By Steve

There's nothing I like more...
Before I go any further, I confess that there are many things I like more than what I am about to say. This is just how I felt like saying it, so don't feel the need to ask if this is really what I like the most...but it was great!

There's nothing I like more (see above comments) than watching the Padres beat up on the Dodgers. Diving catches in the outfield. A grand slam. A lopsided final score. Such was the case in Saturdays game. The park was sold out. Our view of homeplate was obstructed, as in we could not see it, by the foul pole. The crowd was hostile. The perfect setting for a night of baseball (except for the obstructed view thing). I especially like it when the sometimes reserved Padres fans chant "beat LA" at ear damaging decibels. It is pretty incredible to me how something as simple as a baseball game, can bring thousands of people together. People who would probably never hang out, not even acknowledge each others existence. People who probably wouldn't get along. People who don't even like each other. But put them in a stadium, dress them in the Friars latest and greatest apparel, bring the next batter to the plate...and this most unexpected group of people come together.

The interesting thing this night, was how this same thing can also become destructively divisive. There may be just one stadium, but there are two teams. Just as the Padres bring their faithful together, so do the Dodgers. And as much as we cheer for our team, cheers against the opposing team often seem more passionate. If it stopped here, there wouldn't be much for me to say. It's sports you say, competition. We want our team to win, and the other team to lose so we cheer accordingly.

What stood out above other things Saturday night was how personal this all becomes. Not only does that Dodger fan love his team, he hates the Padres. Not only does he hate the Padres, he hates the Padres fans. Not only does he hate Padres "fans," he hates specific fans, the ones sitting in his section. And so it goes for the Padres fans too.

One could make a case that this is just part of the game, or that it is the large amount of alcohol consumption at work. But does that make it any more appropriate. Make what more appropriate? The onslaught of "F" bombs from fan to fan. The fighting. The need for dozens of cops and security to escort out of the stadium a large group from both sides who just couldn't get along, to the point of assault and battery. I began to notice that much of the cheering in the section next to where I was seated was not cheering at all, nor was it even directed at the game. Rather, fans were yelling at each other, not so much in support of their team as much as it seemed that they just wanted to yell at someone, maybe even hate someone, who was not in support of their team. If you're not for the same thing I'm for, than I'm against you so it seems.

Sadly, this doesn't only happen at baseball games.