View My Seats

At the Intersection of Sports and Culture

Photo Credit for Header: Alex Foucre-Stimes

Trinity Men’s Squash Loss is Hartford Connecticut’s Gain

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I never understood how Hartford, Connecticut came to be the hotbed for collegiate squash. It always seemed like such a strange set of navigational circumstances, like Christopher Columbus setting sail for the West Indies and landing in the Bahamas. But now that the racquet sport tyrants of Trinity College have lost their first match since 1997-98, ending a string of 252 victories, the capital of the Nutmeg State can finally go back to being simply the former insurance capital of the world. Incidentally, did you know that Hartford is generally considered as having one of the most beautiful skylines in the United States? If that doesn’t bring the Whalers back I don’t know what will.

view from the Aussie Open courtesy of @lektor74

 

Why Sports Fans Should Care About the New Hampshire Primary

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As a New Hampshire native, I love the presidential primary season. For a few fleeting basic cable moments, my home state is relevant. When else do you hear about Dixville Notch? I bypassed college/NBA hoops last night to soak in as much political punditry as possible. How “news” networks like CNN, MSNBC, and Fox managed to fill as much airtime as they did, see Al Sharpton,  is totally beyond human comprehension especially when the results were all but etched in stone immediately after the polls closed.

Now as sports fans, we may or may not care about the New Hampshire Primary or politics in general. But, as a sports fan, wouldn’t you like to know what teams/sports the Republican candidates are rooting for? Here’s a list of the remaining Republican candidates for president, including Rick Perry, with their favorites teams, listed in order of finish in the 2012 New Hampshire Primary.

Mitt Romey, 39.4% – Other than his intense passion for the Olympic Games, Romney is a founding member of Pink Hat Nation. PHN as you know refers to the cavalcade of carbetbagging non-entities that flocked to Fenway Park during the Red Sox recent decade long renaissance. As an aside, I can’t wait to see what the Sons of Sam Horn end up doing now that Bobby Valentine is in the clubhouse, here to put an end to any and all fried chicken consumption.

Ron Paul, 22.8% – Unfortunately for our resident Constitution expert, Paul can’t support any team that has received public financing for a new stadium.

Jon, or is it John, Hunstman, 16.8% – Probably the Chicago White Sox or really any team that President Obama supports. (Zing!!!!! How’s that for a little inside political baseball?)

Newt Gingrich, 9.4% – The biggest sports fan of the bunch. Being from Georgia, by law Newt has to root for the Dawgs, even though he attended much smaller Emory University in Atlanta. But, if personal relationships are any indication of sports loyalty, I bet he’s willing to switch allegiances based on the hott, with a double t, team of the moment.

Rick Santorum, 9.3% – Santorum went to Penn St. which, if you think about, has absolutely nothing to do with the recent Sandusky scandal.

Rick Perry, 0.7% – 0.7%. Really? Are you sure we can still call Perry an actual candidate? Here are the three teams that Rick Perry roots for 1) Dallas Cowboys 2) Texas Longhorns 3) ___________.

view of UNH vs UMaine hockey at Fenway Park courtesy of @julierobenhymer

A Weekend of Watching: A Football Life Edition

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Last night I accidentally stumbled upon the Bill Belichick documentary airing on the NFL Network and came away from the Part I experience totally impressed by the candor and callousness of the famously tight lipped football general who, with this special, has given viewers unprecedented access to the behind the scenes life of an NFL legend. With this special, Belichick has the opportunity to emerge as a likable perhaps even sympathetic figure, a feat which before last night would have been next to impossible.

Here are just a few of my favorite moments:

– Who knew that the underbelly of Giants Stadium included a large raquetball court? At least I think it was a raquetball court. Either that or a fallout shelter. In any case, I could totally picture Parcells ripping 3/4 cigarettes after 10 minutes of modestly paced squash.

– It won’t be long before “eff you Mason” officially enters our everyday vernacular. I also appreciated the “why don’t we talk after the game” which I could see myself using in all too many social situations.

– Tom Brady thinks Lawrence Maroney has bad hands and you know what, Patriots fans would have to agree. Also, it’s clear that Brady’s hair today is the product of some sort Wayne Rooney like enhancement.

