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Monday, December 24
A Final Blog On A Fantastic Trip
by
greenpowerblog
on Mon 24 Dec 2007 08:28 PM PST
By the time you read this, the lime green renewable energy machine will be parked quietly by some roadside near you enjoying its own extended vacation with no particular place to go – and deservedly so.
After all, the 1984 Mercedes running on two greener, cleaner fuels – biodiesel and vegetable oil – performed as brightly and boldly as its color. All told, the green machine took yours truly to 31 states, the District of Columbia and two Canadian provinces, logging some 35,000 miles over 116 amazing days. As a result, I was able to witness 45 football games, of which 26 were of the college variety, 18 of the No Fun League, and one really unique high school football game in Nebraska at an old baseball park built in the 1950s. Check out the photos at the photos page!
When there weren’t pigskin contests to see, I also managed to take in 37 hockey games, 27 basketball games, 4 baseball games (and even catch a foul ball) and one darn interesting rodeo (Yee-haw, I had never been to the rodeo before!). All of this also wouldn’t have been possible without my sponsors ( AutoTrader.com, MapQuest and StubHub, among others).
The final two stops on the Green Power Sports Tour were in Charlotte, North Carolina and Nashville, Tennessee , home of the NFL’s Panthers and Titans, respectively. And both teams have plenty in common. Although the Titans relocated from Houston to Nashville in 1999, you could make a good argument they are essential an expansion team like the Carolina Panthers. After all, neither city had really boasted a professional sports team of any kind prior to their NFL birth, although Charlotte did have an NBA franchise (that eventually bolted to New Orleans).
Both franchises are located in mid-sized cities in the south; both play in downtown stadiums; and both enjoyed quick success as new teams, each making (but losing in) a Super Bowl. And in recent years, both clubs have struggled for year-in, year-out consistency in the win column.
Therefore, given their recent history, and the relative newness of both clubs, it’s no surprise (to me) that both fan bases have shrunk as the teams have stunk. It was easy to see and feel in Charlotte Saturday night as Dallas Cowboys fanatics outnumbered Panthers backers at Bank of America Stadium. What was surprising (to me), however, was the number of female Cowboys fans who had created posters with their unique opinion on actress Jessica Simpson dating Dallas quarterback Tony Romo. This week’s sign the apocalypse is now upon us: many Cowboys fans blamed Simpson for Romo having a bad game the previous week in a loss to Philadelphia .
Romo played just fine, thank you, against the Panthers, despite losing big mouth wide receiver Terrell Owens to injury in the first half. It was the third time I had seen “ America ’s Team” on my journey, and it was clear to me that Dallas was simply a step above Carolina in terms of talent and depth. The only other teams in my opinion that could potentially beat the Patriots in the post-season besides the Cowboys are the Colts, Packers and the underrated Jaguars.
Bank of America Stadium is a great venue for football, with great sight and huge towering light standards hovering over the top level of the seating areas. But the fans (at least the Carolina ones that showed up) were less than enthusiastic, and on one level I can’t really blame them: exiting the stadium was a train wreck, with the idiot brigade that runs security forcing all fans to exit down only on exit ramp.
The next day in Music City , the opposite problem occurred – fans couldn’t get into the stadium. Now, I don’t know about you, but when I purchase a ticket for a game I don’t expect to wait more than 20 minutes to enter the stadium. That wasn’t the end of the lines, though. On the upper level, the concession lines were inexcusably long because an adjacent concession stand was closed.
Now, get this: the Titans announced a sold-out crowd for their game against the Jets, but you couldn’t have fooled me. Throughout the game there were pockets of empty seats everywhere. The Titans had a sell-out, alright. Many tickets purchased by local ticket brokers couldn’t be re-sold outside on the street because it was 45 degrees out and windy (that’s bitterly cold temps in the south) and the Titans, despite running quarterback Vince Young, as about as exciting as an IRS form. So if it was “really” sold out, could it have cost the Titans too much to have that concession stand on the upper level opened, hmmm?
Tennessee managed to win an offensive yawner, 10-6, and having traveled more miles than should be allowed by law over a four-month period, I was a bit pooped too as I left Nashville two nights before Christmas in my jolly green sleigh.
‘Tis the season to be jolly, ‘tis the season to be thankful.
Thank you, thank you, thank you a goodnight – for your readership and support. And have a Happy New Year!
p.s.: Joe Santa’s crystal ball sezs there’s a Super Bowl and an undefeated record in the Patriots 2008 future.
Monday, December 10
It's Too Damn Cold, But The Pats Remain Unbeaten And The Green Machine Keeps Trucking
by
greenpowerblog
on Mon 10 Dec 2007 03:18 PM PST
Continuing the Green Power Sports Tour into December in the Northeast, I knew the high probability that the weather outside would turn frightful, although I didn’t know to what degree, when exactly, or where in particular. Well, last week, Mother Nature turned decidedly nasty, bringing a mix of rain, sleet and snow – not to the more, historically probable areas of Boston or New York – but rather to the southerly climes of Washington, DC .
Sports fans in the Nation’s Capitol had been caught off guard once already early this winter when Washington Redskins player Sean Taylor was murdered. Some 24 hours before kickoff with the Chicago Bears, Mother Nature had another surprise in store for Redskins fans, dumping up to three inches of snow throughout the area which often doesn’t get the white stuff this soon. And if I thought Chicago would be the coldest it would get on my trip, I wisely realized that would not be the case and planned accordingly.
The Redskins welcomed those Windy City Bears to FedEx Field in Landover , Maryland, outside Washington, last Thursday night, with the loser likely officially eliminated from playoff contention. I broke out five layers of clothing for the upper body, plus wore two layers of socks. And, man, it’s a good thing I did. With the temperature hovering in the low 20s and a light, but brisk wind, this wasn’t baseball weather, junior.
Also, with the roads icy from the previous day’s snowstorm, coupled with the fact the Green Machine lacks snow tires, I opted to take the subway to the game. Considering it gets dark now in Washington around 4:30 p.m., it seemed pointless to me to tailgate the car in the dark with me, myself and I, especially on a weeknight with a late-arriving crowd for an 8:15 p.m. kickoff.
By the time I got inside FedEx Field, I was doing quite well despite the cold, but one fan had apparently lost his mind. As I watched a play transpire through my camera lens, I noticed a man running toward the Redskins quarterback. The next thing you know, stadium security is tackling one of its patrons and sending him off for a long, lonely night in the big house. Now I don’t know what caused this lunatic to run onto the field in the middle of a play (maybe he had some tips for the Redskins inconsistent offense), but if it turns out he had one too many Budweiser’s, let’s just say I wouldn’t be surprised.
Both starting quarterbacks went down with injuries in the game, and the Redskins toughed it out to win the contest and keep their slim playoff hopes alive. Not that too many fans appear very engaged. Maybe it was the weather, maybe it was because it was a weeknight, or maybe it was because the Redskins really aren’t very good, but there were several hundred empty seats in the upper deck of FedEx Field, which I did not find terribly impressive (maybe it was also the $79 ticket price for an upper deck seat). With all of its great history and tradition, you would think owner Daniel Snyder could build, I don’t know, maybe some kind of Hall of Fame, honoring past Redskins greats. Well, at least he did okay Redskins cheerleaders wearing Santa Claus outfits at halftime.
