Jack Bauer’s day at the All-Star Game

The following takes place between 11:30 a.m. and 11:30 p.m.

Events occur in real time.

11:30 a.m.

I felt it was a prime time to leave work and make the drive up from San Diego to Anaheim to beat traffic.

Much to my surprise, I did not encounter any traffic and made the trip from San Diego to Anaheim in 80 minutes. That doesn’t count the 20 minutes it took to get to my dad’s (a.k.a. the Power Guy) hotel with the road closures for the All-Star Game parade. I’m glad I was able to witness was Anaheim’s finest on horseback blocking my path down the street I expecting to use.

1:00 p.m.

I parked my car and met up with the Power Guy for our first stop on the All-Star tour: Fan-fest. As I walked through, I couldn’t help but notice how much was on sale. It truly is a shame how commercial sports have become. Fan Fest in my opinion is supposed to be a celebration of the history of baseball and the All-Star game, with a specific dedication to the host team. Instead, what I saw was complete domination by “official” All-Star game stores and merchants.

There were some cool aspects of the Fan Fest, such as old uniforms and memorabilia in cases, and an entire convention center decorated in items representing all of the teams. But overall, the entire event was all about shopping and events geared towards kids. At the age of 24, perhaps I am starting to become an old man and events like a Fan Fest might have passed me by.

2:30 p.m.

After Fan Fest, Power Guy and I made our way into the parking lot of Angels Stadium for a pre-game party with free food, open bar, and a concert featuring Train. Unfortunately, only 36 hours removed from my weekend in Vegas, I chose to pass on the open bar. We did, however, randomly sit at a table with the mayor of Anaheim. He was a very nice guy, and I chatted with him for a few minutes.

4:15 p.m.

When we finally made it inside the stadium, there were a lot of All-Star game decorations. They even had a sign with pictures of the American League starting lineup. Unfortunately, I did not find one for the National League, which just so happened to be the team I would be rooting for as a Dodgers fan.

4:30 p.m.

Our seats are in the last row of the third level right near the right field corner foul pole. The scorching late afternoon sun was in our faces, but that didn’t stop the three stereotypically obnoxious New York Yankees fans from being annoying.

5:00 p.m.

I don’t know what’s worse: annoying New York fans or Joe Buck’s voice on the PA announcing the starting lineups. Literally 15 minutes prior, I had tweeted that the best part of attending the All-Star Game was not having to listen to Joe Buck and Tim McCarver. Foiled!!

(You can follow me @JBauerOfSports.)

5:30 p.m.

At last, the game started. Much to my chagrin, pregame festivities did not include Bud Selig, thus depriving me the opportunity to boo him. While we had a decent view from our seats, my camera’s zoom lense improved my ability to watch the action.

During the NL pre-game introductions, I took specific notice of Cincinnati Reds pitcher Arthur Rhodes and Atlanta infielder Omar Infante. Both players, especially the 40-year old-Rhodes, are having solid seasons, but those players stole the spot of Padres’ starting pitcher Mat Latos, who, as of the All-Star break, had the lowest batting-average-against in all of baseball. I understand the logic of NL manager Charlie Manuel in selecting both guys to play niche roles in trying to win the game, especially since Bud Selig destroyed an exhibition meant for the fans after that fateful All-Star game in Milwaukee, but come on Chuck!

7:30 p.m.

Jack Bauer gets a Congressional-style bail out! One of Power Guy’s contacts hatched a plan to smuggle us out of the blistering heat into a box. What a relief! For the duration of the game, we watched from a luxury box and had an awesome view of some of the finest baseball players in the world. Another plus: I was able to take much better pictures of the game.

A few pieces of personal observation and thought I had throughout the game:

• Most of the people at the game were Angels fans, but there was still a lot of Dodger blue in the stands and several patches of Red Sox and Yankees fans. A lot of San Diego Padres fans made the drive up the 5. My TBS colleagues, Dr. Sports Fan and The Phoenix, would be happy to know there were some scattered Phillies fans.
• In a nice tribute to the late Yankees public address announcer Bob Sheppard, his voice introduced Derek Jeter when he came to the plate. I learned from someone in the box that this has been done at all Yankees games specifically for Jeter since Sheppard retired.
• Detroit’s Justin Verlander’s delivery is very similar to that of the legendary Sandy Koufax.

9:50 p.m.

Top of the 7th inning, and NL manager Charlie Manuel strikes again! After the NL put runners at 1st and 3rd with one out, with Dodgers stud lefty Andre Ethier (who already had a hit in the game) due to bat. To no surprise, AL manager Joe Girardi lifted Yanks pitcher Phil Hughes in favor of a left-handed arm, which was in the form of Chicago White Sox reliever Matt Thornton. My first reaction at the time, “who’s he????” (Check out new TBS contributor QuinceWAR’s column about the All-Star Game to find out more about Thornton.)

Quick stat check: Ethier has a .288 batting average against left-handed pitching this season. I like those odds, especially since Ethier had to be pumped with an opportunity to deliver a big hit close to home and possibly win the game’s MVP award.

As Thornton took his warm up tosses, I saw Ethier walk towards the dugout and Arizona Diamondbacks batsman Chris Young emerge into the on deck circle.

Nooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!

I very patiently waited for the PA announcer to announce the lineup change before I unleashed my inner Eagles fan by booing the move by Manuel, which was lightly matched by Dodgers fans, though not nearly to my extent. I am an Eagles fan, so you know that I can boo! Granted, I understand “Chuck’s” commitment to get other players into the game, but why remove Ethier in that spot less than 50 miles from Dodgers Stadium?

9:56 p.m.

After my fierce booing, my rage resumed with an angry text to Dr. Sports Fan attacking his manager. The doctor responded that Manuel is “not the best baseball tactician”. Word Doc.

Young’s effort resulted in a weak pop out in foul territory, which drew more booing from myself and the Dodgers contingent. Fortunately for Manuel and me, Atlanta Braves backstop Brian McCann’s bases-clearing, three-run double gave the NL a 3-1 lead.

10:15 p.m.

After the 7th inning stretch, with the AL trailing, the stadium operator responded with traditional Angels home game tactics to rally the crowd, which of course included several appearances from the “Rally Monkey.” It sure rallied the crowd but not so much for the AL. Dodgers closer Jonathan Broxton — who received a warm welcome from the Dodger fan base — closed the door on the AL in the 9th inning to save the 3-1 win for the NL.

After the game, Power Guy and I stuck around for a brief while and caught the MVP award presentation to McCann. This was when I finally got the opportunity I had been salivating over for month: Bud Selig took the stage.

As Selig took the microphone to present the award to McCann, I unleashed another round of “Eagles-fan” style booing. I wasn’t alone. The rest of the remaining crowd was booing!! Another item off of my Sports Bucket List: Boo Bud Selig in person.

9:30 p.m.

Power Guy and I left the box to go to an after-party outside of the stadium. Like the pre-game party, this event also featured baseball food, live music, and open bar — which I again passed on.

10:00 p.m.

This after-party was just a lame gathering of various corporate employees, so Power Guy and I went back to the hotel. Perhaps I would have taken advantage of the open bar if (1) I wasn’t there with my dad and (2) didn’t have to drive home.

10:15 p.m.

We said our good-byes, and I drove home. I fought hard to stay awake on my drive home to San Diego. I was really running on fumes by this point a mere 36 hours removed from a three-day weekend in Vegas.

11:29 p.m.

Home sweet home after 900 miles of driving from Friday to Tuesday, and it was worth every one of them.

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