I’m a little behind, I’m working on it. So here comes another Big Blue Double Dip…
Sunday, October 19, 2008
This was to be a family event of sorts. You see, these Giants tickets have been in the family since the 60’s. Uncle Mike has had 5, but there were more owned/accessed by some of my cousins on my father’s side. As time went on, those tickets were given up, but Uncle Mike still held onto his. My cousins Tom, Carol and Donna, all siblings used to attend all the games and tailgates with Uncle Mike back in the 80’s and 90’s with said given up tickets. During the season, I’ve tried to give my ticket to family members and friends. Originally, I wanted to bring my cousin Samantha, who is only 5 months my elder. Her father, my late Uncle Bill, Dad and Uncle Mike’s brother, who passed away in 1987 was basically Uncle Mike and John’s partner in crime of sorts. I wanted to bring Samantha so that she could sit in the old seats. Uncle Mike was really excited. A couple days before though, Sam found out that she had to work that Sunday and couldn’t get out.
In the meantime, Carol, who’s also my Godmother, was looking for tickets, since she wanted to be there to hang out with Uncle Mike and Sam. She got two for her and her daughter from a friend. Donna was also looking for a ticket. Bingo! Donna’s the winner. (Side note, cousin Ed, who has been mentioned in previous posts is Donna’s husband. She WAS a diehard Yankee fan until Ed married into the family, then somehow, he pulled off the greatest team switch in history and Donna is now a Mets fan.)
And so, after meeting at our usual spot in town, it was off to the stadium.
1) As soon as I got in Donna’s car, I realized that being that Uncle Mike needs to be in Handicapped Parking, it was going to be hard to get everyone, along with our coolers together. Not to worry, Donna plans to use her charm to get past security. (My cousin is a charmer, but to pull this off would be impressive.)
2) Traffic for this one was heavier than expected. (God, this new set up is awful)
3) I don’t see how this is going to work, you kinda need a placard, which we do not have.
4) Donna gives it the college try, “Excuse me, that’s my father in the truck in front of us, he’s handicapped. We want to stick together. Is there any way you can let us through?” Nice story. Didn’t work though. (Damn, this could get interesting.)
5) Undeterred, she makes a left at the end of the road, then another left into a lot that we DEFINITELY did not have access to, since everyone else was turning in from the other direction and they had red passes to our blue. (Damn Blue!)
6) We’re in, now what?
7) We drive down to the end of the lot where it is split in half by yellow tape. No spots, only room for one car to get down the way.
8) Carol almost got into a fight. (Impressive)
9) Somehow we make it around to the other side and are heading further away from the stadium and Uncle Mike I the Handicapped spots.
10) Frustrated, this conversation starts:
Carol: You want me to get out and move it?
Donna: Screw it, move the barricade. No one’s looking.
11) We are now out of the lot that we snuck into heading back towards Hell, I mean where we started.
12) “Excuse me? Can you move that barricade?” ~Donna
13) “Screw it! Jump the curb, no one’s looking.”~Carol
14) We are now in the lot that was yellow taped off. It seems to be a VIP “Red” lot.
15) Now parked, I call John who said they never got into the Handicapped lot and they were being diverted to our lot. (Way to go Parking Authority. I’m looking at you John Mara.)
16) I will never doubt my cousins again. Wow. We should not be here. This is awesome.
17) The next hour or so is spent by Uncle Mike telling old stories with Carol. He loves his stories and so do we.
18) Upon the time to go into the stadium, D and C decide we didn’t have enough in the parking lot. (I’m just gonna leave it at that. No need to tell the story of how that problem was alleviated. Let’s just say my cousins are creative and…I will never doubt them)
19) Yeah, so the guys sitting behind us are apparently hanging out for a bachelor party which is pretty cool. The one dude is a volunteer firefighter, so we struck up a conversation, since the game is pretty boring being that the 49ers are so overmatched. It turns out, he knows a few people that I went to high school and subsequently went to college with him. We actually called one to confirm. Weird. (Small world.)
20) Yeah, he also was passed out in the parking lot before the game after an all night binge. They took pics of him sitting on a chair with a very large woman, twice to three times his size straddling him and making out with him. (WOW. Way to go guys!)
21) This really isn’t fair. The Niners just aren’t good. Oh, and who has J.T. O’Sullivan starting for his fantasy team? That would be me! (I’m not awesome.)
22) Carol just texted, apparently the guys behind them upstairs are way too vulgar for her taste. I’m looking places to sit around us.
23) We gave Carol and Gina our ticket stubs and I snuck them down, unfortunately, there was nothing but two seats in the front row. After about 5 minutes, two guys came down, and of course the seats were theirs. Donna wasn’t back yet, so I moved back a row, while the guys were getting beers.
24) Now I have to be that guy and ask the people in front of me if someone is sitting in the seat in front of us where their coats are. This displeases the patriarch of their plan. Luckily, I have good networking skill, “I remember him from last game! Hey! How are ya pal? Yeah my cousins are here and the guys upstairs were jerks to them.” (I can win anyone over.)