Some three days after witnessing two mediocre teams, I was looking forward to enjoying a game between two playoff-bound teams – while still freezing my sunny Southern California fanny off.
The 12-0 Patriots hosted the 9-3 Steelers last Sunday, with host New England ’s No. 1 offense going up against the NFL’s top-ranked defense. You don’t need to work for The No Fun League or its television partner, CBS, to see a money-maker, so the game’s original start time of 1:05 p.m. was moved to 4:15 p.m. to accommodate a larger audience (and, ahem, more advertisers).
If you thought that loony bird in Washington was crazy for running on the field, you haven’t really experienced true loonies until you are in the greater Boston area when all of its sports teams are winning. The Red Sox won their second baseball World Series in four years in October while the Celtics own the NBA’s best record and the Bruins are on the rebound in the NHL. And the three-time Super Bowl Champion Patriots? Oh, they’re just undefeated.
As you might expect, I had to fork over mucho dinero for a ticket – try $75 for standing room only. Ouch on the wallet, yes, but you probably won’t believe this next bit, when, as I stood in a men’s bathroom stall relieving myself, I noticed a crumpled up white and green piece of paper below me that strongly resembled money. It was lying next to an empty, plastic beer bottle that I couldn’t help but also notice. After completing my business, I leaned over to discover just how handsome a man good ole Ben Franklin really was – and just how damn lucky I was to have acquired a $100.00 bill so easily. Now, this particular bathroom stall was empty when I entered it, and I don’t know how somebody could drop a $100 bill, but if it had something to do with too many Budweiser’s, let’s just say I wouldn’t be surprised.
Like FedEx Field, I wasn’t terribly giddy about Gillette Stadium, with no history of the Patriots Super Bowl runs on display – not even a single escalator to the upper deck, also.
I was layered up again and temps were again in the 20s, but it wasn’t as cold here as in Washington , and on this day, neither was the Patriots offense. After an inconsistent first quarter from the NFL’s No. 1 offense, the high-octane Pats led by Mr. Cool Quarterback, Tom Brady, came out in the second half to pummel – and humble – the Steelers. Earlier in the week, one of the Steelers defensive players, safety Anthony Smith, had “guaranteed” a victory over the undefeated Patriots. I don’t think he’ll be making that statement again because Brady, wide receiver Randy Moss and the rest of the Patriots offense ran circles around Smith. By the time the fourth quarter came around, Patriots fans were mocking Smith, yelling in unison, “Guarantee! Guarantee! Guarantee!” This was in between cannons being fired by a group dressed like Patriots in the end zone every time New England scored.
With its 34-13 thumping of a playoff-bound Steelers club – and with just three games to go – including one each against the lowly Jets and winless Dolphins, a 16-0 regular season mark for the Patriots may actually be a guarantee.
Friday, December 7
Green Machine Finds...Whoa, Snow!
by
greenpowerblog
on Fri 07 Dec 2007 08:44 AM PST
Of all the places I thought I'd find snow this time of year, Washington, DC wasn't one of them. Yet that's just what I found on Wed. Dec. 5 as snow reigned down on the Nation's Capitol.
Two days earlier, I was in Bloomington, Indiana for a Hoosiers hoops game before traveling to Philly to see the Penn men host No. 1 North Carolina at The Palestra, a classic, old throwback fieldhouse type venue. When I woke up at a friend's house in Newark, Delaware, an hour south of Philly on Dec. 5, light flurries were falling and there was no snow on the ground. But that all changed when I started heading to Lancaster, PA and the offices of MapQuest, one of this year's sponsors.
By the time I had gotten off the highway, a good inch or two was on the ground with more on the way. I enjoyed my time at MapQuest, chatting with employees about the Green Machine as the snow fell. From there, I headed to Fairfax, Virginia, and caught a college hoops game between George Mason and Hampton. I must have missed every accident in the DC metro area because I arrived safely at my Aunt and Uncle's house by 10 p.m. on a very eventful Dec. 5.
You can officially stick a fork in the Chicago Bears. That's because I saw them lose again, this time to the equally hapless Redskins on Dec. 6 at FedEx Field. From Super Bowl runner-up to early golfing a year later - Bears fans can't be happy. Ah, until next year, Chicago. Hey, at least there's plenty of snow to look forward to in your immediate forecast.
Sunday, December 2
Green Machine Wraps Up College Football Slate; Visits Chicago
by
greenpowerblog
on Sun 02 Dec 2007 08:35 AM PST
Last spring when I started scheduling this crazy little trip, I circled last Saturday, December 1, because I knew it marked the end of the college football regular season, and therefore the end of my pigskin campus travels. And oh, what a December 1 it was, as I took in two great college football rivalries in two different states both in a span of less than 12 hours.
First stop: Baltimore , Maryland where the green machine rolled in about 10:30 a.m. from Philadelphia for the 12:15 p.m. kickoff between Army and Navy. The Midshipmen, who will play in San Diego on Dec. 20 in the Poinsettia Bowl, have dominated this historic rivalry, winning the last five meetings. The Black Knights were hoping to change that on a sunny, but very brisk Saturday afternoon in the 108th battle between the Army men from West Point , New York and Midshipmen from Annapolis , Maryland .
Everywhere you turned outside M&T Bank Stadium there were signs and banners hanging from cars and RVs reading, “Go Army, Beat Navy,” or “Go Navy, Beat Army.” But the real pre-game treat was on the inside, which is also the Baltimore Ravens home field.
There was the ceremonial march-in of the cadets from Army and the midshipmen from Navy, decked out their respective uniforms, followed by an awesome sky show. First, more than a half dozen midshipmen flew into the stadium from thousands of feat above in parachutes, followed by their Army counterparts. Moments later, following the national anthem, Navy flyers and Army choppers zoomed above.
I felt lucky to have finally experienced this great tradition in person, and thought of my late father, who served in the U.S. Air Force. I was also touched by the halftime show that featured a gigantic American flag covering virtually the entire field as Lee Greenwood and the crowd sang, “I’m proud to be an American.”
As for the game, Navy pummeled Army, 38-3, capturing its sixth straight win in the series. About the only cheering from Army fans was when one of its cadets jumped from the stands to tackle Navy’s goat-looking mascot by surprise from behind for celebrating another Midshipmen touchdown to close to Black Knights fans.
By 3:30 p.m., I was back in the green machine headed for Morgantown , West Virginia for another great college football rivalry: the 100th annual “Backyard Brawl” between the University of Pittsburgh and the host Mountaineers, the two schools separated by less than 90 miles. The stakes for West Virginia couldn’t have been higher – win and the Mounties would play for the national title on Jan. 7.
