While out of town a few weeks or so ago, I went to dinner with Ted, my boss when I worked on the Yucca Mountain Project. He and I are die-hard Red Sox fans and often talked baseball when we worked together (in fact, I was responsible for knowing pitching matchups and the Sox television schedule, along with my many other duties).
The Red Sox were hosting the Yankees that night in a non-televised game. But Ted had his iPhone tuned to a play-by-play description of the game through an app. When we sat down to eat, the game was 1-0 for the Sox in about the fifth inning. As we talked about work, life, Yucca memories, and new challenges, Ted would periodically provide a game update from the iPhone. Just after we ordered, the Yankees scored three runs to go up 3-1 (I was worried for a moment that I had jinxed them by choosing the wrong entrée – yep, I’ve been a Sox fan through a lot of disappointments – but figured Sox reliever Manny Delcarmen was probably more culpable for allowing the runs than I was for not ordering the catch of the day).
On to the bottom of the eighth, as we were finishing up the meal, the Sox struck back. Nick Green reached base, and then so did Pedroia and Drew, and then Youkilis knocked in a run. Ted was reading the pitch-by-pitch as it showed up on the iPhone screen. I think the waiter came by, because our empty plates disappeared, but we didn’t really notice. Then Jason Bay drove in two runs, and the score flashed 4-3, Red Sox.
Between innings we paid the tab, but told the waiter we were going to stay and finish the game – he looked confused, but let us stay. Three-up, three-down, and Papelbon had saved Boston’s 4-3 win. Ted and I left happy – the food was good, and we had a good time catching up while cheering the Sox to victory from our booth at the Richland, Wash., Bonefish Grill.
Maybe I’m just easily impressed, but it’s truly amazing to me that thanks to technology, two Sox fans could be across the country from Fenway Park and follow a non-televised game – living and dying from pitch-to-pitch, like we were there – while sitting in a crowded restaurant.
The Red Sox were hosting the Yankees that night in a non-televised game. But Ted had his iPhone tuned to a play-by-play description of the game through an app. When we sat down to eat, the game was 1-0 for the Sox in about the fifth inning. As we talked about work, life, Yucca memories, and new challenges, Ted would periodically provide a game update from the iPhone. Just after we ordered, the Yankees scored three runs to go up 3-1 (I was worried for a moment that I had jinxed them by choosing the wrong entrée – yep, I’ve been a Sox fan through a lot of disappointments – but figured Sox reliever Manny Delcarmen was probably more culpable for allowing the runs than I was for not ordering the catch of the day).
On to the bottom of the eighth, as we were finishing up the meal, the Sox struck back. Nick Green reached base, and then so did Pedroia and Drew, and then Youkilis knocked in a run. Ted was reading the pitch-by-pitch as it showed up on the iPhone screen. I think the waiter came by, because our empty plates disappeared, but we didn’t really notice. Then Jason Bay drove in two runs, and the score flashed 4-3, Red Sox.
Between innings we paid the tab, but told the waiter we were going to stay and finish the game – he looked confused, but let us stay. Three-up, three-down, and Papelbon had saved Boston’s 4-3 win. Ted and I left happy – the food was good, and we had a good time catching up while cheering the Sox to victory from our booth at the Richland, Wash., Bonefish Grill.
Maybe I’m just easily impressed, but it’s truly amazing to me that thanks to technology, two Sox fans could be across the country from Fenway Park and follow a non-televised game – living and dying from pitch-to-pitch, like we were there – while sitting in a crowded restaurant.
Isn’t technology cool?
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