Hello everyone, Miggy dragging you away from normal life for another post... in case you were living under a rock,I was selected to representVillanova as one of 16 alumni participants in this year's Biggest Big EastFancontest...the gracious people atVolvo are sponsoring the competition and putting up a sweet, sweetVolvo S60 to the winner. (And here’s thevideo to prove it)
So along with the voting that started at mybigeastvolvo.com (cough, VOTE FOR ME, cough), we are in the middle of the blogging portion of the competition (this being the 6th of 8 challenge posts). Let's add on the fact the contestants will be/have been sent to their alma mater for one weekend using the S60 to attend a game…
(THIS Saturday!!! Jan 28!!! I will be back @ Nova vs Marquette, get ready!!!!!!!)
Challenge #6: What are your favorite places to watch your team when you can't be at the game?
Preface…So I wanted to write this up a bit earlier this round so Eamon can try to remind people he writes here too squeezing in his uber-Pats homerisms (seriously though, congrats on making the Super Bowl, I guess…ha) before my post-Volvo trip write-up…I guess to write this up, probably gonna need some help though…
…I mean I was considering just the couch I made such an impression on in the VTV Studio, as seen as on TV:
...(edit: sorry, Facebook giving difficulties on how to load video and change privacy settings...facepalm...feel free to friend me on Facebook to watch it though...and feel free to learn Swede speak by liking Volvo...and done with commercials)
But alas!!! A Ghost of Miggy’s Past appears:
…and drags me though flashing lights and crazy sound effects (woosh, woosh, woosh, woosh) back to my days at Villanova. Through the experience a series of wormholes and loops like that scene in Contact, I am dropped right into Connelly Center (luckily, not in the fountain inside the building). Students are littered throughout the building wearing their V-Shirts. V-Shirts, should be a game day then. Yet, these students are here at the Connelly Center and not at the game? Must be an away game…ahh, this must be one of the many gamewatches run by Campus Activities Team . Yeah, this is the place to be when watching a game back at Nova: crowd + food + contests + whatever else they pull off during each gamewatch.
…but, I’m a grown man now (I think)…I graduated from Villanova, so where do I like watching Villanova games now? The couch beckons again…
Oh, and magically, the Ghost of Miggy’s Present appears:
This phantom decides to play games with me and throw me into two scenes at once (so this is what double vision is like). A bar appears in each of the images…people gather to screens all throughout the establishments. Food and drinks at hand, fans from new grads all the way to established vets roam the halls. It should be a weeknight; briefcases and suit jackets can be found alongside chairs and stools. Yep, the Nova game is on, figures…funny though, I know one of these flashbacks too well, I just wrote about it last week (a challenge-winning post, thanks all for your help and support in this).
The Australian…
…and Cooper Door Tavern
Both of these are the home bases for gamewatches sponsored by VUAA Manhattan Chapter…Yeah, great way to meet up with friends and other Wildcat fans here in the city and view the game as if we’re there in the Pavilion (or WFC…or in Connelly Center for away games…). This would be my choice for current spots to watch Villanova games.
I guess that would do it, right?...Right?...Can I wake up now?
And that’s when another ghost, the Ghost of Miggy’s Future appears:
…Wait, where else would I be watching the game? (Somehow I doubt the couch is still an acceptable answer)…I only sit in awe as time speeds…people come and go in instances, flying faster than my thoughts…when the pace of reality settles down, the ghost drags me outside. I could only chuckle as the sight I’m witnessing: another of my prior posts coming to fruition. With a couple of friends, I’m sitting in the Volvo S60, the car won from this Volvo Biggest Fan of the Big East contest, and watching the game though the rear set entertainment system. The more I think about it, why wouldn’t this make sense? …Tailgating before the game, hitting up a drive-thru during halftime, setting up the wireless router and Xbox 360 to watch the game while updating Facebook and Twitter, and the seats are as good as a couch anyway.
So that’s it, I guess thanks to my helpers (no, you guys can’t raid the fridge)…Was there supposed to be a moral in this, like A Christmas Carol? Well if you draw one up, you tell me.
