Take me out to the Ball Game
We got free tickets to see a Yankees baseball game so we made the trek to the Bronx stadium.
I guess I haven't been to any live sporting events so I can't compare to say, a football match in England but the whole experience was just so American. First, absolutely everyone can sing the national anthem "The Star-Spangled Banner" - not only do they learn it at school but at the beginning of every sporting event, the crowd stands up, puts their hand on their chest and do the obligatory. After the seventh inning (a little more than halfway), the crowd is asked to stand up and sing "America the Beautiful". This is taken very seriously and solemnly so no giggling. Now, ask yourself, does everyone in England know the lyrics to "God Save the Queen"?
The baseball players all have theme songs so when they hit a home run or do something fairly extraordinary, their theme songs play. They also pump up the crowd by playing jingles to help them "make some noise". They also play some games in the breaks by picking on some unsuspecting audience members and getting them to answer trivia questions (broadcasted on the big screen). The crowd also generated a wave which lasted three or four times round the stadium.
The only food available was true to form: hot dogs, crackerjacks (caramel popcorn) and pretzels. I was warned that this would be the case but still found it hard to believe in this day and age, they haven't branched out....
I guess I haven't been to any live sporting events so I can't compare to say, a football match in England but the whole experience was just so American. First, absolutely everyone can sing the national anthem "The Star-Spangled Banner" - not only do they learn it at school but at the beginning of every sporting event, the crowd stands up, puts their hand on their chest and do the obligatory. After the seventh inning (a little more than halfway), the crowd is asked to stand up and sing "America the Beautiful". This is taken very seriously and solemnly so no giggling. Now, ask yourself, does everyone in England know the lyrics to "God Save the Queen"?
The baseball players all have theme songs so when they hit a home run or do something fairly extraordinary, their theme songs play. They also pump up the crowd by playing jingles to help them "make some noise". They also play some games in the breaks by picking on some unsuspecting audience members and getting them to answer trivia questions (broadcasted on the big screen). The crowd also generated a wave which lasted three or four times round the stadium.
The only food available was true to form: hot dogs, crackerjacks (caramel popcorn) and pretzels. I was warned that this would be the case but still found it hard to believe in this day and age, they haven't branched out....
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