San Francisco Giants...roar of fans deafens! Jets fly-by! Fireworks erupt! Brian Wilson cheered!

Fans roar approval when Beard puts in appearance!





With a twang in his voice, and after a wild roar from the fans in the stands, the leader singer of “Train” belted out the last few bars of the National Anthem just seconds before two jets flew overhead – fireworks erupted in the pristine blue sky – and the festivities started up with a celebratory ring at AT & T Park.

Earlier in the day, locals who elected to hop on MUNI for a trek across town, found themselves packed into the trains like sardines alongside excited Giants’ fans decked out in the ubiquitous Orange & Black team colors– and, of course – sporting specially- crafted gear with eye-catching logos featuring the names of their baseball heroes!

Outside the stadium the sound of the applause was deafening!

Because of a recent attack on a Giants fan at a Dodger’s game in Los Angeles, security was beefed up today, but the city’s finest managed to remain low-key in the shadows without any intimidation factors spoiling the mood.

Kudos!

Meanwhile, on every occasion there was an opportunity to do so, die-hard Giants’ aficionados ecstatically hollered out their approval as they munched on mighty tasty over-priced hot dogs - and quenched their thirst with ice-cold beer - packed along for the much-ballyhooed match against the St. Louis Cardinals.

When the team banner - etched with the words “World Champions” on its face was unveiled in the opening ceremonies – everyone in attendance just about lost it!

Then, it was time to play ball!

In the “Public House” – a bar on the street level - sports enthusiasts without tickets were tossing back  brewskies, hungrily downing chips and dip, and keeping a keen watchful eye on all the plays with great intensity.

At one point, when I took a swig of beer, a patron knocked my arm - at which point - a few dollops of the frothy ale spilled to the floor.

A pretty brunette turned, broke into a smile, and proceeded to snatch up a few napkins to wipe away the slippery mess.

Security guards in chic black tailored suits tend to hover in the shadows- but glide swiftly and discreetly to trouble spots -when they need to. 

Very classy!

Uh-huh!

The mood was definitely upbeat in the trendy watering hole - and fans were terribly forgiving of any unpleasantries they were forced to endure - because of overcrowding.

Other locals, unable to gate-crash, gathered at the side of the stadium to catch every delicious moment through the cracks in a gate on the pier that hugs McCovey Cove.

Folks have got the Giants fever bad, alright.

Well, it’s time to down my Pacifico Clara (Mexican beer) and head back to town to finish up some chores.

Updates on the "Home Opener" later!

http://www.thetattler.biz

Fan in McCovey Cove scores big-time!

Enlightenment...quote by Julian Ayrs!

Throw the clutter

of

the mind

to the wind

So,

the seeds

of

enlightment

may

spring forth

and

blossom!

Julian Ayrs

Zen Thoughts

Collection of Poems

San Francisco

(2011)

http://www.thetattler.biz

San Francisco...Chinatown street festival attracts thousands! Year of Hare blossoms!

On the heels of the jubilant celebrations at the annual Chinese Parade in the streets of San Francisco last evening, throngs of locals - and tourists alike - trotted down to Grant Street in Chinatown to participate in the Community Fair today.

The rains let up - and the sun shone through - fortunately for optimistic merchants who offered up samples of exotic Asian cuisine, chances to win prizes at roulette wheels, and bargain-basement prices on goods and services under a flurry of sprightly-colored canvas tents erected at the curb.

I made out like a bandit!

During the course of my joyous trek along the narrow picturesque street - packed a few people deep - I managed to scoff up a beautiful decorative Chinese fan, a pretty oversize calendar for my office, eye-catching key-chain, and an assortment of nifty pens that'll undoubtedly come in handy.

If you stumble on this post early enough in the day, you may be able to hot-foot it down there and take in the festive event first-hand.

May your "Year of the Hare" blossom, eh?

www.thetattler.biz



San Francisco...annual Chinese Parade! Streams to viewers in China!



When the annual Chinese Parade zig-zags through the downtown Streets of San Francisco tomorrow (Saturday February 19th) locals and tourists alike will feast their eyes on a dazzling twenty-five festively decorated floats, captivating Lion Dances, inspiring marching bands, and upwards of 5,000 participants celebrating the year of the Rabbit with joyous abandon.

Viewers overseas - in China and neighboring Nations - will also have the golden opportunity to catch the exotic celebrations via streaming video over the web site at www.sina.com

The 1st parade was launched way back in 1858 by a rag-tag band of railroad workers bent on celebrating the Chinese New Year in their new homeland.

Today, the much-anticipated event is expected to attract over 1,000,000 strong who will swarm the streets to catch an up-close gander at the spectacle.

A picky few will also splurge - and cough up $30 a head - to hunker down in bleacher seats on Kearny Street at two locations (Sacramento & California Streets or at Pine & Bush respectively).

Mayor Ed Lee - the first Chinese American Mayor voted into office this past election - has been named the Grand Marshall this year.

According to Mr. Lee, the San Francisco Parade is the most-watched of its kind around the globe!

Thanks to technological innovations, jubiliant onlookers will be taken by surprise when firecrackers - approximately 600,000 in number - spontaneously erupt along the route (which starts at 2nd & Market Streets, and proceeds up Geary, along Powell, and down Post to end on Kearny at Columbia) by way of remote control.

The exciting cultural display is sure to be a crowd-please.

See 'ya there at my perch in the Financial District!

http://www.thetattler.biz



Parade Route

Giants...lose it with sloppy plays! Fans rally! Groin pull a secret well kept!

One minute I was crouched in front of the TV screen cheering on the giants - the next - shaking my head in disbelief.

What just happened?

In the final analysis, sloppy ball-playing finally caught up with the giants - at which point - Lincecum and Cody Ross meekly limped off the field to lick their wounds.

