Angels News: Columnist Questions Why Halos Light 'The Big A' After Losses
The Los Angeles Angels are now passed the midway point of the season, and thus far, the team is in a good spot. The Halos sit at only half a game back of the final spot in the Wild Card and are five games back of the top spot in the AL West standings.
The Angels have won more than they've lost, which means the big 'A' sitting right outside of Angel Stadium has lit up more times than not. The big 'A' stands in the parking lot, 230 feet tall, and you can't miss it when on the 57 Freeway.
In the past, when the Halos would get a dub, the team would "light the beam" like this
And, when the team would lose, the beam would remain dark. Now, this tradition continues, but it's not quite the same. The beam stays on regardless, win or lose, and LA Times staff writer Bill Shaikin is not a fan of it.
Might be a big deal to you. Might not. But, in this most must-win of all must-win seasons, for a franchise afflicted by alleged curses for much of its existence, why tempt fate? Light that baby up, or keep it entirely dark.
I'm on the side of Shaikin on this one. It's tradition to let the people and fans know whether their team won or loss, and if you keep it on all the time, then how would people know? It's a very cool detail that the team came up with, and now it's ruined by keeping it on at all times. Angels superstar Mike Trout also took notice and wondered if they've done it for a while now.
“I noticed that,” Mike Trout said. “When did they start doing that, last year?”
Former Angels broadcaster for 10 years, Victor Rojas was the one who came up with the phrase "Light that baby up!" he happened to trademark it, and the Halos Twitter account uses it to this day when they get the win. Rojas gave his thoughts on the tradition and sided with history.
“That’s how I would want it done: If the halo is not shining, then, clearly, the team did not win,” he told me.
It may be old-fashioned, but some things should remain the same, like the halo shining only in wins.
