In an Otherwise Hellish Year, the Angels Lift the Spirits

Have you detected a certain ugliness in the air? A meanness of spirit that pervades Orange County? A constant drumbeat of negativity and pessimism?

Whaddya mean, yes, you’re a regular reader of this column?

Hey, shuddup!

Sorry. I wasn’t trying to pick a fight. My intention is exactly the opposite. Much like St. Francis of Assisi, I’m into unity and peace today.

Let’s face it, these are not happy times around here. Sometimes it looks like 31 cities and 31 different flavors. It’s not like we have a mayor of Munchkinland who can call a town meeting and get us to rally ‘round the flag. Do we even have a flag? How about a county song? A jingle? A motto? Has anyone from San Clemente ever been to Brea, or vice versa?

Judging from the last year or so, it seems like the thing we do best is fight each other. Last year, we went after our housekeepers and schoolkids (remember Prop. 187?). This year, it’s officeholders: Citizens have talked about recalling city council members in Anaheim, Dana Point, Irvine and Cypress. They’re so mad in Cypress that they also want to recall their state assemblywoman, who’s the Speaker. In saner times, having one of its own as Speaker would make a community ecstatic.

These, however, are trying times. Things are so downbeat that, if you live in Orange County in 1995, you don’t even have to be a white male to be angry.

Luckily, a unifying possibility exists.

Would you believe . . . the Angels?

Not the kind the Rev. Robert Schuller talks about on Sunday mornings, but those baseball players who play over at Anaheim Stadium.

Sounds crazy, doesn’t it--the team that has caused so much anxiety and exasperation over the years actually providing the soothing balm we need. Talk about the supreme irony: At a time when talent-laden Orange County is underachieving, the modestly talented Angels are overachieving.

We’re now halfway through the season, and to most people’s surprise the Angels have been in or near first place much of the way. They’re a team that baseball fans can genuinely like, in that they have unassuming young players having excellent seasons (Messrs. Snow, Edmonds and DiSarcina) and some elder players leading by example (Messrs. Davis, Phillips and Smith). The payroll isn’t exorbitant and, perhaps most exciting of all, the manager’s first name is Marcel. Come to think of it, my only real regret with the Angels is that Chili Davis and Gary DiSarcina couldn’t have been the same person, so the name would have been the delectable Chili DiSarcina.

In addition, the Angels have shown a talent for coming from behind. They did it most recently in Detroit the other night, and they’ve given every indication of being a resilient team. Management is talking about making a move for a top-flight pitcher, and if it lands David Cone, then the Angels could sport a Snow-Cone. Something to think about on a warm summer night.

So, yes, the Angels are doing their part, but where are the fans? Obviously, they are not at Anaheim Stadium on game nights, as attendance is off this season. Drawing 20,000 fans used to be automatic, but crowds like that are a rarity this year.

In the wake of last year’s strike and this year’s delayed start, fans are rightfully miffed at the baseball Establishment. But it’s time for the local fans to start using baseball, instead of the other way around.

If the Angels stunk this year, boycotting them would be fitting punishment. But it’s time for fans to start thinking selfishly. Consider: One thing a winning baseball team can do is unite the citizenry, and Orange County needs uniting like few other places.

Here’s my spiel to local fans: Go watch the Angels. Don’t do it for the players; don’t do it for management. Do it as a favor to yourselves, as relief from the fractious year that 1995 has been around here. You’ve had a crummy year, what with this bankruptcy and all the other local chaos. Go see what ninth-inning rallies, long home runs and a pennant race can do for your psyche.

Try it once, and see if I’m not right. Take in a game, and see if you think even once about the county bankruptcy.

I’ll go you one better: I bet if you make an evening of it at the stadium, you won’t give even a passing thought to recalling one of your council members.

Dana Parsons’ column appears Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.