An Evening at a Clinching Game

By Mad Love
Senior Love God

I’m a Cubs fan living in Los Angeles.

More often than not, that’s been a good thing.

I like being the outsider. At the same time, I also have the largest band of outsiders in the country living within the same city limits.

I don’t think it would be wrong to say that Cubs fans are everywhere. In fact, probably more so than any other fan base in the country. It’s an incredible phenomenon, but whenever I’ve seen my beloved lovable losers on the road - and there have been several ballparks where I can say that - I’m instantly welcomed by thousands of like-minded, solid outstanding citizens just like me.

I’ve been to more than 10 Cubs games here at Dodger Stadium alone, so I knew the landscape well before walking into Saturday night’s Game 3 of the NLDS.

Yes, the Cubbies had dropped two straight at the Friendly Confines of Wrigley Field, but we had Rich Harden on the mound this time. I felt a win coming. Hell, Vegas felt a win coming too, as we were -130 favorites despite being in the opponents’ house.

However, I think both Vegas and I underestimated the desire of Dodger fans in this one, because I’ve never seen that stadium as electric as it was Saturday night.

Before even getting to the game itself, we tailgated in a nearby park, mere walking distance of the stadium. Dodger fans had never been so willing to talk the proverbial smack as they were on this night. It was expected, sure, and it was even welcomed actually. It just came with a little more fervor than I even imagined it would.

And in a scene I thought I’d never see, 30 minutes before the start of the game, we were the lone people remaining at our tailgating spot.

Isn’t this Los Angeles? Don’t these people know they’re not supposed to get to a Dodgers game until the third inning? Apparently, the wrong memo got out to the city on this day, because once we walked up to the stadium, it was absolutely packed!

Yes, Dodger fans got there before first pitch! It was amazing to see, and it had Chavez Ravine rocking like a Metallica concert. I was impressed.

And it didn’t take long for them to be rewarded for their diligence, as more than 51,000 fans - most wearing the required Manny Ramirez fake dreads - were sent into a tizzie when James Loney ripped a two-run double off Harden in the bottom of the first.

It didn’t get any better for the Cubs faithful on this night. Even still, the Dodger fans were, for the most part, respectful to those of us wearing Cubbie paraphenalia.

When it was all said and done, I wasn’t hoping to be at a clinching game, but ultimately being at one was a pretty amazing experience, and the better team’s fan made it a memorable one.

Here’s to you, Dodgers. You did it up right. Make us proud in the next round.