I Was There For...

Bob Lobel on the roof of Mike’s Pastries.  The theme from “The Godfather” blaring out the windows.  Grown men yelling “Show us your tits!” in Italian to the two scantily clad girls NEXT to Bob Lobel on the roof of Mike’s Pastries. 

That was Hanover Street in the North End on Sunday afternoon, minutes after Italy won its first World Cup since 1982.  And fortunately for me, I was right smack in the middle of it. 

Words such as “Fuckin’ crazy!”, “Fuckin’ insane!” and “Fuckin’ bedlam!” were all used by those in attendance to describe the scene -- which got me thinking (shortly after being doused with a bucket of water from 3 stories up) how does this rank amongst the greatest/most insane sports celebrations I’ve ever been apart of?  Well because it just happened I’m going to be conservative and rank it at #4 out of 4. 

Who knows, it could move up or down depending on how it stands the test time, and how much I remember in 10 years. 

Here’s my top 3.

3. Providence beats Tennessee-Chattanooga, NCAA Tournament “Sweet 16”.  March 21, 1997.

It was a Friday night on the streets of Providence, Rhode Island where thousands if not hundreds of drunken Friar Fans jammed into their stinky, low-rent apartments to watch PC topple Tennessee-Chattanooga in the NCAA Tournament’s “Sweet 16”.

After the game, naturally, pandemonium broke out on the streets in celebration of the Friars’ first “Elite 8” appearance in 10 years.  To this day, I don’t know how or why, but in the midst of all the chaos, a canoe - yes, a canoe – was dragged 500 feet from a corrupt local convenience store and burned, badly, in the middle of the street.  It looked like a scene out of “Lord of the Flies” as students began jumping up and down, screaming incoherently on the now inflamed wooden ship.  TV cameras were quickly on the scene and the next morning PARENTS of said jumping students were treated to a “Live Look-In” of their prized children in the rarest of forms.  20 minutes later or so, I don’t remember, the Providence Police arrived and promptly pepper-sprayed those in attendance.  (Note: pepper spray stings like a mother fucker.)  Eventually the crowd was broken up and students were forced back into their basements to play more Flip Cup. 

It was a crazy night in Providence, and I don’t want to talk about how that the last time the Friars won an NCAA Tournament game...

2. Yankees Win 1999 World Series – River Avenue - Bronx, New York.  October 27, 1999.

Before 99% of you start throwing up, let me just say I had gone my entire life – 20 years to be exact, before seeing my beloved Yankees win a World Series.  It was something I thought I’d never see.  Like male-pattern baldness, I thought it had skipped a generation in my family.  Fortunately, or unfortunately, I was wrong. 

Well I couldn’t make it down to The Stadium (okay, now you can throw up) in 1996, nor in 1998 (they won it in San Diego that year), but it had always been a dream of mine to BE at Yankee Stadium when the Yankees won the World Series. 

“So you got into the game that night in ‘99?” 

Nope.  Tried. 

Scalpers wanted too much so we said “F it” and instead, me and a few buddies watched Game 4 at the next best place – Stan’s Sports Bar across the street on River Avenue.  And I can’t imagine having more fun watching a sporting event. 

After the last out was made, both fans and prostitutes alike flooded River Avenue to celebrate - it was really a sight to behold, especially the High-Fiving and awkward hugs.  Still, being in the Bronx for a World Series’ clincher was everything I’d hoped for and more as Yankee Fans rung-in championship #25, in style...  (Note: when the Red Sox won way back in ’04, I locked myself in my apartment and questioned my existence on the planet for several hours.  That’s why it’s not on this list.)

1. Pats Win First Super Bowl – Different Drummer Café – Salem Street, North End.  February 3, 2002. 

I had to think long and hard about this one but to this day, I still say when the Pats shocked the Rams to win their first Super Bowl, the post-game celebration was the craziest I’ve ever been apart of.  Again, maybe the Red Sox was worse, I don’t know.  I can’t answer that; but the thing with the Pats’ victory was that no one, not even EEI Patriot Homers (“Pete picked the Rams!  Pete picked the Rams!”) thought they had a shot to win that game.  So it seemed the jubilation level after the clock hit 0:00 was higher than these other games (Yankees/Braves, Red Sox/Cards, Friars/Chattanooga, etc.) where the outcome was already decided well before the final horn.  (I know not the spread, talking about the actual outcome for once.) 

Also, after tables, bodies and chairs were finished flying all over the now defunct bar, I remember seeing a bunch of dudes just start bolting towards Fanueil Hall and start going nuts.  Going nuts = climbing atop Sam Adams, putting a helmet on him and cracking open beers.  It was unbelievable.  I personally witnessed my first car-tipping. 

(pause to shed tear)

And I know technically it wasn’t part of the celebration, but the other thing I remember about the Pats first Super Bowl was the next morning, for the first time I saw someone smile on the bus.  Never happened before in the history of Boston. “What a moment…”

So as of today, I’m ranking Hanover Street after Italy winning the World Cup at #4, followed by Eaton Street after Providence/Chattanooga, River Avenue after the ’99 World Series, and Boston after Pats/Rams. 

Again, the list is subject to change.  I hear Ryan Gomes is doing pretty well in Summer Camp…