Even though the Mariners are the worst team in the American League, on a sunny day, I don't mind going out to the ballpark. Especially for Dave Niehaus day. It was cool seeing Dave get honored by his peers in the broadcast branch of baseball and also Mariner legends, Edgar Martinez and Jamie Moyer give their props to the man.
Besides all of the festivities involving Niehaus, I want to fast forward to the top of the 8th inning.
After the 7th inning stretch two guys in front of us, in the center field bleachers wanted to get the wave started. The 30 year old somethings were bored with the Mariners who were well up and also with the video screen getting repetitive.
Be aware that these dudes were pretty tipsy. They went in the front of the bleachers facing all of section 185. They yelled, "1, 2, 3" and then they would wave their hands in the air, and we would stand up from our seats and quickly follow. Now usually other sections would follow, but no one did.
So they tried again, shouting, "1, 2, 3", and this time the section next to us followed but then the wave died. In disappointment a girl in her 20's volunteered to go to the section next to her to get the wave going. With a new ally, the two guys yelled "1, 2, THREEE!". This time the wave reached a good one-fourth of Safeco Field and then died.
After three failures the guys weren't going to give up so they gave it one more try, " ONE, TWO, THREE", and the group from our left started the wave and this time, the wave went around the stadium once and then died.
By this time it was already the bottom of the 8th. After taking a quick break the guys were at it again, and they yelled the annual "1, 2, 3" and then in amazement both of the neighboring sections of our section raised their hands and all of sudden two waves were going in opposite directions at the SAME TIME!
In dramatic fashion, the two waves crashed at homeplate, drawing boos from fans everywhere in Safeco! For once the performances of Jose Vidro and Richie Sexson weren't getting booed, instead it was some lame fan tradition.
After seeing the wave crash into itself, the three buds got together one last time to yell, "ONE..TWO....and THREEE" and then on the left side of us the wave started, and went around the stadium once. And then came back to us again and made a 2nd trip.
Now usually at the 2nd go around the wave would stop, but it kept going! For a 3rd time it made it around Safeco Field. And then a 4th time. By this time I was laughing so hard, it was ridiculous. By being confident in their fan abilities, these three guys just made the funniest day at the ballpark for me ever.
So on a sunny day, the Mariners won, Dave Niehaus was honored, and the Wave became late inning entertainment.
My Oh My!
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