Royalty goes to the Buckeye State unexpectedly for football over the last weekend in October!

In the middle of October, my pal Eddie Pelle who I met thanks to my blog a few years ago got in contact with me. He wrote me a text message & he asked me if I wanted to go to Cincinnati with him to see the Jets play the Bengals. I told him no instantly since I had to get back to work that Monday morning. The game was starting at 4:05PM & he was going to rent a car for the weekend he said. He told me he would get me back to NYC so I could get to work. With being said, I decided to reconsider his idea. 

I did some research & I noticed there were other games that we could make that Saturday in Ohio. We had a college football doubleheader as it turned out. The Ohio Bobcats were playing at home at 2PM in Athens, Ohio at Peden Stadium against the University of Miami (Ohio) Redhawks. That was followed by a prime time game in Columbus where the Ohio State Buckeyes were hosting the Penn State Nittany Lions at 8PM. Since I was planning to stay home that Friday night October 25th, I knew we could leave after I got home from work. I told Eddie about it. He said that would be fine. 

I mentioned it to the King & he decided to join us. With that being said, I proceeded to book hotels for us. I reserved a Super 8 in Hancock, Maryland which was half way to Athens, Ohio. Eddie's only concern was that the road to Athens was a two line road that went through the  mountains. He said he went there once to see a college basketball game. As a result, we needed to allow extra time to get there. In addition, he told me he may need help with the driving. I told him the King & I would be able to help him out. 

As it turned out, he got stuck at work late so he didn't come to pick us up in Astoria until 9PM. While we waited I made the King & I dinner. We stopped off at an ATM machine so Eddie could get some money. He wound up renting a Jeep. After he drove to get the money, he asked me to take over for him since he was tired from an extra long day of work. I wound up driving us to Hancock, Maryland which was 287.5 miles away. We got there around 1:30AM. We checked in & we got some sleep. We also ate breakfast at the hotel in the morning before we continued on to Athens, Ohio. Eddie drove us there. We arrived shortly before kickoff. He bought tickets for us & he had to pick them up at the will call window. Once we got them, we went inside just in for the start of game one. The Redhawks came into the game at 0-7. When the game ended they were still winless as the Bobcats whipped them, 41-16. The game was competitive early on then the Bobcats capitalized on turnovers as they cruised to an easy victory. I was thinking of my pal Rick Morris of the FDH Lounge because he went to school at the University of Ohio.  Unfortunately, he couldn't join us. He was there in spirit.

After the game, we drove to Columbus to see game two at Ohio Stadium aka the Horseshoe as it's called. On the way, we stopped off at Arby's for dinner. 

When we got in the vicinity of the Stadium, parking looked hard to come by. We drove closer & closer, Eddie then saw a garage that was supposed to be reserved for permits. He decided to roll down his window & he offered the young lady money to let us park there. She was kind enough to let us in for free. We lucked out big time. When we walked out of the garage, Eddie gave him some money for doing his a huge favor. We wound up being only a short walk to the Stadium. We had tickets already thanks to Eddie who secured them on Stub Hub for us ahead of time.

As for the game we saw, we expected it to be a decent one. It wound up being a wipe out as the Buckeyes demolished the Nittany Lions, 63-14. 

After the game, we stayed at a Travelodge five miles from the Stadium which worked out well since we had a long day. As a result, we were able to get a real good night sleep before we drove to the Queen City of Cincinnati. 

Sunday morning we got later since the football game was starting at 4:05PM as the Bengals were hosting the Jets. We wound up driving towards Cincinnati before we stopped to eat a late breakfast at Bob Evans in Wilmington, Ohio. Since we had extra time it worked out well. After we ate, Eddie drove us to downtown Cincinnati & we parked the car at 2:45PM. We then walked over to Paul Brown Stadium to see the game. Once again, we had tickets thanks to Eddie who wanted to sit on the lower level. He got us seats on the 35 yard line 11 rows from the field. 

Before the game started I took a walk upstairs so I could see my pal & fellow Jet fan Lieberfarb aka Ira from Staten Island who was there as well. In fact, he's seen every Jet home & away game since 2006. 

As for the game we saw, the Jets didn't show up. They got destroyed by the Bengals, 49-9. 

