Trip of the Week: Pittsburgh

Trip of the Week – 10/23/09 - Pittsburgh

Friday – Florida Panthers @ Pittsburgh Penguins – 7:30pm

Saturday – South Florida Bulls @ Pittsburgh Panthers – 12:00pm

Sunday – Minnesota Vikings @ Pittsburgh Steelers – 1:00pm

Head over to the Steel City for this weekends Trip of the Week.  Known by many as the “City of Champions” because it is the home of both the reigning Stanley Cup and Super Bowl Champions both play down the street from eachother.  You will get to see both these teams in action and another Champion Contender, the Pittsburgh Panthers.  Enjoy!

Friday – Florida Panthers @ Pittsburgh Penguins – 7:30pm

Our first stop on the trip of the week takes us to Mellon Arena, formally Civic Arena, to see the defending Stanley Cup Champions take on the Florida Panthers.  As of 2009, Mellon Arena is the oldest and lowest capacity arena in the NHL by official capacity.  Still, when packed this arena is known to be one of the loudest and wildest in the NHL.

Before the game, head over to Souper Bowl Restaurant.  The Scene – Appropriate that a '70s-era bar be named after the greatest decade of Pittsburgh sports. The Souper Bowl is what it is: A smokey, dark meeting place to grab an Iron before a game

. Its location across from the Chatham Center parking lot is perfect rendezvous point.  The Food – Fried food starters and sandwiches are the specialty of the house. All meals are nicely priced with the most expensive item being chicken parm with a salad for $6.50. Wings are tossed in a tasty, not flaming.

Saturday – South Florida Bulls @ Pittsburgh Panthers – 12:00pm

  On Saturday, head over to Heinz Field where the Pittsburgh Panthers host the South Florida Bulls.  Pittsburgh has only one loss and could compete for the Big East title and a shot at a BCS bowl game in January.  In order to do this, they must beat the one loss South Florida Bulls, coming off a tough loss at home to #8 Cincinnati.  You may be confused to hear that the Panthers play at Heinz field, but  the Panthers share Heinz Field with the Steelers even when they share a week of home games.  This could be a good thing as there is much to do around Heinz Field. 

Heinz Field, opened in 2001, is filled with much to see.  Start off at the two-storied Coca-Cola Great Hall, located by the east entrance.  This spot is the centerpiece and a great gathering spot at Heinz Field.   In addition to pregame and postgame entertainment, with TVs and concessions galore, the Coca-Cola Great Hall features six, huge Lombardi Trophy column displays devoted to the team's like-numbered Super Bowl titles, along with replicas of each trophy. There are a dozen graphic murals displaying Steelers, Pitt Panthers and other regional football history, complete with videos and music. Be sure to check out the seven interactive displays that feature trivia and other memorabilia. The stadium also has two, giant faux Heinz ketchup bottles atop the Jumbotron scoreboard that tip and pour ketchup on the screen when the Steelers reach the Red Zone. (If the Heinz Ketchup bottles were filled with ketchup, they would contain 1,664,000 fluid ounces each, enough, if emptied, to cover the entire football field three-quarters of an inch deep.) Heinz Field also has been dubbed The Mustard Palace by locals because of its yellow seats.

Start your day by getting to the Panthers game early and heading over to Jerome Bettis Grill 36.  Jerome Bettis Grill 36 is a food focused sports-themed restaurant.  It is the perfect spot before and after games as it is highlighted by over 50 HD Plasma and LCD tv’s, that show up to 12 separate sporting events at once.  Their dynamic, diverse menu provices a choice of appetizers, cooked burgers, sandwiches, salads and specialties such as pastas, steaks and seafood.  On gamedays, they live the college tradition and open up at 8:00am with kegs and eggs (breakfast and beer) and is the perfect spot to hit before a game.

After you get in there at 8:00,and gobble a few beers and eggs, check out the tailgate scene for a few hours before heading into the stadium. 

EXTRA NOTE: If the Pittsburgh game isn’t enough for you, at 7:30 the Penguins host the NJ Devils down the street.  If you can’t get enough sports, head over there!

 Sunday – Minnesota Vikings @ Pittsburgh Steelers – 1:00pm

End the trip with another defending champion, the Pittsburgh Steelers.  Watch Big Ben Rothlisburger and Hines Ward host the undefeated Minnesota Vikings led by the infamous Brett Favre and the unbelievable Adrian Peterson.  This should be one of the best games of the week if not the season.  Enjoy the different atmosphere for your second trip to Hines Field and see why Pittsburgh is known as one of the best home field advantages in the NFL. 

Not much different to do for the Steelers game, head out early and try to get into Jerome Bettis Grill 36.  If it somehow didn’t fit your fancy (or you want to try something else) head over to Peppi’s Sandwich Shop.

Peppi’s is a bustling sandwich shop serves loyal patrons an assortment of large sandwiches, including hoagies, cheese steaks and more.  Known to the locals as a place with some of the best burgers and cheese steaks and is known for its super large portions.  Try the Rothleis-burger, a massive burger with a fried egg on it, and see how far you can get. 

Other Things to do in Pittsburgh

-Carnegie Museum of Art

-The Strip District

-John Heinz History Center

-Tour PNC Park

Weather

Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
53º - 72ºF Rain: 20%	53º - 65ºF Rain: 50%	41º - 56ºF Rain: 40%	37º - 45ºF Rain: 20%

Video You May Not Have Seen

Is this cheating?  12 men on the field!  Pretty funny video though.  I guess the Raiders need whatever they can get with all their struggles.  Only thing better coulda been this bird flying into an Eagle and taking him down, imagine the locker room talk after that...

