Home Away From Home
If you have read my blogs for any period of time, you may have picked up a subtle hint that I am a huge Chicago Cubs baseball fan. I like them so much that I often buy the Internet package so I can watch them whenever I want on my computer. I like them so much my day can be ruined by a loss. I like them so much I flew Chicago and watched them play last year. Unfortunately, Columbia is far from Chicago and those trips just aren’t easy to make. Lucky for me, we are within driving distance of Atlanta, and so last week, with the Cubbies up 2-0 in their three game series and poised for a sweep, Brad and I drove to Atlanta with our brooms at the ready to meet my aunt and uncle for a night of baseball.
Normally when a team goes on the road, you can expect the home team to have quite an advantage in the number of fans and the atmosphere it creates for the home team, much like when our Gamecocks play right here in Columbia at Williams Brice Stadium. However, these are the Chicago Cubs, and they tend to have crazy fans such as myself all across the country that will travel great distances to see our team play. This theory was proved correct when we stepped into the stadium and were awash in a sea of “cub blue” shirt, hats, and other such clothing. I mean, I was a little worried about wearing my Cubs gear in an opposing teams stadium, but I felt right at home there at “Wrigley Field South” or for those being “official” Turner Field. Not to mention I was able to add yet another Cub fan when I was able to convert Brad, usually a Cleveland Indians fan, into a Cub fan for the night and lent him my jersey!
Now, a trip to enemy territory would not be nearly as enjoyable if your team loses, then you just look silly having driving three hours to see your team lose and then have to endure the ribbing of the opposing fans. Lucky for me and the majority of the folks in the ballpark, we were treated to a fantastic game. The Cubs brought their heavy bats with them as they pounded out 11 runs, along with a couple of home runs that just missed us in our leftfield bleacher seats!
Despite all of those runs, it just wouldn’t be a Cub game if it had remained a simple blowout, no the Cubs had to make our lives miserable as they were able to give up 7 runs of their own. It all came down to a very tense/exciting 9th inning. The Cubs allowed a couple of men on base, but were able to shut down the Braves to get the win. With that 3rd out I reached into my pocket and pulled out my own personal Cubs “W” flag, with a white background and a blue W. This is the traditional flag that is flown after a win when they play at their home in Wrigley Field in Chicago. So, me and my “closest” friends made ourselves right at home, from the “Let’s Go Cub-ies” chants, to the roaring ovations for our boys in blue, and finally waving our own “W” flags! Sure, there were some pretty unhappy Braves fans, but they just couldn’t outdraw those of us who bleed that Cubby Blue!
By the end of the night, Brad, my aunt and uncle and I were all pretty exhausted, but it was worth it to take a fun trip to see a game with my FAVORITE team winning no less! However, with the end of that game, I was brought one day closer to close of summertime. So, I think I will go ahead and savor it while I can, and catch y’all later. Take care!