Well, here are a few pictures. We (Karli and I) took quite a few, but I didn't want to share ALL of them. Although it's been 3 weeks since I returned from New York, I remember every microsecond of my trip to Shea. Karli and I acted like a couple of schoolgirls ... we dressed in our Braves red and blue, made posters while we waited for the game to start, and took pictures of the players warming up. At one point, when all of the players were in their respective dugouts, we held up our "ALL THE WAY FROM CAIRO, GEORGIA TO SEE WILLIE PLAY" sign. Yunel Escobar, the amazing substitute shortstop while Renteria heals, saw our sign and summoned Willie to the top steps. Once Willie read our sign he actually waved at us!!! Karli and I acted like those girls on the Ed Sullivan show seeing Elvis shake his hips! Well, we didn't cry, but we were silly. It was so cool ... surreal even.
There were a few times we felt a bit scared. Met fans are not the friendliest group of people, especially if you're wearing the jersey of the team that is beating them. We yelled and cheered for our Braves ... and we jeered the Mets when they made a good play (which, on that day, wasn't many times). There was a woman behind us and to the left that clearly lived for the Mets. She was sooooooooo pissed at us. And of course, if none of you heard about "the catch," allow me to educate you. Even though we were ahead going into the 9th inning, there was a point when there were two outs, two men on, and a Braves killer at the plate (Carlos Delgado). We were ahead by 3 points, and if Delgado hit a jack ... well, it wouldn't have been pretty. Met fans would have killed me and Karli just by trampling on us. So ... anyway ... Delgado is at the plate ... the count was 1 and 2 ... 1 out ... and BOOOOOOYAAAAHHHH ... he hits a slammer! Well, he hit it, but little Willie Harris was NOT gonna let it leave the park. He jumped up ... all 160# of him ... and leapt into air seemingly 5 feet ... and TOOK THE JACK AWAY FROM DELGADO! You could have heard an ant fart in Shea it was so quiet ... well, all except for the noise coming from me and Karli!!! The looks on the faces ... P-R-I-C-E-L-E-S-S.
After the game Karli and I followed the enormous herd onto the train. Of course, here we were ... surrounded by a sea of orange shirts ... all alone on a train with absolutely no escape once it leaves the station. It was a rough ride ... but the funniest part was when we got to our stop. We are departing the train and someone says, "Let's go Mets!" ... so as Karli is stepping off the train, she turns around yells, "Let's go BRAVES!!" It was an incredible moment ... and I'll never forget that moment.
Back to "the catch" ... the day after the game I left to come home (short trip, I know). I had so many people say to me, "did you see that catch?" The bus driver who was driving as I traveled to the airport, the Delta ticket counter chick, the bus boy in the airport bar ... more than that, but that gives you an idea. My plane was delayed (of course), so I found the airport bar where there were games on the televisions. As I sat there ... drinking a very tart glass of vino ... watching the Yankees lose ... the busboy came up and started talking to me (I've been cursed with this all my life ... not only do I not know a stranger ... but I must send some kind of vibe that signals EVERYONE to talk to me). When we started talking about "the catch," two guys sitting by the door got their beers and came and sat down with me. They were Braves fans, too! They were just kids ... early to mid twenties ... but it was cool to have a chat about baseball and have these two completely forgot they were talking to a 43 year old, married mother of two. We exchanged e-mail addresses so we could keep in touch ... you know, to discuss how badly the Braves are blowing it and will most likely not make it into the postseason. I have yet to write either of them ... they both live in Atlanta so I promised to let them know if I could get a hold of some tickets. Two different people have told me that they could get me some free tickets, and I'm so busy this semester that I know I won't make it to any more games. If by chance I can get some, those two kids will go. The only stipulation for free tickets is that they write and let me know all about it. Fair trade, right?
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