After the game, we drove all the way back to NYC. We wound up driving 681 miles in ten hours. Eddie & I wound up splitting the driving. I started & closed it out for us. We stopped off for a fast dinner to go from Steak N Shake in Mansfield, Ohio shortly after 10PM. We also got gas there.

We finally arrived back in Astoria at 5:45AM. I barely slept in the car when Eddie took over for me. I decided to unpack. I took a shower & I ate breakfast then I proceeded to go to work.

Stay tuned as I try my best to play catch up on my whereabouts.

Thank you for reading & following along.

Yours truly,

Gary Herman

Royalty sees the Jets play the Falcons on MNF with another fellow roadtripper!

After landing in Atlanta back on Saturday, October 5th, I drove to Tennessee where I spent the weekend. Monday morning October 7th, I woke up & I planned to drive back to Atlanta for Monday night football as the Jets were on the road in Atlanta at the Georgia Dome. When I checked out of the Knights Inn in Cookeville, Tennessee, I went to Cracker Barrel which was nearby for breakfast to start my day off right. I enjoyed my Uncle Herschel's favorite which consisted of scrambled eggs, hash brown casserole, biscuits that came with sawmill gravy along with grits & a piece of farmed raised grilled catfish.

Uncle Herschel's Favorite at Cracker Barrel

After I finished my hearty breakfast, I drove towards the Great Smoky Mountains. I wound up taking a ride
back through Knoxville then I went to Pigeon Forge but when I saw how far out of the way I went, I decided to turn back so I could get to Atlanta. I arranged to meet up with another fellow roadtripper, Mark Chesna who lives about an hour from downtown Atlanta. It should be noted that Mark has been to over 2,700 live sporting events in his life. In addition, he's been to quite a number of countries in different parts of the world. I wanted to meet him earlier than I did. I called him with a progress report. It turned out he was kind enough to wait for me at the CNN Center by the food court. I finally found a parking spot on the street by a meter. Since I arrived around 6:45PM I just needed to feed the meter until 7PM which cost me $2. That was better than paying $10 or $20 in a parking lot and/or garage. In that regard, things turned out well. I wound up walking to the CNN Center which was maybe 10 minutes away. I went by the food court where Mark was holding a table for me. Upon arrival, we said hello to each other. We finally got to put a face with a name. For the past year, Mark & I have been in contact thanks to social media & modern technology. Since time was of the essence, I wound up going to Arby's for dinner. I had a roast beef sandwich with fries & a drink. It worked out well. When I finished eating, Mark & I walked towards the Georgia Dome. We ran into a scalper that Mark recognized on the street. He asked me what I wanted to pay. I told him $20. Surprisingly he was willing to meet my asking price. He had a few seats in the end zone in the upper level. I wasn't thrilled at first but after trying to wiggle my way out of the deal, we gave him $20 a ticket. We continued walking to the Dome.

Mark Chesna & I at the Georgia Dome

When we got there, we walked inside & we walked around the concourse. This was my first visit since 2002 so I didn't mind refreshing my memory of the building.

I was wearing my Gio Gonzalez jersey. As a result, I got some comments from people as I walked around. The best one was from a Latin gentleman who was so happy when he saw the name Gonzalez on my jersey. Mark said the guy must have thought it was a Tony Gonzalez jersey since he plays for the Falcons. It was hilarious. Regardless I enjoyed showing my Gio pride off.

After walking around we decided to go up to section 302 row 15 where my pal Ira Lieberfarb aka Ira from Staten Island was sitting which was in the corner of the end zone. We wound up lucking out into a few seats next to him. It turned out that his seat was better than what we had. It worked well as we got to enjoy the game with him.

As for the game we saw, the Jets lead most of the game. It should be noted they were up 27-14 in the fourth quarter with 12 minutes to go when the Atlanta faithful started to head to the exits. Typical Atlanta sports fans. Quite amazingly, the Falcons stormed back to take a 28-27 lead late in the game. The Jets did get the ball back with some time left. Geno Smith lead the Jets back as he put them in position to win the game. Thanks to the right foot of kicker Nick Folk who booted a 43 yard field goal at the gun which gave the Jets a 30-28 comeback victory. It was a perfect way to end this memorable weekend down South.

It should be noted that during halftime, the Falcons honored former running back Gerald Riggs as they put him in their ring of honor.

