The Birds

It's a constant. You've done your 7th inning stretch and then they start swooping in. First it's one or two circling the top of the park and then by the middle of the 8th inning it's flocks of those scavengers just parking themselves at the top of the stadium. They're aimlessy looking down at the loyal orange and black....waiting for us to gather our belongings and head home. Their timing is impeccable.  I've always wondered if they send one feathered friend out to the stadium to survey the game... see if the Giant's are up, tied or losing, see if its a crowd worth flying in for, what inning the team is in, then go back to the dumps (where I'm pretty sure that crowd of gulls are from, well that or Pier 39) have a round table discussion, vote on who's going, then fly back. 

I know...I have an active imagination, but it's sorta funny to think about. I mean how DO they know? Well, looking up some seagull facts I learned that they are highly intelligent. In fact, the trustworthy Wikipedia site states that seagulls "are resourceful, inquisitive and intelligent birds, demonstrating complex methods of communication and a highly developed social structure. For example, many gull colonies display mobbing behaviour, attacking and harassing would-be predators and other intruders."

Upon further Seagull research, a little article written in San Francisco's 7X7 Magazine earlier this year explains "that the 7th inning stretch is what cues the gulls to prepare for a feast.  The commotion of 40,000 people simultaneously standing and singing is the tip off. Gulls are very good at recognizing predictors for when food is going to become available. They have learned that the 7th inning stretch means that people will soon be clearing out of the stadium, leaving behind a plethora of half eaten, (and luckily in our ballpark) gourmet food." 

This 2011 season  I've noticed that these flying pirates are not too afraid of humans. They really don't care if you're still in your seat after the last out of the game. They will start pacing up and down the stairs and aisles in search of food scraps. At some point, they're going to just go for it, right? You're chomping down on your Sheboygan, savoring the carefully chosen toppings hugging your dog and here it comes, a big ol' 21 inch gull stealing your last bite and possibly taking some of your face with it. Oy.

So what are the Giants doing about this if anything? As of late July, early August they were looking into a Falcon domination if you will. According to a few news reports the Giants were going to bring a falcon to nest around the ballpark. Apparently this will intimidate the gulls from hanging around the park. At the time of this blog, I have no idea if they hired that Falcon yet, but by the looks of last night's game it didn't seem so.

SO my orange and black faithful, the next time you're at the park remember;  Heads up, Sheboygans down until Falcon domination is officially confirmed.

Random thought: wouldn't it be great if the actual Giant's team had a Falcon that would dominate all the scavenger teams that have been picking us apart? Then I wouldn't have to write about the seagull problem and more about our AWESOME team........ :/

GO GIANTS!

Brian Wilson: A Character Study

I'd like to say that the following observation about Brian Wilson has nothing to do with his ability on the field.

I have a love/hate relationship with Brian Wilson, aka The Beard, aka BWeezy. It's probably been a good two to three year, conflicted relationship. When he first came into the organization I dug him. He wasn't the cookie cutter looking baseball player and I liked that. Tat's on his arms, a faux hawk, intense eyes and a bad ass 1, 2, 3 inning - he piqued my interest. Then 2010 came around. I think it started with those orange shoes. It wasn't my thang. I didn't get it and I just thought he was trying to be an attention hog. So I sorta went on my own little private anti-Wilson soap box every time he came up. I just thought he was a show boater and I really wasn't into it because of our little miSFit team. He was drawing attention to himself and I didn't like it. We'd been there done that and I liked that the whole team was gaining recognition, not just one dude.

Then the beard started to grow (literally.) When I saw that thing starting to come in, I was a little offended. Ok, not personally offended because I didn't have a beard, but offended because his beard was getting attention and no one was mentioning Sergio Romo's real black beard. He's the original bearded one and no one noticed. Next came the one liners and weirdo talk. I was skeptical. I wasn't sure, was this a case of someone just doing it for the individual attention or was it because the Giants were under the microscope because of their scrappy, nail biting wins? Hmmmmm....?