The 210-mile drive to Morgantown went without incident, and I had parked the green machine by 7 p.m., desperately seeking a ticket. Although they were hosting hapless Pittsburgh , with West Virginia one win away from the chance to play in the national championship, there was excess demand and limited supply. I love football but I wasn’t going to pay $100 for a ticket. But once again, like the strange twists and turns that have epitomized this odyssey, I somehow managed to get in – for free.
As I scooped out the ticket market, a student approached me and another student who was with his girlfriend also seeking entry.
“Listen,” he said, as his head nudged toward the entrance way and an usher. “Give me $30 total and I’ll sneak you guys in. The usher’s my brother. Just follow me; act normal.”
It then all happened so quickly.
Before I could put my hand in my wallet to contribute, the guy with his girlfriend immediately forked over $30 for all of us, and sure enough, we approached the usher, with the brother quickly slipping the cash to the usher first. The usher then lazily patted each of us down and we were inside. I found a ticket stub as I walked the west stands, and knew I was now in the clear. I never used the ticket stub because I didn’t purchase it, and instead roamed around the whole game, my 26th and final college football game on this journey.
The weather continued to turn decidedly cold, with pockets of light sprinkles mixed in while the visiting Panthers stymied the high-octane offense of the Mounties in the first 30 minutes of play. During halftime, West Virginia ’s band created a “BCS” montage across the field, symbolizing the Mounties seemingly inevitable berth for a stake in the Bowl Championship Series national title game.
After all, they couldn’t lose to Pittsburgh , which entered the game with just four wins, could they? Perhaps in the future however the band might reconsider such a strategy.
That’s because Pitt continued to stifle West Virginia over the next 30 minutes of play, including knocking out its starting quarterback and Heisman Trophy candidate, Pat White. By 11 p.m., the now 4-7 Panthers were dancing on the “WV” logo at midfield, having pulled off arguably the biggest upset in an upset-laden college football season, much to the joy of its small, but vocal fan base that had made the short trek down from Pittsburgh.
When I witnessed Arkansas stun LSU at Tiger Stadium the day after Thanksgiving, neither I nor anyone else could have imagined that a 2-loss team would play for the BCS title. But because of West Virginia’s gaffe (its second loss this season), plus Missouri losing again on Saturday night, there was likely plenty of dancing in the streets of Baton Rouge late Saturday night into early Sunday morning. By virtue of its two losses both happening in triple overtime, it was inevitable that LSU would play one-loss Ohio State Jan. 7 for all the marbles.
As for yours truly, by 1 a.m. on Dec. 2, I had arrived at a hotel north of Pittsburgh , which would be my launching pad six hours later for my final, long haul through the Midwest . Destination: Soldier Field, Chicago , for a meeting between two historic NFL franchises, the host Bears and the visiting Giants.
I made the 450-mile trek without incident, arriving in the Windy City on Dec. 2 about 90 minutes before kickoff. It was great football weather, and the late George Halas, founder of the Bears, would have loved it: dark and dreary with winds gusting up to 30 miles an hour and a steady rain falling. Yummy. Above the south end zone, looking out on the city skyline, I could see the top of the Sears Tower shrouded in cloud.
The Bears choked a 16-7 lead in the fourth quarter as Eli Manning and the G-Men likely punched their ticket to the post-season, stunning a wet and sold-out Soldier Field. Halas would have liked the weather, but certainly not the outcome. Less than a year since playing in the Super Bowl, the Bears will be golfing come January.
Monday, November 26
The Green Machine Back on the Rebound And Going Places
by
greenpowerblog
on Mon 26 Nov 2007 03:26 PM PST
Nearly three months ago, I left the pleasant climatic environs of San Diego, donning a pair of shorts, a t-shirt and sunglasses around my eyes (basically to create the aura that I’m cool). More than two months later, I haven’t worn shorts in several weeks and I’m now wearing gloves and dressing in as many as four layers, minus shades. Brrr, it has been cold indeed.
The cold temperatures might also have contributed to my Washington, DC breakdown last week, resulting from a trifecta of problems: dead battery, air leak, and faulty return flow valve. With the green machine back in business, I was back on the road.
On Thanksgiving Day, I was in “Big D,” aka, Dallas, Texas, where it was – snowing. Yep, that’s right, let it snow in the Sunbelt on Turkey Day. The open roof at Texas Stadium, home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys, is such that “God can watch his favorite team play” but the only thing clearly visible above the field against the Jets in the first half were white flakes coming down in droves. The snow never made it to field level but it was so cold the Cowboys cheerleaders weren’t even showing their belly buttons, none of which would have made a difference in the game as the playoff-bound “America’s Team” pounded the lowly Jets.
From the Lone Star State, I took in three rivalry games over the next three days in three different states, starting with Louisiana State hosting the Arkansas Razorbacks, aka Hogs/Pigs, in Baton Rouge in a game with national title implications. The host Tigers welcomed their enemy owning the No. 1-ranking in college football, and had dominated the annual “Battle of the Golden Boot” showdown (an ugly trophy shaped like a boot – don’t ask).
LSU has a tailgating reputation as being as “close to Mardi Gras as Mardi Gras” and I experienced this reality firsthand. Before kickoff, a group of diehard Tigers stabbed the hell out of a pig and I was forced to get in on the act, but made sure to don it with a winter cap (because even dead pigs get cold). However, it would be the Tigers – not the Hogs – that would really be totally toast by day’s end.
If there’s been one common theme throughout this college football season, it’s been upsets, with a plethora of top-ranked teams getting stunned. I’ve been a witness to many of the proceedings from day one – for example, witnessing the only two losses of Georgia’s fine season. But there was no bigger stakes, and no bigger an upset than Arkansas’ triple overtime triumph over LSU at Tiger Stadium where the last thing Cajuns were thinking about post-game was that singer Van Morrison happened to find inspiration for their home field for a lyric in “Brown-Eyed Girl.”
After Friday’s shocker, I traveled back through Big D headed to Oklahoma where it was, gasp, snowing again. Fortunately, by the time I got to Norman – home of the Oklahoma Sooners – it was neither snowing nor raining, but man, it was still cold. The OU cheerleaders weren’t the only ones bundled up. Yours truly had four layers beneath his blue jacket, but all was not blue for the host Sooners who pummeled in-state rival Oklahoma State to claim the Big 12 Conference North Division title to the happiness of their fans and their vibrant band.
From non-stormin’ Norman, I drove north, through Kansas to Kansas City, Missouri, where the NFL’s Chiefs were hosting AFC rival, Oakland on Sunday. The Chiefs had dominated the Raiders, winning the last nine contests. But they play games for reasons, and the silver and black found reasoning in the Chiefs lackluster offensive miscues to take advantage and sneak out of Arrowhead Stadium with a victory. One bright spot for Chiefs fans? Well, there cheerleaders aren’t sissies like the Cowboys, Sooners and your climatically-challenged author.
Multiple layers? What, are you kidding me? The Chiefs gals showed plenty of skin for four quarters on Sunday while their team got skinned by the pathetic Raiders (and you thought the Chargers were having a bad season).
Four football games in four days in four different states: mucho dinero, mucho fun, mucho hace frio (e.g.., mucho cold).
Brrr, but I’m still having a mucho great time.
