Joe Nathan is my hero. He saved the first game of 14 game block the twins have embarked. When he takes the mound in any game Twins fans settle a little back into their seats. Suddenly the Metrodome doesn’t seem so ugly or cold when Nathan is pitching. The Minnesotan accents retreat and we start to sound a little like New Yorkers; over confident and coarse. Our nice is replaced with cocky.
Cocky Midwesterners, sounds a little oxymoron but when Joe Nathan is on the mound we can’t control it. Similar to the werewolf under a full moon. Minnesotans can’t contain ourselves. At-least that is my experience. I didn’t have a chance to watch the entire game last night, I arrived at the top of the 8th inning.
I entered my apartment to find my roommates watching the game in the dark. So on the edge of their seats that standing to flick on a light might have made them never return to the living room. Superstition is huge in all sports because we can all create our own little ritual and blame any non-believers for why the twins lost.
Superstition held us in that room with out any light. Every pitch Nathan threw in the top of the 9th flickered off our back wall. I stood, too afraid to sit down and ruin the perfection of Nathan. I couldn’t believe my eyes 95,96 & 93 miles an hour. He was pitching fire to the batters and quite a few just couldn’t comprehend a pitch that fast from the Twins pitcher.
Mouth open, fluid dripping out and I was silent. Just mesmerized by Nathan’s efficiency, his poise, and manliness. He became and icon for me in that dimly lit room. I felt like Luke Sky-walker and he was the young Anakan (Darth Vader) yet everything was alright. We were together with the force, fighting against the dark and evil Cleveland Indians.
The pitches pulled me in so far I can’t wait to watch tonight’s game. To see our hometown hero’s pull out another victory. I don’t wish for a blow out unless Joe Mauer does it all himself. I want a grinder where we win with a walk-off in the park home-run.
I want the same excitement and energy for every game against Cleveland. So when the playoffs arrive we are ready. Ready to unleash the beast. The twins are ferocious when hungry and I want to starve them the entire season. That way we see the playoffs as a feast and don’t become fat and complacent like the Yankees.
Lets go Twins. Another night, another victory. That is the Minnesota cry before the game. LET’S GO TWINS...LET’S GO!
Keywords: 14, 8th Inning, Anakan Skywalker, Cleveland, Cleveland Indians, Cocky, Darth Vader, Fan, Feast, Game, Hometown, Hour, Hunger, Indians, Inning, Joe Mauer, Joe Nathan, Luke Skywalker, Metrodome, Midwest, Miles, Minneapolis, Minnesota, New York Yankees, Per, Pitches, Playoffs, Superstition, Tonight, Twins
