boogie down bx
As some of you may know, I am a sports fan, not just typical sports like football, baseball or basketball, but other niche sports. I won't deny watching those main sports, but I'd prefer a BJJ tournament, a European football match or rugby union match even, most of which are easy enough to find on TV or streaming online with only the time difference causing any issue. One of my favorites to watch is Gaelic football, not easy to watch around here with the limited coverage and a time difference (5 hours Irish time). When it is on I do my best to watch and when some of the high level teams come around, I try to make it a point to go watch them. Driving to NYC is way easier and cheaper then flying to Ireland (even if you factor in beers and dinner :) ).
This past Sunday was the opening round of the Connacht Senior Football Championship with Roscommon visiting the home team, New York, at Gaelic Park in the Bronx. Although the weather was shitty with drizzle, dampness and a temperature in the low 50's (f), I managed to find my way to the match along with a couple thousand others. If you have never been to Gaelic park for one of the big matches, it's worth checking out at least once. There is a very large bar serving all types of Irish and American beer, plus they serve food during the game and have buffet afterword in the meeting hall. The stands are filled with Irish emigres, all of whom are relaxing and ready for a good show, pint in hand. Walking to your seat the air is thick with brogues representing multiple counties in Ireland. Literally, it's like opening a door and having it lead to another country.
Coming into the game Roscommon had a very strong team, did very well in their league and were heavily favored. NY however does not play in a league, just test matches and intrasquad games and the general feeling was they would get crushed. I had said prior to the game that NY would keep it close until the half when they would get out classed. Historically a team from NY has never advanced in the championship. As I said, NY kept it close in the first half but the second half didn't go as anyone expected. I won't bore you with the details but I'll leave it at this...imagine a #16 seed in the NCAA tournament taking the #1 seed to the buzzer.
After the game we went up to McLean avenue in Yonkers for dinner before heading home.
Other notes...training has been going well I think, I feel like I have been moving well and have been getting faster with some things and have hammered down some small details...I'm looking for a tournament for June which fits into my work schedule...