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 goes to Nashville, Tennessee for football & meets up with roadtrippers old & new!

After spending the night at Knights Inn in Cookeville, Tennessee, I woke up early on Sunday morning October 6th so I could meet up with some people I know who drove from Kansas City to see their football teams play on the road. Thankfully I gained an hour once I left the Knoxville area as I went from the eastern time zone to the central time zone. I drove 180 miles to Nashville so I could meet up with Chris Coats aka KC Superfan & his girlfriend soon to be a Mommy, Brittani Murphy in February. Despite her stomach starting to show, she decided to go with her future husband to Nashville for the weekend. They drove 550 miles each way by car. They went to see their Missouri Tigers play against Vanderbilt on Saturday night. They arrived in the area early in the afternoon. When they did, they came across a brochure for a restaurant called the Loveless Cafe which was located in the western part of the city. Chris wrote me & he asked me if I ever heard of it. I told him no. Luckily while I was at the football game in Knoxville, I asked the young lady I was sitting next to about it because she told me she lived in Nashville. She told me it was very good. With that being said, I wrote Chris back & I told him I'll meet him there in the morning for breakfast instead of Cracker Barrel where we were planning to go. I told him I'll meet him there around 9AM. Unfortunately it wound up taking longer than I planned because this restaurant wasn't right off the interstate which cost me some time. In addition, I needed to stop for gas along the way. Thankfully they got there early & they put their name down for a table for us. When I finally arrived around 9:30AM or so, they were there waiting for me. We still wound up waiting for a while because this place was jam packed with people. It was an interesting set up there. They had a motel, a few stores to shop in as well as the restaurant to eat in. It was Sunday morning & everybody in the area was hungry. Finally around 10AM or so, we were seated.
We ordered our food & we spoke to each other while we waited for it to arrive. When it did, I told Chris this place is like Cracker Barrel on steroids. I had a massive ham steak that came with eggs, grits, homemade biscuits with sausage gravy & pancakes. It was a royal meal in every respect. I'm so glad we all decided to go there.

Prince at LP Field

After we ate, we followed each other so we could get to downtown Nashville together. We were going to LP Field, home of the Tennessee Titans who were hosting the Kansas City Chiefs who came into the game with a 4-0 record under new head coach Andy Reid who I saw when he returned to Philadelphia on Thursday night football in week three. We wound up parking our cars on the street for free & we took a nice stroll over to the Stadium. Chris told me he went on Stub Hub that morning & he bought tickets for him & Brittani. They got seats in the second row behind the Chiefs bench in section 113. I didn't have a ticket yet. As we were walking over one of the bridges that runs over the Cumberland River that goes to the stadium, I saw a guy who had an extra ticket. He said he wanted $40 for it. I told him I'll give him $20. After he thought about it, he decided to give to me for $20. It was located in the upper level in section 313. Since it was close to game time & there was a threat of rain, I decided to stay downstairs instead. I lucked out into four empty seats in the last row of section 114 which was on the 35 yard line. I even had cover since the last two or three rows were protected by a slight overhang. I wrote Chris & I told him if he & Brittani wanted to join me for the second half they could. I also didn't want them to get wet since it did start raining in the second quarter. I was nice & dry where I was sitting. The rain came & went throughout the rest of the game.

Scoreboard at LP Field

As for the game we saw, it turned out to be a good one. The Chiefs raced out to a 13-0 lead in the first half. The Titans came all the way back & they took a 17-13 lead in the third quarter. The Chiefs wound up scoring 13 more unanswered points to beat the Titans, 26-17. As a result, Chris & Brittani had a very happy ride back to Kansas City.

Brittani Murphy, Chris Coats & I at LP  Field

After we got back to our cars, we said our goodbyes. It was great to see them both again.