The next thing I knew I was getting a video forwarded to me by my work husband that had an interview of Wilson. I believe the title of the interview was "Check this out, Wilson is nuts." It was the now classic video of Wilson being interviewed by Chris Rose and the "Machine" walked in frame during the interview. What the hell was this? What's this guy proving? Is he gay? Is he outwardly saying he's into S&M? Was that Zito in the whole leather getup? I had a lot of questions and not a lot of answers. From this smallish interview, Brian Wilson now had all eyes on him and his eccentric personality.

So, what does a girl do when she's studying the character of Brian Wilson? She gets the call to work an event with him. Ok, so as I have mentioned in a previous UBC blog, I volunteer with the Giants Community Fund and have been for at least the last 6 years give or take. Because of my previous work experience with the Giants and also in my current work life, the Fund has been giving me the job of Celebrity wrangler (which means I'm the bad gal who has to tell kids, adults and the elderly that they can only get one autograph and that there is no time for photographs.......yep, that's me.) Tonight was no different but I didn't know  until I got to the event.

I actually have worked this specific event in the past. About two years ago the Community Fund partnered with the Irish Cultural Center and had an event with Brian Wilson and Giants third base coach Tim Flannery. That year Mr. Wilson had NO beard, was pretty quiet and we were still selling tickets at the door. This year was a 180. When I arrived at the Irish Cultural Center there were two of San Francisco's finest hanging out at the front door and a lot of "who are you" kinda eyes. Yes, it's confirmed, this isn't 2009 anymore.

I was running a little late and ran upstairs quickly and made my way to the registration table to see what my job was for the night. I figured I was working the front door and checking in my Irish comrades as I did back in '09. As I was trying to figure out my job, the woman running the show came up to me, asked my name and then replied "Oh good, you're Erin, you're going to be handling Brian and Tim when they get here.............." this kind of floated up and over my head and I thought she was just kidding....hahahhaha, yeah, I'm going to be wrangling the Beard and Flannery.......yeah, ok, sure. But then came the confirmation in black and white on the night's itinerary, clear as could be: Celebrity Handler: Erin. Wait, what?????

So, that's what I did. Here I was......writing this character study for the past few weeks, trying to think of what the rest of this particular blog was going to be, and here it was right in front of me....tatted up, full beard, beanie, a television crew and lot's of character - GO! We anticipated Wilson and Flannery arriving around the same time so there I was with a Giants employee who regularly wrangles these guys waiting near the parking lot for arrival. Employees of the Irish Cultural Center, a few local newspaper writers and photographers and the Showtime crew were also waiting. Yeah, the Showtime crew was there, never even occurred to me that they would be here....good thing I actually "dressed" up for this. Oy Vey.....is this happening? Um, yes, it is and baton down the hatches Urban Baseball Chick cause you're in it to win it.

A few minutes later he rolls up in his high-end luxury vehicle, driving himself and pulls the old UBC move, pullin' it in backwards to be able to escape quickly after the event. Bright turquoise v-neck t-shirt, big black beard, and a grey loose beanie hanging off the back of his dome, classic. He quickly mic's up for the Showtime folks and then runs over to sign autographs for the fans outside the parking lot yelling to him just wanting to shake his hand, tell him "He's the Man" and getting quick shots of him on their Smartphones to share with their friends on Facebook or Twitter. He runs back over and there we were, briefing him on what was going on and shuffling him up the stairs for his interview with the Chronicle.

Easy part is over, now we gotta get him inside, where there are about 300 Irishmen, women and children anxiously waiting for him. We found the best way to get him in quickly and I tell him where we're going and to follow me. Open the door to the room and boom, it's GO time. Bring him and the lovely Tim Flannery over to their autograph table. Well, little did I know the rest of the room was right behind us ready for their autographs. This wasn't the plan. I look at the two gentlemen and ask if they needed anything from the bar, cause that's what I do. Gotta make sure these guys are taken care of. Run to the bar, get some waters and the chaos starts.

