So, WHY was I in LA? All right, time to come clean...I was in LA for a job interview. Yes, I am back on the market for a new career. The YMCA gig I was at just was not working out and I had to leave the organization. I am disappointed to have left the Y,but I see this as a real shot for a career and a job that I really love. I really wasn't getting the support I need to be successful at the Y, so this was a move that I had been anticipating for about the past month.
With my trip being business related, I certainly wasn't about to ride my bike around LA like I usually do. I was dressed professionally, and my interview was a few blocks from Union Station, so walking from the Metrolink was really easy.
After the interview, I walked back to Union Station and jumped on-board the Dodger Stadium Express bus to the park. If I weren't such a bike riding fanatic, I'd probably take this bus more often. It's free with a game ticket and it bypasses all the traffic going up Sunset Blvd. in its own special traffic lane. I had ridden it before, back in 2010, so I had an idea of what to expect.
It was Hyun Jun Ryu Bobblehead Night at Dodger Stadium, so of course it brought out a larger crowd than normal. This is the first big difference between Dodger Stadium and Angel Stadium: the sheer size. Dodger Stadium seats 50,000+ and regularly draws that on a nightly basis. Still, for being the third oldest stadium in the Majors, I didn't feel cramped or squished.
The biggest difference between Dodger Stadium and Angel Stadium has to be the atmosphere permeated by the organization. Let's get real here: the Dodgers are the sexy Hollywood team. They're owned by Magic Johnson. They have their own tv station. You see movie stars sitting behind home plate. They're best player is Yasiel Puig, who has a propensity to do crazy and, sometimes awkward, things. If there were to be a soap opera team in baseball, it would be the Dodgers.
Then you have the Angels. They play in a stadium a mile from Disneyland. Their best player is Mike Trout, a squeaky clean boy from New Jersey who looks like the Prom King. They shoot off fireworks whenever the home team hits a home run. It is a purely family atmosphere. Going to an Angels game is almost like Christmas at Grandma's house.
I'm an Angels fan, first and foremost, and I'll prefer their park over Dodger Stadium any day of the week. But, I need to make the trips to Dodger Stadium every now and then to see the other side of that coin. Dodger games are fun because of that glitz and glamour, even it can get a little annoying sometimes.
Andre Ethier hit a solo homer and had a 3-RBI triple to pace the Dodgers to a 6-3 win over the Reds.
I'm not scheduled to go another Dodger game until the end of June when they play St. Louis. It'll be fun to bring the bike again and do the whole Biking in LA thing again. Still, my venture up to Chavez Ravine was totally worth it and I had a great time. I can't wait to go back.
Like I said, I'll be back in Oregon this weekend, so no baseball is scheduled. When I get back, I might try and hit up a weekday 66ers game depending on their promotion schedule. After getting a Ryu bobblehead to add to my ever growing collection, I'd like to expand it. I'll be sure to let all of you know.
Always take on a 3-0 pitch ;)
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