Monday, June 17, 2019

SHOW WITHIN THE SHOW


Don't be frightened. This may appear to be a sports post but honest, there is more going on here than just a game. We have drama folks.

You all know I love baseball but sometimes I am treated to something off the field that I find more interesting.

I follow the Marlins who are having a very sad year. Almost worst in all of baseball.  They have enough surprisingly good games to keep me interested but sometimes I need a bit more not to switch channels.

The Marlins do not have good attendance so there are often many empty seats. Thus the people who do attend, stand out.

To amuse myself on slow nights, I watch the people in the stands and make up stories about them.  The camera usually focuses on the batter so I get pretty familiar with the folks in the expensive season ticket seats behind home plate.

I have enjoyed watching this older couple who are always on the aisle behind the right hand batter.  They are a nice looking couple, have never missed a game and wear all the appropriate gear showing their loyalty to the Marlins.

They seem the perfect couple. Always engaged in conversation, laughing or pointing out a play.  I thought they were so sweet.  I have been watching Marlins games for years and they have been there for years. Almost as familiar as my next door neighbors.

Then one night, drama took over.  There had been some interesting action so I got into the game and had barely given the older couple an occasional glance.  When I did look for them again during a break in the action, the man was gone. Thinking food or potty run I gave it no thought.

It was several plays later that I noticed something else.  The wife ( I am assuming) was still by herself with a strange look on her face. She looked ticked off.  Then I noticed where he was.  He had moved across the aisle and was engaged in an animated conversation with a younger dark haired lady.

Was he hitting on her?  Was she a relative or friend and why was wifey so angry?  Wife pulled out her phone and started pounding on the keyboard. The game was no longer of interest to either of them.

If this was a cartoon, steam would have been steam coming out her ears.  He seemed to have only the lady he was talking to on his mind.

Maybe the strange woman was an ex, maybe his daughter from another marriage, maybe a possible replacement for angry wife, I had no idea.

A strange grey haired man eventually showed up towards the end of the game and sat next to the wife. Probably whom she texted when pounding on her phone.  Hubby? and girl continued to talk intently ignoring all else.

I got back into the game. When the game ended, the cameras were on the players, not the stands.  So I have no idea how this drama ended. Rats.

I have come up with several scenarios but have no idea what really happened. They have not come back to the park for several weeks. The seats remain empty for the first time in years.  They were still empty today.  It's kind of sad.

Are you a people watcher?  Would you have noticed?

51 comments :

  1. No I wouldn't have noticed at all, but my partner does. When we go out for a meal all I get is running commentary about people on the other tables and what their relationship to one another is etc. I don't care!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joey,
      Not everyone's cup of tea but I think your partner would be a fun dinner companion.

      Delete
  2. You would make a wonderful detective, Patti! Now I'm all curious about the couple's relationship. Often things are not what they appear but I'd love to know if they patch things up and their smiles return.

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    Replies
    1. Out to Pasture,
      I really would like a resolution to this also. I keep looking but the seats remain empty:)

      Delete
  3. People watching is one of the best things about sports for me. It's great to make up stories, but now I am curious about really is happening here and I never even watched a Marlins game. You have set the scene really well!

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    Replies
    1. Olga,
      If they ever come back and appear to have made up, I'll post an update. So far nothing. Doesn't people watching change boredom into interesting?

      Delete
  4. While I love people watching never while baseball is on. You're a hoot. Once while in an airport for 6 hrs due to a delay Rick and I were sitting on the floor. As we leaned against this wall Rick was trying to cheer me up. He leaned in to me and said, "see that man over there on the bench? He's wearing his wife's underwear right now" For some reason, and probably being so damn tired, I cracked up laughing. He continued these stories as we watched all the people in the airport. It sure made for a better time while stranded. :-)

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    Replies
    1. Peggy,
      Rick is just too funny. What a great way to spice up a 6 hour wait.

      Delete
  5. I'm not a sports fan, but people watching is something I do. Whatever happened with that couple, I wonder if some day you'll find out. I hope they eventually come back. And you would make a great detective! :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Djan,
      I do have the desire to figure out things and enjoy mysteries. Just a fun way to pass time.

      Delete
  6. I am a people watcher, but not a sports fan. I love that you noticed these two people for such a long time and actually watched some crazy drama unfold, while you were watching a baseball game on TV. It's a wild story, and I hope you can somehow find out what actually transpired.

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    Replies
    1. robin,
      Me too.They have been in my living room every season for years. I really care that they go back to normal. So far, no sight of them.

      Delete
  7. I don't think I'm a people watcher, probably oblivious for the most part. But I have come up with stories on occasion while watching... I wrote the Odd Little Duck (a children's story) while watching people walk up and down a long drive in the country on a retreat. They all stayed on the path... while I (the odd duck) wondered off into the surrounding woods.

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    Replies
    1. Rian,
      You really took a normal sight and turned it into a really cute idea. Odd duck huh. Me too.

      Delete
  8. I'm definitely a people watcher and tend to make up stories, especially when I'm sitting in an airport or doctor's office...somewhere I have long wait. I don't know if I would notice someone at a ball game..but it sure sounds like it was an interesting side show!

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    Replies
    1. Eileen,
      I think most writers are people watchers. That is where a lot of good ideas come from. I only watch the stands when the action stops and in baseball, it stops a lot.

      Delete
  9. Hmmm, I never thought of watching people in the stands. No wonder I find watching baseball on TV kind of boring!

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    Replies
    1. Tom,
      It bores a lot of people as the pace is pretty slow. Give the stands a shot next time. Lots of stuff goes on there.

      Delete
  10. Well, now I want to know what happened, not in the baseball game, which I find boring, but in the stands!

