Something tells me that those who inhabit the City of Angels aren’t exactly floating on cloud nine right about now.
The Dodgers lost the National League Championship Series to the Phillies. The Angels lost the American League Championship Series to the Yankees. And one can’t help but be a little more cautious driving on the 405 for the next week or so.
I’m a San Francisco Giants fan. Born and raised in Sacramento Calif. I grew up watching the likes of Barry Bonds Jeff “the traitor” Kent and Livan Hernandez taking the field at what is now AT&T Park. Naturally I developed a deep-seeded hatred of our rivals down south the Dodgers.
As bitter a rivalry as there is in Major League Baseball it all started more than 100 years ago when the Brookyln Dodgers and New York Giants had classic duels which raged for many years leading both teams to relocate to the West Coast. I’ve been taught the history of the two franchises and why the Dodgers just can’t be trusted.
So when I saw the men in blue walk off the field for the last time this season last Wednesday on a royal beat down by the Phillies 10-4 I couldn’t help give a standing ovation to my television set for a magnificent performance. At the same time I do have my friends who regrettably root for the Dodgers so a very small part of me sends my regards for the disheartening end to what was a brilliant season for Manny and friends in Tinseltown.
With half of Los Angeles down in the dumps the city turned its collective heads to their other shining star to bring happiness to so many: the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
Facing the daunting task of overcoming what appeared to be insurmountable odds in the mighty New York Yankees Angels fans knew it would be a challenge getting past the $ 200 million goliath to say the least.
When was the last time the Angels made the World Series you ask? Well in 2002 of course where they clashed heads with another intimidating juggernaut the San Francisco Giants. Led by superstar and controversial left-fielder Barry Bonds this team looked like quite the wall to climb for John Lackey Garret Anderson and company. In fact they fell behind 3-1 to the orange and black and it looked like the World Series was going to be a short-lived experience for the halos.
Then it happened. With an assist from the “rally monkey The Angels came back against all odds to win the series and national championship. I had witnessed a miracle. And if my memory serves me correctly, I cried like a little girl for an undisclosed length and level of intensity.
So when the Angels found themselves down, 3-1 to the Yankees, a part of me — and I know a part of many LA hopefuls ¬— thought back to how 2002 made even the most unlikely of events possible. A big part of me wanted fans to taste what bitter defeat in the World Series tasted like. But I also liked Anaheim because they weren’t the Dodgers, and anyone who consciously chooses to cheer for the men in red over blue is a dear friend of mine.
So I watched. And I rooted. And it happened. They won a nail-biter last Thursday in dramatic fashion to bring the series to 3-2 in front of the LA faithful, giving new life to the series and reminding everyone that the halos are very capable of performing a miracle yet again.
Then Sunday came. Back to the East Coast, where the Evil Empire regrouped and came ready to close things out. It’s been six years since the Yankees made it to the World Series, and this standout bunch wasn’t about to let another chance to perform on the highest stage slip through their hands.
All eyes were on the center of the diamond as Yankee legend Andy Pettitte took the mound facing the Angel’s last hope, Joe Saunders. The magic was alive in the Bronx, as Pettitte delivered a masterful performance, allowing one run in six-and-a-third innings to lead the Yankees to a 5-2 victory to the delight of more than 50,000 in attendance.
And so ended the last chapter of what could have been a special season for either the home of the Magic Kingdom or movie magic.
Although the first All-L.A. Freeway Series didn’t come to fruition, this Giants fan can’t help but tip his cap to a fantastic season from both ball clubs in the City of Angels.
