Tom DeLonge didn’t plan on becoming a viral moment Tuesday night. He was just at Petco Park doing what he’s done his whole life: rooting for the Padres. Then the eighth inning hit, San Diego had the lead, and the entire ballpark launched into“All the Small Things.”That’s the tradition at Petco Park whenever the Padres are ahead heading into the bottom of the eighth. This time, the guy who wrote the song was right there in the crowd, rally towel in hand, wiping his eyes as 43,000 voices sang his lyrics back at him.
The full-circle factor is real. DeLonge grew up in Poway, just outside San Diego, and Blink-182 formed there in 1992. He’s been a Padres fan through the highs and the very long droughts: the team has never won a World Series and last reached the Fall Classic back in 1998.
And the night got even better. The Padres beat the Brewers 4-3 to avoid elimination in Game 3 of the NLDS, forcing a Game 4. Hometown kid, hometown anthem, and the season stays alive. What song would you want blasting if your team made a playoff run?
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.