Standing in line for beer atop Cheney Stadium's Tasty Terrace, I listen to a couple of guys discuss the perks of drinking the $2-a-cup beer served every Thursday night at the ballpark.

"It's cheaper to drink here than it is to drink at home," says one of the guys. "I mean, we can drink all night."

The men are right. The cheap MGD IS a screaming deal. But for my money, Tasty Thursdays aren't about cheap oat sodas. Tasty Thursdays are about the Tasty Terrace turning into one of the hottest meat markets in town.

The Tasty Terrace attracts a lot of women. After grabbing a seat in the back, I watch young, attractive ladies crowd the beer line. I repeat: the Tasty Terrace is filled with young, attractive LADIES patiently waiting to drink beer. Wild stuff, right?

Of course, where cheap beer and sports intersect, typically there are plenty of guys. Guys in tight fitting shirts. Guys spouting off amateur baseball advice. And guys competing to see who can guzzle drinks the fastest. Still, the ratio of guys-to-ladies is a welcome fifty-fifty.

By the second inning, most on the Tasty Terrace have consumed enough beer to comfortably mingle with strangers. I watch a pretty blonde woman laugh as she tries on a man's cowboy hat. I overhear a couple of cheesy pickup lines. All around, tanned Tacomans smile, giggle and try to break the ice. The baseball game is quickly forgotten. Scouting the prospects becomes priority number one.

Not wanting to be left out, I approach a group of cute hipster girls. Things start off well, but just as I'm about to swing for the fences with some of my A-material, a group of guys walk up. My writer's wit is soon forgotten for tough-guy muscles.

It's OK, though. Even though I strike out, I find comfort in the fact that players all around me are hitting home runs. As the sun sets and beer continues to flow, I can't help but smile.

God bless America's past time.

[Cheney Stadium, Tacoma Rainiers Tasty Thursdays - Final Tasty Thursday of the year Sept. 1, 7:05 p.m., 2502 S. Tyler St., Tacoma, 253.757.7707]