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Sports Arena
A Red State-Blue State World Series
San Francisco vs. Texas? Let the culture wars begin!
The 2010 World Series match up between the Texas Rangers and the San Francisco Giants is most fascinating indeed.
It is fascinating because no baseball prognosticator saw it coming before the season began. It is fascinating because both teams upset the defending league champions with the Rangers upending the New York Yankees and the Giants denying the Philadelphia Phillies a third consecutive National League pennant. It is fascinating because the two teams play a very different brand of baseball. While the Rangers are very aggressive on the base paths with their propensity towards stealing bases; the Giants are very conservative in their approach to running the bases.
That might well be the only thing that makes San Francisco more conservative than Texas these days. Because perhaps the most fascinating thing about this year’s World Series is the political and cultural divide that exists between the two cities.
Now I am sure there are members of the Rangers who voted for Barack Obama just as I am sure there are members of the Giants who would prefer to see Sarah Palin in the White House.
Yet when Rangers center fielder Josh Hamilton accepted the American League Championship Series MVP the first thing he did was to praise God and Jesus Christ. Hamilton was loudly applauded by the sold out crowd at Rangers Ballpark for this acknowledgment. Could you imagine the flak Hamilton would have caught had he uttered such praise in San Francisco? Half the crowd would have been on the phone with the ACLU.
The other half of the San Francisco crowd would be on the phone with PETA because of the head of a ten point buck that is mounted above Hamilton’s locker. The Rangers evidently also watch the Fox News Channel because you can see Neil Cavuto interviewing Senator Jim DeMint on the television beside the buck. All things considered, San Franciscans would probably turn up the volume on their radios tuned into NPR.
It is believed that the buck is partially responsible for the antler and claw craze which has swept Texas like wildfire. Whenever a member of the Rangers gets a base hit his teammates will make a bear claw gesture from the dugout signifying it was a good play from and the Rangers player will reciprocate in kind. Whenever a member of the Rangers steals a base or otherwise puts on a burst of speed the Rangers dugout makes an antler gesture which is also reciprocated by the player in question. Not surprisingly, the claw and antler gestures have caught on with Rangers fans and have spawned t-shirts.
Then again why should any of this come as a surprise considering that the Rangers were once owned by George W. Bush? It should be even less surprising with Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan at the helm.
After the Giants clinched the NL pennant, Giants General Manager Brian Sabean had a more temporal source of inspiration. Sabean explained his team’s success by invoking Hillary Clinton stating “we’ve gotten to a point where it ‘takes a village,’ it takes a whole team to win a series.” I cannot imagine that would have gone over well deep in the heart of Texas.
Nevertheless, it is probably an apt description of the 2010 San Francisco Giants and may help to explain why the Giants are resonating with fans in the Bay Area. According to Monte Poole of the Oakland Tribune:
The chemistry on the Giants seems to be exceptional, and fans are responding to the no-star environment. With the exception of Tim Lincecum, the attraction is less to the artistry of the individual than to the beauty of the collective.
I can’t imagine Texas fans being into the whole “the beauty of the collective” concept. ESPN baseball anyalyst Tim Kurkjian doesn’t see much beauty either:
So, how do they win? They are a tough, gritty team that is all about character, diverse personalities and great starting pitching. Outside of their rotation, they are a collection of misfits, outcasts and waiver claims.
One could make the case there are misfits even within the Giants starting rotation. If one were to look at Giants ace Tim Lincecum one could be forgiven for mistaking him for a long haired, skinny skateboarder not old enough to shave. You would never know you were looking at a man who has won back to back NL Cy Young Awards and has led the NL in strikeouts for three consecutive seasons. Well, they don’t call him The Freak for nothing. Appearances are indeed deceiving. Or are they? Lincecum was charged with misdemeanor possession of marijuana in November 2009 following a traffic stop outside of Seattle.
Then there’s Brian Wilson. That would be the Giants closer, not the ex-Beach Boy. Wilson wears a partial Mohawk, dyes his beard black, keeps the top of his jersey unbuttoned and for a time wore bright orange shoes when he pitched until MLB fined him. Then watch him talk about crossword puzzles, omelets, and certified ninjas. Despite his eccentricities, Wilson led the NL in saves in 2010.
