The one thing about having kids is going out with just the Mrs. on a weekend night becomes a once-every-two month sort of thing. You have to plan, line up sitters. The whole deal. It's easier to stay home.
Well, last Saturday me and Mrs. Pendleton did something we hadn't done in a year - clear your dirty minds - we went to the movies --- AND DINNER on the same night.
Actually, I believe it was the first time me and her saw a movie in a theatre in about 13 months. DVD players and kids do that.
Anyway, after this one night out, I realize I'm not missing a damn thing.
Ok, the movie - King Kong - was great. The key is we went to a 4:45 show (it's 3 hours) and then afterwards, wanted to get a bite to eat. This is when the total bullsh-t began.
I got a gift certificate for my birthday to Outback Steakhouse. We went there around 8:15, only to find out the wait was 1 hour and 15 minutes. Are you f-cking kidding me?
Then we shot down Route 1 and were gonna check out Houlihans in New Brunswick. When we pulled to the front of the place, the site of about 25 people sitting on benches and the floor in the lobby prompted us to visit downtown Hub City.
After paying $5 to park in the New Brunswick, we headed to a joint called Tumultys. It's a good place. Pub grub for the most part. Some overrated electric train on the ceiling. Well we were in there about 2 minutes (which, by the way, was 1 hour and 10 minutes less than the wait for a table). We actually were going to wait in the downstairs bar and up the beer count a bit, but halfway down the stairs, the cloud of smoke started forming. We told the cat at the desk we'd see him in 6 months when the Great NJ smoking ban goes into effect and walked out.
Taking a shot, we then walked to the Harvest Moon in N.B., only to be told the wait was 90 minutes. I mean, are they giving out blowjobs with every meal or something? So I said to the wife, fuck this trendy shit and we headed to this great Italian joint in Franklin Twp. called Cafe Primavera.
If you've never been there, get there. Food is excellent, prices pretty good and there's no trendy a-holes there. No B.S. Just good food. We didn't have to wait a second for a table, and about 15 minutes later our food was there. The best is, it's one of the those joints where you can bring in your own booze. However, since I wasn't planning on going there - I was however planning on raising the beer count - I was taste less, and therefore the count is stuck on 12.
Listen, I'm not totally against waiting for a table if it's a quality restaurant. But if anyone thinks I'm gonna wait an hour for a blooming onion or wait 90 minutes to have some dopey RU student - I know, that's redundant - screw up my order. Think again.
I know. I'm officially old. But if being young is dealing with that crap every saturday, I can't wait til I'm 50.
Monday, January 30, 2006
Friday, January 27, 2006
LET'S GO HOME, LET'S GO HOME
Beer count: Stuck on 12.
OK, here now are the 10 worst sporting events I've attended. A few things to remember when reading this list. This will be judged on my personal experience. Therefore, while the game might've been good, my experience may have been terrible. Also, in some of these cases, I've excluded pre and post game schtick. You will see as you go on.
HERE GOES
1. May 19, 1998 - The Sandcastle, Atlantic City, NJ. Some day I'll tell my grandkids I was at the first ever Somerset Patriots Game. And then I will tell them what a hellish night it was. First of all, the event itself is a step above beer-league softball. The dudes that have no shot of sniffing single-A ball. Add to that a stadium swarming with green flies and clueless newspaper big-wigs and it's a recipe for hell. How bad were the flies? In the radio pregame show, the announcers were urging fans to bring Skin-So-Soft with them to fight the flies. Thankfully, me and my cronies only stayed one inning and the Irish Pub of A.C. was only a five-minute ride away. Unquestionably, the worst sporting event - if you can call it that - I ever attended.
2. July 30, 1989 - Wrigley Field, Chicago. My friend Rich always told me never, NEVER, plan a vacation around the Mets. They will ruin your trip everytime. This was my first lesson. Me, my brother and a friend of his drove all the way to Chitown to see the Mets and Cubs battle for the NL East crown. It was a Friday day game at Wrigley. Sunny, about 85 degrees. Perfect. Mets score 5 in the third - thanks to a Hojo 3-run bomb - to take a 5-2 lead. But Dave Cone and Dick Aguilera meltdown in the 7th as the Cubs score 4 times - the big blow a 2-run homer from some dude named Smith to take a 6-5 lead. With the Old Styles now flowing, the Mets try to battle back in the 9th. With one out and Mitch Williams on the hill, the dog of all dogs Juan Samuel gets a one-out pinch hit single, setting the stage for Hojo. Hojo lofts a little blooper behind short and it's obvious to everyone in the park that Shawon Dunston will catch it. Obvious to everyone execpt Samuel, who gets doubled off first to end the game. A horrible start to an awful weekend. I thought I learned a valuable lesson that day, but still, whenever I go on vacation, I plan it around a Met road trip. I;ll never learn.
