Sunday's Dodgers-Cubs game wouldn't normally be one for the memory books. The Dodgers' sputtering offense, particularly without Randy Wolf in the lineup, couldn't manage more than one run in losing to Ryan Dempster and a 4-for-4 Jake Fox. Manny Ramirez looked just as lost up close as he does on television, except this time it happened not only on the field (misplaying a carom awfully, while Matt Kemp looked on from centerfield in apparent bewilderment and/or disgust), but also at the plate (including a game-ending, Carlos-Beltran-like called strike three). The afternoon sun out on field level was hot, real hot, Robin Williams Good Morning Vietnam monologue hot. And I attended the game with a good friend who is a lifelong Cubs fan, and since he decided to come to the game dressed in a Cubs jersey, I had no choice but to counter by wearing my own Dodgers jersey, further increasing an already overheated body temperature that beers did little to regulate (and don't think I didn't try my hardest).
But there was a nice highlight for me, in that I got to spend bits and pieces of the game hanging out with Erin, of Robots Took My Medicine (and formerly, Beantown West) fame. Erin, who came to the game with her fiancee Christine, was a pleasure with which to hang out, and I'm not just saying this because she bought me a beer (a premium one at that; I'm not used to such non-proletariat fare!).
I met Erin at last year's Dodger Blogger night, which was kind of funny, with her being the only woman in the suite, and me wearing a nametag that said "Hello! My name is STEVE SAX". Since then, I've read Robots (and its predecessor) regularly, and she's stopped by SoSG early and often. I'd met her one other time when I was at a game with SoSG Alex Cora, but we never got much of a chance to chat.
And as readers know, we Sons appreciate our secret identities. I mean, it's not that big of a deal, nor is it that exciting of a secret, but it's just better for all involved that we operate under pseudonyms. So the very act of meeting another SoSG reader, let alone one who publishes on her own accord, is a little bit of a leap of faith on our account. I mean, we have our batcave locations to protect.
But lowering the veil of anonymity for Erin is fine because, well, Erin is one cool cat. She is the kind of person with whom you'd like to hang out at a game: knowledgable and well-versed but not overbearing or oppressive; full of opinions, but willing to hear the other side and engage in the debate; serious about her craft of writing a Dodgers blog, but not too serious to refrain from poking fun at herself, or lose sight of the joys of the journey. It's always more fun to watch games around nice, spirited people like Erin and my Cub friend; it makes the whole game more interesting and enjoyable. And, she had a good time razzing my Cubs comrade, who gave it back as well, but all politely and in good fun.
On top of all that, Erin is highly adept at playing the nomad in the stadium, jumping from suddenly-occupied to unoccupied seat with aplomb. In a city like Los Angeles, when you still have pretty-boy bozos in their Ed Hardy faux-ripped shirts and retro sunglasses reeking of Axe body wash, showing up in the bottom of the fifth inning (you know who you are), this is quite a skill. Wit, personality, AND agility--Christine is a lucky woman (and a very nice person as well, btw).
I never thought I would make a new friend through this whole Dodger blogger thing. It's pretty cool that it's worked out that way. Stepping back, I suppose it's a real testament to the entire SoSG community that we've been lucky enough to build a readership that is witty, funny, and a great group of guys and girls. They're cool on the site, and if Erin is any indication, they're cool in person, too.
One of the coolest comments I've seen came earlier this month, when SoSG reader Greg Bishop wrote in a Game Thread, "I do enjoy the site. A lot. SOSG is like Dodger Thoughts with beer." [Nothing against Dodger Thoughts, of course; I like DT, but I also like beer.] And Erin is a microcosm of this phenomenon; it's just a bunch of fun people who like to hang out and riff a bit as they imbibe a beer and watch the game. Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your pseudonym.
We Sons have put a lot of time into this site, trust me. But the SoSG community really makes it all worthwhile; so, thank you. Really.
As for my secret identity, I think it's in safe hands, kind of like when Spider-Man revealed his identity early on to the Fantastic Four, and then ended up having a long friendship with the Human Torch.
But just in case, Erin, next beer's on me.
