Golden Retrievers

[Duman]

Back in 93, I attended a game at the Dome.  They had some older gentlemen who were the "ball boys" down the line in the out field.  Some one in the stands told me they called them "golden retrievers".   Was that true?

My wife and I were on our way to see her brother who was stationed at Ft. Hood.  We took the souther route from Birmingham to be able to see an Astros game and sight see in San Antonio.  Then took the northern route home to see the Rangers & the White Sox.  I missed the Ryan v Ventura fight by one night.  Both those ball parks are gone now.  Guess that means another trip at some point and time, even though her brother is in D.C. now.

[Amy]

Well the Astros are in DC next week.  But I wouldn't go out of your way to see them at RFK, which is a crappy old stadium in a bad part of town.  Wait until the new park opens here next year.  Unless of course you want to see Bidge one last time.

[toddthebod]

Well the Astros are in DC next week.  But I wouldn't go out of your way to see them at RFK, which is a crappy old stadium in a bad part of town.  Wait until the new park opens here next year.  Unless of course you want to see Bidge one last time.

Last year I was down in DC for some NASD testimony of a client.  We went to see a Nats game at RFK but we had to leave around the 7th inning because we needed to be up early the next morning.  There wasn't a single cab to be found.  We walked around for a while.  And it is a "hairy" neighborhood.  Finally, a black town car pulls up and asks if we needed a ride.  So we got in.  The car reeked of pot, but we managed to get back to our hotel safe and sound.

[Arky Vaughan]

Last year I was down in DC for some NASD testimony of a client.  We went to see a Nats game at RFK but we had to leave around the 7th inning because we needed to be up early the next morning.  There wasn't a single cab to be found.  We walked around for a while.  And it is a "hairy" neighborhood.  Finally, a black town car pulls up and asks if we needed a ride.  So we got in.  The car reeked of pot, but we managed to get back to our hotel safe and sound.

You're relatively safe over there as long as you don't do something foolish ... like get into a mysterious black town car that reeks of pot.

I'd feel safer around RFK than around Yankee Stadium.

[toddthebod]

You're relatively safe over there as long as you don't do something foolish ... like get into a mysterious black town car that reeks of pot.

I'd feel safer around RFK than around Yankee Stadium.

I feel very safe around Yankee Stadium because there are so many people around.  Also the subway stations are really crowded before, during and after the games.  But RFK was empty that night and the whole area felt abandoned.

[Arky Vaughan]

I feel very safe around Yankee Stadium because there are so many people around.  Also the subway stations are really crowded before, during and after the games.  But RFK was empty that night and the whole area felt abandoned.

That does make a difference. I suppose I should have noted that I'd rather be walking alone from RFK back toward the Capitol than from Yankee Stadium to, um, well, I'm not quite sure where I'd be walking to in the Bronx.

[Amy]

Last year I was down in DC for some NASD testimony of a client.  We went to see a Nats game at RFK but we had to leave around the 7th inning because we needed to be up early the next morning.  There wasn't a single cab to be found.  We walked around for a while.  And it is a "hairy" neighborhood.  Finally, a black town car pulls up and asks if we needed a ride.  So we got in.  The car reeked of pot, but we managed to get back to our hotel safe and sound.

Scary.  Every time I've been to RFK I've taken the Metro.  I've always been arriving or departing at the same time as a majority of the crowd and I've felt safe.  But I wonder what I would do if the game went into extra innings, especially if it ended after the Metro had closed for the night.  I've never left a game before it was over, but in that circumstance, I might have to.  I wouldn't want to be walking around that neighborhood alone; I can't imagine there would be any cabs around and I doubt if I called a cab company I could get a cab to come down there late at night.  I've thought about driving to the ballpark for that reason, but I'm not sure my car would be safe there either.

[Arky Vaughan]

Scary.  Every time I've been to RFK I've taken the Metro.  I've always been arriving or departing at the same time as a majority of the crowd and I've felt safe.  But I wonder what I would do if the game went into extra innings, especially if it ended after the Metro had closed for the night.  I've never left a game before it was over, but in that circumstance, I might have to.  I wouldn't want to be walking around that neighborhood alone; I can't imagine there would be any cabs around and I doubt if I called a cab company I could get a cab to come down there late at night.  I've thought about driving to the ballpark for that reason, but I'm not sure my car would be safe there either.

The new ballpark looks nice, but I wonder whether it will be that much safer in this regard.

[remy]

Last year I was down in DC for some NASD testimony of a client.  We went to see a Nats game at RFK but we had to leave around the 7th inning because we needed to be up early the next morning.  There wasn't a single cab to be found.  We walked around for a while.  And it is a "hairy" neighborhood. Finally, a black town car pulls up and asks if we needed a ride.  So we got in. The car reeked of pot, but we managed to get back to our hotel safe and sound.

Darwin is nipping as your heels, my friend...

