Baseball at its best: the Warriors of Oaxaca in the Mexican League
Alvin Starkman MA LL.B.
Where else than in Mexico can park two blocks from the stadium, buy a pair of seats on the ground next to the dugout, eat a personal size pizza, a beer, pastry, lollipop and tic-tacs, and be entertained for more than three hours in a warm, breezy evening, all for about $ 15 USD.
Mexican baseball season begins each March, with Oaxaca team (the Warriors, one of the 16 in this league into two divisions) playing their games in the Eduardo Vasconcelos stadium, a few steps from downtown. When my wife and I attended our first game ever, thoroughly impressed us, not without noting some differences both interesting and fun, compared to attending Skydome (now known as Rogers Centre) to see the Toronto Blue Jays. I begin my remarks, indicating that league is equivalent to Triple A, which means that the quality of the game is very good, with Major League players and former potential on computers ... in 2005 the Guerreros had Felix Jose quality batter for the Cardinals ex early 90s.
I went into the park to buy tickets a couple of days before scheduled game, wanting to make sure I have high quality seats, only to be told that tickets go on sale at 4 pm on game day. To my surprise, the ticket wicket opened shortly before the hour. My wife wanted a pair of "best." When he returned to the car, I realized that the weight tickets 55 did not appear to be in sequence, so they sent her back to ask, and exchange the seats if necessary. I was right ... a seat was a row over other. Who knew that when asked to buy a pair of tickets, you must specify you want next to each other? The wizard gave my wife a hard time, but finally relented and exchanged the seats.
We returned to the park for the 7:30 opening pitch, easily finding a parking space on the street ... $ 20 free parking in the lots. But where exactly were our seats we? asked no fewer than four employees of the stadium, not being able to give a signal to our seats, until finally someone took the effort to head properly. WOW. Not only the land next to the visitors (Mexico City) dugout, but covered in the unlikely event of a drizzle, and alongside the bull pen.
The game follows the typical format of the American League in batting designated (Felix Jose of the Warriors), and the announcer doing the same job as his counterpart in the majors, but not preface every hitter the next name and charge with an ad for one of the numerous sponsors whose presence is in the front and center, in the uniforms of the players and field walls. The Scoreboard provided no surprises, but it took a while to figure out some of the positions of the players only see the letter designations ... no problem with SS, 1B, 2B and 3B. But What about AC, CF and JD? I thought I had it down pat with the center fielder, but the other two threw me out. Then the announcer introduced the gardener right, the right fielder (JD), which literally translates as "the right fielder." It makes little sense after a while it tends to the grass in right field ... but why is the Center Fielder similar position not adapted to the Mexican style of designation? All fell into place quickly with each player having a number on his jersey, but with VOLKSWAGEN being the only name on the back.
The cheerleaders ten were a pleasant surprise doing an admirable job, although neither choreographed nor synchronized as well as the NFL or the NBA. But what a pleasure to see these young people in the stadium baseball with a little meat on their bodies, instead of the anorexic look that they've come to see and accept unfortunately north of the border. Music in the system Audio was a unique blend of what is in the MLB and NHL games with the standard "CHARGE" preambles and the like, traditional Oaxacan music including Pinotepa, and Canada and the known numbers of America and of artists like MC Hammer and Creedence Clearwater Revival. The fifth episode of the crew cleaning did the job, although without the Lone Ranger theme to egg on them, there was no competition in the traditional way for children and street vendors convinced us to buy raffle tickets.
Although I must confess that while baseball is the most boring of the main spectator sport in North America (the list in descending order are basketball, hockey, soccer, football and baseball) from the gradual introduction of the Major League stadiums allow drinking alcoholic I've come out to enjoy the game from time to time to chat with a friend or business associate, soak up some rays and fresh air (when the retractable dome Toronto has been left open) and have a beer and my share of dogs donuts, ice cream bars and deliciously rich. Oaxacan pigging out was similarly orgasmic but not be able to drink a mezcal or three places a brake on the libido. There was the tempting taco stand a few steps from our seats, besides the usual sellers settlement of their way through the stands. The range of the rate includes, of course, Corona, soft drinks, hot tacos by the plastic and aluminum wrapped plate warm personal size boxed Domino's Hawaiian pizza with all the ketchup packages you want, a wide variety of cellophane packaged nuts, seeds and dried fruit colorfully presented on a video card, esquites (very hot large corn kernels in a plastic cup covered with mayonnaise, chili powder, lime and grated cheese), and the typical street corner stand items including gum, chocolates, sweets and cigarettes.
Perhaps the greatest similarity to attend a major league game was that the team lost at home ... as in Toronto after the two aberrations in the 90s. While there is hope to attend a Warriors game would be in a priority list for tourists spending only a few weeks in the city for both residents and travelers on holiday here baseball longer stays in Oaxaca provides an entertaining and relaxing way to spend a few hours. The regular season lasts until the end of July, with the playoff series four principles thereafter, running through early September. You can attend at the stadium for more information on promotions such as T-Shirt and days Cap, and Mother's Day and Father's Day.
About the Author
Alvin Starkman received his Masters in Social Anthropology in 1978. After teaching for a few years he attended Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto, thereafter embarking upon a career as a litigator until 2004. Alvin now resides in Oaxaca, where he writes, leads small group tours to the villages, markets, ruins and other sites, is a consultant to film production companies, and operates Casa Machaya Oaxaca Bed & Breakfast. ( http://www.oaxacadream.com ) .
NBA Opening Night With Kev
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