As for me, I drove to a nearby local bar/restaurant where I was meeting a guy who I know from Twitter who lives in Nashville. His name is Tyler Garret Smith. His twitter handle is @ArenaFanatic. I strongly suggest that if you're on twitter you should give him a follow. I wound up parking in front of the restaurant he suggested. Shortly after I did, he showed up. For some unknown reason, it was closed that day. Luckily there was a Logan's Roadhouse across the street so we went there instead. It was raining so I wound up moving the car into their parking lot. We went inside & we enjoyed dinner together. We got to talk for quite some time. I had a great meal that consisted of wood fired grilled salmon that came with broccoli & cole slaw. It was delicious.

As for Tyler, he works in management for Kroger which is a local supermarket. With that being said, his hours always change. With that being said, he couldn't join me for the football game because he was working. In his spare time, he does like to visit different sports venues on the pro & college levels. He does his own reviews when time allows after he goes somewhere. For example, I looked at his website, Arena Fanatic & I saw his take on different college football venues. He ranked the University of Tennessee as his number one college football venue. He also had Auburn at number four. I was considering going there. I asked him for his personal opinion & he told me & I quote "Neyland Stadium takes the cake." I was leaning towards going there the whole time. He put the icing on the cake for me if you will. He's married to a young lady who went to school at the University of Tennessee. As a result, he got to see some games there in the student section he said. It was an amazing experience. I can only imagine since my experience is so memorable.

After spending some quality time with him, we said our goodbyes. I want to personally thank him for making time to meet me when I was in the area. It was one of the many highlights of that weekend.
I got back in the car & I drove Tyler to his car that was parked on the street in the neighborhood. I then proceeded to drive back to Cookeville where I spent another night at Knights Inn. Before I got there, I stopped off at Steak N Shake which was at the exit before the hotel. I went inside & I ordered a vanilla shake to go for dessert.

Stay tuned for another special post that I'm going to do about that Monday night In Atlanta where I saw some football & I met another fellow roadtripper.

Thank you for reading & following along.

Yours truly,

Gary Herman

Royalty goes to Knoxville, Tennessee to see a college football game at legendary Neyland Stadium!

My Name in Lights at Hertz in Atlanta #338

On Saturday morning October 5th I got up early so I could catch a 7AM flight on Delta Airlines to Atlanta, Georgia. I arrived there a half hour early than scheduled. As a result, I was able to go to Knoxville, Tennessee which was 220 miles was the airport. Upon arrival, I took the new ATL Sky Train from the airport to the car rental center. When I got there, I went to Hertz to pick up my car rental for the long weekend I had. When I got to the car they initially gave me as a #1 Club Gold member I was disappointed. It was a Chevy Aveo. When I turned it on, I saw the odometer said the car had 59,000 miles. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I've never rented a car with more than 35,000 miles. So I walked back to the area where I saw my name in lights. Shortly thereafter, I saw a customer service agent. I told her I can't take this car because it has too many miles. She proceeded to an exchange for me. She gave me a Ford C which was a hybrid car that I never heard of before. I walked over to the car & I saw it was a hatchback without a trunk so I went back again to get another car. This time she gave me a Hyundai Elantra. I was almost ready to drive off with it but when I went to adjust the rear view mirror it fell off. After trying to fix it myself, the manager came over to me. I told her what happened. She told me to pick out a car that was nearby. I decided to take a Chevy Cruze that she was kind enough to drive over to me. Finally after four tries, I got a car that met my standards. This car had only 4,397 miles on it & it was equipped with XM radio. Even though I wasted the time I made up thanks to Delta, I still decided to go to Knoxville so I could see Neyland Stadium which is located in downtown. The game between the Tennessee Volunteers & the visiting Georgia Bulldogs was kicking off at 3:30PM Eastern Time. I wound up leaving Hertz shortly after 10 AM.

First car space I was given

I wound up getting to Knoxville at 1:36PM that afternoon. I had to dodge some pockets of game traffic as I got closer. When I got off the interstate, I drove around the downtown vicinity looking for a parking spot. I noticed parking for $25, $20 & $10 before I came across a lot for $5 which I pulled into. I couldn't park at a meter since there was a two hour time limit. With that being said, I got a real bargain. Once I got myself situated, I walked over towards the stadium.

