I attended the rally, partly out of loyalty to my hometown and partly because I’m so desperate for the baseball season that I’ll use any excuse to go to Petco Park. I anticipated a couple thousand people to show up, mostly to make themselves feel better about the Chargers leaving town. Also, possibly, to trade in those Charger garments for a $25 coupon for the Padres store.
What actually occurred was surprising.
San Diego sports fans, clad in Padres, Gulls, Aztecs, Torreros and Sockers gear, flocked to Petco to celebrate our city, our teams, and our will to go on despite being spurned by the mighty NFL.