Frozen Fenway: BC v. BU

It was the perfect setting.  20 degrees, slight wind, falling snow and college hockey.  An experience of a lifetime, BC v. BU, the greatest rivalry in college hockey, in one of the greatest, most historic sports venues in American history.  From the opening trip to The Cask 'N Flagon (rated the #2 Sports Bar in America according to ESPN), our stop to Game On, the game, and our final bar hop the gameday experience was a once in a lifetime event.

To quote ESPN: With any luck, it won't be the last "show on ice" played at Fenway Park, and with any luck, I'll be there again.   

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=4819957

The Final Game: Jets-Bengals

Wonder who scheduled this?  When I first heard that the Jets were playing the last game at Giants Stadium, I was shocked.  Now, it turns out to be a brilliant decision.  While the Giants played a meaningless last homegame in which they lost by 30 points, the Jets one meant something.  Win, and your in.  Lose, and its over.  Jets playing for a shot to head to Cincinnati to play the Bengals.  While the big game didn't live up to its billing - the Jets won 37-0 - the excitement of the stadium made the trip worth it.

I arrived via the Port Authority in New York City and, once stepping out to the Meadowlands three hours before kickoff, instantly felt the cold of a windchill making the temperature 0 degrees.  This didn't stop the tailgating, however.  With the cold weather I was shocked to see all the busses, RV's and cars lined up with fire pits a blazing.  All over Jets fans were screaming "J-E-T-S Jets,Jets,Jets!" and Bengals fans trying to respond with "WhoDey? WhoDey? WhoDey Think Gona Beat Dem Bengals?"  It was a battle of teams chanting against eachother, drinking and eating to keep warm, and nostalgia filling the air hearing about the memories at Giants Stadium.  Halftime was filled with old Jets like Vinny Testaverde and Wayne Chrebet making appearances.

While I found tickets on Craigslist for 75 in the upper deck, I wasnt there for long.  After the 1st quarter, my friend who was in the second section at the 50 yard-line informed me that he had two extra seats near him and I ended up sitting at the 50 yard line in amazing seats.

At the end of the 3rd quarter, and a Jets blowout, I left the stadium with an enjoyable experience.  I walked and hopped on the bus back to Port Authority.  From there I walked over to Penn Station and hopped on a midnight bus back to Boston.  Though tired the next day at work from a long day of travel (especially after a whole New Years Weekend in New York) I appreciate my chance to be at the Meadowlands, to see history and add another memory to those that I currently have.

Going Bowling: Emerald Bowl

Most fans wouldn't be happy with a trip to the Emerald Bowl: a mid range, pre-New Years Bowl, played in a baseball stadium.  Yet I was excited.  I was going to get to see BC play USC, the local team that I always disliked, and close to my Christmas Trip in Los Angeles.

The trip started off with a morning flight from Los Angeles to San Francisco.  7:15 to be exact, a flight dominated by USC fans.  After a quick trip to San Francisco in which my brother talked the entire time about his career, love life and more about his career.  While he's the Junior in college I'm the one out of school, still not a convo I have every day.

At San Francisco, we checked into the Drury hotel near the stadium and took a nap, had some breakfast and began getting ready to head to the stadium.  A quick stop at a liquor store and we were on our way to the tailgates.  My good friend Dan Couch, who lives just outside San Francisco, set up an incredible tailgate just 5 minutes from the Stadium.  His tailgate, spanning three spots, consisted of beers, brats and burgers.  A perfect setting for a bowl game, sun was shining, food was great, and I was with a bunch of old friends.

Unfortunately, with about an hour before kickoff, things started to go downhill.  The rain began to come, harder, harder and harder and the disaster of getting to the game on time set in.  Waiting in a 20 minute line, in the rain, at a will call that was the other side of the stadium, is not a way to get ready for a big game.

Once we got in, thats when the excitement happened.  We pulled into our fantastic seats behind the bc bench on the 20 yard line about 20 rows up.  The seats were great and the game wasn't bad.  While we went down 14-0, a few exciting plays brought us with-in 1 at 14-13.  It was a wild few plays and a lot of fun.  A few bad calls including a blatant fumble overturned and a roughing the passer call, and BC ended up losing 24-13 but not with a few more chances.

The night ended with a trip to The Kells, a local bar filled with a very young crew.  While upstairs was quiet and peaceful, downstairs was filled with hip hop dance music and a wild crowd.

The next day in San Francisco involved a little football watching at a nearby sports bar, a trip to the Wharf which had fantastic eating and a little wine tasting and took a trip to Union Square for a little shopping.  We finished off the night with burgers and beer at a popular San Francisco joint: Gordon Biersch.  After filling up on a great local brew and a Giant Bacon & Mushroom Cheesburger.

While BC didn't pull it out, my overall trip was a lot of fun.  I got to hang out with friends, see a great game, and enjoy the great city of San Francisco.