Here come the parade of kids, parents, the elderly with all of their paraphernalia to be signed. Baseballs, jersey's, photo's, iPads, a box of sugar (inside joke that involved the above mentioned "Machine" interview), posters, bottles of "Fear the Beard" wine, scarves and even a forearm. Yes, a forearm, completely attached of course. And here I am, saying no to posed photo's and telling the fans "One item per person, Thank You!" all the while having the Showtime camera in my face and a boom mic hovering over my head. Wilson and Flannery are great with the crowd and the kids. One kid actually asked Wilson if he could touch his beard and Wilson said yes. It was a pretty funny moment cause the kid was freaking out when he was handling Wilson's beard. I was a little weirded out by the request, but Wilson took it in stride. The kid actually shrieked after the awkward episode and his father couldn't have been any prouder. Hysterical.

It was hot and I was so happy that I am not claustrophobic. I had people trying to sneak behind Wilson and Flannery to get a quick pic and in front of the table it was about two to three people deep just snapping photo's. Controlled chaos was what it was and I was in the middle of it trying to regulate. We had agreed earlier that we needed to put a time limit on the autograph session and we were quickly nearing the time for the rest of the event to unfold. We still had a Q&A session with the audience and some music was to be played by Flannery (who is a pretty good musician/singer) and Wilson who plays the harmonica......of course he does.

I ended up being Wilson's assistant....when I say assistant, I mean that I took the items fans were giving him and holding onto them until it was time to get him out of there. Done with autographs we get him on the stage for the rest of the event. I take a load off 'cause my dogs were barking and sit in the back and chat with some new friends. In the meantime, we're figuring out what our strategy is for getting Wilson outta this room without it being a cluster........(fill in the blank.) I look at the time and it's showtime again (no pun intended.) Me and my Giants friend make our way up to the front again to make sure we escort him out the door without too much commotion. The Irish band that was there takes photo's with him as well as gets autographs, the Irish dancers come over to take a group shot with the Closer and then he looks at me and I ask him if it's time to jet.

The Showtime crew takes his mic and we start heading out the door. I hand him the items I was entrusted with, neatly bundled for easy transport and he's off, back down the stairs to a bunch of waiting fans and Smartphones in the parking lot.

So, who is this guy? He's a famous athlete who has a huge beard and piercing blue eyes. He's a version of himself that is making a good living off this guy named Brian Wilson and/or BWeezy. He's a guy who has a wine named after him, a guy who has thousands of t-shirt's with his bearded portrait on them. He's found his niche and he's sticking to it cause it works, but is it the real Brian Patrick Wilson? Nah, cause I saw that guy back in 2009 sans beard and character and he was a pretty "normal" dude. But that doesn't get you national attention or any kind of endorsements or a Showtime crew following you, right?

Cheers to you Mr. Wilson, you're Winning.

It's Official, I've Been Diagnosed with "Off Season Depression Disorder"

I was lying on one of those wonderfully comfy chaise lounges in the Relaxation room at The Sonoma Lodge & Spa a weekend ago in a big ol’ bathrobe thumbing through my commemorative San Francisco Giants section of the Sunday Chronicle. I hadn't had the appropriate amount of down time to savor the articles and photos that had been sitting patiently on my bedroom floor for a week. So what else was I supposed to do at a Spa other than read past stories on games that were huge turning points during the Giants season and the parade recap that captured the heart of San Francisco and the Bay Area. No phone, no blackberry, just me and the Chronicle, buried in an oversized piece of furniture reminiscing about some amazing baseball moments! Totally in heaven………

Ok, so maybe you've picked up on it. I MISS MY TEAM!!!!! It’s only been three weeks since the Giants won the World Series, but it feels like it was eons ago. I’ve been slowly getting back into the routine of the off season, aka - reality. I realize how absurd this may sound. I miss a team of human beings that I don’t even know. Sure, I know their batting averages, what team cap they might have worn the previous game, inside information about where a certain "freak" pitcher was getting his drink on the night before, but I hardly have any personal insight to these guys. But, never the less, I miss them. I can’t help it, what a great season we had and it seemed like the post season just swept right through like an orange and black tornado and spit us out once it ended; not knowing where we were or what to do next – completely disheveled and confused.

