In case you, my one and only reader, need a reminder, the concept of this tour is attend a home game for every team in the NFL during one regular season. Additionally, ALL transportation must be by car, preferably a mid-1990s conversion van, complete with crappy window blinds in the back and wood paneling all over. This is the kind of journey two college dropouts/temporary dropouts would take instead of enrolling in the fall semester (Yes, I wish I was doing this, and no, I have nowhere near enough money). The first and last destinations are my hometown, the pumpkin capital of the world: Morton, IL. For those who are illiterate, I’ve included a PowerPoint presentation (which will be posted on YouTube as soon as I figure out how to post something on YouTube).
As it turns out, this year’s schedule did, in fact, lend itself to a 32-team tour. In fact, thanks to the NFL’s heartless disregard for its loyal Buffalo Bills’ fans, this tour even goes north of the border and pulls in a 33rd home game in Toronto. To be completely honest, I am SO excited that this worked out. My one issue is that I don’t attend the 32nd (33rd) game in Chicago in week 16. Because Seattle was so FREAKING frustrating to include, I had to put the Jets’ home game** in week 17, requiring, in essence, a there-and-back trip to the Jersey swamp.
**To the NFL: you really kowtow to the Giants, don’t you? The Jets had home games on all the wrong weekends. They had to complain to you because you scheduled them for both Rosh Hashanah AND Yom Kippur. You should have just booked them for Christmas and Eid Al-Adha to alienate every Western religion from the Jets. Anyway, even an “unknowing” Midwestern who has met ONE Jew in his entire life can recognize that the NFL is basically trying to run the Jets out of business. Well done, NFL-o-crats. Well done.
Without further ado, the Tour de Stade:
Week 1:
Thursday, September 10:
Tennessee Titans vs. Pittsburgh Steelers; Heinz Field, 8:30pm ET
Leg Distance (Morton, IL to Pittsburgh, PA): 561 mi.; Week Distance: 561 mi.; Total Distance: 561 mi.
Sunday, September 13:
Washington Redskins vs. New York Giants; Giants Stadium, 4:15pm ET
Leg Distance (Pittsburgh, PA to East Rutherford, NJ): 372 mi.; Week Distance: 933 mi.; Total Distance: 933 mi.
Monday, September 14:
Buffalo Bills vs. New England Patriots; Gillette Stadium, 7:00pm ET
Leg Distance (East Rutherford, NJ to Foxborough, MA): 210 mi.; Week Distance: 1,143 mi.; Total Distance: 1,143 mi.
Week 2:
Sunday, September 20:
Carolina Panthers vs. Atlanta Falcons; Georgia Dome, 1:00pm ET
Leg Distance (Foxborough, MA to Atlanta, GA): 1,088 mi.; Week Distance: 1,088 mi.; Total Distance: 2,231 mi.
Monday, September 21:
Indianapolis Colts vs. Miami Dolphins; Dolphin Stadium, 8:30pm ET
Leg Distance (Atlanta, GA to Miami Gardens, FL): 650 mi.; Week Distance: 1,738 mi.; Total Distance: 2,881 mi.
Week 3:
Sunday, September 27:
New Orleans Saints vs. Buffalo Bills; Ralph Wilson Stadium, 4:05pm ET
Leg Distance (Miami Gardens, FL to Orchard Park, NY): 1,363 mi.; Week Distance: 1,363 mi.; Total Distance: 4,244 mi.
Week 4:
Sunday, October 4:
Cincinnati Bengals vs. Cleveland Browns; Cleveland Browns Stadium, 1:00pm ET
Leg Distance (Orchard Park, NY to Cleveland, OH): 183 mi.; Week Distance: 183 mi.; Total Distance: 4,427 mi.
Monday, October 5:
Green Bay Packers vs. Minnesota Vikings; HHH Metrodome, 7:20pm CT
Leg Distance (Cleveland, OH to Minneapolis, MN): 751 mi.; Week Distance: 934 mi.; Total Distance: 5,178 mi.
