A couple of weeks ago, my boss, because he’s such a great guy, sent out an email to our department asking if anyone was interested in Rangers tickets for Tuesday, November 4. I didn’t even email him back. This constituted a walk to his office. “I had you in mind. I knew you’d be interested. Well, who wouldn’t be? The tickets turned out to be corporate seats given to us by one of our client service providers. Section 43. I’ve only sat this close a few times. These are the seats where they give you menus and stuff. We were movin’ on up to the east side.
My brother Frank was in Disney, so clearly, my next choice was Mike. It was all set. We were to meet in front of the Garden at about 6:30. By the way, the game was against the Islanders. Game on…
1) Kudos to Mike on the Ulf Samuelsson jersey.
2) Joey Kocur…awesome.
I used to get that guy into a fight EVERY time I played NHLPA 93 for Super Nintendo.
3) “Look at the size of this thing”~Mike looking at the ticket. (By the way, that’s what she said.)
4) Tony Amonte jersey…nice!
5) Mike claims he saw a guy wearing an Islanders jersey with 25 Bonds on the back. (Hmm, so THAT’S where he’s been!)
6)
7) Mike just declared war on the Red and White army. This is going to get ugly.
8) Because we had no idea, (or at least I didn’t) of where our seats were, we did a complete lap around the Garden before we found our section. (I’m sorry, I’m not used to walking through the 60’s Gates.)
9) Yeah, uh, these seats will do.
10) “Good right where the net ends so I can get killed.”~Mike
11) I’m gonna go out on a limb and say we’re gonna sing the Goal Song 4 times tonight.
12) Wow, what a fired up rendition of the National Anthem on Election Night. This crowd is fired up. (I mean Kevin JAMES fired up.)
13) Thirty five seconds into the game and we have our first “Potvin Sucks” chant. (It’s gonna be a good night.)
14) What is up with Comrie? During warmups he had his stick up in Dubinsky’s face, now he’s targeting him on the ice.
15) We just ordered a couple of Coney Combos and nachos. It’s gonna be a REAL good night.
16) Literally thirty second later, our food arrives. The Coney Combo. If you’ve never indulge, be sure to the next time you’re at the Garden. Is there anything better than a Nathan’s Hot Dog wrapped inside a knish? (I think not!)
17) Mike’s comments on the Coney Combo: “Heaven. Two of my favorite things. How could they go wrong?”
18) A lot of action in the first period, but no goals. An election update at the end of the first period: McCain 8, Obama 3. (It’s gonna be a good night)
19) Yeah, uh, somebody’s definitely smoking weed in the men’s bathroom. (Weed, that is so like 1999.)
20) The Lagers are flowing like water. God love the people who came up with the pretzel idea.
21) The Rangers are dominating, but they just can’t seem to find the net!
Hey guys! I could use some goals please!
22) Halfway through the second and we have our latest election update. Obama 77, McCain 34. (Whoops.)
23) Surprisingly, there were a lot of boos at the Garden upon that update. Then I realized, I’m at a hockey game. If it were a Knicks game, there’d be a standing ovation. “No there wouldn’t. Nobody comes to root for the Knicks.”~Mike
24) Wow MacDonald just made a nasty sliding save on a two on one, he’s locked in. (Coming from a former goalie, when a goalie is locked in, there’s not much that will get past him.)
25) Early in the third and I’m on beers 6 and 7. I cannot believe what my body can accomplish these days. Mike can’t believe there haven’t been any goals.
26) Spoke too soon. Isles are up 1-0 on a short-handed odd-man rush.
27) “That was his first of the season! If this isn’t the New York Mets, I don’t know what is.” ~Mike (He’s not happy. The Red and White army is kicking his ass right now.)
28) Wow, on the next power play, the Rangers give up another short-handed goal. “Two short-handed goals? What did I do wrong? I need to do some serious penance. I hate this team. I hate being here.” ~Mike (Wow, this night took a turn in a hurry.
29) “If I don’t see a fight, I’m gonna be pissed.” ~Mike
30) “Text this…worst hockey game ever!” ~Mike
31) Wow. This night had so much promise, what happened?
32) OHHHHHHH OOHHHH OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!
Mike started a little early.
33) 2-1 Isles. Can we PLEASE score on this guy again?!?!?!
34) Text from Adam: “Pulled goalie with two left was ballsy” (He’s an Isles fan. I still don’t know how a kid from
35) You know what’s crazier than that? The word “ballsy” does not trigger the spell check in Word. How does that happen?
36) Just right clicked on ballsy to see if there were any synonyms, alas, there are none. (Anypoo…)
37) You know what else I don’t understand? This…
38) Well, at least the seats were good
39) And the beer was good too.
40) Okay, I wrote that Mike almost fell down. I don’t remember this. I probably don’t wanna remember. Just for the record, apparently Mike almost fell down.
41) We were fired up.
42) Texts from Mike after the game: “2 f$@#!ing shorthanded goals!” “Bad shape” “Where am I?”
43) Then there was my personal favorite: “R U kidding me Carlos Beltran?”
44) Mike didn’t have a good night. I didn’t have a good night.
I should correct that statement. I had a GREAT time at the game. The seats were incredible. The crowd in our seats left something to be desired, which is why corporate sponsored seats should be outlawed and limited to the luxury boxes, but hey, I’m not complaining. The night as a whole sucked, but at least the game and the seats were a great time.