I walk down the hallway at my 9-5 and see my friend Ed and say "I miss the Giants....," he replies, "I know, I don't know what to do with myself." Oh good, there's another wacko out there that has the same sentiment; I'm not completely alone in my dark abyss. Even my friends that were caught up during the post season feeling confused when 4:57 rolls around and we don't have plans to scamper off to the nearest bar to set up camp for a few hours and watch World Series baseball. It's a debacle I've never found myself in as a Giants fan. I guess I should ask a few Yankees fans what their advice is during the off season since they're seasoned veterans of the post season blues (no pun intended.)

As the days get colder and a bit rainier, I've decided to use the time I have to shed some of the post season weight that crept up on me. I mean, what do you expect when you're going to bars or restaurants almost everyday and drinking and eating bad food? My friend and I call it the Giants 15. We've decided that since we don’t have to plan our schedules around those guys in the orange and black that we're gonna focus on getting healthier and lose weight in time for Spring Training! Oh, wait, that has to do with baseball too. Well, whatever, it's a good goal to work towards and we're determined.

Also, I'll keep busy entertaining you followers of Urban Baseball Chick. I've got some things up my sleeve that should be of interest to you. Maybe a story about finding an old high school friend working for the Giants the second season I returned to work for the team. Possibly stories from old Spring Training trips ( I said possibly because, well, it's spring training aka spring train wreck.) Hopefully interviews with people in the game (cross your fingers!!) Or maybe I'll go "Urban" on your ass and talk about San Francisco and the haunts I like to visit and about my other life in San Francisco's music scene. Actually, that's probably a whole other blog. Whatever the case or blog may be, I hope you'll keep reading and pass along to friends, Giants fans or baseball fans in general.


Happy Turkey Day and GO GIANTS!

With a rally rag on my right shoulder, the Giants are World Series Champions

WOW. My head's a little fuzzy from the champagne my best friend and I popped after the second out at the bottom of the ninth inning. I was hesitant to purchase the bottle of bubbly tonight because as many of you know, it's not that easy. You can't predict the win let alone a hit or even a 5 run lead heading into the bottom of the ninth. But the cast of characters, also known as the San Francisco Giants have done it. Maybe not like the pretty boys of the NY Yankees or civilized like the Atlanta Braves, but the only way San Franciscans could - in their own unique San Francisco way.

The start of this season leading up to the All Star break was dismal. But, as a Giant fan, you keep the faith and hope they just finish in the top 3. We focus on the Dodgers coming to AT&T, enjoy the little rivalry with our AL friends accross the Bay, and LOVE, LOVE all the great giveaways the Giants promote throughout the 6 month season; Giant's Snuggie giveaway, bobblehead day or what's better than a Giants singles night!? I know! how 'bout a team that's been absolutely AMAZING to watch throughout 2010.


I'm probably more calm about the win because first of all it hasn't really sunk in. Much like going to game 1 of the World Series series with my mom, where if someone asks' me about it, I get choked up and can't really talk about it. It's really odd being such a fan of one team. You get to know the guys, even if you don't really know them. You see a majority of them for 162 regular season games, not to mention in spring training, then (thank goodness) post season games, and you get used to the every day grind and miss them on their off days. It's hard to explain, but you get attached and if they're not winning, you're not winning. If they are winning, there's no better feeling. But here they are, world champs and representing our city and our Bay Area, the underdogs, in front of a bunch of Red, White and Blue wearing Texas Ranger Fans and not to mention, the oblivious FOX sports analyists. So now that they're the World Champions of 2010, it's kind of like DUH to the rest of the world cause I've been there through the thick and thin of it all leading up to tonight. Unbelievable.



