So Wednesday night, me, my partner, his daughter and her boyfriend went to our first baseball game of the season. Doug (our fearless leader on JAMM) laughed at my excitement over how much in love I am with the entire “doing the American thing” updates I was posting on Facebook. Yes, I shed tears when I hear the Star Spangled Banner, and I took my moment of pride and joined in and shed a tear on Wednesday night while facing the Flag as the song resounded around the stadium.

The guy sat next to us was a supporter of the rival team……I forget his name, but he was cool enough and took the ribbing we gave him and we got a picture together.  We all ate hot dogs and drank beer and munched on peanuts and cotton candy (we call it candy floss in England ) and we cheered every time the rival team had a strike out, and we heckled the guy next to us every time the rival team got a batter on base.

Hit the jump, it’s a long post

Do you know where this is going yet?
On Wednesday night I was supporting my team – the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at the Angels Stadium – against the Oakland “A’s”. We left around 10.15pm after losing 6-4 to Oakland.

Two hours later, the guy I had decreed as being “hot” (as in phwoar, I wish I was 10 years younger), and whom my partner declared was the upcoming star of the Major Leagues was killed in a car accident right here in Orange County.

Nick Adenhart. A 22 year old rookie and starting his second season in the MLB for the Angels. His dad was at the game Wednesday night, swelling with pride that his son was making good.

The atmosphere here in the OC is palpable….everyone is in a state of shock, they can’t believe this happened. I know a LOT of people who were at the game. I was at the game. I saw this guy pitch six innings 2 hours before he died. And some stupid idiot decides to get behind the wheel while 3 times over the limit, while on a suspended license for a prior DUI conviction and left three people dead and one guy fighting for his life.

Nick Adenhart
Courtney Stewart
Henry Pearson

This song is for you guys. In The Arms Of An Angel.