The World Series and Comic Con: When Worlds Collide
The Boston Red Sox and the Los Angeles Dodgers are going head-to-head for the 2018 World Series title. Best-of-seven for who gets to be called the champ and who gets lost to the pages of history. Both teams have huge fan bases across the country that will be rooting for victory, and both have huge rivals whose fans will be rooting for defeat.
But another event with tens of thousands of fans is happening just down the road from Dodgers Stadium—the Los Angeles Comic Con.
For those of you who don’t know: Comic Con is a “Convention” for “Comics,” in addition to anything and everything even remotely related to comics. It’s basically a three-day celebration of comics, as well as television and films in the Science Fiction/Fantasy genre. I’ll be watching every game of the World Series, but I’ll also be attending the L.A. Comic Con for work purposes.
A short time ago, in a galaxy not so far away … I went to a Con for the first time, and it is quite unlike anything you can experience. The majority of the tens of thousands of people attending are wearing elaborate costumes that put the chest-painters of sports to shame. I’m talking full-body Iron Man suits, groups of friends dressed up like each of the Power Rangers, and elves as far as the eye can see.
Waiting behind me in line to buy refreshments was He-Man. This muscle-bound dude made an exact replica of the cartoon hero’s outfit. No detail was missed: blond bowl haircut, magic sword and he even shaved off all his body hair. Now, that’s a fan.
Sure, the Raiders have the Black Hole where fans dress up to try and look as terrifying as their team is awful. But imagine a stadium filled almost all Raider Nation fans! Okay, maybe don’t imagine that. Comic Con has the same level of enthusiasm, but you don’t feel like these people will smash a beer bottle on your head or slash your tires. It’s like the Disneyland version of that. For at least that brief moment, Con attendees are the happiest people on Earth.
On the surface, the disparate fandoms of sports and comics would seem to be at odds with each other. But I think if we look closer we’ll see there is a lot that each can learn from the other.
“What the hell are you talking about, Jed?” Great question. I’m not really sure just yet, but I’m hoping I’ll sort it out as I continue to type. How about this:
Let’s take some famous Sci-Fi/Fantasy films and awkwardly tie them to the World Series matchup between the Dodgers and Red Sox.
“Do, or do not. There is no try.”—The Empire Strikes Back
Yoda is one of the all-time great motivators. I mean, he basically teaches Luke Skywalker to be an elite Jedi knight in a few days. Players in the World Series need every edge they can get—whether it’s a positive attitude or a banned foreign substance.
“One ring to rule them all, one ring to find them, one ring the bring them all, and in the darkness bind them.”—The Lord of the Rings
This is what it’s all about: the championship ring. So many players go their whole careers without ever getting a World Series title, and many of the players in this series won’t get another chance. Some could say that this opportunity is “precious.”
“Wake up. It’s time to die.”—Blade Runner
The one thing all World Series match-ups has in common is one team emerges victorious. And one team loses. Once the games get under way, one team must suffer a defeat. As fans, we only can hope we get to see things people wouldn’t believe. Maybe not something as cool as attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion, but maybe a walk-off home run, a game-saving catch or 15-strikeout performance.
“Oooh, ahhh, that’s how it always starts. Then later there’s running and screaming.”—Jurassic Park: The Lost World
The Dodgers and Red Sox are loaded with talent, and were both early favorites to make it to the World Series. But it’s baseball, so you never know what’s going to happen. Both teams have weaknesses, and with the brightest possible light is shining on them, the cracks will show. Baseball finds a way.
“Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no substitute for a good blaster at your side, kid.”—Star Wars
Maybe Han Solo didn’t mean this as a cheap shot at the stat nerds who have overtaken the game, but the man makes a point about the value of home-run hitters. The Dodgers lead the National League in home runs, and the Red Sox lead all of baseball in runs scored. This series will feature analytics-based decisions, but it will probably just come down to a ton of scoring. We all know Han shot first, and these teams would do well to follow his example.
“I’m sorry, Dave. I’m afraid I can’t do that.”—2001: A Space Odyssey
This almost seems like it would be referring to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, but that great line from the HAL 9000 makes me dream of a not-to-distant future where robots are calling balls and strikes. I’m not saying we need to launch the current human umpires into the empty void of space, but who amongst us hasn’t entertained the thought?
“E.T. phone home.”—E.T.
It’s modern playoff baseball, so that means we are going to be making calls to the bullpen. Lots of them.
“Have fun storming the castle.”—The Princess Bride
This one is for the fans. The World Series is wot bwings us togeder today. It may be inconceivable to stay positive when things don’t go as you wish, but it’s a best-of-seven baseball series, so your team still has a chance. And I mean it! (Anybody want a peanut?)
“I’ll be back.”—The Terminator
The Dodgers proved it this year by making a return trip to the World Series. The team that loses this year will have a good enough team to give it another shot next year. Heck, even the Kansas City Royals did it. Of course, this is either team’s best chance to win, so it’s time to bust out the plasma rifle in the 40-watt range.
“To crush your enemies, see them driven before you … and to hear the lamentation of their women.”—Conan the Barbarian
Every team and its fans want the four-game sweep. Get it over with. Celebrate the championship. But for the rest of baseball, this is the worst-case scenario. Let’s think about the casual fans out there who need a tight series to draw them in. The winner will still get to enjoy hearing the lamentations of men and women alike.
“That’s it, man; game over, man, game over!”—Aliens
When the marines land on LV-426, things went a lot different than they had planned. The xenomorphs clobbered them pretty good. They regrouped and they found a way to survive. That’s the way baseball works. Bats get cold. Pitchers get hot. You have to keep throwing everything you’ve got out there and once the alien mother is launched out into space, it’s all over. Until the sequel!