I've always been proud to be a SF Giants fan and to be honest, this year was the first year I got back into the game. It's been hard to watch them since my dad passed away because we watched, discussed, and argued about the Giants for a steady 22 years. When you have a buddy that looks forward to the season as much as you do and don't have them around anymore, it's hard to get excited about it. But this, for some reason, was the season that peaked my interest. Things clicked. Friends clicked. I even turned some people into fans (lucky them.) It was just THE year and I'm so glad I paid attention and that the boys made it fun again.



Tonight's World Series win was poetic. I wasn't in a huge crowd down at Civic Center Plaza or down by the ballpark or even at Yancy's Saloon out in the avenues. I was where I was supposed to be; with my best friend of 23 years, enjoying the game through every out and inning; every hit and pitch and just enjoying one of the best teams in baseball. I realize this year was really about bringing people together and it just so happened that the San Francisco Giants pulled that off - throughout the city, the bay and in my own little baseball life.

So many thanks to you 2010 San Francisco Giants. You will probably be the best Giants team that I rallied for in my lifetime.



GO GIANTS!

Chills, Cheers, Rally Rag and a Flask for Good Measure

I had never been to a World Series Game before last night, Wednesday, October 27, 2010. I was serious that the baseball gods aligned and I was given two tickets to Game 1 of the World Series. So here’s my account:

Hopped on the bus round 2:30 p.m., don’t have the tix yet and still don’t believe that I’m really going, but had faith.

My stop was up, and headed down 3rd Street to the park

There’s that feeling…..after you cross Mission St. when heading to a game, you start joining fellow Giants fans as they start pouring in from other streets, parking garages, buses, etc. There’s just an unsaid unity as you walk to the ballpark.

A gentlemen on my left caught up with me, turned to me and said “You heading to the game?” with the enthusiasm of a 10-year-old but the face of a 46-year-old. “ Yes,” I said…….he replies “This is so exciting!” I replied “ It’s gonna be great!”……although I was still not sure if I was ultimately getting in.

I’m truckin’ along down 3rd street with intense focus and dodging casual walkers, ticket scalpers, and merchant vendors. I’m on a mission, don’t get in my way.

“Nice boots” I hear passing up a dude on my right. “Thanks” I say. Even compliments won’t slow me down.

Congested isn’t the word that does justice to what Willie Mays Plaza looked like an hour and a half prior to first pitch. It was a sea of beards, born again Christians, “Let Timmy Smoke” supporters, clowns, hippies, Ranger fans, cops, cameramen, reporters, and ME looking for my mom. Eeeek!

Walking all over looking for ma’……Found Her!!!! Thank god for the bright green backpack she decided to bring along. I had two requests for her and she came through; 1 bag of peanuts and some binoculars. Score…..she brought that and some other treats! Oh, and thank goodness she brought her camera because guess what, I whipped mine out to start taking photo’s and the battery died. GAME OVER.

We’re supposed to do the ticket hand off at 3:45…..it’s 3:40 and no word. I’m a little nervous.

3:47 – no word…….a little sweaty.

3:50 – There’s my Giant’s Fairy Godmother………and there are the two tickets! We’re in!

I’ve walked up the ramp from the Willie Mays gate a million times, and probably over a dozen times this season, but this time was completely different. It finally hit me as we passed up the first level, then Club level, that my mom and I were walking into a new element. This is the World Series. Holy Sh*&!

We finally get to our seats and the field is a mad house. Tons of media, lights, camera’s and there’s this funky camera they’ve anchored above the seats that’s basically on a zip line kind of apparatus. Fully controlled somewhere else in this madhouse.

I turn to my mom and ask “I wonder who’s singing the National Anthem?” She looks at me with a bit of a blank stare and says “Oh, I think I heard it’s John Legend.” WHAT!!?? ARE YOU KIDDING ME RIGHT NOW??????? JOHN LEGEND….THAT’S MY FUTURE BABIES DADDY. As soon as I heard this, someone could have thrown me off the View Reserved deck. I really could have skipped the game, watched Legend and died. WHA????!!!!!!!