Since I didn't know for sure I was going there I didn't buy a ticket in advance. They did have tickets at the box office for $80 though. I didn't want to pay that much for the game. So I walked around until I found an area where people were trying to sell their extra tickets. I decided to pass up tickets for $60, $50, $40 & $30. I offered a guy $20 & he said he would take $30. I insisted on $20. He decided to settle for $25 for a seat in the end zone that was 32 rows up. I told him you got a deal. I proceeded to walk inside the stadium. When I got to see the field, I was in awe. I've always heard great things about it. When I finally got to see it for my own eyes, I wasn't disappointed. What a venue it was. It sits over 100,000 people. I savored the moment long before the game even started. I got my money's worth & then some. After I took in the different views on the lower level, I walked along the concourse before I decided to go to my seat so I could get ready for the game. I also got to enjoy the band who were performing on the field especially when they played Rocky Top, the unofficial school fight song. They finished their routine by forming the Power T. Seats in general appeared to be few & far between but I lucked out as I had an extra seat on the bench I was sitting on. I did have a nice young lady sitting next to me. She told me she went to school there. I told her about some of the different college venues I've been to since she asked me who I was rooting for. She was very knowledgeable & I enjoyed her company. During the first half, a guy who was all the way down low in the section got her attention & he told her to come down. It wound up being her husband. She decided to wait until half time before she joined him. When she left I had more space for myself. During the intermission, I turned around & I started talking to some more friendly people who were behind me. They were also fans of the Volunteers. We wound up chatting the rest of the game.

View from my seat at Neyland Stadium

Tennessee Band in the Power T formation

As for the game we saw, the Volunteers fell behind 17-3 in the first half. In the second half, they staged a comeback. They even took the lead late in the game but the Georgia Bulldogs were able to tie it up late as they were able to force overtime. The game was tied at 31. The Volunteers got the ball first in overtime. They appeared to be on their way to a possible touchdown but they wound up losing the ball as they fumbled. The ball went out of bounds in the end zone which resulted in a touchback for the Bulldogs. They took over & they kicked a field goal that gave them a 34-31 victory. It was an exciting game that the Volunteers should have won but they wound up giving it away.

After the game, I walked back to the car. I had to deal with some game traffic as I made my way towards Cookeville where I was spending the night at Knights Inn. I wound up driving 10 miles from Knoxville so I could have my post game dinner at Sonny's Bar-B-Q which I had mapped out in advance. I was so hungry. I wound up getting the all you could eat ribs that they were offering. Luckily I got there just in time to do so. Shortly after I placed my order, other people came in but they were told that deal was no longer in effect.

I took full advantage as I filled up my empty stomach. I came hungry & I left very happy. You can't beat southern hospitality. When I finally finished eating, I got back in the car & I drove 90 miles to the hotel where I called it a night.

Stay tuned for another special post that will go into detail about my latest visit to Nashville.

Thank you for reading & following along.

Yours truly,

Gary Herman

Royalty spends the last weekend in July in Washington DC watching baseball & soccer!

Saturday morning July 27th I got up early so I could take public transportation out to Avis on Long Island in New Hyde Park which is right near where I used to live. I decided to rent a car for the weekend so I could see the Mets play the Nationals in our Nation's Capitol. In addition, I went to see a soccer game too. More importantly, I was hoping to see some people I know who live down there.

I wound up getting a Chevy Impala which was equipped with an XM radio. With that being said, I had the luxury of listening to all kinds of different music and sports. It worked out really well. Since they gave me a car with a half a tank of gas, I had to stop to get more on my way down. I did that at a familiar place. I went to Wawa's in Elkton, Maryland.

I ran into some pockets of traffic along the way but luckily I was able to park the car on the street for free within walking distance of Nationals Park, home of the Washington Nationals. I was considering parking by RFK Stadium where the DC United play soccer since I was going to see them after the baseball game. I would have taken the Metro to Nationals Park. Since I was pressed for time, I decided to drive straight through.

