Kaohsiung (white) vs. Taipei (yellow)

Last night I finally got to do something I’ve been wanting to do ever since I got here: experience a live Taiwanese baseball game!  One of the local teachers offered to buy a couple of us tickets for the Kaohsiung vs. Taipei game, which is a pretty big deal, especially because we’re in play-off season right now.  It was a night game, (and personally I think all afternoon games in southern Taiwan should be outlawed due to intense heat) so the weather was ideal.

 When we arrived at the stadium, where we met the aforementioned teacher (Coach Pow), we assumed we would be rooting for Kaohsiung’s team, La New Bears. (side note: all teams in Taiwan are sponsored by a company, therefore La New is a large shoe store in Kaohsiung.  If the team won, then there would be a huge sale on shoes after the game!)  As it turned out, he bought tickets in the Taipei section, so we found our ‘WE [HEART] LA NEW BEARS’ sign a little out of place.  Naturally we changed loyalties and rooted for the Taipei Brother Elephants.  

Coach Pow brought along a large bag full of noisemakers, so we were blowing horns and shaking rattles with the best of them.  And we obviously had to buy a crap-load of Brother Elephant paraphernalia in order to fit in.  

The game was more or less like a good old fashion American Game with the exception of:

1. No 7th inning stretch

2. No ‘Take Me Out to the Ballgame’

3. Taiwan teams are equipt with small bands, dancing cheerleaders, and designated crowd-rilers.  

4. At one point a large number of bananas were being passed around the stadium (?).  Take one, pass it on.

5. No nachos, beer, peanuts, soft serve cones, etc.  Instead insert lunchboxes, shrimp crackers, bubble tea, and carmel/kettle corn.

The best part of the night was that we ended up rooting for the WINNING team, which always makes a night at the baseball park more fun.

Cheering like crazy for the Elephants who just won a pretty close came. Elephants 4; Bears 3.