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| Trenton Titans hockey |
Monday right after midnight we drove back from Cincinnati after seeing the Bengal game. We stayed at Super 8 in Columbus again. We checked out of the hotel at 11AM that morning. After doing so, we went to Waffle House which was right next door for breakfast. Unfortunately the King and our pal Mike Carroll didn't enjoy their food. They had a bad experience. I didn't have a problem except for the horrible orange juice they gave me. I had it exchanged and I wound up having apple juice instead. I've been to Waffle House numerous times in the past. I don't remember having a bad experience. Hopefully there was an isolated incident.
After we got done eating, we went to a shopping center which had a Giant Eagle supermarket. My main goal was to see if we could get Mike Carroll some cans of Skyline Chili to bring home. We went inside and we looked around and we managed to get him what he wanted. I took a can for myself so I can make chili dogs when I get a chance at home. In addition, we got some goodies for the long car ride home. We finally got back on the road around 12:15PM.
We were 560 miles or so from NYC. I drove back through Akron then we picked up I-80 outside out of Youngstown, Ohio. We stopped off for dinner at a Burger King in Central Pennsylvania. We also stopped off for a gas a few times. We finally got back to Grand Central Station in Manhattan at 9:30PM where we dropped off Mike Carroll so he could catch his 9:56PM train back home which is in Brewster, NY. When we said our goodbyes to him, he said and I quote "you guys don't know how much I appreciate that you took me". He was so elated which is why I was so determined to take him with us.
After we dropped him off, the King and I went home. We got home around 9:45PM. We unpacked and relaxed the rest of the night. After getting some sleep, I got up in the morning and I returned the car rental to Avis before I went back to work. I wound up driving 1,616 miles safely.
After work Tuesday night I came home and I rested up.
Wednesday night after work I came home and I watched game one of the World Series between the San Francisco Giants and the Detroit Tigers.
Thursday night after work I came home and I watched game two of the World Series.
Friday night after work I went out and I did my laundry.
Saturday afternoon the King and I went up to Upper Manhattan where we saw the Columbia Lions host the Yale Bulldogs at Robert K. Kraft Field at Lawrence A. Wien Stadium. We were joined by a number of people we know. They included Frank Anichiarico, Bryan Gilligan, Manny Morales, Vincent Ascanio, Al Linderman and Pat Gorman. It turned out to be a nice social gathering.
In addition, we wound up seeing a very competitive football game too. Columbia drew first blood with 8:29 left in the first quarter when their place kicker Luke Eddy booted a 28 yard field goal to give the Lions' an early 3-0 lead. The score stayed that way until there was 13:34 left in the second quarter when Yale got on the scoreboard as freshman Tyler Varga ran in a touchdown from 28 yards out to make it a 7-3 game. With 8:13 left in the half, the Lions' Ryan Murphy tackled Varga in the end zone for a safety to cut the Bulldog lead to 7-5. It remained that way at halftime.
In the third quarter, Tyler Varga extended the Bulldog lead to 14-5 as he scored another touchdown. This time on a three yard run. The Lions continued to fight back. With 1:51 left in the quarter, wide receiver Jake Wanamaker caught a four yard pass to get the Lions back with in two at 14-12.
In the fourth quarter, the Lions regained the lead as their quarterback Sean Brackett ran in from the one yard line to give the Lions a 19-14 lead with 11:38 to go. The Bulldogs didn't roll over and play dead. They came right back as Tyler Varga continued to pile up yards on the ground as he enabled the Bulldogs to go back ahead of the Lions as he scored another touchdown this time from 25 yards out. The Bulldogs decided to go for the two point conversion as running back Mordecai Cargill ran in to give the Bulldogs a 22-19 lead. The Lions continued to persevere as they got the game winning touchdown with just 45 seconds to go as Marcorus Garrett caught a two yard pass on third and goal after he failed to run the ball in on the two previous tries. The Lions fought hard and they came away with a 26-22 victory. It should be noted that Tyler Varga finished with 220 yards rushing for the Bull Dogs in the losing effort.
