It was around 9:30 a.m. when I was driving home from practice (Steady state from Gas Works to the Locks and back to the Fremont Bridge, with the return trip at increasing rates every 5 minutes) … you can’t miss the tailgaters waiting for the big game (UW vs. Ohio State). We live about two miles from Husky Stadium. The E-1 Parking lot was packed (and officially full, according to the signs hanging from the pedestrian walkways overhead). So after an errand or two the husband and I walked down to the party to check out the action. Oh, and to buy some new Washington shirts. Funny. I didn’t attend the UW. I went to two other schools. Yet I have more Washington clothing than from the schools I actually attended, total.

My school didn’t do this kind of stuff. I didn’t grow up in a football kind of family. This tailgating culture is foreign to me. It’s sort of like a sociological study to observe the atmosphere. The yelling, the screaming, the ‘everyone wears purple’. With this game in particular, there is a lot of energy in the air. Makes it exciting, win or lose (but better if they win).

In some of the pics (like this one), you’ll notice a single line of people waiting. They are waiting for the Honey Buckets, which are lined up near the fence that separates the parking lot from Montlake Blvd. The boys, instead of waiting in line, strut behind the Honey Buckets and take a leak against the ivy-covered fence. The same fence that separates the parking lot from Montlake Blvd. I saw one guy holding his full cup of beer with his teeth, and peeing at the same time. Eeew!

The husband was amused that I was so shocked. Asked if I took any pictures of them. I didn’t.

By the way, the game is on right now. This guy, Jake Locker. Red-shirt freshman quarterback. He’s got some really good stuff. Lots of kids wearing t-shirts that say “Montlake Jake”or just the #10 jersey. How interesting it seems, to me, that you go to school with this kid and you pay a lot of money to buy and wear a jersey with the guys number. He’s just a kid, can’t forget that.

Here are some pics from the big party.

If anyone thinks that Bill Belichik’s $500,000 fine for spying on the Jets was a lot of cashola, consider this. F1 Racing giant McLaren was fined $100 million for their spying/cheating tactics against rival Ferrari. Dang!

I’m a little bummed, because I like the Pats and because cheating sucks. I don’t think that the Patriots’ dominance in the past is because Belichik stole a few signals from opposing teams, so, why do it if you don’t need to? I doubt the players believe that they didn’t win 3 Super Bowls because of some hand signals. But there are always going to be those avid fans that will say so.  

Anyway, I’m not one to jump on bandwagons just to say, Cheater! I do think Barry Bonds cheated. I think he used steroids and he knew he used steroids. And, I don’t understand why people are so impressed with the 756 HRs. Especially the true fans of baseball. Because to me, it’s tainted.

On the otherhand, I wholeheartedly believe that Floyd Landis is innocent, and that he is the winner of the 2006 Tour de France. There is no ruling by any governing body that will make me believe otherwise.

As for Belichik and the Pats, I’m kinda like, eh. Neutral. As long as this doesn’t affect my man Tom Brady, then I’m fine either way.

Maybe it’s just the time of the year. A little too much going on to get too involved in a situation that, ultimately, is a game. Really, folks. It’s just a game.