Comments | wields_a_pen: Dear Detroit Tigers:

wields_a_pen

Dear Detroit Tigers:

Oct 28, 2006 13:01

I remember lazy summer afternoons in my youth, days where the heat was so insufferable that sitting in air conditioning was almost too painful to bare in contrast. Having seen every film playing at the Star Gratiot, my father would emerge from his home office mid-morning and scoop me into his 1993 Lincoln, driving the 8 miles to Corktown in ( Read more... )

Comments 31

shadesofbrixton October 28 2006, 21:23:15 UTC

Would you mind unlocking this? I'd love to share it with my flist. It made me tear up a little. Who knew I could learn to be proud of Detroit after eleven years of disenchantment?

wields_a_pen October 29 2006, 21:35:54 UTC

Sure thing! :D I'm just so emo for my boys... did you see the front page of the Freep?

( ... )

shadesofbrixton October 30 2006, 17:04:14 UTC

Awwwww that's PERFECT. *squints* What's the very bottom line say?

wields_a_pen October 30 2006, 17:59:07 UTC

I think it's signed "The Loyal Fans," though at a first and possibly even second and third glance, I thought it said "Tho Lethal Fane."

Bless you, boys. bigfatburns October 28 2006, 22:00:44 UTC

I really, really love this.

It is now one of my LJ Memories.

Along similar lines:

Please for the love of god tell me you've read Middlesex.

Re: Bless you, boys. wields_a_pen October 29 2006, 21:38:05 UTC

It always kind of cracks me up when they use "bless you boys" in sports terms, but I'm very sentimental about it when it comes to my Tigers. I think I'm actually going to miss being at Comerica Park this winter more than I ever have. Strange what you do to me, Metro Detroit, strange indeed.

Nope, I have yet to read Middlesex. I have a copy and it's on my list to read (I'm a little ashamed I haven't read it, but I missed the Virgin Suicides too, so I guess I really am nothing more than a shitty Grosse Pointer.)

rentagirl October 29 2006, 02:47:01 UTC

This is beautiful and heartfelt. I couldn't have even remotely this well explained my feelings about the Tigers in general. I'm so glad you share my unconditional love and loyalty for/to them. I'll see you Monday?

wields_a_pen October 29 2006, 21:43:25 UTC

We still need to make it to a game together. We must go next season. I don't think settling for the Lugnuts even remotely cuts it.

Absolutely see you tomorrow; I'll be baking for a work party on Tuesday, which means I'll have delicious warms treats!

randomeliza October 30 2006, 16:29:03 UTC

Rock on. I'm not from Detroit - no, my allegiance lies with the Indiana Pacers and the Indianapolis Colts, and I generally could not care less about baseball - but I feel for the Pacers what you feel for the Tigers, and reading that made me tear up a little. I'm sorry you didn't win, and I'll be rooting for you next year. Gorgeously written.

wields_a_pen October 30 2006, 18:05:51 UTC

Aww thanks for dropping by and saying so! Dedication to sports is a hard thing. Being a lifelong Tigers fan and an alumni of Michigan State, I know at thing or two about losing games (and, quite often, about the ensuing riot following the loss).

By the by, I snuck a look at your user info, and color me insanely envious that you're doing your undergrad out in Scotland. It's obviously too late now for me to go back (hindsight being 20/20 and all of that), but man, I wish I had left the country for college! Well done! :D

ramdonomo October 30 2006, 21:45:04 UTC

Not from Detroit, followed from Brix... but MAAAAAAAAAAAN. Yes. Following a team and knowing the history. YES. I got teary-eyed, too.

I'm from Seattle. Home of the Mariners and the Seahawks. Met my husband at a Mariners game the year they came THISCLOSE to going to the World Series. And last year, the Seahawks went to the Superbowl. Kingdome, anyone? :( I miss it a lot. Oh, yes.

You really captured youth and parents going to the ballpark and growing up and being an adult... I really love this. Thank you.

wields_a_pen October 31 2006, 14:11:04 UTC

Ah, I've always wanted to visit Seattle! It's always seemed like such a gorgeous and different place than my side of the northern US. And also, I really love rain. :D

It's really easy to get down after being so close to winning the whole thing, but as a life-long fan, I just need to keep positive that we'll do well again next year. My biggest problem is that I got really used to driving all the way down to Detroit this summer to catch games; I'm going to miss baseball season a ton (especially since the Red Wings are going to be worthless and I'm not a basketball fan by any means.)

Thanks for commenting; I'm always chuffed to hear how dedicated people are to their favorite sports team, and I especially love it when women are just as dedicated as the men are (let me tell you, I can talk any guy under the table with my baseball knowledge!) ;D