In the 4th inning, the Cards were trailing, bases loaded, two out, Scott Rolen starts walking to the plate. Some song by Limp Bizkit (a band I hate) starts playing, the line in the song is “Rollin’ Rollin’ Rollin’” which is apropos because, ya know…his name is Rolen.

It was a cool moment, it was theater. I liked it. It didn’t ruin my baseball experience.

As is often the case when the topic turns to music here, I also sady have to accept that I am in the minority.

“No-body knooows the trouble I’ seeeen… no-body knoooows the sor-roooowww…”

Being in the minority isn’t such a bad thing, isn’t it Will? Especially with the rich cultural history behind it! >;)

But I firmly believe that if you take you child to an MLB game, and pay attention to them, and explain the game, and show your enthusiasm, they will learn to appreciate this amazing game. I know this will be my approach with my own kids. I guess in 30 years we’ll have to bring up this conversation again and look at my case study as evidence!

; )

On the whole, though, this is not an issue that I have much energy to debate. If it IS the case that the vast majority of attendees really dig blaring music, then I have to accept that I am in the minority. When such distractions become too…well…distracting, I will simply concede that the product (live MLB) is not aimed at me and I will no longer pay to consume it.

As for the gimmicks, yes, the crowd does seem to get into them, especially the kids, who ironically, everyone always seems to think we should all be so worried about.

[31] Luca Brasi is muscle, but without the brains, so I am not sure he qualifies.

Does the crowd really get into those things at this stage though? At least something like the sausage race in Milwaukee has “local” meaning..why not “Take the A Train” by Duke Ellington followed by a Grand Master Flash cut? give it some real New York feeling..

[17] Again, I agree, but do you think most people do? After all, the crowd around me seems to really get into all the pre-inning gimmicks, whether it is the Top Hat Tease, YMCA, Great Subway Race, Name that Tune, etc.

I’m not a hockey guy, but I went to West Point several times to watch their hockey team take on some other teams, and it was a cool experience (no pun intended). I’ve never watched the Knicks play at MSG before, but I’ve been to several Nets games and enjoyed myself. I’ve never been to Giants Stadium to watch football (and with the PSL crap, I likely never will), but I’ve witnessed Steve McNair tear up one of my college’s team at it’s Homecoming Game. I’ve even been to Mets games and made memories I didn’t have at Yankee Stadium; I find Mets games more accessible than Yanks when it comes to community outreach.

Now, I’ll likely either go watch the Newark Bears or the Hudson Valley Renegades before I get to see a Yankee game at home (maybe I’ll even drive to Scranton for the out-of-body experience), but I don’t mind. The experience is really what you make of it, and I’d rather enjoy the game without all the bells and whistles than to be constantly reminded of how much you’re paying to be dissatisfied with all the crap you didn’t want or need in the first place.