What I’m Watching this Weekend

College Football: While most eyes tune in to either Ohio State/Miami or Oklahoma/Florida St., I’m most excited to catch a quick glimpse of Andrew Luck against Arizona. But, to be clear, a 10:45pm start from the desert doesn’t really fit in well with my normal sleep pattern so I may have to wait for the Sunday morning highlights on this one.

Golf: I might as well check in to watch some of the BMW Championship, especially since I’ve spent more than my fair share of time on the couch this summer watching lower stakes tournaments like the St. Jude Classic and Scandinavian Masters.

NFL: Have to pick your battles. Week 2 is not the time to haggle with your wife over a day trip to a flea market in Brooklyn. The hope here is that by not complaining I can build up enough good will to make it home in time for the second half of Pats/Chargers. Different story if this were week 15.

MLB: Will the Boston Red Sox allow the Tampa Bay Rays to overtake them in the race for the AL Wild Card? Not if my Baltimore Orioles have anything to say about it. The Sox play 7 of their last 13 regular season games against the Birds which should make most of New England happy seeing as how Baltimore is currently mired in their 14th straight losing season. Hey, look at the bright side, at least Matt Wieters has 20 homeruns.

view from MSU/LSU courtesy of @kirtissbrown

 

A Weekend of Watching

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On the occasional Friday I like to share with the viewing audience a list of sporting events that I’ll be watching over the weekend. Of course, my list isn’t all that different from what most of you will be watching so if you are looking for something a little more “alterna”, may I suggest you try the Speed and Fuel channels instead.

US Open Tennis: The rainy weather has added an extra element of patience, physical hardship to the already grueling fortnight of tennis. Looking forward to the Serena/Woz women’s semifinal on Sat night along with the Fed/Nole & Nadal/Roddick vs Murray/Isner men’s semi’s earlier that afternoon. Although, I’m not sure how I feel about the men’s final being moved to Monday afternoon at 4pm. Wouldn’t it make more sense to move the final to 7pm and put it up against MNF rather than have it run during the end of a long work day when most people are busy with a final round of emails before getting in the car for the evening commute? I guess this decision to air the final during the afternoon shows us the true influence of the NFL.

College Football: Saturday night is date night in the View My Seats household as husband, wife, and hopefully a sleeping son prepare to watch Notre Dame/Michigan in the first ever night game to be played at Michigan Stadium. Not sure why we need to build an entire evening around this game other than the fact that my wife is Catholic and she believes Notre Dame would eventually be an excellent choice for our 7 month old son. Never too early to start saving!

NFL Football: Opening weekend and tons of great games to watch. The matchup I am most excited for is the Ravens/Steelers heavyweight bought which, to be honest I’m surprised is being played in week 1. This is the type of heavy hitting rivalry best served in the colder months when the frost is on the pumpkin and both teams are fighting for a first round bye.

view from Arthur Ashe stadium courtesy of @hodakotb

The Fishbowl Known as Arthur Ashe Stadium

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All of this rain is starting to make the northeast look and feel like an episode of The Killing, minus the circular storylines and uninspiring character development. We shouldn’t complain however because the poor folks of Bastrop, Texas would certainly appreciate some of this precipitation down in their corner of the country.

In any case, the weather is once again altering the schedule of several major sporting events, namely the US Open in Flushing Meadows, NY. Today, weather pending, will bring one of the healthiest, most robust schedules ever rolled out at a major tournament with every player remaining in the men’s and women’s draws taking the court. For instance, on Arthur Ashe Stadium today you have in order: Rafa, Djokovic, Serena, and Federer. Not too shabby for a dreary Wednesday in early September.

This particular view comes from my buddy Brownie who was in Ashe Monday for Williams/Ivanovic and Tsonga/Fish. Seeing as it was his first experience at the US Open, he was amazed at the size of the stadium, which he said felt more like an arena than tennis court. On this particular day, there was a line of fans standing around the highest row of seats in Ashe, hoping to catch a glimpse of the Djokovic/Dolgopolov match taking place in the adjacent Louis Armstrong Stadium. No word as to whether or not Brownie was one of those onlookers, but judging from this view, and the apparent lack of leg room in the upper bowls of the arena, I’m guessing he took any and every opportunity to get up and stretch the legs. It’s like sitting coach on a JetBlue flight from JFK to San Juan. Just beware of the beverage cart!!!