2013年7月26日金曜日 - 
Spencer - Tigers Fan
One of my favorite activities in the summer is going to Koshien stadium and watching the Hanshin Tigers play. I have been in Japan for more than six years and I have gone to a game at least once a year. It's great because at the stadium the atmosphere is electric. Everybody is dressed up and having a great time as they cheer on the home team. You can really feel the camaraderie.
Back home in
America, the games are a bit more low key. You go to the stadium and eat
hot dogs or drink beer while you relax and watch the game. It is far more
casual than here in Japan. Everybody stays seated for most of the game. The only time people stand as a group is for the seventh inning stretch.
Now, I'm sure that
most of you have heard about Hanshin and “the curse of the colonel” but for
many years, I believed that I was jinxed as well. Every time I went to
watch the Tigers play, they lost the game.
I went to nearly ten games over five years and never saw the
Tigers win. I was bummed out.
However, I am happy to say
that this season things turned around. I watched Hanshin play Softbank and the Tigers won! I couldn't believe my eyes. It was a great game and hopefully I'll see
many more victories in the years to come. Look for me the next time you go to
Koshien. I'll be wearing my “Murton” jersey and waving my “Kanemoto” towel. Go
Tigers!
the atmosphere is electric = 雰囲気が刺激的だ
dressed up = 衣装に身を包む
cheer on = 声援を送る
camaraderie = 仲間意識
low key = 控えめ
casual = 気軽な
seventh inning stretch = 七回裏の開始前に設けられる小休止の時間
curse = 呪い
jinxed = 不運をもたらす
bummed out = 落ち込ませる
things turned around = 好転した
I couldn't believe my eyes = 我が目を疑った
hopefully = ～になるといいと思う
years to come = この先何年も