After the game, Mark & I walked back to the car that I rented for the weekend. I wound up giving him a ride to the train station where he left his car. We proceeded to say our goodbyes. We both enjoyed each other's company. I want to personally thank Mark for joining me while I was in the area.

Stay tuned for another special post that will go into detail about my return to the Big Apple.

Thank you for reading & following along.

Yours truly,

Gary Herman

Royalty starts the NFL season at MetLife Stadium as Jets open up with the Buccaneers!

Back on September 8th, I got to go to my first of many NFL games I have planned for this season. Being a big time Jet fan, I went to the MetLife Stadium to see my team open their season against former Jet Darrelle Revis and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. During the off season, Revis Island got a new address. He's coming off of a season injury he suffered last season which forced him to miss the majority of the season. In addition, a few years ago he held out before finally signing to come back. I liked Revis but it was a business decision that was made as the Jets and Revis decided to part ways. Time will tell if it was a sound one.

As for me, I was able to meet my pal Larry Peim who was driving out to the game. He met me across the street from Penn Station. It worked out well since he had a parking pass so we didn't have to walk that far to enter the stadium. After the game, I arranged to meet Larry & he gave me a ride back to the Bronx since he lives in Westchester.

As for a ticket, I got one thanks to another friend of mine, Alan Gimpel who has Jet season tickets. He had an extra one that he sold to me at below what he actually paid. I was grateful that he did. I wound up sitting with him in section 306 row 16 which is in the corner of the end zone. I usually prefer to sit on the side but I wasn't going to complain. As a professional observer I adjusted to the different perspective I'm used to having when I go to a football game. Honestly speaking, the view wasn't bad at all.

Before I went to my seat in section 306, I stopped off in section 312 so I could say hello to my buddy & long time Jet fan, Ira Lieberfarb aka Ira from Staten Island as he refers to himself when he calls into the local sports talk shows here in NYC and even other parts of the country. Ira is a class act who quietly watches the game pulling for his team. In matter of fact, he has now gone to all the Jet games home & away that they've played since 2006. That's what you call dedication. The Jets are notorious for being a mediocre bunch since their inception in 1960. Ira being older than me got to see Joe Namath play back in their glory year of 1968 when they won Super Bowl 3. Since then he's seen his share of ups and downs over the years.

After seeing him I went to my seat and I enjoyed Alan's company as well as the game.

As for the game we saw, the Jets decided to start rookie quarterback Geno Smith who they drafted in the second round of this year's draft. He went to college at the University of West Virginia. I did see a game there back in October 2007 before he attended school there. With that being said, this was the first time I actually saw him play a football game. As the game went on, I was impressed with his athletic talent & ability. He showed that he can run when the situation presented itself. I t should be noted that he was tentative about taking too much of a risk when he did. For example, he wound slide a yard or two early so he could avoid taking a big hit. He reminded me of RG3 to a lesser extent. In addition, he showed that he has a strong throwing arm.

The game was close throughout the day. The Jets got on the scoreboard first on a safety of all things. Josh Freeman, the quarterback of the Buccaneers wisely kicked the ball out of the end zone after taking a horrible snap with 8:35 left in the first quarter. By doing so, it only cost his team two points instead of seven if indeed the Jets recovered the ball in the end zone. I thought it was a great heads up play. Later in the first quarter, Freeman connected with wide receiver Mike Williams on a 17 yard touchdown pass to take a 7-2 lead with 1:07 left. The Jets got closer with 11:01 left in the second quarter when kicker Nick Folk booted a 43 yard field goal to make it 7-5. The Buccaneers extended their lead to 14-5 when running back Doug Martin run in from five yards out. The Jets managed to close the gap to two again at 14-12 with 34 seconds to go until halftime. Geno Smith hooked up with tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. for a 7 yard touchdown pass, his first in the NFL. In the second half, the Jets hung tough. The game stayed 14-12 until there was 5:05 left in the fourth quarter. That's when Nick Folk gave the Jets a 15-14 lead by kicking a 30 yard field goal. The Buccaneers answered back with just 34 seconds to go in the game as their kicker, Ryan Lindell, a veteran who played many years for the Buffalo Bills delivered a 37 yard field goal that gave the Buccaneers a 17-15 lead. After a touchback on the ensuing kickoff, the Jets had the ball at their own 20 yard line. Geno Smith went back to work. He hit Kellen Winslow again over the middle for a 25 yard gain to the Jets own 45 yard line. The next play the Jets spiked the ball. Geno Smith then wasn't able to find an open receiver so he took matters into his own hands as he ran for 10 yards to the Buccaneer 45 yard line. It should be noted as he was running out of bounds, linebacker Lavonte David hit him late. He paid for his stupidity as he got called for a personal foul which resulted in a 15 yard penalty that put the ball at the Buccaneer 30 yard line. As a result, it gave the Jets an opportunity to win the game as time was running out. Nick Folk came on & he split the uprights from 48 yards out to give the Jets a 18-17 lead with just two seconds to go. The Jets kicked off and they stopped the Buccaneers after they tried to do some razzle dazzle. The Jets in unbelievable fashion won the game. Christmas came early thanks to Lavonte David & his bone head decision. As for Darrelle Revis he didn't do much as his former team who got the last laugh on this day.

