DREIS RANTS, 8/22/2011…..RIVALRIES
We all love a good rivalry. It makes for great drama. A number of factors come into mind when we talk about rivalries, be it geographic proximity, teams meeting each other with great frequency in the post season amongst other reasons. A couple of months ago I wrote here that though the Giants are our traditional rivals the Phillies also make our bitter rivals list as well
Another one that could arguably be on our list as well is tonights opponent, the St. Louis Cardinals. Since 2004, the Cardinals hold a commanding 34-15 regular season edge on our Boys in Blue and a ridiculous 21-4 edge at both old and new Busch Stadiums. The two franchises have almost 250 years of history combined and both have won a total of 16 World Championships and the Cards leading the Senior Circuit with 10. Both teams have met in the post season 3 times and have given each other ( especially this fan here ) their share of jubilation and heartache. Two of the darkest days of my childhood came 2 days apart from each other in the 1985 NLCS. After winning the first 2 games of the now Best of 7 series ( Previous LCS’ were best of 5 ) , both teams we’re tied at 2 in the bottom of the 9th at Busch Stadium, and with one out, Ozzie Smith ( One of my all-time favorites, mind you ) , who never homered from the left side of the plate, had to pick this most (in)opportune time to do it, and St. Louisans WENT CRAZY, giving the Cards a 3 games to 2 lead in the series heading back to L.A.
I wasn’t exactly going crazy folks…..
This would later be voted as old Busch Stadium’s #1 all time greatest moment
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20050930&content_id=1231334&vkey=news_stl&fext=.jsp&c_id=stl
Two days later, with the Blue leading 5-4 and 2 outs in the top of the ninth, runners on 2nd and 3rd and the Cards only legitamate HR threat Jack Clark up, Tommy Lasorda would make the decision that would have us asking that fateful question all winter of 1985 ” WHY DID YOU PITCH TO JACK CLARK !!! “ Need I say more ?
Pedro Guerrero slamming his glove in disgust, like a Bad News Bear. Check out the fans reaction in the LF Pavillion as they look up at the flight of Jack Clark’s dinger. That capped off 2 of my darkest days of my childhood as a Dodger fan. I would get some sort of satisfaction 10 days later in game 6 of the World Series, thanks to umpire Don Dekinger, a name that still draws the ire of Cards fans of the day and even today
Ok, flash forward, 25 years later, 2009 NLDS, game 2, bottom 9, Dodgers one out away from having the series tied at 1, and Matt Holliday etches his mark in the hearts of Dodger fans forever, and 4 batters later, we we’re the ones who would GO CRAZY FOLKS !!!!! The Dodgers would go on and sweep the Cards on their way to more heartbreak against Philly in the LCS
Matt Holliday you have forever made your mark into the heart of Dodger fans everywhere
So the rivalry with St. Louis continues, and tonight’s 2-1 come from behind victory should be proof that these two storied franchises will continue to give fans of both teams both pain and jubilation.
ON THIS DAY, 1965
One of the ugliest on-field incidents takes place at Candlestick Park between Dodgers catcher Johnny Roseboro and Giants pitcher Juan Marichal. The game is delayed 14 minutes and Juan Marichal is suspended 10 games, missing 2 starts and being fined a paltry $1500. ( YES, PALTRY EVEN FOR 1965….) The two would eventually reconcile but as for those 2 missed games, the Dodgers would win the pennant by, you guessed it, 2 games over, yup, the Giants, en route to their 3rd World Series title in Los Angeles, 4th in a 10 year span from 1955-1965.
8/22/1965. The now infamous Roseboro/Marichal incident, with Sandy Koufax trying to keep peace
Roseboro and Marichal would reconcile years later. Juan Marichal would be one of the key speakers at Roseboros funeral in 2002
THE UGLY SIDE OF RIVALRIES
This past year we have seen rivalries in it’s ugliest forms going beyond the lines. And again, the most recent scar involves teams in our great state with connections, past and present, to both L.A. and the Bay Area. This past Saturday, several fights occurred in and outside of Candlestick Park during and after the 49ers/Raiders game and including a couple of shootings, one of the suspects wearing a shirt that read ” F**K THE NINERS” !!! ( Wonder what team he was cheering for ). Being a fan of both the Dodgers and 49ERS, it really pains me that incidents like this have happened within a 4 month period. Unfortunately, this is not the first time we’ve heard of a shooting or beating in the parking lots, and I’m not so confidant this will be the last.
In Sept of 2003, a Giants fan was shot in the parking lot outside of Dodger Stadium
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?id=1625187
Most recently, on March 31st, Brian Stow, a Giants fan from San Jose, was beat up in Lot 2 outside Dodger Stadium. You know the story….
Like many of you, I love a great rivalry. And in spite of all this non-sense that has been happening ( I’m putting it kindly….), I still don’t fear for my safety, or even my life when I go to these games. ( It really is a sad state of affairs when people are fearing for their lives when attending a sporting event. Just really sad….) . And there is no reason why anyone else should fear for their safety either. Some good natured trash talk is cool, but let’s all remember that IT’S JUST A GAME !!!! This is not life or death people.
I hope they do not cancel the annual 49ERS/Raiders exhibition. There has been talk about that and while it’s easy to act on emotion, by canceling the game this would be another way of saying that these hooligans have won, and the real fans of these teams deserve much better than that.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/ninerinsider/detail?entry_id=95915
I also want to add that while there is a lot of fear amongst fans these days to want to go to sporting events because of incidents like these, I just want you all to know that it is these few idiots who try to bring everyone down. The majority of fans who go to the events are for the most part civil. Now I ain’t gonna lie either that i’ve had a few choice words hurled toward me, but for the most part, I have always enjoyed good banter amongst fans of all teams, including fans of rivals ( Giants fans, USC fans…..) . Having said that, I do agree that a lot more work has to be done in terms of securing fan safety when attending a sporting event. Is it me, or is it coincidence that the Raiders don’t sell out many home games and now the Dodgers have gotten to that point. Loud fans and passion is one thing, but at what cost ? And where do we draw the line ? It’s just too bad that we’re now to that point that many of you are scared for your lives to attend a game, and I can’t blame you.
FINAL THOUGHTS
OK, I want to get back to being a fan, and since my I mentioned the 49ers being my favorite NFL team in my last rant….” YORK SELL THE TEAM !!! “ Ironic that I’ve been demanding with great frequency for the current owners of my beloved teams to SELL THE TEAM !!!!
CAN WE ALL GET ALONG ?
Proof that fans of rival teams CAN get along
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