Man Cave Good Eats 1st Edition

Well the Man Cave is back in action as the New Year is rolling ever closer. I have resolved to post more often because it's been a while.

Anyway, now to what this particular post is all about: good food. My New Year's was spent with my friend Steve and his family in Somersworth, NH. Somersworth is a nice town nestled along the state's border with Maine and has easy access to the Maine coast, as well as New Hampshire's White Mountains.

I felt like it would be impossible to travel to New England and not have a shot at some really fresh seafood. It didn't take long at all for Steve to confirm that by suggesting that we do a late lunch at the local seafood place, Newick's Lobster House in Dover, NH.

I had been warned that it didn't look like much, and that it might even remind me of a cafeteria. Honestly that was the case, but I learned quickly not to judge a book by its cover. The atmosphere was nice for the five of us to sit down, but I wouldn't necessarily recommend it for a romantic date.

In true Man Cave fashion, I noticed a nice selection of craft beers on their menu, which is a bonus. I decided to order the local brew which was the Shipyard Prelude.The beer was a dark amber ale and had a very full nutty flavor and a hoppy finish. It would rank a four out of five on my beer scale. Shipyard Brewery is in Portland, ME and is on my list of places to visit the next time I visit Steve.

Now the beer alone would not be enough to get this joint a blog post. Really, it all comes down to what the food is like and this place hit the mark. I have eaten lobster, but I have never had the money or the desire to eat a whole lobster. With Christmas cash in hand, and the lobsters being local and therefore cheaper, I went head first into eating whole lobsters. I ordered a pair of one pound lobsters and it cost me less than one pound of lobster would at the Red Lobster in Wilkes-Barre.

When my plate came out it was a gorgeous sight to see, and honestly I was so hungry I didn't get a picture of the initial serving. Things I need to remember for future reference. I wasn't entirely sure how to attack the two lobsters in front of me, but what I lacked in knowledge I made up for in gusto, diving in. I tore at claw and tail alike munching on absolutely delicious lobster. Not only was the lobster good, but I also thoroughly enjoyed the coleslaw and french fries that came along with it.

The carnage below is all that was left after I had finished all the food and drink that was laid in front of me. 

Now it is easy to say that messing up lobster is hard, but I wasn't the only one who went home happy. My girlfriend also had a great meal, enjoying a mountain of fried bay scallops and clam strips. All that seafood and a great pint of beer ran the pair of us about $50; did I mention I got two pounds of lobster?

So, a special shout out goes to Newick's for being the first place to get tagged in the Man Cave Hall of Good Eats. Here is the link to Newick's so you can check out their other locations and the menu.

Commissioners Gone Crazy

I am currently under the impression that to be a commissioner of a professional sports league you must either be an egomaniac or be incompetent.  It is rampant across sports. Commissioners who have their hands in many different matters that they shouldn't. 

I have to say that I am not a big fan of Rodger Goodell and his iron-fisted rule over the NFL. The man has taken the entire league into his hands in terms of discipline. He make suspensions and fines that seemingly are just for his amusement, but this time it isn't about the NFL's chief executive although is is a commissioner gone crazy. 

This time we are talking about David Stern and his unwillingness to allow Chris Paul to be traded. Now I know that the league owns the New Orleans Hornets and there for owned by all the other owners of the league. David Stern works for the owners and that is all well and good, but this is not in the best interest of the Hornets.

The Lakers came up with a deal that, in my opinion, was extremely fair to New Orleans. The leagues' other owners decided that they didn't like Paul in LA with Kobe and all of a sudden the commissioner called off the deal for basketball reasons. 

After that deal fell through Chris Paul found another way into the Los Angelos market when the Clippers came calling for the services in CP3. Although this deal is said to still have life I get the feeling that it is on a ventilator. The league has no desire to let Paul be anywhere except New Orleans. This is all well and good but the way this has gone down has done nothing, but leave egg on the face of Stern.

I attempted over and over to find a situation where a commissioner united a sports fan base against a decision. The best that I came up with was Bud Selig allowing the 2002 All-Star Game to end in a tie. The question was posed to my twitter followers and most of them felt Stern still looked worse, so we are going to play Vegas and raise the line for Bud.

Not only did Bud Selig let the game end in a tie, but then decided to over compensate by making the game "mean something". Selig took an exhibition game and decided to put home field advantage for World Series on the line. 

So I will ask again who is more in the wrong Bud Selig and the All-Star Game fiasco and fall out or is it the non trade of Chris Paul?

Ben Roethlisberger the Mangled Face of the Steelers

Ben Roethlisberger has been criticized as a person and player. I have heard him called a drama queen, a diva, a bad teammate, and the list goes on and on, but honestly has there been a better face for the Pittsburgh Steelers franchise since Jack Lambert and his missing teeth?