Stay tuned for a very special post that will go into further detail about my latest encounter with my pal Gio Gonzalez of the Washington Nationals. It will be a must read indeed.

Thank you for reading & following along.

Yours truly,

Gary Herman

Royalty sees Jets win in Jacksonville!

Prince at EverBank Field

Sunday morning the King and I stopped off at Waffle House which was up the road from the Days Inn we were staying at in Ormond Beach for breakfast before we drove back to Jacksonville to see some football.

This time the experience was a lot better than the last one we had in Columbus back in October.
After we ate, I drove us back to Jacksonville so we could see the Jets play the Jaguars before we caught our flight home at 7:59PM.

Once we got in the vicinity of EverBank Field which is the home of the Jaguars these days. The last time we saw a game there back in 2003 it was known as Alltel Stadium. After we saw the stadium, we drove around to look for a parking spot. We eventually found one on the street. We walked over towards the Stadium. We had to dodge the rain drops that were falling. We finally got to the area in front of the Stadium around 11:30AM which gave us plenty of time to round up tickets. Shortly thereafter, I heard a guy say who wants two tickets. I immediately ran over to him. He said give me $10. Without hesitation, I gladly did. I wound up getting a pair of $50 tickets for $10 total. That brightened our day and once we got inside the Stadium the rain stopped too. As a result, royalty was really ready for some football now.

We decided to visit our pal Ira Lieberfarb aka Ira from Staten Island who attends every Jet home and away game. He's done so since 2006. As always, it was great to see him again.

As for the game we saw, the Jets got off to a slow start. They couldn't get things going on offense. For that matter, neither could the Jaguars. The game remained scoreless after the first quarter.

In the second quarter, the Jaguars got a 31 yard field goal from their kicker Josh Scobee with 6:44 left until halftime to take a 3-0 lead. Later in the quarter, former Jet Dwight Lowery recovered a fumble and ran it in for an apparent touchdown that would have made the score 10-0 Jaguars. Thanks to instant replay that play was reviewed and the call was changed. The Jaguars maintained possession of the ball but they didn't score and they got the ball at their own 39 yard line. That was a huge play in the game. The Jets clamped down on defense and they only trailed 3-0 at halftime.

In the third quarter, the Jets came out grounding and pounding the ball as they drove down the field to take the lead, 7-3 with 9:11 left in the quarter. Shonn Greene scored from a yard out to help culminate an impressive 57 yard drive. With 2:44 left in the quarter, the Jets extended their lead to 10-3 as kicker Nick Folk booted a 44 yard field goal.

In the fourth quarter, the Jets started to pull away as running back Bilal Powell scored a touchdown on a four yard run to make it a 17-3 game with 12:20 left. The Jaguars fought back as they got a 32 yard touchdown run from running back Montell Owens who made it a 17-10 game with 7:06 left. The Jets did everything in their power to try and blow the game but thankfully they managed to escape with the victory which kept their slim playoff hopes alive.

After the game, the King and I had plenty of time for another hearty dinner on the way to the airport. With that being said, we wound up going to Sonny's Real Pit Bar-B-Q, where you come as strangers and leave as family. The King had catfish for dinner while I enjoyed a sampler of sweet smokey ribs, beef brisket, pulled pork and chicken. It was delicious.

Once we were done we got gas and drove back to the airport. I rented the car to Hertz and we checked in for our flight back to LaGuardia via Charlotte again. We arrived in NYC just before midnight.

