Hidden Gem: Caribbean World Series

 February is a tough sports month for a fan like me.  No baseball, no football, cold weather.  Well that can change.  If you want to see some of the best, most passionate baseball, head down South to the Caribbean  World Series, a baseball tournament held this year in Estadio Nueva Esparta in Porlamar, Margarita Island, Venezuela in February.

The Caribbean World Series is affiliates with the Winter League programs of the MLB featuring many players from the Major Leagues as well as the Dominican Winter League, Mexican Pacific League, Puerto Rican Professional Baseball League and Venezuelan Professional Baseball League.  The winner is decided in a round robin tournament, where each team plays the others twice in a Round Robin Style.

Fans at the Caribbean World Series are some of the most wild fans in all of sports.  Rabid fans from Mexico, the Caribbean and even some lucky ones from the USA travel down to the chosen location (this year it is in Venezuela)  to enjoy the atmosphere.  Fans jeer back and forth the entire game, trying to will their team to victory.  Don't worry, this jeering is mostly friendly.  In between innings, fans will be found dancing together in the stands and even on the dugouts and will be seen hanging together after the game.  The Caribbean World Series, in fact, is considered one of the most fan friendly atmospheres in sports.  Little kids constantly run on the field for autographs, where they are met with a smile and a hug.

Trivia Question

Trivia Question of the day: can you name two sports in which the participants move backwards most of the time in attempting to win? There are 3

Hidden Gem: Beanpot Classic

Tonight is the start of a 2 day tournament (first two Monday's in February) for the biggest college hockey crown in Boston.  BC, BU, Harvard and Northeastern compete for the coveted Beanpot trophy and a chance at bragging rights for a year.

For those outside of Boston, this may seem like another 4 team tournament.  However, to those in Boston, this means as much as a National Championship.  4 teams, many of the kids had played against eachother growing up, fighting for a chance at being called Boston's best for an entire year.  In the words of ESPN "You'll never see athletes competing this hard for a beanpot anywhere else."

This game brings all schools together, the whole city of Boston, for two nights.  Fans from BC, BU Harvard and Northeastern fill up the entire stadium in hopes that their team can win the crown and claim the title.  The atmosphere is wild, the games are well played and the bars are always packed.  Here's Sports Bound's Guide to the Beanpot Classic.

There are two games today.  BC takes on Harvard at 5:00 in the opening match, and the nightcap holds reining champion BU against last years runner-up, Northeastern.  If you are a BC or a Harvard fan, I'd head over to the Garden area around 3:30 to experience the pregame festivities.  However, if your a BU or a Norhteastern fan.  No need to rush.  Arrive at 5 and watch the first game from the loads of bars and restaurants around, enjoy the atmosphere before you go cheer on your team.  Before the game, bar hop at some of the most popular bars in Boston, called “Bars on steroids.”  Start off at Boston Beer Works, a two story facility that is the oldest and largest brewery and restaurant in the Boston Area.  Shoot some pool, play some darts and try one of 50 different Beers, Ales and Lagers.  If that is too small for you, head over to The Greatest Bar.  Part sports bar part night club the Greatest Bar features a lot of big screens (including a 14 inch projector screen), plus DJ’s and live music.  On game nights, the Greatest Bar plays a 90 minute video highlighting the greatest moments in Bruins history, good way to get the people pumped up!  Another great spot is Hurricane O’Reillys.  This bar is popular not just on game days but other nights, specifically for young to mid 20’s Boston residents.  Enjoy these bars before and after the game, and get ready to be back next week!

From Seeing the Sports: Frozen Fenway: BC v. BU

It was the perfect setting.  20 degrees, slight wind, falling snow and college hockey.  An experience of a lifetime, BC v. BU, the greatest rivalry in college hockey, in one of the greatest, most historic sports venues in American history.  From the opening trip to The Cask 'N Flagon (rated the #2 Sports Bar in America according to ESPN), our stop to Game On, the game, and our final bar hop the gameday experience was a once in a lifetime event.

To quote ESPN: With any luck, it won't be the last "show on ice" played at Fenway Park, and with any luck, I'll be there again.   

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=4819957

Video You May Not Have Seen: What a Goal

There are so many great parts to this video.  1. More than one guy messes with the defense as they are making moves towards the goal. 2. All the amazing moves 3. The pure excitement when they put it in.  Really fun to watch.

In My Opinion: StubHub

Last night I went to the Celtics-Clippers Game.  My buddy and I decided to go on Saturday night, after remembering that our hometown team was in Boston and (unlike the Lakers) would probably be reasonably priced. 

Anyway, we bought our tickets on StubHub.com on Sunday morning and were in to go.  The tickets were amazingly cheap, but the service charge was just obnoxious.  I understand they need to make money, but a $15 buck "Late Pick-up Fee" was a little annoying, considering I would have picked them up whether I purchased it on Sunday or a month ago.

That being said, I was very happy with my experience.  I work in Charlestown about a 25-30 minute walk from the garden (or a quick 2 stop T-ride to North Station).  Since it was a nice day, I decided to walk.  After arriving with my buddy at around 7:20, I was amazed at how quick and efficient picking up Stub Hub Tickets were.  Their meeting spot is the Greatest Bar which, if I wasnt trying to save a few bucks, I would have stopped off before and had a few drinks as the place has a great atmosphere, is decently priced and has a lot of screens.  As soon as I arrived to the Greatest Bar, I was quickly escorted to the 3rd floor where a booth of StubHub people were there ready to give me my ticket.  There was hardly a line (I had to wait for 2 people in front of me) and they quickly found my tickets, got them to me, had me sign them and get me off toward the Arena.

