Just checking in once again. I've been in a bit of a hiatus with some work picking up and moving apartments the past week or so, but luckily I still have been able to enjoy this ride of a summer we're having. The Pirates sit tied for first place as of 15 minutes ago and the last time they were this many games over .500 (8), I was in diapers.
If this keeps up, it certainly changes the focus of this documentary. Way back at PirateFest it was said in jest by myself and others that this would really be something is this little movie followed them the year they broke the streak. As much as I hate to admit it, I am a very superstitious person, so I won't quite drastically change things or anything, but these recent developments will certainly influence what type of footage I shoot and what kind of questions I ask people.
I started this whole thing with the thought that Pirates fans were the most dedicated fans on the face of the planet. I greatly admire the people that run various blogs and things of that nature because when you turn on SportsCenter, you aren't going to see many (if any) Pirates coverage. And with the Steelers and the rise of the Penguins, even coverage in our own city was lacking to those of us who crave as much Pirates coverage as they can get their hands on. I admire the Pirates bloggers who continually dedicate their time so fans like can learn about the team. Their passion for the Pirates has given them a lot and with the old media caught up in trying to cover this extraordinary season, I keep noticing some of the Pirates bloggers being featured much more prominently in more mainstream coverage. It is an honor they deserve.
And as for the fans, this season is what we deserve. This team is far from perfect, but they keep managing to get the job done. I certainly hope this continues. Over the years I've become a bit of a snob at games, preferring weeknights where I don't have to deal with the fireworks crowds. But as the season goes on and the Pirates continue to win games, it is the team, not the promotions that has people coming in and having been to some bigger games in recent years (the Saturday night vs. Boston last year comes to mind) I can tell you there is nothing more magical that a packed PNC Park with the crowd hanging on every pitch. I've often thought about what on Earth a playoff game at PNC Park would feel like. I don't want to say it yet, but who knows, maybe I'll find out sooner than later.
#WhyNotNow
