Pain of being a FAN

Here i am staring at the TV.. looks like forever.. but only the past 3 hours.. The Yankees are playing game 5 of the first round playoffs.. Win or Go Home.. The Anaheim Angels are ahead in the score by 2 runs. In comes my hero Alex Rodriguez.. whos the best player ever to grace the game.

Derek Jeter, the Yankee captin, is leading off first-base, ARod checks with the umpire, digs in front of home-plate. He pauses, for what felt like an aeon for me, the season was standing in front of us, the yankees. I could not handle this thing, whats that.. yeah the pressure.. just too much for me to take, the whole Yankee team is on the railings of the dugout, cheering the Man, the phenom ARod. I was wearing my Yankee cap the reverse way, a superstition when your team wants to make a come-back.. its called the rally cap.. i cant believe i was this tense.. the pitcher checks in with the catcher.. the nasty Angel stadium crowd.. anything but filled with Angels.. pouring expletives at ARod.. for one they are jealous that Yankees have him but also because they find it too much tension to take.. they need an outlet..

Don worry i thought.. it will be decided one way or another.. oh jeez.. wont the bloody pitcher throw the ball over.. No.. he does not he is scared to let the ball go from his hand.. the catcher goes to the pitcher tries to calm him down .. the umpire seeing this goes to the mound asks both of them to throw the ball and not hold the game in pause..

the pitcher says he is ready.. now ARod digs in again.. the ball is hidden in the pitchers glove.. ARod was showing the calmness that you wont be faulted if u mistook him to be a saint.. the catcher flashes some hand signals like a dance teacher.. the pitcher somehow in that 2.3 seconds understood that sign and is ready.. now ARod needs time.. umpire calls timeout

ARod steps out of the batter's box.. sweat pouring from his forehead.. i was there comfortably in my room at 60 degrees.. but due to the tension of this game.. i was sweating profusely too.. the radio announcers were growing crazy.. i could not bear them anymore.. switched off the radio.. muted the TV and prayed one last time to GOD..

ARod is ready.. digs in.. umpire signals play resumption.. catcher is ready.. pitcher is ready to throw.. he kicks his leg high up in the air.. raises his arm... the hand holding the ball comes out of its hiding place.. shoulder jettisons into a swing like motion.. hand comes down from a level above his shoulder to below his shoulder.. the ball is finally released.. its on his way at 98 miles per hour.. all it has to travel is some 50 feet... it cant get sooner to ARod..

ARod's bat was there ... right there... waiting .... waiting.. the ball half way thru the distance... Yankee manager sweating like he is on a trek in sahara... i am in a kneel down position on the carpet.. Derek Jeter ready to run from first base... catcher raises his glove to catch the ball...

the ball has completed 3/4 of the path.. the whole Yankee season... on a wrap on that ball thrown at ARod.. ARod as calm as a saint.. waiting with patience..

no hurry on his part.. probably thats why he earns $25 million a year.. to show patience n cool in such a situation.. ball at 4/5 of the distance..

ARod .. ever ready.. now releases the motion that will define the 2005 season of my dear Yankees... ball comes .. ARod hits it.. ball leaves the bat.. in the direction pointed by the bat...

it was supposed to go high into the air .. far away .. atleast 400 feet .. for us (Yankees) to tie the game.. but ARod's hit was rolling on the ground..

So what.. if he can get to first base without getting run out.. next guy can win it... was my thought process..

oh damn.... there was a fielder form the enemy team.. and the ball was heading right towards him... my heart was pounding... ok not more than one guy whould be run out i hoped..

but the fielder collected the ball cleanly.. threw a bullet throw to second base.. Jeter run out at second base.. the second base guy threw to first base.. ARod OUT!!

both guys run out.... the Angel stadium erupted with joy..

ARod the saint cursed himself... cudnt blame him.. i did too.. not myself but him..

the game was gone.. the season was gone .. over.. finished..

ARod the MVP screwed up the time when we needed him the most..

the Yankee dugout was like a funeral home.. every team member face white as snow..

they showed yankee fans.. they were headed for the exit..

this was embarassing.. 5 years without a trophy..

my superstition busted.. Yanks lost.. i cursed myself.. i cursed ARod.. i cursed every single Angel player and their fans..

no use.. game over.. so is the season.. as we all get to see in 2 week's time.. some other team take our trophy..

wait.. wasnt there a 3rd out?.. but he also grounded out after another tease.. i cursed even more.. felt like an idiot.. felt like someone stole something from me.. felt numb.. felt a body blow..

oh this pain.. oh this pain.. of being a fan...