CWS: Bleacher creatures
By Jonathan Yardley - June 16, 2007
Well, I can't talk about the game of course (6th inning, 7:49 PM CDT), but that turns out to be a good thing during Game 4 of the College World Series. I'm comfortably ensconced (if a little cramped) in the left-center-field bleachers, three rows from the top of a packed Rosenblatt Stadium. And let me tell you, the focus here is not necessarily on the game.
Fans in the outfield today have spent more time cheering against each other than for either Oregon State or Cal State Fullerton. We have had regular back-and-forth chants of "Left field sucks!" and "Right field sucks" from the respective sides of the general admission seating. The two sides of the bleachers have occasionally banded together in a failed attempt to start the wave and beat their feet in a "We will rock you" rhythm, but their differences appear to be insurmountable.
More colorfully, the fans go nuts between innings for beach balls. My favorite moment of the weekend so far came during first-inning warmups, when a beach ball got loose on the warning track. With a grounds-crew member racing to it, CSF leftfielder Josh Fellhauer sprinted to it and kicked it into the stands before the staffer could get there. Later, centerfielder Clark Hardman drew the loudest cheers of the day when he picked up a beach ball and declined to give it to a security staffer, instead returning it to the bleachers.
A few innings ago, the right-field stands may have set a record for most beach balls kept in the air at one time - there were at least 10 making the rounds simultaneously. The left-field bleachers responded with a "We've got shade" chant, since the sun sets behind our stands. Right field, in turn, came back with "We've got balls" to which there's really not much of an argument.
Much like blogging, when it comes to beach balls, one has to wonder (a) why the heck the NCAA bans this activity, (b) if the ban leads to an increase in popularity, and (c) who the heck starts these things anyway. I mean, seriously, why would you bring 10 beach balls to a game, knowing full well you will go home with none of them? But, hey, I'm sitting here in left field with my laptop on my knees, so I can't really talk.
My roommates' take:
Melissa - "I'm rooting for Cal State Fullerton because I love elephants."
Eric - "There are more beach balls in the stands than baseballs in the air on the field."
And they wonder why I got the press credential.
Posted by Jonathan Yardley at 08:49 PM on June 16, 2007
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