As I walked in, I noticed that there were tons of people waiting in line for Will Call or Ticketmaster Machine Pick-Up.  I realized that the "extra-fee" was easily worth it as I skipped that group, got into the arena, grabbed some food and was in my seat just before the 7:37pm tip-off.

The experience was great, the tickets were decent, and everything was efficiently run.  Overall, I recommend StubHub to guarantee your tickets and to get you in and out of the arena in time. 

NFC Title Game: Minnesota at New Orleans

The marquee matchup.  The one everyone wanted.  New Orleans - Minnesota.  The top two offenses in the NFC.  Two teams that destroyed their opponents last week in anticipation for this one.  The biggest party city in America.  I couldn't think of a better location for the Sunday Night NFC title game than New Orleans.  Will Brett Favre make it to his 3rd Super Bowl and make all the off season (and in season) controversy worth it?  Or will New Orleans, led by Drew Brees, make it to their first ever Super Bowl and officially remove the 'Aints nick name?  This place will be absolutely rocking all week, the streets will be crowded, the stadium will be loud.  If you can get a ticket to this one, I wouldn't give it up, this could be one of the best sports experiences of the year.

Capacity: 65,000

City Guide: New Orleans is famous as a party town, and for good reason. No matter what day or what time it is, there are always people partying in the Big Easy. New Orleans is home to the Saints of the NFL, who play at the Superdome downtown. The dome hosts the Sugar Bowl each year, and is also a frequent host to the Super Bowland Final Four. The NBA's Hornets play at New Orleans Arena, adjacent to the Superdome. New Orleans is fairly compact, with the airport about 15 miles west. As for expenses, it is not so much the prices but the excess that make the town slightly expensive; even cheap food and beer becomes pricey when consumed in large quantities. Hotels in New Orleans are no more expensive than in other cities (for normal weekends, ie, not Super Bowl or Final Four), and there are plenty of hotels to choose from.  

History: The Superdome, opened in August 1975, is the largest indoor facility in the country for football and with its 20,000 tons of structural steel is the biggest steel-constructed venue. Besides its sheer enormity it might not be much to look at, but, remember, you're only a mile from the French Quarter. The Saints Hall of Fame (415 Williams Blvd., in the Rivertown section of Kenner, La., west of New Orleans, Web site), honors the team with busts and paintings of the 33 inductees, exhibits, memorabilia and videos. The hall really is quite impressive, especially considering the team has never reached the Super Bowl. Close to $140 million was spent to repair damages to the Superdome suffered in August 2005 during Hurricane Katrina; nearly 30,000 people reportedly took refuge in the building following the hurricane.

Parking: The Superdome has a garage attached with paid parking available. For more information, call (504) 587-3805. Tailgating in New Orleans is good but not spectacular, mainly as a result of the hundreds of bars within walking distance of the Superdome. But there are still plenty of diehard tailgaters at Saints games. The main tailgating area is the roof of the parking garage next to the dome. The Superdome has rules prohibiting open fires, but people manage to grill anyway. There is an organized tailgate party, featuring live music. You can bring your own beer or buy it there.

Restaurants/Bars:

Acme Oyster House - Located half a block off Bourbon St, the Acme Oyster House gets very high marks for its raw oysters ($6.95/doz), jambalaya, and other entrees ($7-$15). There is usually a wait outside, but its worth it. Don't miss this place.

Mothers - Mothers has great Cajun cuisine, including breakfast. Po' Boys run $4-$9, and entrees run $10-$18. Located a few blocks from Canal Street, near Riverwalk.

Mr. B's Bistro - Mr. B's is a moderately priced restaurant that serves up authentic Cajun food and also features live music. Located a block from Bourbon Street.
Kerry Irish Pub - Kerry's is a small Irish bar with live music and no cover charge. Relax to some good music and a pint of Guiness.

Other Attractions: The French Quarter is full of shops, in addition to bars that never close. There is a D-Day Museum and a Marti-Gras Museum in town, and the Aquarium and IMAX theater are on the river just outside the Quarter.  The Riverwalk, on the Mississippi at the end of Canal Street, is full of shops and restaurants. Jazzland Theme Park is also nearby. Or, if you want to drink all day, just walk up and down Bourbon Street with a beer in your hand.

Hidden Gem: Conference Title Game

I'm sure you've seen it before... one of the top events in Sports is the AFC and NFC title games.  Why this over the Super Bowl you ask?  One reason: The Fans.  The Super Bowl is expensive, usually over-hyped, many times boring and only the Super Rich (and mostly not true) fans can go.  The Conference Championship games, however, are filled with wild fans and a super excitable atmosphere.

This years conference championship games take us to New Orleans and Indianapolis.  The top two teams all season, the way it was meant to be.

In the AFC, the suprising New York Jets travel to Indianapolis while in the NFC, Brett Favre hopes to head back to the Super Bowl, but Drew Brees and New Orleans hope to stop them and make their first ever trip.  Both games should be exciting. 

Look back later in the week for guides to both New Orleans and Indianapolis.  Where to go before the game, where to celebrate (or sulk) after, and how to enjoy the best atmospheres in football: Conference Title Games