If you read my previous blog entry you already know that I woke up at "farmer o'clock" to go and watch the one sporting event that I intentionally attend two mornings ago at the annual Super Bowl extravaganza here in Da Nang, Vietnam.
I am a Kansas City fan by proxy because of family members that live in Kansas but truth be told, I am not really a fan of KC, the NFL, American Football, or even sports really. I'm more of a book-reading nerd who likes video games and chilling out at quiet places with a few friends. Regardless, I find it is kind of important to throw some support towards the biggest sporting event that takes place in America every year.
We woke up at the crack of dawn and pre-gamed at a local pub and it is the one that I had told you previously is a "rough and tumble", Roadhouse sort of place where fights regularly break out. We had tickets to some other larger venue and based on the people that were at the rough place already at 5am, we determined then and there that we would not be returning to this place for any of the game. Some of the usual suspects that are always starting trouble were already there, and a guy was passed out on the curb outside already. These were bad omens.
an Eagles fan, I'm guessing
This was kind of an easy call to make and we were only there because it is in my neighborhood and was a good place to meet up before walking to the real venue that we had already purchased tickets for. It was only about a 10 minute walk and we were fine with that. It was nice and cool at that time of day and we got there right at 6am, which is when the staff informed us that the doors would open for the event. Things weren't looking good when we noticed that all the primo bar seats were already taken and we were informed by the staff that some of those people were already waiting at the door as early as 4:30 AM. We had to sit a row back and I could tell before the game even started that this was going to be a bit problematic.
Keep in mind that I was standing and holding the phone above my head to get this shot. Had I taken it at head level, you would see that the people directly in front of me on the plastic stools, everyone that walks past the bar to the buffet, and the people standing at the bar would routinely be blocking your vision of the game. I am a considerate person and would never stand right in front of people who are also watching something, but I guess not everyone is polite. There were several instances of near violence when irritated seated patrons would warn someone time and time again to get the frick out or the way because they are blocking everyone's view. If you look over to the far left of this picture you can see a giant projection screen that for some damn reason, the bar didn't even use.
The rude customers that were standing in the circled area had to be told by the staff repeatedly to not stand there as it was blocking everyone behind them
Well it wouldn't really matter because this was a very dominant game on the part of the Eagles. I wasn't pissed off that "my team" wasn't doing well because honestly, I don't really care, but I would have preferred if the game had been a bit more competitive. I don't find it very interesting when one team is absolutely destroying the other. There isn't any tension when it ends up like this but because of the over-selling of tickets to the event this place was almost unbearable to be at. Had we been in the United States the fire marshal would have definitely cited this place for a violation of fire code. BTW, the first picture is not representative of how busy it got, by the time we left there was almost zero standing room and it simply wasn't a fun place to be, especially for my smoker friend who had to beat his way through a crowd to get outside.
So at halftime we went to another bar that a friend of mine owns that isn't even a sports bar and there was a grand total of 8 people there, including the 3 that were in my crew. Oh and Nadi was delighted because I picked her up on the way.
There was little cause for celebration for my doggo and her red shirt that I almost never make her wear, but it was already on and I'm not ashamed of who I am supporting just because they aren't winning.
So here comes the meat and potatoes of what this story is all about: In years past I have gone absolutely ape-shit with the drinking at these things and completely ruined the rest of my day and had a massive hangover that lasted at least a day afterwards. This year, after the Super Bowl was over, I went home and drank a bunch of electrolytes and ordered a burger from a place that my friend owns that saw me with my Chiefs jersey on at the game. I thought it was a nice touch for him to put a personalized message in the bag that was delivered to my condo.
Then, for the rest of the day I didn't drink anything and even went for a 5k run still wearing my Chief's jersey. A couple of people called me out for that but I couldn't hear what they said because I had my sound cancelling headphones in. I'm certain it was something rude that was meant to hurt my feelings but joke's on them, I don't really care.
The rest of the day was spent drinking water and watching TV and of course, cooking something in my much-beloved air-fryer. Then on Tuesday I woke up early feeling right as rain.
