Scoreboard Gourmet

Diet Pepsi Max Commercials, and Questions

in my car the other night, listening to the FAN, I heard an odd commerical. It was two guys fake arguing about sports and fans, etc. They discussed falling asleep at a game. Is that supposed to be funny? Then they astonishingly agreed that Diet Pepsi Max is great (something like that).

I have seen the Diet Pepsi Max football commercial. The one in which a yawn is 'heard' as part of a play to be run. Know what I'm talking about? This one. I had no idea what it was for.
I also had no idea that this maximum Pepsi existed. it has ginseng and extra caffeine, which makes me think their "Wake Up, People" slogan is what you're supposed to yell while running to the john.

who drinks this stuff? and why? 
maybe this is what we'll all be drinking at games when alcohol gets banned.

SuperBowl at ESPN Zone

Here's a special offer from the ESPN Zone in New York, an unusual opportunity to confirm a seat since ESPN Zone usually does not take seating reservations...

Watch the Giants on 80 high definition TV’s.

For food and beverage packages and premium seating options (must be a group of 8 or more) contact the ESPN Zone Sales Department at 212-921-3776. All other seating will be on a first come, first served basis. There will be food and beverage minimums of $20 per person per hour.

btw: The ESPN Zone locations in Anaheim, Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, DC, and Denver will have a $10 food and beverage minimum per person per hour on Super Bowl Sunday.  Note, the Las Vegas location will be closed for a private event.

How NOT to Pig Out on SuperBowl Sunday

I'm totally selling myself short by not mentioning my other little piece in today's NYPost.

Even the most disciplined eaters suffer temptation during nosh-a-thons like the Super Bowl. How can we be good, or at least mildly in control, when we know our boys are fighting in Phoenix? ...

If you can't spare a quarter, click here: DON'T BE GORGE-OUS

BEST NEW SNACKS FOR YOUR PIGSKIN PIGOUT!

by me, in today's NYPost, how fun

You don't have to work at the Snack Food Association to know that the Super Bowl is a day of super snacking. Football fans love their chips. This year, when planning your party, pass by the old favorites (well, you can get one bag), and grab some of the newest snack products on the market. Most of them are so flavorful that you won't need dip, just a napkin to wipe your dusty hands...

here's the link to the full story: THE OTHER SUPER BOWL. if I was smart I could make that picture a link.

come back later for more photos of the snacks mentioned in the story. 

Coney Combos Sabrett Hot Dogs at MSG

um, what is this? Sabrett hot dogs stuffed into a potato knish; nothing to do with Combos, the delicious pretzel+cheese combo people, by the way. has anyone had one? is it the best thing that ever happened to a hot dog, as advertised? 

I saw the sign as we exited a St. John's game at Madison Square Garden. The concessions were closed but I squeezed my head under a gate and asked where I could find the Coney Combos Hot Dog Treat.
"Do you guys sell those Coney Combos Hot Dogs?" I asked one of the women cleaning the counter.
"Yes," she said.
"Holy cow," I said. "Are they good?"
"They're okay," she said, looking through a pile of soon-to-be-trash foil-wrapped goodies, presumably to show one to me.
"How much do they cost?" I asked.
"Ma'am," another woman addressed me. "We're closed."
"Oh I don't want to buy one," I said. "I'm just wondering how much they cost."

$4.75 for a Coney Combos Sabrett at the Garden.
TFMJ and I are uncertain about the kosherness. it certainly has the vibe (knish + beef hot dog), but we think it's not.

SuperBowl Catering in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and on Long Island

by Fairway
I wanted to get that in the title but wasn't the title overwhelming enough?

Orders must be placed by Friday!

see if this link works for you.
Or, in Manhattan call:866-392-2837
in Brooklyn call: 347-750-1251
on Long Island call: 516-937-5402

You know I love Fairway, right? Even when other customers are there.

KFC wants Chicken Dancing at the SuperBowl

by Peter Yoon, LATImes (which is funny since it seems he read about it in the Boston Herald. oh well)...

NFL officials are clucking about an offer by fast-food chain KFC to donate $260,000 to charity in the name of any player who celebrates a Super Bowl touchdown with a chicken dance. The Boston Herald reported that players who cross the line could face fines or suspensions.

"KFC is not affiliated with the NFL in any fashion, so this is a textbook case of ambush marketing 101," NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told the paper.

KFC spokesman Rick Maynard told the paper that agents of several players have contacted the company about the promotion, but the NFL warned those players to be careful.

"If a player acted in a way that was a reflection of a corporate message, then we'd have to take a look at it," McCarthy said.

