NFL '02 Begins In Charlotte
That wonderful time of the year, when the smell of bourbon and burning leaves, is just around the corner. It sends goose bumps down my spine thinking about it, that is college ball, this is the NFL. The NFL is great, not as great as attending a college game, but still great. I had the privilege of attending a preseason game with five close friends in Charlotte this summer. The Redskins of Washington took on the Panthers of Charlotte. In the end the Redskins of Washington triumphed by kicking an oblong shaped pigskin through a big "H", it was a most ripping victory. The game actually did not end like that but I am sure it was good synopsis of the event. A flustered Andrew Medley drove the other four of us to the local health food store (BoJangles) to grab a "Tailgater's Special" which included roughly 200 legs and 400 biscuits. Tailgating for an NFL game is slightly different from a college game. The people you find yourself next to can be very interesting, considering they didn't finish the 3rd grade because they spent their elementary school years in the gym. (see last photo) All in all the experience of the tailgate was fun, especially when we were join by one of Wes Stanley's ex-girlfriends. One question does come to mind when I saw her for the first time. Did Wes ever date a girl that was his height or shorter? After eating chicken for about 3 hours, we put the uneaten pieces back in the box and proceed to the game.
The game itself was great, but the cheer leaders! WOW! They were trying out a new piece to their outfits this year, "hooker boots" as Wes put it. Sorry I got side tracked, back to the game. When we first arrived at the stadium we all headed for the beer line. This one aspect of the NFL that is better than the collegiate level. I of course began to look around for an ATM machine. Bank of America has taken over the stadium with an entire 4 ATMs. These of course are located very far from any of the beer lines. On top of the inconvenient location, the head honchos at BoA must have put there Enron thinking caps on an decided to unplug 3 of the 4 machines. By the time I got to the machine, I was ready to open an account with BoA. I mean they make it so hard for you to get your money out, you will never go broke. Of course you would easily be the richest man at the shelter. Once I finally made it into the game, I found my seat and then realized that it was halftime and bathroom time. So back I trudged to wait in yet another line. Finally it was time to return to the beer line! I eventually made it into the game and my seat. The NFL experience is really amazing. It is like watching your favorite show with a giant advertisement in the center of the screen. On top of this was the "hip" music like "Mambo #5" being piped in through speakers the size of Cleveland. Every time I would get the game and play in focus, Wes would jab me in the ribs and say, "look, hooker boots". Of course I would look and they would be the same boots that they were wearing during the previous minute. Finally the game ended. It was slightly disappointing because I did not get to see Kevin Greene, or Sam Mills, or Kerry Collins. Oh yea, they are gone and we stink now. At least we are not the Cowboys so there is hope.








Maverick and Opie.





This how Wes wanted the night to go.

This how Wes's night actually went.

Are you kinding me? When did you show up?

Oh what a night!