After the game, the King and I were joined by Vincent Ascanio who decided to go with us as we took a NJ Transit train to Trenton, NJ where we saw some ECHL hockey. We went to the Sun National Bank Center which is the home of the Trenton Titans who are affiliated with the Philadelphia Flyers. Upon arrival, we were able to take advantage of a promotion they were having for people who are NHL season ticket holders. Since the King and I have season tickets for the NJ Devils we were able to get free tickets to the Titan game. It worked out for us. I filled out some information they requested and they gave me three vouchers which I exchanged at the box office for tickets to the game. We got the tickets and we went inside to see some hockey action while NHL players remain locked out.
The Titans were hosting the Toledo Walleye, who serve as a developmental team for the Detroit Red Wings and the Chicago Blackhawks.
As for the game we saw, the Walleye were awarded a penalty shot while they were shorthanded 5:40 into the game. Willie Coetzee took the shot and he scored to give the Walleye a 1-0 lead. That was the only scoring in the period.
In the second period, defenseman Joey Ryan of the Walleye found the net for his first goal of the season to make it 2-0 after two periods.
In the third period, the Walleye scored two more goals within a 22 second span to make it 4-0. The Titans broke the shutout with 8:27 left in the game as they made it 4-1. The Walleye added an empty net goal to make the final score, 5-1.
It was nice to see a hockey game again. Hopefully the NHL will eventually come to their senses. If not, minor league hockey is a good and less expensive alternative.
We took the train back after the game and we arrived back at NY Penn Station just before midnight.
Sunday afternoon with Hurricane Sandy heading our way in the Northeast, the King and I met up with our pal Larry Peim by Penn Station. He drove us along with our friend Michael Abrams to MetLife Stadium where we went to see the Jets host the Miami Dolphins.
As for the game we saw, the Jets apparently forgot to show up. The first drive of the game, the Dolphins went right down the field. Their drive stalled but they got a 33 yard field goal from their kicker Dan Carpenter to take a 3-0 lead with 11:02 left in the first quarter. With 3:59 left, Olivier Vernon recovered a punt by Robert Malone that was blocked in the end zone to give the Dolphins a 10-0 lead.
In the second quarter, with 14:08 left running back Daniel Thomas from Kansas State ran in from three yards out to extend the Dolphin lead to 17-0. With 6:59 to go to half time, Dan Carpenter kicked a 39 yard field goal to make it 20-0.
At half time, perhaps the only highlight of the day for Jet fans, the Jets had a ceremony to retire former Jet Dennis Byrd's #90 jersey. On November 29, 1992 he played his last football game. He got hit and he was taken off the field on a stretcher. He was told he may never walk again. With his incredible attitude and determination, Dennis has defied the odds. He's now able to walk on his own. He's been an inspiration for past, present and future Jets to look up to. As a result, the Jets organization decided to honor him by retiring his jersey. It was a very moving ceremony. Unfortunately this current team couldn't get their act together on this day.
In the third quarter, the Jets took the opening drive down the field but they had to settle for a 38 yard field goal by Nick Folk which made it 20-3. The Dolphins responded by scoring another touchdown. This one by Anthony Fasano who caught a four yard pass from backup quarterback Matt Moore who replaced rookie Ryan Tannehill who got hurt in the first quarter when he got sacked by Calvin Pace. Dolphins went up, 27-3.
In the fourth quarter, the Jets' got a touchdown pass from Mark Sanchez who found wide receiver Chaz Schilens from five yards out to get the Jets closer at 27-9 with 7:20 left in the game. They failed to convert on the two point conversion. The Dolphins added another field goal by Dan Carpenter from 42 yards out to round out the scoring with 4:30 left as the Dolphins whipped the Jets, 30-9.
After the game, the King and I went home and we braced for the arrival of Hurricane Sandy which was heading our way.
Thank you for reading and following along.
Yours truly,
Gary Herman