Roethlisberger is the toughest man to play the quarterback position period. There is no one in the league that takes the beating that Ben does and keeps getting up. Not only does the he keep getting up, but he seems to be at his best when he is banged up.

I would list all the injuries that Roethlisberger has sustained, but the list is so long that I am actually afraid of missing them or taking up so much space that you wouldn't finish reading this. Instead I will highlight a few.

In the best rivalry in the NFL Haloti Nata came right up the middle and found a way to fit his hand inside Roethlisberger's face mask and busted Ben's nose. See photo below.

Roethlisberger suffered this injury on the first drive of the game. Not only did he finish the game, but completed 22-of-38 passes for 253 yards and a game-winning touchdown. It was a classic Roethlisberger and he has done it again and again.

Last night it was another show of absolute gutty toughness by Ben. As he was extending the play like he does so well, Scott Paxson made a legal but gruesome hit to Roethlisberger's lower leg and bent it in a way that made everyone watching everywhere grimace in pain.

After limping off and being carted to the X-ray room, Ben came out of the tunnel for the second half took some practice snaps and gimped out to the huddle. Roethlisberger didn't just play in the second half and completed 8-of-12 passes for 178 yards, one touchdown, and one pick.

This guy has fought through foot injuries, concussions, broken thumb, and a veritable litany of injuries and just keeps picking himself up and playing the game of football.

As a Steelers fan this man personifies my franchise. A player that in spite of all his injuries and issues just keeps performing at the highest level and winning games. Say what you want about him, he doesn't need any MVP awards, he doesn't need Offensive Player of the Year awards, he is a winner and the face of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Man Cave Mini Fridge: Beer 101

Stocking the fridge in the man cave is always a point of contention. How many times have we heard the "Hey while your up..." from one of the guys during the game? While most men reach for pilsner, others might prefer a dunkel, bock, wheat, IPA, or another variety of beer. Did that sound like Greek to some of you? Well let's start at the beginning.

When talking about beer all the experts (and I don't count myself among them) agree that the only logical place to start is ales vs lagers. Now I could type out all the things that I have read or heard about what makes these two kinds of beers different, but like any good man I have found someone that has done that for me and I'll share that video below.

Now that we have that all squared away we can really start to look at some of the styles of beer that are out there.

Popular Style Lagers: Pilsner, Bock, Dopple Bock, Dunkel

Popular Style Ales: Pale Ale, Wheat, Porter, Stout

The list of styles are much longer than this, but to list them all would have been quite the exercise and I think you get the idea, there are a lot of beers out there.

When tasting a beer there are certain characteristics you want to look at.

First of all give it the eye test. What does it look like? Note the color and clarity of the beer. Also look at what color the head (foam) on the beer is.

The next thing to check out is what does the beer smell like. Does it smell like hops or malt. The color and aroma tend to go hand in hand.

Now that you have throughly inspected your beer it is time for that all important first taste. Taste is obviously the most important thing about a beer, but beer tastes can be complex. You want to notice if it is sweet, bitter or somewhere in between on that first sip.

Now that you have taken the plunge, it is time to check the beers mouth feel. This how light, smooth, heavy or even chewy a beer seems in your mouth.

Of course the last part of tasting a beer is the finish. Does a taste linger, or is a crisp finish from where it started.

Like the video said it comes down to personal preference as to what kind of beer you like, but hopefully you have a little bette idea of why your favorite beer is your favorite.

Let's get to the reason this is being shared. I was lucky enough to receive a book containing the breweries in the state of Pennsylvania. The Man Cave is planning on going mobile and visiting some of these fine establishments and passing along reviews of various beers that they serve so you can make decisions on what to put in the mini fridge.

Give a shout out to your favorite watering hole or beer so that the rest of us can try them out and give them the Man Cave stamp of approval.

Just a Man Cave Sunday

In man caves across America Sundays are for football and the fans that love their teams. My man cave is and always has been about Steelers football and there are certain ways that I get ready for the big game whether watching alone or with a group of buddies.

Game Day Essentials

The picture above displays the man cave game watching essentials. The jersey is always part of any game watching experience. For today's game I have decided to try the Guiness Black Lager, but of course you should watch the game with your favorite brew or beverage even if it isn't a beer. The couch is also included in the essentials. Not that is necessarily has to be a couch, but we all know that you need your place to sit. 

Now I didn't touch on the Terrible Towel because it needs its own paragraph and trust me Steelers Nation will back me up. That yellow towel has been the downfall of many teams and individuals that have disrespected it. It is iconic for the Steelers and the teams that see them waving both at Heinz Field and in visiting stadiums.

