The first issue was basic: Where were we going?
As my son and I got ready to attend last Saturday night's Chargers-Seahawks matchup, I found myself stumbling when others asked where the game would be. I could have used the stadium's new proper name but nobody knew what Dignity Health Sports Park was. It was more effective to call it "The stadium formerly known as the StubHub Center and before that the Home Depot Center." It wasn't poetic, but it got the message across.
It had been years -- many years -- since I last attended an NFL game, and I was curious what the experience would be like. Some thoughts:
1. The Chargers Express works really, really well. This free shuttle brings fans to the game by bus from two locations. My son and I arrived at one of those, the Del Amo Metro train station, about 90 minutes before kickoff. There was plenty of parking. We hopped on a waiting bus -- with ample empty seats -- and in a just few minutes we were on our way to the game.
It took about 15 minutes to get to stadium and we were dropped close to the stadium. It was unbelievably smooth (and -- did I mention? -- free!).
After the game, we easily found the shuttle and got on. This time the bus was full and we stood in the aisle along with many others. Still, the bus soon departed and we were quickly back at our car.
To be fair, this was a preseason game with a stadium that was at best three-quarters full. And many people left early, so the crowd at the end of the game was less than it would usually be. During a regular season game, you're more likely to find larger lines to board the bus. Still, the shuttle worked so well for us, I would definitely use it again.
2. Entering the stadium was pretty easy. Yes, we did have to empty our pockets of keys and cellphones to go through a metal detector, but there was no intrusive search of our bag or an insulting pat-down.
3. The atmosphere in the stadium was fun and friendly. There were some light games for fans -- like throwing a football at a spinning target -- just outside the seating areas. There were plenty of places to pay too much for beer and food if you were inclined to do so. During breaks in the game, they had some entertaining games on the big screen, including one comparing pictures of Taylor Swift's ex-boyfriends to those of live shots of "lookalike" fans in the stands.
4. The public address announcer provided little useful information to the fans, and came off instead as petty cheerleader. Sports fans crave information, yet the PA announcer stubbornly refused to name any Seahawk player.
If a Seattle player caught the ball and was tackled by a Los Angeles player -- or visa versa -- the announcer would only name the Charger, never the Seahawk. (Note that at least half those in attendance were Seahawks fans.) This small-minded approach was not just tacky, it was frustrating for sports fans on both sides who wanted to know who made a TD run or who threw a great pass.
5. There was too much music. Almost every time there was slightest available moment -- even the
normal intervals between plays -- music would blast from the speakers. This was not just annoying for people trying to focus on the game, it also kept us from even hearing the names of Charger players when they were announced (see No. 4)
Have a little faith in the fans, Charger management. We came to watch football. Let us enjoy it.
Monday, August 26, 2019
Friday, August 16, 2019
Book review: "Last Man Off" by Matt Lewis
Ah, the joy of fishing on the open sea: A light breeze tousling your hair, the sun warming your face, your mind free from everyday concerns.
That might be a nice trip, but it'd be a pretty boring book.
Then there's the fishing trip in "Last Man Off" by Matt Lewis, the true story of how a ferocious storm, combined with human error and selfishness, put a boatload of men in a desperate fight for survival. It is one of the best books I've ever read.
"Last Man Off" is the story of the Sudur Havid, a South African fishing boat that sank during a 1998 trip into the frigid Southern Ocean.
Lewis was 23 years old at the time, a recently graduated marine biologist, when he came on board the Sudur Havid as an "observer." His job was to make sure the boat's fishing practices followed the law.
There was little to make the trip pleasant from the start. With 38 men on board, the Sudur Havid's cramped conditions were accompanied the persistent odors of diesel, sweat and fish.
Lewis introduces many of the key characters -- including Bubbles, the captain -- early in the book. As much as I like the book, Lewis could have done better distinguishing some of the key players. There are a lot of names and it's sometime hard to keep them straight. Helpfully, he does include a list of the crew at the front of the book for reference.
It's in the middle section of the book, describing the sinking, where Lewis' writing really shines. As the storm moves in, tossing the boat around like a toy and the crew struggles to deal with encroaching water, a rough trip suddenly become a life-or-death situation. Lewis describes each moment in vivid detail.
I don't want to give away too much, but like a car crash, the story is both horrifying and riveting. You can't look away, and each page brings fresh surprises. My mouth was literally agape as I read..
In the final section, Lewis recounts the aftermath of the sinking and smartly analyzes what we wrong. While the storm and the boat design were factors, he doesn't disguise his disgust for certain members of the crew who failed to help during the high-seas crisis, perhaps dooming the Sudar Havid.
I rarely go back and read a book a second time -- there are so many good stories to read out there, after all -- but there is so much that happens so fast in "Last Man Off" that I felt like I couldn't absorb it all. I'm going to put on the shelf for now, but some day soon I'll pick it up and read it again.
That might be a nice trip, but it'd be a pretty boring book.
Then there's the fishing trip in "Last Man Off" by Matt Lewis, the true story of how a ferocious storm, combined with human error and selfishness, put a boatload of men in a desperate fight for survival. It is one of the best books I've ever read.
"Last Man Off" is the story of the Sudur Havid, a South African fishing boat that sank during a 1998 trip into the frigid Southern Ocean.
Lewis was 23 years old at the time, a recently graduated marine biologist, when he came on board the Sudur Havid as an "observer." His job was to make sure the boat's fishing practices followed the law.
There was little to make the trip pleasant from the start. With 38 men on board, the Sudur Havid's cramped conditions were accompanied the persistent odors of diesel, sweat and fish.
Lewis introduces many of the key characters -- including Bubbles, the captain -- early in the book. As much as I like the book, Lewis could have done better distinguishing some of the key players. There are a lot of names and it's sometime hard to keep them straight. Helpfully, he does include a list of the crew at the front of the book for reference.
It's in the middle section of the book, describing the sinking, where Lewis' writing really shines. As the storm moves in, tossing the boat around like a toy and the crew struggles to deal with encroaching water, a rough trip suddenly become a life-or-death situation. Lewis describes each moment in vivid detail.
I don't want to give away too much, but like a car crash, the story is both horrifying and riveting. You can't look away, and each page brings fresh surprises. My mouth was literally agape as I read..
In the final section, Lewis recounts the aftermath of the sinking and smartly analyzes what we wrong. While the storm and the boat design were factors, he doesn't disguise his disgust for certain members of the crew who failed to help during the high-seas crisis, perhaps dooming the Sudar Havid.
I rarely go back and read a book a second time -- there are so many good stories to read out there, after all -- but there is so much that happens so fast in "Last Man Off" that I felt like I couldn't absorb it all. I'm going to put on the shelf for now, but some day soon I'll pick it up and read it again.
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