Week 5:
Sunday, October 11:
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Seattle Seahawks; Qwest Field, 1:15pm PT
Leg Distance (Minneapolis, MN to Seattle, WA): 1,659 mi.; Week Distance: 1,659 mi.
Total Distance: 6,837 mi.
Week 6:
OFF
Total Distance: 6,837 mi.
Week 7:
Sunday, October 25:
Indianapolis Colts vs. Saint Louis Rams; Edward Jones Dome, 12:00pm CT
Leg Distance (Seattle, WA to Saint Louis, MO): 2,139 mi.; Week Distance: 2,139 mi.; Total Distance: 8,976 mi.
Week 8:
Sunday, November 1:
Carolina Panthers vs. Arizona Cardinals; University of Phoenix Stadium, 2:15pm MT
Leg Distance (Saint Louis, MO to Glendale, AZ): 1,505 mi.; Week Distance: 1,505 mi.; Total Distance: 10,481 mi.
Week 9:
Sunday, November 8:
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Kansas City Chiefs; Arrowhead Stadium, 12:00pm CT
Leg Distance (Glendale, AZ to Kansas City, MO): 1,359 mi.; Week Distance: 1,359 mi.; Total Distance: 11,840 mi.
Monday, November 9:
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Denver Broncos; Invesco Field at Mile High, 6:30pm MT
Leg Distance (Kansas City, MO to Denver, CO): 610 mi.; Week Distance: 1,969 mi.; Total Distance: 12,450 mi.
Week 10:
Thursday, November 12:
Chicago Bears vs. San Francisco 49ers; Candlestick Park, 5:20pm PT
Leg Distance (Denver, CO to San Francisco, CA): 1,272 mi.; Week Distance: 1,272 mi.; Total Distance: 13,722 mi.
Sunday, November 15:
Philadelphia Eagles vs. San Diego Chargers; Qualcomm Stadium, 1:15pm PT
Leg Distance (San Francisco, CA to San Diego, CA): 504 mi.; Week Distance: 1,776 mi.; Total Distance: 14,226 mi.
Week 11:
Sunday, November 22:
Washington Redskins vs. Dallas Cowboys; Dallas Cowboys new stadium (naming rights TBA), 12:00pm CT
Leg Distance (San Diego, CA to Arlington, TX): 1,336 mi.; Week Distance: 1,336 mi.; Total Distance: 15,562 mi.
Monday, November 23:
Tennessee Titans vs. Houston Texans; Reliant Stadium, 7:30pm CT
Leg Distance (Arlington, TX to Houston, TX): 265 mi.; Week Distance: 1,601 mi.; Total Distance: 15,827 mi.
Week 12:
Thursday, November 26 (Thanksgiving)
Green Bay Packers vs. Detroit Lions; Ford Field, 12:30pm CT
Leg Distance (Houston, TX to Detroit, MI): 1,394 mi.; Week Distance: 1,394 mi.; Total Distance: 17,221 mi.
Sunday, November 29
Washington Redskins vs. Philadelphia Eagles; Lincoln Financial Field, 1:00pm ET
Leg Distance (Detroit, MI to Philadelphia, PA): 592 mi.; Week Distance: 1,986 mi.; Total Distance: 17,813 mi.
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens, M&T Bank Stadium, 8:20pm ET
Leg Distance (Philadelphia, PA to Baltimore, MD): 98 mi.; Week Distance: 2,084 mi.: Total Distance: 17,911 mi.
Week 13:
Thursday, December 3
New York Jets vs. Buffalo Bills, Rogers Centre, 8:20pm ET
Leg Distance (Baltimore, MD to Toronto, ON): 459 mi.; Week Distance: 459 mi.
Total Distance: 18,370 mi.
Sunday, December 6
Detroit Lions vs. Cincinnati Bengals, Paul Brown Stadium, 1:00pm ET
Leg Distance (Toronto, ON to Cincinnati, OH): 491 mi. (810 km); Week Distance: 950 mi.; Total Distance: 18,861 mi.