Monday, November 19
The Green Machine Hits Rock Bottom
by
greenpowerblog
on Mon 19 Nov 2007 03:22 PM PST
When the Adventures of the Green Machine last left you, the machine and me somehow managed to make it to Wisconsin. From there, with return fuel lines patched up, it was back east with the anticipation of a Saturday visit to Florida State and a Sunday stop in Atlanta to see the Michael Vick-less Falcons.
Anticipation, however, isn’t reality, and when it rains, it pours.
After having new glow plugs installed, my return fuel lines fixed and a new water pump added, I figured that had to be the end of my maintenance issues. I couldn’t have been more wrong.
Last Thursday evening, following a Maryland basketball game, I noticed I had virtually no power when I pressed the accelerator when the light turned green at a stop. The next morning, reality set in when the car just flat out died in the middle of a residential street.
I would be taking a rain check on Florida State and the Falcons because the Green Machine would be spending its weekend in the cozy environs of a Washington, DC area Mercedes-Benz dealer, its troubles not to be examined until Monday.
Fortunately, my awesome Aunt, Uncle and cousins live in the area, so I would have free shelter and more. So as down and depressed as I was last Friday night, I realized I could have been in a far worse place and decided I should make the most of my weekend in the environs of our Nation’s Capitol.
First stop: the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, about 40 miles outside Washington, where the Midshipmen were welcoming Northern Illinois for their final football home game this season. My awesome cousin, Katherine, loaned me her VW Passat for the day and I was off on another yet adventure.
The Internet is a beautiful thing, and I wisely researched before my arrival in Annapolis that parking around Navy-Marine Corps Stadium was atrocious, and was advised to park off-site and utilize a free shuttle service. It was a good call because not only did I secure free parking and a free shuttle bus ride to the game, but I also managed to get invited to a tailgate party of former Navy and Marines, of which one of the former servicemen loaned me a free ticket. God love Navy, and the Marines, and America!
One of the great Navy football traditions is the “March In,” where all the Midshipmen and Midshipwomen parade into the stadium in their uniforms. Navy-Marine Corps Stadium is also the only venue in the world where you are guaranteed to see a Blue Angel aircraft parked out front, plus a really cool flyover before every single game.
It was a brisk, but sunny mid-November Saturday, and the fans applauded as Navy jumped out to an early lead on visiting Northern Illinois. What I admired most about my experience at Navy was how all of its great, worldwide missions over the past century are displayed on the stadium façade like “Desert Storm,” “Iwo Jiwa” and “Pearl Harbor.” Nowhere on the façade or elsewhere in the stadium were the words “Staubach,” for former Navy quarterback and Heisman Trophy Winner, Roger Staubach.
The reasoning need not be explained: individual sporting achievements, while impressive, are not as important as team efforts, and sports is not nearly as important as the Navy’s most vital missions of helping to maintain peace and security at home and abroad.
Navy held on for the victory, giving them a 7-4 mark and a ticket to San Diego for the Poinsettia Bowl, Dec. 20. But the Mids next big game is Dec. 1 against their arch-rival, Army, in Baltimore. I hope to be there, but well, one week at a time, kids.
On Sunday, I was in a DC college basketball state of mind, and I took in games at American University by day and George Washington University by night. The latter featured the Colonels hosting top-ranked Rutgers in a women’s hoops tilt broadcast nationally on ESPNU. Only in DC are cheerleaders called “first ladies” and can a mascot hold a striking resemblance to our country’s first president.
Rutgers whooped the Colonels silly, and I took the Metro from DC back to my Aunt and Uncle’s house in Maryland, walking through the neighborhood where my car had died more than 48 hours earlier. As my wristwatch revealed close to Midnight, I didn’t know what the next day would bring. Then again, I’m not taking it one day at a time on this trip, but rather one hour at a time.
By Tuesday, the car was back in business.
Up next: Could I possibly see four football games over four consecutive games in four different states? Probably not, but Green Machine permitting, I’m sure gonna try: Texas Stadium on Turkey Day for the Cowboys and Jets, followed by college football tilts in Baton Rouge and Norman, respectively, with a Sunday stop in Kansas City. And if I make it that far, at least if I stall again, I’ll be assured of some really good KC barbecue.
Tuesday, November 13
On To Wisconsin! (Somehow, Someway, Don't Ask Me How I Made It, Actually!)
by
greenpowerblog
on Tue 13 Nov 2007 10:23 AM PST
I no longer dream of the ultimate, Saturday college-Sunday NFL fantasy football weekend taking place within the confines of the same state. That's because I literally experienced it this past weekend in the great State of Wisconsin, with a visit to the University of Wisconsin last Saturday and the Green Bay Packers last Sunday. And man, oh man, what a wild, wacky (pick your adjective) weekend it was. And, oh, where to begin.
Let's start with early Saturday morning when my fine, lime green 1984 Mercedes running on vegetable oil suddenly stalled around 2 a.m. during nightmarish construction traffic on I-90/94, north of downtown Chicago. I managed to safely pull over, and, at the time, I thought the problem was likely a lack of fuel (diesel/biodiesel and/or vegetable oil, as I was decidedly low on both). However, I got the car started 10 minutes later and was back in business, only getting stuck in more one-lane traffic while also missing my hotel exit. I hit the pillow at 3:30 a.m. at a Motel 6 in Chicago's northwest suburbs and the alarm rang at 7:30 a.m. for my destination was Madison, Wisconsin, two hours away and home of the Big 10 Badgers and formerly rated as one of the Top 10 party schools on the college circuit.
By 8 a.m. Saturday, I was on the road - and stalled again. Only this time my problem had been identified: diesel busting out of two of return fuel lines like Noah's Ark. Not good, not good at all, especially since I had no idea how to fix it. In the short-term, I would just burn oil - lots of it.
But stop now? Not if I could help it. I had driven the night prior from Ann Arbor, Michigan, some 250 miles away, where I had taken in University of Michigan basketball and hockey games. I wasn't going to let Noah's Ark ruin my ultimate fantasy football weekend.
I got the car started (again), only to see the car stall (again) on the 1-90 toll road. My confidence tumbled around 8:20 a.m. as I called 911 seeking a tow. A unfriendly driver with Pete's Towing soon showed up, and proceeded to aggressively push me into a tow to a general service station in a small, nearby town of West Dundee, Illinois that wasn't even open and wouldn't be until Monday; "I got 12 other service calls this morning and you (that would be me, Joe Connor) need to make a decision." I decided to make the tow man wait until I called my State Farm agent so I could find the nearest station that serviced Mercedes and diesels, not gasoline-fueled machines. The tow man decided I wasn't worth his time so he took off, leaving me stranded. Real classy.
I decided then and there that no jerk on this planet was going to stop me from getting to Madison, Wisconsin, not even Officer Krupke who next visited me along the lonely road to lecture me on how to pull a stalled car off the side of the road. Before Illinois' finest had gotten out of his lights-flashing vehicle, I had started the car (again), then convinced Mr. Policeman I was now good to go, and I didn't stop (the car, that is) until I pulled in front of a house a few blocks from Camp Randall Stadium around Noon.
