June 2, 2008

By Going Yard

Alex Box Stadium on the LSU campus has seen seventy years of baseball.

Alex Box's first pitch was seen when Mel Ott's New York Giants beat the Philadelphia Phillies 6-5 on March 12th, 1938. 

Alex Box saw the "Gorillaball" teams of the 1990's when the Tigers won five titles in a 10-year span and a 20 run game was a pitcher's duel.

Alex Box saw the team take a hiatus from postseason play unfathomable in the bayou. 

Alex has seen Paul Mainieri return the Tigers to glory and win 23 straight games (gold jerseys or not).

Alex has seen the signs in his outfield and the murals painted on his façade decrying the end of his era. The last games at Alex Box stadium for his Tigers: 1938 to 2008.

Alex has seen the construction on the new home that will hold his name opening next year.

Now, Alex has seen "Going Yard" arrive, and he knew we had no idea what this 70-year old bastion of college baseball had in store for us.

We saw fans setting up a baseball tailgate before 9 A.M. (yes, they got there much sooner than we did). We saw purple ink in rows of flags and on the arms and backs of Tigers fans that are willing to take the permanent plunge with the colors of their beloved bengals.

We tasted some of the best tailgating food a fan will find. Duck stuffed with cream cheese stuffed jalapeños. Then the duck is wrapped in bacon and placed on a grill for about an hour. To say it was delicious would be an understatement. Tastegazm would be more appropriate (while also being a bit inappropriate at the same time, double-trouble!). There were TWO different former police trucks that have been converted into rolling shrines to all things LSU. From the gold and purple couch to the walls covered with ticket stubs from every LSU sport in the athletic galaxy. A former patty wagon is probably the best thing to tow your trailer. Wait, if you have this massive vehicle that is designed to usher hordes of drunks and criminals, why would you need a trailer? Oh, if you're asking this you must not know LSU tailgating. The trailer is required to tow the double-barreled meat smokers. One is not enough. These folks had typical fare of Ribs and pork chops on one side, while a massive slab of beef brisket and crawfish etouffee smoked on the right.

Then there are the local favorites like jambalaya, boudin, crawfish, gator and anything you can simmer in a pot. Crawfish is either steamed and peeled, or put into everything from cornbread to omelets. Pork sausage doesn't work for bayou boosters; you need deer or alligator sausage. Believe me, it's much better that way.

After being gluttonous for a couple hours, it's a perfect time to take the food coma into your air-conditioned RV for a nice nap. Oh wait! This is LSU, there are no naps no food comas! Food is fuel for 9 innings of yelling, heckling, singing and more heckling.

The only reprieve for opposing outfielders is found in Center, the corners are personal psyche torture chambers. The outfielder's parents, sound of his name, number, color of glove - all is used for derision fodder. If you bring your children to an LSU game, don't sit them in the right field stands. If you do, employ some earmuffs.

But not real earmuffs, they might melt.

Baton Rouge is located somewhere between Louisiana and Mercury. I think it's teetering on the Mercury side. The humidity and proximity of the sun creates a heat that is felt first on your face, then lastly in your sweat-soaked back pockets. The fans and players know it, they are heat-tempered; a finishing glow that makes them ready for the most pressure-filled moments, on and off the field. While I'm sweating and sitting in my 2nd set of clothes of the afternoon; LSU fans are drinking coffee and basking in the warmth.

Alex Box is basking as well; the Tigers have given the old boy another week in the sun. Another week of homers, heckling and hot sauce. Alex was supposed to go to sleep quietly this year after a final season of tribute. That's the thing with old-timers, they're stubborn and Alex has become as stubborn as they come. UC Irvine is coming to town to try and put Alex to sleep for good. Alex will go to sleep when HE is ready, and he's not quite ready yet.