Week 18: Let's Go Giants!!!

With the baseball season now in full swing, my baseball fanatic hubby requested me to post something about baseball, specifically, about the San Francisco Giants. Although I am not nearly as knowledgeable about baseball (though learning) as my husband, I have come to watch my share of games, enough to enjoy the players, the chess-like strategy, and the ambiance. That’s why I have a Giants baseball t-shirt.

We are actually watching the game against the Dodgers as I write this blog (Apologies for your loss, Los Angeles Dodgers Fans).

My husband has been a long time Giants fan, long before their recent Pennant and World Series successes. He rarely misses a game on TV, which makes me a baseball widow during the season (It’s okay; he’s an aikido widower all year long).

The Giants have always been composed of a lot of colorful and often rather endearing personalities. This year, the Giants include Pablo “The Kung Fu Panda” Sandoval, Brandon “The Giraffe” Belt, Hunter “The Reverend” Pence, Tim “The Freak, now the Geek” Lincecum, Buster “the clean-cut, boy next door & National League MVP” Posey, and Sergio Romo (no nickname for him – just great 9^th inning pitching to close it off). To support their favorite player, fans going to the game often wear team colors along with, yes, even a panda hat (in black and white OR orange and black) or a giraffe hat. Back in 2010, when we had Brian “The Beard” Wilson as a closer, a good number of fans would show up at a home game sporting a pair of sunglasses and a ZZ-top fake beard!

2010 and 2012 have been awesome for the Giants and the Bay Area. The Giants have taken it all the way, winning both the 2010 and 2012 World Series. 2010 was the first time the San Francisco Giants won the World Series since they relocated from New York City in 1958. Each of the World Series Parades down Market Street was just incredible! The cheering and screaming crowds were huge; it was as if everyone in the Bay Area was there to see it!

I am fascinated with Giants fans. They are both quite supportive and superstitious about their team; they have lucky t-shirts, they paint their nails orange and black (all year, not just at Halloween), and some even dye their hair orange. My husband does not have a ritual, but I have done my part – as I do not (any longer) post anything on my Facebook account while they are playing. I found that whenever I root for the Giants in Facebook, it jinxes them, and they lose. I still tweet during the game though.

I just hope posting this in my blog won’t hurt their chances in the next seven days.

I really like this shirt. It's long sleeved which is perfect for those cool (or cold) San Francisco nights at AT&T Park, especially when the game goes into extra innings.  It also keeps you warm on the ferry ride from Oakland's Jack London Square to McCovey Cove (our favorite way of getting to/from a home game - no bridge or parking concerns, just a nice ride with a great view) and then back. Lastly, it also has a great design on the sleeve, which matches my orange nails perfectly.