With that another memorable weekend getaway was in the books.

Thanks for reading and following along.

Yours truly,

Gary Herman

Royalty sees Jets win in St. Louis!

Prince at Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis

After we spent the night at Knights Inn in the St. Louis area, the King and I drove to downtown St. Louis to see the Rams host the Jets at the Edward Jones Dome.

We got there early so we could park the car on the street within walking distance of the Dome. It worked out well as we were positioned to get to the airport when the game ended.

We walked over to the Dome and we looked for tickets outside. Surprisingly there were a good number of Jet fans heading into the building.

After looking for a while, we finally found someone who had a few extra tickets. We wound up giving him $30 for the pair.

We proceeded to walk in. We wound up sitting in section 441 with our pal, Ira Lieberfarb aka Ira from Staten Island who sees every Jet home and away game. It was great to see him again.

As for the game we saw, it started slow for the Jets as they fell behind 7-0 when wide receiver Brandon Gibson caught a one touchdown pass with 3:45 left in the first quarter to give the Rams' the early lead. With 44 seconds left in the quarter, the Jets' got on the scoreboard as their kicker Nick Folk kicked a 51 yard field goal to make the score 7-3.

In the second quarter, the Jets had a 26 yard field goal attempt blocked by cornerback Janoris Jenkins with 11:48 left. With 4:31 left until halftime, Mark Sanchez connected with Chaz Schilens on a 25 yard touchdown pass to give the Jets a 10-7 lead. They extended their lead to 13-7 with 57 seconds as Nick Folk booted his second 51 yard field goal of the game.

After playing a scoreless third quarter, the Jets padded their lead to 20-7 as running back Bilal Powell ran in from five yards out with 14:16 left in the fourth quarter. Powell scored another touchdown with 8:29 to go to make it 27-7 as he ran 11 yards this time to add to the lead. The Rams finished the scoring as Brandon Gibson caught another touchdown pass with 5:40 left in the game. This one was from two yards out. They failed to convert on a two point conversion so the score remained 27-13 Jets. That's the way it ended as we ended our getaway on a high note.

After the game, we drove to the airport. We returned the car rental to Hertz. 844 miles were safely driven. Then we caught our flight to Chicago before we landed in NYC at LaGuardia airport just before midnight.

With that being said, another memorable weekend getaway was in the books.

Thank you for reading and following along.

Yours truly,

Gary Herman

Royalty is joined by USRT for Jets/Bills football on Curtis Martin Day at MetLife Stadium!

Curtis Martin Day #28 

When the NFL schedule came out back in April, I circled September 9th on my calendar to be at MetLife Stadium for the Jets Opener with division rival, the Buffalo Bills. Apparently I wasn't alone. Shortly thereafter, I was contacted by my pals from Buffalo. I'm referring to Andrew Kulyk and Peter Farrell aka USRT who also wanted to be there to see their Bills open the season.

When they informed me, I told them you're welcome here with open hands. Like Bob Barker used to say on the Price is Right, come on down.

I'm glad they did. Unfortunately they didn't get the outcome they were hoping for.

The Bills picked up Mario Williams as a free agent in the off season. On this day, he was non existent as the Jets shut him down all afternoon.

I felt bad for them. We met up before the game and we caught up on our recent travels. I told them I don't know who's going to win but I hope it's competitive. It turned out to be anything but.

For them, it was a disaster. For me, it was just what the doctor ordered.

As for the game we saw, the Jets shined bright for two and half quarters as they build a 41-7 lead. They slacked off the rest of the way knowing they had the game won. It turned out they did as they won, 48-28.
Mark Sanchez looked like the quarterback of the future we all hoped he would be. He played great thanks to his offensive line who give his great protection all day long. As a Jet fan, I hope this wasn't an aberration. Time will tell.

I got to enjoy the festivities on the field with my pals Larry Peim and Ira Lieberfarb aka Ira from Staten Island in section 312.

