As my brother and I pulled up at the stadium to look for parking, I had a moment: the sight of the stadium in front of me was stunning to see. It’s really chilling to be awestruck as an adult, it brings you right back to being a kid. I was feeling good from the get go.

We made our way in, and I broke the ice to a Ravens fan, right next to Ford Field, remember, “Fuck the Ravens.” I heard some nice mother comments, but they were in the dust with my trail!

Comerica let me bring in my walking stick for my broken heel bone. I appreciated that. Walking with eight screws permanently in your foot is painful…

We found the immaculate seats my father had gotten for my brother’s birthday. Lower deck, terrace section on the first base side with our own little table and a breathtaking view. Not only do you receive the ballpark in Detroit, you get to take in the city’s skyline. It was a dream come true.

When you cover sports too often, the winning and losing can become all you care about. I needed this live game to remind of the joy the game always has, regardless of the outcome.

We sat down, and not much later, were joined to our left by some Indians fans. Here we go. I looked right at them and said, “Where did LeBron go, again?”

It was on!

I’ll admit, though: they turned out to be self-deprecating and hilarious. My lessons had begun: Cleveland fans are real human beings, too! I actually liked the fan next to me in the end.

Maybe it was the $9 beer, but we started off the game feeling great. I’ve never seen myself so relaxed while Anibal Sanchez walked the bases loaded. I honestly wasn’t dejected; instead, I walked up close and cheered him on. Next batter, double play. The Tigers ended the frame with a sliding catch in foul territory by Nick Castellanos.

Each half inning felt like our own mini-game. Hurling comments as loud as you want feels great. The sun was still shining on Jackie Robinson Day.

The Tigers tied in the bottom of the first. Ian Kinsler sent a rocket down the third base line for two bases, then was brought home by Miguel Cabrera.

Sanchez only struggled because he couldn’t grip the ball early on in the cold weather. He gave up some more walks and an error that led to two more runs for Cleveland in the second, the only three runs they received all day. It was 3-1 them after two innings.

That’s when snarf had his moment in the sun. I walked as close as I could get to the front row behind home plate to try and get on camera. I waited for my window about 10 rows back in an empty seat, then walked right up to the usher blocking the front aisle. I knelt down, gave him a gentle tap on the knee and said, “I’m getting on TV,” then turned around and didn’t look back. Upon replay of oldschool’s taping, I nailed the timing right as Sanchez stuck out Carlos Santana. Boom, baby!

My brother and I could feel the wind blowing in for the next few innings. After we finished a couple beers and got him some gloves at the pro shop, we decided to try out the third base side. I could hear lame spoilds saying they had to leave, so we snarfed their $100 seats! I counted and we were within ten rows of the front. I have never been so close at the professional level. You could see how much these mother [oh wait – can’t say that at the ballpark!] snarfers want to win and perform well. I tried to pick up a disappointed Cabrera when he got out. You’re still the man, Miggy!

By the 8th inning, despite my long underwear, under armor, and prepared layers – we needed a rally hat. I’m wearing it right now. And you know it works.

Not only did Al-Al throw a clean frame while I bought it, we scored our first run in six innings on another Cabrera RBI. 3-2, 9th inning.

Paws gave me the handshake. The whoo! girls were waving their posters. AND ALEX AVILA KNOCKED ONE TO THE WALL. THE CROWD WENT WILD, AND MICHAEL BOURNE BOBBLED THE BALL IN CENTER FIELD. AVILA DID NOT HESITATE, ROUNDING SECOND AND SLIDING SAFE INTO THIRD BASE!! I shook my brother as the place erupted!

I know Don Kelly struck out and the Tigers lost, but the magic in that building will live inside my brother and I forever. He said, “When he hit that triple, it felt like we won.”

It’s true: our day in Detroit was forever.

Thanks, Dad.