As usual, feel free to make your comments...and/or like it, and/or re-tweet it, do something (please?)
Follow me on twitter @miggyflavored, and GO NOVA! (V for Villanova, V for Victory, V for Volvo)
(As always, many thanks to Volvo & the agency setting up the competition for giving me opportunity to represent, and Eamon O'Meara for the opportunity to work in this blog [until I regret it with your hourly Pats updates before the Super Bowl…kidding])
Hello everyone, time for Miggy again... in case you were living under a rock,I was selected to representVillanova as one of 16 alumni participants in this year'sBiggestBig EastFancontest...the gracious people atVolvoare sponsoring the competition and putting up a sweet, sweetVolvo S60to the winner. (And here’s thevideoto prove it)
Soalong with the voting that started atmybigeastvolvo.com(cough, VOTE FOR ME, cough), we are in the middle of the blogging portion of the competition (this being the 5th of 8 challenge posts).Let's add on the fact the contestants will be/have been sent to their alma mater for one weekend using the S60 to attend a game (In two weeks, Jan 28, I will be back @ Nova vs Marquette, you’ll want to get ready to that weekend, just saying…) Again, I ask, why wouldn't one accept?
Challenge #5: What are the best traditions for your alma mater and why? (From personal traditions, traditions at the school and even fun traditions that you and your friends had while you were in school.)
Preface: So when thinking of traditions, we think of the stories behind them. Therefore, what better way to answer this question by telling a story?
Sit around this Yule log and enjoy a tale…
...It was last Wednesday afternoon: the Syracuse game. The season has not been going well for Villanova, an 8-8 season, but a win versus the number one Orange surely would push momentum the other way, right? Scavenging through the Internet, other Wildcat fans try to mention possible underlying factors that could serve as motivation.
“Villanova was 8 of their last 11 versus Syracuse”
“This may be the last time Nova-Cuse plays as Big East Rivals in Philly”
A weird quirk I have is that I walk away from the computer when gathering thoughts.In my head, I think: the people are hopeful, which I find pleasantly surprising.Maybe it would not be a bad idea to head to a gamewatch after all.The Old Person Tradition for Nova fans is to hit their official Villanova Gamewatch, set up by their local Villanova Alumni Chapter.The events are a nice rally point for alumni to meet up, which with professional lives is not as easy to do, and share our passionate opinions on everything from the team to the weather.
I speed back to my desk to find which bar is designated for this gamewatch. My head subtly sinks when opening the VU Manhattan Chapter invitation. There is not one, but two bars selected as today’s destination: The Australian and Cooper Door Tavern. As I been to both bars, which option to choose to was not automatic in my mind. After some self-debating (and a quick check of the weather), I decide the proximity of The Australian from my office wins out.
The decision was not completely firm until responding to the text, “Which bar are you heading to?”
The text belonged to my friend, Amanda. She was the first person who knew about my involvement in the Volvo Biggest Fan of the Big East competition (because she originally considered to enter the contest herself, but after declining, recommended me as a contestant). The very reminder of this connection inspires me of a second motive to head to this gamewatch. This latest challenge for the competition is to describe the best traditions for your alma mater.
A plan forms to interview my fellow Wildcats at The Australian on how they would answer the question. The interviews would be combined into a single video to air on the Internet. My hope is to find a few of the younger Villanova alums since they would not only remember me as the Villanova representative for the Volvo Big East Fan contest, but as “that guy” who ran his own television sports show on campus. Oh, memories of Sportstime: A Miggy-Flavored Sports Show. Hopefully this combination triggers in their memories, taking away (or adding) any awkwardness of a person holding a camcorder in their faces.
The strategy does need me to fight my own hesitations. The show, as most created in Villanova Television (VTV), ends when the producers graduate (although one could always debate with Andrew Simone, creator of VTV Classic[…where Babel never sleeps] if those shows should end). Therefore, my involvement in video creations has been limited, almost non-existent, since my school days. However, the interview question asks for Villanova traditions. One of the unofficial fan traditions, started somewhere, sometime in the Augustinian Army, is creating fan commercials.
