Talkin' baseball
Jun. 28th, 2024 05:38 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lauradi7dwIn 2020 we started watching KBO (Korean professional baseball) on ESPN. The NC (computer company) Dinos and the Durham NC (geography) Bulls set up a marketing collaboration.
https://lauradi7dw.dreamwidth.org/612953.html
When I originally booked my return from Seoul, I was planning to come back on Tuesday the 18th, but after perusing the schedule at Jamsil stadium (an outdoor open-air stadium available on the #2 subway line), I realized that by extending the trip one more day I could go see the Dinos in person, as the visiting team, playing the Doosan Bears. I packed my shirt (see above). Jamsil is home to another team in addition to the Bears. To make sure I saw a game, worrying about possible rain-outs, I also went the previous Friday (14th) to see the LG Twins (home) vs the Lotte Giants (yes, it's the same Lotte as the supermarket, the theme park, and a gazillion other things). Friday night's ticket adventures included buying an extra from a California/Korean family and then having them renege in the 3rd inning, after which I dealt with a scalper because the game was sold out by that time. The only problem on Tuesday was that I didn't communicate clearly that I wanted to sit near the Dinos visiting fans, so I was with a bunch of Bears folks. It was fine. It was a much better seat in terms of being near the action - Friday I was seated way out by the outfield. On Tuesday I was closer to the cheerleaders (and the batters). The person still in his office clothes sitting in front of me knew all the songs and the cheers for individual players. Tuesday night was not sold out but on Friday the whole place was rocking, although it took a while for people to get there after work. The games start at 6:30 PM. I felt at the time that I had learned some of the songs, but I don't remember them now. On Tuesday I could see the jumbo screen. The lyrics to the national anthem (not the other songs) were captioned there, and the anthem is slow enough that I could sound it out and sing along.
On both nights, there were many USian tourists, but the crowds were dominated by locals, of course.
Me an hour early, hence the empty seats, in my shirt. Was I the only one masked? Maybe?
Doosan cheerleaders (in the box, partly obscured by the fan flag) and surrounding crowd
View of players during the national anthem on Friday, from the outfield.
PS I don't think this would happen here. South Korean culture is heavy on alcohol use, but famous people aren't allowed to behave badly because of it
From Dan Kurtz
>>Lotte suspended pitcher Na Gyun-an for 30 games and 40 hours of community service. The night before his start, Na was spotted by a fan attending a late night drinking party.
Na was unable to be sent down that day, so he started & gave up 8 runs in 1.2 innings of work<<
https://lauradi7dw.dreamwidth.org/612953.html
When I originally booked my return from Seoul, I was planning to come back on Tuesday the 18th, but after perusing the schedule at Jamsil stadium (an outdoor open-air stadium available on the #2 subway line), I realized that by extending the trip one more day I could go see the Dinos in person, as the visiting team, playing the Doosan Bears. I packed my shirt (see above). Jamsil is home to another team in addition to the Bears. To make sure I saw a game, worrying about possible rain-outs, I also went the previous Friday (14th) to see the LG Twins (home) vs the Lotte Giants (yes, it's the same Lotte as the supermarket, the theme park, and a gazillion other things). Friday night's ticket adventures included buying an extra from a California/Korean family and then having them renege in the 3rd inning, after which I dealt with a scalper because the game was sold out by that time. The only problem on Tuesday was that I didn't communicate clearly that I wanted to sit near the Dinos visiting fans, so I was with a bunch of Bears folks. It was fine. It was a much better seat in terms of being near the action - Friday I was seated way out by the outfield. On Tuesday I was closer to the cheerleaders (and the batters). The person still in his office clothes sitting in front of me knew all the songs and the cheers for individual players. Tuesday night was not sold out but on Friday the whole place was rocking, although it took a while for people to get there after work. The games start at 6:30 PM. I felt at the time that I had learned some of the songs, but I don't remember them now. On Tuesday I could see the jumbo screen. The lyrics to the national anthem (not the other songs) were captioned there, and the anthem is slow enough that I could sound it out and sing along.
On both nights, there were many USian tourists, but the crowds were dominated by locals, of course.
Me an hour early, hence the empty seats, in my shirt. Was I the only one masked? Maybe?
Doosan cheerleaders (in the box, partly obscured by the fan flag) and surrounding crowd
View of players during the national anthem on Friday, from the outfield.
PS I don't think this would happen here. South Korean culture is heavy on alcohol use, but famous people aren't allowed to behave badly because of it
From Dan Kurtz
>>Lotte suspended pitcher Na Gyun-an for 30 games and 40 hours of community service. The night before his start, Na was spotted by a fan attending a late night drinking party.
Na was unable to be sent down that day, so he started & gave up 8 runs in 1.2 innings of work<<