A 21-year-old Wisconsin engineering major had read about my journey thanks to Jim Caple's writing on ESPN.com, and invited me to park at his house. I not only accepted the offer, I also took him to the game because one of my awesome sponsors, Doc Sports (http://www.docsports.com), had Badger season tickets and let me use their two seats.
Camp Randall, which opened in 1917, was an incredible awesome sea of red and roar, and the Dairymakers did not disappoint the 80,000 plus faithful, ousting Michigan. But without a doubt the most amazing part of the pigskin in Wisconsin's state capitol wasn't even the game - it was the post-game Badger band, performing its "fifth quarter celebration." In summary: it's a unique popurri of brainstorming music and dance, with fans playing along to everything from "Beer Barrel Polka" to the Chicken Dance.
Post-game, somehow, I got the green machine started again away as it stumbled down West Dayton Street in downtown Madison until it nearly died at a stop light. I witnessed some students in a two-story house patio drinking a few frosties and asked if I could park my green-ess at their house, and they obliged, setting in motion a delirious late Saturday and Sunday.
The car wouldn't start (this time, for real) after the evening Wisconsin hockey game and here I was hanging with a bunch of incredibly friendly, but very liquored Badger students, hoping to get to Green Bay for a Packers-Vikings game in less than 12 hours. Rent a car? Maybe, but instead, a trio of Wisconsin students hailing from Minnesota partying at this house decided they were Lambeau Field bound in their car with me as their designated driver. One, let's call him "Dan the Man," even allegedly text-messaged his mother, telling the packed house that she replied "and said, it's ok!" Oh, how sweet! What a good boy! After another four hours of sleep, by 7 a.m. Sunday, I was bound for Green Bay with three Wisconsin students I had met only hours earlier.
I drove. They slept. We arrived.
I made it to Lambeau and inside the 50-year-old haunt, thanks to a press pass. Each of my new-found friends weren't as lucky, unable to fork over the $175 asking price on the street. But, being they were all Vikings fans from Minnesota, perhaps its best they didn't spend a dime. Brett Favre and the Pack shutout the rival Vikes, 34-0.
Still, the pre-game, in-game and post-game atmosphere of Lambeau was unlike anything I have experienced before on the NFL circuit, with unbelievably passionate fans wearing their loyalty - literally on their heads. Lambeau was everything it was cracked to be and more - a historic venue marking its 50th anniversary with perhaps another Super Bowl bound team.
Post-game, I was bound back for Madison, with the trio who had viewed the rout in a bar across the street from "The Frozen Tundra." By 10 p.m., I had a plan to get my car looked at by a diesel-engine mechanic Monday morning. Beyond that, I simply basked in the amazement of the ultimate Saturday college-Sunday NFL fantasy football weekend taking place within the confines of the same state.
I would really like to thank the following kick-ass Wisconsin students and others for their awesome hospitality during my time in Dairyland: Doc Sports for the tickets, Ben from Maryland, and the gang on West Dayton Street and their clan - Adam, Mark, Greta, Zach, Dan and if I missed somebody, you know who you are, thanks so much!!
Update: Zimerick European in Madison fixed my fuel problem Monday, and I made it to Notre Dame for their men's hoops home opener in South Bend Monday night, in which the Irish won. Just another wild few days on the road. Only in America.
Monday, November 5
Green Machine Visits Gang Green and Green Recycling Eagles
by
greenpowerblog
on Mon 05 Nov 2007 05:10 PM PST
Never has the color green been so prominent as it was this past Sunday, and that’s only fitting considering the lime green publicity machine is now rolling into its second half of national awareness duties.
First stop Sunday: Gang Green, or more matter-of-factly, the home of the green-clad New York Jets, Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. It’s been a tough year for Gang Green, who entered last Sunday’s game against the Redskins with an abysmal 1-7 record. That was a good thing though for yours truly, as I was able to buy a ticket from a season-ticket holder for only $10! Talk about spending very little green for a seat on the 35-yard-line. Wow.
The Jets jumped out to a 17-3 halftime lead behind their new quarterback, Kellen Clemens, exciting a less than capacity crowd in the sprawling, concrete-laden Meadowlands Sports Complex, which also includes a horse track and a basketball arena. The Jets share the complex’s football stadium with the NFL Giants, and both clubs will move into new digs in 2010. Across the street from the existing field, the new shrine is already being built. Giants Stadium summarized in one word? Dump.
The decision to build a new stadium next to the current one however has resulted in an outrageous parking situation. All fans who wish to drive to the stadium must pre-pay to park, and many two miles away with shuttle service, and the price tag on the low end is $25 per game – a major ouch on the greenbacks, or as I like to say, communist. Fortunately, I was able to swing free parking two miles from the stadium then hop on the free shuttle bus.
The Redskins awoke from their first half coma in the game’s final 30 minutes to score 17 unanswered points while the Jets – well, they played like the Jets. Gang Green blew its 14-point halftime lead, losing in overtime, 23-20. Ray Hoffman of nearby Manchester, New Jersey wasn’t in a particularly pleasant mood toward the end of regulation, even after the Jets forced overtime, having trailed at one point, 20-17. But he was kind enough to show me his “Green Machine,” Jet-laden helmet, sweatshirt and cape, all of which are donated in an auction at the end of each season. The proceeds benefit Staten Island, New York Hospital. Gang Green giving back – gotta like that.
Last Sunday was double-dip Sunday.
I hopped back on the shuttle bus at 4:30 p.m. , and was on the New Jersey Turnpike South for Philadelphia by 4:50 p.m. for my next NFL destination: Cowboys at the Eagles for an 8:15 p.m. kickoff.
The football Gods were with me because I made the 100-mile trek, with one stop for some grub, in less than two hours. I crossed the Walt Whitman Bridge at 6:30 p.m. and could see the fortress, Lincoln Financial Field, in the distance.
The green-uniformed Eagles have been one of the NFL’s biggest proponents of recycling, so it was fitting to bring the green machine to the City of Brotherly Love.
With the Cowboys-Eagles rivalry one of the biggest in the NFL, I knew getting a ticket would be no picnic, but again, I lucked out.
About 10 minutes before kickoff outside the entrance to Lincoln Financial Field, a fan asked me if I needed a ticket and offered me a $75 seat in the south end zone for $50. I negotiated down to $40 and before you knew it, I was watching Rocky on the big screen along with 70,000 plus other Philly Eagles fanatics. The introduction would be about as loud as the stadium would get because the visiting Cowboys simply dominated the home team, cruising to a 38-17 win.
Around Midnight, I walked through the streets of South Philadelphia, north of the stadium and pondered the fun I enjoyed on double-dip Sunday. I was lucky enough to have a free place to crash too, thanks to the incredibly awesome kindness and hospitality of my friend, Frany, and her friends, Brian and Mary Ellen.
Knowing it was now Monday, I went to bed in South Philly and slept - like a giant green machine sports baby.
