A BLUE DEBUT BUT FANS COME OUT TO PLAY GIANTS 9, DODGERS 2.Byline: Mariel Garza Staff Writer Some ditched school, others played hooky from work. Whatever it took, a capacity crowd of 53,356 fans turned out Tuesday at Dodger Stadium • • [ for opening day. And although the Giants routed the home team, 9-2, for many fans the day was less about scores and more about taking part in a quintessential American tradition made all the more meaningful by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. ``I think it's the best one yet,'' Vern Chesterton of Rosemead said of the opening ceremonies, which included the unfurling of a massive America- shape flag held aloft by firefighters and police officers. The flag introduction was followed by an explosion of fireworks fireworks: see pyrotechnics. fireworks Explosives or combustibles used for display. Of ancient Chinese origin, fireworks evidently developed out of military rockets and explosive missiles and accompanied the spread of military explosives westward to and a flyover by F-4 and F-14 fighter jets from the naval base A naval base primarily for support of the forces afloat, contiguous to a port or anchorage, consisting of activities or facilities for which the Navy has operating responsibilities, together with interior lines of communications and the minimum surrounding area necessary for local at Point Mugu. And when singer Patti LaBelle tore out a soulful rendition of the national anthem, the rowdy sea of blue quieted and turned a somber face to the field. Young and old shut their eyes, sang along, and roared when the diva of ``Lady Marmalade'' fame belted out the last bars. ``There's more of a patriotic feeling among the crowd,'' Chesterton observed. ``I think 9-11 has brought out the 'American' in people.'' Chesterton knows what he's talking about: He and his wife, Leanna, have attended every Dodgers opening day since the stadium opened its gates in April 1962. The couple have been season ticket-holders ever since, and Chesterton has been president of the Go, Go, Go Dodgers fan club. He might be the team's biggest fan. ``I'm a huge fan,'' said Chesterton, pointing to various patches highlighting important Dodgers events sewn onto his blue satin stadium jacket. ``Oh, I love the Dodgers.'' The opening pitch was thrown out by former Dodgers owner Peter O'Malley
New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of , in 1958 and built the stadium a few years later. The stadium, the oldest on the West Coast, is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. Before the players took the field, President George W. Bush shared a message broadcast for all opening day crowds. ``Baseball is one of our nation's finest traditions,'' Bush said. ``May God bless America. Now, play ball.'' ``Yahoo,'' said Dorita Wheeler as she watched a player steal second during the game's early innings. Even after having season tickets for the same seats since 1978, the retired teacher from Sylmar still becomes excited by the crack of the bat on opening day. Up on the stadium's top level in the very last row, Eric Simmons of North Hills and his 5-year-old son, Nathaniel, soaked up this special opening day. ``It's our first time,'' Simmons said. ``My son, I told him I was going to bring him this year. He plays T-ball.'' And though he had to skip out early on a job installing ceramic tile, and had to buy bleacher bleach·er n. 1. One that bleaches or is used in bleaching. 2. An often unroofed outdoor grandstand for seating spectators. Often used in the plural. tickets from a scalper outside, Simmons kept his word to the budding ballplayer. ``The lady wasn't happy,'' Simmons said of the tile client. ``But I made a promise to my son.'' The cool foggy afternoon must have made the visiting Giants feel at home. But fans in the stands kept their jackets and sweat shirts on even when the sun made a visit from time to time. The weather was just about right for Nadine Goynenetche, a hard-core Giants fan who traveled with her husband and son from San Francisco San Francisco (săn frănsĭs`kō), city (1990 pop. 723,959), coextensive with San Francisco co., W Calif., on the tip of a peninsula between the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay, which are connected by the strait known as the Golden for her first opening day. The day was all the more special because the family reunited with the oldest son, James, who at an early age, helped instill in·still v. To pour in drop by drop. in  stil·la tion n. a family love of the game. ``Well, I have to say it's better than I expected. I love the seats,'' said a beaming Goynenetche, whose ebullience wasn't diminished by the nosebleed nosebleed, nasal hemorrhage occurring as the result of local injury or disturbance. Most nosebleeds are not serious and occur when one of the small veins of the septum (the partition between the nostrils) ruptures. seats. ``And the view is great. But, and I have to brag here, it's not as good as our new stadium.'' Pacific Bell Park in San Francisco opened for the 2000 season. Only a few Giants fans were brave enough to walk around sporting orange and black in a sea of blue, blue, blue faithful who booed mightily when slugger Barry Bonds Barry Lamar Bonds (born July 24 1964 in Riverside, California) is a left fielder for the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball. He is the son of former major league All-Star Bobby Bonds, the godson of Hall of Famer Willie Mays, and a distant cousin of Hall of Famer Reggie smashed the game's first home run and the first of two for the single-season home run record holder. One proud Giants fan was Jim Gutierrez of Whittier. Did Dodgers fans razz him for his affiliation? ``All the time,'' said Gutierrez as he strolled nonchalantly non·cha·lant adj. Seeming to be coolly unconcerned or indifferent. See Synonyms at cool. [French, from Old French, present participle of nonchaloir, to be unconcerned : non-, through rowdy Dodgers fans. ``But I just talk back to them.'' CAPTION(S): 4 photos Photo: (1 -- 2 -- color) Eric Simmons of North Hills and his son, Nathaniel, 5, above, take in Tuesday's opener at Dodger Stadium. At right, Jane Green, 7, of Brea, bottom, and her cousin Meryl Green, 12, of Pasadena, show their colors. Evan Yee/Staff Photographer David Sprague/Staff Photographer (3 -- 4) Tony Giamo wails on his clarinet, above, during a performance of the Herrera Dixieland Band before the Dodgers home opener. At left, Danielle Sue Huston, 2, of Huntington Beach Huntington Beach, city (1990 pop. 181,519), Orange co., S Calif., on the Pacific coast, across from Santa Catalina Island, in an oil-producing area; inc. 1909. It manufactures aerospace vehicles, aircraft parts, optical instruments, and heat transfer equipment. turns her attention to the field. David Sprague/Staff Photographer Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer |
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