On Nothing Much

Last winter, as record-setting snow storms buffeted the mid-Atlantic area, I found refuge in three of the country’s nicest warm spots – Scottsdale, Arizona, Daytona Beach, Florida, and Honolulu, Hawaii. It was nice to eat outdoors in January. In an odd turn-about this summer, as relentless heat waves lashed the Eastern seaboard, I escaped to the animating coolness of the Pacific coast. It was nice to eat outdoors in July.

I spent several days in Anaheim, California, and enjoyed one of the world’s most fabled experiences. And I never made it across the street to Disneyland. Instead, I attended Major League Baseball’s 2010 All-Star Game, an event that snatched some of the best ideas from the mighty House of Disney and perhaps beat the famed Imagineers at their own game.

Disney vs. Baseball

At Disney, you have life-sized cartoon characters like Goofy and Donald Duck roaming the theme park and mingling with guests. At All-Star, you have life-sized team mascots like Screech and Wally the Green Monster roaming the ballpark and mixing it up with guests. Both offer lots of colored fur and camera flashes, but the mascots are friskier with the fans and wrestle one another on the field.

At Disney, you have a Magic Castle with angels high above. At All-Star, you have Angel Stadium with magic in a glove. One is home to princesses in striking ball gowns, the other home to princes out striking balls thrown.

At Disney, you have riders outscreaming the Tower of Terror’s fast falls. At All-Star, you have sliders outpacing the fielders’ fast balls.

At Disney, you have a featured steam train that circumnavigates the park. At All-Star, you have a featured band, Train, that entertained the park. One train delivers tons of folks thrice in every hour, the other Train delivers tunes to folks with crazy notes and power. Train sang "Calling All Angels".

At Disney, you have the Main Street Electrical Parade with Mickey as Grand Marshall and popular Disney characters to boot. At All-Star, you have the popular players’ parade with Hall of Famers as Grand Marshalls and Disney characters to root.

At Disney, you have waffles shaped like Mickey’s head. At All-Star, you have muffins shaped like baseballs. I ate the bacon and eggs that looked like bacon and eggs. So did the mascot sitting next to me.

At Disney, you have wide-eyed kids and adults who feign not to be. At All-Star, you have wide-eyed adults and kids who dream to be.

Fantasyland

At All-Star, everyone around – young and old – appeared to be having a terrific time. If you watched like I watched, you noticed the wicked smiles on their faces, soulful skips in their strides, and lusty lilts to their laughs.

There was something for all -- the Futures Game (which features up-and-coming minor league players and umpires), the Celebrity Softball Game, the Home Run Derby (which I call Slug Fest), Fan Fest (which is Major League Baseball's hyped-up version of a carnival or State's Fair), and all the receptions and parties in between, before and after.

It was kingly magical, and I assume the same at Disney, though I never found the time to make it over there.

Brian
August 2010

On Nothing Much is a periodic feature of this website that considers life about us. I wish to thank those of you who are reading these postings and sending me notes of encouragement, gentle criticism, or otherwise.