And where else but San Francisco could Giants first baseman Aubrey Huff be embraced for wearing a ladies’ thong? Rangers fans would have probably considered such an act unmentionable.
I really don’t have a dog in this fight. There are no Yankees to root against. So I’m happy if either team wins. The Rangers have never won a World Series and the Giants haven’t won since 1954 when they were still playing at the Polo Grounds. Rangers and Giants fans might not agree on much. But I think they can both agree that it is fun to watch their teams play in the World Series.
About the Author
Aaron Goldstein writes from Boston, Massachusetts.
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drudge ette obama| 10.27.10 @ 7:10AM
If you have no favorite, then pick the team
1. whose state has no income tax - Texas.
2. which isn't represented by Nancy Pelosi
3. which doesn't have a sanctuary city
4. which likes big oil
5. which Obama doesn't impress
Dimaggio (and here's to you)| 10.27.10 @ 7:25AM
Ho hum.
What the heck.
Nothin' in this post except a little SF bashing.
Typical. So typical.
Big J (In Texas)| 10.27.10 @ 9:23AM
Hate to break it to you, Dimaggio, but that's what it's all about.
And there's a LOT about San Fransisco to bash:)
Big J (In Texas)| 10.27.10 @ 9:25AM
Should read:
"....that's what sports are all about"
Helen Donnelly| 10.27.10 @ 3:26PM
I'm afraid that YOU are the one being typical...So typical.
Chairman Nobomba| 10.27.10 @ 3:57PM
Let's beat the gays by the Bay.
FastJohnny| 10.27.10 @ 7:21AM
Let's not forget that SF would probably not allow World Series toys in the happy meals....unless the fries were replaced with carrots.
Three Strikes You're Out| 10.27.10 @ 7:31AM
Two points to consider:
1. The fartin' Rangers are God-lovin' He-Men
2. The San Francisco Giants are Sissies
Big Fuckin' Deal!
Roy from Oakland| 10.27.10 @ 7:36AM
You said it, Three Strikes. You summed up this nothing of a post.
Go Giants!
Tim*| 10.27.10 @ 8:12AM
The Hired Guns will l work this out in a Best of Seven Manner.
Bob K.| 10.27.10 @ 8:29AM
Baseball in November!
YAWN!
And now, from my local newspaper's sports page today: The Player's Union wants to expand the playoffs. Michael Weiner (not Michael Savage-I'm sure!), the union head, said the members are open to adding more wild card teams for 2012 and extending the division series to a best-of-seven. Bud Selig seems to be in favor of it too.
This should extend the season to the middle of November.
Bob K.| 10.27.10 @ 9:02AM
Now I get it!
It's a big media conspiracy to keep the vote down in California and Texas!
That's why they had the Yankees and the Phillies throw their series!
Brilliant!
Kurt| 10.27.10 @ 9:46AM
Was Tim Lincecum the pitcher in the movie Dazed and Confused?, if not, what a strange resemblance he has to him!
TexasLighthouse| 10.27.10 @ 10:52AM
If you need anymore proof of the character of the Texas Rangers, it might interest you to know that the entire team has been celebrating their wins together with a glass of Ginger ale in support of Josh Hamilton who is a recovering alcoholic. Now that's class.
Occam's Tool| 10.27.10 @ 4:08PM
Indeed it is, something missing from the Giants since Willie McCovey left.
Bob K.| 10.27.10 @ 5:25PM
Did they drink it out of small porcelain cups and hold their pinkies out?
TexasLighthouse| 10.27.10 @ 9:39PM
Hahaha! I'm not sure...judging by how they all look while they're chewing sunflower seeds, I'd say "no". I don't think they are that prim and proper!
Keneshaw Mountan| 10.27.10 @ 11:09AM
Carpe Diem: Baseball,Football,and Basketball are all planning lockouts. As the stadia are all paid for by the taxpayers, all the fans will be able to do is turn off the TV and read Prous!
MyMyMy| 10.27.10 @ 11:44AM
Keneshaw,
Do you mean "turn off the TV and read Proust"? I think you accidently left off the t.