Monday, December 7
Baltimore Ravens vs. Green Bay Packers, Lambeau Field, 7:30pm CT
Leg Distance (Cincinnati, OH to Green Bay, WI): 502 mi.; Week Distance: 1,452 mi.; Total Distance: 19,363 mi.
Week 14:
Sunday, December 13
New York Jets vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Raymond James Stadium, 1:00pm ET
Leg Distance (Green Bay, WI to Tampa, FL): 1,381 mi.; Week Distance: 1,381 mi.; Total Distance: 20,744 mi.
Week 15:
Thursday, December 17
Indianapolis Colts vs. Jacksonville Jaguars, Alltel Stadium, 8:20pm ET
Leg Distance (Tampa, FL to Jacksonville, FL): 228 mi.; Week Distance: 228 mi.; Total Distance: 20,972 mi.
Sunday, December 20
Minnesota Vikings vs. Carolina Panthers, Bank of America Stadium, 8:20pm ET
Leg Distance (Jacksonville, FL to Charlotte, NC): 385 mi.; Week Distance: 613 mi.; Total Distance: 21,357 mi.
Monday, December 21
New York Giants vs. Washington Redskins, FedExField, 8:30pm ET
Leg Distance (Charlotte, NC to Landover, MD): 413 mi.; Week Distance: 1,026 mi.; Total Distance: 21,770 mi.
Week 16:
Friday, December 25 (Christmas)
San Diego Chargers vs. Tennessee Titans, LP Field, 7:30pm CT
Leg Distance (Landover, MD to Nashville, TN): 686 mi.; Week Distance: 686 mi.; Total Distance: 22,456 mi.
Sunday, December 27
New York Jets vs. Indianapolis Colts, Lucas Oil Field, 4:15pm ET
Leg Distance (Nashville, TN to Indianapolis, IN): 287 mi.; Week Distance: 973 mi.; Total Distance: 22,743 mi.
Monday, December 28
Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears, Soldier Field, 7:20pm CT
Leg Distance (Indianapolis, IN to Chicago, IL): 185 mi.; Week Distance: 1,158 mi.; Total Distance: 22,928 mi.
Week 17:
Sunday, January 3
Cincinnati Bengals vs. New York Jets, Giants Stadium, 1:00pm ET
Leg Distance (Chicago, IL to East Rutherford, NJ): 790 mi.; Week Distance: 790 mi.; Total Distance: 23,718 mi.
Final Leg Distance (East Rutherford, NJ to Morton, IL): 919 mi.; Week Distance: 1,709 mi.
Final Total Distance: 24,637 mi.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Monday, April 20, 2009
On the People's Sports Alphabet
The polls are open! I have included links for each candidate beneath each poll, because they weren't cooperating with the HTML code. Please vote only once! I know that most of you know how to delete cookies to vote again. I don't want this to turn into a game of "Who has no life, is on the computer the longest, and can delete cookies the fastest?" Also, DO NOT vote based on which team you like; vote on which logo treatment looks the best. Lastly, please bring other people who would appreciate this to the site to vote. I want this "alphabet" to be as representative of the people's opinions as possible. Thanks for voting.