As I check the time; the watch reads six. I decide probably better to start heading to the bar. The awkward silence of being one of three people in the office finally has dawned on me. Grabbing my raincoat, my Volvo Big East fan hat and my Sony Bloggie, I head out into the chilling air of New York.
“Not the most fun day for a walk”, I ponder as a weak drizzle is whipped around by the strong winds. A fourteen-block trip from the office to The Australian has the feel of a forty-block journey. Alas, I eventually reach 38th Street, and realize the bar is within sight. I pull out the Bloggie, and after a few tense seconds thinking the device would not turn on, the camcorder is activated. The first step of this plan was to film an introduction, including a display of the entrance of the bar as “one of the hot spots for Villanova fans in New York City”. After fifteen minutes of programming the Bloggie to the right settings, finding the right background position, avoiding pedestrians and their quizzical looks, waiting for each truck to carry its noise to the next block, and twelve takes, an acceptable twenty-second introduction is recorded.
After the debacle outside was settled, time to head inside.I stumble across The Australian to the rear of the bar, where most of the Villanova alumni usually gather.As I clear the main walkway, I spot a couple familiar faces among a group sitting in a bench. Seeing Andy and Olivia makes me feel better about my chances for this plot to work.The game started a couple seconds before my entrance, so our attention is divided between the game and our conversations.
Andy, knowing about my participation in the Volvo Big East competition, opens up with the question: “How’s the contest going?”
I chuckle as I present the Bloggie on the table. “Funny you should ask…would you like to help with my next challenge? I am trying to figure out the best Villanova traditions and was looking to interview people on their answers. Probably won’t record it until later like after the game though so you have time to think about it.”
“Sure”, he replies. Andy pauses for a few seconds to contemplate, then fires off, “Like when the team throws up their V’s after each game?”
“Yep, just like that.”
His answer killed two birds with one stone. The V-sign may seem like the peace hand sign, but to Villanovans, when you throw your V’s up, it means a sign of pride in everything that is Villanova.
Among other times when you throw your V’s up, after each Villanova men’s basketball game, the team gathers and holds up the gesture to the Villanova crowd as our fight song, “V for Villanova” is played.
A Dion Waiters three lights the screen as Villanova calls timeout. Nova is only down 9-13 at that point when Onir walks in. After rearranging the seating arrangement, time to spring the question on another friend. “So Onir, what’s your favorite Villanova tradition? I’m trying to film a video for my next post.”
“Hmm”, the only word formed as a response.
Nova Nation is featured on television as the timeout comes to an end. The student section is a sea of blue as everyone is wearing their Nova Nation shirts. The traditional fan gear, every student is given the shirt to wear at every Villanova event.
It is as if ESPN drew up a cue card for me, “You know, like wearing your Nova Nation shirt or something”
“Get back to me, I’ll try to come up with a good one”, he retorts. A waitress walks by and hands everyone a complimentary shot of Jameson. My guess is that this was the real reason for the delay, but who am I to blame him as I consume the freebie. In terms of the game, Ty Johnson connects on a three to tie the score at 13-13. A few misses and a foul later, another round of commercials ensues.
During the break, Amanda finally appears, resulting in another round of musical bench seats. After exchanging pleasantries, I ask to see if I could draw another victim volunteer for my experiment. She declines, officially breaking my streak at two. So moving on from that failed attempt, we decide to broaden our talking points to our jobs, the Volvo contest, and the team. That TV timeout did nothing for Villanova, as a cycle of Nova misses and Syracuse buckets would happen. Seconds and minutes would flow and each Orange basket only dampens the mood further. Amanda finally cries out, “I have been here for how long? We made three points since I got here!”
Onir receives his order of nachos during the 21-3 Cuse run; the appetizer reminds the rest of the table that it is usually dinner time. I buy into the appealing looks of the nachos and order some myself. By halftime, everyone is settling in to their focus of food and drinks as we try to hide the fact Villanova is down 43-24. The presence of my plate of nachos reminds of my superstition. Some people believe in rally caps, rally monkeys or many other charms; such providing luck for their team during dire circumstances. My Villanova superstition during games I attend at the Wells Fargo Center (or whatever bank it is called nowadays), is to eat a batch of Chickie and Pete’s crab fries.
