The Ball Game

Every year Omaha hosts the baseball College World Series. College sport seems to be a big thing here in the US, more so than in Australia. I don't think people pay money to watch Macquarie Uni play RMIT in soccer, for instance. But it's a very US thing to do, so on Friday night I went to see two teams I've never heard of play I game I barely understand.

But it was a great night! Americans do atmosphere very well. The stadium was full. It was a balmy summer evening as the sun set below the western bleachers. There's a palpable sense of excitement. People are chomping down in stadium food which all seems to be variations of deep fried something covered in the thick dark yellow cheese Americans seem to love. The game moves quickly, much more so than cricket, with teams alternating pitching and hitting between each innings (equivalent of an over in cricket), and musical interludes between each innings. The ball is often hit into the crowd and it was just a few seats away from me a couple of times which gives a sense of being close to the action.

In a game between Texas Christian University and Coastal Carolina I chose Carolina simply because I've been there, and not to Texas, and lo and behold Carolina won. They've turned out to be the underdog champions of the tournament and now everyone here is talking about them and their chances.

Given my complete lack of interest in sport of any kind it was just fun night out participating in American culture.