3. October, 1992 - I think this is the year, but I can't be sure. Anyway, me, my wife (who was my fiance at the time) and a mutual female friend go to see Jets vs. Colts at Giants Stadium. The problem is, it's pouring rain. POURING rain. There must have been about 20,000 people at the stadium. We stayed for most of it - a 6-3 Colts' win and then head back to my parents house for some piazza. Honestly, this may have been my only realistic shot ever to pull off a threesome, but like the Jets offense, it never materialized. If it had, this would no doubt be No. 1 on the best all-time list. Anyway, an awful day.
4. Sept, 2004 - Rutgers Stadium. Ok, let me go on record as saying the pre and postgame hijinks were tremendous. I must've had about 15 Rheingolds and a few Amstel Lights while wandering between my tailgate and my friend steve's tailgate. But once inside RU stadium, the day took an awful turn. First of all, drinking tons of beer on an empty stomach and then walking into a packed stadium on a 95-degree, sunny day is not a good mix. What would've helped would've been a nice bottle of water. Of course, Rutgers was totally unprepared for any crowd over 20,000 and ran out of water before the first quarter ended. Needing some refreshment, I settled for a bottle of lemonade. Well, let me tell you - throwing cold lemonade into a stomach filled with nothing but Rheingold and some chips is a bad move. Let's just say after feeling like my stomach was going to explode - and me actually wishing it would - i spent most of the game testing Rutgers' plumbing system. Worst yet, after the game, I had to hear all the RU fans saying they were going to a bowl game because they beat Michigan State. Again, pre and post game was tremendous. But my experience at the game makes it a bad one.
5. October, 199ish - Jets vs. Chiefs at Giants Stadium. Nothing ruins a fun day at the stadium like seeing a dude get paralyzed. Yes, I was the Dennis Byrd game. No explanation needed.
6. July, 1984 - For the first time in my life the Mets are actually in the NL East race. They had beaten the Cubs on a Friday night at Shea to take a 1/2-game lead in the East, and then on Saturday, Doug Sisk blew a game, setting the stage for a Banner Day Double Dip at Shea. Of course, the Mets get swept and the season is pretty much over. Shitty day.
As you can tell, I'm running out of steam here.
7. March 30, 2004 - Knicks vs. Blazers at Garden. Let me preface this by saying I hate the NBA. Every player is an a-hole, the game itself is a fucking bore and did I mention every player in the league is an A-hole? Anyway, I had to be at work in the city real early the next day (like 5 a.m. early) so my company hooked me up with a hotel room across the street from the Garden and some Knicks tix. Let's say, I've never had a bigger non-drinking enduced headache at a sporting event like I had at this game. If it wasn't the loud music blaring during timeouts and during actual gameplay (another reason I hate the NBA), I had some dame screaming in my ear the entire tilt. I couldn't wait for the game to end, unfortunately I was at an NBA game, and they take forever to end. MISERABLE.
8. October, 2000 - The Big Shea. Once again, worked hooked me up with some Mets playoff tickets. It was Game 3 of the NLCS againt the Cards. In case you've forgotten, the Mets took the first two at Busch and were primed for a sweep. So me and my neighbor get into the city around 1:30 for a 4 p.m. first pitch and start eating and drinking - on his company's dime - at ESPN zone. We hop on the 7 train around 3 and roll into Shea just in time to see the Mets totally mail one in. I think the Cards got 4 runs in the first and after Mike (Padre) Piazza kills a first-inning rally with a tailor-made DP, the Cards get a few more. Me and my neighbor were back in Times Square - eating and drinking for free again - by the 7th inning. Of course, to rub it in, the Mets roll the next two games and reach the Series.
9. Sept. 1, 2000 - Texas A&M at Notre Dame - If there's on sports combo I can't stand it's football and heat. Honestly. I could watch a grid tilt in -20 temps and never complain. However, I can't stand watching football in any weather hotter than 80 degrees. I mean, I could watch a baseball tilt in 100-degree temps and have fun, but for some reason, to me, football and heat don't mix. So obviously a jam-packed Notre Dame Stadium and 100-degree heat was not a good mix. Add to that some yahoo sitting in front of us yapping about how great the Texas A&M band is and you get the picture. How hot was it? Me and the three guys I went with sat in the interior of the stadium for most of the third quarter. The only highlight was my friend Joe snapping a picture of Jerry Faust (whom, for some reason, is still loved in South Bend).
