Nick and Andrew, the newest Giants fan

As a  diehard San Francisco Giants baseball fan and native San Franciscan, if there ever is such a thing as a “sports bucket list” especially for a San Francisco native, mine was for the San Francisco Giants baseball team to win at least one World Series in my lifetime. The Giants moved to San Francisco after the 1957 baseball season. The great Willie Mays, quite possibly the greatest baseball player of all time, who roamed center field for the Giants, at windy, cavernous Candlestick Park, never won a World Series in San Francisco. My Godfather, the honorable, George Christopher, brought the Giants from New York, to San Francisco in 1958.

In San Francisco, we became spoiled in 1981 when Joe Montana and Dwight Clark combined for “the catch” marking the first of five 49ers Super Bowls in the 1980s and 90s. San Francisco became a city expecting greatness from our sports franchises. We were a winning football town, but never could accomplish greatness in baseball. The elusive World Series victory. Ever so close,but yet seemingly so far away. I was a beer vendor at “the Stick," Candlestick Park. The jobs that we will do when we’re young build character when we grow up. Yes, I was pouring a 49er fan a beer in the end zone where Joe Montana hit Dwight Clark changing the face of San Francisco sports forever.

It was at an event to promote the food truck movement in San Francisco where I met Andrew Zimmern. Andy is most famous for traveling the world in search of unique foods, as the travel channel's host of ‘Bizarre Foods.’ Andy and I met on my social media sites, World Travel List. From the moment I met Andrew we became friends. We even cooked together. I cooked some delicious beef tongue on the grill. Not quite that bizarre at all. In Mexico I love lengua - yum tongue tacos.

Yum yum - Nick takes over the grill. What’s your favorite piece of meat?

As the event was shutting down. I asked Andrew to take another photo with me. I was decked out in a Giants orange t-shirt, reading “I see Orange People” and a black Giants cap. I wanted to play a trick on Andy, So I gave him my black Giants cap to wear in a photo.  Andy, being the good sport that he is, graciously donned my Giants cap.  In the fall of 2010 the San Francisco Giants  went on to defeat the Atlanta Braves,  Philadelphia Phillies, and then the American League champion Texas Rangers for our first world championship in 52 years. San Francisco went off the charts. City Hall and Coit Tower were lit up in orange. 52 years, finally our first world series victory since moving out West from New York. Finally I could say that the San Francisco Giants were the champions of the baseball world.  A parade like no other ensued that the city, St. Francis has even seen. The San Francisco 49ers have won five Super Bowls, and San Francisco has seen many a festive sports moment, but this parade was the most impressive celebration that I have seen in lifetime in San Francisco.

The maestro himself, Andrew Zimmern, making some tasty sliders.

I like to think that Andrew Zimmern somehow was our good-luck charm and helped our boys capture that elusive World Series title that has haunted many San Franciscans for a lifetime. 52 years was a long time to wait, but well worth it in the end. After Andrew wore my San Francisco Giants cap, the Giants went on a tear, culminating in our first World Series victory as the San Francisco Giants

Now that I think about it, the San Francisco Giants owe Andy his playoff and World Series share. Andrew needs to pay San Francisco Giants, Ceo, Larry Baer a visit at AT&T Park as his next visit to San Francisco.

Andrew, next time you’re in my  ”city by the bay”,  Garlic fries are on me at At&t Park. As the Giants move have moved forward into the 2012 playoffs, maybe it's time to fly Andrew Zimmern out to San Francisco?

San Francisco Giants closer Brian Wilson strikes out Texas Rangers, Nelson Cruz and 52 years of frustration comes to an end.

A sea of orange in San Francisco, including City Hall in orange lights

 


About the Author: Nick Kontis – Travel Expert and Founder of World Travel List

Nick Kontis started out as a world traveler at an early age traveling back and forth between California and Greece every summer. But it was a backpacking trip around the world at age 24 that proved to be a life changing experience. After traveling by car, train, plane, bike and, boat around the world, it would be this trip of a lifetime that would lead to a life as a travel entrepreneur and world traveler. Nick has been on both radio and television. Featured on Arthur Frommer’s television show, and referred by Lonely Planet writers. Frequently mentioned as the “father of around the world airfares.” Arthur Frommer once said, “If Jules Verne were alive today he would use Nick to go around the world in 80 days.” Nick and his various travel companies have sent over 10,000 people taking their dream trip through airfare discounts of as much as 50% off the airlines published fares. Now Nick promotes travel through his World Travel List and ‘Trip Rambler’ by World Travel List. Having traveled to over 80 countries Nick hopes to inspire others to travel the world. Follow Nick’s “passion for travel” at www.trip.worldtravellist.com.

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  • Hi Ed,

    Yes, indeed, had Wilie played in a ball park where the wind did not stop balls on the warning track, Willie would have hit 800 home runs. That said, my Giants pulled out a miracle stay alive game yesterday, now it's game time in Cincinnati, I hope to come back this posting after a Giants victory. Staying alive, somehow, we're going to win. Matt Cain tomorrow,

  • Nice to see Willie Mays remembered and revered. I vaguely remember him in his heyday, so to speak, when he played with big Willie McCovey and the Alou brothers. About 15 years ago I went to a press conference with Mickey Mantle where one of the reporters asked Mantle who was better, him or Mays. "Just look at the numbers!" exclaimed Mantle. "Willie was better, no question about it!"  

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