College Football: A recap of watching 2010’s first Saturday of action at NYC bars
Let's get this out of the way quick: I was sick yesterday. I got it from my girlfriend (insert "Got what?" and add laugh track). I wasn't completely vibing the notion of going out and spending hours in a bar, although I was intrigued by two 3:30 games -- Michigan/UConn and ND/Purdue -- and, to a generally even extent (as opposed to 'somewhat lesser'), TCU/Oregon State and UNC/LSU. I didn't have the heart, or the immune system, to hack those final two, though (although awkwardly, I did end up eating dinner at a bar and watching part of those games in the process, simply because I was hungry as crap).
Cameron and I -- we both work on this site -- met up at Dempsey's on Second Avenue between 3rd and 4th. It's a good joint. Because I was sick, I was slightly nervous the place would be slammed and I'd have to elbow and muscle my way to good TV angles; this disheartened me. Place was actually pretty wide open. One dude sitting next to us kept saying Kyle Rudolph, ND's TE, could win the Heisman. I think he was hammered. On that note, I was sick ... and had about seven beers. Unwise. Surprisingly, I don't feel that bad today -- although I did fall asleep briefly on the subway home trying to read Stieg Larsson; I could have easily woken up in East Bensonhurt, Brooklyn (I live in Queens).
We had tennis on the second TV because some guy had asked for it; when he left, we switched it to Michigan. Problem was, the Dempsey's tap lines were getting in my way on that angle view, so I didn't see much of that game. Denard Robinson looks like he was cutting everyone's ankles into shite all over the field. ND vs. Michigan next weekend should be a good time.
One other observation about Dempsey's before we talk next weekend: the nachos are very good. Very good. Like home-made, above bar quality board stuff. I shouldn't have ordered them -- I was drunk and ill, as noted -- but they were really, really good. Remember that.
As for next weekend, you've got at least four marquee games by my count -- Miami vs. OSU, FSU vs. Oklahoma (Oklahoma gave up a ton of offense to Utah State, which doesn't bode well), PSU vs. Alabama, and Michigan vs. ND. Three of those games are 3:30 starts (Penn State/Bama is a 7pm start). You will need good TV coverage wherever you plan to be at 3:30 on 9-11 (whoa, that's ominous).
Cameron and I will be back later this week with "Double Coverage," the first look at NFL Week 1; that's right, as soon as you recover from all that Saturday goodness, you gotta get right back after it on Sunday for the NFL's debut. We'll also preview those four games mentioned above, with specific bar links, by Thursday of this week.
Enjoy Labor Day and BSU vs. VT, bar-going friends.
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