Dan Minette wrote:
>
> I'm going to pipe in with a personal comment on going to games in person,
> which may require me to duck virtual things thrown at me, but here goes. I
> do not care much for watching baseball in person.
<excellent explanation snipped>
I'm not going to flame, hurl heavy objects (unless you're Klingon and
into that sort of thing) or otherwise insult you. :)
I am, however, going to say that up until this past summer, I'd have
disagreed with you. It's been my experience that there's nothing quite
like going to a ball game, being in the ball park, being surrounded by
the sounds and the smells of it.
Then again, the only professional baseball I've ever seen in person has
been at Fenway, which is different from either Enron Field or the
Astrodome, based on descriptions my friend has given me. (She hasn't
been to Fenway to be able to make a comparison herself. Either I've got
to go to Enron Field or she has to get to Fenway. I think the former is
a little more likely than the latter in the near term.) (No, I haven't
been to a Round Rock Express game. When Sammy is older, I want to start
taking him. I want two things before I do that, though: a child-size
batting helmet and a glove that actually fits my hand.)
Anyway, I much preferred going to a ballpark to seeing the game on TV.
Now I'm just glad to be able to see something that doesn't require that
I give it much attention and that's not going to provoke negative
emotions suddenly. (The worst that can happen with a televised ballgame
is that the team I'm not rooting for will have a grand slam. 4 runs.
Not such a big deal. Not like your favorite character in a drama being
shot dead, or having an interception run in for a touchdown.) If I get
distracted at a crucial moment, they'll probably show the play again,
and it's pretty obvious to me what's going on without having to hear any
commentary. That's a big plus when you're holding an eating, fidgety
baby. :)
> In contrast, my view of the first Houston championship run was wonderful. I
> was in the upper deck, and could still see much much more than they show on
> TV. With baseball, I never see as much as I can on TV.
Houston championship in what? Basketball? I can watch basketball
happily either on TV or in person. Football, my limited experience with
being there live tells me that I'm better off seeing it on TV, although
I would like to go to a Cowboys game someday. Hockey, I know I'm a lot
better off watching it on TV, but then again, the only hockey I've seen
in person was minor league and what I really remember from one game was
that there were actually more points scored than there were fights,
which was rather odd for that league.
Julia
