the ball park, but I miss those vendors walking around yelling Get yer scorecard here! Can’t tell the players without a scorecard! They were right if you were far enough away.

Now, with the big video boards, you can see a huge photo of the player on the screen, and most fans know the home teams number’s by heart. You say who is # 10, and some fan will tell you immediately, after he questions your sanity for not knowing, that is JT, as we like to call Justin Turner.

Baseball games are outlets for ones passion for the game, when they do not have the skill to play the game at that level. You can see a fan’s love of a certain player by the jersey he wears to every game. And most players are represented by at least one person in the seats. Although I have yet to see a Gonsolin jersey, or a May. I have seen Gonsolin catman T shirts. And Muncy’s “Go get it out of the ocean was a big seller last year.

I must have a lot of confusion in my life since there are 8 Dodger jersey’s hanging in my closet. Kershaw, Gonzalez, Bellinger, Gibson, Koufax, Robinson, and a Seager jersey that is special made, it is a armed forces special. Black numerals and Seager’s name in black too. With a camo American flag on the shoulder. It is green in color, olive green.

I also have an old school Brooklyn jersey that is wool. # 7 on the back. I have a Williams # 9 Red Sox jersey too. We sure do spend a lot of money showing our love of the team.

I think it was two years ago, I went to a game on the 4th of July at Dodger stadium. Very patriotic crowd that day. They were very vocal when the B-2 bomber flew over and cheered long and loud at the oversized American flag on the field.

Last year we went to a game, and sitting right next to me was a young couple who had just gotten engaged. I think he was trying to instruct her in how the game was played and what was happening on the field. But his knowledge seemed pretty limited. So he asked me about a couple of things. The pitcher had balked, and he wanted to know why the runner was given second base, so I explained it to both of them. They also knew little of Dodger history, so I told them some of that too.

I thought it was great that they wanted to learn. Not far away from us were maybe 6 fans of the opposing team. They got pretty feisty when their team took the lead for an inning or two, but very quiet when the Dodgers stormed back to win.

Even now, well not now because there are no fans to watch, I love watching the crowd while the game is being played. The kids are always fun because some are really into the game, and others have a look of “why did you drag me out here? ” .

You see all kinds of fans. The rabid, and those who are just there for the beer and the Dodger dogs! The celebs are sometimes the most rabid. I remember seeing Kobe going crazy at one game having about as good a time as anyone there.

Then sometimes they will interview a player’s parents who are there in the crowd watching their son on the biggest stage in the sport.  Fan reactions are priceless too.

When the Dodgers do something good, and the crowd goes nuts, it is a lot of fun watching the fans get into it like they are on the field celebrating with the team.

And that is one reason baseball is so hard to watch this year. I am not a huge basketball fan anymore, have not been since Kobe retired, and the Lakers stinking for so long. But them playing without fans has no nearly bothered me as much.

But no fans in baseball? That just does not compute. Do not get me wrong. I am very glad I have baseball to watch. It means I do not have to watch my entire DVD and Blu-Ray collection, or watch every movie on TCM and Netflix to be entertained. And lately, I have had this blog to write for, and believe me that has been fun. Simply because it keeps my mind active, and everyone knows how bad it is when us OOF’s do not use our mind regularly.

The piped in crowd noise is to me more of a distraction than anything else, and considering how many F bombs these guys drop, is most likely necessary. I do like that you can really hear the crack of the bat better. I could tell last night immediately when someone hit one on the screws.

But I miss the human element. I miss seeing Giant fans almost cry when the Dodgers pull one out, and I miss the pure elation you see on a kids face when his favorites win. The game itself is important to all of us. But without us, there is really no game.