The tradition started in 2007, during the first ever Big East-SEC challenge. Villanova, playing LSU, was down throughout the entire game. Losing by at least 15 with ten minutes to go, I stormed out of my seat out of frustration. I was not completely sure what to do while I was roaming the arena until I saw the Chickie and Pete’s station. I decided to grab crab fries, since I never sampled the food before. I reach back to my seat, where my friend Shashika laughs at my idiotic comment, “There are no crabs in these crab fries!” He was already enjoying the earlier site of me lecturing two sorority girls on what the team is doing wrong. As the fries went, so did our 21-point deficit. With my last bite, Malcolm Grant gets fouled behind the three-point line pulling the game within one. I could still picture the looks on our faces when we witness Dante Cunningham scoring the game-winning basket. From that game, whenever attending a Villanova game inside the WFC, any gigantic margin not in our favor would call for a set of crab fries.
The second half of the present game begins, and the Wildcats still remain to struggle. As more familiar faces in The Australian, the talk moves away from the game and towards any other subject coming to mind. I join into the discussion sparingly, trying to focus on hoping another LSU-type rally. It is not until Onir randomly asks, “What’s that name of that song we all sing at games? ‘ooh-ahh’, that’s a tradition, right?” when I finally divert my attention.
“You mean ‘Hey Baby’? Yeah, that’s definitely a tradition”
Hey Baby, the unofficial traditional song played during each Villanova game, has the same type of connection to the student section that Red Sox fans have with Sweet Caroline (Many other teams try to play Sweet Caroline as well, even Villanova’s band, and I do not want to get started with my disapproval of such an act).
A mini-rally for Villanova keeps them at an eleven-point disadvantage. Maybe the nachos could be a lucky charm after all. Before that last thought surged through my head, Syracuse scores six unanswered. One of my fellow teammates with the Villanova Curling Team texts me. The text had nothing to do with the game, but the fact is a nice transition to another unofficial tradition during my days at Villanova. For the past three years, College Curling Nationals would fall on the same weekend as Selection Sunday. The Curling Team likes to follow their own traditions (why not, the team received medals each year we competed), including eating a deep-dish pizza dinner before the flight home. Since our departures are not usually until later in the evening, every year the team would huddle around the same bar/restaurant, the Fox Sports Sky Box, in Chicago O’Hare Airport watching as the bracket is filled. Obviously, the shouts or moans when Villanova is displayed would come from us, as we still are garnished in our curling uniforms.
Another Orange score lights the screen. A twenty-point deficit, with less than six minutes to go, Amanda decides to call it a night. I could not blame her, especially being she needs to catch a train all the way back to Long Island. Everyone else is enjoying each other’s company. I cannot look away from the painful images of each Wildcat turnover, missed shot, foul or defensive lapse. Onir is staring into space and points at his ear, trying to recognize the song playing in the bar.
Of course, how could I forget! Hoops Mania is the opening tradition of the basketball season. Among other things, WWE-style entrances, dance routine, dunk contest and inter-team scrimmage would fill the program. However, the reminder was of the secret special-guest performer who would appear at the end of the night. My Freshman year, although G Unit’s Tony Yayo was the official star, 50 Cent graced us with his presence as well. Junior year, I was not even a foot away from T-Pain, filming the festivities for Villanova Television purposes. This season, Drake astonished campus as this year’s guest.
The game finally ends, Villanova losing 79-66. It is never an easy task facing the number-one ranked team in the country. As I run into a couple familiar faces in The Australian, Andy passes by, “So would you still want to pull off the video? You gotta still win that Volvo!”
I appreciated his concern. However, looking at his face along with the rest of the Villanova supporters, the last thing I would want is to capture their disheartened expressions on film. Nova fans are a proud bunch, win or lose, but having to display on film about happy traditions after a demoralizing loss is probably not the smartest idea in the world, “Nah, don’t worry about it, next time.”