Next Super Bowl I will repeat this sensible method because I'm at an age where even though I don't have anywhere that I need to be I really do not like having a hangover for an entire day.
I can feel you, I think I experience a bit similar, Me and my two more young ladies back 13 years ago we also go out with mens friends, we went to the pub and that pub is the Liverpool club, and during that time liverpool vs manchester event, and me and my two more friend we support manchester, then our mens friends they are liverpool and they invite us to join with them to the liverpool club to whatch the game, during the game we 3 ladies every time the manchester got the goal we show that we are a supporter happy, then all people on the place looking us like something wrong but we still go on until the game is over and the manchester got the win score. after that one guy is not so happy with us and want to come and scold us why we are there, lucky even our men friends a bit sad of losing the game, they still defended us. The only I can say is we all have a freedom to express ourselves however it is as long as we know we just expressing our self we don't have to please anybody and don't bother whatever they are saying about you as long as you don't do any crime. kudos to men for your brave heart and do what you want. give a tap on your shoulder that you did a good job for yourself.
I'm not being mean when I say this but I think that your night was probably a lot more pleasant than it would have been for other people because you are girls :) I wasn't in a bar affiliated with any particular team, but I have been in them in the past and simply wearing a jersey for the opposing team would get at least drinks dumped on a man that was wearing a kit for the "wrong" team. Men turn into apes towards each other when sports are involved.
Later on in the same day as the Super Bowl game here in Vietnam I went for a run and was still wearing the Chief's shirt. Two people shouted something at me as I was running and i could see by the look on their faces that they were not saying anything nice. I couldn't hear them though because I was wearing headphones.
It's been a long time since I watched a big sporting event at a venue like this. Personally, I am not fan partly because of the crowds, but mainly because of the bathrooms. I have a bit of a phobia for public restrooms in general, then add in all the people and chaos and it's a nope for me. My wife and I watched through the halftime show, then we went to bed. I checked the score a couple times on my phone, but that was it. I didn't even drink because I had to get up for work at 4 the next morning.
Getting up for work at 4 in the morning? What are you, a farmer? Jk of course, I know what you do. You still doing the early morning workouts?
Yeah, as much as I can. Not that it seems to be helping too much. I decided I needed to start cutting some snacks out of my day. Hopefully that helps a bit. Getting up at four still doesn't really give me the time I need in the morning. I am lucky to get a fifteen to twenty minute workout in getting up at that time.
The not getting drunk part and enjoying the next day sounds so grown up lol. We are getting old I guess and would say it is a good thing.
yeah but to be fair I had a very long stint as an irresponsible drunk of sorts. It started at parties in college when I was 17 and carried on until around my late 30's. I'm in my late 40's now so while I was slow to get to the finish line, I did get there eventually. Now my drunken escapades are reserved for Thursdays, bowling days.
⋆ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʟᴀᴄᴇ ғᴏʀ sᴏᴜᴛʜᴇᴀsᴛ ᴀsɪᴀɴ ᴄᴏɴᴛᴇɴᴛ ᴏɴ ʜɪᴠᴇ
⋆ sᴜʙsᴄʀɪʙᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀsᴇᴀɴ ʜɪᴠᴇ ᴄᴏᴍᴍᴜɴɪᴛʏ
⋆ ғᴏʟʟᴏᴡ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀsᴇᴀɴ ʜɪᴠᴇ ᴄᴏᴍᴍᴜɴɪᴛʏ ᴠᴏᴛɪɴɢ ᴛʀᴀɪʟ
⋆ ᴅᴇʟᴇɢᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ʟɪɴᴋs 25 ʜᴘ⇾50 ʜᴘ⇾100 ʜᴘ⇾500 ʜᴘ⇾1,000 ʜᴘ
You have to be patient when entering a Sports bar especially if it's a peak. It's a nice place to hang out and watch together with friends. I miss all of that. My friends are all over the world wandering, but yeah they're with their own family and careers. Definitely, no thrill in watching a game beating the opponent so badly. It would've been nice if you had to shout, grin and clap. haha