At halftime, the Jet organization honored a recent Hall of Famer as they retired the #28 jersey that was worn by Curtis Martin when he played for the Jets starting in the late 1990's. Curtis was a consummate professional and a class act on and off the field. He was a fan favorite. CM as he was called by my pal Jimmy Lieberfarb who's also Ira's Cousin always worked well in the PM. Curtis was a legendary football player and he finally got his just due. The speech he gave to the crowd was so touching. He told us how hard work pays off. He said he never made excuses for failing. He always planned to succeed and he certainly did in his football career. My most memorable moment was back on November 22, 1998 when I saw the Jets play the then Tennessee Oilers at Vanderbilt Stadium. The Jets won and Curtis Martin was the star of the game. He got interviewed after the game and when he was done he threw me his elbow pad. I was so elated. I loved watching Curtis run. He will always have a special place in my heart of hearts.

Thank you Curtis for all the memories you gave to me and the Jet organization.

Thank you for reading and following along.

Yours truly,

Gary Herman

Royalty returns to Cleveland to meet up with Rick Morris of the FDH Lounge and to see the Browns!

Who let the Dawgs out?

Almost a year to the day when we last saw the Browns play the Jets in Cleveland back on November 14, 2011, we returned to scene of the crime if you will. Mind you that's not meant in a bad way. Please don't get me wrong. Please read for further explanation.

That was a historic day for Royalty because the King and I had the privilege and honor of being introduced to a guy named Rick Morris for the very first time thanks to our pal Ira from Staten Island who calls into sports radio talk shows in different parts of the country. It should be noted he's a regular caller on New York sports radio especially during football season.

Ira told Rick about the King and I numerous times in the past. Finally we all got to meet and greet each other in person once and for all.

As a result, the King and I instantly boggled Rick's mind with our sports travel knowledge and stories. In matter of fact, the King told Rick about his unique road trip that he took back on February 14 & 15, 1997 when he went to Washington DC really Landover, Maryland at the time when the Capitals played at the old USAir Arena aka the Capital Centre where he saw the Tampa Bay Lightning play the Capitals that Friday night. Saturday morning he came back to meet me as we were flying down to Tampa via Baltimore to see his Red Wings play in Florida and Tampa Bay. In addition, we saw the back end of the Lightning and Capitals home and home series as it turned out. That trip alone really got Rick's attention. He still to this day tells me how many people that he's told that story to. Needless to say, everybody was blown away.

With all that being said, the King and I and some special company in the form of Frank Anichiarico as well Mike Carroll aka Sabre Mike were also with us as we arranged to meet Rick at a Cracker Barrel in Willoughby, Ohio on our way to downtown Cleveland to see the Browns play again. This time they were playing the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Rick couldn't join us for the Brown game due to a family commitment. After all, even family comes ahead of Royalty.
 
With that being said, I told Rick we'll all get the best of both worlds instead. As usual, I lived up to my reputation, I promised Rick we'll find a way to see him while we were going to be in his neck of the woods.
Rick being a rare breed like myself was very willing to make it work out. We decided to go to Cracker Barrel to have breakfast together. Afterwards, I made some special time for him per his request to do a podcast so he could hear our tentative plans for the remainder of 2011 and the game plan that lies ahead for 2012.

For your listening pleasure, please see the special post that I did previously which has our conversation linked up.

After we said our goodbyes, we all went on with our day. Rick went his way and the rest of us went to see the Browns play.

We arrived in downtown Cleveland with plenty of time to spare before the game started. Another game plan was perfectly executed.

As for the game we saw, it was a battle of two teams that were evenly matched record wise. The Browns and the Jaguars both came in with gaudy 3-6 records.

As the game wore on, the statistics were almost identical. Unlike the Jet game we saw here last year, the score didn't end in a tie like should have.

Despite missing a late field goal in the fourth quarter that would extended the Browns' lead to a touchdown, the Browns were forced to hold on for dear life as they survived a last second scare to defeat the Jaguars as time ran out, 14-10.

With that, it was time to say goodbye to Cleveland as we had to drive back home 480 miles in order to get our friend Mike Carroll back to Grand Central Station so he could make the last train at 1:50AM so he could go home.

In addition, the King had to go to work at 2AM. I managed to stop for a quick dinner break as well as other needed rest stops in order to finish the mission. I got back to NYC with plenty of time to spare as I dropped off Mike Carroll at 1:10AM. He made his train and he arrived home safely. Then I took the King to the Post Office which was a few blocks away.

I proceeded to drop off Frank in Queens where he lives then I took myself home.

Another amazing and memorable weekend was put in the unwritten book.

Thank you for reading and following along.

