Thursday, Feb. 04, 2010

Get your game - and party - on

Your 2010 Super Sports Party Planner

By Terry Massey - For Weekly Surge

Feb. 14, Winter Olympics (NBC)/ Daytona 500 (FOX)

Sure, you could chose to celebrate Valentine's Day the usual way, with a movie, dinner, flowers, and a little boom-chicky-wa-wa with the one you love.

Or you could try something truly rare this year by celebrating the opening weekend of the Winter Olympics and the kickoff of the NASCAR season.

They only collide once every four years, sort of like Leap Day but with ski suits, cowboy boots, short ice-skating skirts and Dale Earnhardt Jr. T-shirts.

What better exemplifies the Olympic spirit of unity through diversity than combining the international flavor of the Winter Games with the Americana of NASCAR? It has all the makings for an ideal couples party, where the girls can watch figure skating and the guys can watch racin', or vice versa.

You'll need two rooms, two TVs and two distinctly different menus to pull it off. In the guys' room, ice cold beer (any brand will do, but the cheaper, the more plentiful) and fried stuff (meat, not vegetables) will do. In the girls' room, wine, cheese, crackers, veggie tray and anything dipped in chocolate.

Create a pool where each couple picks a favorite driver and figure skater and the highest combined finisher wins a bottle of wine. Make sure the two parties merge into one before the end of the night for the medal/wine presentation ceremony and then everyone can go home and boom-chicky-wa-wa.

March 16-April 5, March Madness (CBS)

It's odd enough that March Madness ends in April. This year the NCAA men's basketball tournament might start two days early for local hoops fans.

That's because the traditional Tuesday play-in game could feature Coastal Carolina University, which is currently leading the Big South Conference.

If the Chanticleers can hang on and host the conference tournament and win it, there's a good chance they will be in the first NCAA tournament game in Dayton, Ohio.

Not only would they get to kick off March Madness on national TV, but a win would put them in position to play the overall No. 1 seed in the next round.

But whether or not CCU makes its first NCAA appearance since 1993, the Big Dance gets started for real on March 18, with 32 games, followed by 32 more the next day. It's the perfect opportunity to come down with the 48-hour March Madness flu and burn a couple of those sick days.

Invite friends (not co-workers) and make a party of it. Of course you'll already be in your office pool, so start a different kind of bracket-racket of your own.

One of the best is the Las Vegas pool. It gives everyone a fair shot at winning. Tear off 64 pieces of paper, write each team's name on it and charge a buck per pick to pull them out of a hat. Don't sweat if you get, say, CCU. You also get CCU plus the Las Vegas line, say 30 points, against Kansas.

If CCU loses by 29 or less, you inherit Kansas in the second round. This pool often produces a bizarre real Final Four of mid-majors and Cinderellas.

Speaking of, the Final Four is April 3-5 in Indianapolis. If you decide to wait till the big games to hold a big party, pizza and beer are the best bet.

April 4-5, Baseball's Opening Day

Nothing says spring like the start of baseball season. The long-awaited arrival of the Grand Ol' Game, whether soaking up sun in the stands or sitting on the sofa in front of the big screen, is the perfect cure for the winter-time blues and an American tradition that dates back to the days of Abner Doubleday.

Major League Baseball has managed to mess it up over the years, starting the season a day earlier than the traditional Monday with a game or two on Sunday and even playing the first game of the season oversees in Japan. But that shouldn't stop fans from celebrating the real Opening Day on Monday (April 15).

This year, sees Seattle play at San Francisco at 3 p.m. April 4 and the defending World Series champion New York Yankees battle the rival Boston Red Sox at 8 p.m. that same day, but a full schedule of 13 games begins the next afternoon, April 5, and if you want to see the action in person, the closest locale is Turner Field in Atlanta, with the Braves hosting the Chicago Cubs at 4:10 p.m. The day's games begin with a 1:05 p.m. tilt between the defending National League champion Philadelphia Phillies and the presumably improved Washington Nationals.

If weather permits, move a TV out on the back porch and fire up the grill. Soak some bratwursts in suds the night before, pack the rest of the beers on ice and drag the lawn furniture out of storage. Outdoors is the best way to enjoy the sights, smells, sounds, tastes and true feel for baseball season.