Prince Outside Nationals Park

The King and our pal Vincent Ascanio were already down in Washington because they went to the day night doubleheader that was played on Friday. They stayed over in the area. By doing so, they got to the ballpark early. As a result, they were able to get to $5 tickets at the box office a few hours before the game started. They were able to get me one as well. As I like to say, teamwork makes the dream work. I wound up parking the car at 2:46PM. I called the King and he met me at the gate at the ballpark at 3PM. He passed me out the ticket. Shortly thereafter, I met up with a young lady named Neva outside the ballpark by the team store. She was with her cousin and a friend of hers. They couldn't make the game due to a prior engagement. She met me because I arranged to get a picture signed that she had taken with Gio Gonzalez at one of his foundation's functions. I told her I was going to do my best for her. True to my word, I did indeed. When I saw Gio at Citi Field at the end of June, he signed it. Being the special person he is, he said he remembered her when I asked him. When Neva found out that I got it signed, she was lost for words. She was so happy. She couldn't thank me enough. She told me I made her entire summer. I didn't do anything special. I just asked Gio to sign the picture I printed out in color for her. Thankfully I was able to see him in order for him to do so. When I told her I got it for her, she wanted to know how she could get it. I told her we can meet at the ballpark. True to my word, we did. Ironically the other day she told me she bought a frame for it. That put a big smile on my face. Thanks to me, she now has an autographed framed picture of her and Gio. It's amazing how a small gesture can go so far in someone else's life. With that being said, I feel so good. I know I made a difference just by being who I am.

Gio Gonzalez on cover of Nationals' program

After we spoke briefly, I walked into the ballpark so I could see the game. I stayed downstairs for the first inning then I went upstairs to stand under the press box with the King by section 312. Shortly thereafter, we got a surprise visit by our friend Joe Rossi who came down for the game with a few buddies of his. As always, it was a pleasure to see him again. Later in the game, I got a visit from another person I knew. I'm referring to fellow ballpark chaser David Cordell who came by with his son Sam. Ironically they saw Gio Gonzalez before the game on the field. Since they have season tickets for the Nationals, they were able to take part in a special meet the players event. David said and I quote "Gio signed autographs for everybody who was there." I wasn't shocked at all. That's the Gio I know & love as a baseball player and a fellow human being. He's an inspiration to others. David also told me that his son Sam who is autistic was going to Gio's Special Camp in August. Sam is a lucky child even though he has a disability. He's blessed with great parents. David's wife, Janice who I met at Citi Field in April is a baseball fan too. She stayed at their seats while they came over special to see me. I want to personally thank David for being so kind & thoughtful.

As for the game we saw, the Nationals hit three home runs off Mets' starter Dillon Gee that afternoon. Ian Desmond & Denard Span hit back to back homers in the second inning and Bryce Harper hit a two run homer to back the great pitching that day by starter Dan Haren who was finally on his game. As a result, the Nationals went on to beat the Mets, 4-1. It should be noted that the King, Vincent & I left the game in the bottom of the eighth inning when the sky opened up. The game wound up being delayed an hour and two minutes. They were going to Baltimore to see the Orioles play the Red Sox at Camden Yards on their way home & I decided to go to see the DC United play the New England Revolution in a soccer match at RFK Stadium.

When I got to the parking lot, I heard the end of the baseball game I left. Nothing special happened so I'm glad I did what I did. I parked in Lot 8 since Neva told me that's where the supporters hang out before the game. Mother nature dampened the party atmosphere somewhat. Since I needed a ticket for the game, I decided to go inside so I could relax before the game started once I got one. I wound up buying a ticket outside from someone for $15. It worked out well since the seat was located by mid field so I had a good view of the action. By going there, I was able to say that I've now seen three different sports in RFK Stadium. In 1996, I saw a Redskins game and in 2005, 2006 & 2007 I saw 20 Nationals' games there. It was great timing because the week before I read that they're building a new stadium for the United so their days are numbered at RFK. That sealed the deal for me. I decided I'm definitely going to see that game. In addition, I needed a break from baseball.