My Trips - From Seeing the Sports - The Weather Held Up! NC State @ Boston College

From My Personal Travel Blog - Seeing The Sports
http://seeingthesports.blogspot.com/2009/10/weather-held-u.html

It rained Friday and snowed Sunday, but Saturday afternoon was absolutely perfect.  Low 50s and sunny - perfect weather to throw on a Northface and hit up the tailgate spots, and boy did we take advantage.  BC tailgates unfortunately don’t start until 3 hours pregame, so a 3:30 game means that Shea Field (the most popular tailgate spot) didn't open until 12:30.  To deal with this, we first went to a friends place down the street to start off with his families famous breakfast sandwich and an ice cold bloody mary.

After that, at 12:30, we took the truck (packed with our grill, table, chairs, speakers, new flagpole and tent and of course plenty of sausages, beer, Champaign and bloody mary’s) and headed to Shea Field.  We arrived to Shea Field ready to party and had the perfect tailgate.  Our spot was filled with a packed crowd, good music, great food, tasty cheap beer and mixed drinks, and great company.  A few of our buddies (whose names I will not mention) barely made it to the game as the shotgunning, strong drinks and shots were just too much for them to handle - Who says that 3 hours isnt enough!

Game was as fun as a 52-20 game could be.  Pure domination, fun crowd (until the cold snuck in) and plenty of celebrations.  At the 7 minute mark of the 3^rd quarter, however, BC went up 38-13 and it was time to call it quits in order to save our hands, feet and rest of our body.  We packed up the group and headed over to Mary Anne’s, the most popular BC dive bar and indulged in some Busch Light bottles and Notre Dame – USC football. 

This led perfectly into the post game tailgate, where we met up, saw those that stayed the whole game, those that left early, and even met up with those that didn’t go at all.  At this spot we finished up the beers and food before heading out and passing out early.

While nothing amazing for the first trip of the Blog, a solid journey overall.  A day of awesome food, great football, a fun time with friends and plenty of drinking.

MNF Guide: San Diego

This weeks Monday Night Football game takes us to beautiful San Diego where the Chargers host the undefeated Denver Broncos at Qualcomm Stadium.  Check out Sports Bounds guide to beautiful San Diego.

California's first city and its second-largest, San Diego is like a quiet southern neighbor to big-time Los Angeles. Blessed with plenty of beautiful beaches and recreational areas, plus attractions like SeaWorld and the San Diego Zoo, the city maintains a laid-back attitude even as it houses the largest naval fleet in the world and several military installations. Meanwhile, the technology industry - particularly in the field of bio tech - has helped San Diego diversify its economy and continues to foster growth throughout the area.

Qualcomm Stadium is typical of the "cookie cutter" design era, and served as home to the Chargers from its first year in 1967 and the Padres since 1969, until the Padres moved into a new stadium in 2004. The former Jack Murphy Stadium, originally built to a capacity of 52,000 at a cost of $27 million, has little color, except most notably for the ring of honor and banners of all 32 NFL teams. Concourses are narrow for the most part. Seating capacity was increased to 60,100 in 1984. The facility underwent another expansion in 1997 that included the addition of thousands of seats, a club level, 37 new suites and a new west-end Jumbotron screen.
  

Parking: The parking lot opens four hours prior to kickoff and closes two hours after the conclusion of the game. Tailgating remains one of the great traditions at Chargers games. So get out there early and check out the awesome scene with your t-shirt and shorts on Monday Night (game at 5:30 local time)

Restaurants and Bars:  
Burger Lounge: Located a little over a mile away from the stadium Burger Lounge is a fabulous choice for fresh food & a fresh atmosphere! Their organic cuisine of grass fed beef burgers, basil infused turkey burgers, & quinoa veggie burgers paired with a spunky ambiance is making Burger Lounge a local hot spot and awesome place for a pregame burger.
El Zarape Mexican: More interested in Mexican food?  This stylish little restaurant is proof that not all taco shop food is equal -- try a shredded beef or chicken taco or tostada with generous mounds of juicy, slow-cooked meat, or scallop burritos or well-prepared soups. Very inexpensive and pretty quick if you want to grab a few tacos before you head over to the stadium.
McGregor's Grill and Ale House: Once settled in, you can quickly forget that you're in suburban Southern California. The ambiance here is part sports bar, part neighborhood pub. With numerous apartment and condominium complexes in the area, McGregor's has become the place to go for the local set.  Choose from one of dozens of beers or one of a dozen specialty tequila.  Always tons of sporting events on TV if you want to check out the Angels-Yankees battle just a few miles away
Seau's : Gota check out the bar named after one of the most famous Chargers of all time - Junior Seau!  This vast sports bar offers 70 TV screens and varied pub grub: pizza, hefty burgers, wings with three sauces, sushi, and Junior Seau’s family recipe of Samoan teriyaki “plate lunch.”  It is pretty inexpensive and could be a nice stop before you head over to the tailgates.

Transportation: Parking is extremely limited at Qualcomm Stadium. Consider taking public transportation. Qualcomm Stadium is accessible on the MTS Trolley's Green Line; round-trip tickets range from $3 to $6.

Other San Diego Attractions
-San Diego Zoo
-San Deigo Wild Animal Park
-Museum of Contemporary Art
-Sea World
-Beach!!

College Gameday Look: Cotton Bowl

The Red River Rivalry, formerly known as the Red River Shootout, is the name for the annual college football game between the University of Texas Longhorns and the University of Oklahoma Sooners.  It is known as the Red River Rivalry because the of the Red River that forms a boundary between Texas and Oklahoma.  This is usually one of the biggest games in the country as one or both teams have been ranked in 60 of the 65 games and 5 of the last 9 meetings have involved someone who eventually played in the National Championship Game.  Texas leads the all-time series 58–40–5, with a 45–36–4 edge in Dallas.  In 2005, the Dallas Morning News asked the 119 Division 1A football coaches to identify the top rivalry game in college football, Texas-OU ranked third behind Ohio State-Michigan and Army-Navy.

 
Since 1932, this rivalry game has been held at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas during the second weekend of October during the final weekend of the State Fair of Texas - the largest fair in the United States. The designated "home" team alternates from year to year, and ticket sales for the game are split 50–50 between the two schools, with the stadium divided along the 50 yard line. Historically, the Oklahoma fans have occupied the south end zone, which contains the tunnel where both teams enter and exit the field.