10. October 20, 2004 - Beaver Stadium. The final score, I believe was Iowa 6, Penn State 4. Yes, a total of 8 points scored. In addtion to brutally boring football, I didn't even get to sit with the guys I went to the game with. Now, this is a case where pre and postgame schtick has been excluded, because the before and after was tremendous. But, based on game only, this was a horror show.
So that's a glimpse into my miserable sports existence. For those of you included in this list, it's nothing personal.
OK, here now are the 10 worst sporting events I've attended. A few things to remember when reading this list. This will be judged on my personal experience. Therefore, while the game might've been good, my experience may have been terrible. Also, in some of these cases, I've excluded pre and post game schtick. You will see as you go on.
HERE GOES
1. May 19, 1998 - The Sandcastle, Atlantic City, NJ. Some day I'll tell my grandkids I was at the first ever Somerset Patriots Game. And then I will tell them what a hellish night it was. First of all, the event itself is a step above beer-league softball. The dudes that have no shot of sniffing single-A ball. Add to that a stadium swarming with green flies and clueless newspaper big-wigs and it's a recipe for hell. How bad were the flies? In the radio pregame show, the announcers were urging fans to bring Skin-So-Soft with them to fight the flies. Thankfully, me and my cronies only stayed one inning and the Irish Pub of A.C. was only a five-minute ride away. Unquestionably, the worst sporting event - if you can call it that - I ever attended.
2. July 30, 1989 - Wrigley Field, Chicago. My friend Rich always told me never, NEVER, plan a vacation around the Mets. They will ruin your trip everytime. This was my first lesson. Me, my brother and a friend of his drove all the way to Chitown to see the Mets and Cubs battle for the NL East crown. It was a Friday day game at Wrigley. Sunny, about 85 degrees. Perfect. Mets score 5 in the third - thanks to a Hojo 3-run bomb - to take a 5-2 lead. But Dave Cone and Dick Aguilera meltdown in the 7th as the Cubs score 4 times - the big blow a 2-run homer from some dude named Smith to take a 6-5 lead. With the Old Styles now flowing, the Mets try to battle back in the 9th. With one out and Mitch Williams on the hill, the dog of all dogs Juan Samuel gets a one-out pinch hit single, setting the stage for Hojo. Hojo lofts a little blooper behind short and it's obvious to everyone in the park that Shawon Dunston will catch it. Obvious to everyone execpt Samuel, who gets doubled off first to end the game. A horrible start to an awful weekend. I thought I learned a valuable lesson that day, but still, whenever I go on vacation, I plan it around a Met road trip. I;ll never learn.
3. October, 1992 - I think this is the year, but I can't be sure. Anyway, me, my wife (who was my fiance at the time) and a mutual female friend go to see Jets vs. Colts at Giants Stadium. The problem is, it's pouring rain. POURING rain. There must have been about 20,000 people at the stadium. We stayed for most of it - a 6-3 Colts' win and then head back to my parents house for some piazza. Honestly, this may have been my only realistic shot ever to pull off a threesome, but like the Jets offense, it never materialized. If it had, this would no doubt be No. 1 on the best all-time list. Anyway, an awful day.
4. Sept, 2004 - Rutgers Stadium. Ok, let me go on record as saying the pre and postgame hijinks were tremendous. I must've had about 15 Rheingolds and a few Amstel Lights while wandering between my tailgate and my friend steve's tailgate. But once inside RU stadium, the day took an awful turn. First of all, drinking tons of beer on an empty stomach and then walking into a packed stadium on a 95-degree, sunny day is not a good mix. What would've helped would've been a nice bottle of water. Of course, Rutgers was totally unprepared for any crowd over 20,000 and ran out of water before the first quarter ended. Needing some refreshment, I settled for a bottle of lemonade. Well, let me tell you - throwing cold lemonade into a stomach filled with nothing but Rheingold and some chips is a bad move. Let's just say after feeling like my stomach was going to explode - and me actually wishing it would - i spent most of the game testing Rutgers' plumbing system. Worst yet, after the game, I had to hear all the RU fans saying they were going to a bowl game because they beat Michigan State. Again, pre and post game was tremendous. But my experience at the game makes it a bad one.
5. October, 199ish - Jets vs. Chiefs at Giants Stadium. Nothing ruins a fun day at the stadium like seeing a dude get paralyzed. Yes, I was the Dennis Byrd game. No explanation needed.
6. July, 1984 - For the first time in my life the Mets are actually in the NL East race. They had beaten the Cubs on a Friday night at Shea to take a 1/2-game lead in the East, and then on Saturday, Doug Sisk blew a game, setting the stage for a Banner Day Double Dip at Shea. Of course, the Mets get swept and the season is pretty much over. Shitty day.
As you can tell, I'm running out of steam here.