Next time, because there will always be a gamewatch, there will always be better times for our basketball team, and there will always be traditions for you and your fellow Villanovans to carry on.
So I hope you all enjoyed a story really overblown, if not about nothing even (but so was a show called Seinfeld). That said, I hope I gave you some insights on a few Villanova traditions.
As usual, feel free to make your comments...and/or like it, and/or re-tweet it, just do it.
Follow me on twitter@miggyflavored, and GO NOVA! (V for Villanova, V for Victory, V for Volvo)
(As always, many thanks to Volvo & the agency setting up the competition for giving me opportunity to represent, and Eamon O'Meara for the best blog in the world to work with [glad his New Year’s resolution is to start writing on his own blog again, ha, but seriously, glad you’re back dude])
Hey everyone, Miggy here...as you all know, I was selected to representVillanovaas one of 16 alumni participants in this year's Biggest Big East Fancontest...winner gets $10,000 donated back to their alma mater’s scholarship fund…just in case that for some reason that wasn't enough to accept, the gracious people atVolvoare sponsoring the competition and putting up a sweet, sweetVolvo S60to the winner. (And here’s the video to prove it)
So along with the voting that started atmybigeastvolvo.com(cough, VOTE FOR ME, cough), I'll be asked to blog on 8 challenge topics over the course of the season.Let's add on the fact the contestants were sent to Big East Basketball Media Day and will send each person to their alma mater for one weekend using the S60 to attend a game (I'll be heading to Nova Jan 28 vs Marquette). Again, I ask, why wouldn't one accept?
Second challenge: Pick 5 or more things that you have to do when you return to your Alma Mater (weekend for the Jan 28 game vs Marquette, so let's be practical here people)
1)…Hold the Wheel and Drive (cookie for whoever gets the song reference first): So for those who don’t know me, I never had a car disposable for my own use. During my days at Nova, I would have to rely on family, friends or public transportation to bring me from New York to Pennsylvania and vice versa (which I still thank everyone for). It was such a pain especially Senior year when living off-campus. Although I lived a short walk from campus, continuously needing to hitch rides to friends’ places, for example, was never fun. The fact Volvo is actually lending me a Volvo S60 for a weekend actually means a looooooooooooooot to me. For the first time ever in my life, I will be sitting in the driver’s seat for the duration of the 2 hour, 15 minute trip. I will admit I would probably need a test lap around the block before the journey starts. This way, I don’t get lost in the many features of the S60 (hey, it’s not every day I get to drive such a nice car).
2) The (new) Campus Crawl: If you have been around Villanova as of late, you would notice there is much construction currently underway as the university is still trying to complete the first phase of its Transformation of the Campus Landscape initiative. In fact, as of this past Monday, students were finally able to access the main entrance of Connolly Center once again. That said, if I have to drop by campus again for old time’s sake, the one necessity I would have is to see all of these new renovations myself. Hopefully, the Oreo would be available to visit as well. However, it may still be closed off since it’s being moved.
The rest of my campus tour, while would be awesome to pull off, probably is not feasible when trying to catch an early game all the way in Philly. However, I’m not going to spoil the fun just because I won’t be able to pull off a full tour around campus. Just some a few of the places I would recommend visiting, in case one makes their first trip to Villanova:
Connolly Center
St. Thomas of Villanova Church
The Oreo (Actually named The Awakening, but no one really calls it that)
The Grotto (left: current, right: post renovations)
The Sister Bell (The other bell originally used in Independence Hall, located currently in the Augustinian Heritage Room in the Monastery)
"The Heisman" (A statue of St. Augustine next to the Monastery...and yes, there's always a chance of snow that weekend, making this an appropriate picture...)