[WulawHorn]

Scary.  Every time I've been to RFK I've taken the Metro.  I've always been arriving or departing at the same time as a majority of the crowd and I've felt safe.  But I wonder what I would do if the game went into extra innings, especially if it ended after the Metro had closed for the night.  I've never left a game before it was over, but in that circumstance, I might have to.  I wouldn't want to be walking around that neighborhood alone; I can't imagine there would be any cabs around and I doubt if I called a cab company I could get a cab to come down there late at night.  I've thought about driving to the ballpark for that reason, but I'm not sure my car would be safe there either.

I summered in DC as an intern, and walked a girl home after a softball game one night.  well, when I went back to the subway I'd missed last call.  And where I was living was so far away from where I was the first couple cabbies I talked to didn't want to take me there. I walked through a ghetto of some sort for about 1/2 a mile before I got a cabbie to take me out to my dorm room I was staying in.  Most scared I've ever been in my life- and I really don't scare easily.

The DC Metro is great but you do not want to miss that last train.

[das]

Scary.  Every time I've been to RFK I've taken the Metro.  I've always been arriving or departing at the same time as a majority of the crowd and I've felt safe.  But I wonder what I would do if the game went into extra innings, especially if it ended after the Metro had closed for the night.  I've never left a game before it was over, but in that circumstance, I might have to.  I wouldn't want to be walking around that neighborhood alone; I can't imagine there would be any cabs around and I doubt if I called a cab company I could get a cab to come down there late at night.  I've thought about driving to the ballpark for that reason, but I'm not sure my car would be safe there either.

When the games go into extras, Nats managements calls WMATA management and they keep the trains rolling for 30 minutes after the game so you are fine as long as you don't dawdle.  It will be the same when the new stadium opens next year.

MPD has a mobile command center and two smaller teams of cops equally spaced around the stadium for every game.  For anyone that has any problem (lost, don't know how to get home, scared, seperated, etc...), wander over to a gaggle of cops, state your problem and they will make it go away.  Really.  If you are cute and young, you'll get *a lot* of attention.  It you look like JimR, they'll dutifully solve your problem.  Again, it will be the same at the new stadium.

DC is no different than any big city.  Don't make stupid mistakes, plan ahead a tiny bit and you won't have problems. 

[Gulf Coast Playboy]

Back in 93, I attended a game at the Dome.  They had some older gentlemen who were the "ball boys" down the line in the out field.  Some one in the stands told me they called them "golden retrievers".   Was that true?

To your original question, the answer is yes.  Much like the B-Sharps and "General Admission," it was one of those things that was funny at first, and then less and less funny each successive time you heard it.

[The Third Man]

To your original question, the answer is yes.  Much like the B-Sharps and "General Admission," it was one of those things that was funny at first, and then less and less funny each successive time you heard it.

Totally. It just got depressing in the same way that Wal-Mart greeters make you feel  like somebody got screwed over in life to end up *there* doing *that.*

[Arky Vaughan]

When the games go into extras, Nats managements calls WMATA management and they keep the trains rolling for 30 minutes after the game so you are fine as long as you don't dawdle.  It will be the same when the new stadium opens next year.

MPD has a mobile command center and two smaller teams of cops equally spaced around the stadium for every game.  For anyone that has any problem (lost, don't know how to get home, scared, seperated, etc...), wander over to a gaggle of cops, state your problem and they will make it go away.  Really.  If you are cute and young, you'll get *a lot* of attention.  It you look like JimR, they'll dutifully solve your problem.  Again, it will be the same at the new stadium.

DC is no different than any big city.  Don't make stupid mistakes, plan ahead a tiny bit and you won't have problems. 

It beats Camden Yards, where the MARC train waiting outside the park to take people back to Union Station in D.C. would leave at a specified time, regardless of when the game was over.

[Amy]

When the games go into extras, Nats managements calls WMATA management and they keep the trains rolling for 30 minutes after the game so you are fine as long as you don't dawdle.  It will be the same when the new stadium opens next year.

MPD has a mobile command center and two smaller teams of cops equally spaced around the stadium for every game.  For anyone that has any problem (lost, don't know how to get home, scared, seperated, etc...), wander over to a gaggle of cops, state your problem and they will make it go away.  Really.  If you are cute and young, you'll get *a lot* of attention.  It you look like JimR, they'll dutifully solve your problem.  Again, it will be the same at the new stadium.

DC is no different than any big city.  Don't make stupid mistakes, plan ahead a tiny bit and you won't have problems. 

Really?  Because I tried to find some online information source that said anything like that and all I found was a WMATA press release from 2005 that said a temporary agreement had been reached to pay for late service at the stadium when necessary.  But I haven't seen anything that says an agreement was reached to continue the service, much less specifics on how it works.

[das]

Really?  Because I tried to find some online information source that said anything like that and all I found was a WMATA press release from 2005 that said a temporary agreement had been reached to pay for late service at the stadium when necessary.  But I haven't seen anything that says an agreement was reached to continue the service, much less specifics on how it works.

You probably won't find anythig official online until the new stadium opens up next year.  It's the MO that is in practice though.  Be purposeful getting to the Metro station, there will be trains until the big mass of people are gone.

[HurricaneDavid]

And the far Metro escalator a couple blocks down from the main one is the way to go.  No crowds at all, and when you get down to the track you get on the first car and always get a seat as opposed to being a sardine in one of the last cars.