Sunday, November 4
Oh, Canada, Hockey is Indeed Home in the Great White North
by
greenpowerblog
on Sun 04 Nov 2007 04:56 PM PST
The past 10 plus days, I've seen more hockey than you can imagine. From Pittsburgh and the exciting Sidney Crosby to Johnstown, PA of Slap Shot movie fame to Broadway and the New York Rangers. I was at Yale, which hosted the first U.S. college hockey game ever so many years ago, and even at the New Jersey Devils opening of their new arena, the Prudential Center. And I've even been to Burlington, Vermont, home of the University of Vermont and former home of hockey players John LeClair, Aaron Miller and others.
But there's no place to experience hockey quite like Canada, the home of hockey. I experienced this last week as I traversed from Toronto and the Hockey Hall of Fame ( http://www.hhof.com) to French-speaking Quebec and back to Ontario for games in Peterborough and Hamilton and a visit to a great new museum, Total Hockey ( http://www.total-hockey.ca/).
What I enjoyed most about the whole week in Canada was just witnessing the variety of hockey on display, and the total passion Canadians have for the game. My first stop was Toronto, Canada's largest city and perhaps its most passionate for hockey, behind Montreal. Toronto is "Leafs Nation" and every game is sold out. But first I had to make a stop at the Hockey Hall of Fame, which had a great exhibit on Stanley Cup Dynasties. That night, fans huddled in front of Air Canada Centre in anticipation of another win for their Leafs who had been riding a winning streak. Sadly, the Leafs stunk up the building and lost to the visiting Capitals, 7-1.
What most struck me about Leafs Nation was how similar they are to the Chicago Cubs of MLB. Toronto hasn't won the Stanley Cup since the late 1960s while their rival, Montreal, has won more Cups since, although not one since the early 1990s. The Cubs haven't won the World Series since, well, 1908, so the Leafs aren't doing that bad, but you get the point.!
Shawinigan, Quebec and Chicoutimi, Quebec were up next, home to a team each in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. I really loved my time in Quebec even though I don't speak a lick of French. The arena in Shawinigan is named after Jacques Plante, and it was a classic, old-style barn-like venue that I loved. Chicoutimi's arena is named after another Hall-of-Fame goalie, George Vezina, but it was the atmosphere here that I most enjoyed as the rival Quebec City Remparts were in the house. Former NHL goalie and Stanley Cup winner Patrick Roy is the Remparts coach and his boys proved victorious.
The overall thing that stood out during my two days in Quebec was the hospitality and genuine kindness of the French Canadians. Both the Shawinigan and Chicoutimi clubs helped me secure hotels after the game, and I want to thank each of them for their help.
I headed back to Ontario province, seeing a game at Peterborough Memorial Centre which has probably the best museum in the Canadian junior league ranks I've seen. Another awesome museum I saw was the next day in Bowmanville called Total Hockey.
Former Hockey Night in Canada voice Brian McFarlane has lent his name and likeness to this museum, which truly chronicles the passion of hockey and its meaning in the cultural fabric of Canada. Many of the artifacts on display are McFarlane's, and the museum does a fabulous job of explaining the history of hockey's origins in Canada, with unique photos and ancedotes. For example, did you know that had Wayne Gretzky not scored a single goal in the NHL, he would still be the game's all-time scoring king just for all of his assists? Wow. The museum has only been open a year and it's only 45 minutes east of Toronto, and it's well worth a visit if your travels take you to Toronto. What's most cool about the museum is that it's fun for not just adults and hockey historian types, but it also has a lot of great interactive displays and activities for the kids.
My final stop on the latest Canadian circuit was Hamilton, which has been rumored as a potential future NHL city. I seriously doubt this will happen. Hamilton is an fine town, but I don't think it has the financial capability to meet NHL standards. Still it was nice to visit Copps Coliseum, which hosted the awesome Canada Cup series back in the 1980s when Gretzky and Mario Lemieux played together.
From the Great White North, I crossed the border back into New York State and saw a great college hockey venue: Lynah Rink at Cornell where the Hall-of-Fame goalie Ken Dryden once suited up. Without question, Cornell is the best college hockey venue I've experienced so far, but I still have stops to Michigan, Wisconsin, Princeton, Maine, UNH and BU still on the docket. The place is so intimidating for the opposition and the student section is by far the loudest and best I've experienced.
Having more fun than should be allowed by law - US or Canadian!
Thursday, October 25
Expectations or No Expectations: What I Found in South Bend, Columbus and Motown
by
greenpowerblog
on Thu 25 Oct 2007 04:45 AM PDT
With visits to No. 1-ranked Ohio State and the upstart Detroit Lions on last weekend’s docket, I was looking forward to another two day mix of college and pro pigskin. But before heading to Columbus or Motown, I first had to make a stop in South Bend, Indiana, 80 miles east of Chicago, home of the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame but also the College Football Hall of Fame & Museum (http://www.collegefootball.org). What a treat it was.
Upon entering, I didn’t have any expectations of the college hall, yet when I left its doors, I had gained a thorough education on the history of game and a renewed appreciation of the student-athlete. The college hall takes fans on a unique timeline of the game’s roots, including showcasing the variety of balls used during its formative stages back in the late 1800s and early 1900s. There are gigantic, former big balls to marvel at, plus a skeleton that was once used as the pigskin! Yes, a skeleton. I’m not making this up!
What I most enjoyed about the historical timeline was its honesty. There are museums I’ve visited on this trip that try to glaze over or rewrite history. For example, at Sanford Memorial Stadium in Sanford, Florida, there is a small museum underneath the ballpark that makes no mention of the fact that Jackie Robinson was not allowed to play here during Spring Training in the 1950s simply because he was black.
The college hall museum, on the other hand, is upfront about the brutality to which college football was played in the early days, with many players dying from their injuries because there were no rules for tackling and little to no equipment, including helmets. In short, the hall explains how the game was pure anarchy back in the day, and that it was not until U.S. President Teddy Roosevelt threatened to ban the sport for its brutality that it instituted rules.
Probably the other most unique aspect of the hall I enjoyed was its celebrity corner, with college photos of former jocks turned movie stars, like actor Tommy Lee Jones (Harvard), comedian and actor Bill Cosby (Temple), actor Burt Reynolds (Florida State), and the late, great actor John Wayne (USC).
Notre Dame was hosting the USC Trojans in South Bend the next day, but with the Irish having one of its worst seasons ever (it may end up being THE worst ever), I wasn’t headed next to campus for the USC-ND pep rally (can you blame me, the Irish ended up losing 38-0, their first shutout at the hands of the Trojans since the 1930s. Ouch, yes it hurts, this Irish fan). Instead, I headed back across the border (the Michigan border, that is) to Lawson Arena to see the “Lawson Lunatics” for myself. Western Michigan was hosting Bentley, and I learned quickly that one “must wear black” to sit amongst the lunatics of WM students, who gave the Bentley goalie utter grief all night, with various chants that would put anyone’s confidence in the cellar. The host Broncos prevailed easily, and I was headed back south for my two days of pigskin.