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    Replies
    1. Linda,
      You know I kind of thought of you and Tom who go to so many Sounder games dressed in team colors. Except in soccer the cameras follow the action on the field and don't bleed into the stands.
      I hope I find out their ending. I'll share.

      Delete
  11. It's left on a cliff hanger. You must let us know if there is a part two to the story.

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    Replies
    1. Fun60,
      I hope there is a part two and I am not left wondering the rest of the season over empty seats.

      Delete
  12. The KC Royals have a Facebook group that talks all things Royals. It was really fun to have the constant posts and comments on this group during the Royals successful 2015 World Series win. Maybe the Marlins have such a page. I would have to try to find out, it would drive me nuts.

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    Replies
    1. Nawm,
      We use to have stories about the games with comment sections. Don't know what happened to that. If they did, maybe I could ask a regular if they knew what happened to the couple.

      Delete
  13. I don't know what to say about this. And now I will wonder what happened to them. I don't watch baseball any more, but I doubt I would ever notice anyone in the stands. I don't think it would occur to me that it would be possible.

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    Replies
    1. Inger,
      The cameras focus on the batters and the lens picks up quite a wide section of the stands behind them. It is hard not to notice.

      Delete
  14. I'm not a people watcher. Even on the bus I have my nose in a book or I'm staring out the window.

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    Replies
    1. River,
      The good thing about that is you are spared unfinished stories. Not a bad thing.

      Delete
  15. I don't watch baseball on TV but do watch football. I don't pay any attention to the people in the stands. I do watch people but not in the stands on TV. I find it most interesting that you have followed those people for so long sweet Patti. I would love to know what happened to them. Hugs

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    Replies
    1. Maggie,
      In football the camera follows the action on the large field. Only in basketball and baseball where the fans are just feet away from the action is the possibility to see what the fans are doing.

      Delete
  16. First of all, I too am an AVID baseball fan (since childhood when my dad took me to a St. Louis Cardinal game. He followed them). I'd sit and watch games on TV with him every Saturday. Then, we moved to Colorado and in time, Colorado acquired a new franchise...the Rockies. Bud and I had season home game tickets for years. We even followed them to Tucson for Spring Training. Also, we attended the first game ever of Arizona D-backs. Followed them. Now it's Houston Astros. (Can't stand Texas Rangers) Got signed baseballs from home runs & foul balls. YANKEES with now retired Jeter was MY team)

    Now, to your question. No, I don't pay much attention to people in the stadium. Except for an older couple that was ALWAYS behind home plate with the Astros...George & Barbara Bush! I miss them.

    BASEBALL! I could talk your socks off on this subject.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hootin Annie,
      I remember seeing them behind home plate. They were real fans.
      Jeter is now our CEO and part owner. We are in the rebuilding phase right now so winning doesn't happen often.

      Delete
  17. Oh, yes, I would rather watch people than any ball game. Now I'm interested in what happened to that couple. You have to keep us posted. Now I want to watch the Marlins' games!

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    Replies
    1. Snickelfritz,
      I will let you know it they ever reappear. I hope so. Because our attendance is so poor, it is easy to spot people in the stands.

      Delete
  18. I'm laughing because I also make up stories about strangers I observe. Not only that, I make up stories about the occupants of houses I drive past even if I've never seen a person outside.

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    Replies
    1. Carolyn,
      Way to go. Fun isn't it? We must be frustrated writers or wanna be FBI profilers:))

      Delete
  19. You are a hoot! Just found you, have to follow you. Hope you will visit me at accidentlyaging.blogspot.com

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    Replies
    1. Latane,
      Thank you so much for stopping by and following. Glad I could amuse. I will check your blog now.

      Delete
  20. Isn't that interesting. Now I want to know too. I don't watch much sports except Rockets basketball. I've always wondered about the people with floor tickets. Getting a good seat is one thing but I don't know if I'd want to take a chance that a couple of those big guys would come falling on me while trying to capture the ball. Hahaha. I'd be the one to go home on a stretcher.

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    Replies
    1. Barbara,
      I have always wondered about those with court side seats. Like you, that is a bit too close to the action for me.

      Delete
  21. Ack! Now I want to know what happened too. Do I watch people? I sure do, but ummmm… not at a baseball game. My whole family loves sports, but alas I don't have the brain to understand it. Sigh.

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    Replies
    1. Kay,
      The next time you have to watch a game with your family, check out the seats. Sometimes more is going on there than on the field.

      Delete
  22. I love this! No, I am not a people watcher, but my hubby is. He would have been giving me a play-by-play on this one. I wish I knew the rest of the story!

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    Replies
    1. Chip Butter,
      Your hubby sounds like my kind of people. If I ever see them again, I'll let you all know.

      Delete
  23. You really did get involved from afar. Cool. I just wish he did not hurt feelings. It is really unfair to literally sit beside her with another that clearly she did not care for. I do not watch games much. I prefer plays, concerts and other arts. I do love horse shows and Olymics etc. I did not see more than one Raptor final game. Instead I travelled to UK and found people there were cheering for the team.

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    Replies
    1. Heidrun,
      Congrats big time on the Raptor's win. How cool was that.

      Delete
  24. Yes, I sure would have noticed. When I worked for the Padre's, I got to know all the service folks. The very nice, multilingual service lady for the expensive seats suddenly vanished. I miss her.

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    Replies
    1. Mage,
      And you never found out what happened to her? Strange and sad. Let's hope she just moved to be with her kids.

      Delete
  25. Rumour has it the stadium is really ugly. True???

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  26. Ray,
    Actually the stadium is beautiful but the previous owner has installed a ghastly, huge animated sculpture near the batter's eye that did all sorts of weird things when a home run was hit. We hated it and we will always love Derek Jeter for removing it.

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