An international cast of characters
We’re only hours away from the start of the 2014 baseball season (and another week or so away from the first game stateside…). I’ve done my best to give you some context for the event by taking a look around with the cricket configuration in place and showing you some Americans on and around the field. That just leaves the entire rest of the world to cover, with the part of “entire rest of the world” to be played by Russia, Trinidad and Tobago, and Scotland.
The Band of the Moscow Military Conservatoire
Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force Steel Orchestra
It is inevitable I suppose that whenever you put people from different countries together, fighting will be the result. Luckily, with musicians this takes the form of a battle of the bands. After a week and a half of camaraderie and shared hardships (one rehearsal featured a massive deluge of rain that couldn’t dampen anyone’s spirits, as you can see here), the mood was relaxed and friendly as the final show approached. The Sydney Cricket Ground then became the site of an epic battle of bands from opposite hemispheres, the band of the Moscow Military Conservatoire and the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force Steel Orchestra.
Back and forth the performances went with no judges, nobody keeping score, and no end in sight. Cast members from around the globe gathered to take in the scene, knowing that they were witnessing something special and unique. Eventually though, it was time to get ready for one last performance before everyone would go their separate ways.
The mood was much darker the day before. Rain had been falling all day and showed no signs of letting up. If the rain held, it was almost certain that the night’s performance would be cancelled. On top of that, this was also the night that the show would be broadcast live on television. The previous night’s performance had been recorded as a precaution, but it wouldn’t be the same. Cast members anxiously awaited the final decision as showtime drew near.
Warning: clicking on the above photo may be NSFW
And then this happened. Leave it to the Scots to figure out how to lift everyone’s spirits and make the most of the dismal scene on the field below. Down to just sporrans and footwear, two Scots stormed the field intent upon using the tarp at the center as a slip ‘n slide. That didn’t work out as well as they had hoped, but they returned triumphant to great applause. Miraculously, the rain slowed and the show went off without a hitch, television broadcast and all.
Four years later, baseball games at the Sydney Cricket Ground seem almost ordinary by comparison. Still, it is great to see the reach of the sport spreading, even if it is happening at 5am EDT.
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