I knew it would be a good sports night at BWW for several reasons. One, Terrelle Pryor had just left Ohio State which I enjoyed thoroughly. I won't have to watch people over hype him this year, thank goodness. Second, a girl noticed my Minnesota Gophers hat and we had a nice, short conversation about the Land of 10,000 Lakes. Third, it was Wing Tuesdays. And so it began.
One of the perks of watching an event at BWW, besides the obvious ability to watch several games at once, is that you can see people's reactions and tell if something good or bad happened in a game. I used this to my advantage as I originally had to focus on the US-Canada Gold Cup match and couldn't divert as much of my attention to the Cardinals game as I wanted to, due to soccer's non-stop pace. So I designated the guys sitting next to me, who were enjoying a nice wad of dip throughout the game, as my "Cardinals-o-meter." They were there for the baseball game. Since both of the games got underway at 7:05, I had double action immediately. The NBA Finals weren't on until 8, so the three headed monster wasn't in effect just yet.
As the match began, the waitress took my order, and I began furiously scribbling notes in a spiral notebook I had brought, making me look like quite the nerd in my US Michael Bradley soccer jersey and my Minnesota hat. But if you aren't at BWW to watch sports, why come? The US owned possession in the first half, making runs down the flanks, challenging Canadian defenders and connecting on passing sequences with surprising ease. Obviously, Canada isn't the most talented side, but the confidence the US showed was a good sign and an encouraging beginning to the Gold Cup.
Meanwhile, Berkman went yard on his former team and the Cardinals took a 2-0 lead in the 1st, only to be counter-balanced by a Carlos Lee homer in the bottom of the inning. 2-2 and tracking...
All the chances and hard work paid off for the US from an unlikely source, as Jozy Altidore handled a nice ball from none other than Landon Donovan, showed his strength in holding off his defender, and snapping a quick shot to beat the goalie under his arm pit near the near post in the 15th minute. While the ball was quite saveable, it was still a nice showing from Altidore and good to see him get a goal. Originally, the field turf of Ford Field worried me, because the US had difficulty adapting to the turf some Central American teams use during the last cycle of World Cup qualifying but it doesn't seem to phase the Yanks too much. The midfielders are working well together, providing balls down the flank and connecting in the middle for efficient ball control. The only true trouble for the US came in the form of a ball with eyes struck by De Resario from outside the top of the box, only to be just wide of the target. And though it took him about 25 minutes or so, Agudelo seems to have found his footing and was involved in several nice chances on goal.
By the time the soccer game hits halftime, Jake Westbrook has hit a three run double (?!?!?!) and Game 4 of the NBA Finals has commenced. Sadly, Allen Craig left the Cardinals game in the first inning with some sort of knee injury and the guys beside me are up to their elbows in wings. Mine are about a fourth finished and I'm on my third Mr. Pibb. The waitress has realized I'm in this for the long haul, has stopped checking on me, and only comes by when she knows I need a refill. This is excellent because I hate sitting their with them asking, "Can I get you anything else?" And me having to reply, "No thanks I'm good," while I'm thinking in my head, "Yes, I know I'm freeloading these channels that I don't get in my apartment off of you. Sorry."
The Heat-Mavs looks like another back and forth battle from the very beginning as Dirk hits his first three shots, only for the Heat to rally via Chris Bosh. Eventually, the shooting percentages get sort of ugly, the defense somewhat solid, and the game very intense. But more on that later.
The second half opens slightly differently as Canada looks a bit more dangerous. They get into the box with less difficulty than before but real chances are still sparse. However, for the first time in the match they are beginning to make me very nervous. Sadly, my boy Bradley picks up his 137th stupid card in his international career in the 51st minute, but that could just be an approximation. He then redeems himself with a beautiful seeing-eye cross to Altidore, which he proceeds to whiff on with his head, screwing Mikey out of the praise he rightfully deserves. This is followed by Dempsey trying a "reverse bicycle kick" on a dipping cross which he almost completes in spectacular fashion. I yell in glee then disappointment and several people stare at me, as if I just punched them in the face. Sorry I'm a patriot.
