|
June 12, 2000
FINAL THOUGHTS: By Tom Leyden
Doug Barker and I sat in the left field
bleachers of Yankee Stadium on Friday night, June 9. Doug's was
rooting for the Yankees. I was rooting for the Mets. Here's how
it went:
6:00- We arrive early to watch batting
practice. The Mets are hitting. I'm happy. Our seats are right
next to the black section in center field. We devise our plan
of attack for grabbing a home run ball if someone reaches that
far.
6:05- As I walk back from getting two dogs
and a soda (no beer in the bleachers), Rick Reed throws a ball
to the kid sitting in front of us. The kid misses it. The ball
bounces right in front of me. I'm oblivious and miss my chance
for a souvenir. Doug laughs at me. 6:10- Doug and I agree the
sun glare is pretty annoying.
6:20- Doug and I watch Edgardo Alfonso
send a batting practice homer to the black section. We let this
one go. No sense in getting tossed before the game starts. Our
mouths water in anticipation of the real thing.
6:30- As they pull the batting cage down,
Doug realizes the Yankees already took batting practice. Doug's
not happy.
6:50- The stereotypical drunk Yankee fan
stumbles up the steps and sits right in front of us. GREAT!
6:50:30- The stereotypical drunk Yankee
fan starts harassing the sober Met kid sitting in front of him.
"Were you even born when the Mets won the World Series?"
7:05- Doug and I ask anyone within earshot
who the hell Jason Tyner is? That kid looks like he won a sweepstakes-
"Play with the Mets at Yankee Stadium!"
7:10- Jason Tyner leads off the game with
a double off Roger Clemens.
7:30- Mets shortstop Kurt Abbott gets thrown
out of the game in the top of the first inning. Must have called
him a @#!*sucker.
8:04- Clemens gives up a grand slam to
Mike Piazza. I say something innocuous and safe, like, "Wowâ¤|I
can't believe Clemens served one up.."
8:15- The stereotypical drunk Yankee fan
sitting in front of us is passed out. His friends tell us about
the time they had to wake him up in a bathroom stall.
8:30- The woman seated two rows behind
us pukes. I sacrifice my Daily News for the cause.
8:45- The stereotypical obnoxious Mets
fan won't shut up!
9:10- Joe Torre keeps Clemens in to face
Edgardo Alfonso.
9:11- Alfonso hits a two run homer.
9:12- Torre yanks Clemens.
9:12:10- Clemens gets booed. I safely join
in the chorus. I can't lose here!
9:20- The Bleachers empty out. Doug asks
me if I want to stay. I say, "Hell Yeah!"
9:45- Derek Bell hits a three run homer,
yo!
9:47- I finally concede. Doug and I leave,
yo!
That's our night in the bleachers.
They should serve beer.
And that's my final thought.
 |
