Beat L.A.

My brother Greg and I walked out the door and headed down Haight Street on our way to the MUNI line that would take us to AT&T park. Both of us were wearing Dodgers jerseys in a Giants town, and we didn't take more than a dozen steps when a woman walking the opposite direction pointed at us and said, "You're going down! Giants are going to take the series!"

We just smiled and kept walking. What could we say? We had attended the previous afternoon's game and saw the Dodgers squander a 5-2 lead in the ninth inning. Damn.

I had anticipated animosity since we got off the plane. Of course inhabitants of that city by a bay would hate the Dodgers, just like we in L.A. hate the Giants, but our worries were unfounded. Now and then, a couple frat guys walking the other way would whisper "Dodgers suck" after passing. Oooh, so scary. I have no idea how many "Dodgers suck" and "Beat L.A." shirts we saw, but that's consumerism not intimidation. Can you believe they actually sell shirts that say the former and beer cups that say the latter at the stadium? I can see bootleg stuff of that ilk, but to have MLB gift shops and concession stands selling that stuff is bush.

In the end, no one spilled beer, threw peanut shells, or hurled insults at us. Just "Beat L.A." chants now and then, all prompted by the Jumbovision and organ player. Actually, our neighbors were downright nice to us. I'd like to think it's because people are classy, but probably not. Factors include:

1. We went to afternoon games. People just aren't as tanked in the afternoon. Also, it was unseasonably sunny, which probably sapped the energy out of some hecklers.
2. Mother's Day. It was probably more family-oriented than usual with all the moms around.
3. AT&T park is not Candlestick. More expensive seats = a better-behaved crowd.
4. L.A. vatos are "harder" than S.F. vatos. I'm not being racist; I'm just saying that there are a lot of tough fans at Chavez Ravine with shaved heads, locs, and "laugh now, cry later" tattoos. Not so at AT&T.
5. The Giants suck. It's hard to be cocky when your team is in the basement and the only reason to watch is the most-hated player in the Major Leagues trying to reach a record that is generally considered tainted. (For the record, the Dodgers stink, too. At this moment, both teams share the same record and are tied for last in the NL West.)

When the Dodgers' three-day stand was over, they left with two wins and a loss. Just as importantly, Barry Bonds did not hit a homer (he was terrible on offense and defense) and remained one long-ball behind Babe Ruth. A Dodger pitcher will not be the answer to a trivia question. Walking away from the stadium, it was drunk Dodger fans who were stirring the pot, pointing at home fans in their Giants gear and saying, "You lost. You lost. You lost."

Ahh. Can't wait to go to Dodger Stadium.