The boys are filtering into the dugout and there’s Sergio Romo, or as my Giant’s homie and I call him, Garden Knomo (cause duh, he looks like a Garden Knome) is totally getting down in the dugout to whatever song is blaring over the PA system @ AT&T. These guys are ready to rock. I see Pablo, the Giants biggest cheerleader slappin’ high fives to his teammates. AWESOME! These guys are feelin’ it!!!!!!!!

And here it is, pre-game festivities, intro. of the WHOLE team, down to the locker room attendents, one of which has been a friend since I worked with the Giants back in 1999, National Anthem, courtesy of JOHN LEGEND, field length/width American Flag unveiling, fly over, fireworks – It was the first time I had real chills and it was AMAZING.

I’m not going to re-cap the game….you all watched it, but I will say that after the Bad News Bears first inning and then dragging Tony Bennett onto the field screwed with my emotions. My brain was trying to wrap itself around the fact that Lincecum couldn’t figure out where to throw the ball and get an out and that we couldn’t score any runs that first inning, my heart had sunk. Then I’m supposed to get all sentimental when Tony sang “I Left My Heart in SF” (which he sang beautifully for an 84-year-old, I’m serious folks.) I was really confused. I know people said it was the turning point of the game, but I’m still perplexed of the timing of it all.

I want to give a shout out to the dudes sitting next to my mom and I. One of the reasons I started Urban Baseball Chick was because I know a lot about baseball and the Giants. I love it. It’s mostly useless information that I spew or impart to friends, family, bar buddies and newbies when it’s warranted. Jason and David who were sitting next to me, Hawaiian natives, living in the Bay for about 3 years were jawing with me about the game and were asking me a ton of questions about the players and who was who which was fun. Totally re-confirmed why Urban Baseball Chick must exist. In return, they shared their flask of booze and offered to take photo’s of my mom and I with our camera. They were good guys havin’ a blast at the game and it was fun to impart Giants baseball wisdom to them. Good times.

Back on the bus ride home, several people were getting on board talking about the game, me included, chatting up about how GREAT Freddy Sanchez played! Love Freddy!! One of the stops along the way is right in front of the St. Francis which is where the Rangers are staying. As we approached, their team bus was parked in front of us and the guys and their families were walking off, heads down. I felt a tinge of sadness for them. But then I remembered that it’s only 1 game out of 7 and we have a lot more work to do and oh yeah, I’M A GIANTS FAN!!!! Suck it Rangers!!!!!

Smells Like Team Spirit

A funny thing happened to me during the years of 1999 up until early 2001 - I worked for the San Francisco Giants. I was determined to work for the team, but was too late to apply for an internship in 1998, so I called up a year later and was hired in the Promotions department. A season later, Community Relations.

Those years were truly magical and the team was great on and off the field. I loved working with Dusty and made some lasting friends in the front office. (Side note, the people that work for the Giants organization work extremely HARD. I don’t think people realize what a grind it is every season to work for a professional sports team. I know they do it because they love it, but give them some props. They’re not sitting around just watching games for shits and giggles, it’s a full-time job with the team being at home as well as away and in the off season. It never stops.) Ok, off my soap box and back to biznass…..

During my two seasons with the G-Men, I was around everyone’s favorite player, Barry Bonds. Yep, #25 graced my presence as we rushed around the dugout prior to games. Did he say hi? Nope. Did you look him in the eye? Hell no, he may crush you. Did his teammates respect him?In my opinion, nadda. Did the media respect him? Hmmmmmmmmm….jury’s still out. I was one of it felt like -1000 that disliked the whole Barry Bonds era. He was arrogant, self-absorbed and definitely someone that was not at all a team player. His “area” in the clubhouse had a leather recliner. He also had a television set-up complete with a play station from what I can remember. He pretty much had a whole row of lockers to himself, whereas the other guys were fine with the standard ONE locker. On top of the whole Barry trance that somehow grabbed a certain amount of people that just wanted to believe in something, Barry was chasing a record with some obvious help. ** That fact **was the icing on the cake for Barry who clearly lived a life not grounded in any kind of reality. It was nothing but the Barry show which lasted for years and it was pretty disheartening. It really had nothing to do with the team, it was all about Barry and home runs. I truly feel that era dampened the spirits of true Giants fans and the Giants.

