Top 50 Mariner Moments, 2007: #30
I am posting this during the Super Bowl as a form of social protest, because this is one of the least compelling major showdowns I think I've ever seen. Here's to Eli getting hurt and the Giants somehow winning under the gallant direction of the Pillsbury Throwboy. uhhhhhhhhhh nevermind
April 2nd: Richie Sexson brings the term "Funk Blast" into popular lexicon.
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If you'd have told me that morning that Felix would go on to pitch as well as anyone all season long, but that my enduring memory of the game would be of something completely unrelated, I wouldn't have believed you. Why would I? I couldn't have imagined anything upstaging a brilliant Opening Day performance by our precious young phenom.
But then, in my defense, I don't have a good enough imagination to dream up anything even close to the level of the Funk Blast.
It was a close contest in the bottom of the sixth; a sac fly by Raul Ibanez had just given the Mariners the first run of the game. And after watching Felix wiggle his way out of a bit of a jam in the top half, that run felt like all we were going to need. The A's weren't about to mount a rally, not against an arm this good.
But even so, there's never anything wrong with a little insurance. And in a pinch, a huge load of insurance came flying off the bat of one Richie Sexson. With two on and two out, Richie took a 1-1 breaking ball deep to straightaway center, turning a 1-0 nailbiter into a 4-0 cakewalk. I jumped up out of my chair, hollered like a crazy idiot, and

Wait, what?
At first, no one really paid much heed. There were few mentions in the game thread, as I think most people were too ecstatic to care much about the curious eccentricities of the Safeco scoreboard. But afterwards, there was substantial discussion, culminating in some of the best Photoshop work in LL history. Funk Blast became a hit before anyone had so much as a clue where it came from. I guess the randomness of associating Parliament and the words "Funk Blast" with Mariner home runs appealed to the part of our collective brain that appreciates ridiculous juxtaposition.
We got an explanation a few days later, but where you'd think that might take some shine off the apple - some things are better left perplexing - I don't think it really cheapened anything for us. Funk Blast was already established as a rallying cry of sorts for 2007, and nothing was going to take that away from the community.
Over time, with the Parliament/Funk Blast thing happening after every Mariner home run, it inevitably lost some of its charm. But where the Rally Fries got old and irksome in a hurry, Funk Blast survived the season in pretty good shape, all things considered. Honestly, I wouldn't be opposed to seeing it return in 2008, at least in some capacity. It gives Safeco something to call its own. You can hear Zombie Nation or the Vengaboys anywhere. Only in Seattle, though, are you going to hear P-Funk blaring over the PA system while the fans applaud a longball. I know some people find it annoying, but I've heard more complaints about the trains, and besides, I think the more things you have that make your stadium unique, the better (except for retarded porches in left field or a more retarded flag pole on a retardeder hill in center). Yankee Stadium has New York, New York. Fenway has Sweet Caroline. And Safeco should have Give Up The Funk. It may not be perfect, but considering how much the same people seemed to love Who Let The Dogs Out, we should probably stick with what works and try not to push our luck. Because we could do a whole hell of a lot worse.
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I know I haven't seen the rest yet
by tworsandtwols on Feb 3, 2008 4:35 PM PST 0 recs
Because it started to get old.
Don't get me wrong though, I still heart funk blast.
And Jeff's write-up was funny as well. 'Wait, what?' hehe.
by EnglishMariner on
Feb 3, 2008 4:45 PM PST
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Funk blasts should only be used
by Wilder83 on Feb 3, 2008 4:48 PM PST 0 recs
Chicken before the egg?
by EnglishMariner on
Feb 3, 2008 4:53 PM PST
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This was the ORIGINAL Funk Blast
by Rollo Tomasi on
Feb 4, 2008 9:10 AM PST
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Something I noticed going through the video:
by Jeff on Feb 3, 2008 4:58 PM PST 0 recs
Please tell me that the discovery of Red is in
by Goose on
Feb 3, 2008 7:49 PM PST
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Gotta assume
by Limerickx on
Feb 3, 2008 9:07 PM PST
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No way
by Katal LM on Feb 3, 2008 5:41 PM PST 0 recs
Funk Blast is cool
by Jeff on
Feb 3, 2008 6:15 PM PST
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Preemptive funk blast
by batura on
Feb 4, 2008 2:30 PM PST
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Yeah that was awesome.
by EnglishMariner on
Feb 4, 2008 3:52 PM PST
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"Wait, what?"
by Nick S on Feb 3, 2008 6:05 PM PST 0 recs
I no longer find FB odd
I find myself using it all the time
by mariners124m on Feb 3, 2008 8:01 PM PST 0 recs
Oh forgot to ask
by Slica on Feb 3, 2008 8:49 PM PST 0 recs
I'll file that under "related"
by Jeff on
Feb 3, 2008 9:16 PM PST
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Jeff
by Sportszilla on Feb 3, 2008 9:58 PM PST 0 recs
What I learned from re-reading the game thread:
And one of the few people who says it that ISN'T trying to take over the world in some capacity.
by PShwa on Feb 4, 2008 8:12 AM PST 0 recs
He may, in fact,
by pdb on
Feb 4, 2008 8:28 AM PST
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I only say 'curses'
by Graham on
Feb 4, 2008 11:33 AM PST
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We all get lonely.
Badum Bum.... Ching.
by Librocrat on
Feb 4, 2008 4:21 PM PST
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Yeah, I thought about that one
by tworsandtwols on
Feb 4, 2008 5:55 PM PST
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Went to this game on Opening Day
Funny moment: right before this inaugural funk blast, Guillen drove in the first run with a sac fly. I jumped up and wheeled around to high five the guys behind me.
They just sat there and stared at me.
I turned around and sat back down.
by Gomez on Feb 4, 2008 8:53 AM PST 0 recs
Er, I mean Raul's sac fly
by Gomez on
Feb 4, 2008 10:10 AM PST
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Huh.
by PositivePaul on
Feb 4, 2008 10:11 AM PST
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I love Rage Against the Machine
Feel the funk blast (whispered)
Feel the funk blast (whispered)
Well feel the funk blast
Well feel the funk blast
Well feel the funk blast
Yo Yo Yo Yo Yo Yo Yo Check it Out Yo Yo Yo
by InSpokane on Feb 4, 2008 9:32 AM PST 0 recs