There weren't any deafening roars  from the stands last night.

Not even a whimper.

Outside, reporters glumly noted that the mood was ugly, too.

“There were a few long faces. And, quite a bit of cussing."

The failed clincher brought a whole new meaning to the term "the finger".

One aggressive fan thrust his face into camera and made a vow.

“We’re going to Philly to bust some ass.”

The managers - and the players - remained optimistic.

Tim Lincecum confided that he didn’t feel comfortable with his pitching until the 4th inning.

In spite of that, he noted that he felt good about his rhythm.

“I tried to mix things up. Used sliders. And, there were a couple of lucky strikes,” he recalled solemnly, without grumbling, in spite of the fact sports analysts were blaming the loss on poor defense and a failure on part of giants to play crisp.

Baseball reporters rallied behind Tim, though.

“He performed better tonight than in the 1st game,” one reporter exalted.

When asked about the challenge ahead, the "freak" - as he is affectionately known - was  confident all the way (just maybe he's a good actor with a convincing poker face?).

Meanwhile, throughout the day, the bustling downtown streets were awash in orange and black.

Fans - who were polled in the streets impromptu - admitted there was an undeniable chemistry between the players which was inspiring

"The Giants have that intangible something," one resident conjectured.

Two cops noted that they got caught up in the hysteria surrounding Giant "fever", too.

Failing to spy the ubiquitous Halloween colors, a reporter was inclined to hazard a guess, that the otherwise talkative men-in-blue were sporting boxers patterned in appropriate motifs beneath their uniforms.

"We're on duty, so he can't say anything," they chuckled with devilish grins on their mugs.

Locals gave Kudos to the Giants for leaving their egos at the gate.

"No one is a superstar on this team. It's a  collective effort," one sports enthusiast observed.

To many, they're true underdogs, in every sense of the term.

So, the town is rooting for 'em.

“I feel we're  ok. If we do things right next game. And, the balls fall our way," Linescum summed up.

Tensions were high throughout the game.

In fact, one heated back-and-forth exchange - between Halladay and a team mate - underscored the obvious.

There was a lot of testosterone surging in the ranks.

Doc (Halladay) stood his ground.

Though his baseball cap was pulled down tight over his forehead and eyes - effectively hiding emotions lurking underneath - he was still an awesome study.

As the seasoned pro scanned the terrain, it was obvious to anyone with a keen eye, that Halladay was at the top of his game.

Fans and sports enthusiasts were inclined to size up both of the pitchers side-by-side.

“Halladay gets a ‘w’ on the scorecard,” one news anchor conceded.

But, no one blamed Tim for the dribbles, the club manager labeled unfortunate mistakes.

“It wasn’t exactly crisp.”

But, he asserted the team was resilient.

“Philly is tough,” he acknowledged, on the heels of noting that the giants were keenly aware of that fact.

To fans, they’re the underdogs, who have pulled together as a team.

“A couple of ball players on the old team only cared about money,” one animated fan accused.

The giants have an intangible something that has rustled up widespread enthusiasm and support.

“People I used to pass in the elevator with heads down, showed up today in orange and black, with rally caps and rally towels,” another upbeat local noted proudly.

At club, and trendy watering holes around town, the mood was still optimistic.

“It would be great to have a game without all the tension.

That’s the nature of the beast, eh?

It didn’t escape anyone’s attention that the play-offs were a big boost to the local economy.

"So, let it play out, for that reason alone."

“An emotional roller coaster ride”-  best described - how most fans felt about the torture they endured to the bitter end last night.

If you were looking for an intense nail biter to sink your teeth into, this was it, for sure.

In fact one astute observer referred to fans as the tenth player.

Most agree, for sure, that the Giants have brought the community together.

“They’re hungry for a winner.”

A whole generation has never experienced or witnessed a world series win.

Actually,  I spied folks catching the game in the busy rush-hour on TV sets in the windows of electronic stores along bustling Market Street.

The loss last night - a score of 3-2 in favor of the Phillies - means much of the same on Saturday.

More so, because the game takes place on Philadelphia turf.

Will the giants be forced to play out a 7th game at the AT& T Stadium next week?.

If so, fans will be there, raucously cheering the Giants on.

Time to cinch it , at long last, eh?

http://www.thetattler.biz

Barack Obama...touches down in San Francisco! Don't Ask! Don't tell!

The beleaguered President is touching down in San Francisco tomorrow - and expected to perform a few perfunctory political duties - before he jets off in Air Force One the following Friday morning.

Essentially, the trip is an over-nighter!

A stiff night cap. Fresh towels. Nourishing breakfast on-the-go courtesy of room service!

And, a plea for big bucks!

Speaking of which - handlers have noted that Mr. Obama is a headline speaker at fundraising events for the Democratic National Committee and a political candidate by the name of Kamala Harris who is running for the office of California Attorney General.

Obama's visit falls in the shadow of a recent poll which rated his job performance as just so-so.

According to pollsters - 49% of the voters disapproved of the job President Obama is apparently "not doing" - while 45% were inclined to give the Commander-in-Chief a nod.
 
The trip out West is viewed - by many - as a sly attempt to swing public favor in his direction.
 
If he stalls a lot of traffic over the next couple of days in the picturesque Bay area, it is doubtful he'll be able to bootstrap his image up at all.

The riots he nearly caused in Hancock Park (Los Angeles) over gridlock last summer are a surefire   indication of that.

If 'ya don't ask, I won't tell!
 
San Francisco is a quaint provincial two-wheel town, after all!
 
Big city slickers are generally frowned upon when they breeze into town with their nose out of joint whack.
 
In Obama's case, time will tell.
 
News at 11!
 
http://www.thetattler.biz