If weather forces you indoors, you still have another chance to get the purest baseball experience a few days later when the Class A Myrtle Beach Pelicans open the season at 7 p.m. April 8. About 6,000 strong traditionally fill BB&T Coastal Field for the annual Opening Day event.

But be careful if you chose to tailgate. Last year the anti-biker laws also were used to stop baseball fans from doing pre-game warm-ups in the parking lot.

April 9-12, The Masters

Augusta, Ga., is just a three-and-a-half hour drive from the Grand Strand, but it's a world away. The towering pines and blooming azaleas make it a golfer's Garden of Eden.

Mecca might be a better religious reference because tens of thousands make the annual pilgrimage to golf's most glorious major to see the world's greatest golfers test their skills against the challenging layout at Augusta National. No other American sporting event clings to tradition so tightly.

Tickets are like family heirlooms handed down through the generations, but the savvy fan can always scalp a pass or two. Passing through the gates is like crossing a time portal into the Old South where people still say "Howdy y'all" and you can buy a homemade pimento cheese sandwich for a buck.

Of course, not everyone can afford the jacked-up hotel rooms and hijacked ticket prices from scalpers, but you can bring Augusta to you. Invite friends over for the final day (after you visit dad for Father's Day) and put out a spread of pimento cheese sandwiches and ice-cold Coca-Cola (feel free to spike).

The best way to bet on The Masters is to divide the field into three categories - the good, the bad and the ugly. For a small fee, each participant gets to pick one golfer from each list. When it's over, total the three golfers' scores together for the tourney total. Whoever has the lowest score gets the cash.

If you can't make it to Augusta, you can attend the next best thing at the Hootie & The Blowfish Monday After The Masters charity golf tournament (April 12) at Barefoot Landing and after-party at the House of Blues. Past participating celebrities include John Daly, John Elway, Samuel L. Jackson and Bill Murray, and tickets to the concert generally sell out quicker than a Tiger Woods text message to one of his mistresses.

May 1, Kentucky Derby

The greatest two minutes in sports can be an all-day people party if you plan it right, and it doesn't matter whether or not they care about horse racing.

This sports spectacle is more a celebration than anything else, a chance for us two-legged types to display our dominance while the poor four-legged critters do all the dirty work. The jockey goes along for the ride and takes all the credit while the horses hoof it around the 1 1/4-mile track at 30 mph.

And we supposed higher life forms pack the track to hoot and holler for one horse to run faster than the others. Which animal is more evolved again?

Of course, we humans have a little help. Drinking mint juleps all day will make you scream for damn near anything, especially something like "YAACK!" There are much tastier drinks you can make for party guests that won't involve renting a carpet cleaner after the shindig. Anything and bourbon will do.

But the race is only interesting if you've got a rooting interest. The best Kentucky Derby pool is an auction that's almost as entertaining as the race itself. Print out info on the horses along with their odds so guests can bone up on the ponies, then start the bidding process a couple of hours before post time.

The auctioneer goes through the field, letting folks bid on the horses of their choice. The top bidder gets the horse and all the money goes into a fund that pays a percentage to win, place and show (that's first, second and third to those who are not equine inclined). That way everyone has a reason to cheer.

May 8, Southern 500

The traditional date has changed at the so-called "Track Too Tough to Tame," but the hard-nosed racing remains the same - down and dirty just like it's always been.

When this cow pasture was converted to Darlington Raceway in 1950, racing fans and curious onlookers packed the 1.66-mile track to see the inaugural Southern 500 and the first race involving stock cars on a superspeedway. It became a Labor Day weekend tradition that has now moved to Mother's Day.

What makes Darlington so unique is its egg shape, built that way accidently when the farmer wanted to save his pond and forced construction workers to tighten the corners on one end. It's not like the cookie-cutter tracks that have been built ever since, and that's what fans love and drivers hate about it.

Rookies and even some veterans earn what is known as a "Darlington stripe," a badge of dishonor their car leaves on the wall after sudden impact. Drivers swear the walls move during the race, jumping out to bite them when they least expect it. The tight turns do make for some dramatic crashes.