Though I'd suggest a weekend of tailgating and hitting up this famous state fair, some people want more.  If tailgating and the fair arent enough (or are too much for you) I'd suggest hitting up The Meridian Room. This Expo Park staple has the look of an old speakeasy with lots of polished wood, low lighting, a long mirror-backed bar and a row of booths against the exposed brick. Along with excellent food, the joint has a well thought out beer selection.  Located only a half mile from the stadium this could be an easy stop on your way.  If a bar is all you want, stop by the Uptown Bar and Grill.  If you're at Uptown Bar & Grill for one reason--to get a little soused--you're in luck, since it, like any decent bar, offers a great selection of spirits and beer. But if you need something solid in your tummy to soak up all the alcohol, Uptown has a wide selection of bar-food favorites plus more eclectic choices.

Other Things to do in Dallas
-Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza
-Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame
-Billy Bob's Honky Tonk
-Dallas Museum of Art

Other Sports Events
-Friday: Boston Bruins @ Dallas Stars - 7:30pm
-Saturday: Cleveland Cavilers @ Dallas Mavricks - 7:30pm

Thursday NIght Site: South Florida

It's a battle of Big East unbeatens when Cincinnati's high-flying offense meets South Florida's stingy defense. The Bearcats, behind QB Tony Pike, bring in the nation's third-ranked scoring offense. The Bulls boast the country's fifth-rated scoring defense. The Bearcats lead the series 4-2. This will be the first meeting in which both teams are ranked.

The South Florida Bulls play at Raymond James Stadium, also known as "The Ray Jay."  The"Ray Jay" is a $168.5 million dollar multi-purpose football stadium located in Tampa, Florida opened in September, 1998.  It is home to the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers as well as NCAA's South Florida Bulls football team.  The stadium seats 65,857 and its expandable to 75,000 for special events.  The stadium is probably most known for its Pirate Ship in one of the endzones, which hosts pirates and blasts fake cannons for every score!

From 1998 to 2007, only the lower half of the stadium has been typically opened for USF games, allowing for a capacity of 41,441^, (although the upper deck has been opened numerous times to accommodate crowds in excess of what the lower bowl can handle). However, as of 2008, USF has opened the upper deck for every home game and is selling season tickets in the upper deck as well. The largest crowd to see the Bulls play a home game came on September 28, 2007 against then #5 ranked West Virginia, when 67,012 saw the #18 Bulls pull off their first upset of the season.  This isnt their first string of luck, since beginning play in 1998 The Bulls have continued to enjoy a winning edge in Raymond James, building a 43-11 record, including one streak of 21 straight victories at home.
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Raymond James Stadium has hosted Super Bowl XXXV on Janary 28, 2001 between the Baltimore Ravens and the NEw York Giants and this most recent Super Bowl XLIII on February 1, 2009 between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona Cardinals.  The stadium also hosts the annual Outback Bowl on New Year's Day and the Monster Jam truck event after the end of the football season.

Sorry for the short post.  Its been a busy day.

Got any ideas or advice.  Send them over to sportsbound@gmail.com

BRING YOUR RAINJACKETS!!!

FORECASTED WEATHER
Forecast for Thursday, October 15, 2009
Raymond James Stadium TAMPA, FL Updated: 10/14/09 5:45 AM ET	Lo: 71°F Hi: 88°F Precip: 40%

Trip of the Week: Los Angeles

Thursday – Philadelphia Phillies @ Los Angeles Dodgers 5:07pm
Friday – Philadelphia Phillies @ Los Angeles Dodgers 1:07pm
Saturday – UC Berkeley @ UCLA 12:30pm
Sunday – Utah Jazz or LA Clippers @ LA Lakers 7:30pm
Monday – New York Yankees @ Los Angeles Angels - TBD

Thursday – Philadelphia Phillies @ Los Angeles Dodgers 5:07pm

Let the playoffs begin! Head over to Chavez Ravine for Game 1 of the NLCS in what should be an exciting rematch of last years series. In Game 1 Clayton Kershaw faces off against Cole Hamels, a pitching match up that should lead to a low scoring, quick game. Dodger stadium is one of the most beautiful in the major leagues. Even for an older stadium I still believe this. Unfortunately, there isn’t much else to do there but baseball. Get out to the stadium (and I the stadium) early and enjoy the beautiful scenery that is Dodger stadium. Enjoy the Think Blue mountains behind as you watch batting practice and the pre-game festivities. Make sure your seats are in the outfield or Field
Level, or else BP is kind of useless as Dodger stadium does not let you move around. If your not, don’t plan on getting there earlier and tailgating because unfortunately that is not allowed either. If you want to grab a quick bite, head over to Chinatown and stop by at Yang Chow. It’s a big go to spot on gamedays and is usually packed before a game. Some of the best Chinese food in town!

Friday – Philadelphia Phillies @ Los Angeles Dodgers 1:07pm

While you are already in town, why not hit up the 2nd game of the NLCS. This game will be a pivotal one for one of the teams, as they will be down 1-0 looking for a much needed victory. Beautiful day baseball at Dodger Stadium is a classic and the playoffs will make it even better.

After the game, head over to Westwood and experience some fun. If you want to check out the ALCS game, head to Q’s and play some pool, have some great brews and food, and enjoy the Yankees take on the Angels.

Saturday – UC Berkeley @ UCLA 12:30pm

A Pac-10 Battle in Pasadena! Don’t miss one of the most famous sports venues maybe in the world, the Rose Bowl. UCLA, off to a very promising start, takes on the University of California Bears who, after moving up to #6 in the country, have been struggling as of late and need this victory badly.

