Greetings from the SF Giants Victory Parade from a lifelong Bay Area resident and loooong-suffering Giants fan
Credentials
• Went to 1958 Welcome to San Francisco parade (exact same route as today)
• Went to opening day at Seals Stadium
• Went to opening Day at Candlestick Park
• Proud owner of numerous Croix de Candlestick pins
• Went to opening day at Pac Bell Park
• Went to the disastrous game six loss to the Angels in 2002
Staked out a spot at Civic Center Plaza at 6 AM this morning. Hundreds, maybe thousands, of people had already beaten me to the punch by spending the night. First thought: Amidst the aroma of marijuana smoke, you would have thought that Proposition 19 had passed (around the state, only SF voters overwhelmingly approved it!). I TiVo’d the event so that I could get a perspective on the size of the crowds on the parade route, but people have been relatively mellow in spite of the overcrowding. The weather was flat-out awesome, about 70 degrees. The ceremony itself was both classy and folksy, with introductions of the coaching, training, and front-office staffs and each and every player (sorry Benjie, but you still get two checks and a ring) that contributed to the 2010 season, not just the postseason roster. Past Giant icons Mays and McCovey were on the stage, as were Mayor Newsom and the Governator, who of course got roundly booed. So glad that I went, even though getting through the traffic nightmare will be Hell. Thanks to my iPad and Wi-Fi, I can send this while it’s still fresh in my mind. With a payroll of tens of millions less than Meg Whitman’s failed attempt to buy an election, the underdog Giants won with great home-grown pitching/catching and a group of overperforming misfits and castoffs. Now I can cross off a SF Giants World Series victory from my bucket list! Spring training starts on February 15. Go Gigantes!
strategy error by the Rangers, with 2 outs and 1st base open, pitching to the red hot Renteria with Lincecum pitching so well. 