The Mavs and Heat continue their battle of attrition and I look briefly at it in time to see Tyson Chandler nut on Joel Anthony's face with authority. That guy kind of scares me.
I shoot both of my arms into the air as the Son's of Sam net their second goal of the match in the 62nd minute via a nice grounded cross by Altidore, ever so slightly tipped by a sliding Agudelo in the middle of the box, and finished on a nice sliding goal by Clint "I run this town" Dempsey. He proceeds to tap the flag lightly and salute the crowd while people at BWW proceed to wonder what game I'm getting so excited about, as the NBA and Cardinals game are both at commercial. Pay attention to soccer people, it's the "beautiful game" and when you do, you seem slightly less uncultured to European people. What's not to like?
No score change has occurred in the Cardinals game and the NBA game rarely fluctuates away from a 4 point deficit for either team in the early going. Meanwhile, I can't finish all 24 traditional wings I have ordered so it looks like I'll have lunch tomorrow. Holler.
Tim Howard shows why he is a world-class keeper in the 85th minute when he saves a point blank range shot in traffic, the Canadian player falls over him, he then rushes to get up as the ball isn't cleared of danger, it finds the foot of a Canadian attacked who proceeds to launch a half-volley towards the top of the net which Howard reaches to save with reflexes like a jungle cat (jaguar, puma, leopard really which ever one you prefer). I let out another yelp in disbelief. Oops. I feel like a jungle cat in a zoo being starred at through bars. With the final whistle drawing near, Westbrook is in a bit of a jam. He puts two runners on with one out in the bottom of the 6th, then Theriot makes yet another error on the season and they are loaded with just one away. Jason Motte enters, gets the next batter 0-2 and proceeds to drill him. Not good. Luckily he settles in strikes the next batter out, and retires the side with a harmless grounder. 5-3 Cards going into the seventh.
Heat-Mavs is at halftime with the Heat up by two in a game that could kindly be classified as ugly. While no one has stood out, besides possibly Tyson Chandler and Chris Bosh, the close score makes all those non-partisan observers still interested and will probably keep ratings high. With a lull in the action, I exit BWW to rush home to see the end of both the Cardinals and the Finals games.
Luckily, I get back in time to see Pujols go yard again, with it being so bomb-like it is almost reminiscent of his homer against Lidge in Game 5 of the 2005 NLCS. Furthermore, Theriot extends his hit streak to 20 games on a last-chance ninth inning at-bat with a double, knocking in an insurance run. Simultaneously, the Heat are blowing another lead to the Mavs, who seem to love playing from behind. While LeBron has mysteriously disappeared and Dirk is playing with a fever (not even cowbell could cure this one), Wade is hogging the spot light and a scrappy supporting cast is keeping the Mavs relevant in the game.
As Salas closes out the game for the Cardinals, allowing a harmless run in the ninth, the final 6 minutes of Game 4 is underway. The Heat officially give away the lead and Dirk, with help from Terry and Stevenson extend their new found lead to six with 1:53 remaining. While I continue to search for LeBron like he's Waldo, Wade misses a game-tying free throw with 30 seconds left. Baskets are exchanged, Terry makes clutch free throws, and then a strange play consisting of the ball bouncing off Wade's leg, him lunging to stop the back court violation, tossing the ball to Miller, and ole Gator Mike air balling the following three leaves me wishing the game had gone to overtime and extended my self-enforced bedtime.The Mavs have tied the series and this puppy looks like it's headed towards seven games. Awesome.
Sadly, the crazy sports' night is over. I'm still looking for LeBron, though I feel good about the direction of the Cardinals (four game winning streak) and the US team (defeated their toughest Gold Cup opponent until probably the semi-finals with relative ease). As my wings sit in the refrigerator waiting for me to eat them at work tomorrow, I can't help but think this is why I love sports. I was entertained from 7-11 PM all by myself. And though it may seem sad to the onlookers, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
****Funny things I didn't mention: JJ Barea started?!?! Cobi Jones cannot be taken seriously in studio with his hair. Sorry I can't do it. There was a large anti-Heat contingent at BWW that constantly heckled them even though the game was occurring about 1000 miles away.
