The Brickyard
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
We would head to Indianapolis form South Bend( only a 2.5 hour trek) the night before and enter a world that seemed like it was straight out of the movies. The city itself was engulfed with people and the energy would last throughout the night. Indianapolis was truly the midwest version of " The city that never sleeps" at least for that 48 hour period. It seemed like every block was lit up with parties in the street, parties in the road, and parties all around the track.
If you counted on sleeping that night, then you were in the wrong place. It didn't matter what your age was, or where you were from, it was huge family gathering of a quarter of a million people. I Drink beer with people from New York, California, Florida, and even an international contingency was prevelant.
I've seen people perform acts in the street's that up until then, were relegated to adult movies. I witnessed acts of kindness, acts of cruelty, and acts that I still have no explanation for.
Just as the night time diminished, and the new dawn was breaking, when normal people would need to sleep. This crowd found more energy, as the excitement of race day was here. Even before the track opened, the anticipation was almost palpable. People would shower and wash up in the infield bathrooms, and share stories of the night before.
As we made our way to the our seats in turn 1 at the top, you could see the crowd to start to settle in. The Brickyard is so massive, that it is impossible to see the whole track at once. From our seats you could see almost the whole front stretch, all of turn 1 and turn 2, and a little of the backstretch. Just down the frontstretch, you could see, arguably, the most famous icon in racing, The Brickyard Pagoda. Its the only seat in the house in which you can actually see the whole track, but obviously was reserved for track official's and announcing crews.
Once the race started, you could feel the vibration from the cars in the stands, and the sound was so loud as those 33 cars blazed around the track, the use of earplugs is emminant. Turn 1 is famous for its crashes, and never dissapointed in that area. I have seen crashes that I was amazed the driver was able to walk away from, as the jetpack on wheels would disintigrate into the wall.
With the race approaching this weekend, I keep hoping that this is the year that the excitement form years past, would appear again. There is a good group drivers who are extremely talented. Such stars as Castroneves, Patrick, Weldon, Tracy, Kanaan, and Franchitti will make this one of the most competitive 500's in awhile. Along with seasoned vets, there is also a good group of young talent with some names that may sound familiar. Drivers such as Foyt ( AJ IV ) Rahal ( Graham ) and Andretti ( Marco and John ).
As I set down on my couch this Sunday, and settle in for the race. I hope it draws me in and keeps me there. I hope the racing is competitive, I hope to see spectactular crashes, I hope for a finish that comes down to half a second, but mostly I hope for the feelings I felt 20 years ago. Maybe its just nostalgia that I want, maybe it's just my longing for yester-year, but truly I hope it isnt.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Now I stand in line, and hope other people think I am there to pick it up for my son.
My Wife, who watches me play games and shakes her and calls me a nerd, and my Parents and In-laws think I am man-child, when they ask what I want for Christmas, and I reply with " oh, just a gift certificate from EB is cool". I even go so far as too keep it a secret at the bank I work. My ideas on what games are great, and what I can't wait for are proprietary ones, unless I find other 30 something nerds who are brave enough to speak first.
The first time this really ever hit, was when I was in line waiting for GTIV to release at midnight. I looked around and thought "what a bunch of douchebags", then it hit me, I was one of them. I was no longer the kid who had nothing better to do, instead, I was the 37 year old man, who these kids were looking at and saying the same thing about. It was that night, that I thought to myself " maybe its time to hang the controller up".
After this thought running around my head for a few weeks, something hit me. I am really ok with being "30 something" gamer. No longer will I feel I have to justify purchase by saying things such as " I usually only play sports games". I realized that I love playing sports video games( and other genre's also sometimes), and even at my age will not be ashamed to say so. There is something about a man and his competitive spirit, that never wears off. It took all I had, and all I could do to earn a right to receive a baseball scholarship, and that same passion and desire is what draws me to these games. Just because my body cannot do what it used too, 10 or 15 years ago, does not mean my mind forgets.
I am not sure how much longer I will play these games, I guess until that passion and desire burn out. The morning that I wake up and NCAA football or MLB the Show was released, and I forgot, is the day the controller will no longer grace my hands. Even when that day comes, I will always have the blister scars on my thumbs to remind me of the glory days of when I loved to play video games.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Having Season Tickets in row 27 seats 1 and 2 right behind the tunnel, preceeded by Field tickets in which I was lucky enough to stand on the sidelines next to the team for 2 years. Seeing games such as Florida State in 93, Miami in 91, Penn State, Tennessee, Michigan and USC walk through the tunnel brought chills and memories that will never be replaced. Having breakfast with Lou Holtz and his wife right before they took the field at the Big House and won 27-23. These are all events that have turned the Irish into more than just a team, but a part of my life filled with passion, tradition and history.
The last 15 years have been very tough, watching college football pass the Irish by. Bad decision's on coaching hires, having the wrong kids, or not of enough of the "right" kids have been tough to stomach and hard to handle. Seeing the rest of the country take it's turn and mocking the Irish, hearing how they been passed by and are no longer truly relevant in the sport. It would be easy to jump ship, and find the next great team and tradition. When things are this tough, it's then, that I fall back on those images of seeing Tim Brown return a kick off, or Rocket return a punt, or the smell, sounds and excitement that reverbirate throughout campus on a Saturday morning and the next big team rolls onto campus.
One day the Irish will be relevant, and there will be those who jump back on the wagon, but those of us who stuck with the Irish, who let Irish lore run through our veins, both in good and bad times, will be the ones who truly enjoy it. Those who stayed faithful, will once again, realize just how relevant the Irish are to college football, and why we stayed faithful.
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