Wednesday, March 5, 2008

LET THE MADNESS BEGIN!

During the "chaos" that we lovingly call "DOLLAR DRAFT MADNESS", I caught a glance at the ESPN score ticker on the bottom of the TV and something jumped out at me:

"Horizon League", 1st Round...."

"Big South, Quarterfinals...."

Then it dawned on me; MARCH MADNESS had in earnest, finally begun! We are officially in the middle of one of the greatest sporting events in America- NCAA MARCH MADNESS! It starts out slowly with "Championship Week", where all of the Division I college basketball conferences hold their conference tournaments to determine a champion. The champion of the respective conference tournaments then earn a "bid" or "ticket" to the NCAA Tournament (better known as the "Big Dance"). Once all is said and done next Sunday (March 16), 65 teams will have gotten invites to the dance.

What happens after that is remarkable. Practically anyone who is remotely interested in college basketball will take the next few days to forgo any semblance of work in order to fill out bracket sheets as they try to predict who will win this year's tournament. Then on Thursday, March 20, offices around the country go strangely silent as throngs of workers take a "late lunch" or call in sick, just to be able to hang out with friends at a local bar (like ours) and watch EVERY GAME of the tournament. It's a time-honored tradition that goes back to your college days. It's addicting and exciting as you find yourselves staring at your pool sheets while at the same time, pulling for that unknown underdog to bring on the tournament's biggest upset. What's better than that?

I don't know about you, but I can't wait.

*Conference Tournament games are taking place now. The major conference tournaments (including the Big East here) begin next Wednesday. As always, you can catch the action here!

Speaking of DOLLAR DRAFT MADNESS, last night was a fun night with an "interesting" crowd to provide the entertainment. Among the usual throng of young professionals, NYU med students and locals, there was plenty of fodder for material for this blog. For example:

*The jackass who showed up for a birthday party without an ID and being denied entry at the door. So what does he do? He decided to pay lip service to the door guy (which never gets you anywhere- if anything, it makes your chance at getting in about as good as throwing a snowball through hell). Then he tried to force his way into the bar, as if that was actually going to work. Needless to say he was forced back outside by the door guy. Now not only did the guy not get in, but now he's humiliated himself in front of the whole bar to boot. Idiot.

*Then there was the crew that hung out in the back, near the Champagne Room. This group was an eclectic bunch; business suits, casual types, an airline stewardess (at least she dressed like one), and even one guy who was physically handicapped. This crew was about the happiest bunch of people I'd ever seen at a bar. They must have jammed about $100.00 into the jukebox and played great bar tunes and danced all night long. Best part of the night was towards the end when they all began hooking up with one another. Pretty funny stuff. Listening to the guys haggle over who would hook up with whom was pretty priceless within itself. Good stuff.

*We got a visit from one of those dreaded Ecuadorian chicks again. I've written about them in the past, the female patrons from hell. These women tend to flock to a guy, fawn and flirt with them all night long for free drinks then dash out into the night. Annoying, annoying, annoying. Last night was more of the same. Ugh.

*One of our more amusing characters came by the bar after a long absence; This guy flies solo, usually on dollar draft night. He sits at the bar and talks to himself. No, strike that. He raps. To himself. Makes these hand gestures as if he's JAY-Z or something. Generally harmless, though I suspect he may be a tad slow on the draw when it comes to social graces. I usually have to send him home after one too many dollar mugs as he becomes "inappropriate". Interesting character to say the least. (of course, he got sent home again....this time after getting upset because another patron wouldn't watch his seat when he went to the bathroom).

*The two MILF's who found themselves at home (one of them in JAY-Z's chair, ironically enough) in the middle of the bar. One was a blonde with a nice tight pink top, while the other was a brunette with a sexy black top. Within minutes, guys began flocking to them. Of course, they loved the attention. They were okay in my book until one of them had the audacity to request that I change the channel from the OHIO STATE/PURDUE game to "The Biggest Loser" with closed-captioning put on. Are you shitting me?

I could go on, but I think you get the gist. It was one of those nights.

COORS LIGHT BUCKETS TONIGHT!

Join us for HOCKEY NIGHT in NY, with $3.00 Molson Canadian drafts, $3.00 Mixed Well Drinks (for ladies), and COORS LIGHT BUCKETS (5/$15.00), ALL NIGHT LONG.

See you tonight!


NuFF Said