Dodger stadium

Baseball, as a friend of mine wrote to me, half of the US is obsessed by it, the other half thinks is boring. One game is of course not enough to give a judgement, however I can see both possibilities.
We set out on a colleague's car, he has flown into a LA and here got himself this old car through a company called rent a wreck, http://www.rentawreck.com/ that is the cheapest way to get a running car in the US. His car is actually squeaking.

Dodger's stadium is an example of 1960s architecture (1962) located just north of downtown los angeles, north east of Echo Park, on the hill opposite to it a large sign THINK BLUE (the colour of Dodgers) is standing up. The dodgers were actually a team from Brooklyn who moved to LA. LA does not have a american football team, of course beside the dodgers there are the famous LA Lakers for basketball. The stadium painted also in blue is surrounded by a huge area for car park.

The game starts at 7 10 and we are there around 6 30, the stadium is full for less than half of its capacity. As for many other activities food is central to the experience, the rings at the back of seating ares are filled with stands selling you any kind of fast food you fancy, mainly hot dogs. People selling candyfloss and a sort of frozen yogurt are circling the seated audience.

We got seats right on top of the hitter post, not ideal I am told because you cannot see the exchanges taking place between coaches and players. Very good view otherwise.

Most of the time before the start of the game is spent between the advertisement of products and some policing of the event, recommendations on correct behaviour on the part of the audience displayed in points and read by baseball players are repeated at least a couple of times, a tel number is given to ask for help "if somebody is hindering your enjoyment". When they play the national anthem, everybody really stands up, like they do on movies or tv. However I remember they did not stood up in New Haven for it on inauguration day. I stood up as well, a little embarrassed, but it would be very stupid not to do so. I do not recollect the last time I stood up for a national anthem, hardly ever of course for the Italian one.

The game starts and during the first inning I do not understand anything of it. The dodgers in white are playing the Giants (San Francisco) in grey. Right at the second inning there is a home run for the Dodgers, this I recognize, just from the little you learn from movies.

People continue to flood in and by the beginning of the fourth inning, more than an hour after the beginning of the match the stadium is full at 80% and more of its capacity. Each change of field or end of inning, one sees a huge movement of people towards the food stands.

There is hardly any loud support for the team but for some cheering and some clapping of hands. Giants' supporters are seated among the rest of the public.

By the sixth inning I start to get logic of it, getting the hitter out for the pitcher's team and getting the run round the diamond for the other team. When somebody reach second base the game starts to become tense. It is at this moment that the speakers play the 'charge' -trumpet, like in John Wayne movies- and the audience go 'yeah' or 'go'.

While I am having a piss at mid seventh inning there is a pause for "god bless America" it plays in the restroom too.

The most remarkable thing however is again the audience. Starting at the seventh inning they start to leave the ground, it is now about 9 30 pm.

The game ends with a smashing victory for the Dodgers, 7-2 the final score. Because there is a gap of 3 or more victory at the exit you get a bonus slip for three mini burgers at Jack in the Box. Yuppie ye.