There are signs that your favorite sports team is doing well. Maybe the baseball game is featured in Prime Time...maybe the basketball game is the "Game of the Week" on NBC...maybe the hockey game is, um, well, I guess we can skip that one being as I live in Indiana.
But for Football, it's a showdown on Monday night. Last night, Becky and a fellow IT worker, were able to score free tickets to the Indianapolis Colts vs the Minnesota Vikings, two teams at the top of the win column. Because Becky and her co-hort, Doug, are extremely nice, they gave the tickets to my brother and me.
Of course, as they say, nothing is free. We knew about the "possibility" of these tickets gracing our hands a week in advance, but the road wasn't without it's bumps. In order to get the tickets, several things had to fall into place.
The Proposal
Becky and Doug were to get the tickets if they came to a presentation by a computer equipment supplier (I can't pretend to know what they were selling, something that was big and expensive). They show up, look at the product, badda bing, badda boom, tickets for us.
Well...
1. Doug had to agree to go to the event. He said ok.
2. Doug had to agree to part with his ticket to Monday Night Football. He said sure.
3. The Company had to agree to let the tickets be given from Becky and Doug, to me and my brother. No problem.
4. My brother had to be off work, have someone to watch the kids, AND get a vehicle to drive to my house. Check, check, and check.
Smooth sailing...so far. Doug then dropped a bomb on us that he MAY not be able to go, because of child care issues. He would know the Monday of the game. So with all the balls in place we waited...and waited...
We had planned on leaving at 5:00, and at 3:30, still no answer from Doug. 4:00, nothing. 4:30, nadda. But, rejoice!! A little after 4:30, Doug gave us the green light.
The Waiting
It wasn't "see your breath" cold, but it was a little chili out last night by the Dome. My brother and I waited patiently while Becky and Doug went through the computer company's presentation.
We arrived shortly after 6...and by 7:30, we were just about spent. Then, we saw a guy with his wife stagger close to us. He was easily 6 foot 4, big ole beer belly, greying hair. The closer he got, the less he walked straight, and the more he walked to the right. Finally, he hit the curb, grabbed the trash can, and took a dive straight into the grass. We couldn't tell if he was hurt, or drunk. We soon concluded that he was drunk because his wife continued to nurse her cigarette as if nothing had happened.
It was just the little excitment we needed. At 8, a Rep from the computer place asked if we would like some passes to go in where Becky and Doug where. We agreed, because we knew there would be food. Oh, yeah, free food!! We scarfed some free food and shortly after, two tickets graced our numb fingers.
The Game
It's a once a year thing, maybe, for your hometown team to play Monday Night Football. So, to be there, was already thrilling. But the game itself was exciting, too. The first play, Minnesota fumble! First play! Of course they regained the fumble.
Some other highlights included:
1. Minnesota returned a punt for big yardage...but their punt returner was crushed by Hunter Smith, the punter. (NOTE: For those of you not in the know, punters are, gererally speaking, smaller guys who only tackle as a "last resort". Of course, Smith is a little larger, as Punters go, but still, it doesn't happen often.)
2. Later in the game, Smith got his second big hit in, unfortunately, it was as the Viking returner stretched across the end zone for a 91 yard punt return for a touchdown.
3. 4 passing TD's for Peyton Manning.
4. A last second Mike Vanderjagt field goal to win the game for the Colts, 31-28.
Here's what you didn't see...
1. Two guys getting tossed (from in or close to our section). The cops and security filed up the steps, yanked the drunkards, and wisked them away. Both were in the absolute top row of the stadium...I guess they didn't care if they saw the end of the game or not.
2. A guy three rows in front of us proposing to his girlfriend. She looked happy, so I assume she said yes.
3. Two guys in suits sitting next to a guy painted blue.
4. 57,000 screaming fans.
We rolled back into my town at 2:30 am. Tired, but satisfied.
Oh, yeah...if you are the lady who sat in front of us (section 320, row 16), I wanted to let you know when the Viking running back got crushed by our defense and he layed, apparently hurt...it was not me who yelled "BRING THE PAIN, 39!!" It was the guys behind me...and I didn't appriciate the smug look.
Ok, so it was me, but this is football after all, lady, not ballet!
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