My dear friend, Jennafer, found herself in a bit of a conundrum.
A Triple A baseball conundrum. You see, Jennafer enjoys an occasional night at the ball park root-root-rooting for the home team, the Salt Lake Bees, as do I. It is the most enjoyable of summertime activities. I mean, gazing on the green and oh-so-well-manicured field, enjoying the loyal crowd, taking respite in the cooling temperatures as the sun sinks lower and lower into the horizon, cheering on the action of the game, relishing in its slow pace, and taking a glance at the beautiful mountain setting in between innings, are some of the highlights of summer.
Beautiful, green field:
Best view from a baseball field ever:
The occasional hot dog, the churros and kettle corn, the seventh inning stretch (which really should be sung twice rather than just once), and the requisite hand motions to Y-M-C-A. All good fun.
Last year, the Bees played the Sacramento River Cats in the first round of the Pacific Coast League championship play-offs. Jennafer's dad, who lives in the Sacramento area, is an avid River Cats fan. Thus the bet: the loser of the series must dress in a t-shirt for the opposing team and attend a game the following season and root-root-root for the opposing team for an entire game. The e-n-t-i-r-e game.
Lucky for Jennafer, the Salt Lake Bees won the first two games of the series. She was feeling very confident. And she subsequently rubbed her dad's nose in it. As she should have.
But un-lucky for Jennafer, the River Cats rallied to take the series 3-2. She could do nothing but wait for the River Cats t-shirt to arrive in the mail.
Which brings me to last night.
Payback. Big time.
Being the supportive friends who are always up for a ball game, Mark and I agreed to accompany our one-time River Cats friend-fan to the Bees game. (Note that the River Cats regalia is not too stand-out-ish, leaving me to believe that Jennafer's dad has some kindness in his heart.)
The game started out pretty close, and Jennafer got into it heart and soul. She cheered when the River Cats got on base, loudly encouraged them to switch pitchers after a series of Bees hits, and she let out a resounding "Woo" every time a River Cat player touched a base.
She would have done her dad proud.
And we didn't suffer any ill-effects from Bees fans who might have been irritated by her River Cats cheerfulness. (Sorry, Jennafer's dad.) No one took offense at her defense of the opposing team. Phew.
In the end, the Bees won, 12-5.
Sad Jennafer, happy Cath:
I offered to sign a sworn affidavit stating that Jennafer did, indeed, cheer for her dad's team. But she said no, they were pretty much on the honor system. But if there's any doubt, may this blog posting serve as proof. Jennafer was one intensely good sport.
And we all had a ton of fun.
For it's one, two, three strikes you're out at the old ball game.
Looks like the game was fun! I definitely need to get to one of those this year. I'm glad you are adopting the thumbs-up that Beccah and I are so fond of. :->
Posted by: Nicole | June 23, 2008 at 12:09 AM
Awww, thanks, Cath and Mark, for supporting me in my shame and for saying I was a good sport. I actually had a really great time!
Posted by: Jennafer | June 23, 2008 at 01:25 AM
This looks like fun. Good for Jennafer for being such a great sport, and good for you and Mark for supporting her through this difficult time. :)
Posted by: Brandy J. | June 25, 2008 at 08:39 PM
Okay - I think I'm all caught up. I still can't believe I didn't know you had a blog. I'm slippin'.
I love that you use words like conundrum. I can't do that - can't pull it off.
And have you lost weight? The last time I saw you was at CHA Chicago two years ago. You look great. Me? Notsomuch....but I'm trying. ;) I had a lovely lunch of cottage cheese and soda crackers today - that's gotta count for something, right?
Off to rock my 18 mos. old....so glad you're blogging!
Posted by: Sharyn (Torm) | July 23, 2008 at 09:04 PM