This is one you really need to see in person to truly appreciate and Darlington is only an hour-and-a-half drive from Myrtle Beach (three hours in race traffic, unless you're Jimmie Johnson).

Tickets range from $35 to $99 for grandstand seating and, at approximately 70,000 seats, there's not a bad one in the house. Best of all, NASCAR allows fans to bring in coolers (within reason, of course, no ice-filled caskets) and the stands are like one big, loud, noisy, smelly, crowded, awesome party. You can get tickets at darlingtonraceway.com.

June 11-July 11, World Cup Soccer

The Winter Olympics claim to be the world's sports gathering spot, but they're mainly for people who live in the snow. For countries that are closer to the equator and even some that aren't, the World Cup is the real international deal, bringing 32 nations together every four years to kick a ball back and forth in a sport known as football everywhere except the U.S.

This year's venue in South Africa will make for an exciting backdrop but also will require flexible scheduling to those of us in the good ol' U.S.A. South Africa is seven hours ahead of Eastern Time, meaning matches will start about 5 a.m. and run through the early afternoon local time. Thank God for TiVo.

It's hard for more of us to get excited about anything that early in the morning, but it can make for a fun breakfast-club party for people who are into soccer. How often do you get to kick off a party with bloody Marys and pancakes? I've been to a few that ended like that but never one that started that way.

Team USA traditionally doesn't do well in international football, as the rest of the world calls it. We learned a long time ago that it's easier to score if you pick the ball up with your hands and run with it. But soccer is growing in popularity in the U.S. and this team could be the one to break down the wall.

The U.S. faces England (June 12), Slovenia (June 18) and Algeria (June 23) in pool play and tries to advance to the quarterfinals against the world's best teams beginning June 26. Root for the American team to make it to the July 11 finals, and then stay tuned for one hell of a snowball fight in South Africa.

June 22, California League-Carolina League All-Star Game

This first-time event on the Grand Strand in 2008 was so nice they decided to hold it here twice - a real compliment to Myrtle Beach as a host city and the Myrtle Beach Pelicans as the host organization.

This Class A minor-league all-star game rotates annually between the East and West Coast, and Myrtle Beach did such a good job supporting the event that the Carolina League opted to bring it back to BB&T Coastal Field, which drew a record 6,599 fans and was widely regarded as the best game yet.

While the game involves minor leaguers, they are the best of the best at this level and many are making a quick stop on their may to the big show. The last all-star game at BB& T Coastal Field featured current major leaguers Pablo Sandoval of the San Francisco Giants and Matt Wieters of the Baltimore Orioles.

Fans should get the chance to see aspiring big league talent again this year before they get the big head and the Pelicans will hold two days of activities that will allow fans to mix and mingle with the players from both leagues. But the main event, of course, is the game and tickets are sure to be a hot commodity.

Tickets are on sale now and range from $11 in the Land Shark Landing outfield bleachers to $15 for reserved seating. Fireworks will follow the final out. For more information, go to myrtlebeachpelicans.com.

As we mentioned previously, tailgating has become risky in the stadium parking lot as a result of new city ordinances aimed at the bike rallies, but a new general manager is on the way for the Pelicans who may loosen the enforcement of the laws. If not, you can always hold pre-game warm-ups across the street at Broadway at the Beach's various bars and restaurants.

September, CCU football home opener

Although Coastal Carolina's 2010 football schedule has yet to be announced, it's a safe bet that one Saturday in September will see the season opener.

The Chanticleers have opened on the road against big-time competition the past two seasons - at Penn State in 2008 and at Kent last year - to collect a big paycheck and a beating, but the second game of the season usually sees them return to Brooks Stadium against an opponent closer to their own size.

CCU football has grown into a nice gathering spot for local sports fans since the program started from scratch in 2003. The small stadium makes for a cozier crowd and low-key college atmosphere than you'll get at Clemson or South Carolina, but you won't have to wait in the same standstill traffic either.

Ticket prices are cheaper too, although the 2010 prices haven't been released either. Expect to pay about $15 for a seat close to the action, a fraction of what you would pay a scalper at a major college game. Unfortunately the tailgate situation is smaller too because of on-campus rules against alcohol.

