The Joy Of Watching College & NFL Games In An Alumni Or Fans’ Bar
The sounds of “Yeah Alabama, the roar of “Roll Tide” and, of course, the Crimson Tide version of “Dixieland Delight” during a college football game was music to my ears.
I was in a sports bar, an alumni sports bar, watching my alma mater play a game in the 2020 season.
With college football and the NFL now happening in this strange COVID-19 era, it was nice to be back in a sports bar watching my favorite team play a game in a bar among other alumni and fans. The Alabama Crimson Tide was on and I was watching it at Bootlegger, the lively bar in San Diego’s Gaslamp that has justifiably earned the nickname of “Tuscaloosa West.”
All across America – and particularly here in transplant-heavy Southern California – other fans of various teams have been able to experience this same joy of the late summer and early fall.
For a while, I wasn’t sure it was going to happen, but San Diego just slid under the state’s so-called “purple” tier to allow a limited number of people inside restaurants and restaurant/bars. Other places in the state must keep people outside, which is nice here for sure but the glare on TVs and other obstacles make watching indoor a more comfortable situation.
There were tho, certain things that were not quite the same as in previous years.
Because of the limited capacity allowed in bars and restaurants these days, I had to reserve a table in advance. There were also only about half the fans as in normal times, meaning the place lacked a bit of its usual spirit. People were too spread out to create a true cheering section.
I could also not get up and mingle with the many Bama babes who were in the bar, also rooting for the Crimson Tide. This is normally one of the most appealing parts of the game-watching experience. And not just for me, but mingling with others makes sports bars double as great singles bars.
Finally, there was no jumping up and down and high-fiving after touchdowns (and, in Alabama’s case, the kicker actually making a field goal).
Still, it was way better than watching it at home alone and I look forward to being in Bootlegger for games the entire season.
RELATED POST:
• Bootlegger, the San Diego Alabama Alumni Bar, Is ‘Tuscaloosa West’
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