Prince at RFK Stadium for DC United

As for the game I saw, I finally saw my first ever goal in an outdoor soccer game in the 8th minute as Luis Silva of the United scored to make it 1-0. In the second half, the Revolution, got even and then some as they went on to beat the United, 2-1. The best part of the game was that at 9PM it was over. They play two 45 minute halves in running time. They usually add on some extra time but in general soccer matches are played in a timely fashion. On this night, I was tired and hungry so I wanted to take care of my body. After the game, I did just that. I drove to Jessup, Maryland where I spent the night at Knights Inn. They also had a Country Pride restaurant there which was open so after I checked in, I went there & I had a hearty dinner.

Live action from DC United game

After I got a good night sleep, I went back there for breakfast. When I got done, I went to Nationals Park to see the Nationals wrap up their weekend series with the Mets. I bought a $5 ticket at the box office & I went inside when the gates opened. I was hoping to see Gio Gonzalez again but there was no batting practice so I was unable to see him. I plan to catch up with him at Citi Field in September when the Nationals return to NYC.

Prince at Nationals Park on Sunday

As for the game I saw, the Nationals took batting practice during the game as they went on to whip the Mets, 14-1. Wilson Ramos hit a grand slam to lead the offensive explosion.

As for the traditional President's race, Abe Lincoln aka Honest Abe won that.

After the game, I drove back home. On the way back, I stopped off at Golden Corral where I helped myself to happiness in Bensalem, Pennsylvania. It was a perfect to end off another memorable weekend.

Stay tuned for my w/o 7/29 in review as I slowly but surely play catch up. Please bear with me.

Thank you for reading & following along.

Yours truly,

Gary Herman

Royalty meets up with some more special people on my way to PNC Park in Pittsburgh!

After getting some sleep at Knights Inn in Macedonia, Ohio Friday night, July 12th, I woke up Saturday morning the 13th and I went to Cracker Barrel in nearby Twinsburg, Ohio for breakfast. I wound up meeting up with the King and our pal Bryan Gilligan there. They were on their way to Wrigley Field in Chicago after they spent the night in Pittsburgh. As a result, we arranged to meet up there at 10AM. It was nice to see them again as they were in the midst of a ten day journey around the Midwest.

After we ate, we said our goodbyes and we went in opposite directions. Since I had a lot of time on my hands, I took a scenic toll free route towards Pittsburgh. I wound up stopping at a Walmart to do some shopping in Salem, Ohio on the way. When I was done, I continued on to the Steel City.

I arranged to meet some people I know who live in the Pittsburgh area for an early pre game dinner. I'm referring to Mike & Alicia Irr who are avid readers of my blog. They wound up going to the Pirate game Friday night. With that being said, I wound up meeting them at Eat N Park in nearby McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania at 3:15PM. We met up there & we enjoyed each other's company. We got to catch up since we last met. When we got done, we parted ways. I want to personally thank them for making time to see me as I was passing through the area.

Stay tuned for another special post that I'm going to write about some more special people that I met up with at PNC Park.

Thank you for reading and following along.

Yours truly,

Gary Herman

Royalty meets up with another special guest at Steak N Shake!

After I said goodbye to my pal Rick Morris of the FDH Lounge, I got in my car and I drove towards Macedonia, Ohio which is where my hotel was for the night. Before I checked in to the Knights Inn there, I arranged to meet another friend of mine, Bessanne Hustosky who wanted to see me again. She told me during the week she wasn't going to be able to make the Tribe game. I told her that's not a problem. She said how about If I meet you for a late post game meal instead. I told her that sounds like a plan.

With that being said, we arranged to meet up at Steak N Shake which was right on the way to my hotel. In matter of fact, it turned out to be a mile and a half away. I was tired and hungry so it worked out well that she was willing to join me.