7. March 30, 2004 - Knicks vs. Blazers at Garden. Let me preface this by saying I hate the NBA. Every player is an a-hole, the game itself is a fucking bore and did I mention every player in the league is an A-hole? Anyway, I had to be at work in the city real early the next day (like 5 a.m. early) so my company hooked me up with a hotel room across the street from the Garden and some Knicks tix. Let's say, I've never had a bigger non-drinking enduced headache at a sporting event like I had at this game. If it wasn't the loud music blaring during timeouts and during actual gameplay (another reason I hate the NBA), I had some dame screaming in my ear the entire tilt. I couldn't wait for the game to end, unfortunately I was at an NBA game, and they take forever to end. MISERABLE.
8. October, 2000 - The Big Shea. Once again, worked hooked me up with some Mets playoff tickets. It was Game 3 of the NLCS againt the Cards. In case you've forgotten, the Mets took the first two at Busch and were primed for a sweep. So me and my neighbor get into the city around 1:30 for a 4 p.m. first pitch and start eating and drinking - on his company's dime - at ESPN zone. We hop on the 7 train around 3 and roll into Shea just in time to see the Mets totally mail one in. I think the Cards got 4 runs in the first and after Mike (Padre) Piazza kills a first-inning rally with a tailor-made DP, the Cards get a few more. Me and my neighbor were back in Times Square - eating and drinking for free again - by the 7th inning. Of course, to rub it in, the Mets roll the next two games and reach the Series.
9. Sept. 1, 2000 - Texas A&M at Notre Dame - If there's on sports combo I can't stand it's football and heat. Honestly. I could watch a grid tilt in -20 temps and never complain. However, I can't stand watching football in any weather hotter than 80 degrees. I mean, I could watch a baseball tilt in 100-degree temps and have fun, but for some reason, to me, football and heat don't mix. So obviously a jam-packed Notre Dame Stadium and 100-degree heat was not a good mix. Add to that some yahoo sitting in front of us yapping about how great the Texas A&M band is and you get the picture. How hot was it? Me and the three guys I went with sat in the interior of the stadium for most of the third quarter. The only highlight was my friend Joe snapping a picture of Jerry Faust (whom, for some reason, is still loved in South Bend).
10. October 20, 2004 - Beaver Stadium. The final score, I believe was Iowa 6, Penn State 4. Yes, a total of 8 points scored. In addtion to brutally boring football, I didn't even get to sit with the guys I went to the game with. Now, this is a case where pre and postgame schtick has been excluded, because the before and after was tremendous. But, based on game only, this was a horror show.
So that's a glimpse into my miserable sports existence. For those of you included in this list, it's nothing personal.
Friday, January 20, 2006
Beer count: Stuck on 12
Well, it's been a week since I was at the world's most overrated arena for Mark Messier night, and I have to say I'm still pumped up over it. It got me thinking about where it ranks among other sporting events I have attended. So, for my first list of 2006, here are my top 10 sporting events.
1. January 30, 2000 - Super Bowl XXIV Rams 23, Titans 16: What a thrill to see the Rams, the team that has killed me my entire life win the Super Bowl in person. Of course, they couldn't make it easy on me, killing me until the very last second, but it was well worth it. I do have to say, the city of Atlanta is a joke. How they ever got the Olympics there is beyond me, but it's a day I'll never forget.
2. April 2, 1985 - Mets opening day. Ah, the 80's, when public drunkeness at baseball games not only wasn't frowned upon, it was encouraged. A chilly day at Shea in which Harry M. Stevens made about $80 in beer money off me ends with Gary Carter, in his Met debut, homering in the bottom of the ninth to beat Neal Allen and the Cards. It was the first real sign a championship at Shea wasn't too far away. Another day I'll never forget.
3. April, 1997 - The last ever Hartford Whaler game. As a big supporter of the Whale, this was quite a sad day. However, I will always remember it since my wife and I won the "Whaler ticket upgrade" contest. It's pretty much where some schill for the team picks out two people in the nosebleeds and gives them two great seats. Well, I won it that day, and we even got on the video screen walking from the upper level to the lower lever. So, remember, if you ever get on Jeopardy or Who Wants to be a Millionaire, and the question is "Who was the last person ever to win a ticket upgrade at a Hartford Whalers game?" you will now know the answer.
4. Dec. 6, 1988 - It's rare that an NFL regular season game would make it this high, but this game is historic on several fronts. First, it was my initial Jet tilt with the Professor and Pops. Two, it was the game that set the stage for instant replay in the NFL. In case you have forgotten, it was the Jets-Seahawks tilt in which Vinny Testaverde, on a fourth and goal with teh game on the line, tried a QB sneak, but came up about 4 yards short. The refs, however, after discussing it for a few minutes, gave him a touchdown, helping the Jets to a division title and Dennis Erickson to the unemployment line. What's sad is, after having about 20 beers and sittting 3 rows from the top of Giants Stadium, I could see Testaverde didn't score. Anyway, the day ended with me - now 5 hours after the game - not being able to drive home and my wife coming to pick me up at a Dunkin Donuts in Old Bridge. In that Dunkin Donuts parking lot she told me she was preggers with our first kid. What a day.
