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Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Marisa's Fan Spotlight
Published in Cowboys vs. Chargers Gameday Program (San Diego Chargers), August 21, 2010
Fan Spotlight
When the season opens Sept 13 in Kansas City, Marisa Gomez will be in front of a screen at Metro 53 with dozens of other Chargers fans. A Chargers flag will unfurl outside the door. Inside, a signed Charlie Joiner jersey will hang on display. Touchdowns will initiate "San Diego Super Chargers" on the bar's speakers and Hype Man will weave through a crowd clad in blue and gold, high-fiving everyone to kick-start the celebration.
Not an unusual scene. That is, until you take in to account its location at East 53rd street between 1st and 2nd Avenue in New York City. A group that started in 2007 with less than 10 people erupted to more than 300 at a tailgate party last season as San Diego played at the New York Giants on Nov. 8. A few hundred Chargers fans ate hot dogs and enjoyed a bean bag toss.
Gomez, 30, is the co-chair of NYC Chargers Fans. She credits the social media era for the ability to unify fans throughout the area and created a Facebook group with more than 130 members. Most are San Diego natives. "It feels almost like you're at the stadium," Gomez said. "We're tight-knit. Everyone knows each other's faces because we see them every week. There's something about watching the game with a bunch of people that have lived in San Diego or loved the Chargers." Asked if their presence creates animosity with the New York crowd. Gomez said yes and no. "We're from San Diego," she said. "We love our team but we're laid back. We're not angry."
Her apartment is filled with Chargers stuff including a starter jacket from the '80s that comes in handy during snowstorms. But the most special is the breast cancer team hat that she received last season. Her mother had just been diagnosed, and now is cancer-free.
Her favorite player is Philip Rivers. Her blue and gold No. 17 jersey offers New Yorkers a glimpse at her passion that gets magnified with further observation. "His leadership and commitment to the game is admirable." Gomez said "Not to mention his Southern accent. It's great."
Fan Spotlight
When the season opens Sept 13 in Kansas City, Marisa Gomez will be in front of a screen at Metro 53 with dozens of other Chargers fans. A Chargers flag will unfurl outside the door. Inside, a signed Charlie Joiner jersey will hang on display. Touchdowns will initiate "San Diego Super Chargers" on the bar's speakers and Hype Man will weave through a crowd clad in blue and gold, high-fiving everyone to kick-start the celebration.
Not an unusual scene. That is, until you take in to account its location at East 53rd street between 1st and 2nd Avenue in New York City. A group that started in 2007 with less than 10 people erupted to more than 300 at a tailgate party last season as San Diego played at the New York Giants on Nov. 8. A few hundred Chargers fans ate hot dogs and enjoyed a bean bag toss.
Gomez, 30, is the co-chair of NYC Chargers Fans. She credits the social media era for the ability to unify fans throughout the area and created a Facebook group with more than 130 members. Most are San Diego natives. "It feels almost like you're at the stadium," Gomez said. "We're tight-knit. Everyone knows each other's faces because we see them every week. There's something about watching the game with a bunch of people that have lived in San Diego or loved the Chargers." Asked if their presence creates animosity with the New York crowd. Gomez said yes and no. "We're from San Diego," she said. "We love our team but we're laid back. We're not angry."
Her apartment is filled with Chargers stuff including a starter jacket from the '80s that comes in handy during snowstorms. But the most special is the breast cancer team hat that she received last season. Her mother had just been diagnosed, and now is cancer-free.
Her favorite player is Philip Rivers. Her blue and gold No. 17 jersey offers New Yorkers a glimpse at her passion that gets magnified with further observation. "His leadership and commitment to the game is admirable." Gomez said "Not to mention his Southern accent. It's great."
Thursday, January 21, 2010
What Was Supposed To Be, Just Isn't
written by Robbie Sebastian
So here we are talking about next season again...sigh. While I
scrupulously avoid turning on the TV or reading the local paper this
week, I'm left to dwell upon why this loss, after countless seasons of
having the rug pulled out from under us, just feels so... different.
I'm a loooong time Charger fan, I'm used to the defeats, to taking the
positives and writing off the negatives, to enjoying watching the
superbowl with no emotional investment, but this- and no real Charger
fan would say it out loud while we were still in it- this really felt
like THE YEAR.
So we analyze and theorize, talk about Kaeding and Phillips, Turner
and Jackson, penalties and strategies, discipline and motivation and
all the incalculable things that add up to, once again, losing to a
team we should have beat. A team that somehow wanted it more. And we
look for blame...
The problem is, it isn't so easy this time. Preparation? Two weeks.
Rested? Plenty. Healthy? Incomparably. Talent? Pro-Bowl.
Experience? Once again, check. Momentum? Like a steam train. And
another thing...
IF we had bitch-slapped the Jets like we should have, we would be in
the enviable position of facing lesser teams with glaring weaknesses.
No Patriots. No Steelers. Colts? Liked our chances. And I'm not
seeing anything on the NFC side that made me quiver, either.
