# A Giants Appreciation Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 16, 2002, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-giants-appreciation-thread/132529 "2002-10-16T16:52:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2002, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-giants-appreciation-thread/132529/1 "2002-10-16T16:52:33Z")
There’s an Angels Appreciation Thread, so I figured, why not? Just in case you’ve never met me, read my LiveJournal, chatted with me in #straightdope, or read my profile, I am the world’s biggest Giants fan. When I was a little kid, long before I understood the rules of the game, I loved it when my dad took me for an afternoon game at the 'Stick. Bright sunshine, green grass, cheering crowds, junk food. What fun! I hadn’t the faintest idea what was happening, so you can imagine how much I liked baseball once I did figure out the rules. I was nine years old and in third grade. That was the first year I played softball. The games suddenly began to make sense, and nothing was better than riding in the car with the Hank Greenwald on the radio, describing the Giants win another game. The Giants won a lot that year - it was 1987 and they were the NL West champions, losing in the first round of the playoffs to the Cardinals. Oh, was my heart broken. Two years later, the Giants went to the World Series and were swept in one of the least interesting postseason series ever. No one remembers that World Series for the baseball anyway, though. I was eleven that year. I cried when the Giants were sold to investors in Tampa Bay, and whooped when the Major League nixed the deal. I couldn’t believe it when the new owners brought in Barry Bonds, and promised to build a new park. I cried on the last day of the season in 1993. I suffered through a thousand mediocre games, and not a few mediocre seasons. I earned a Croix de Candlestick. I SHOULD have earned a Croix de PacBell for a Candlestick-ish night game last spring. My boyfriend talked about getting me jewelry for my birthday this year (completely absurd!) but ended up getting me the present he knew I’d love best: tickets to a Giants game at PNC Park. Sure, we had to drive hundreds of miles to get to Pittsburgh, but I saw Barry hit homer #598! And the Pirates fans that had been booring five seconds before suddenly burst into cheers. I could go on, but I won’t. Suffice to say: the emotion I feel for the Giants is probably not healthy for any person to feel for a sports team. I am so so sosososo _so_ excited to see them in a World Series! GO GIANTS! ---
**Author:** ![beckwall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b487fb/32.png) [@beckwall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beckwall)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2002, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-giants-appreciation-thread/132529/2 "2002-10-16T19:28:15Z")
Welcome to the fold, sister! I have been a SF Giants fan for almost 30 years. How fondly I remember the early days, Bobby Bonds and Chris Speier. The different slogans each year - “You gotta like these kids”, “Hmmmmmbaby”, I even drove to Arizona several times to see them in spring training. I met Will Clark, and saw Kevin Mitchell in the parking lot slipping away from a game early because he had to go to the orthodontist (?!!). Jeffrey Leonard, one flap down. Matt Williams. I even love Atlee Hammaker, gosh darn it. I think we need a mascot, and I have come up with the perfect idea - the Rally LLama. Rolls right off the tongue, doesn’t it? My ex got custody of the season tickets to Pac Bell Park, but he’s gonna get me a load of World Series booty at the games next week. MMmmmmmmm, if only I could make those garlic fries at home! GO GIANTS!!! ---
**Author:** ![kevja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/aeb1de/32.png) [@kevja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevja)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2002, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-giants-appreciation-thread/132529/3 "2002-10-16T23:44:01Z")
The first major league game I ever attended was at Candlestick way back when some guy named Willie Mays played centerfield for the Giants. I grew up in the East bay, and when the A’s arrived 1968, I became an A’s fan for life. But I still liked the Giants, and since I’ve lived in San Francisco the past 20 years, I think it’s OK for me to jump back on the bandwagon. This is a very cool team, and they have a hella good chance to win it all. If they win, I hope Magowan gives Dusty Baker his due. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2002, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-giants-appreciation-thread/132529/4 "2002-10-17T07:43:44Z")
> [@](#): > > So a base hit to the outfield could make the Giants National League Champions. Bell, the possible winning run at second base. Here’s the pitch. Lofton swings, line drive, base hit, right field! Here comes Bell, rounding third, heading home. Here comes the throw. And it’s wide! And the Giants have won the pennant! The Giants are the champions of the National League, and they come pouring out of the dugout! Kenny Lofton, the man they love to hate in St. Louis, knocks in the winning run, and knocks a stake through the heart of the Cardinals. The Cardinals are dead; the Giants are going to the World Series! … Fireworks are going off over San Francisco Bay from a barge in McCovey Cove. The Giants are in a standup pile out near second base as the celebration begins, and Kenny Lofton, on the first pitch he saw from Steve Klines, ripped a base hit into right field, and JD Drew had little chance to throw out David Bell, and then no chance, as his throw sailed fifteen feet wide of home plate and the Giants are the National League Champions for the first time in 13 years. They are headed to the World Series. > > **Jon Miller, KNBR, 10/14/02** Rally monkey, huh? That’s nice… [pats Anaheim on the head] HUMM BABY! ---