5. Sept. 1995 - Cal Ripken ties Lou Gehrig's record. OK, I couldn't get tickets for the record breaker, but this was good enough. Me and my friend Steve got out picture taken with Johnny Unitas, and I got to see Joan Jett walk on the field after the game. It was a pretty hard core night.
6. August 11, 2005 - Round 1 of the PGA Championship at Baltusrol. It was hot, real hot. Not a great day to be drinking. But hey, who cares. Anyway, on the second tee, me and Steve were about 2 feet from Tiger Woods when he teed off. I never heard a ball make a sound like that. The highlight, however, came after he teed off on the third hole and we got to see Eldrick go into a port-o-john.
7. Nov. 2, 1997 - I think the year is right. Anyway, me, steve and two others attended the Chicago Bulls home opener. Ok, you say, no big deal. However, we had seats on the floor right behind one basket. At halftime, I talked movies with the late, great Gene Siskel. DUring the game we got Dennis ROdman to wave at us and we also got to see Jordan up close in his home field. Even better, we had been the Penn State at Northwestern that day, and had Redskins-Bears and Penguins-Blackhawks on tap for the next day. My only regret is I didn't get to call Ahmad Rashad Bobby Moore to his face.
8. March, 2004 - Ok. State vs. St. Joe's regional final at Meadowlands. Let me say this right off the bat, the Meadowlands Arena is an awful place as far as atmosphere is concerned. Sure, every seat is a good one, but the place is dead most of the time. Not this day. A great game from start to finish, ending with Jameer Nelson's 3 falling just short. Probably the best hoop game I've ever seen.
9. Sept 14, 2002 - Nebraska at Penn State football. A night game in Happy Valley is hard to beat, especially when you play golf at 9 a.m., get hit on by some chick working at the snack bar at the golf course, start drinking at noon, and then trip the light fantastic after the titl. Game was great, too. I've gone on record as saying that it's the loudest I've ever heard any stadium when PSU scored a defensive TD in the second half. Of course, I was 3 sheets to the wind by then, so maybe I was just hearing things. As it turned out, Nebraska was lousy that year and a win over them wasn't really a big deal, but for one night, it was a great game.
10. Aug. 20, 1993 - Mets at Phillies. You won't see this one on ESPN classic, but I remember it because it was the night of my bachelor party. Basically, 30-plus cats loaded into a bus filled with beer and cheese sandwiches in Woodbridge, NJ and headed to the Vet. Needless to say, mayhem ensued. All I remember about the game is it was Bobby Jones' big league debut and Tim Bogar hit an inside the park HR for the Metsies. Plus, one dude in our party got lost and after waiting in the Vet parking lot for him for about 3 hours, we left without him. Anyway, it was great time. Probably deserves to be higher than 10, but that's it.
Coming next week. The bottom 10. Stay tuned.
Well, it's been a week since I was at the world's most overrated arena for Mark Messier night, and I have to say I'm still pumped up over it. It got me thinking about where it ranks among other sporting events I have attended. So, for my first list of 2006, here are my top 10 sporting events.
1. January 30, 2000 - Super Bowl XXIV Rams 23, Titans 16: What a thrill to see the Rams, the team that has killed me my entire life win the Super Bowl in person. Of course, they couldn't make it easy on me, killing me until the very last second, but it was well worth it. I do have to say, the city of Atlanta is a joke. How they ever got the Olympics there is beyond me, but it's a day I'll never forget.
2. April 2, 1985 - Mets opening day. Ah, the 80's, when public drunkeness at baseball games not only wasn't frowned upon, it was encouraged. A chilly day at Shea in which Harry M. Stevens made about $80 in beer money off me ends with Gary Carter, in his Met debut, homering in the bottom of the ninth to beat Neal Allen and the Cards. It was the first real sign a championship at Shea wasn't too far away. Another day I'll never forget.
3. April, 1997 - The last ever Hartford Whaler game. As a big supporter of the Whale, this was quite a sad day. However, I will always remember it since my wife and I won the "Whaler ticket upgrade" contest. It's pretty much where some schill for the team picks out two people in the nosebleeds and gives them two great seats. Well, I won it that day, and we even got on the video screen walking from the upper level to the lower lever. So, remember, if you ever get on Jeopardy or Who Wants to be a Millionaire, and the question is "Who was the last person ever to win a ticket upgrade at a Hartford Whalers game?" you will now know the answer.