Headed southeast to Columbus, the question was: is Ohio State worthy of its No. 1 ranking.? I’ll say one thing for sure: with the exception of Nebraska and Alabama, no other college football experience has been quite as unique as Ohio State. After all, where else on campus can you find a cake shaped like the stadium that boldly predicts the score of that day’s game?
The Ohio State “Stadium Cake” of Ohio Stadium was showcased outside the main entrance for fans to salivate above about an hour before kickoff last Saturday against Michigan State. After the game, fans indulged in the red, white and gray cake for a nominal fee, with proceeds benefiting a program that helps send financially-strapped high school students to college. Very cool.
The atmosphere inside Ohio Stadium was electric from the moment I stepped inside, and I was especially impressed with the hoisting of the huge American flag during the pre-game ceremonies. I also couldn’t help but notice just how cramped the seating was, leading me to conclude if you like your space, Ohio Stadium ain’t your kinda place.
But, man it’s a lot of fun.
In the south end zone, students decked in red and white formed a giant ‘O.’ That’s when they weren’t raising their hands above their heads forming the ‘O.’ The Buckeyes came out to prove they were deserved of their No. 1 ranking and did so quickly, jumping out to a 24-0 lead. You would think with a 24-0 lead deep into the third quarter that some fans might leave. Think again. As I roamed the seating bowl and looked upward, downward, left and right, I could not see a single empty seat. Now that’s impressive.
Some offensive lapses by Ohio State in the second half enabled Michigan State to rack up 17 points but the Buckeyes held on for a 24-17win to stay undefeated and No. 1 – for now.
If losing is a disease, the Detroit Lions may finally have found the cure, or at least their cure. After a splendid fall afternoon in the Ohio state capitol, I headed up to Motown the next day to downtown Detroit’s Ford Field to see the 3-2 Lions host the Buccaneers. The Lions have been God awful the last, oh, 50 years, but 2007 may be different – seriously. Detroit’s unsung defense has led the way and posted an amazing 26 hurries against Bucs quarterback Jeff Garcia in winning 23-16. The Detroit Lions, 4-2, who would have thunk it?
As for Ford Field itself, I wasn’t terribly impressed. They might as well call this place, Ford Fortress, because it’s ridiculously huge and not in a good way. I have been to many a football stadium and the sight lines here are among the worst I’ve seen, with the seats gently sloping back away from the field. What’s more, the ushers are aloof, allowing fans to come and go during the action, blocking your view of the field, especially if you’re sitting on the end of an aisle.
But what’s really bizarre? How about no cheerleaders at Ford Field, but instead a cheerer – courtesy of a simple fan wearing a black and blue construction helmet. Hey, it’s Motown, baby. Get your Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch and Goooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Lions!
Friday, October 19
The USS Veggie Power Mobile Fills Her Up in Two Provinces in One Day, From the Island City to Eastern Ontario
by
greenpowerblog
on Fri 19 Oct 2007 04:48 AM PDT
This wild, wacky, amazing (pick your adjective) journey wouldn’t be possible without the unselfish support of many pro-environment citizens, not just in the U.S. but also in Canada. I experienced the truest form of hospitality last week when I refueled the green machine in Montreal, Quebec, and later, in a small town in Eastern Ontario.
The Island City, and the entire surrounding area for that matter, has only one place that can help its fellow citizens run on vegetable oil or biodiesel – Eco Auto (http://www.ecoauto.ca). These guys were totally awesome, going out and collecting about 12 gallons of veg oil on my behalf, as well as supplying me with some B100 biodiesel. I would like to thank Chris and Mark for their hospitality. If you are looking to convert your car to run on veg oil or have any questions about biodiesel, these are the guys to call.
After bolting Montreal before the afternoon drive traffic got too hideous, I slipped into eastern Ontario where a gentlemen who shall remain anonymous supplied me with even more veg oil. I found him on the Internet (thank God for the Internet), and he even let me crash at his cool estate. You know the thing I’ve noticed most about Canadians is just how damn laid back and friendly they are. Every time I interview a Canadian athlete, they just seem more at ease than the American athlete. I don’t mean to infer that American athletes are difficult, but all I know is whenever I’ve approached Matt Stairs or Jason Bay in the locker room when doing my baseball stories, they’ve been very mellow and cool and cordial. We Americans could take a tip from our neighbors and lighten up a bit and smile a lot more, that’s all I’m saying. And take more vacations. We Americans don’t give ourselves enough of a “time out” from work and the daily grind. In short, while our politics may differ, we can agree to disagree on issues, yet still be friendly neighbors that also believe in the tenants of democracy and the winds of change, including changing attitudes about energy such as running car on alternative fuels like biodiesel and vegetable oil.
After taking in a Canadian junior league game in Belleville, Ontario, I crossed the border at Port Huron, back into the states to see a pair of college hockey games, one at Notre Dame and the other at Western Michigan. Like last year’s baseball journey, I’ve crossed the border several times now, and besides a few weird looks, no one at the border questions me, even when they see jugs of veg oil in the back seat!
I am a big Notre Dame fan and totally biased, so I had a great time at the convocation center where they play hockey even though it’s not really an arena. They basically split the venue into two with a big, blue curtain. In fact, one side was a series of tables already set for a dinner before the USC-Notre Dame football game! On the other side, was a sheet of ice and some rolled in bleachers, and the Irish toppled visiting Denver, to the pleasure of a near capacity crowd.
Wednesday, October 17
Hockey Night in Buffalo and Montreal
by
greenpowerblog
on Wed 17 Oct 2007 04:49 AM PDT
While the east coast thermometer has turned decidedly downward the past few weeks, my enthusiasm has continued to rise, especially as the sports season pushes closer to November, the month when contenders and pretenders become distinguishable in football and the ball drops on another basketball season.
Hockey season? Well, it’s here alright, and I’ve seen plenty of it over the past plus week to attest to that, from Oshawa, Ontario to Buffalo to Montreal and Western Michigan. While the NHL seems to have put a lid on excessive fighting, the same can not necessarily be said of the Canadian junior hockey ranks. I’ve seen five games now in the Ontario Hockey League, and each game has averaged about two to three fights; if you see one in the NHL these days, consider yourself lucky, I guess.
To fight or not to fight, that is one of many questions the suits in New York at the NHL offices must decide in regards to the future of the game. With no ESPN-TV contract (currently) and only one marquee star to wrap its name around (Sid “The Kid” Crosby of the Penguins), the NHL is once again floundering. Attendance is down everywhere (except Canadian teams, of course), even in “Hockeytown,” Detroit.
The NHL might improve its marketability by lowering its ridiculously high ticket prices; letting the “original six” (Montreal, Toronto, Boston, New York Rangers, Chicago, Detroit) play more often; moving struggling franchises to Canada (like Nashville to Hamilton, Quebec City or Winnipeg); and opening up the game more, so there’s more scoring, not less of it. There’s nothing worse that the game being referred to as “Soccer on Skates.”