**Author:** ![Muad\_Dib](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/35a633/32.png) [@Muad\_Dib](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muad_Dib)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2002, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-giants-appreciation-thread/132529/5 "2002-10-17T07:56:09Z")
Ya know, when I saw this link I thought you guys were going to be discussing “They Might Be Giants”, or maybe “Giants: Citizen Kabuto”. Nope, baseball was the farthest thing from my mind. _Muad’Dib’s Father (a long time Giants fan) silently weeps in corner_ ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2002, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-giants-appreciation-thread/132529/6 "2002-10-17T08:05:04Z")
I hate the Giants. I hate the Giants. I hate the Giants. I hate the Giants. I hate the Giants. I hate the Giants. I hate the Giants. I hate the Giants. I hate the Giants. I hate the Giants. .I hate the Giants. I hate the Giants. I hate the Giants. I hate the Giants. I hate the Giants. This is gonna be a fun series.😃 😃 ---
**Author:** ![HubZilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ccd318/32.png) [@HubZilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HubZilla)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2002, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-giants-appreciation-thread/132529/7 "2002-10-17T11:12:46Z")
It’s sad that yet again, it’s big market teams in the World Series. San Francisco is the center of the fifth largest metro area (7 million). Anaheim can be considered part of #2 (LA at 16 million). Even if we used only Orange County, that’s 2.8 million, still larger than Minneapolis and St Louis. Some things never change. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2002, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-giants-appreciation-thread/132529/8 "2002-10-17T11:22:45Z")
uh, **Hub**? Anaheim has _never_ been to the Big Dance. S.F. hasn’t been in 13 years( and haven’t won the WS since moving from New York). Some things DO change. Minnisota won the WS in 1991. How is that sad? ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2002, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-giants-appreciation-thread/132529/9 "2002-10-17T14:26:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by spooje \* > \*\*I hate the Giants. I hate the Giants. I hate the Giants. I hate the Giants. I hate the Giants. I hate the Giants. I hate the Giants. I hate the Giants. I hate the Giants. I hate the Giants. .I hate the Giants. I hate the Giants. I hate the Giants. I hate the Giants. I hate the Giants. > This is gonna be a fun series.😃 😃 \*\* The Angels aren’t even worthy of my hatred. It’s like…the _Angels?_ Who cares? I mean…the ANGELS! Just like the rest of Orange County (aka, Hell on Earth), the Angels are dull and plastic. Hey, you know what my favorite Giants motto was? “You’re gonna like these kids!” It was totally stupid, but it cracked me up. The ones this year were SO TERRIBLE. Those “Say Hey!” ads looks like someone who’d never seen a before made them. Ugh. ---
**Author:** ![Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/soul_brother_number_two/32/3515_2.png) [@Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soul_Brother_Number_Two)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2002, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-giants-appreciation-thread/132529/10 "2002-10-17T15:19:34Z")
When the Giants come to town, it’s bye bye, baby!!! Yeah!!! ---
**Author:** ![Jorel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f19dbf/32.png) [@Jorel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jorel)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2002, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-giants-appreciation-thread/132529/11 "2002-10-17T15:58:02Z")
What a lovely thread Kyla, thanks for starting it 🙂 I’ve only been a Giants fan for ten years or so, but I am so excited. The radio show I am listening to is giving away tickets to the person that will do the most for them. So far, the guy I think will win is going to shave his head, mix the hair (about four inches) with mayo/salsa and eat it in taco. I love my Giants as much as anyone, but I think I would become physically ill…maybe that makes good radio? VIVA GIGANTES! (Frink voice) “That monkey’s going to pay!” (Frink voice) ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2002, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-giants-appreciation-thread/132529/12 "2002-10-17T18:03:01Z")
> [@](#): > > Those “Say Hey!” ads looks like someone who’d never seen a before made them. Erm, that should be “never seen a _camera_” before. Ooops. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2002, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-giants-appreciation-thread/132529/13 "2002-10-18T22:06:23Z")
> [@](#): > > Here in The Faceless Burb Next to the Happiest Place on Earth, “downtown” means something different. It means “outdoor mall” on Disney’s land, connected to the amusement park by monorail – and free admission! It means a Lego store down the “block” from Build-A-Bear Workshop. It means no cars – although there’s plenty of validated parking in the Disney lot – and little fuchsia signs outlining the “code of conduct” in “Downtown.” > > The code bans annoying others through “unnecessary staring,” “yelling, screaming . . . or otherwise communicating in a manner which creates noise of sufficient volume to impinge on the hearing or peace of other Guests.” Also verboten are obscene gestures and sexually explicit language. > > The page-long, 14-point list would outlaw most street fairs in San Francisco. ([http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2002/10/18/MN96151.DTL](http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2002/10/18/MN96151.DTL)) Lotsa good stuff in today’s [Chronicle](http://sfgate.com/chronicle/). Bring on the monkey!