It was nice to see her again as we got to catch up on things. In the process, I enjoyed some shooters and a shake. More importantly, her company was my top priority. I want to personally thank her for making some time for me while I was in the area.

Stay tuned for another special post that will go into detail about some more special people I got to meet up with as my getaway continued.

Thank you for reading and following along.

Yours truly,

Gary Herman

Royalty meets up with Paul Swaney of Stadium Journey in Detroit!

Me & Paul Swaney, co-founder of Stadium Journey 

After Domish and I left Cleveland Saturday night, we drove to Rossford, Ohio which is just south of Toledo. We spent the night there at Knights Inn.

By doing so we were within an hour from Detroit, Michigan we had a big day of events lined up.

On the way there, we stopped off for breakfast at Cracker Barrel in Monroe, Michigan which was halfway to Motown. We had a tremendous breakfast that started a very memorable day for us.

When we were done, we got back in the car and we drove to downtown Detroit which is located off of I-75. I was going to Ford Field to see the Detroit Lions play the Chicago Bears while Domish was going to Joe Louis Arena to see a college hockey game. He saw Michigan play Michigan State in the third place game of the Great Lakes Invitational Tournament. He got a general admission ticket at the box office for $10.

Before the game, he went to get something to eat at Lafayette Coney Island, which is known for their coney dogs. While he was there, he spoke to a few people. Ironically they turned out to be the parents of Nick Williams who plays hockey in the FHL for the 1,000 Islands Privateers.

We parked the car on the street within walking distance of Ford Field and we walked over to Brush and Adams Street which is right between Comerica Park and Ford Field. Upon arrival, we met up with Paul Swaney, co-founder of Stadium Journey, which is the website that reviews sports venues all over the country and the world. I'm happy to say I'm a special correspondent for his site.

Last year when the NHL decided they were going to have their next Winter Classic in Ann Arbor, Michigan at the Big House which is the home of the Michigan Wolverines on New Year's Day, I planned to go. Ironically that's now where Paul Swaney calls home these days. Paul grew up in Traverse City, Michigan. He then moved to Chicago. Now he resides in Ann Arbor. As time went on, I looked forward to finally meeting Paul who I was introduced to by my pal Andrew Van Cleve back in May 2010 via e-mail. Paul and I have been in constant contact since on a friendly basis as well as on business related ideas and future plans for his site.

When the NHL decided to lock out and ultimately they cancelled the Winter Classic, I told Paul I was coming to Detroit anyway. I wanted to meet him so that was top priority for making this trip. When I was in Chicago a few times over the past few years, Paul was away so we never got to meet up. With that being said, I was determined to do so this time. I told him regardless I was coming and true to my word I made it happen.

We wound up meeting up at 11:45AM. We shook hands and gave each other some much deserved love. Shortly thereafter, I had some business to take care of. Paul decided to join me for the Lion game. He told me he was counting on me to get us tickets for a reasonable price. As the game day got closer, I thought for sure it wasn't going to be that tough of a ticket. Well I was in for a rude awakening. Despite the Lions being so bad this season, they were playing the Chicago Bears who started the season 7-1. They came to Detroit with a 9-6 record and they needed to win plus they needed other teams to lose in order for them to make the playoffs. With that being said, I thought getting in wouldn't be that difficult. Unfortunately I knew a good number of Bear fans would show up but I still thought we could get in without a problem. As the clock ticked, people kept walking by. I asked furiously if anybody had any extra tickets. One guy had a handicapped seat early on for $81 which was face value. I told him no because I didn't want to spend that much since I didn't think this game was worth it. Little did I know, it was going to be such a hassle. Much to my chagrin, other people were looking for $100 a ticket as time went on. It was frustrating to say the least. Finally around 12:45PM, I saw someone who had an extra ticket. I told them I'll give them $20 for it. Thankfully they took it. It wound up having a $35 face value. One down, one to go. I thought I would find another person with an extra ticket before the game started. Unfortunately, I wasn't so lucky. I was really upset because I very rarely get into a game late unless I get stuck in a traffic jam. Time went on, less and less people were coming towards the gate to enter the stadium. Luckily around 1:15PM, three people came along and they had an extra ticket. It had a $55 face value on it. I reluctantly told them I'll give them $40 for it because Paul said he was willing to pay that much for a ticket. I would have offered them less for it but a scalper was trying to get it too after I made the initial contact with them. I wanted to get inside so badly. Thankfully they took the $40 and we headed in. Paul went in first with his camera. He got in relatively easily. As for me, I was given a very hard time by a lady who was working security at the gate. She gave me hell after all the aggravation I had just to find a few tickets to get in. This was the last thing I needed. I vowed to never come back to Ford Field. I was that upset on how she treated me.