Alabama Crimson Tide, Arizona Diamondbacks, Arizona Wildcats, Atlanta Braves, Australia (WBC), Colorado Avalanche, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Oakland Athletics
Baltimore Ravens, Boston Red Sox, Cincinnati Bengals, Milwaukee Brewers,
Cal Golden Bears, Calgary Flames, Chicago Bears, Chicago Blackhawks, Cincinnati Reds, Connecticut Huskies, Montréal Canadiens, Vancouver Canucks
Anaheim Ducks, Arizona Diamondbacks, Detroit Tigers (cap), Detroit Tigers (jersey), Duke Blue Devils, Miami Dolphins, San Diego Padres, San Diego State Aztecs,
East Carolina Pirates, Elon Phoenix, Philadelphia Eagles
Atlanta Falcons, Cal State Fullerton Titans, Florida Atlantic Owls, Florida Marlins, San Francisco Giants
Georgetown Hoyas, Georgia Bulldogs, Green Bay Packers, Grambling State Tigers, San Francisco Giants
Hawai'i Warriors, New Hampshire Wildcats
Illinois Fighting Illini, Illinois State Redbirds, Iowa State Cyclones
New Jersey Devils, South Dakota State Jackrabbits, Toronto Blue Jays, Utah Jazz (current), Utah Jazz (throwback)
Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas Jayhawks, Kent State Golden Flashes, Kentucky Wildcats, Sacramento Kings
Detroit Lions, Long Beach State 49ers, Los Angeles Galaxy, Louisville Cardinals, Loyola (MD) Greyhounds, Loyola (Marymount) Lions, Saint Louis Cardinals
Florida Marlins, Marshall Thundering Herd, Minnesota Golden Gophers, Minnesota Twins, Morehead State Eagles, New York Mets
Nebraska Cornhuskers (helmet), New York Yankees (hat), New York Yankees (jersey), North Carolina Tar Heels, Northwestern Wildcats (another view)
Baltimore Orioles, Ohio State Buckeyes, Oklahoma State Cowboys, Oregon Ducks, Oregon State Beavers
Cal Poly Mustangs, Indiana Pacers, Penn Quakers, Philadelphia Flyers, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, Portland Pilots, Puerto Rico (WBC)
Duquesne Dukes, Quinnipiac Bobcats, San Jose Earthquakes
Arizona Rattlers, Cal-Riverside Highlanders, Chicago Rush, New York Rangers (alternate), Puerto Rico (WBC), Saint Louis Rams
Chicago White Sox, Oregon State Beavers, Sacramento State Hornets, Saint Louis Cardinals, San Diego State Aztecs, San Jose State Spartans, Washington State Cougars
Tennessee Titans (helmet), Tennessee Titans (script), Tennessee Titans (sword), Tennessee Volunteers, Texas Rangers, Toronto FC
Miami Hurricanes, San Antonio Spurs, South Florida Bulls
Villanova Wildcats, Virginia Cavaliers, Virginia Tech Hokies
Washington Capitals (alternate), Washington State Cougars, West Virginia Mountaineers, Wisconsin Badgers
Xavier Musketeers
Brigham Young Cougars (helmet), Brigham Young Cougars (logo), New York Giants, New York Yankees (hat), New York Yankees (jersey)
Akron Zips, Utah Jazz
Alabama Crimson Tide, Arizona Diamondbacks, Arizona Wildcats, Atlanta Braves, Australia (WBC), Colorado Avalanche, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Oakland Athletics
Baltimore Ravens, Boston Red Sox, Cincinnati Bengals, Milwaukee Brewers,
Cal Golden Bears, Calgary Flames, Chicago Bears, Chicago Blackhawks, Cincinnati Reds, Connecticut Huskies, Montréal Canadiens, Vancouver Canucks
Anaheim Ducks, Arizona Diamondbacks, Detroit Tigers (cap), Detroit Tigers (jersey), Duke Blue Devils, Miami Dolphins, San Diego Padres, San Diego State Aztecs,
East Carolina Pirates, Elon Phoenix, Philadelphia Eagles
Atlanta Falcons, Cal State Fullerton Titans, Florida Atlantic Owls, Florida Marlins, San Francisco Giants
Georgetown Hoyas, Georgia Bulldogs, Green Bay Packers, Grambling State Tigers, San Francisco Giants
Hawai'i Warriors, New Hampshire Wildcats
Illinois Fighting Illini, Illinois State Redbirds, Iowa State Cyclones
New Jersey Devils, South Dakota State Jackrabbits, Toronto Blue Jays, Utah Jazz (current), Utah Jazz (throwback)
Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas Jayhawks, Kent State Golden Flashes, Kentucky Wildcats, Sacramento Kings