Since his departure, the team has gone through changes and it seems like the 2010 season has had the right mojo. You’ve got a band of brothers who don’t quit. It’s not about one guy on the team and what he’s going to do the next time he’s at bat. It’s about supporting your pitching staff and your fellow team members. Check out Pablo Sandoval the next time you’re watching the game. That guy is the biggest cheerleader the Giants have down in the dugout. Or watch the way Aubrey Huff and Pat Burrell talk to each other before at bats. They are clearly in a bromance that I’ve loved watching over the past few months. Buster Posey, please, that guy plays catcher and first base and if Bochy asked him to, would probably pitch and be a great shortstop if we needed him. Andres Torres money. Freddy Sanchez who clearly has a case of A.D.D., runs the hardest after each hit no matter the outcome.

What I’m saying here is that we finally have a TEAM, not just a number to watch. We have guys that love this game and show it every time they play. Guys that don’t take advantage of the fact that they’re making millions because they’re out there 162 regular season games hungry to win. It’s a team that I’m finally proud of because this is what baseball and even what life is all about. It’s not about the hero, it’s about the little guys rallying together for a greater cause.

This has been a season of hard work. Every game has seemed to be a fight to win and to support the pitching staff. It's an exciting time for Giants fans because this is a team that only comes around once in a blue or rather orange moon. So wherever you are Barry, I hope you’re taking notes on how a real team works.

Who's On First? What's on Second? Why is a GIRL writing about baseball???

First of all, thank you for reading this! I just came up with the concept of Urban Baseball Chick about a month ago and wanted to get something going before the regular baseball season ends. Second, yeah, I'm an early thirties chick who absolutely loves baseball, the history that goes along with it and of course all of it's characters. Day in and day out, I'm watching baseball, exclusively the San Francisco Giants because, well that's the team I grew up with.

My first memories of going to a game back at the Stick (Candlestick Park for those of you not from 'round these parts) was going with my Dad and Grandpa. I was the only girl going with the guys to a game. (Wow, how my life has not changed that drastically from 26 years ago....) My Grandpa Danny had season tickets right between homeplate and the Giants dugout and those were the good ol' days of #22, William Nuschler Clark, or Will "the Thrill" as the media and his teammates called him. As a little pup, I think around 7, my Dad or Mom would first take me to 7-11, let me pick out some Big League Chew for Will and then, once I got to the park would run down to the area around the dugout and give it to him. Sometimes his other teammates would grab it from me, like catcher Bob Brenly for instance and walk it over to Will, but that's what I remember and it was good times.

Since then, I've steadily watched the team, it's managers and home change. I've gone from catch phrases like "Humm-Baby "to "It's Magic Inside". Players like Bob Brenly, Matt Williams, Robby Thompson, Will Clark and Jeffrey Leonard to Bill Mueller, Jeff Kent, Barry Bonds (does anyone remember Bobby Estalella, or as the ladies called him Bobby Chestalella???) Shawn Estes, J.T. Snow and now Buster Posey, Aubrey Huff and Pat Burrell. And how could I forget managers like Roger Craig, Dusty Baker (my favorite) and now Bochy. It's been a wild ride, full of heart break and sheer excitement as well as unmentionable, rowdy nights and days at Spring Training in Scottsdale AZ, but all for the love of the game.

But why, why is Urban Baseball Chick so into baseball? Well, it's pretty simple. Baseball is my dad. You see, my Dad and I didn't always agree on a lot, but we always had baseball and the Giants. We went to games, we watched games in the comfort of the family living room, we listened to it on the radio in his car, it was one of the things in life that brought us together and sparked some heated debates. So, to continue the memory of my father, baseball lives in me and around me and I dedicate Urban Baseball Chick to him cause I think he'd dig it.