4. Dec. 6, 1988 - It's rare that an NFL regular season game would make it this high, but this game is historic on several fronts. First, it was my initial Jet tilt with the Professor and Pops. Two, it was the game that set the stage for instant replay in the NFL. In case you have forgotten, it was the Jets-Seahawks tilt in which Vinny Testaverde, on a fourth and goal with teh game on the line, tried a QB sneak, but came up about 4 yards short. The refs, however, after discussing it for a few minutes, gave him a touchdown, helping the Jets to a division title and Dennis Erickson to the unemployment line. What's sad is, after having about 20 beers and sittting 3 rows from the top of Giants Stadium, I could see Testaverde didn't score. Anyway, the day ended with me - now 5 hours after the game - not being able to drive home and my wife coming to pick me up at a Dunkin Donuts in Old Bridge. In that Dunkin Donuts parking lot she told me she was preggers with our first kid. What a day.
5. Sept. 1995 - Cal Ripken ties Lou Gehrig's record. OK, I couldn't get tickets for the record breaker, but this was good enough. Me and my friend Steve got out picture taken with Johnny Unitas, and I got to see Joan Jett walk on the field after the game. It was a pretty hard core night.
6. August 11, 2005 - Round 1 of the PGA Championship at Baltusrol. It was hot, real hot. Not a great day to be drinking. But hey, who cares. Anyway, on the second tee, me and Steve were about 2 feet from Tiger Woods when he teed off. I never heard a ball make a sound like that. The highlight, however, came after he teed off on the third hole and we got to see Eldrick go into a port-o-john.
7. Nov. 2, 1997 - I think the year is right. Anyway, me, steve and two others attended the Chicago Bulls home opener. Ok, you say, no big deal. However, we had seats on the floor right behind one basket. At halftime, I talked movies with the late, great Gene Siskel. DUring the game we got Dennis ROdman to wave at us and we also got to see Jordan up close in his home field. Even better, we had been the Penn State at Northwestern that day, and had Redskins-Bears and Penguins-Blackhawks on tap for the next day. My only regret is I didn't get to call Ahmad Rashad Bobby Moore to his face.
8. March, 2004 - Ok. State vs. St. Joe's regional final at Meadowlands. Let me say this right off the bat, the Meadowlands Arena is an awful place as far as atmosphere is concerned. Sure, every seat is a good one, but the place is dead most of the time. Not this day. A great game from start to finish, ending with Jameer Nelson's 3 falling just short. Probably the best hoop game I've ever seen.
9. Sept 14, 2002 - Nebraska at Penn State football. A night game in Happy Valley is hard to beat, especially when you play golf at 9 a.m., get hit on by some chick working at the snack bar at the golf course, start drinking at noon, and then trip the light fantastic after the titl. Game was great, too. I've gone on record as saying that it's the loudest I've ever heard any stadium when PSU scored a defensive TD in the second half. Of course, I was 3 sheets to the wind by then, so maybe I was just hearing things. As it turned out, Nebraska was lousy that year and a win over them wasn't really a big deal, but for one night, it was a great game.
10. Aug. 20, 1993 - Mets at Phillies. You won't see this one on ESPN classic, but I remember it because it was the night of my bachelor party. Basically, 30-plus cats loaded into a bus filled with beer and cheese sandwiches in Woodbridge, NJ and headed to the Vet. Needless to say, mayhem ensued. All I remember about the game is it was Bobby Jones' big league debut and Tim Bogar hit an inside the park HR for the Metsies. Plus, one dude in our party got lost and after waiting in the Vet parking lot for him for about 3 hours, we left without him. Anyway, it was great time. Probably deserves to be higher than 10, but that's it.
Coming next week. The bottom 10. Stay tuned.
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
WHALE OF A WEEKEND
Beer count: Stuck on 12.
Still no beer since Jan. 2. The scary thing is I don't miss it. Real scary. Although, if I have to watch another weekend of this bullshit product called the NFL, the vodka count will skyrocket.
Ok, the Colt-Steeler game was great, but why? Because NFL refs have their heads up their arses. Not only the Palumala INT being overturned, but the no-call on the offsides/illegal motion play on 4th-and-1 late in the game. ARE YOU KIDDDING ME?
And then, in the Bears-Cats game, they award the Bears Dude a TD when he cleary went out of bounds at the 3 and fumbled out of the end zone. I can't wait for the refs to screw up big time in a Super Bowl and finally people will realize what a flawed product the NFL and football in general is. I mean, I hate the Patriots, but that INT call against them Saturday night was completely bogus. It cost them 7 points.
