Hall-of-Fame broadcaster Vin Scully should consider himself lucky that he doesn't experience the carnage that takes place in the stands of the stadium he so cherishes.
Scully sits perched high above the stands and comfortably in a press box among the throngs of buffet-fed reporters who often wax poetic about Dodger Stadium's views through rose-colored glasses.
Such is the case with Dodger Stadium. You hear about how beautiful a ballpark it is, nestled snugly in Chavez Ravine with a spectacular view (if smog doesn't obstruct the view) of Los Angeles' neighboring hills and mountains. You also hear about how visionary the team was when it built this place shortly after it relocated from Brooklyn to Los Angeles in the late 1950s. Yet, the place has a sinister side.
Dodger Stadium has the worst ballpark experience in the league.
One night at the old ballpark revealed plenty. The fans don't care. They don't care about other people. They don't care about the game. There's just no respect. It's out of hand, and security seems helpless or simply doesn't care, too.
A simple Google search for "Dodger Stadium" and "fans" is significant ...
If you add "unruly" in front of "fan" in said Google search, it gets a bit darker ...
Just three months ago, the tide was turned. We were in Milwaukee, watching the Brewers play the Dodgers. A number of Dodgers fans were on hand, certainly making their presence felt among the masses sporting Brewers blue and gold. In Milwaukee -- where, keep in mind, fans can show up hours in advance to tailgate and have the opportunity to get plenty of beer in their system before game time -- the Dodgers fans were treated more as a curiousity than anything else, like, "wow, look, they made the trip all the way from L.A. to come to our Miller Park."
Fast forward three months, and a tandem of brave fans sporting Brewers gear sitting a few rows ahead of us were showered with antagonizing taunts of, "F--- Milwaukee" from fans whose IQ likely matched their blood-alcohol level. Please keep in mind that there were little kids in the stands, too.
Simply sitting in the stands, quietly (very quietly) supporting your favorite team -- even if it's the opposition -- is too much to ask at Dodger Stadium.
Later, some unruly fans were kicked out. Stuff was thrown in their general direction. Security was too busy manhandling a couple miscreants to notice. There was more antagonizing of the Brewers fans, but Brewers fan is too smart to take the bait.
When the Brewers fans fail to take the bait, Dodgers fans turn on each other ... UCLA vs. USC is a popular topic for "discussion." Apparently, at least one of the fans whose IQ matched their BAC went to UCLA (yes, UCLA, which before Friday night at 9 p.m. or so was actually viewed as a "good academic institution.")
There's more swearing with little kids sitting in the vicinity.
Of course, fans of this nature are awarded with more beer when they return to the concession stands.
Something happens on the field. The Dodgers apparantly score a run.
"F--- Milwaukee."
The heart begins to pound a bit faster. And you begin to realize why fans leave Dodger Stadium early.
Just another night at the old ballpark.
Take me out to the ball game,
Take me out with the crowds;
Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack,
I don't care if I come back.
Apparently, through all this, a game was going on. It was simply background fodder for the noise going on in the stands, which is like 15 TVs on 15 different channels going at full volume. It's hard to consider the play that might take place on the field with men on second and third, two out and an All-Star player at the plate. Whatever happened, it wasn't good for the Brewers.
"F--- the Brewers."
It was time to go.
No comments:
Post a Comment