Ah, I can smell the hot dogs and popcorn. It’s that time of year again. The “boys’ of spring” have already exited their winter cocoons in the “sunshine state” and are in the process of morphing into the “men of summer.”
I can hear the vendors calling on all who will listen; “cold beer here, get your cold beer here.” There are so many purveyors of barley and hops that I cannot even remember, let alone name them all. Let’s see, if you are a connoisseur of the “suds” similar to yours truly, there should be more than enough to keep your palate happy and you head right when you attend a game at PNC Park.
A few seasons back most fans used brew to cry into after another nasty Pirates loss had taken place, but now I can envision the locals raising beer mugs and plastic beer cups toasting in triumph as the “Jolly Roger” is raised after another Pirates victory.
All of these brew masters’ will be celebrating too. Church Brew Works, Pennsylvania Brewing Company, East End Brewing Company and Iron City Brewing Company, which has relocated to Latrobe, Pa., along with Straub, Erie Brewing – brewers of Railbender Ale. I dare not leave out Yuengling along with the some of the smaller players; Dogfish Head, Magic Hat, Abita, Great Lakes Brewing, Flying Dog and Bell’s.
At PNC Park you can get your baseball and brew in, simultaneously. Baseball is a blue and white collar event that has evolved from a sport to take laborers minds off the drudgery of six day work weeks during the late nineteenth century of the industrial revolution to slick, corporate based luxury suites where often times during a typical game multi-million business deals are proposed and closed.
Don’t get me wrong, I can dig it because wherever you can flow with the dough, so be it. Don’t be a hater, be a “congratulater.”
Why am I going there? Well because this is the year 2014 not 1914 and some people remain sinking in the quicksand of Pittsburgh’s smoke filled past.
Sometimes conversations, opinions and analysis can be unprovoked, unsolicited and last but certainly not least, unwanted.
Recently, I boarded a 56 Lincoln Place bus in route to Pittsburgh. Approximately 2 minutes after I settled in my phone rang.
It was a call from one of my American Youth Journalism Corps students in regards to a block of Pirates tickets that they were scheduled to pick up. The tickets are a part of the Pirates ticket donation program. After I discussed when and where the tickets going to be retrieved, I ended the call.
After the bus proceeded through the next couple of traffic lights, the bus operator turned to me and asked me; “are you giving away Pirates tickets?” I nodded my head affirmatively. By the way, he appeared to be “ZZ Tops” younger sibling. He continued on uninformed, but unashamed by his own blatant ignorance.
He said’ “since the Nutting family purchased the team, what 18, 19 years ago? The Pirates have been like a minor league team until last year. There is no way on God’s green earth that I will ever buy a ticket to support that greedy owner and all of these overpaid ballplayers; but if you are giving away tickets, I could use a few.”
At that point the angry Black man inside of me was begging, no pleading to be released but if anyone knows me, my nature and my love for God the angry Black man would remain incarcerated. I had listened to all of trailer park B.S. but now it was my turn to “shine.”
“Sir, I didn’t get your name, but it is obvious that you never met a fact that you liked. Have you ever held a sign to passing cars to honk if they supported the union? Don’t respond because I already know the answer.
Kevin McClatchy led a group of investors that purchased the team in 1996 when it was not even known whether the team would stay in Pittsburgh. In 2007, Bob Nutting took over as the primary owner.
By the way these “free tickets” are for youth between the ages of 12-21 and for seniors 55 and up. Sorry you don’t appear to be under 21 or over 55.”
He said, “oh well I wasn’t going anyway.” The rest of the ride was tension filled to say the least. As I exited I said sarcastically; “see you at the ballpark.”
If looks could kill you would not be reading this column, peace.
Aubrey Bruce can be reached at: abruce@newpittsburghcourier.com or 412.583.6741
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