One of the cooler things about the fantasy hockey league I toy around in is the opportunities to meet people I’d otherwise have no contact with. When business brought me to Calgary the GMs from “Florida” and “Calgary” were providing tips on what to do ahead of time, and Calgary met me for drinks and food one night and a good chat. “Ottawa” has provided me with nutritional supplement advice and assistance as I began my process of getting in shape, advice from the inside of the supplement industry that’s been invaluable. And last night I was able to return the favour a bit by providing a place to stay to “Atlanta” as he and his girlfriend traveled cross-country from Calgary back to the East Coast.
Poor Justin and Emily had been behind the wheel for the better part of the three days by the time they arrived here, and took a few moments to relax. It was off to a local pub where “Nashville” (ha!) and “Los Angeles” were waiting to chat and spend some time, and then the three of us headed down to see the Jays and Yankees game. Justin had noted earlier he’d always wanted to see the Yankees and, by happy coincidence, they were in town.
So this portion is mostly for House, Cliff, and Agnostic who I joined for the opening game this season. It was a game of drunken rowdiness that I’d not seen since the old Exhibition Stadium days. Oddly, last night we found ourselves again in a section of people from one company, all of whom had apparently come in by a bus stacked with cases of booze (so they discussed, anyways), and most of whom were far too inebriated right off the start. It began with general muttering and the rare yelling at Yankee outfielders. One gent wearing a batting helmet bet anyone $100 that Rios would get on base; Rios promptly hit a single, although nobody had taken him up on the bet. The same gentleman then left for a while, returning with 42 batting helmets, one for everyone in his party. While people began sticking odd numbers all over theirs (from legitimate 10 and 17 straight through 69, 420, and 867-5309) the helmet dude disappeared again, returning with two more – one each for two young kids that were not with his party seated in front of me. A great gesture immediately followed by the screaming of Bobby Abreu’s name over and over.. haha.
Oh, and KP.. Giambi struck out four times.
Finally, as the final batter was being eliminated by the Jays a Yankees fan apparently brushed by an usher, roughing her up a bit. The gent in the yellow shirt in the picture, drunk as he was (he’d just finished facing us all and rubbing his boobs and groin making an “oooh oooh” face), took offense and proceeded to start roughing up the Yanks fan. The two slapped at each other a bit while the usher got between them and called security over. Security attempted reasoning with the Yankees fan, while the presumed owner/manager of Team Drunken Helmets angrily ordered his staffer up the ramp. We took this opportunity to get out and I missed the end of the “fight”.
Good times, and again, further evidence that things happen when I go to the Jays game. Odd.