Yours truly,

Gary Herman

Royalty debuts on the FDH Lounge on Internet TV!‏

Last night was a first for Royalty as I was interviewed live on Internet TV.

I want to personally thank Ira Lieberfarb aka Ira from Staten Island for ultimately making this happen.

Back on November 14, 2010 the King and I were in Cleveland to see the Jets play the Browns.

Before we went to our seats we stopped off to say hello to Ira.

It should be noted that Ira has seen the Jets play all their home and away games for the last 5 seasons which includes the pre season and the post season.

Ira is a great guy and lifelong Jet fan who doesn't go out of his way to be recognized like Fireman Fraud.

Ira's claim to fame is that he calls all the local sports talk radio stations in the area.

For example, on Saturday he called ESPN radio 1050 in NY. He told the hosts that the Jets were going to beat the Patriots. The hosts sounded like Ira was crazy based on the reaction I heard from them. Ira was right on Sunday. He wasn't crazy after all.

Apparently he calls other parts of the country as well.

When we saw Ira from a distance he got our attention and he rapidly waved us up. We were in the right place at the right time.

Ira was speaking to a gentleman named Rick Morris. He proceeded to introduce the King and I to him. We briefly told him about our adventures. Upon hearing a few stories, Rick was left in awe. Before we parted ways, we exchanged contact information. He told me he hosts a talk radio show on the internet. He said I want to put you guys on my show.

Last night marked the four year anniversary of his Great American Radio Show live on Internet TV which is called the FDH Lounge, "Where nothing is off-topic".

The last few months I've been in contact with Rick e-mailing him my current schedule and past credentials to prove we weren't making this stuff up.

The King caught his attention when he told him about the time he saw the Washington Capitals and the Tampa Bay Lightning play a home and home series on a Friday and Saturday night back in the day I believe in 1997 or 1998. Rick was left speechless when he heard that story.

Unfortunately last night the King was unable to join me because it was in Philadelphia watching the Capitals play the Flyers. It should be noted he's a Red Wing fan. Our friend Frankie Centola called him late last week to tell him he had an extra ticket for him so off he went to see yet another sporting event. The countdown to 400 is on again.

As for me, I came home from work after finalizing a deal for a pair of tickets for the Jets/Steelers AFC Championship game on Sunday in Pittsburgh.

After I got home I had to eat and get ready for my for 30 minutes of fame thanks to Ira and Rick.

As I told Rick on the air I cherished the moment from the bottom of my heart.

I look at this as only the beginning of better and better things to come for Rick and Royalty.

I want to personally thank Rick for giving me the opportunity to "scratch the surface" of what Royalty is all about.

In addition, I want to thank those who were able to get access to the show on the internet. Those who couldn't I know you were there in spirit.

I did my best to acknowledge a number of people who I've been blessed to meet in my life who have made my lifestyle what it is today. Without them, this blog would have never happened.

I said 2010 was a great year but 2011 is going to be even better.

So far I look like I know what I'm talking about and the year has just started. I can only imagine what the future holds.

Please keep abreast with me and my blog so you know what's going on in the Life of Royalty.

If and when you want to meet and greet me just let me know so I can arrange to make it happen. Hopefully the King will be around as well. If not, he could be at a game near you.

Thank you for your continued support in the past, present and future.

I hope you enjoyed Rick's show. If so, you can tune in every Tuesday night from 7-10PM. I plan to be apart of a future show.

I want to thank everybody for spending their precious time on me.

Yours truly,

Gary Herman

Royalty attracts attention at Cleveland Browns Stadium as Jets stun Browns in OT!

Prince at Cleveland Browns Stadium

 

After an eventful Saturday night in Buffalo, the King and I continued our road trip to Cleveland, Ohio to see the Jets play the Browns Sunday afternoon.

We were supposed to be joined by our friend from Cleveland, Bessanne Hustosky but unfortunately she told us she couldn't make it due to not feeling well. Her company was missed.

Even though Bessanne wasn't up to the test, the King and I weren't alone. We wound up seeing Ira from Staten Island who sees every Jet game home and away. In addition, he's a regular caller on sports radio shows home and away also.

Speaking of out of town sports radio, Ira introduced the King and I to a guy named Rick Morris who runs a sports talk show on the internet. He instantly wants to put the King and I on a future show.

His website has been added to my blog list so I strongly suggest that you check it out.

