Take Me Out Of The Ball Game
In my never ending mission to see all sides of American culture, this weekend we attended possibly their most uncultured event - the ball game. We went along to see the minor league team, the Kane County Cougars play the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers at the Philip B Elfstrom Stadium.The weather was magnificent. It had been in the 90s all day, but fortunately began to cool off as we took our seats.
If you are expecting to read a sports report, click exit now. All I know is for almost four hours two baseball teams pitched and occasionally hit balls, mostly into the crowd. It resulted with a narrow win for the Cougars.
The only real excitement was when one player started arguing with the opposing team's manager. Patronising music to the effect of let's make up and be friends was played to diffuse the situation. Just imagine doing that at a Spurs game - they'd be riot.
What was far more interesting was the crowd. To say that there were people of all age from 8 months to 80 years may be a cliche, but not an exaggeration. They seemed to be having the most fun they could have with their families aside from the 4th of July barbecue.
Now this may be a bit controversial, but I think for the most part, the crowd was just as bored by the game as I was. Why else would music be played over loud speakers every five minutes, games held between runs, entertainers brought on and food and beer consumed throughout?
If you want to read what happened to the players, you'll have to read the press reports, but this is what happened to the crowd during the game.
It began with some nifty play by the cotton candy sellers. They deftly ran up and down the tiers flinging bags with one hand while collecting dollars with the other.
But then on the inside, came the real power players. Men balancing huge tubs of Snow Cones on their heads.
Seconds later came the left hand offensive - lemonade, swiftly followed by peanuts,
long strings of candy and occasional nachos.
Meanwhile back on the pitch, the star of the show, Myron Noodleman, was cheered on. He wasn't actually a player, but a Jerry Lewis like comedian who did silly dances and had the crowd in stitches. I can only assume they were high on beer and fizzy pop by then, because he did nothing for me.
There was also the ubiquitous mascot, of course. Some poor guy in a cougar suit, which had to be the worst job of the day in such high temperatures.
Of course being in America, no opportunity to gain advertising revenue was lost. Not only were there ads posted around the ballpark and commercials on screens, but several games sponsored by local companies.
These included an obstacle race on lawnmowers, children racing in padded VW beetle costumes and a human bowling ball.
There were also plenty of opportunities for the audience to join in with some physical activity. The Chicken Dance, YMCA and Hokey Pokey were greeted to wild enthusiasm by the crowd who stopped attempting Mexican waves to join in. They leapt up to join in a rousing chorus of the national anthem, then later followed Myron in a rendition of Take Me Out To The Ball Game.
The whole thing ended with yet another wonderful firework display and somewhat more obscurely, music from a mediocre Beatles tribute band called British Export.
Somewhere in the middle of all this frivolity I believe there was some kind of sporting activity going on, but whatever it was, it just wasn't cricket.
If you are expecting to read a sports report, click exit now. All I know is for almost four hours two baseball teams pitched and occasionally hit balls, mostly into the crowd. It resulted with a narrow win for the Cougars.
The only real excitement was when one player started arguing with the opposing team's manager. Patronising music to the effect of let's make up and be friends was played to diffuse the situation. Just imagine doing that at a Spurs game - they'd be riot.
What was far more interesting was the crowd. To say that there were people of all age from 8 months to 80 years may be a cliche, but not an exaggeration. They seemed to be having the most fun they could have with their families aside from the 4th of July barbecue.
Now this may be a bit controversial, but I think for the most part, the crowd was just as bored by the game as I was. Why else would music be played over loud speakers every five minutes, games held between runs, entertainers brought on and food and beer consumed throughout?
If you want to read what happened to the players, you'll have to read the press reports, but this is what happened to the crowd during the game.
It began with some nifty play by the cotton candy sellers. They deftly ran up and down the tiers flinging bags with one hand while collecting dollars with the other.
But then on the inside, came the real power players. Men balancing huge tubs of Snow Cones on their heads.
Seconds later came the left hand offensive - lemonade, swiftly followed by peanuts,
long strings of candy and occasional nachos.
Meanwhile back on the pitch, the star of the show, Myron Noodleman, was cheered on. He wasn't actually a player, but a Jerry Lewis like comedian who did silly dances and had the crowd in stitches. I can only assume they were high on beer and fizzy pop by then, because he did nothing for me.
There was also the ubiquitous mascot, of course. Some poor guy in a cougar suit, which had to be the worst job of the day in such high temperatures.
Of course being in America, no opportunity to gain advertising revenue was lost. Not only were there ads posted around the ballpark and commercials on screens, but several games sponsored by local companies.
These included an obstacle race on lawnmowers, children racing in padded VW beetle costumes and a human bowling ball.
There were also plenty of opportunities for the audience to join in with some physical activity. The Chicken Dance, YMCA and Hokey Pokey were greeted to wild enthusiasm by the crowd who stopped attempting Mexican waves to join in. They leapt up to join in a rousing chorus of the national anthem, then later followed Myron in a rendition of Take Me Out To The Ball Game.
The whole thing ended with yet another wonderful firework display and somewhat more obscurely, music from a mediocre Beatles tribute band called British Export.
Somewhere in the middle of all this frivolity I believe there was some kind of sporting activity going on, but whatever it was, it just wasn't cricket.
posted by Hilary at
9:06 AM
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