Wednesday night’s decisive Game 5 of the World Series was played at a sold-out Tropicana Field, where Rays fans (and many invading Brewers fans) provided the type of ear-splitting atmosphere that each Ray and Brewer had dreamed about as a 5-year-old.

First pitch was delivered at 8:08 p.m. local time, Fox attempting to maximize its potential audience with East and West Coasters out of work and on their couches or bar stools. For all of its problems — many of which will be highlighted during the impending lockout — there is little doubt that Major League Baseball is, indeed, the major leagues.

Today’s hopefully thrilling, potentially clinching Game 6 of the WNBA Finals will tip off at 12:30 p.m. in Atlanta — meaning 9:30 a.m. in Northern California, where Valkyries fans are probably better off checking whether their local coffee shops have TVs rather than popping into their favorite taverns (with some exceptions).

If the Dream stave off elimination and send the series to a Game 7 back in the Bay Area, many of the fans in Georgia would silently celebrate at their cubicles while pretending to be productive at work.