Tourist For A Day

What do you do when being a tourist at Pier 39? For most people, the answer would be obvious. A day at the wharf involves gazing at thousands of sea lions with your nose covered, downing as much chowder as your stomach can take, and feeding quarters into the mechanical arcade games. For my mom and me...the answer just wasn’t that simple.

Did my mom and I do all those things? Of course! I mean I completely dominated her on the Mrs. Pac Man machine (raising to a lot of awkward questions of exactly how many hours I spent practicing the game instead of doing work at college, but that’s a different story ;P)! And I mean the sheer numbers of sea lions makes them a photo op, especially for my picture-taking-addict mom,that couldn’t be passed up. But after checking off most of the touristy musts, my mom and I suddenly veered off the beaten path.

Walking through all the cute shops, my mom suddenly became very agitated. We realized that in all our SF-themed fun, we had somehow managed to lose track of the time! I mean it was nearly 4 o’clock and we hadn’t found a place to watch the Yankees-Sox game!! Now two of my moms most prized possessions are her Mantle jersey and her season tickets to the Yankees (clearly I take after her in the sports obsession department, lol). So you can imagine that she was not happy to be missing the chance to watch the Yankees keep the Sox from clinching a playoff spot. Luckily, “Players Sports Bar” saved the day!

If you are looking for a way to watch sports at Pier 39, definitely stop by Players. It’s a worse version of Dave and Busters, but it still does its job. My recommendation is to sit by the bar; the service is sketchy at best so the only way to make sure you get your drinks at a decent time is to make the trip from the bar to your table as short as possible. The nachos have the same problem that many cheap nachos have in that the cheese is so unappealing to the eye as to make you seriously ill, so just say no. The soup and chili though...that’s a different story. I don’t think I’ve had better French Onion Soup anywhere, and my mom was practically licking her chili bowl! ;)

Good food and a Yankees win was a perfect end to a great day. It did get a little dicey when I thought my mom was going to cheer out loud at Lester writhing in pain after being nailed by a Melky line drive, but hey, it’s not like we are in Boston right?

The best thing about Players was the relaxed and kid-friendly environment. Next time your wife is complaining that you always ditch the kids in favor of your weekly Sunday trip to bar, make the game a family affair. You can watch your team, while your kids play at the arcade! And don’t forget...the Sea Lions are right around the corner!

USA vs Mexico

The crowd was split 50/50. The good guys, aka those who wanted Mayweather to dominate in his coming out party, and the bad guys, aka those who were hoping that Marquez could pull off a Mexican-Independence-Day-inspired upset. Being at the bar was like being present at a USA vs. Mexico soccer game. Those of us on the side of good felt as if we were suffocating from the tension emanating off of the Marquez fans. The evening really wasn’t about the fight though. No, “Fight Night” at Jillians was all about being seen.

Balling up was the theme of the night. A $20 cover didn’t deter the blazer-wearing crowd from reaching into their deep pockets for drink after drink after drink. Sitting in the corner with our baseball caps and jerseys, we had first row seats to a truly unique people-watching experience. Unfortunately, the couple that joined us at our table can best be likened to those neighbors who rat on you to the “Neighborhood Rules Committee” because you put up Christmas lights two days before you were legally allowed to. In other words...our neighbors were BI-AT-CHES.

The guy looked like he was straight out of New Jersey with his tight pants and greasy hair. Still, he was saved by the fact he manned up with his order of Grey Goose on the rocks to at least give him a certain G-like aspect. His wife though….there were no redeeming characteristics to be found whatsoever! With a ring as big as her blown out/died blond hair, she felt that her money gave her the right to be as rude as possible. In a place packed to the T, if the waiter (who handled the crowed extremely well, by the way) was a second later than Big Hair thought she should be or God forbid crossed in front of her to get to the table next to us instead of behind her, Blondie was not afraid to let the poor waiter have it.

Luckily for Greg and I, there was a great fight on that helped to distract us from our poor choice of roomies. From the opening duel of National Anthems, to the moment where it looked like Floyd was going to KO the ringside reporter, my eyes never once strayed from the wall of TV’s. For the first 3 rounds, my ears rang from the “Marquez!” chants echoing throughout the bar. Every time Marquez would unleash a flurry of punches it seemed to his fans that he had to be dominating the fight…but that was only because the Matrix-like moves of Mayweather were literally impossible to see with the naked eye. Slow motion eventually revealed to the Marquez die-hards that it was as if Mayweather knew exactly where Marquez was going to jab next as even when cornered, Mayweather some how avoided Every Single Punch. Therefore, by the time Mayweather put Marquez on the ground, the fans were just as defeated as Marquez was.

Was the night expensive? Yes. Was it worth it? You bet it was! Every time we have ordered a Boxing or MMA fight we had been disappointed. The electric atmosphere made it so I can imagine what it’s actually like to be ringside at the MGM watching Mayweather put on a clinic...all we were missing was the actual lions. Make sure to get there early though if you don’t want to be crammed within a centimeter of your life on your feet in front of the bar. We got there around an hour and a half before the fight was scheduled, but still only just managed to get a table.

Hope to see you there for Pacquiao vs Mayweather!

Just Say No

Ghirardelli Chocolate festival. Need I say more? Everywhere you looked, there was some type of goodie being shoved into your face by vendors. And who was I to turn anyone down? After a great day of scrumptious chocolate and smooth wine, it was time to get my sports on!! Nearing 5 o’clock, we were desperate to find someplace to watch USC get pounded by Ohio State. With our usual hangout “The Pub” packed, and not being a hooters-type-of-crowd, we decided to try something new…and that my friend is where we made our first mistake.

