So was I
In the stadium that is. Damn, I still cannot hear a damn thing.
I left Santo Domingo with Sr. Chirimoya (Aguilas fan) + 2 of his friends (1 semi Aguilas fan and 1 Licey fan) and we bought tickets from a scout outside the stadium 1,5 hours before the game started. 400 pesos for a 200 pesos ticket and a seat along the left field foul line.
Maybe you saw me on tv. I was the only neutral spectator there for the good baseball and experience only, wearing a white Flamengo soccer shirt and waving a Gibraltar flag. Good seats right next to the rum dealer. Oh man, in my section alone there must have been consumed more rum than ganja at a Pink Floyd concert. It was a mixed section with both Aguilas and Tigres fans, so at least someone was always happy when the runs started pouring in in the 3rd. Tigres for a brief lead until the 4th when Aguilas took over and never looked back. Friendly mocking and chanting in that section, unlike what happened behind the left outfield where a real battle unfolded midway through the game. British hooligan behaviour and real combat with fists and flagpoles. Fortunately it was over in a hurry, it was a real nasty scene. The police dragged a few Licey fans out of there in the next intermission.
Apart from that incident there was a great atmosphere. The stadium erupted with drums, bells, whistles, sirens, clapping and screaming at every Aguilas hit (not only the two HR's) and especially when Aguilas pitcher Tavarez picked of a Tigre at 3rd base with the old Cuban play. A play that Hillbilly told me only worked back in the 50's. Maybe that's why it was so appreciated. Otherwise I'll leave the game resume to the pros in the newspapers.
All kinds of snacks and refresments were sold right at your seat. A weird old dude offered apples and grapes but when we asked for the price he looked at us like we were unfit to buy his fruit and walked on. I didn't see him sell a single piece of fruit. Maybe nobody were good enough for his fruit.
What goes in must come out and I went to the little boys room in an intermission. I got there fast and good for me, because before I had finished my business the room was jammed with needy fans and queues started building up behind each bowl. And people in there really really really had to go, the guy behind me already had his 'thing' out before I left my bowl!
Second time I had to go, I went during play and I almost had the place to myself. On the downside I had to skate across the wet floor to get to the bowl and it wasn't water I was skating on!!!
After Aguilas sealed victory in the bottom of the 8th, we skedaddled. We had to get on our way to SD before the last out, we knew traffic would be impossible (more than usual) if we waited. We watched the fireworks through the back window and it was nice...............
On the way home victory was celebrated with beer and dinner at Tipico Bonao. My friends had bought a cd and now it ran on 'repeat 1' : "Son pajaros malos, son pajaros malos, son pajaros malos 'something something' con tu dinero". I didn't like it the first time I heard it and I didn't like the last time either. But it part of the experience and I'd do it again. What a great day!
Cheers,
Bok