As for football in general, most of the game depends on where 50-year-old men standing 20 yards away spot the ball where they think they saw the runner go with it.
However, as long as there is beer and gambling in this country, the NFL will continue to be huge.
One final thought: If the Steelers don't win Sunday, there will be absolutely no juice for the Super Bowl. Denver vs. Seattle? ZZZZZZZZZZ. Denver vs. Carolina? Snooze fest.
Lost in the all this NFL talk is the amazing play of the Hartford Whalers/Carolina Hurricanes. This team just refuses to lose. Ask the Flyers. Anyway, I'm already planning my trip to Carolina for the Stanley Cup Parade. By the way, nice job by the Islanders letting Pete Laviolette go.
Anyway, that's all for now.
I'll adress Mark Messier night, Howard Stern and Joe Pa's "She was hot, he should've raped her" comment in a day or two.
Still no beer since Jan. 2. The scary thing is I don't miss it. Real scary. Although, if I have to watch another weekend of this bullshit product called the NFL, the vodka count will skyrocket.
Ok, the Colt-Steeler game was great, but why? Because NFL refs have their heads up their arses. Not only the Palumala INT being overturned, but the no-call on the offsides/illegal motion play on 4th-and-1 late in the game. ARE YOU KIDDDING ME?
And then, in the Bears-Cats game, they award the Bears Dude a TD when he cleary went out of bounds at the 3 and fumbled out of the end zone. I can't wait for the refs to screw up big time in a Super Bowl and finally people will realize what a flawed product the NFL and football in general is. I mean, I hate the Patriots, but that INT call against them Saturday night was completely bogus. It cost them 7 points.
As for football in general, most of the game depends on where 50-year-old men standing 20 yards away spot the ball where they think they saw the runner go with it.
However, as long as there is beer and gambling in this country, the NFL will continue to be huge.
One final thought: If the Steelers don't win Sunday, there will be absolutely no juice for the Super Bowl. Denver vs. Seattle? ZZZZZZZZZZ. Denver vs. Carolina? Snooze fest.
Lost in the all this NFL talk is the amazing play of the Hartford Whalers/Carolina Hurricanes. This team just refuses to lose. Ask the Flyers. Anyway, I'm already planning my trip to Carolina for the Stanley Cup Parade. By the way, nice job by the Islanders letting Pete Laviolette go.
Anyway, that's all for now.
I'll adress Mark Messier night, Howard Stern and Joe Pa's "She was hot, he should've raped her" comment in a day or two.
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
HITCH YOUR WAGON
BEER COUNT: Stuck on 12.
Yes, I made it through an NFL playoff weekend without one beer. Hard to believe. If I were a Giant fan, the number would be about 40, but it's stuck on 12.
Some random thoughts.
1. The Giants suck. I'm sooooooooooooooooo happy they were exposed as frauds on Sunday. I'm even happier, Tiki was exposed as a bigger fraud. What a wonderful end to an overrated season.
2. I read that Dr. James Andrews had a heart attack. Does this mean pro athletes with elbow woes are sunk?
3. My condolences to the family of Ram great Jack Snow, who died Monday of a staph infection. What a friggin way to go.
4. One of the best TV shows - THE SHEILD - has its season premier tonight. If you have never seen it, check it out, it rocks. 10 p.m. FX.
5. 24 season premier just five days away
6. Mark Messier night just two days away
That's all for now.
Yes, I made it through an NFL playoff weekend without one beer. Hard to believe. If I were a Giant fan, the number would be about 40, but it's stuck on 12.
Some random thoughts.
1. The Giants suck. I'm sooooooooooooooooo happy they were exposed as frauds on Sunday. I'm even happier, Tiki was exposed as a bigger fraud. What a wonderful end to an overrated season.
2. I read that Dr. James Andrews had a heart attack. Does this mean pro athletes with elbow woes are sunk?
3. My condolences to the family of Ram great Jack Snow, who died Monday of a staph infection. What a friggin way to go.
4. One of the best TV shows - THE SHEILD - has its season premier tonight. If you have never seen it, check it out, it rocks. 10 p.m. FX.
5. 24 season premier just five days away
6. Mark Messier night just two days away
That's all for now.
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
WELCOME TO 2006
Well, it's 2006 and although the year is only 3 days old, I wonder what's the over/under for wishing someone Happy New Year.
Honestly, if you see a friend for the first time on Jan. 10, do you say Happy New Year? Just wondering. Anyway, with a new year here, I'm gonna make a few predictions for 2006. Here goes.
1. I will lose weight. I say this every year, but I actually mean it this time. Me and my brothers are having a competition to see who can lose the most weight. There's cash involved. I'm actually motivated.
