In 2001 I moved away from Southern California to go to college. I made the move in July to increase my chances of finding a job before school started. It was a difficult transition. My main concern upon arrival was how to follow the Dodgers from out of state.
I was out of their TV market, the newspaper didn’t cover them (and I didn’t get the paper), the games ended too late to make it on the nightly Sportscenter. I was basically reduced to checking box scores on ESPN’s website, occasionally following the proceedings live, refreshing results every 30, 60, or 90 seconds. This was the equivalent of sitting in traffic on the 405 on a hot summer day, but without the payoff of finally arriving at the beach.
Last Wednesday morning I checked my email on the iPhone, a part of my morning ritual. MLB.com, where I subscribe to watch all out-of-market baseball games live, informed me that through their MLB AT BAT app I could now stream every game live from my iPhone. I spent the $10 as fast as my fingers could type.
Ever since I got my first generation iPhone I have been wishing it had two things: A video camera and the ability to stream baseball. iPhone 3G S made all my dreams a come true.
Wednesday evening brought the big payoff. Andrew and I were coming back from a PDX Social Media Club event and stopped at Fred Meyer for a few miscellaneous items. I decided to test out the video quality.
It was Manny bobblehead night at Dodger Stadium, but Manny was sitting out due to a sore wrist (he had been hit by a pitch the previous night.) The game was tied at 2 in the bottom of the 6th. The Dodgers managed to loaded the bases with the pitcher spot due up.
Andrew searched for a storage bin. Manny came out of the dugout to pinch hit. The Reds changed pitchers. Andrew perused the picture frames. We headed for the checkout stand. Manny hit the first pitch on a line straight into “Mannywood” (the section right inside the foul pole in left field), grand slam home run. The crowd went wild, including me as we approached the checkout stand in Fred Meyer.
This is the age we live in. Live baseball streamed to my cell phone.
Tags: baseball, stories, technology
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