O’Keefe’s House of Hamburg, Milwaukee WI, 01.05.13
The Dairyland BJD Holiday Frolic 2013 was held this weekend at O’Keefe’s House of Hamburg in Milwaukee WI. In lieu of the larger Winter Meetup’s we’ve had in the past, we scaled down to a more intimate event at smaller venue. Attendance was 60 on the dot ((an auspicious number as you will soon see.))
But enough of the details for the moment, let’s get on to the real stars of the show:
Southampton 1 Chelsea 5
Yes, had to get that one in. The Fa Cup 3 rounds tilts were underway as our Holiday Frolic get started. Nice to see us get back on track after that debacle at QPR. Our new striker Demba Ba scored a brace. We’ll meet Southend or Brentford in the next round.
Peterborough 0 Norwich City 3
My Canaries had nice little winter frolic of their own, toppling The Posh by a score that doesn’t even being to describe how dominant Norwich was in the match. Chris Hughton started a 2nd/3rd string squad which gave some of the top players a needs break, and gave game to guys like Declan Rudd, Marc Tierney and Simeon Jackson, who don’t get to see much action otherwise. Norwich will play Luton Town in the next round.
Manchester City 3 Watford 0
When Mario Balotelli, Scott Sinclair, Marcos Lopes, and Costel Pantilloon all get a game, and Marco Lopes scores, you know it’s time for the noisy neighbors to gather ’round a campfire and celebrate their good fortune. Watdord FC can take thier sad and ugly red moose and trundle off to, well, Watford. City gets either Crystal Palace or Stoke in the next round. If I were one of the noisy neighbors, which I’m not, I’d be hoping to get Palace.
Derby County 5 Tranmere Rovers 0
Somewhere, Robbie Savage is smiling. It wasn’t here, mind you. But somewhere. I’m sure the late great Brian Clough was smiling, if he could. Next up for Derby, and once again at Pride Park, Blackburn Rovers….yes THOSE Blackburn Rovers, owned by Venky’s, the Chicken Guys from India who supply a lot of fast food restaurants with their processed chicken meat.
West Ham United 2 Manchester United 2
Sir Alex and the lads couldn’t get one over on that wee little side from East London. Ha ha ha….. The winner of their replay will take on the winner of the Fulham/Blackpool replay. Would the Red Devils right if the next round features the wee little side from East London vs the wee little side from West London. Ha ha ha….
Mansfield Town 1 Liverpool 2
If Mansfield Town had played giant-killer today, their coach Paul Cox would have gotten an all-expenses paid VIP honeymoon to anywhere in the world paid by their league sponsor, Blue Square Bet. Well…they came awfully close.
But football and sport is not always about small things like that. As a tribute to Liverpool, and the 96 Liverpool fans who were killed in the Hillsborough disaster, Mansfield Town put the names of the 96 victims on 96 unused seats at their stadium, Field Mill. A classy gesture. And a reminder, in the words of Liverpool’s motto, “You’ll never walk alone.”
The Birthday Boy gets a brand new doll.
I mentioned that the number 60 was auspicious. Well, at the Holiday Frolic, my wife surprised me with a 60th birthday celebration. A cake decorated in Chelsea FC colours with soccer ball candles, and….a Pullip doll that I’ve been wanting for the longest time. It truly was a wonderful surprise and with my lovely wife and 60 people to celebrate with me, well…I couldn’t ask for more.