Highlights From Maybe the Best Saturday Ever: Smoke Bombs, Back-to-Back Homers, and a World Series Game 3 Win

I spent almost 12 hours down at the sports complex yesterday, leaving my car in FDR at about 3 PM, and pulling out at 2:40 AM. There's no way to summarize all that happened between sitting where the goal judge used to be at the Flyers defeat of the Devils, and hours later, somehow worming our way down to the fifth row, first base side at our first ever World Series game. But Enrico and I will be sharing some of the highlights over the next day or so, because it was about as good a day as a Philly sports fan can have (so far).

We have the Eagles coming up at 1, and I'll be putting up a game thread for that while continuing to add to this with some pics and maybe videos from the Flyers and Phillies, so check back a bit later.

One of the most often griped about trends in modern sports is that with new stadiums came new crowds. Luxury boxes and corporate tickets put casual and even "non" fans in seats formerly occupied by die-hards. The costs of the new seats keeps many hard-working supporters at home or the local bar, while suits arrive late after wrapping their depositions or whatever. But I would be a hypocrite if I ever complained about it. Somehow, I often end up going to games with friends who have a corporate hookup, such as was the case yesterday for the Flyers. Then at the Phillies game, Enrico and I may have benefited from the trend. More on this later.

Flyers Beat the Devils While I Get a Pedicure

Where the goal judge once sat in a little glass case, there are now two rows of three leather-ish seats. This is where I got to sit for the Flyers-Devils game yesterday. Before the first period started, a waitress came and took our drink and food orders, returning with snacks, hot dogs, and two beers each. She came back and did the same between periods. Not a bad hook-up. Aside from the catering, the view from the rinkside seats needs no explanation. I know this is The700Level, but tell me you'd kick these tickets out of bed. I dare you.

The game went to OT, but the Flyers seemed to own it from the drop. It was great to spend two periods watching the legend Martin Brodeur do his thing, and even better to see the Flyers beat him again. The OT winner was in our end, and you could see me banging on the glass behind the goal (Phillies Playoffs 2008 sweatshirt). The Devils' first goal definitely looked like it was tipped in with a high stick from our vantage, and I never heard why it wasn't reviewed. Perhaps you can fill me in if you saw it on TV.

Unless you've spent the last 24 hours under a rock or ridiculously hung over in bed, you've already heard about the Smoke Bomb Incident. Right before the Flyers scored the OT winner, a fan launched a homemade smoke bomb onto the ice. It bounced and skidded to the boards near the Devils bench, and the players had to clear out quickly, because it was some seriously heavy plume.

Ossi Vaanannannnan grabbed it, but the damage already done. The game was delayed while the smoke dissipated, and Lou Nolan called out over the PA system for any fans who saw the culprit throw the object to point him out. Lou sounded pissed, and understandably so. This is a gentleman's game, not an Italian soccer match. Via Puck Daddy, here's a video of the event; please pardon the goofy announcing work:

 

Now Let's Go See Some History

Before I left for the Flyers game, Enrico asked if I wanted to try to get some tickets for the Phillies-Rays later that night. I said I'd probably do it, and we texted back and forth about some options. Then, a little while after the game started, I got this:

 

I went nuts. My friend Carl P and his buddy Martin were happy I was going, and Carl quickly decided he was going to try for tickets in the lot. After the Flyers won the smoke-out, Carl and I walked outside to what I'd call "a light mist." Comments were made about how nice it was, and I didn't go back to my car for the bag I'd packed with extra clothes in the event I'd go to the Phillies game, because we wanted to see what tickets were available ASAP. Halfway to the Bank, the skies opened up, and we were soaked through in about 30 seconds. People ran for cover left and right, and the line into McFaddens was about 50 deep. We stood under the overhang out front, and E texted me to say there was a scalper near him with some reasonable tickets. In the course of a few hours, they had dropped by about $450 apiece. Carl and I braved the rain and walked to find him, and a few minutes later, Carl had his ticket to paradise (which was quite a bit cheaper than ours).

I'm sure more than a few fans will be pulling the double dip at the Linc and CBP on Sunday. We salute you if so. Totally worth it. Despite being completely soaked, and waiting with uncertainty for the game to start, I can say for sure that it's unquestionably worth it. As it got later and later and we stood among the soaked throngs in the concourse at CBP, the thought did set in that it was going to be a really long night. Baseball games can mean long nights under any circumstances, but with protracted commercial breaks and a gametime temp in the 50s, this would take some liquid courage. We immediately found a good beer option at a Brewerytown stand, bought a round, and camped out for the next couple hours. On a quest for more and warmer clothes, we hit up the Clubhouse store, wherein they were absolutely printing money. There was a 5-10 minute wait to get in. I bought a longsleeve NL Champs shirt to add a layer, and a skullie to replace the drenched cap I was wearing. More beer (Flying Fish Pale Ale).

Reports from commenters and friends via text message showed that no one was quite sure when this game would start, but everyone seemed to be of the opinion that it would, at some time before midnight, get underway. The doppler on my phone showed that we'd soon be in the clear, but it continued to pour. But as soon as the rain let up, the tarp was gone, and the pre-game events were underway before we got to our seats.