It's like the stars lined up this year. We stayed strong, the
opponents weakened. And yet, we lost. We simply walked onto our home
field on a beautiful San Diego day, and we forgot how to play winning
football. If we had even played average football, we would have won.
This one hurt. It's gonna take some time to come upp with answers.
And it's gonna sting for a long time.
So here we are talking about next season again...sigh. While I
scrupulously avoid turning on the TV or reading the local paper this
week, I'm left to dwell upon why this loss, after countless seasons of
having the rug pulled out from under us, just feels so... different.
I'm a loooong time Charger fan, I'm used to the defeats, to taking the
positives and writing off the negatives, to enjoying watching the
superbowl with no emotional investment, but this- and no real Charger
fan would say it out loud while we were still in it- this really felt
like THE YEAR.
So we analyze and theorize, talk about Kaeding and Phillips, Turner
and Jackson, penalties and strategies, discipline and motivation and
all the incalculable things that add up to, once again, losing to a
team we should have beat. A team that somehow wanted it more. And we
look for blame...
The problem is, it isn't so easy this time. Preparation? Two weeks.
Rested? Plenty. Healthy? Incomparably. Talent? Pro-Bowl.
Experience? Once again, check. Momentum? Like a steam train. And
another thing...
IF we had bitch-slapped the Jets like we should have, we would be in
the enviable position of facing lesser teams with glaring weaknesses.
No Patriots. No Steelers. Colts? Liked our chances. And I'm not
seeing anything on the NFC side that made me quiver, either.
It's like the stars lined up this year. We stayed strong, the
opponents weakened. And yet, we lost. We simply walked onto our home
field on a beautiful San Diego day, and we forgot how to play winning
football. If we had even played average football, we would have won.
This one hurt. It's gonna take some time to come upp with answers.
And it's gonna sting for a long time.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Chargers vs. Cowboys - Super Bowl?
written by Darbe Rotach, NYC Chargers Fan
New York City - Most of you know, I've been a San Diego Chargers fanatic for 32 years now. Rough times mostly, but here we are, yet again. Playoff time and the Chargers are in the mix, as has been the case the last few years.
A good number of early season predictions had The Chargers meeting the Cowboys in this year's Super Bowl. Prior to the 2009 season, the "Football Outsid
ers Almanac", considered by many to be the benchmark of football predictors, said of San Diego... "The San Diego Chargers are the prohibitive favorites to win Super Bowl XLIV. Our 2009 statistical projection for the Chargers is so off the charts that it may endanger the boundaries of reality." They also picked the Cowboys to be the Chargers opponent in XLIV.
The Chargers have done their part and are considered by many to be the hottest and strongest team heading into the playoffs in either conference. In the NFC, the Cowboys appear to be primed for a playoff run that gets them beyond the first game, for the first time, in a looong time. However, listening to the multitude of Cowboy fans that have come out of the closet for the first time all season, you'd think the Cowboys had done well in the playoffs the last few years. LOL
I've been holding my tongue more than usual this season because, well... first the Bolts had that slow start and then I realized something different is happening this year. Something special. It's a number of things... some of which, I've mentioned a few times in my emails with some of you. Most surprising to me though, is how the team's depth has shined, through numerous major injuries this season. We've played 99% of our games without our all-pro anchors, Jamal Williams(NT), and Nick Hardwick(C) in the trenches. Numerous injuries to other linemen and all-pro linebackers have also been abound all season long. LT was absent for 4 games. Vincent Jackson and Eric Weddle have been battling serious knee and hip injuries the last few weeks. I don't care what anyone says, to beat a starting team with a decent defense, like the Redskins, with your 2nd and 3rd string players, is pretty impressive. There's something going on here.
Everything seems to be in place for San Diego this time around. This year, for a change, the PATS get the major injuries to their top scorers heading into the playoffs. The Colts rested players when they probably shouldn't have. They need to stay on a roll more than SD. Especially considering how River's and company owns them in the playoffs. The Chargers have already seen the Bengals and handled them handedly. The "little JETS that could" are around for a laugh, and over in the NFC, a former Charger defensive coordinator seems to finally have his team primed to make a run for the Superbowl. I'm hoping he does now. Previously, I've said that it would be nice to see Rivers go up against Brees in an XLIV showdown. I also wouldn't mind an Aaron Rodgers or McNabb battle. The Cowboys though? America's team? Jerry "the next Al Davis" Jones' team? A bigger international audience? The team we manhandled in week 14? Yes, that's right.... I'm talking to you Marion Barber! A win over the Cowboys in the Superbowl would be the cherry on top of the storied franchise's now, 50 years in existence. It would wipe out the San Diego Sports Curse ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Diego_sports_curse ) , help Charger fans forget the 1993 Superbowl disaster against the 49ers, and amongst other things shut up Cowboy fans for a few more months.
Every team benefits greatly from winning a Superbowl but, c'mon! Why can't this be our time?!! I think it is. I'm hoping it is. I'm hoping you all jump on the Charger vs. Cowboys Superbowl bandwagon and then let's see where the chips fall. Go Chargers!!!
