This is a strange time of year for the tailgating sports fan. NCAA basketball and all the fun of March Madness is done. Sure, The Masters will come and go quickly, as well will the opening day parties at all the Major League Baseball Stadium.
What’s Next for the Tailgating Sports Fan
But will you do now? Here are just a few suggestions:
- Attend early season baseball games. Yes, I know that it will feel like sub-zero at places like Wrigley Field and Yankee Stadium. But you have to do what you have to do. If you tailgate plan for soup and other warming types of food.
- Attend NBA first-round playoff games. Do people even tailgate for these? If not, then we can start a trend. I can’t wait to see the people tailgating for the Lakers playoff games in the parking lots of the Staples Center. Oh, wait…………..nevermind…
- Attend NHL first-round playoff games. I have seen people do these kinds of tailgate adventures, especially in places such as Philadelphia. For any potential New York Rangers game, I recommend setting up a full spread at the corner of 8th and West 33rd. That should go well.
- Tailgate at tennis tournaments. Yeah, this sounds unlikely, but give it a try anyway. How about the Family Circle Cup on Daniel Island in Charleston, SC? Or the Fayez Sarofim & Co. U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship in Houston, Texas? And if you do send me a tweet at @kulwicky and let me know how it goes.
- What about other golf events after the masters? I am sure the Chico’s Patty Berg Memorial in Fort Meyers, FL will love a tailgater or two. Same with the Bass Pro Shops Legends of Golf tournament in Ridgedale, Missouri.
Frankly, as a fellow tailgating sports fan, some of those sound like some pretty bad ideas. So how about we do this:
- Go to your local state park with all your tailgate equipment.
- Set up EVERYTHING, including your giant inflatable Cowboys players and/or extremely large Georgia Bulldog flag. Even throw in the 10 or so Cornhusker chairs you have lying around.
- And then pretend you are tailgating. Everyone else will just think you are having a standard cookout, but you will know better. You ARE tailgating!!!!
An off-season cocktail for the tailgating sports fan
Just for good measure enjoy this game day cocktail from Bartender Magazine:
The Hail Mary
- 1 oz. Lucid Absinthe
- 2 oz. Sobieski Vodka
- ½ oz. triple sec
- Splash 7-Up (or other lemon-lime soda)
Glass: Old Fashioned or Rocks glass
Garnish: Orange wedge and mint sprig
In an ice-filled shaker add all of the ingredients, except the 7-Up, add a few squeezed orange wedges and shake thoroughly. Strain into the rocks glass and add the splash of 7-Up and the garnish.
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