Get to Pasadena early (I mean like 9am) and get a good spot for a tailgate. The UCLA tailgates fill up quickly and, if your late, getting parking could be an absolute disaster and involve long walks or shuttles. The tailgate is set up on a golf course all around the stadium, and it an amazing site to get set up. All around you are beautiful greens, sand traps and lakes, surrounded by many other rowdy tailgaters hoping to get buzzed and full before heading into the Rose Bowl. Don’t just stay in your spot, however. Walk around, check out the UCLA pep-band pumping up the crowd, or all the amazing food and games being played and set up around the stadium. After you enjoy the game, don’t rush! The lot is a disaster to get out of, instead, open up a cold one and hang out in the back, or find someone else that has a TV set up in their cars, relax for an hour, you are in LA!

Sunday – Utah Jazz or LA Clippers @ LA Lakers 7:30pm

While its still the pre-season you want to be able to see the Los Angeles Lakers and The Staples Center. Especially with the new LA Live built right down the street ,this is the prefect place for your Sunday stop. Depending on your day of sightseeing or watching football, head over at about 5:00 for the Sunday Night Football Game (that’s right, on the west coast Sunday Night Football is at 5:00). Get a good seat at ESPN Zone and watch that game (as well as tons of other TV’s) while you enjoy some good food and a wild sports atmosphere. Head upstairs and take on a buddy in airhockey or pop-a-shot. Or take on an opponent in the multiple racing games as well. ESPNZone is just one of the staples (get it?) in the new and exciting LA Live scene. If you have more time, check out Lucky Strike, the all new bowling and bar combination that’s sure to fit your fancy.

Monday – New York Yankees @ Los Angeles Angels – 4:37pm

Another long weekend for the sports traveler. Would you have it any other way? Finish off the trip in beautiful Anaheim, known more for Disneyland than anything else but take the time to experience the beautiful area. Before the game, head over to Danny K’s. Located in an industrial park right near Anaheim Pond and Angels Stadium, the interior of Danny K's is a sight better than its exterior. The near-cavernous space is divided by a large bar boasting at least 33 beers on tap and an extensive food menu. Big-screen TVs dominate just about every wall and, if that's not enough, there's also a 13-foot projection screen. If you have more time, head over to Disneyland Dr. where restaurants and bars are plenty (including another ESPNZone) and enjoy the more adult feeling Disneyland experience without going to Disneyland.

MNF Guide: Miami

The Miami Dolphins might have become the Los Angeles Lakers of the NFL. With celebrity owners, primetime games and much fanfare, its no doubt ESPN is showing the Dolphins for the 2nd time in 5 weeks. This week they invite Mark Sanchez and the New York Jets into town for an AFC East Rivalry. Make sure to follow The Sports Bound guide to enjoying all Miami and the Stadium has to offer.

The Landshark Stadium (formerly known as Joe Robbie, Pro Player and Dolphins Stadium) was the first ever built on private funding. When it opened in 1987, it revolutionized the economics of professional sports with club level seating and executive suites.

The stadium was designed to be wider than the normal NFL stadium in order to hold Soccer and eventually baseball. Because of this, the first row of seats is 90 feet away from the playing field, making it one of the less intimate stadiums in the NFL. While criticized for its lack if intimacy, this decision did leave to an eventual baseball team in Miami, the Florida Marlins.

Though it has received multiple renovations in the past 20 years, the biggest is the creation of one of the largest hi-definition video boards and LED ribbon boards in the world, adding a dynamic entertainment dimension to the stadium experience.

For Miami Dolphins games, the parking lot opens up 4 hours prior to kickoff with prices at $25 for cars, $80 for RVs, busses and limos. There is space for about 24,000 cars, so make sure to get there a little early to enjoy the experience and prevent a stressful parking situation. Tailgating is the thing to do pre and post game. is in the middle of a vast sea of parking lots, expressways, undeveloped future building sites, low-end condo & apartment developments & strip shopping centers. The food at the stadium itself is actually pretty good in variety & quality. But if you want real local choice & quality head over to nearby Aventura & North Miami Beach.

Landshark Stadium has been the site of many sporting events. The stadium has hosted four Superbowls (1989, 1995, 1999 & 2007) and will host this years Super Bowl as well. It has also been the site of the Orange Bowl game since 1996 with exception to the 1999 game which had to be moved because of a Miami Dolphins playoff game. Other events held at Land Shark Stadium have included international soccer games, monster truck shows, Hoop-It-Up Basketball, RV and boat shows, the UniverSoul Circus, Australian rules football exhibition matches, and numerous trade shows.

Movies have also been shot in Land Shark Stadium, most notably Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, which stars Jim Carrey and even features Dolphins great Dan Marino as himself; Marley and Me starring Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston; and the Oliver Stone-directed Any Given Sunday where it was the home of the Miami Sharks.

You're sure to score some points if you brought your girlfriend along for the ride this week...from October 14th through 17th Fashion hits Miami. We're sure you've heard of Fashion week taking New York and Paris, but this week, it finds home in sunny Florida. There are plenty of free events too! Check it out at http://www.fashionweekmiami.com/

Fashion not your thing, you can still find something upscale and trendy at Sentai Hotel. Stop by for a drink and score some celebrity sightings along the way. Thursday, head down to Rumbar where the top rum mixologists will go head to head to create the best rum induced cocktail! Located in the Ritz Carlton hotel, this upscale hotel is offering a great event for non- guests.

Can't find tickets but still want to watch the game? Try the Sports Grill located at10005 Sunset Dr. They have over two dozen TV's as well as diverse food samplings.

Video You May Not Have Seen

I pray this guy isn't serious.  Not sure if the end gives it away but wow, how does he keep his composure during that?  Whatever he took, please keep that away from me and anyone I know.  I usually like to enjoy games not break blood vessels watching one.  Guess people in the South take their sports pretty seriously, huh?

I Love LA!