2. I will buy a bike. I haven't had one in about 20 years. I'm gonna buy one and actually ride. I wonder if the term "it's just like riding a bike" actually applies to riding a bike.
3. I will be mean to anyone who watches reality TV. And this includes my wife and kids. They watch it all, as for me, the only Surivor I'll support are the dudes who sang "High on You." I hate reality TV. Of course, if Fox starts looking for contestants for Blogging with the Stars, I may have to change my tune.
4. I will get sucked in by the Mets. I'm sure sometime around mid-July, they will be leading the NL East. I will start thinking about playoff baseball back at Shea and they will break my heart. I know it's coming, I just can't stop it.
5. I will really get sucked in by the Rangers. They will reach the Eastern Confernce Finals and will be up 3-2 on Ottawa, and then it will all fall apart. I'll never learn.
6. I'll drink plenty of beers. As a matter of fact, I plan on counting the exact number of beers I'll have this year. I will start every post with beer counter. As of 3:49 p.m. on Jan 3, the count is at 12. I had 7 on Sunday and 5 Monday. No plans for any more this week. Check back after Saturday for an update. So at this pace, I'll have 1,460 beers this year.
I'm gonna set the over/under at 620 (that's 12 a week). Considering I'm at 12 3 days in, the over looks pretty good. However, there will be - believe it or not - weeks where I go without drinking at all. Of course, there will be days where I can bang down about two week's worth. For those of you dumb enough to even think about taking the under, a tip, I don't drink anything but beer. Since I'm now 40, I've considered going the wine route or even rum or crap like that. But you know what, screw that stuff. It's beer, beer and only beer.
7. I'll lose count by mid-February. I got loaded Friday night and couldn't even guess how many beers. I had. Of course, I could lose interest, too.
8. I'll go to the movies this year. With the invention of kids, DVD players and $13 tickets, getting to the movies isn't a real priority. However, I'm sure I'll get there once or twice.
9. The only three non-sports related TV shows I'll watch all year will be 24, Medium and Without a Trace. Everything else sucks. These three kick total arse.
10. I will provide more interesting posts than this one. It's not a good way to start the year, but I promise I'll rebound.
Happy New Year (hope it's not too late).
Honestly, if you see a friend for the first time on Jan. 10, do you say Happy New Year? Just wondering. Anyway, with a new year here, I'm gonna make a few predictions for 2006. Here goes.
1. I will lose weight. I say this every year, but I actually mean it this time. Me and my brothers are having a competition to see who can lose the most weight. There's cash involved. I'm actually motivated.
2. I will buy a bike. I haven't had one in about 20 years. I'm gonna buy one and actually ride. I wonder if the term "it's just like riding a bike" actually applies to riding a bike.
3. I will be mean to anyone who watches reality TV. And this includes my wife and kids. They watch it all, as for me, the only Surivor I'll support are the dudes who sang "High on You." I hate reality TV. Of course, if Fox starts looking for contestants for Blogging with the Stars, I may have to change my tune.
4. I will get sucked in by the Mets. I'm sure sometime around mid-July, they will be leading the NL East. I will start thinking about playoff baseball back at Shea and they will break my heart. I know it's coming, I just can't stop it.
5. I will really get sucked in by the Rangers. They will reach the Eastern Confernce Finals and will be up 3-2 on Ottawa, and then it will all fall apart. I'll never learn.
6. I'll drink plenty of beers. As a matter of fact, I plan on counting the exact number of beers I'll have this year. I will start every post with beer counter. As of 3:49 p.m. on Jan 3, the count is at 12. I had 7 on Sunday and 5 Monday. No plans for any more this week. Check back after Saturday for an update. So at this pace, I'll have 1,460 beers this year.
I'm gonna set the over/under at 620 (that's 12 a week). Considering I'm at 12 3 days in, the over looks pretty good. However, there will be - believe it or not - weeks where I go without drinking at all. Of course, there will be days where I can bang down about two week's worth. For those of you dumb enough to even think about taking the under, a tip, I don't drink anything but beer. Since I'm now 40, I've considered going the wine route or even rum or crap like that. But you know what, screw that stuff. It's beer, beer and only beer.
7. I'll lose count by mid-February. I got loaded Friday night and couldn't even guess how many beers. I had. Of course, I could lose interest, too.
8. I'll go to the movies this year. With the invention of kids, DVD players and $13 tickets, getting to the movies isn't a real priority. However, I'm sure I'll get there once or twice.
9. The only three non-sports related TV shows I'll watch all year will be 24, Medium and Without a Trace. Everything else sucks. These three kick total arse.
10. I will provide more interesting posts than this one. It's not a good way to start the year, but I promise I'll rebound.
Happy New Year (hope it's not too late).
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