The crackling sounds of peanuts being chewed, the overwhelming smell of garlic fries, the sticky wipe-filled napkins - baseball season is here! And what is the best way to celebrate this year's season? To go to an actual game! It may seem that simple, except for when you live in the city that is home to the utmost rivalry team of your favorite team.
I am a born and raised Giants fan who wound up in Los Angeles (Dodgers territory). For those of who don't know, the Giants and the Dodgers have one the longest and most competitive rivalries in MLB history, making any game with both teams against each other to be the most exhilarating games of the year. Fans cheer loudly, peanuts and popcorn are spilled as they are mindlessly thrown in the air after witnessing a home run. I have longed to be a part of that environment, and it just so happened that the Giants were coming to fight the Dodgers at Dodgers Stadium.
After having in possession my ticket to the game, I didn’t realize what I was getting myself into. Dodgers fans are ruthless, they have a history of stabbing and killing Giants fans. Police presence is higher at a Dodger vs. Giants game then at any other. I mean, I was expecting to get booed at and insulted, but not to be stabbed!
As skeptical as I was, I didn’t let some Dodgers fans scare me! I wore my battle colors of orange and black in a sea of blue and white. The second I started walking towards the stadium, I immediately started hearing the boos. Did it scare me? No, I was full of Giants pride and nothing was going to stop me.
To my surprise, there were actually quite a few Giants fans, as they were easily spotted with their bright orange jerseys. Some Giants fans also gave me high-fives in passing - we were in this together!
It was hard rooting for the visiting team because you couldn’t participate in any of the chants or clap beats, because they are used against your team. Even joining the wave makes you feel guilty. Plus with the small little side-note that you could get STABBED. Cheering for the Giants had to be very sly.
Alongside the booing, some (hilarious) comments were made by Dodger fans. Here are the top three “insults” I heard from those obnoxious Dodgers:
1. “Giant suckers”
Hmm, creative… I guess we suck what the Dodgers can’t swallow.
2. “Lincecum (past Giants player)… That’s what she said!”
There is a reason why he is considered ‘The Freak’.
3. “Boo, Halloween color!”
I guess that orange and black are a single color, not colors.
Seeing a Dodgers vs. Giants game is one of the best games I have ever seen live. Every single person was rowdy, even little kids were screaming their heads off! Unfortunately, the Giants lost this round, but in all honesty it was probably for the best. Imagine if the Giants won that night, walking out of the loser’s stadium with the winning colors probably would have been my death sentence. I'm glad to have lived to tell the tale, it is an experience that I will never forget! #GiantsPride