And…if you’re REALLY lucky, you’d somehow end up on my favorite spot on campus, which is always deemed inaccessible (and therefore not giving the location), but I still get e-mails, pictures and txts from current students I know when they discover the place. Trust me, you’ll know if you end up there…although I can already see the spot from this photo…
That said, there’s always something random happening on campus…from presidential campaigns, celebrity sightings, TV show contests, World Series trophy visits, concerts…and let’s not forget about the community already in campus, I’ve experienced first-hand how everyone, and I mean everyone, finds a way to contribute to the campus spirit…just watch the video below if you don’t believe me...
3) Carpooling to Wells Fargo Center (formerly known as Wachovia Center/First Union Center/CoreStates Center/ or my favorite, Spectrum II): Walking around campus will be nice and all, but there’s a game that must need attending. That particular game is being held at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia and not in the Pavilion on Villanova’s campus. But, since I’ll already be in the area, why not give a lift to a few more members of Nova Nation, or for the even more die-hards, The Augustinian Army (I guess my term calling them the Wildcat W(r)ascals won't catch on...) and create a little carpool to the game? I mean I enjoy Philly’s public transportation system like anyone else (read that in whatever tone of voice you think is most suitable), but something tells me the guys will enjoy the car ride a bit more...plus, it's a way of me paying it forward for all the times I was the one in need of a lift. I mean these people deserve it, they are some of the most passionate fans ever...
Although I'm hoping to pass, especially since of point #4, best food item to grab while catching a game at WFC is Chickie and Pete's Crab Fries. The main reason I'm trying to avoid it is because I find myself ordering a batch every time we're down big at the half...as started with the 21-pt comeback vs LSU back in '07...call it superstitious or calming the nerves, I just call it delicious...
4) Cheese Steak Run: What is more Philadelphia than a Philly Cheese Steak? It’s always great to grab a delicious cheese steak after the game; however, most of the best spots are not easy to reach at all using public transportation. Oh the wonders of having a car as your disposal…the best part is, we don’t really, REALLY need to fight about which cheese steak is better amongst Pat’s, Geno’s and Tony Luke’s. Since we have the S60, we might as well hit up all three. Granted I’m hoping they lend me a car with a functioning Volvo Sensus because I’m pretty sure we’ll get lost somewhere along the way.
As a side note, probably gonna take our sweet time downing those delicacies to make sure it’s getting dark when driving past Boathouse Row heading back, one of the best sights in Philly bar none.
(Bonus: for those who never even been to Philadelphia period, a couple top things to visit: The Philadelphia Museum of Art, especially so you can do your own Rocky training montage, Independence Hall, and Reading Terminal Market)
5) Main Line Bar Hop: The Main Line has their fill of bars to visit (how else do you expect college kids to cope?), which is why for the past few years I dropped by during my birthday just to bar hop. This weekend won’t be any different…(cuing my best Howard Dean impression)...we’re gonna hit up Flip’s, then Kelly’s, then Maloney’s then Erin’s, then the Grog, then Brownies, then Mixx, BYAH! (here’s the video if you have no idea what I’m referencing)
Yes, someone will end up designated driver for the shindig…if it ends up being me, that’s fine, saves me from my Asian Glow. Also, in case anyone needs to sober up before they head back, a 12-patty!!! bacon cheeseburger, known as the OMG Burger, could be summoned once again from BRGR Joint…again…(although, still a tad bit upset my name isn’t on the wall of fame on the since I did this challenge before the the wall was built…)
6) The Trip Home: Hoping to drive home after a Wildcats victory, of course. Furthermore, since this my first drive outside of New York, I have to experience one thing before this trip ends: filling up a gas tank in New Jersey. Even if I don't really need to, it'd be nice to experience the full service gas station treatment…fill ‘er up, please…Lastly, there’s just something about arriving back in NYC. I can’t really explain it; I just get chills of excitement every time I come back. There’s always some sort of New York song stuck in my head too, whether it be “New York, New York” or “Empire State of Mind”…
So that’s my list…as usual, feel free to make your own contributions...as long as you just spread the word like wildfire...comment, like it, re-tweet it, just support the cause, thanks.
(Many thanks to Volvo & the agency setting up the competition for giving me opportunity to represent, and Eamon O'Meara for the best blog in the world to work with)