What a weekend for the city of Los Angeles! Though they both won their respective divisions, the "experts" didnt pick the Dodgers or Angels to advance past their favored opponents.  Well, they proved those experts wrong, sweeping St. Louis and Boston to advance to the NLCS & ALCS.  While their oppnoents are undecided, I have to pick these two as my favorites to play in the first ever "Freeway Series" (called that because they are just one short freeway drive apart).  While the Yankees may still be favored in the AL, the Angels seem to be their achilles heel, and the inspirational way the Halos are playing, you cant ignore that.  I also believe that the Dodgers are playing too well to be beat.  St. Louis was picked by over 75% of the experts to advance to the World Series from the NL.  The Dodgers made them look bad, eliminating the powerful Albert Pujols.  I like them over either Philadelphia or Colorado as this freezing cold 5 game series is going to take a toll on both staffs.

If you ask me, I'd book my flight to Los Angeles on the 28th and find a nice place to stay for a week.  Look for the "Trip of the Week" in a few to actually take the time alotted.

Have ideas for a trip to Los Angeles?  Email me at SportsBound@gmail.com

College Gameday Look: LSU

College Football's last two National Champions face off this week as the #1 and #4 teams in the Nation in Baton Rouge, LA.  If I could pick any sporting event to visit this year, the Florida-LSU battle would be my number one choice.  LSU is know for its amazing tailgate experience, awesome drinking experience, deafining stadium and incredible food spots all around.  

Most LSU students, alumni, and fans make LSU football games a part of their Saturdays during the fall. Game days normally consist of tailgating, the pre-game show, and of course the game in Death Valley.  I wouldn't be surprised if people are out there tailgating right now (Friday at noon), but officially most start at 6am on Gameday.  Considering this game starts at 8pm, you have 14 hours to check out the LSU scene.  I suggest getting out there early at 6, setting up and starting with a couple brews to remove the hangover from the wild night before.  Use these beers to wake you up and head over to Louie's Cafe, a 24 hour breakfast spot.  It serves all types of food but is best known for its breakfast which it serves on tables or red stools set on its old-school, black-and-white checkered floor.

Afer that, you have to head over to see College Gameday.  If your goal is to get on TV, make Gameday your first stop and head over to the breakfast spot later.  With LSU's wild fans this should be one of the best gameday scenes, packed with thousands-and-thousands of people all going wild hoping to get themselves a quick glimpse on TV.  Bring a sign and hope you get that glory, maybe even be voted sign of the week!

I would suggest nothing more for the rest of the day than grabbing some brews and finding a tailgate.  Baton Rouge locals like to say, "We may have not invented tailgating, but we perfected it." It's hard to argue. Surrounded by wide-open spaces that fit all the RVs, cars and generator-pumped TVs, the LSU campus sees as many as 150,000 fans on game days (expect even more for this game). Tailgate groups cook up jambalaya and indluge in beers, and football all day.  These tailgates are open to any and all, just a love of football and an empty stomach and you will be welcome all day and night. 

If tailgating is too much for you, check out the many bars in Tigerland around Nicholson street (just south of campus).  Fred's, a well populated dive bar, has $2.50 Coors Lights on gamedays when it opens up at 10am and pounds students with $1.50 shots after midnight.  Another popular spot is Walk On's, which was opened by former LSU basketball walk on players, is a newer resaurant but hosts coach shows and serves awesome food and drink up until 2am.  Pretty much anywhere in downtown is filled with restaurants, theaters and more and is an exciting place to kill a couple hours before gametime.  

After drinking, eating and watching football for the better half of 13 hours, head into the stadium early to experience a wild and loud scene and Mike the Tiger.  Mike the Tiger is LSU's official (and real) mascot.  Mike is a cult like figure for LSU and they believe he affects the teams play.  Make sure to arrive about half an hour early to experience Mike.  Mike’s trailer is parked next to the opposing team’s locker room until about 20 minutes before the game. LSU’s opponents must make their way past Mike in his cage-on-wheels to reach the field. One of LSU’s traditions is for Mike to parade around the field with the LSU cheerleaders perched on top of his cage-on-wheels. Mike’s trailer stops in front of the Tiger Band and the student section.  LSU tradition dictates that the Tigers will score a touchdown for every time Mike growls before the game.  Mike the Tiger does not appear to like Mike the Mascot, or any other mascot for that matter. Mike tends to roar at the mascot almost every time he sees him, predicting a touchdown for LSU and exciting the crowd inside Death Valley.  Tiger fans watch the large screens located at each end of the field as Mike the Tiger roars at the mascot. Each of the tiger’s roars are followed by the roar of the crowd filling Tiger Stadium.

Make sure to enjoy the game, you are seeing two top 5 undefeated teams battle it out in one of the greatest stadiums in all of sports.  Enjoy it, embrace it, and hope LSU wins for the pure noise that will come out of the stadium.

If football is not all you want on your docket.  Here are some outdoor adventures to enjoy.  Baton Rouge proximity to the Mississippi and bayou (not to overlook New Orleans) means there's plenty to do. Now a museum, the Old State Capital-- mocked as an "atrocity" by Mark Twain in "Life in the Mississippi" -- is studded with castlelike turrets and boastful Gothic Revival interiors. During the Great Depression, the infamous governor Huey Long spent $5 million to replace it with a new limestone state capitol. At 450 feet, it's the nation's tallest, with a great observatory for bayou views. Plus, Baton Rouge has haunted tours and the gator-filled wilds at the nearby Alligator Bayou.

Thursday Night Football Site: Missouri

Thoursday Night pits the Missouri Tigers against the Nebraska Cornhuskers.  Expect a tough, rivalry game against two rivals tonight.  The weather report expects rain, and lots of it!  Look for some big hits, turnovers and a low scoring defensive battle.  Check out the information about the stadium below to read alla bout Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium - home of the Missouri Tigers.

If your in the area, get to the stadium now!  Tailgating begins at 8:00am of a gameday and you know that Missouri students took the day off for this one!

Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium is the home field of the University of Missouri Tigers in Columbia, Missouri. It is primarily used for football. In 1972, Memorial Stadium's playing surface was named Faurot Field in honor of longtime coach Don Faurot. During the offseason, soccer goals are set up in the end zones and it is used for intramural matches. It also hosts the annual "Providence Bowl" game between Hickman and Rock Bridge high schools (so named because both schools are located on Providence Road in Columbia, and Faurot is roughly equidistant between the two) and in the past has been home to the MSHSAA football championships

The stadium is a typical horseshoe-shaped stadium, with seating added on in the "open" endzone. The horseshoe is completed by a grass berm in the curved end, which is used for general admission on game days. The berm is famous for the giant block "M" made of painted white stones located behind the endzone. This distinctive feature has not been immune to pranks, such as enterprising Nebraska or Kansas fans attempting to change the "M" to an "N" or a "K", but groundskeepers and students have in the past protected what may be the stadium's best-known landmark. One of the traditions of the football team is that seniors, after playing their final home game, take a rock from the "M" as a souvenir. It is also traditionally whitewashed every year by incoming freshmen during welcoming activities.

There is a short buffer zone of shrubs placed between the field and the stands around the entire length of the horseshoe, as well as a paved road (taking the place of the track, removed in the mid-1990s)

In 1996, the press box was upgraded to a 15-story building containing state-of-the-art facilities for the coaches and media, as well as several executive suites, hundreds of premium club seats and a restaurant. 1997 saw the installation of a video board in the north ("M") end and a refurbishment of the concourses, with new signage and expanded concessions. FieldTurf replaced the natural grass in 2003. In 2005, the south end's antiquated auxiliary scoreboards were replaced with new ones, as well as a second high-definition video monitor.

In 2009, the university installed a new $5 million 30x80 foot north end zone scoreboard with updated video capabilities and new sound system. The new north end zone video board and audio upgrades replaced the current 10 year old equipment. It is presently the fourth largest scoreboard in the Big 12 Conference, sitting behind Godzillatron at Texas' DKR Stadium, "12th Man TV" at Kyle Field in College Station, and the scoreboard at Nebraska Memorial Stadium.

PARKING


General Public Parking
-Those who wish to park in close proximity of Memorial Stadium have many options from which to choose.
-There are seven on-campus garages (including the new Parking Structure #7). Most are FREE of charge with the exception of the Maryland Avenue garage located at the corner of Maryland Avenue and Hospital Drive. The fee for Maryland Avenue garage is $15 per vehicle for levels three and above. There is a general public parking lot at the corner of Stadium Blvd. and Monk Drive that is monitored as a family-friendly zone for a fee of $15 per vehicle. All locations listed above are for passenger vehicles only. RVs and buses will not be allowed in these parking areas.

Bus and RV Parking
-Parking for RVs and buses (including school buses) will be charged a flat fee of $100 for the weekend. The parking lot will be open 6-10pm the night before a home football game and will re-open at 8am the day of the game. The designated lot for RVs and buses is located southeast of the Hearnes Center with overflow in southwest corner of Lot X-corner of College Ave. and Hospital Dr. RVs and buses are not allowed to park in any campus parking lots except for those designated by sign for RV and/or Bus Parking. For more information about RV and Bus Parking call the University of Missouri Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, Monday-Friday from 9am-5pm at (573)882-6501. For more information, see the RV Parking Policies and Procedures.

Reserved Parking
-Certain lots will be reserved on game day for donors of the Tiger Scholarship Fund. Parking passes must be purchased from the Tiger Scholarship Fund office. For more information about Reserved Donor Parking call the Tiger Scholarship Fund office, Monday-Friday from 8am - 5pm at (573) 882-0704. Please refer to the Tiger Scholarship Fund donor parking page for locations of those reserved areas.

*Note, no beerballs, kegs or central sources of alcohol allowed in the parking spaces


MU at Memorial Stadium

* Record: 250-167-20 (83 seasons)
* Most Wins, Season: 6, 2003 (6-0), 2006 (6-1), 2007 (6-0)
* Most Losses, Season: 7, 1985 (0-7)
* Most Consecutive Wins: 20, 1938-43
* Longest Unbeaten Streak: 20, 1938-43
* Most Consecutive Losses: 8, 1984-85
* Record on Natural Grass (1926-84, 95-2002): 198-119-17
* Record on Omniturf (1985-94): 20-38-3
* Record on FieldTurf (2003-Present): 30-7

Trip of the Week: New York - ADDITION!

Some of you may be wondering: what else can I do while taking the trip of the week? What are the cities hottest spots when it comes to food, drink and entertainment.

Here's a glimpse into what the Big Apple has to offer this week:

Have you heard the recent news surrounding the architectural wonder that is the highline. Located on the West Side, this former elevated train track runs from Gansevoort Street in the Meatpacking District to 34th Street, between 10th & 11th Avenues. The area was once used to keep freight trains off the streets of Manhattan, but now holds one of the prettiest parks in the city, complete with the original tracks!

While there, check out the Chelsea Market. This place gives Faneuil Hall a run for its money. Filled with a plethora of vendors and stores, you're sure to find something delicious to heal those hunger prangs at the right price.

Want to check it out for yourself?
http://www.thehighline.org/ 
http://www.chelseamarket.com/

Looking for a little more history?

Walk over to Grand Central Station and find your way up to the campbell apartment. This jazz era bar brings old world charm and elegance back to the station.

Just beware: proper attire is required.

If casual is more your style, have no fear, there's something for everyone in the city that doesn't sleep.

Hop on down to the village, you're sure to find some great, casual meals.

We suggest Las Ramblas for Tapas. 170 W 4th St.

Finally, don't limit yourself to Manhattan while visiting the Big Apple, remember that Brooklyn is booming with culture, views and of course, food. If you have time, take a walk over the Brooklyn Bridge to see one of the city's best views!

Enjoy!

Video You May Not Have Seen

Here's another video you may not have seen. I've played a little ping pong in my day (a very little) and it's a tough game to master. How these guys do this is amazing, flipping hitting the ping pong ball and landing it on the table, from that far away! Try that 1000 times and see if you can do it!

