W3WN
10-02-2013, 12:59 AM
[I know not everyone reading the forums cares about sports in general and/or baseball in particular. The following is not for those... be forewarned, else ye risk walking the plank... ]
We got home about an hour ago, I'm still pumped up.
The first playoff game in PNC Park history. The first playoff game for the Pirates in 21 years. You think this town wasn't excited? The Penguins players wore Pirates shirts during practice, Pirates logos on their helmets, and played a game of whiffle ball on hockey skates (ESPN is showing some highlights of that on Sportscenter as I type this)... the Boys of Winter saluting the Boys of Summer.
The Pirates called for a Blackout. They asked everyone to wear black. Most everyone did. It was an amazing sight. (Yes, I have pictures, they're not downloaded from the camera yet. Tomorrow... ok, later this morning)
There are about 37,000 seats in PNC Park. They also sell some SRO tickets, once they get close to or at a sell out. Tonight's paid attendance: ~41,000. ~4000 people paid to stand and watch. The Rotunda in the back of left field? Packed. The 6 PM newscast on KDKA noted that right after the gates opened (at 6) there was a stampede of people heading straight for the Rotunda, to get a choice spot.
An estimated 5000+ people stood on the Clemente Bridge, close enough to peer into the stadium & listen to the PA. And almost everyone stayed to the end. Very few people left early.
A sea of black, with a few dots of red here & there. Very few Reds fans at the game.
Scalpers were out as early as 12:30, when I went out for lunch. (The game started at 8:07 PM EDT) Tickets in our section had a face value of $21... they were asking for over $200 each. And getting it.
The Pirates dominated the game. If you want the details, check the sports section; I'm not that good at the pure news side of the game. Suffice to say, the fans were into it and then some. I have never heard the stadium that loud. The crowd started jeering the Reds starting pitcher... Johnny Cueto got rattled, and it showed. The Reds never had a real chance.
When the game was finally over... Little Miss Field Day had the biggest grin on her face I've ever seen. The boss suddenly broke out in tears, her emotions finally caught up with her.
We had a few Reds fans sitting behind us. No, they didn't get hassled (not personally), and they took the loss well. They wished us well, wished the Pirates good luck, and told us that they'd wave the Pirate Rally Towels in support of us. Nice guys.
...rally towels? Yup. Black towels with a Jolly Roger flag printed on them.
But the best part of the night? I'd started taping the news & some other programs right before we left. They had an interview with Sid Bream... the former Pirate who broke everyone's hearts 21 years ago. Of course, the interview is preceeded by That Play.
For the first time in 21 years, I could watch that play. No desire to turn away, to avert our eyes, to remember the heartache. It's finally over. The curse is over.
Can't wait for Sunday. NLDS Games 1 & 2 are in St. Louis on Thursday & Friday, back here for games 3 & 4 Sunday & Monday.
We got home about an hour ago, I'm still pumped up.
The first playoff game in PNC Park history. The first playoff game for the Pirates in 21 years. You think this town wasn't excited? The Penguins players wore Pirates shirts during practice, Pirates logos on their helmets, and played a game of whiffle ball on hockey skates (ESPN is showing some highlights of that on Sportscenter as I type this)... the Boys of Winter saluting the Boys of Summer.
The Pirates called for a Blackout. They asked everyone to wear black. Most everyone did. It was an amazing sight. (Yes, I have pictures, they're not downloaded from the camera yet. Tomorrow... ok, later this morning)
There are about 37,000 seats in PNC Park. They also sell some SRO tickets, once they get close to or at a sell out. Tonight's paid attendance: ~41,000. ~4000 people paid to stand and watch. The Rotunda in the back of left field? Packed. The 6 PM newscast on KDKA noted that right after the gates opened (at 6) there was a stampede of people heading straight for the Rotunda, to get a choice spot.
An estimated 5000+ people stood on the Clemente Bridge, close enough to peer into the stadium & listen to the PA. And almost everyone stayed to the end. Very few people left early.
A sea of black, with a few dots of red here & there. Very few Reds fans at the game.
Scalpers were out as early as 12:30, when I went out for lunch. (The game started at 8:07 PM EDT) Tickets in our section had a face value of $21... they were asking for over $200 each. And getting it.
The Pirates dominated the game. If you want the details, check the sports section; I'm not that good at the pure news side of the game. Suffice to say, the fans were into it and then some. I have never heard the stadium that loud. The crowd started jeering the Reds starting pitcher... Johnny Cueto got rattled, and it showed. The Reds never had a real chance.
When the game was finally over... Little Miss Field Day had the biggest grin on her face I've ever seen. The boss suddenly broke out in tears, her emotions finally caught up with her.
We had a few Reds fans sitting behind us. No, they didn't get hassled (not personally), and they took the loss well. They wished us well, wished the Pirates good luck, and told us that they'd wave the Pirate Rally Towels in support of us. Nice guys.
...rally towels? Yup. Black towels with a Jolly Roger flag printed on them.
But the best part of the night? I'd started taping the news & some other programs right before we left. They had an interview with Sid Bream... the former Pirate who broke everyone's hearts 21 years ago. Of course, the interview is preceeded by That Play.
For the first time in 21 years, I could watch that play. No desire to turn away, to avert our eyes, to remember the heartache. It's finally over. The curse is over.
Can't wait for Sunday. NLDS Games 1 & 2 are in St. Louis on Thursday & Friday, back here for games 3 & 4 Sunday & Monday.