Second Base: A Spectator Sport [9.22.08]

There are two types of people in this world: those that hate surprises, and those that love only the improbable ones. If you knew me, you'd know that I am the latter of the two, and today, my preference was unexpectedly appeased during a game of Wii Tennis. For those of you who don't know, the Wii game system was designed to work hand in hand with human motion. Since the games require movement, the general advisory consists of giving the players enough elbow room to play in. Regardless of the reason, I find that people usually ignore this warning. Tonight, I happened to find myself in my friend's apartment, watching him play Wii Tennis with some other people. Those who were spectators were watching intently from the side, as those who were playing were swinging and smacking the guts out of the invisible ball. After a few moments, the spectators began to feel comfortable in the environment, so they subconsciously came closer and closer until they were standing right next to our own Andre Aggassi. Unknowingly, our friend winded up and swung overhand, just close enough to graze the chest of my friend. She automatically responded by arguing her defense: "Did you see that?! He totally BOOBED me!" Our friend paused the Wii, lowered his voice and fist-pumped "second base!" It was one of those instances where a second could seem infinitely longer. I waited for my friend's rebuttal - certainly his inappropriate comment would be stricken from the record! I laughed, nervously. He laughed, playfully. And she? She just shrugged. We departed minutes later, and I was completely stumped. I know that "the touch" was an accident, but the comment afterward was anything but. When did second base become a thing to be taken lightly? Who died and made surroundings the changing factor in appropriateness?