Trip of the Week: New York

Friday – Minnesota Twins @ New York Yankees 6:07pm

Saturday – South Florida @ Syracuse 12:00pm

Sunday – Oakland Raiders @ New York Giants 1:00pm

Monday – Anaheim Ducks @ New York Rangers 5:00pm

Its playoff baseball time.  This means my trip of the week heads to New York to see the odds on favorite New York Yankees host the fighting Minnesota Twins in ALDS.  After seeing that, you can take the drive to Syracuse to see the Orange take on Big East rival West Virginia.  If that’s not enough, the New York Giants host the struggling Raiders.  To end the trip, take Columbus Day off on Monday and check out the Anaheim Ducks take on the New York Rangers to end the awesome sports weekend.

 

Friday – Minnesota Twins @ New York Yankees 6:07pm

http://www.stubhub.com/new-york-yankees-tickets/

What a better way to start your weekend than playoff baseball!  Get out to Yankee stadium early and check out the scenery around the stadium.  Start by going to Stan’s Sports bar, the most popular by the stadium.  This bar gets crowded but everyone is friendly (if you aren’t wearing the opposing teams stuff) and get a few beers before it becomes uncomfortable.  After that, head to the Yankee Tavern, family owned since 1923 to grab a few beers and a bite of food.  Yankee Tavern is known as the best food by the stadium and its probably a little bit cheaper than an 8 buck beer and 5 buck hot dog.  Be sure to get into the Stadium early as you’ll want to see it.  Monument park is free to walk up to half hour before the game and its more than worth seeing all their history.  Whether you like the Yankees or not, its pretty amazing to witness all their history before they try to make more!  Get to your seats by the top of the 1^st and listen to the players roll call.  In the right field bleachers, the fans take turns chanting players names until they are acknowledged, every player participates (some more excited than others) and it is a famous tradition.  After that, enjoy the game!  It’s playoff baseball in Yankee Stadium!  Not quite sure what could be better!

Saturday – West Virginia @ Syracuse 12:00pm

http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/000042E9D62F631E?artistid=829348&majorcatid=10004&minorcatid=8

If your willing to drive 4 hours, and would rather do that then spend a day in the city, head up to Syracuse, NY and check out Paulus and the rest of the Orange Big East Rival West Virginia.  Game is at noon so there is probably not too much time to do more than get there for game time.  If you do get out of the hotel before 8am and to the Carrier Dome, hit up the tailgates and grab a few brews before entering the stadium.  Hopefully Paulus will step up and make it an enjoyable experience.  After the game, stop at Harry's Bar - Of the city’s hundreds and hundreds of bars, Harry's Bar fits right in the middle of the bell curve – a place to hit with your buddies on the way to your ultimate destination. Not the ideal spot for fabulous, drunken debauchery, but it’s a good as place as any to pre-drink.  Make sure someone stays sober, you are going to want to get home and ready for the next day.

Sunday – Oakland Raiders @ New York Giants 1:00pm

http://www.stubhub.com/new-york-giants-tickets/

Wake up early on Sunday and head over to Giants Stadium to watch the undefeated Giants take on the struggling Oakland Raiders.   Check out this aging stadium in the Giants last season before they move to brand new Meadowland’s Stadium.  Its been an exciting season for the Gmen so far and don’t risk our chance to see the possible Super Bowl champion.  Enjoy the awesome tailgate and maybe the best team in the NFL take the field.  There is plenty of parking on the premise but get there early to enjoy it with the best fans.

Monday – Anaheim Ducks @ New York Rangers 5:00pm

http://www.stubhub.com/new-york-rangers-tickets/

Whether he was a good guy or a bad, some people get Monday, October 12th off for Columbus day, might as well enjoy the holiday as well!  Take the day to enjoy all the city has to explore.  Go to the top of the Empire State Building and view the whole city, or take a stroll through Central Park before it gets too cold to enjoy.  If you  need to do some shopping, walk down 5th Avenue and check out all the stores or get a little culture into you when in New York. go to the Metropolitan Museum (the "Met"), the Museum of Modern Art or the Museum of Natural History.

You don’t have too much time, however, as the New York Rangers host the Anaheim Ducks in a 5:00 battle in the world famous Madison Square Garden.   If you can get in early, check out the Play By Play Sports Bar and Restaurant located inside Madison Square Garden.  While you're enjoying the fun atmosphere of the Play By Play, take a jump shot from "downtown", play air-hockey or video games. Watch all the fast action on our 11 High-Definition televisions and 14 other TVs! The Play By Play is your place to get close to the action before, during or after the game!  If inside MSG isn’t for you, just walk around, there are literally hundreds of bars around the arena and you can easily find one to fit your fancy.  And post game… find that bar again, because the 3-1 Jets are on Monday Night Football

Instant Classic

If this game doesn't get you excited for the MLB Playoffs.  I don't know what will happen the rest of the way, but if the games compare to the battle that went on in Minnesota tonight, its going to be a fun season.

Heck of a win by the Twins, hoping this victory can rally them against the Yankees, make the playoffs exciting and prevent the usual Yankees-Red Sox battle everyone is planning for. 

Enjoy the playoffs!

Playoff Time

It's playoff time!  This means time to travel to the city of your favorite team, shack up next to the stadium for as long as it takes for the chance to see your team win the title, celebrate in the city, and watch the parade.  Here are is the list of the 1st round MLB playoff schedule and where to stay in each city!

