BS: Tailgating

Subject: RE: BS: Tailgating
From: GUEST,LadyJean
Date: 30 Dec 03 - 12:07 AM

I went to the Cleveland Science center with Hollowfox in August. We had a delightful tailgate party after seeing the Living Treasures of China, and watching the ladies weave brocade and Mr. He make paper. We enjoyed beef stroganoff from the back of her old van while waiting for someone to come and deal with the very flat tire. There was no alcohol. I think the Science center people would have taken exception to that. But it was very pleasant, thank you. Hollowfox informs me she has recently mortgaged her soul to a new van.

Subject: RE: BS: Tailgating
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 29 Dec 03 - 04:59 PM

The enforcement of open-container laws in many US locales is very selective. Most cities have a few "officially sanctioned" outdoor events where open consumption of alcoholic beverages is tolerated, but only within the perimeter of the event locale - the grounds of the stadium, the park where the arts festival's being held. Don't expect to get away with it just a few blocks away.

Bruce

Subject: RE: BS: Tailgating
From: Mr Red
Date: 29 Dec 03 - 04:21 PM

It's a tribal thing.

one of the reasons I hate fotball (soccer).

The UK has improved in terms of headline brawls but there is still a lot of drink. And coaches thankfully. But calling it mindless is rather prettifying the process I feel.

Subject: RE: BS: Tailgating
From: PoppaGator
Date: 29 Dec 03 - 03:07 PM

Ed, "tailgating" has two meanings in America. Besides pre-game partying (using the tailgate of a vehicle, usually pickup truck, as picnic table), we also use the word to describe driving too close the the vehicle ahead, just as you do in the UK (and elsewhere, too, I suppose).

Subject: RE: BS: Tailgating
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Dec 03 - 03:06 PM

Ed, it actually means the same thing here also. I opened the thread thinking this might be rant against road rage and unsafe driving. The above description just adds credibility to the argument that tailgating isn't safe.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Tailgating
From: Ed.
Date: 29 Dec 03 - 02:57 PM

"England and America are two countries divided by a common language"
Oscar Wilde

Over here, 'to tailgate' means:

Drive too close behind (another vehicle)

We have our fair share of idiots, and most of those that are sports fans follow football (soccer). We used to have a big problem with violence at such games. For whatever reason it seems to have died down recently. Sure the supporters get drunk, they shout a bit, but (fingers crossed) they don't start hitting each other (or anyone in the way) to any great degree.

Other major sports such as Rugby and Cricket, have no problems. Alchohol is available all day, but the fans are perhaps a little more educated. They enjoy a drink, but go home to sleep afterwards.

Subject: RE: BS: Tailgating
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 29 Dec 03 - 02:35 PM

I the actions of drunken fans are blown out of proportion.    Yes, there are those that have too much "fun", but for the most part a tailgate party is just a communal gathering. Most games have 50 to 60 thousand in attendance, and the overwhelming majority are well behaved. There is nothing wrong with enjoying a few beers and most people know when to stop.

Ahh the tailgates!! The elaborate grilling (Technically it isn't barbeque!!!), picnic tables, tents, music, etc. make for a scene that is often better than the game deserves.

I can't speak for Buffalo, but in NJ the tailgate parties are confined to the expansive parking lot at Giants Stadium. To a much smaller extent, the same thing happens at soccer games there. While the attedance for soccer is miniscual as compared to football, I find it interesting because of the various ethnic communities that make up the fans. All sorts of goodies are thrown on grills and the smell is amazing.

Subject: RE: BS: Tailgating
From: Raptor
Date: 29 Dec 03 - 02:26 PM

Peg, Thanks, I'd never been to one

Subject: RE: BS: Tailgating
From: Bill D
Date: 29 Dec 03 - 02:19 PM

personally, one of the reasons I can't deal with many pro sports is the common need to drink one's self blind in order to have fun.

I am totally tired of fans throwing beer and/or containers at refs, players and each other.

I guess I am just tired of swilling beer JUST to get drunk in general.

(some states and locales have more enforcment than others)

Subject: RE: BS: Tailgating
From: Peg
Date: 29 Dec 03 - 02:10 PM

That's Hoosegow.

Subject: RE: BS: Tailgating
From: Raptor
Date: 29 Dec 03 - 01:53 PM

We Love You Too Carol

Raptor

Subject: RE: BS: Tailgating
From: CarolC
Date: 29 Dec 03 - 12:35 PM

I love Canada.

Subject: RE: BS: Tailgating
From: PoppaGator
Date: 29 Dec 03 - 12:33 PM

Fans of college football teams follow the same ritual; the colleges generally play on Saturdays while Sundays are reserved for the NFL.

I think that many of the drunkest participants "sleep it off" in their vehicles before driving home. You probably noticed a number of huge and luxuriously appointed RVs parked in the tailgating area; their owners probably did not drive off immediately after the game. Same for drivers of innumerable pickup trucks, SUVs and even regular passenger cars.

There are probably a (very) few "designated drivers," and yes, there are plenty of folks driving away from the games who are less than completely sober.

As I'm sure you noticed, there is a great emphasis on transporting, cooking, and eating really huge amounts of food -- this probably serves to counteract, at least slightly, the effects of all that drink.

Subject: RE: BS: Tailgating
From: Amos
Date: 29 Dec 03 - 12:31 PM

I feel like the Neanderthals have moved back in.

A

Subject: BS: Tailgating
From: Raptor
Date: 29 Dec 03 - 12:12 PM

Last Week my brother took me to Buffalo New York To see the Miami Dolphins Play the Buffalo Bills And we showed up 4 hours early!

WHAT A PARTY!

People (about 7000 of them) Were filling up parking lots and unloading all sorts of bar-b-qs to have the tailgate party! It was wild some brought oil barrels to burn wood in and everybody was drinking and most were drinking Canadian Beer! There were pavilian style tants there, and some people had trailors and I'm told had been camped out since Friday (for a sunday game).

90% of the folks were drinking, 40% were too drunk to walk straight!

For a ten block radius around the stadium it seemed fine to walk around in the streets with a bottle of beer in front of the police!

It Was a riot! But how is this possible? Don't you people in the states have drinking and driving laws? They serve beer in the stadium as well and I'd estimate that there was a fight every 3 Minutes between drunk fans!

They start drinking at 8AM Have big bonfires right beside thier cars have bar-b-q's going as well and then stumble into the arena to buy more beer then drive home!

This is why we will never get the NFL in Canada. All 30 000 people would be thrown into the whosgow for drinking in public and no one would get to the game!

Americans please tell me how you feel about this!

Britains please tell me if you do this at Football games!

Anyone else feel free to comment as well!