Finally I caught up with Paul and we went to find seats together so we can sit and watch the rest of the game. The Lions just scored to make it 3-0 on a 44 yard field goal by Jason Hanson with 5:54 left in the first quarter which capped off a nine play 65 yard drive as we got into the building.

As for seats, Paul & I wound up finding some empty ones in the last row of the lower level in the end zone despite the fact the stadium was pretty packed. After I finished blowing off steam from the horrible experience I had, I was finally able to sit and relax. After a false start, Paul and I got to enjoy the game and each other's company. He told me he was glad I got everything off my chest. I was really upset. I thought that was very nice of him. I knew from our constant contact he was truly a kind and caring human being. I'm happy to say I was right.

As for the rest of the game we saw, the Bears scored 20 unanswered points before the Lions added a touchdown with 12 seconds to go before halftime which cut the Bears' lead to 20-10 at the intermission. In the third quarter, the Lions got within three at 20-17 with 6:31 to go. The Bears extended their lead to 23-17 with 1:49 left as kicker Olindo Mare booted a 28 yard field goal. He split the uprights again with 10:47 to go in the fourth quarter to make it 26-17. The Lions gave the Bears a scare as they caught a 9 yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Brian Robiskie from quarterback Matthew Stafford with 6:55 left in the game.

Fortunately for the Bears, they held off the Lions for the 26-24 victory. Unfortunately they didn't get the necessary help they needed from other teams as they wound up out of the playoffs.

After the game, Paul and I went to R.U.B. BBQ Pub which is located a few blocks away from Ford Field for a post game meal. We both ordered a half a rack of  mouthwatering St. Louis ribs. In addition, we had some great side dishes as well. Paul went with their jalapeno cornbread and macaroni & cheese while I chose cole slaw and broccoli.  It turned out to be an excellent dining choice. I strongly suggest if you like southern style food that you give them a try if and when you happen to be in Motown.

Stay tuned for another special post that will recap the next leg of the getaway.

Thank you for reading and following along.

Yours truly,

Gary Herman

Royalty returns to FedEx Field and meets up with a football roadtripper and his family!

Prince at FedEx Field - Home of the Washington Redskins 

After I said goodbye to the Van Cleve family in Philadelphia, I drove 120 miles to Laurel, Maryland which is midway between Baltimore and Washington DC where I spent the night at Knights Inn. The hotel is conveniently located right the exit of the Baltimore-Washington Parkway off Maryland highway 198. I got a good night sleep. After I cleaned up and checked out of the hotel, I decided to have some breakfast at McDonald's which was located right next door.

