That was the most physically and emotionally draining sporting event I have never attended. From the 7th inning on, every pitch was the game at that point. Granted, I did not attend any playoff game in 2005, but this was the most electric crowd I have ever been apart of.

Got there about 5:15, and parked literally 100feet north of 39th Street. By the time my dad and I walked to the park, and waited in the will call lines that were literally 100s of people deep, we got into the park about 6:20. Section 145 row 6, which is down the LF line, 6 rows back of where the security guards that grab the foul balls are.

2 things jumped out at me right off. First, all the black in the crowd. It seriously looked like Batman or some kind of horror movie. I have never seen a stadium look like that before. And the energy of the crowd. They were chanting "lets go white sox" and cheering just for guys jogging in the outfield. They were ready to explode from the get go, and anything the Sox did positive, even get to an 0-1 count, they were on thier feet waving black towels.

We were just DYING for the offense to do something. A solo HR early on would have got the place roaring. Its still such a blur that I can't pick out exact times when the crowd got loud, but I have never cheered louder than when Thome hit his HR. And I have never been part of a more jubilant crowd than when Anderson made that outstanding catch. The loudest moment of the nite may have been when AJ made that play at home. How Kubel didn't break AJ's arm on that, I'll never know. Or, at least that was the loudest moment until Danks took the mic during the celebration to thank the crowd. What a pitching performance.

Great to see the "old guys" Thome and Griffey come thru in the clutch. Live and die by the HR. If it didn't work during the 162, it worked for 163. Good to stick it to the Twins as well. 1 fucking nothing. Your stupid little bloops and shanks were shut the fuck down! Have fun on your plane ride back north.

Here's 2 vids; first of the celebration on the mount after Anderson's catch, and the second is when the guys came back out onto the field. (just uploaded them, give them a little bit to process or whatever)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BlTvQ6-nfU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5Q_AjDLRls

Great game. Great nite. Money well spent. And a birthday gift my dad will never forget.

I gotta try and sleep. Peace.

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I was wrong about the "all black" thing. I said it was stupid earlier today. It looked cool and it seemed to rally the crowd more. Gave the park a nice look. Looked mean. I loved it. Sox players and Kenny said the crowd was louder today than the World Series. I beleive them.

So is this going to be the deal for all the playoffs too?

Kind of like the Bulls wearing black shoes in the playoffs. . .

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Yeah. This was the start of a Sox tradition. Fans will always wear black for playoff games. No doubt about it.

As cheesy as it sounds, it motivated the crowd. It made them feel like they were helping even more so than just yelling and cheering. It united everybody in the park.

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It is a very good idea and has been successfully done in other sports or for other teams. SHARK should be able to provide more information about that. Most recently, in the Illinois/Penn St game, they had a white out which had much the same effect.

I think it would be awesome to do a black out for all playoff games at the Cell... my question would be how many people showed up with black clothing vs. those that needed the t-shirt handout to conform?

BTW, awesome game!

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"All crowds boycotting football games shouldn't care who sings or takes a knee because they aren't watching." - Nas

Looked Mean-like when Reg Dunlop's team bus was being demolished with sledge hammers-to make it look mean!!!

I thought it was pretty cool too. It was real easy to follow the ball to, as the white ball stood out that much more with all the black in the background.

Congratulations Beardown, hope your guys can join the Cubs in the World Series!!!

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Go Cubs!!!!

Thanks.

Good point. Blue collar people got these tickets. Unlike the World Series.

it's usually a large sea of blue anyway...

i agree the all black made the stadium look mysterious, daunting, and to me took over the moniker "the black hole". fuck raiders fans.

[quote="Panther pislA
Joe Mauer said in an interview after that the black was very intimidating.[/quote]

I think it is lame but Dye said yesterday he thought it helped.

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

I think it is lame but Dye said yesterday he thought it helped.[/quote]

Balck Out

Actually, the only thing they handed out last night was a black towel. Everyone that came in black did it on their own. Nice job by the fans.

See, once you get to know black it is not so bad as previously thought...

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