Enrico and I were enjoying the view from the second row of the top section on the first base side when Carl, expert in empty seat spotting, texted me from section 114, right below us, saying there were three open seats in the fifth row. After another trip to Brewerytown, we pulled a little subterfuge with the guy checking tickets, and we were on our way to the field. When we got there, the whole section—the whole stadium—seemed to be packed, except for these seats. The rightful owners never came, and we sat there, in row 5, for the majority of a World Series game. Everyone in our section was pretty cool, although I will admit that the weather and delay seemed to keep the crowd quieter than I'd have liked during some of the game. But almost no one left, despite the late hour, and there were definitely plenty of loud moments.

Back-to-back jacks from Utley and Howard. Plenty of well-deserved ump abuse (we had a perfect angle, and he was so obviously out). A Chooch Ruiz dinger that I totally called. A walkoff dribbler with five infielders.

And a real solid outing from Jamie Moyer, hometown hero.

Do anything you can to see either tonight's game, or tomorrow's. It was beyond worth the money, the wet clothes, and the long night.

 

Comments

[Leigh]

I'm so happy that you got to go. I can't wait to hear all about it!

I'm so jealous, I'm sitting here in fucking Ohio while everyone else gets to go!

(My brother is going to the game tonight) so so so jealous

[Kevin]

And how about Penn State???

[will]

leigh, support us from abroad. ill be behind bj upton (real name bossman junior). its my 26th birthday on the 26th. pat burrell will homer. eagles will win 37-5. i'll punch a rays fan in the neck. fuck im excited, hungover, and ready to get nuts.

[steve]

will, that sounds like the best day ever.

[chris]

yea, i'm stuck here in new york and had to deal with angry mets fans last night at the bar while the phillies took care of business. i'm so jealous of everyone there

[Joe]

WE ARE...

[Matt P]

@Kevin, that was an amazing plus to the day. I can't say I know anything about what happened between PSU-OSU, but the whispers around the stadium kept us all aware the they were up, and that they ultimately won.

[Hummer]

howd that Smoke Bomb look in person, Matt?

[Matt P]

Hummer, I have some good pics I'll add in a bit. That was really, really weird.

[jd]

PENN STATE!!!!

flyers, psu, and then the phillies all roll on to victories!!!!!

i haven't had a beer in 12 hours, but still feel drunk!!!

[Benjamin]

as a PSU alum (04), it WAS the best day of sports ever!!! (to date)

The best was the rain delay allowing my friend and I to focus on the PSU game before really focusing in on the phillies...But the dual TV arrangement really helped. My wife called the living room a sports bar, and both my friend and I a little insane after watching our reactions to the PSU game...

Too bad she was asleep and missed me after the phillies win, silently screaming, running around, dancing on the furniture.

I woke up pumping my fist...

[JF]

I'd have to say this IS the best weekend EVER! I don't remember the last time all my teams won. This is amazing.

[Zack]

who were you calling "so obviously safe"?

Cause Moyer and Howard teamed up for an out

[Lynniemac]

With all due respect to the men and women of the US military, does anyone else think we should bust out the Kate Smith on Phanavision for "God Bless America"?

[tony]

well wow, i was the dude sitting directly in front of Carl. had i known you were a writer for this fine site, i would have complimented you guys on a job well done.

what a day, what a game(s).

[Matt P]

@Zack: Yeah that was my bad, fixed.

@tony: Thanks!

[Chris]

The "three amigos" shot is one of the best I have ever seen. I am as jealous as I have ever been of everybody who was there last night and who will be there tonight.

I'm packed and headed to Toronto tomorrow where I hope to find the ubiquitous 'guy from Philly who owns a bar.'

But for now, my son and I are going to watch the Phils get one step from glory.

[Matty B]

I was at last nights incredible game. Walking through Ashburn Alley to my seat I see someone coming walking at me in the mass of people there, who is it? Rob Schneider of course! I gave him a hello and Duece Bigalow gave me a kind hello in return. Who needs LA to have celebrities at a game, not even including Enrico and Matt of course? And Rob Schneider wasn't the only 5'4" celebrity I saw, I ran into Tim Kurkjian out in behind Chickie's and Pete's as well (not sure if he really qualifies as a celebrity, but he certainly doesn't need to be walking around the stadium by himself).

[BFisch]

Go Flyers! Two great wins, now they gotta do it a couple more times and get it going.
Them crazy Phillies and they're winning.
(psu wasnt mentioned cause, well, who gives a shit?)

[enrico]

Matt did indeed call the Chooch HR. I heard him.

[Harry]

Hey!!! We the guys in Row 6 behind you. Didn't know you were 700level - big fans! Pleasure to have you in sec. 114 - stop by tonite. And, check out ryanhoward.org & sportsforpresident.com (in development). Digging sports the way you guys obviously do!!

[Matt P]

Harry, that's awesome. You guys were hilarious, btw.