America's Favorite Game

Monday night, I got to go see a Somerset Patriots baseball game. My pal Sparky is a swordbearer with a Marine Corps Color Guard unit.  Well, sometimes he holds a flag, but this night he was waving the sword-thingy, and it's a very impressive sword-thingy indeed.  Anyway, the Color Guard was presenting the colors and waving the sword on the field during the National Anthem. Sparky got free tickets to the game because of that, and I nudged my way into an invitation to the game. 

Sparky also got special parking privileges because of the nifty uniform he was wearing.  They moved a cone out of a reserved spot just for him.  See the cone?

Anyway, the uniform is as impressive as the sword, but it's really hot in there.  And Monday was pretty hot, even at the 7:05 PM game time.  Having seen Sparky nearly pass out in that getup once before, I was relieved when he made his way to our seats after the completion of his sword-waving duties, and said he was going out to his car in the parking lot (in the special space) to change into something cooler.  The game started shortly after he left the seat.

See the uniform?  That's Sparky on the left.  With the sword.  (You can't see it very well, but I've seen it and I assure you it's impressive.)

Even though he got a special parking spot, it was a distance to walk to his car, and so Sparky completely missed the first inning.  He also missed the first home run by the Patriots, hit by center fielder Jeremy Owens in the bottom of the first inning.  The game was off to a great start.

A few minutes into the second inning, Sparky returned to his seat and handed me a baseball.  Said he had been changing out of his uniform when the darned ball flew out of the air and hit his car's bumper and landed on the ground at his feet.  It didn't take us long to figure out that it was the home run ball Owens had hit over the left-field wall.

The game ended with the Patriots easily beating the Long Island Ducks* 7-2.  And there were more home runs. But I have the ball that was the first one.  See the ball?

Thanks, Sparky!

* Who the hell names a team The Ducks?  I know there are others out there, but they're like Mighty Ducks.  The Ducks?  How macho is that?  What are they gonna do, peck the opposition?  Waddle around?  Quack? Not impressive. 

Comments

[Bekah]

The Ducks isn't really an impressive name at all. Nothing intimidating about a bunch of ducks (unless you're 8 and you've run out of bread for them...).

Very cool about the ball, glad you had a good time!

[scorpy]

Ah, gotta love the way a man looks in uniform! Congrats on scoring the ball, the seats, the special parking spot, all of it! Sounds like a wonderful time!

[Sluggo]

Perhaps the name refers to what they do when the balls start flying over their heads.

[Jerry - Sparky]

Hey Bud - You forgot to mention the Hot Nuts and Cold Beers.. Never mind, that's another story! LOL
It Was in deed a Hot Night - but we Most Definitely had a Cool Time Together.
The pleasure of your company was All Mine. Thanks!