But don't let that stop you from getting together with a group of friends, firing up some chicken wings on the portable grill and sipping unknown beverages from a plastic cup. The campus police aren't going to peek inside your container unless you're creating a scene so you can get ready for some football.

Nov. 13, Carolina Cup

One of the nation's premiere steeplechase racing events is just a two-hour drive away in Camden, and the fun is well worth the required horsepower.

You can see horses leap over fences and race to the finish line, or you could have a blast without ever seeing a horse. People-watching is as much a part of the 80th annual autumn ritual as the equine kind as more than 65,000 fans flock to the Springdale Racecourse to party with friends and strangers.

Springdale is a lovely track surrounded by old wooden grandstands and stables, but the real party is on the infield, where fans reserve parking spaces and mix and mingle with the same folks every year. But it's a friendly gathering for all ages and first-timers are welcomed like new members of the family.

It's one giant tailgate party. Party-throwers set up tents and tables, wheel in coolers and fire up the grills with various critters - except horse, of course.

Pick-pickins', grilled chickens, oyster roasts and champagne toasts are in abundance, as are hotties in sundresses and big hats. It's a bit preppy, but it's not just for the wine-and-cheese crowd. Rowdy college students invade the infield and more mellow college grads keep coming back year after year.

And here's a good way to make friends by playing the ponies: Take a deck of playing cards, pull out an Ace through King (that's 1-13, or up to however many horses are in each race). For a buck or more players can draw a card and get the horse of the corresponding number. The winner gets the loot.

If you lose, no biggie. If you win, you can pay for your gas and trip. Either way, a day at the races with the Carolina Cup is sure to be a gas and a trip.

Tickets range from $30 for general admission all the way up to $625 for grandstand box seats. You can order them online at carolina-cup.org.

Nov. 27, South Carolina-Clemson football game

This is without a doubt the top sporting event each year in the state with more than 80,000 attending the annual Gamecocks-Tigers pigskin rivalry.

A mixture of folks clad in orange or garnet gather hours before the game to chew the fat and the chicken wings while gearing up for the big game.

Unlike many bitter rivalries, this one has a friendlier feel since neighbors and family members often hail from different camps. You can see USC and Clemson fans tailgating side-by-side before kickoff, trading good-natured smack talk and swapping samples of food and drink like a family reunion.

But the tensions intensify once the sun goes down, the lights come on and two teams take the field, so be sure to bring a heavy coat and a thick skin.

This year's game will be held at Clemson's Death Valley, where the Tigers rub Howard's Rock for good luck then run down the hill to loud cheers. It's a five-hour drive to Clemson but well worth the trip as the hills of the Upstate and the fall colors of the leaves provide a perfect backdrop for football.

Arrive early and claim your own tailgate place or join friends who already have a spot reserved. Sport your team's colors and take part in the fall ritual.

As for wagering, the stakes are high enough with a year's worth of bragging rights on the line. The game itself is the best bet.

Dec. 27-31, Beach Ball Classic

The Grand Strand's top sporting event wraps up the 2010 calendar with its 30th annual tournament, which attracts top high school basketball teams and talent from around the nation. The Beach Ball gives local fans the chance to see future NBA players up close and personal before they become stars.

Past participants include current NBA superstars Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers and Kevin Garnett of the Boston Celtics, the last two teams to claim the NBA titles. Other Beach Ball veterans who have made names for themselves in the NBA are Byron Davis, Jason Kidd and Jermaine O'Neal.

The Beach Ball Classic features five days of hoops-filled action, with games tipping off around noon and running through 10 p.m. Even the hardest crops of basketball fans can get their fix at this five-day marathon, plus there's always the chance you can say "I saw him when he was in high school" someday.

Single-day tickets can be purchased for $12 to $15 or a book for all five days goes for $75, a bargain that works out to about $2 per game. But if you have a few extra bucks after the holidays, sponsorship packages include tickets to all games plus food and drink at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center.

The Beach Ball Classic has become a social event on the Strand as local movers and shakers meet to watch future hoops stars in action, and college coaches often drop in to check out the latest batch of recruits. Grab some friends and a courtside seat to the action to close out the 2010 sports season in style.