So I went to the Monday night game the other week, it was a fun time but a real letdown. Frank was in town so some of us took him to see the game. They handed us white charger towels to spin around in the stands. Supposedly, there were about 20k steeler fans that made the trip out. It was really intense, I felt like it was a battleground. The steeler fans were pretty tough and hardcore and were adept in the skills of "verbal abusery." Anyways, we lost at the way end when we had all this hope rising inside. You felt like you were slowly being lifted up and just when you let yourself believe, you were brought back down again. Ah fate…so cruel.

So after the game, we realized that the trolley situation was no good. Worse than disneyland in the summer. So we walked around to Joe's place around the stadium and talked about the game with bitter regret in our voices. Afterwards, some of us trekked over to D&B's to get some food, and when we were there, we saw Steve Foley in the back. Outside linebacker for the chargers, last year's sack leader with 10.5 for the season. Anyways, he was sitting at a table with a hat down, covering most of his face, eating/drinking with pretty girlfriend/wife. And yes she was black, I remember telling this story to one of the managers at my work, and the first question he asked was if she was white. Moving on, so I remember looking at him, because for the time being, he was the most interesting thing on my mind and then he took off his hat for a moment and we made eye contact. Then, he looked away. It was a very curious look though. The server had told us he was Steve Foley, or else we probably wouldn't have noticed. Kind of like the time I met Nick Hardwick at Club Pure in Caesars. I actually got to shake Nick's hand but I wouldn't have been able to pick him out from a crowd. They really look like average people.

So Frank, Trieu and I, get this idea that it would be cool if we paid for Steve's dinner…because he looked kind of down. So we broached the idea to the wait staff, if it would ok if our group settled his bill, but also not to let him know exactly who did it. Just that some charger fans appreciated their hard work and to keep it up. The wait staff got really excited and his bill ended up being only 47 dollars, Frank was curious over what an NFL player eats and what not. I hope he kept the receipt.

Anyways, eventually, Steve gets up to leave and asks for his check. And the whole time we're trying to steal glances but not give ourselves away. And he realizes that his check has been covered, he glances around the room trying to figure it out. There were only a couple of tables left and he looks over to our side and then around. Yumi was wearing a tomlinson jersey, but that was the only sign we were charger aficionados. Steve then gets up and strolls out of the place with a little bit of a cocky swagger. Mission accomplished.

So in all, it made for an unusual Monday. I took off work for half the day and cavorted around like I had nothing responsible to do. Went to a chargers game and ended up getting my heart ripped out and hacked into a bloody heap. Met someone who probably suffered firsthand the same disappointed and found way to have a meaningful moment. The four of us, plus a 47 dollar check and NFL millionaire had a moment on Monday night. Go chargers.

[ esca | 12:31 AM | ]