Would it kill me to spend a few hours with these good guys in exchange for dinner at Mustang Harry's and a Knicks game at the Garden? After all I've spent some of my most creative (Ha!) years in my career with some of these fellas. Besides no one wants to waste good money that the company belches out once a year to say thanks to its highly motivated employees (another big Ha!). Thanks to Santina, Maria (I'm her guest) and Michael.
My kind of guys - whoever's left of the old team, then some new.. witty Abdul, gentle Jimmy, funny Ray, pontificating Valerio, Scott, Pat, Carol and "ping that device" Melena.
It gave me an uneasy feeling, Michael the big honcho luring me into coming back to work and Scott singing the same tune. But I won't steal the spotlight from my buddy Pat or my mentee, Carol. And risk falling out of favor and not get that birthday present?
If your college days were like mine, you probably have gone to a few basketball games at a stadium. Back then, my brother June would drag me to the Araneta Coliseum or Rizal Stadium. Big names like Caloy Loyzaga and Robert Jaworski and teams like Toyota and Crispa graced the sports world in the Philippines in those days. My dear brother, he too was a star player in his own right in high school. Dreams shattered by a tough schedule in engineering school.
The Bucks beat the Knicks 114-107, but who cares. It's not all about the scores, or is it?
Here's some highlights:
The Bucks beat the Knicks 114-107, but who cares. It's not all about the scores, or is it?
Here's some highlights:
This is as Brk'lyn as one can get - these fans are so into it!
It was fun being surrounded by young high-fiving fans "declaring their fanhood", I felt like a kid again. At halftime washing down that Mustang Harry's sirloin (not grilled to my specs, by the way, but thanks anyway) with what seemed like a bucket of Sprite and a Haagen Daz bar - aahh, so refreshing.
And what's with these drinks of divine proportion at the games? What ever happened to small and medium? Everything is gigantic.
And don't send me out there at halftime to redeem your voucher for a free Knicks T-shirt. A few trips from our nosebleed seats could've sent me tumbling down if didn't grab onto the handrails. MSG is awesome but I got lost, and eventually found my way, with the help of Oishe and Melena. Who else but Melena - she always knows exactly what to do, if you get my drift!
And look who I discovered underground. It's Michael Shulman, the rock shred violinist. It was great watching a free performance on my way to the sports bar to meet the group. Interesting music, I've heard of shred guitar but violin?
Win or lose, as a New Yorker my loyalty is to the Knicks. I would've preferred if they played as good as Patrick Ewing, but....I don't get to watch a game for free very often, so fuggedaboudit let's just look the other way.