We were privileged and honored that Rick was so willing to hear about our past and future adventures.
He said and I quote "you guys are living the dream". He was left in awe of the overview we briefly gave him.

As for the game we saw, it was a thriller indeed. In the end, it turned out right for Ira, the King and I.

The Jets once again found a way to win the game. The Browns with their quarterback of the future now in place in Colt "the real" McCoy who gave the Jets everything they could handle.

We were willing to accept a tie then all of a sudden Santonio Holmes deked and slipped through a tackle and he found his way into the end zone for the winning touchdown with just 16 seconds left in the extra session to give the Jets an incredible 26-20 victory.

It was another stunning ending on the road for Gang Green.

Mark Sanchez was amazing as he alluded would be tackles for sacks and on numerous occasions he completed passes to sustain drives with his ability to buy himself extra time.

As a result, Jerricho Cotchery wound up catching a touchdown pass and a huge pass on third and nine to get a first down in overtime.

What a performance it was for Sanchez and company.

Royalty can proudly say we we're there.

Thank you for reading and following along.

If you're tired of reading about it, then you should do something about it. Talk to me so I can make it happen for you.

Yours truly,

Gary Herman

Jets turn back and double up the Pats, 28-14!

Royalty was in the building

Sunday afternoon at the New Meadowlands Stadium, the Jets took their first step towards showing the division rivals that the division is going to be theirs when it's all said and done.

After spending the majority of the first quarter on the bench except for three plays, the Jet offense led by Mark Sanchez was ready to take flight once and for all.

Finally the "training wheels" were off for Mark. On the first offensive play from scrimmage, he aired it out. The pass he threw was intended for tight end Dustin Keller over the middle down the field. Keller missed it as it went through his outstretched hands. After that, Mark Sanchez settled in nicely.

The offense moved the ball well the rest of the afternoon without making any mistakes. They looked like the offense that got to the AFC Championship Game in January.

Mark in his second year hopefully proved that he's for real. When I saw him play in Houston for the very first time and in person I thought he was the real deal.

He looked good against the Giants in the first preseason game for the time he played.

Since then all I've heard is Mark is no good. I beg to differ.

He's in his second year, this was only the second game of the young season. He deserves a second chance.
On Monday night, he was restricted due to the awful play calling.

Sunday was a different story and Mark showed the nay sayers he's better than they think. Time will tell.
On this day the offense was impressive to say the least. Mark spread the wealth and he utilized all his weapons. I can't wait until week 5 when Santonio Holmes returns.

Dustin Keller had a monster game and Braylon Edwards used his height to reel in a touchdown pass as well a 2 point conversion which was pivotal in this victory.

LaDainlian Tomlinson aka the L Train was running like the wind. He didn't show his age on this day.

He was another guy that Jet fans had their doubts about. Not me I like veterans who have the experience to help the younger players succeed.

The L Train isn't going to derail. He's a welcome addition and it's only a matter of time that he proves to the fan base that it was a sound decision.

On the defensive side of the ball, with Darrelle Revis coming up lame on the play of the game when Patriots wide receiver reeled in a touchdown pass from Tom Brady with his right hand. I was left in amazement by the spectacular grab he made.

After that the Jet defense clamped down and rallied to shut down the Patriots the rest of the game.

Antonio Cromartie aka "Cro" made of for the loss of Revis. He stepped up his game and he picked off another pass.

Special teams were great again. They limited the kickoff and punt returns to minimal damage.

The kicking game was solid thanks to Nick Folk who made 2 more field goals and punter Steve Weatherford who punted the ball very well all day long.

Overall, it was a great team effort in all facets of the game.

More importantly, the team showed much better discipline. They didn't take costly penalties to hurt themselves.

The bottom line is the season was saved.

Next up Sunday night in Miami in prime time. This is a huge game that can go a step further in helping the Jets as they try to put a straggle hold on the division title.

Please note that Ira from Staten Island who calls the local sports radio stations on a regular basis will be there.

I have the privilege of sitting with Ira at the Jet home games in section 312 row 13 on the 30 yard line. In addition, I do plan to hook up with him on the road as well since he's going to all the road games too.

If you bleed green then I strongly suggest that you talk to me.

Royalty strives to make the impossible possible. If you want to find out how then contact me.

Thank you for reading.

Yours truly,

Gary Herman