That's what I will do--read. And after I tire of reading, I think I'll listen to a few of my favorite albums of show tunes.
That's the kind of man I am. No sports freak am I.
Disgusting (to the majority of you readers), isn't it?
cuban pete| 10.27.10 @ 11:49AM
Let's stick to the game. Athletes in California deserve our support because they are in a minority which believes in meritocracy.
Sports have winners and losers. Leftists can't abide that that's why they try to corrupt sports by eliminating keeping score, etc.
So let's not project the lefty mindset on to competitors.
SF has two players who helped the White Sox win in ' 05 but I'm an AL fan so I'll go with Texas.
PS
Thanks for sharing the ginger ale story. That is classy.
Bob K.| 10.27.10 @ 5:51PM
I doubt very much if any of these players ever gave a thought to "meritocracy." One is born with the ability to play at the professional level. It has nothing to do with merit although luck and opportunity do play a role.
TexasLighthouse| 10.27.10 @ 9:40PM
You're welcome, Pete! Thought the ginger ale thing was worth mentioning. :)
Perry| 10.27.10 @ 12:04PM
According to the MLB website:
The Rangers Ballpark in Arlington requires "Annual debt service for the municipal bonds is provided by public-private sharing. "
While AT&T Park in SF is "The first privately financed ballpark in Major League Baseball since 1962."
Let the Califonia bashing continue I suppose, but sometimes we do do the right thing out here.
Al Adab| 10.27.10 @ 4:10PM
Even a stopped clock is right twice a day. Neither team has won a series (Giants since moving to SF 1958) and the Rangers are the old Washington Senators once owned by Bush. Can't tolerate the DH rule. Still those of us not blindly east coast (like most of the TV audience) hope for a good series. The ratings will likely be down and every pundit will say "see baseball is dying". Maybe we could all just hope the best team wins.
Anneke9| 10.27.10 @ 12:29PM
A couple of rumors floating around the local SF media are that the Giants are considering having an HIV poet or a famous local transvestite throw out the first pitch. I can't think of a better way to illustrate just how out of step California libs are from the rest of the country.
TexasLighthouse| 10.27.10 @ 9:42PM
Hahaha! That is classic!
Ken (Old Texican)| 10.27.10 @ 12:39PM
Heh,
I would rather watch little league games. Nevertheless, even though we Houstonians consider Dallas folks "Yankees" (smile), we will root for them in this series.
I'm proud of both teams, and look forward to a great series.
Seek| 10.27.10 @ 12:40PM
The San Francisco Giants are more libertarian than Lefty. They're weird in a good way, like the late Bill "Spaceman" Lee or Mark Fidrych. S.F., after all, is where the Cato Institute was founded.
Go Giants!
David| 10.27.10 @ 1:43PM
When I don't care which team wins a game in any sport, I always pull for the team that is from the most conservative city or state. For example, I will never cheer for the New England Patriots (Ted Kennedy and John Kerry country), or for any sports team from San Francisco, Oakland, Chicago, Los Angeles, etc.
Ned the Red| 10.27.10 @ 1:53PM
I'll go for the team Hank Hill would want to win.
Benjamin| 10.27.10 @ 1:55PM
I'm a conservative but I became a Giants fan when I was in the U.S. Navy stationed out there, and used to regularly attend games at Candlestick. This should be an entertaining series, and let's keep politics out of it!
Mark J. Goluskin | 10.27.10 @ 2:14PM
I was afraid of this thinking. The reason I am rooting for the Rangers? It is simple. I am a Dodger fan. I HATE THE GIANTS! ! ! ! I do not care if they are in Frisco, Fargo, Kabul. THEY ARE THE GIANTS! No self-respecting Dodger fan can ever, ever be for the Giants. Hence, the Rangers will win in six games. GO RANGERS!
watashi@hotmail.com| 10.27.10 @ 2:58PM
I suspect Aubrey Huff is not the only guy in San Francisco who wears ladies' thongs
All Hail The Stupid Party!| 10.27.10 @ 4:15PM
Who really cares. MLB has done to the great game of baseball what our political parties have done this great nation's form of government. Perverted it! Little leaguers have far more respect for the game of baseball than the whole of MLB. I'll continue to support little leaguers & minor league ball, but MLB can get stuffed & keep their cheapened product. When Henry Aaron, a great & classy player loses his homerun crown to a arrogant, surly, juiced up cheat like Barry Bonds MLB has a serious identity crisis. I'm through with steroidball.
