I emailed the hilarious comedian Bill Burr regarding an episode of his podcast (themmpodcast.com) from 10/6/10 where he talked about getting harassed at the Bills/Jets game (10/3/10) and chronicled my experience at Dodger Stadium last October (which I'd never done). Here's how that went:
Bill,
I listened to your last podcast about your experience at the Bills/Jets game. I've had a similar experience of walking into an opposing team's stadium. I'm a St. Louis Cardinals fan and last year they played the Dodgers in the first round of the playoffs. I wanted to go to the game so I tried to get my friend, a Dodger fan, to go with me. He couldn't make it because of his kid (typical, right?) so I decided to go alone.
I was hesitant to do so at first because I know how shitty Dodger fans act towards other fans. Adding the pressure of a playoff game and the ever-present drunkenness, I knew I'd be in for a battle. So I got my ticket and went down to Chavez Ravine.
I was pretty smart about it though. I wore my Pujols jersey to support my team but I didn't wear a hat. I figured that, in a crowd, I'd be harder to spot/torment without a bright red headlight. I walked into the stadium with little incident. I got to my seat and was of course surrounded by Dodger fans. The worst part was: I was right on the aisle right before the field level concession stands. So all throughout the game dudes would slap me on the back as they passed me, shouting, "HEY PUJOLS!!!"
There was a group of Cardinal fans down my row that offered to let me sit near them, but I declined because they all looked like rednecks to me. I grew up in San Diego, right near the border, so I've always felt more comfortable with Mexicans than white folks, including my own family. So I stayed at my seat and luckily the 2 guys right next to me were really cool and friendly, even though we were there for opposing reasons.
One thing that bugged the shit out of me though was this drunken bastard a few rows in front of me. He asked me if I was from St. Louis. I said, No, San Diego. He asked why I was a Cardinals fan, and rather than tell him the whole story about my favorite player had been traded to the Yankees (fuck those cunts), I told him I became a fan during the McGwire homerun chase of '98. This motherfucker scoffed at me and turned away like I was an asshole! Me?! Manny Ramirez is RIGHT FUCKING THERE!!! What a douche...
Outside of that guy, I didn't have much means to be angry. Except for the Cards losing, of course. A security guard even came and checked on me, which was nice, but I was cool. I didn't ask for trouble so I didn't get any.
When the game ended, I shook the hand of my neighbor, said "Good game" and headed for the exit. I had my jacket on because it was getting cold so I went ahead a zipped it up till I got in my car. I don't think that makes me a pussy but I'd rather keep the fact that I bleed Cardinal red a figurative thing to be safe.
What do you think, Bill? Was I smart, or a scaredy-cunt?
Aaron Brungardt
Burbank, CA
And he replied! How Fucking Awesome Is That!
Aaron -
Smart. Without a doubt, smart. The kind of people who would actuallydo physical harm to someone wearing a different jersey are not the oneon one types. They are the push from behind, 5 on 1 types who stompyou into the ground while the other four hold you down. I think afterlast week, I officially am at the age where I'm going in plain clothes to opposing teams stadiums. It's just makes for a much betterexperience.
Bill
