Seventeen O 18

Reporting from Houston between games 3 & 4 in ALCS. What a great game last night. Read on for the Take and the Spin. Two exceptional teams and we met outstanding Fans from both sides.

WE ? CARE TO EXPLAIN POR FAVOR ?

Sure.

S1, aka Br12, secured very good tickets on-line and after some severe logistics and planning, we got out of town uneventfully, to the park in time for a nice exposure to pre-event festivities.

The atmosphere was electric with excitement. Lots of orange as one would expect as they are after all the home team. We were in the enemies barn wearing Red Sox caps so natural ‘targets’ but our exchanges with locals were pleasant and fun. Cardinal Rule #1 under such circumstances is AVOID DRUNKS.

One time, in the banos, a younger (MUCH) Br18, in a different time & setting MIGHT have taken exception to a certain drunks ‘proclamation’ expletive, the mature Br18 remained calm and refused to engage.

But I was reminded by FB that we have WHOOPED it up before in the opposition’s building. Back-track entries to Christmas NHL game in St Louis where Stars drubbed hometown Blues 8-2 where we were up cheering wildly, first early, then often but by mid-way second period discretion overcame being rowdy & obnoxious. There is such a thing as winning graciously and gracefully and one NEVER knows if, when or what form payback will show up.

Here’s a brief recap from my ‘at-home’ scorecard in the park.

Sox score two early (first inning) and Astros answer with one run in the bottom of the first. The score stands until Astros tie it briefly at 2. Red Sox promptly respond regaining lead 3-2. Life is good.

Nice, good to great plays follow as one would expect at this level and in a championship game until the 8th inning.

Red Sox load the bases for Jack Bradley (NOT Jackie and drop the Jr). One swing … and he clears the bases!!

Life is NOW GREAT ! As good as it gets.

Strategic pitching changes follow but basically it’s over. We witnessed the first orange tsunami when the Astros fans begin heading for the exits because Stros did not respond in the bottom half-inning to the grand slam and the ripples continued until the final out.

The other Red Sox fans in attendance were appreciated. We acknowledged them with nods, cap touches and an occasional brief chat. We saw two (2) fans wearing Red Sox 9 jerseys which is of course Ted Williams. One fan was in our section and we spoke with him a couple of times as he was coming back from refreshment runs.

It turns out this guy had actually MET Ted Williams and we got the full story which I will share.

It was at a car dealership in New Hampshire (or Vermont) and the gentleman was 12 years old at the time. When queried, it was sometime in the ‘90’s (it was loud) and he took his book ‘Science of Hitting’ and got it autographed. He also checked the kids grip on the bat and repositioned his hands so this guy had PERSONAL INSTRUCTION from the greatest hitter of all time. I mean the BEST of all time.

Also, Ted served him a hot dog with Gulden’s mustard, onions and cheese and to this day, that is how he eats every hot dog in honor of Ted Williams. We closed on a Patriotic note and wondered how he would react to the Collin Cap of the world and we both had a laugh. He was much more polite and said he (Williams) is turning in his grave which is probably true but I think Williams and those of his ilk would wipe the floors and then flush such ‘social injustice warriors’.

One Astro fan made for a good conversation shuffling out. We agreed this series WAS the World Series and featured the two best teams without question. I told him after last year I do in fact own an Astro cap and then he ADMITTED he had a Red Sox cap. The next game could be just the opposite result and just as good. We WILL be there.

Another Astro Fan, a lady, older and out of my range, said Red Sox fans were a lot friendlier, nicer and better than Yankee fans. I told her we were in total agreement on that point and I could not agree more. Suddenly she was more attractive.

So, half-way thru, overall impressions are the Houston Astros are a great team, their Fans are friendly and fun to watch a game with.

They are respectable, respectful, worthy and of the highest caliber.

Speaking strictly for myself for that is all I CAN DO, I am a Red Sox Fan first & foremost but also proud to be a Houston Astro Fan.

Go SOX !!