Dodgers Soak Up Fans Love

Photo: Joshua Garcia

By Joshua Garcia

They did it. They finally did it. After years of “I’m ready to be hurt again” memes and jokes about how the Dodgers always choke and how the 2020 covid-season Championship didn’t count, the Los Angeles Dodgers are real deal champs for the first time since 1988. 

Countless people at Friday’s Championship Parade near City Hall downtown, were either too young to remember or not even born in 1988 the last time the City of Los Angeles held a ticker-tape fiesta for the Dodgers. The Lakers have done this many times, the Kings after beating the Devils and Rangers from the New York City area have hoisted a Stanley Cup in front of their fellow Angelenos twice in the last decade, but this was special, because it’s the Dodgers. 

Although the Dodgers spent their first 74 years in the Borough of Brooklyn, for 66 years the team has been the soul of Los Angeles and hasn’t had the still waters that the Lakers and other franchises in the same metropolitan area enjoy. Voice of the franchise and Broadcasting Legend Vin Scully always said, “It didn’t come easy, but in the history of the Dodgers both Brooklyn and Los Angeles, nothing has ever come easy.”

So when the beloved Dodgers fought their way through the hated division rival Padres, who many had favored to win the World Series, the up and coming New York Mets, and finally the big bad New York Yankees with MVP Aaron Judge,  on a run to a world championship, oh it feels different. Walker Buehler, who grabbed the last out in the World Series, immediately ran to a microphone to tell the world and in particular the haters and naysayers of the 2020 MLB  champions, to somewhat politely, shut their mouths after now winning a second ring in the span of 5 years. 

Over a million people attended the raucous parade in downtown Los Angeles near City Hall and it all got kicked off with a huge party at Gloria Molina Park, where the double-decker buses were set to take off, filled with Dodger players, coaches, and families. Hearing a crowd of thousands of people sing Happy Birthday to Iconic Pitcher and Announcer Fernando Valenzuela was the emotional and energetic start the big party deserved. People hugged, cried, took video, sang their hearts out, and then were ready party for the first time since 1988. 

As the buses pulled in front of Los Angeles City Hall and what felt like half the town, Dave Roberts lifted up the trophy as he pulled a fat billow of smoke out of his fine cigar, like Tony Soprano. The Dodger coaches soaked in every minute, Roberts enjoyed a quick chuckle at all the times his job was in question, his decisions were second guessed, his acumen as a manager debated, all leading him to this World Series trophy he held. 

Coach Mark Prior not far behind Manager Dave Roberts, should also be applauded for his use of the pitching staff throughout the playoffs and his tremendous contribution to their success. The Dodgers would not be where they are without Prior, and will have to fight off offers from other organizations to make him a manager, but first, let him enjoy his champagne and celebration. 

The DJ dropped “You know how we do it” by Ice Cube, and the buses with the Dodger players entered, a fan held a big sign that could be seen for blocks saying, “Thanks for not stopping Freddie.” In response to a sign a fan held up at Yankee Stadium during Game 5 in New York. Freddie Freeman in fact, did not stop, in 20 at-bats in 5 World Series he posted a .300 average, with four home runs and drove in a ridiculous 12 RBI in his five games. Freeman was named MVP and the crowd bursting with over a million people total, chanted his name as it echoed throughout downtown, “FREDDIE-FREDDIE-FREDDIE!”.

Los Angeles is synonymous with the music it produces, it always has and always will represent LA. At the celebration at Dodger Stadium, team leader and fire starter, Kiké Hernandez, let it be known that when Ice Cube took the stage before Game 2, and even more when Fat Joe took the stage in New York, they knew the series was the going to go the Dodgers’ way. And although it was a subtle jab to the New York and it’s rap, the two rappers signified how the series went, and it’s no coincidence in the year of Kendrick Lamar, the Dodgers are the champions. 

With the King of the City Kendrick Lamar, coming off his epic summer concert, being named to the Super Bowl Halftime Show, and the Dodgers winning their first full-season ring since 1988, can you blame Los Angeles for feeling like, “They not like us”?