25) Here comes Donna. (This should be interesting.)
26) “Excuse me. Is anyone sitting there? My sister stole my seat.”~Donna (This gets repeated about 5 times before she finally found one.)
27) Oh yeah, Giants are winning.
28) Midway through the third, the girls left and I got my seat back.
There’s not much left to tell. The Giants won 29-17 to improve to 5-1 and 4-0 at home. The Bavaro jersey remains undefeated. It was an ugly win. I’m not gonna lie, but a win is a win. Most importantly, I got to spend time with my cousins, and they got to recall some old memories of Giants games passed. Uncle Mike was happy to see them and to reminisce. That was the best part about it.
Part II
Sunday November 2, 2008
This was the long awaited, much anticipated Giants-Cowboys matchup that Mike and I had been counting the days until since I first received word that I had Giants season tickets. Clearly, he was one of the first people I called and I offered him this game. It really needs no more introduction, except to say that the night before I was up until 3 AM drinking with my cousins in LBI, then drove all the way back home in the morning. Thank God for the extra hour of sleep due to Daylight Savings.
On with the debacle!
1) As we entered the parking lot, there was a picture of T.O. with that stupid crying face, hanging on a pole. That got a “Well played” from Mike. (Yep, it’s gonna be that kinda day for him.)
2) That story gets better, because a little further on up the road, a sign hung from a tent with two copies of that picture. In between them, it read, “NYG Making Bitches Cry Since 1925.” (That got a “That ain’t right” from Mike. At least he knows what he’s in for.)
3) “That guy’s wearing a Jake Delhomme jersey. Is he friggin lost?”~Mike. (I went with he lost a bet.)
4) A guy chasing after a football ran in front of a truck and yelled obscenities at the driver. John responded with, “He’s the !@&%ing idiot? You’re the one who ran in front of a truck!” (Oh we’re fired up today.)
5) Not for nothing, but I know how to throw a tailgate. (Look at this.)
Courses 2 and 3
John Looks on in Approval.
Course 5
Perfect
6) Uncle Mike is telling Mike the Carl Banks story. Still one of my favorite stories of all time.
7) Mike’s loving all the stories.
8) I have to say, he’s not taking as much abuse as some other Cowboys in the parking lot.
9) After seeing a dude get destroyed for wearing a Romo jersey, Mike states, “That’s why I love my DeMarcus Ware jersey. Even Giants fans know he’s good.” (True.)
10) This may be the first time we make the kickoff on time AAAANNNND I’m slightly hammered.
Sure, we look fine now.
11) “Dude, where did that beer go?” ~Mike after I put down a bottle of Auntie Millie in four gulps.
12) And another one for the walk. (I know how to drink at Giants games.)
He doesn't know what he's getting himself into. Or does he?
13) “He’s a linebacker!”~Mike on Brandon Jacobs.
14) “Dude, Fairfield Class of ’91 is all over your stadium.” ~Mike commenting on the Verizon guy.
15) Even Kevin Boss is getting in the act. (Jeremy who?)
16) They’re playing The Who’s “Baba O’Reilly” over the loud speaker much to Mike’s chagrin. “Oh come on! I love this song!” ~Mike.
17) Wow, that’s a lot of beer. (What a system we had going.)
At some point, I looked down at my feet and saw this. And I saw that it was good.
18) I have a note that says “There aren’t enough syllables.” I remember saying this, but I don’t know what it was about. (Alcohol affects the memory.)
19) We just witnessed Steve Smith’s first career NFL touchdown. Mike’s not happy. “This is not gonna work…can we get some Brooks Bollinger please?” (Oh yeah, Romo wasn’t playing because of his injured pinkie finger. So his replacement was Super Bowl Champion Brad Johnson.)
20) Some dude behind me, a Giants fan, during a key defensive series, just told me to sit down. (These are the type of fans that need to surrender their tickets. On third down, you don’t tell someone else to sit down. You get up and scream with them.)
21) It’s official. I hate Plaxico Burress. On the pick 6 by Dallas Eli threw behind Plax who never turned. I place full blame on Plax. The way I see it, since he’s the one that doesn’t show up for practice, he probably ran the wrong route. (Side note, following the game, Eli took the hit for it. That’s just the kinda guy he is.)
22) Seriously, has there been a more reliable receiver than Amani Toomer? I’m gonna go out on a limb and say he’s one of the most underrated receivers in the league. Believe it or not, Mike agrees.
23) Wow, what a phenomenal half time show featuring a group of Marine’s doing a silent rifle show. These guys are awesome.
24) And today’s Obligatory Bon Jovi Song of the Game is “Last Man Standing,” brought to you by Miller Lite. It’s Miller Time.
25) Mike has stated that if Super Bowl Champion quarterback Brad Johnson is under center at the start of the second half, then he will concede this game.
26) Ladies and Gentlemen, now at quarterback for
27) This video tells the whole story…
