Traffic into Milwaukee
was surprisingly easy. There was no dramatic slamming-on-of-breaks at all; usually
I witness at least one near-miss or rear-ending. I knew that due to
construction there were lane closings near Miller Park
This year I left early as I always do. I like to get there
for batting practice and am always eager to assure a parking spot in the lot.
I’ve always wondered what I would do if I couldn’t get in the lot. This year I
got to find out. After the quick trip up to Miller Park Lane , cars came to a crawl.
The trip up, around, and in to the parking lot took at least an hour and a
half. This is unusual, even on a
big-crowd day such as this. I went to all three NLDS games and got in quickly
and easily, one of the first to park. This time I got up to the lot and
encountered a surly cop and parking staff who were asking each of us if we had
a parking pass. No one did. The attitude was that we should have known this,
though at no point did we encounter signs or people telling us so at any of the
previous four opportunities to exit. LAME. And so we were all directed to go
straight instead of turn, which meant three lanes of cars merging to one lane.
I said, “Where do I go?” He said, “State Fair parking lot.”
Fine, ok. I
didn’t know how to get there, and we were getting up on 1:30pm. I was getting
very antsy. I followed the line of cars
hoping they’d lead me to the lot I needed. However, at the first stop sign some
went one way and some the other! So I picked a car and followed them. To the Potawatomie
Bingo Casino ramp. Which we are allowed to use, except there is no shuttle to Miller Park
After a trip through a neighborhood seemingly hitting every side street
possible between there and Miller Park, we arrive at the VW Hospital parking
lot and trek across the short pedestrian walkway up to the backside of Miller Park. WHEW. Finally there, but late.
Not late to the average fan, but I like to be in my seat at first pitch which
did not happen. Didn’t see first pitches, or any of the pomp and circumstance
of opening day. Got to my seat, pleased with my location in section 232, only a
few seats in. I’m always intrigued by that
feeling – like I’d just been there. Like Miller Park
First
inning was great. Of course we didn’t know it’d be the only scoring until too
late in the game. It was a loss, more annoying of course because the season was
bookended by two losses to the Cardinals.
Gallardo had a terrible start, one of his worst. Relief wasn’t much
better, and the Cardinal’s scoring seemed ceaseless. All their balls fell for hits;
all our hard hit balls were at’em. Ryan Braun went 0-5. I don’t know the odds
of that but I’d guess it hasn’t happened before. A thank you to George Kottarras for his 3 run
homer, rewarding the fans who stuck it out to the end.
At the end
of the game smoke could be seen rolling onto the field. Fans were greeted by
the foul odor and ominous sight of a massive fire upon exiting the park. The
fire at Miller metal recycling was visible thirty blocks away and made it look
like a thick fog over the area. While looking up details today I also found out
that Bob Uecker’s son passed away from Valley Fever at the young age of 52. On
Opening Day of all days, poor Bob. My heart goes out to him and his family. This
makes all I had written above seem like minor annoyances.
It adds up
to a rather dismal start to the year. But you know what? I had a great time. I
went to that game for ONE particular moment, which went exactly as I had
pictured. I needed to be there to give
Ryan Braun his proper ‘welcome home’ to Miller Park Miller
Park
It would’ve
been nice to win, but luckily that is not what Opening Day is about. Opening
Day is about new beginnings. And now I have to go, the Brewers/Cardinals game
is about to start. And just like that, yesterday’s over.
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