Detroit Lions, Long Beach State 49ers, Los Angeles Galaxy, Louisville Cardinals, Loyola (MD) Greyhounds, Loyola (Marymount) Lions, Saint Louis Cardinals
Florida Marlins, Marshall Thundering Herd, Minnesota Golden Gophers, Minnesota Twins, Morehead State Eagles, New York Mets
Nebraska Cornhuskers (helmet), New York Yankees (hat), New York Yankees (jersey), North Carolina Tar Heels, Northwestern Wildcats (another view)
Baltimore Orioles, Ohio State Buckeyes, Oklahoma State Cowboys, Oregon Ducks, Oregon State Beavers
Cal Poly Mustangs, Indiana Pacers, Penn Quakers, Philadelphia Flyers, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, Portland Pilots, Puerto Rico (WBC)
Duquesne Dukes, Quinnipiac Bobcats, San Jose Earthquakes
Arizona Rattlers, Cal-Riverside Highlanders, Chicago Rush, New York Rangers (alternate), Puerto Rico (WBC), Saint Louis Rams
Chicago White Sox, Oregon State Beavers, Sacramento State Hornets, Saint Louis Cardinals, San Diego State Aztecs, San Jose State Spartans, Washington State Cougars
Tennessee Titans (helmet), Tennessee Titans (script), Tennessee Titans (sword), Tennessee Volunteers, Texas Rangers, Toronto FC
Miami Hurricanes, San Antonio Spurs, South Florida Bulls
Villanova Wildcats, Virginia Cavaliers, Virginia Tech Hokies
Washington Capitals (alternate), Washington State Cougars, West Virginia Mountaineers, Wisconsin Badgers
Xavier Musketeers
Brigham Young Cougars (helmet), Brigham Young Cougars (logo), New York Giants, New York Yankees (hat), New York Yankees (jersey)
Akron Zips, Utah Jazz
Thursday, April 16, 2009
On a Tour de Stade
This past Tuesday marks my 2nd attempt at devising a schedule so that someone(s) could attend a home game for every team in the National Football League in one regular season. I gathered this idea from a series of MasterCard commercials that aired earlier in the decade. Two guys prepared a van and drove around the country visiting all 30 Major League Baseball parks in one season. I thought to myself, "Yeah, that would be fun, but it's not that difficult considering each team is scheduled to play 162 games in a season." Football, on the other hand, has 32 teams, yet only 17 weeks. That means such a venture would require viewing multiple games per week for almost every week in the season. I continue to use the idea that travel accommodations are by van only. There are no plane rides, and there are no buses; there is only the van. Hence, drive times between cities play a major factor in determining the aforementioned schedule.
Unfortunately, after roughly 8 hours of work on Tuesday night, it does not look like this year's schedule will offer itself to such a journey. I will continue to work on this, and when I reach the best possible schedule (based on current projections, I estimate 31 teams out of 32...stupid Seahawks) I will post it here.
...Oops. I almost forgot: no, I was never planning on actually attending all these games this season. The price of one ticket for one stadium alone (even nosebleed seats) is too expensive for this college student. Amassing enough money to attend 32 NFL games, purchase enough gasoline to travel all around the country and then some, and...you know...eat would take years. Yet, one can always dream.
Unfortunately, after roughly 8 hours of work on Tuesday night, it does not look like this year's schedule will offer itself to such a journey. I will continue to work on this, and when I reach the best possible schedule (based on current projections, I estimate 31 teams out of 32...stupid Seahawks) I will post it here.
...Oops. I almost forgot: no, I was never planning on actually attending all these games this season. The price of one ticket for one stadium alone (even nosebleed seats) is too expensive for this college student. Amassing enough money to attend 32 NFL games, purchase enough gasoline to travel all around the country and then some, and...you know...eat would take years. Yet, one can always dream.
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