Paul McGrath| 10.27.10 @ 4:16PM
There was a photo in the S. F. Chronicle a week or so ago of Lincecum working out between starts by running up and down the stands in Veteran's Park. Don't be fooled by the hair: the kid is every inch an athlete.
Giants, baby.
KukeeAmerican| 10.27.10 @ 4:50PM
I have observed both teams and I can conclude that the Texas Rangers will win in 5. W-W-L-W-W.
The scruffy looking Giants versus the well-kept Rangers make this an easy pick. The reason Giants beat the Phillies is because the were scruffier than themselves.
Rangers are the better team playing better baseball. They are agressive and will astonish the Giants.
Not only that, the Rangers have a moral duty to beat the Giants by slinging stones.
Go Rangers!
Tracy| 10.29.10 @ 10:01AM
So how's that "Rangers in 5" working for you, champ?
Jim Hlavac | 10.27.10 @ 6:14PM
Yes, and if all those fabulously rich players and team owners would only pay for their own stadiums, and not belly up to the public trough of taxpayer dollars to pay them to play a game, all the better. And then, all those who couldn't give a damn about baseball while they're working would be able to use the tax dollars not taken, (or better, returned) to pursue the entertainment options of their choice. Instead, they're taxed to pay for the enjoyment of those here who make silly arguments over whether a baseball game represents the political positions of a given city or the sexual proclivities thereof. Or dwell on whether if there are more or less lady's underwear wearing men in one city or the other. Given the Dallas contribution to Jerry Springer's guest list, and given gay men's underwear preferences as seen in any Victor's (yes, his) Secrets catalog, I'd have to say Dallas is the panty waist capital. On the other hand, many a Castro/Ellum clone sees a jockstrap as the gear of choice.
As for the gay element in the comments here, I'd point out that Deep Ellum in the Big D is just as gay as the Castro in SF, but ye be blind to that reality. And those gay guys in both cities may or may not be fans of their home town teams. Though for sure those gay men are taxpayers taxed to pay other grown men to play a boy's game, pat each other on the tuckus, scratch their privates on national TV, and glom onto each other at every home run and victory in rather intimate ways -- not a one of whom would ever dare to come out as a gay man. Lest he said he enjoyed the men in tight pants more than is allowed, while you straight guys ogle away the hours staring at the guys at play, while with other men. Hmm, nah. Shan't say it. Oh, Male bonding, indeed. Enjoy.
Dave Trapped in NYC| 10.27.10 @ 7:53PM
I saw Brain Sabean say "it takes a village" comment and right away started rooting for the Rangers.
Koufax| 10.28.10 @ 12:56AM
David Brooks essentially wrote this same post in 2002. Granted, SF does appear to have gotten odder since then
frightwig| 10.29.10 @ 5:20PM
Among Brian Wilson's "eccentricities," you neglected to mention how the Giants' closer crosses his arms after recording the last out to signify his Christian faith. But I guess that would mess up this idiotic construction you've set up.
It also seems weird that you're so hung up on the word "collective." I thought conservative fans hated self-aggrandizing athletes who put themselves above the team, and preferred the gritty, hard-nosed, lunch-bucket player who gives his all for the team. I mean, that's the traditional team-sports ideal! But if you want to cede those traditional values to liberals, I guess, why should I complain?
Pathetic Cubs Fan| 12.31.10 @ 3:18PM
Always a pleasure to see another long-suffering fan base get their World Series championship.
Goldstein earns an A+ on the hypocrisy scale by pointing out Lincecum's marijuana bust but failing to mention Josh Hamilton's very public past of abusing illegal drugs. One would think perhaps Hamilton brings up God ASAP is that he is grateful to have found the strength to beat his addictions.