The Perfect Black and Tan

Philadelphia Phillies v Boston Red Sox,
June 24, 2006

Fenway Park, Section 41 Row 19

Nothing worse than jumping on a plane in the morning to catch a 1PM game and landing at Logan in a terrestrial downpour. Sure, I could use my game ticket for a future game. But that would require another plane ticket.
But we went through the motions. We were met at the airport by friends and drove straight to Fenway. In the rain.
It isn't like the old days when you could waltz into The Cask for a quick one. The frickin lines now wrap around the block.
So we went inside for shelter and huddled under the bleacher section. We found a Guinness stand and went to order a few when my buddy asked the guy if he could pour us some Black and Tans.
The guy did. Perfectly. PERFECTLY. But he warned us once the crowds show up, he can't serve them anymore (process takes too long). So he tips the guy 2 bucks. I throw him another $5 and say; "We'll be seeing you later".
Luckily the rain passes, the field is cleared and this one may have started on time.
The weather apparenlty didn't persuade anyone from not coming to the ballpark as 35,564 walked throught the gates.
A few innings into it, it's my fly so I go back to the stand and get behind a loudmouth who asked for a Black and Tan. The same server politely said he is not permitted to server Black and Tans during the game. It slows up the line. Slappy McDickhead starts mouthing off at the poor beer guy, accepts a regular Guiness and stiffs him on a tip.
Knowing the rule: No Black and Tan during the game, I step up and say; "2 Black and tan's please". He recognized that tip given earlier and begins pouring 2. And they kept coming troughout the rest of the game.
Being from Philly and a Phils fan, I was torn in this contest.
Pitching that day was Curt Schilling for the Sox and Brett Meyers for the visiting Phils.
This is Meyers first start since being picked up by the police 2 nights earlier for smacking his wife around in public.
And the fans were relentless. I have no idea how Red Sox fans were able to buy so many Phils t shirts with Meyers and #39 on the back. But they did. And placed tape over the name with "Wife Beater" written in marker.
The Phils jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the 1st with a Bobby Abeau double that scored Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley.
The Sox responded in the bottom of the 1st with a Manny Ramirez sac fly that scored Mark Loretta.
Mike Lowell homered in the 2nd and Loretta singled to bring Kevin Youkulis home for a 3-2 Soxs lead. And it remained scoreless until the Phillies tied it up in the 7th.
Ball game goes to the bottom of the 10th. Tom Gordon on the hill for the visitors. Alex Cora on base for the Sox.
Big Papi at the plate with a 2-2 count. And launches one deep in the center field bleachers. Just a section over from us.
Place erupted. One of the best finishes I have ever seen live.