Gm 1	DET/MIN @ NYY	Wed	Oct. 7	6:07 p.m.	TBS
Gm 2	DET/MIN @ NYY	Fri	Oct. 9	6:07 p.m.	TBS
Gm 3	NYY @ DET/MIN	Sun	Oct. 11	TBD	TBS
Gm 4*	NYY @ DET/MIN	Mon	Oct. 12	TBD	TBS
Gm 5*	DET/MIN @ NYY	Wed	Oct. 14	TBD	TBS

NLDS 'A'
Game	Matchup	Day	Date	Time ET	TV
Gm 1	COL @ PHI	Wed	Oct. 7	2:37 p.m.	TBS
Gm 2	COL @ PHI	Thu	Oct. 8	2:37 p.m.	TBS
Gm 3	PHI @ COL	Sat	Oct. 10	9:37 p.m.	TBS
Gm 4*	PHI @ COL	Sun	Oct. 11	TBD	TBS
Gm 5*	COL @ PHI	Tue	Oct. 13	TBD	TBS

ALDS 'B'
Game	Matchup	Day	Date	Time ET	TV
Gm 1	BOS @ LAA	Thu	Oct. 8	9:37 p.m.	TBS
Gm 2	BOS @ LAA	Fri	Oct. 9	9:37 p.m.	TBS
Gm 3	LAA @ BOS	Sun	Oct. 11	TBD	TBS
Gm 4*	LAA @ BOS	Mon	Oct. 12	TBD	TBS
Gm 5*	BOS @ LAA	Wed	Oct. 14	TBD	TBS

NLDS 'B'
Game	Matchup	Day	Date	Time ET	TV
Gm 1	STL @ LAD	Wed	Oct. 7	9:37 p.m.	TBS
Gm 2	STL @ LAD	Thu	Oct. 8	6:07 p.m.	TBS
Gm 3	LAD @ STL	Sat	Oct. 10	6:07 p.m.	TBS
Gm 4*	LAD @ STL	Sun	Oct. 11	TBD	TBS
Gm 5*	STL @ LAD	Tue	Oct. 13	TBD	TBS

 

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Hotels Near Angels Stadium

New York Yankees
Hotels Near Yenkee Stadium

Boston Red Sox
Hotels Near Fenway Park


Minnesota Twins
Hotels Near HHH Metrodome


Detroit Tigers
Hotels Near Comerica Park

 
St. Louis Cardinals
Hotels Near Busch Stadium III

Philadelphia Phillies
Hotels Near Citizens Bank Park

Colorado Rockies
Hotels Near Coors Field

Los Angeles Dodgers
Hotels Near Dodger Stadium

I just decided I like Mark Cuban

If your in Dallas, I suggest going to see a free NBA game.

What a cool idea.  On his twitter @markcuban, Mark Cuban just annouced the password for free Dallas Mavricks tickets to tonights pre-season game.  The password is "The Goods".  All he wants is fans to show up an hour early, get the place loud, and to enjoy themselves. 

Honestly an awesome idea and I respect it.  Mark Cuban has always been known as one of those owners that cares about his team and his fans over making a profit (Don't think he needs any more money, but still).  This helps get fans to the game, get the team excited, and its pre-season, its going to cost the guy almost nothing since they were tickets he wouldn't sell anyway.  It also helps gain twitter followers which can eventually help the fanhood.  Marketing genious, thats why he is worth billions. 

If only some college teams that know they won't sell out could follow this.  This could improve the fan base.  Think about the idea, at 12:00 for a 7pm game a school realizes they are not going to sell out their tickets.  They post an announcement giving a password for free tickets (or some sort of a deal).  This helps gain twitter followers (to update other aspects of the team(s) ) and get more fans at the game.  Social Media can help increase fan turnout and school spirit!  Think about it...

MNF Guide: Minnesota

The Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome opened in 1982 to be the home of the Minnesota Vikings, Minnesota Twins and the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers Football and Baseball Teams.  The stadium might be most well known for its fiberglass roof that is self supported by air pressure.  It was only the 2nd stadium to ever do this, after the Pontaic Silverdome.  While no longer the home of the Gophers or the Minnesota Twins (after this season).  Minnesota has had many great memories in this stadium, including NFC Championship games, Final Fours, a Superbowl, and some of the more exciting World Series games including a 1-0 ten inning victory in Game 7 against the Atlanta Braves.

 

The Metrodome's Vital Statistics


-20 acres land area
-Roof is 10 acres of teflon-coated fiberglass 1/16" thick
-Liner material: 1/32" thick woven fiberglass
-Height: 195 feet (16 stories)
-Interior volume is 60 million cubic feet (equivalent of 3,300 homes)
-The roof is supported by 20 electric fans 90 horsepower each
-40,000 cubic yards of concrete
-11,900 tons reinforced steel, 500 tons structural steel
-Total field area is 142,515 square feet
-Features 2/3 the light bulbs of the former Met Stadium with twice as much light
-50 degrees Fahrenheit during non-event times (winter)
-65 degrees Fahrenheit during winter events
-There are 64,000 seats in the arena and 98 suites
-Seating capacities are 48,000 (baseball); 64,000 (football); 50,000 (basketball)

-The Metrodome is the only stadium in the world to have hosted all of the following: the NFL Super Bowl (1992), Major League Baseball's All-Star Game (1985), two World Series (1987, 1991), and the Final Four of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship (1992, 2001).
-Out of more than 300 event days per year at the Metrodome, less than 100 feature professional or major college sports. The rest of the event days are used by high schools and colleges, concerts, community activities and other events.
-The Metrodome hosts boys' and girls' high schools from throughout Minnesota for athletic and other events and small college athletic competitions.
-More than half a million people have come to the Metrodome to see concerts by major performers such as Pink Floyd, Paul McCartney, Guns N' Roses, Faith No More, Metallica, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty and The Grateful Dead.
-The Metrodome is the only major facility in Minnesota big enough to host major motorsports events.
-The Metrodome draws more than 4,000 runners and 30,000 inline skaters per year.

FUN FACT:
-Football to Baseball: Metrodome staff can transform the football stadium into a baseball ballpark in just four hours.

Tuesday Playoff!

What a weekend for Minnesota. The Twins sweep Kansas City in the Metrodome to go to a playoff on Tuesday and guarantee at least one more home game! Minnesota Vikings and Brett Favre host Green Bay on MNF, and the Gophers had a home game in their new beautiful stadium as well. I guess I picked the wrong place for my trip of the week, though College Gameday, the BC game and the Pats game wernt too shabby. Look back for some recaps later in the day.