|
|
 By this time last year I had already spent six days in Nashville, TN with about eight of my best buddies getting thrown out of bars, singing karaoke, jumping into swimming pools at the hotel, golfing, playing basketball, breaking into Vanderbilt's football and basketball stadiums, earning $50 for listening to someone trying to sell me a condo, taking bottles of redbull and vodka into bars and causing any other kind of havoc that 28-year old men can get into....and then the NCAA Tournament began. Oh yes, the fun would finally begin
Of course we weren't going to miss the opening weekend of the NCAA Tournament for anything. We all loved basketball, a few of us actually work at NCAA Institutions and....we like to drink beer.
As with all great endeavors, we needed a plan. Our first order of business on Thursday was to find a bar to take over and that we did. It was called "About Time Sports Bar" and this little user review can let you know what it was about:
My husband and I liked to go here in the past. They have cheap beer and
pool. At one time every weekend they had a live band. We revisited this
place this weekend and it was terrible. It seems like you have to be a
drunk to even enter in it is so nasty. The bar tender knew everyone by
name and since she didn't know us, we didn't get hardly any service.
After trying to just finish a beer two guys got into a fight, the next
thing you know there was gun shots. I ran into the bathroom to call the
police only to be approached by several women telling me I had better
not call because they knew the guy and they didn't want him to get in
trouble. Needless to say I did call the police gave them my info and we
left. Not sure I will ever return.
It was...a dump. Still, it had multiple TV's, $5 pitchers, pool table and we were the only one's in the place so we took it over.....Nearly $1200 (for the group) and over twelve hours later....this is what I learned that will help you survive this weekend.
Scroll Down to Continue Reading
|
|
 The first, and most important rule is that you have to find a bar that has access to every game and a bartender that is willing to give you the remote to all the TV's. You need to be in control and you need to be able to watch what you want to watch. There is no reason for you to be watching the Butler/South Alabama game on the main TV if you don't have any interest in it.
Second, always have your bracket(s) on you and a writing utensil. You'll be marking up your brackets like a bingo sheet so you don't want to be left without something to write with and you don't want to be the douchebag who keeps asking, "Who does Notre Dame play? I think I have Davidson beating someone..."
Third....pace yourself. Look, you are going to be drinking. A lot. Don't shoot your load before noon. It's going to be a long day so settle in and work your way through the afternoon games. Once the evening games come on...all bets are off. That's when the night shift bartenders and waitresses come into play. By that time you've been at the bar for at least seven hours and you own the place. Everyone knows who your group is and dealing with women at this point is like shooting fish in a barrel.
Fourth, it's ok to take a break from time to time. Walk outside and enjoy the fresh air. Go shoot a game of pool. Sit at the bar and talk to the bartender. Do something. You can't sit there all day and watch games and do nothing else. You will go into a coma. Last year there was a magic shop next door to the bar and we went over there and learned some tricks and even....helped interview a prospective employee...which takes me to....
Fifth, Be nice to everyone. Christ if you are going to languish in their workspace for a day (or a few of them) be nice to the people who work there. You never know what will happen. We were able to get quite a few free hours of pool and even more free pitchers of beer since we are nice guys. Tell jokes, be nice and don't get so involved in the games that it causes you to throw a beer through their TV. That will piss them off.
Sixth, spend time with your friends. Tell jokes, tell stories...tell them how you hate your boss...ask them questions about their life. You are going to be spending all weekend with them. Don't be the dickhead of the group because by the time Sunday rolls around....no one will be offering to buy you a beer.
My final tip....have fun and don't take things too seriously. Only one team is going to win the NCAA Tournament so if your team loses to a 13 seed, don't get pissed and start punching people. You'll end up in jail and someone (probably a pissed girlfriend) will be forced to bail you out. It may be "March Madness" but you don't have to go mad yourself.
Follow these tips and you will survive the opening weekend of the NCAA Tournament unscathed. You may have a pissed off liver and a weakened immune system but you will have had a great time doing it.
|
3 Comments
Leave a comment
|
|
|
2008 Cubs Preview
I remember this day all too well...I completely agree with you, pacing yourself should be high on the priority list...get there early, enjoy a burger, drink some booze, after awhile order some appetizers, drink some booze, play some pool, make fun of the dumbass friend for picking IUPUI to upset...hell anyone...then drink some more booze...it is an absolute blast to do this...I will also say that if you can, once in your life you need to spend the first weekend of March Madness in Vegas...I recommend the Hilton, its off the strip, but it has the best sports book in Vegas...spend a few bucks on some games, have your tickets out and enjoy the free drinks all day!
I also should have put in there that you need to pick a bar that has a private bathroom in case you want to....you know.....poop.
I will echo the sentiments of Jack and Cpt. Also, the onezy is a necessary fixture wherever you are. If you are going to be cramming appetizers, beers and other food down for thirteen hours, you had better have a private area to relieve yourself.