Here is a link to Darbe's blog: The Goat Check
New York City - Most of you know, I've been a San Diego Chargers fanatic for 32 years now. Rough times mostly, but here we are, yet again. Playoff time and the Chargers are in the mix, as has been the case the last few years.
A good number of early season predictions had The Chargers meeting the Cowboys in this year's Super Bowl. Prior to the 2009 season, the "Football Outsid
ers Almanac", considered by many to be the benchmark of football predictors, said of San Diego... "The San Diego Chargers are the prohibitive favorites to win Super Bowl XLIV. Our 2009 statistical projection for the Chargers is so off the charts that it may endanger the boundaries of reality." They also picked the Cowboys to be the Chargers opponent in XLIV.The Chargers have done their part and are considered by many to be the hottest and strongest team heading into the playoffs in either conference. In the NFC, the Cowboys appear to be primed for a playoff run that gets them beyond the first game, for the first time, in a looong time. However, listening to the multitude of Cowboy fans that have come out of the closet for the first time all season, you'd think the Cowboys had done well in the playoffs the last few years. LOL
I've been holding my tongue more than usual this season because, well... first the Bolts had that slow start and then I realized something different is happening this year. Something special. It's a number of things... some of which, I've mentioned a few times in my emails with some of you. Most surprising to me though, is how the team's depth has shined, through numerous major injuries this season. We've played 99% of our games without our all-pro anchors, Jamal Williams(NT), and Nick Hardwick(C) in the trenches. Numerous injuries to other linemen and all-pro linebackers have also been abound all season long. LT was absent for 4 games. Vincent Jackson and Eric Weddle have been battling serious knee and hip injuries the last few weeks. I don't care what anyone says, to beat a starting team with a decent defense, like the Redskins, with your 2nd and 3rd string players, is pretty impressive. There's something going on here.
Everything seems to be in place for San Diego this time around. This year, for a change, the PATS get the major injuries to their top scorers heading into the playoffs. The Colts rested players when they probably shouldn't have. They need to stay on a roll more than SD. Especially considering how River's and company owns them in the playoffs. The Chargers have already seen the Bengals and handled them handedly. The "little JETS that could" are around for a laugh, and over in the NFC, a former Charger defensive coordinator seems to finally have his team primed to make a run for the Superbowl. I'm hoping he does now. Previously, I've said that it would be nice to see Rivers go up against Brees in an XLIV showdown. I also wouldn't mind an Aaron Rodgers or McNabb battle. The Cowboys though? America's team? Jerry "the next Al Davis" Jones' team? A bigger international audience? The team we manhandled in week 14? Yes, that's right.... I'm talking to you Marion Barber! A win over the Cowboys in the Superbowl would be the cherry on top of the storied franchise's now, 50 years in existence. It would wipe out the San Diego Sports Curse ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Diego_sports_curse ) , help Charger fans forget the 1993 Superbowl disaster against the 49ers, and amongst other things shut up Cowboy fans for a few more months.
Every team benefits greatly from winning a Superbowl but, c'mon! Why can't this be our time?!! I think it is. I'm hoping it is. I'm hoping you all jump on the Charger vs. Cowboys Superbowl bandwagon and then let's see where the chips fall. Go Chargers!!!
Here is a link to Darbe's blog: The Goat Check
Friday, January 1, 2010
It's A New Year... that means...
more posting on this page.
Regarding the Chargers, I'd like to keep the one game mentality as I have since the beginning of October, however, I can't help but think, is this our year? I don't want to dwell on it too much considering it is the mentality I wanna keep. We have a solid team, there is not one star player on this team and that's why I love them.
Chargers fans in New York City have been away for the holidays, either in San Diego or elsewhere in California. We expect a big crowd at Sunday's game vs. the Redskins not only because we are back from the Christmas break but, because it is the last regular season game. Can we pack the bar so that other fans are not there starting stuff with us like they did Dec 20. Let's Go Bolts!
P.S. Did I mention that we got a Charlie Joiner jersey inscribed to the bar? Thanks to @1stClassGraphs
for hooking that up. We just need the bar to hang it up now!
Follow me on Twitter: @chargers_NYC
Regarding the Chargers, I'd like to keep the one game mentality as I have since the beginning of October, however, I can't help but think, is this our year? I don't want to dwell on it too much considering it is the mentality I wanna keep. We have a solid team, there is not one star player on this team and that's why I love them.
Chargers fans in New York City have been away for the holidays, either in San Diego or elsewhere in California. We expect a big crowd at Sunday's game vs. the Redskins not only because we are back from the Christmas break but, because it is the last regular season game. Can we pack the bar so that other fans are not there starting stuff with us like they did Dec 20. Let's Go Bolts!
P.S. Did I mention that we got a Charlie Joiner jersey inscribed to the bar? Thanks to @1stClassGraphs
for hooking that up. We just need the bar to hang it up now!
Follow me on Twitter: @chargers_NYC
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