Tiernan’s Restaurant and Pub. You’ve been there? Man I’m sorry about that. Take my advice and next time you’re thinking about going to a good Irish pub, just keep on walking past Tiernan’s.
A drink menu without prices led to a $5 Sam Oktoberfest. After “patiently waiting,” I finally got my fish and chips. Um, ya let me just say that they are still sitting like a rock in my stomach the day after! The batter completely overpowered the cod, which was just unfortunate as from what little fish I was able to get it seemed to be just as fresh and yummy as any other seafood you get on the pier. What about the lamb stew? Well I can honestly report that the Lamb Stew was virtually nonexistent. For $15, you get a couple spoonfuls of nappy carrots and dry bread. Excited yet?

After a disappointing dinner, Tiernan’s capped off a “lovely” evening by hitting you with an absurd bill. Apparently, a 4-person table equals an automatic 20% gratuity being added to the bill! Is it any wonder that in all this I completely forgot about the USC vs. Ohio State game?

I would like to formally apologize to you Terrelle Pryor. As the biggest USC hater on record, you really needed my passion to overcome the bleach-blond hair of USC’s freshmen quarterback. Don’t worry though. I promise that when USC comes to visit Berkeley California, I will bring all my energy down on the goofy-looking USC freshie and that this time the Trojan’s won’t escape my fury. You will be revenged!!

A Beautiful Trap

Is there a prettier park in all of sports than AT&T? I don’t think so. Add up a gorgeous view of a bay teeming with sailboats and kayaks, an excited but friendly crowd, and the fact that the Giants are relevant for the first time since 2004 and what do you get? Perfection!

Well…almost. AT&T’s black and orange visitors share a common gripe among those who go to professional games and that hang up is…the price. No, I’m not talking about the price of the ticket. The Giants are smart, as they lure you in and get you to put down your defenses by selling you a $10 dollar ticket. In a ballpark where there really isn’t a bad seat in the house, it seems like a great value, but buyer beware! Before you know it, you’re walking out of the game with a glazed expression on your face. And no your light-headedness isn’t from one to many beers (I mean how can it be when they cost $8.75 a pop!). It’s from the fact that you had to make not one, but two trips to the ATM!

Don’t worry though, that’s why I’m here! I have a couple of tips on how to enjoy the Giants without breaking the bank. (BTW, the Giants should seriously be paying me to go to their games and not the other way around. I have averaged 3 trips to the ballpark a month and have yet to see them lose a game! Admit it…you want me there for the brutal 6-game-stretch coming up against the Dodgers and Colorado, don’t you.)

Bring an empty water bottle. The Giants will let you in with one as long as there is no liquid in it, and then you can fill it up from the various water fountains located in the park. Price wasted on bottled water? None. Already saved you some money, didn’t I? If you plan on eating at the park, get the Italian Sausage with onions. It’s 7 bucks, but it’s guaranteed to fill you up! Though the hot dog might be cheaper to begin with, it’s about the size of my little pinky. Therefore, you will also end up splurging on the garlic fries or some other side in a belated attempt to satisfy yourself when you could have been happy with just one little purchase.

That’s all you ask? Well in my defense, I did say I only had a couple of tips. And anyways, you are going to the Giants who are playing for a shot at October baseball! Don’t be so cheap!

Wait…You Don’t Know Who Russell Blaze Is?

Russell Baze is a God! Well...at least to the "Golden Gate" Faithful he is.

Pro-style horse enthusiasts know him as the winningest jockey in the history of Thoroughbred Racing. For the rest of us, he's just another little guy wearing a funny-looking jacket on top of a beautiful horse. But here’s a tip...he's a REALLY GOOD little guy in a funny-looking jacket on top of a beautiful horse! Next time you go to Golden Gate fields, watch out for this guy! Every time I have bet on him, Russell has placed every time and has only failed to win once!

Looking for a time to use my tip concerning Russell Maze? Well Dollar Days are starting back up at Golden Gate Fields on September 13th! Dollar parking, dollar admission, dollar programs, dollar dogs and dollar beers! In a world of 8 dollar beers and 5 dollar dogs, this is the best bang for your buck you are going to find!

My recommendation for a great day at the horse track is to pay the 3 dollar admission to get in the club house so that you can watch your favorite NFL team play at the same time my Bayz tip is making you money. Then gorge yourself on the dollar bud lights and hotdogs. Don't just stop at 1 or 2 beers either. Your boozing helps out local organizations, like the Boy Scouts, so step up to the plate and nail at least 10 ;)

A New City...Thank God

I have now lived in San Francisco for a year...THANK GOD!

The Sports Guy can have Boston! I am beyond pumped to be out of that sports hell. Yes, you read me correctly...Hell. Boston Fans are the meanest, most sarcastic, and most hateful fans ever. Fenway...overated. Celtics...Rasheed Wallace? What about being a quality-character based team? Boston Globe...ha wait, that doesn't even exist anymore. I mean let's just face it. Without the pathetic "Curse of the Bambino" over their head, there just really isn't anything fun about them anymore. Now, they are just like New York fans...ha take that Boston! ;)

The Bay Area though is definitely my style. Though I'm a Cali girl through-and-through, I have a burning hatred of the Lakers, which was slightly problematic when I lived there, as the Lakers are the one team that LA Fans take more than a passing interest in. San Fran though...that's a different story. There's just something lovable about the teams here! Whether its because of the fun-to-laugh at Raiders (to put it best, to quote an Ex-Raider fan, "I was a Raider fan...Darious Hayward-Bay was just to much!), the spunky Giants, or the antics of Mike Singletary, I am completely hooked! Hence my project...to dive head-first into the Sports Culture of the Bay Area!

So anyone there who is bored at work as I usually am, feel free to check-in as I chronicle a year of sports in the Bay Area. Review on sports bars, ball-park food, sports radio...all can be found here!