----

(add'l info by Nina M. Lentini, fyi)
Just to be safe, KFC has lined up former Atlanta Falcons player Jamal Anderson, who was known for his "Dirty Bird" end zone dance, to be on site prior to what KFC refers to as "the big game." "We think this is a fun and creative marketing concept that both fans and the media will be interested in, and we're spreading the word through an online digital campaign," Maynard says. PR is being handled by Weber Shandwick.

KFC is also running a consumer promotion wherein people can upload videos of themselves doing the chicken dance and win "the ultimate big game party," including a flat-panel TV, a limo to bring in the guests, cheerleaders to fire up the crowd, a spread of KFC and a cleaning service for post-party tidying. (SG note: that promo ended 1/25, and the winner will be announced today)

NFL + Alcohol = Real Sports Investigation, and something to think about

as you know, TFMJ and I are pretty big fans of HBO's Real Sports. Episode #130 has a story called Drawing a Line that should be of interest to readers of Scoreboard Gourmet.
The title gives nothing away so I will tell you that's it's about how out-of-hand people get drinking at NFL games. I'm not saying that's news but I am thinking how easy it would be for a few idiots to ruin it for the rest of us.

Do you really have to drink until you vomit? Ever, but especially before you're about to watch a game? How is that supporting your team? I mean, the SG has certainly been part of things-getting-out-of-hand but mostly she just hurt herself. If you can't walk, don't go to the stadium. If you need to get sick, don't go to the stadium.

I realize the NFL doesn't inspire much appropriate behavior, but why? seriously. why?

a guy interviewed named Dick Meyer (sp?) - who says he feels like a bad father for bringing his son to a Bears game said "you cannot legislate morality. you also cannot legislate manners"
let's please please please start legislating manners. seriously. personal responsibility is taken to the next level if you have good manners.

more importantly (read: easier to imagine) is this: if these idiots continue to lack self control, the rest of us will be the ones who pay - when professional sports are alcohol-free events. think it won't happen? something's got to happen. and don't forget, all the major beer companies have at least one non-alcoholic offering.

this episode is being replayed all week.    

Dunkin' Donuts Milky Way Hot Chocolate, more

because of the popularity of my Dunkin Donuts Pee Wee Hockey Commercial post (here), I was compelled to take a photo of the product (well, a photo of a photo of the product) and put it up for everyone.

no I have not had the Milky Way Hot Chocolate. have You? I haven't even seen that commercial in awhile.

Knicks Fan Pack: 4 games, 4 meals $99

Knicks fans can get a game ticket, a meal (hot dog, chips, 24 oz. soda) and two free gifts - a 2007-08 Knicks Yearbook and Knicks Cheerstix - for $99. additional tickets including all vouchers can be purchased for $24.75 each

The Knicks website says Fan Packs can be purchased by calling 212-307-7171 (ticketmaster) or 800-4NBA-TIX, or by visiting the Garden Box Office (just use code NYKFAN)
but I just called ticketmaster to get some more info and they were clueless. I have to recommend going to the Box Office for this one.
man do the Knicks struggle to get it right

Games in the Knicks Fan Pack:
Feb 4th Monday 7:30p v L.A. Clippers (that's the next home game)
Feb 6 th Wednesday 7:30p v the Pacers
Feb 27th Wednesday 7:30p v the Bobcats
Mar 3rd Monday 7:30p v the Hornets

NYC local bars gear up for SuperBowl fans, says Crain's

Thank you Crain's reporter Lisa Fickenscher:

Sports bars in the city are making their own wagers on Super Bowl Sunday—and in each scenario they win. The battle between the New York Giants and the New England Patriots promises to be one of the most profitable Super Bowls ever for local businesses, simply because the match involves a hometown team.

“The Super Bowls that the Giants have been in have been huge for us,” says Mickey Mantle’s Restaurant and Sports Bar general manager, Bart Alexander, who expects revenues from this year’s game to be 50% greater than last year’s. Fans are expected to arrive earlier and stay later, drinking and eating more in the process. “They treat themselves well, ordering a steak instead of burger,” adds Mr. Alexander.

At Back Page sports bar, general manager, Jack Foley, is ordering 3,400 pounds of chicken wings, 800 pounds more than last year.

ESPN Zone employees expect fans to camp outside the Times Square sports Mecca all night to get inside the place on Sunday when it opens at 11 a.m. In previous years, hard core fans gather by the entrance around 8 a.m., says Susan Abramson, regional marketing manager. Groups of eight or more can reserve a table starting at $115 per person, which includes food, beer and wine. For the first time, the Disney-owned bar/restaurant is raffling off two recliners—each one with a team logo—in its lobby. “We expect to be at maximum capacity,” says Ms. Abramson.

Back Page
1472 3rd Ave
New York, NY

ESPN Zone
1472 Broadway
New York, NY

Mickey Mantle's
42 Central Park S
New York, NY