After I ate, I got back on the highway and I drove to Landover where FedEx Field is located. It's the home of the Washington Redskins who are celebrating their 80th anniversary season. In addition, it was their home opener and it was Robert Griffin the Third aka RGIII's home debut as the Redskin quarterback. I wound up parking the car in a nearby neighborhood on the street for free. It's a nice walk to get to the stadium from there but it's good exercise and it beats sitting in traffic to get out of the parking lot after the game. I parked the car at 10:45AM. I started walking over towards the stadium and I e-mailed my pal and fellow roadtripper, Charles Stephenson  who has Redskin season tickets. He has five altogether so he can accommodate his whole family which includes his wife Betsy and their three young children Grace, Abbey and Charlie. I met Charles for the first time last November at FedEx Field when the Redskins played the San Francisco 49ers. He had an extra ticket that day and he gave it to me. It was really nice of him. I was very grateful. This time he told me all his tickets were accounted for. In a side note, Charles went to New Orleans to see the Redskins open the season which was RGIII's NFL debut. He also went to Heinz Field in week two where he saw my Jets play.

I told him it's not a problem. I'll get one outside the stadium when I get there. He had invited me to tailgate with them before the game. I had a great time last year doing that with him. This time he told me they diverted him from the area he normally parks at for the game. Since I needed a ticket I wanted to secure one before I tried to meet up with them. After trying to get a ticket for a little while, I finally found a guy who was willing to take $30 for a ticket. I met a guy named Jack who was with two young guys, they were probably his sons. He told me to follow them. He had to go to the will call window which was right nearby to get the tickets. It worked out beautifully for me. I told him I'll see them inside. I have a friend who's tailgating and I want to go see him before I go inside. He gave me the ticket and I promised him I would come up to the seat. I got in the building after I spent some quality time with the Stephenson family who feed me well. I had a bratwurst and some steak while I was with them. I want to personally thank them again for their tremendous hospitality. I got to meet Charles' wife Betsy for the first time. I told her how lucky she is to have Charles for her husband. He's such a great guy. He seemed embarrassed but I prefer to tell the truth. That's what I think and I told her so. I'm sure she knows she knows she's truly blessed. After they cleaned up, we all walked over to the stadium and we headed inside. We parted ways and told each other we'll get together again in the future.

As for the game we saw, the Redskins kicked off and they fell behind on the first play from scrimmage as the Cincinnati Bengals called a direct snap to Mohammed Sanu who's a rookie from Rutgers who I saw play at Yankee Stadium in the Pinstripe Bowl back in December. Sanu threw a bomb to wide receiver A.J. Green who ran it in for a 73 yard touchdown to give the Bengals the early 7-0 lead just 17 seconds into the game. I saw it downstairs before I wound up going up to my seat in the upper deck by the 30 yard line in section 429 row 14 with Jack and the two young guys which had a $79 face value. I had a great a view of the action. Shortly thereafter, the Redskins evened the score at seven just four minutes into the first quarter as former Kansas State linebacker Rob Jackson intercepted a pass in the end zone that resulted in a touchdown for the Redskins. Upon doing so, they played the Redskins' fight song, Hail to the Redskins. The Bengals proceeded to score the next 17 unanswered points to take a 24-7 lead in the second quarter. The Redskins added a field goal just before the half to trail 24-10.

The Redskins got the ball first in the second half and they carried the momentum over as they marched down the field to get within a touchdown at 24-17. Later in the quarter with 3:29 left, they got even again at 24. Unfortunately for the natives the Bengals responded by scoring two more touchdowns to take a 38-24 lead. The Redskins got one back to cut the deficit to seven as RGIII ran one in from two yards with 3:35 left in the fourth quarter. The Redskins almost got the onsides kick but it went a yard too short when they recovered the ball. They had one last gasp chance but a costly unsportsmanlike conduct penalty took away that chance as the ball was knocked down as the Bengals held on to beat the Redskins, 38-31. It was an exciting game to be at. I felt bad for Charles and his family. On the other hand, my Mike Carroll who couldn't join me is a Bengal fan so I was happy to bring him back a victory.

RGIII finished the game with 85 yards rushing on 12 carries. He's a tough guy and I think he has a bright future in the NFL. For the good people I know who live the in the DC area, I hope so. Time will tell.

Stay tuned as I continue to recap my adventurous Sunday as I went to Baltimore for Sunday night football.

Thank you for reading and following along.

Yours truly,

Gary Herman