An infidel at the Cathedral

.

A wet infidel

After two futile years of Red Sox "virtual waiting room" limbo, I was finally able to score a ticket to a game. Well, actually, that's not entirely accurate--Andrew, our Yankee-fanatic chef-friend from NY, managed to finagle tickets through his restaurant/hotel contacts and generously invited us down to the Bronx. In the final year of existence of Yankee Stadium, Part I, I was going to witness Yankees vs. Red Sox, on July 4th, no less.

One of these smiles was fleeting...

.

We parked Andrew's car, "H8RDSOX" emblazoned across the plates, in Manhattan, and walked across the bridge to the Stadium. I had heard rumors of assorted assaults, drubbings, beer-dowsings, etc. unleashed on the fans that dared pass through the gates with little red "B's" on their hats or clothing, but was reassured that those days had passed. Yankee Stadium had apparently gone soft since the Red Sox started winning important games a few years back and now Sox fans, emboldened by their success, feel pretty comfortable showing up in full uniform.

.

In fact, Red Sox Nation was well represented at the game--"Let's Go Red Sox" chants starting up and going for a few rounds before they were eventually overtaken by the Yankee equivalent. I managed to go the entire game with only one "nice hat, asshole" directed my way while waiting in line for a hot dog.

.

Big tarp on a wet field

.

With the visiting team up by several runs in the 7th, an extended rain delay caused the place to clear out and us soaked to the bone. Poor timing, as alcohol sales had just ended and I could have used a couple more $9 beers to take the edge off.

.

Sunshower

.

When play resumed an hour or so later, my friend was noticeably irritated by the predominance of red in the crowd that remained. It was surreal to look around the half-empty "Cathedral" dotted with red and to hear Red Sox chants go unchecked.

.

However, Andrew's irritation eventually got the better of him, and he started a one-man "Boston Sucks!" chant directed at the vocal Red Sox majority in our section.

.

In spite of this effort, the Good Guys eventually won and we made our way back across the bridge to Manhattan and on to Peekskill...