The possibilities of a turnaround were in evidence in Buffalo when they hosted rival Toronto, Oct. 15. From the drop of the puck, the game was fast-paced, intense and exciting, and the fans ate it up. A lot of crazy Leaf fans made the two hour roadie across the border, but the Sabres won a nail biter in overtime with seconds remaining, and although the Leafs lost, fans on both sides went home having seen an open, up-and-down, high-tempo hockey game in a great hockey town.
The next night I made it to THE hockey town – Montreal. The most successful franchise in all of hockey, the Canadians seem to be, at least in my opinion, “Bell Cursed.” The Habs haven’t won the Stanley Cup, or even come remotely close to competing for one, since demolishing the fabled Forum in the 90’s where they won a plethora of hardware. The Bell Centre was packed, as usual, as the Habs hosted the expansion Florida Panthers. The game wouldn’t have been possible without the tremendous hospitality of Steve “The Wonder” Deroschers, a friend of mine, who is a Habs season-ticket holder and also a partner in Electric Energy Online. Steve believes in my cause of raising awareness of renewable energy, and was gracious enough to let me see the game with one of his season tickets. Visit his company’s Web site at: http://www.electricenergyonline.com.
What a great venue and great pre-game ceremony, reflecting the Canadians storied history. There is a “Hall of Fame” series of plaques and photos of former Habs greats on the main concourse, plus a junior hockey education, including teams former Habs players suited up for, on the upper concourse. And of course there are the retired numbers and slew of Stanley Cup banners in the rafters. The pre-game ceremonies were equally awesome, with the entire ice splattered with murals and photos of former Canadians greats, from the Rocket, Maurice Richard to Guy Laflleur. Speaking of No. 10, he dropped the first puck.
What a game it was – and what an ending, although not an ending Canadians fans wish to remember. The Habs had a 1-0 shutout until 11 seconds left in regulation when the Panthers tied it. Then, after a scoreless overtime, the upstart Floridians won the shootout, leaving Habs fans shaking their heads. The Canadians had nobody to blame but themselves, falling asleep in the third period with a lead on home ice, then taking a stupid slashing penalty late in the game.
The next day, on the Team 990 radio station, some the fans were calling for Guy Charbaneau’s head. Ironically, it was Charbaneau that played on the last Habs team to win the Cup. “Bell Cursed”? In the U.S., we all know about the “Billy Goat Curse” on the Chicago Cubs. In my opinion, until the Habs take home Lord Stanley again, I’ll be convinced they are “Bell Cursed.” But, I must be honest with you now, this is coming from a former Hartford Failures fan who still can’t go over the Game 7 loss to the Habs back in the 80s!
Monday, October 15
Ohio, Michigan, Ontario, I Hear You Calling And I See Fall Surprises
by
greenpowerblog
on Mon 15 Oct 2007 02:22 PM PDT
I’m sure glad I’m making my way through a lot of the sporting hot spots in the Great Lakes States before November because I’ve already felt the chill and it’s only October!
After a visit to Michigan State hockey on Oct. 9, I headed south for warmer weather and more puck. I was out of luck on the thermometer getting warmer but I did see some good hockey in Columbus as the Blue Jackets shut out “The Great One,” Wayne Gretzky and the Coyotes. No. 99 should have laced on the skates! The next day, before heading up to Cleveland, I stopped at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The highlight for a first time visitor to the hall is the “Game Day Experience” video, which takes fans from training camp through the Super Bowl, backed by the famous NFL voice of John Facenda. There was also some new material on display, including gear from LaDainian Tomlinson’s record-breaking season a year ago, and the football thrown by Brett Favre earlier this season to become the all-time touchdown passes leader.
The lime green renewable energy machine, also known as a 1984 German-manufactured Mercedes, rolled into the environs of the Motor City of Detroit a couple days later. I couldn’t help but notice a bumper sticker outside Motown that read: “Want to keep your job? Then stop buying foreign!” I almost felt like creating my own bumper sticker: “Want to keep your job? Make better cars.”
Metro Detroit and all of the State of Michigan is in an economic tailspin, and that was reflected in my sporting event visits across the Wolverine State. The big three American automakers, GM, Ford and Chrysler – all based in Detroit – continue to lose market share and revenues to Japanese and other foreign-based automakers, particularly Toyota.
How bad is it? Well, for starters, Chrysler went on strike last week; can’t make more bad cars if there’s no one on the assembly line. What’s more, there are now plenty of seats available for games in “Hockeytown” at historic Joe Louis Arena where the National Hockey League Red Wings play. Yet it gets worse. I got into Michigan’s football home game against Purdue last Saturday for $5. Yep, that’s not a misprint: $5. And the face value for the ticket I bought was $55! You want perspective? I paid $5 more for a Red Wings game than a Michigan football game.
Want to know what they charge for football parking next to Michigan Stadium? $40. Yep, that’s not a misprint: $40. Only a fool would pay that, so I parked on the street along downtown Ann Arbor. For free.
It was a pleasant, fall afternoon, so I enjoyed the 25-minute walk from downtown to 110,000-seat Michigan Stadium, passing by a number of frat houses along the way, one of which nearly convinced me to try an enormous beer bong. My sanity prevailed, no thanks, dude.
The Wolverines were hosting Purdue, and the Boilermakers could have used alum and former Chargers quarterback, Drew Brees. Purdue had butterfingers all game, and Michigan clobbered their guests. Much to my surprise, there were pockets of empty seats throughout the stadium, and I sincerely doubted the announced crowd of more than 110,000 was truly accurate. Still, the student section continued their rich tradition of hoisting fellow students up every time Michigan scored, much to the chagrin of security.
Hockeytown not sold out. Michigan Stadium not sold out. Now, that’s bad.
The Michigan game kicked off at noon while Michigan State would be kicking off up in East Lansing at 7 p.m. against Indiana. I needed only to drive about 70 miles to park near Spartan Stadium but, surprisingly, I would need loads of patience and some luck to actually get into the stadium.
Of all the college football games I’ve seen on this trip, Michigan State-Indiana wasn’t exactly a heart stopper. After all, neither team is ranked even remotely close to the Top 25. Both are basketball schools, not football schools. Well, whatever, I’ve never had a harder time finding a ticket in my life!
Perhaps because it was State’s homecoming or the 7 p.m. kickoff, or both, but capitalism 101 was at work outside the stadium and for once I wanted to be a communist. There were lots of interested buyers but few sellers. Nothing personal against Michigan State or Indiana, but I wasn’t going to pay $40, even if Elvis was promoted to come back to life as the halftime entertainment. Fortunately, the football gods must have been with me: a late arriving, season-ticket holder slipped me a free ticket and I was finally inside.
73,000 in the Spartans house as they rolled to victory, and much to my surprise, empty pockets of seats, too.
I’m sure glad I’m making my way through a lot of the sporting hot spots in the Great Lakes States before November because I’ve already felt the chill and it’s only October!
After a visit to Michigan State hockey on Oct. 9, I headed south for warmer weather and more puck. I was out of luck on the thermometer getting warmer but I did see some good hockey in Columbus as the Blue Jackets shut out “The Great One,” Wayne Gretzky and the Coyotes. No. 99 should have laced on the skates! The next day, before heading up to Cle |