Terrible Towel History

Steelers fans probably don't need the history of the Terrible Towel, but for those of you that aren't Steelers fans (shame on you) or the Steelers fans that don't know it's history ( just watch and don't admit that) here is a video in which Myron Cope explains the beginnings of the Terrible Towel.

You want to know if the towel has power? Ask the Cincinnati Bengals in 2005 when they decided to wipe their feet with the Terrible Towel and were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by none other than the Pittsburgh Steelers. You can look to Tennesse Titans stomping on the towel after an win 2008 only to be eliminated before ever meeting Pittsburgh and the Steelers marched to their record sixth Super Bowl.

Now with that aside back to game day. Now that you have your game watching essentials it is time to look at some of the man cave rules for game watching most of which apply to watching the game with your buddies because watching the game alone means you kind of make the rules.

Rule #1 Bring Beer: If you are leaving your man cave for that of one of your friends it is on you to bring at least a six-pack of beer. This is also assuming that the host man cave is equipped with snacks.

Rule #2 Arrive before kick off: There is nothing worse in a man cave or at the stadium than that person that can't seem to make it to their seats before the start of a game. In the man cave arriving on time serves a dual purpose. The first is that if you arrive late the game watchers have every right to leave you outside until the first commercial. Second arriving late will relegate you to the worst seat in the house often time the floor because let's face it most man caves don't have the most seating capacity.

Rule #3 Respect the Superstition: No matter how many people tell fans that what they do at home has nothing to do with the results on the field they will always be superstitious that is what makes us fans. Going back to the rule above when a team is playing well, you stay in the seat that you are in and when they are playing poorly, be ready to switch spots. If a team wins when you are wearing one players jersey you will wear that jersey until your team loses.

Those are some over arching rules for all man caves, but there is definitely room for cave rules that each individual man cave can impose.

Follow the rules and root on your team. The man cave endorses yelling at the TV whether it is at the refs, your team or the other team. Bring your own rules to the comment section.

Man Cave View of the Minors

As a displaced Pittsburgh Penguins fan currently on the wrong side of the state dealing with a high percentage of Flyers fans, I have found a bastion hockey sanity in Mohegan Sun Arena home of the Penguins AHL affiliate the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins.

Upon moving here I made the decision to buy a small season ticket package, and being the lucky guy that I am my girlfriend is a hockey fan so I met minimal resistance. I have found that occasionally the WBS Pens have dollar dog and draft nights in what is becoming one of my favorite promotions.

It doesn't get much better than hot dogs, beer and hockey and all at a budget friendly price. I know that the quality of play isn't quite NHL level, but it is literally the next best thing. It is a great way to leave that man cave and still have all the comforts of home short of you favorite couch or recliner.

This got me to thinking about my own feelings toward the minor leagues.

Now I will be the first to tell you that Calder Cups and AA baseball championships don't mean anything unless it translates to success at the highest level. Case in point, the Hershey Bears contend for Calder Cups year in and year out but the Washington Capitals have struggled as a playoff team. However I am very much a proponent of going to minor league games and supporting these teams despite what some might say.

One reason has already been stated above, other than the Pittsburgh Pirates, what major league team has dollar dog and draft nights. Another reason is to see some of the up and coming talent on your favorite teams even if it means sifting through some really bad players. I have had the good fortune of seeing some really good hockey players this season in Wilkes-Barre that are currently or have seen time on the big club.

Minor league games also have a certain intimate feel that is just lacking from professional games. I enjoy both atmospheres, but they are definitely different. As I was writing this I couldn't help but think of this song by Alabama and someone was so kind as to have already put it into a baseball tribute video for me.

Cheap Seats by Alabama

Now although this song gives light to the mentality of a minor league town the Man Cave takes issue with a few points. First of all I would never recommend drinking beer flat as can be that in no way is how my man cave operates and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone else. When it comes to hot dogs you can top them with mustard, relish, ketchup, onions, chili, cheese, and as a shout out to Daddy's a fine eatery in Clarion, Pa. nacho chips. We don't care how you like your dogs.

The past two summers I have had the pleasure of joining my friend Chris on one of the coolest ventures I had ever heard of, the minor league baseball trip. It is a week of baseball in different towns each day and it is interesting not only to watch baseball which is always a good day, but also to see how each town or city puts its mark on the team.

I may not be able to tell you the record of the minor league teams that I watch because I don't think that matters but I root for them when I go to the game and love watching the boys play. The experience of seeing the game live is worth it even if the teams I'm watching aren't so good.

I know that some people will turn their noses up at my enjoyment of watching minor leaguers play, but I have to say that the times in the stands at minor league games are almost as enjoyable as watching the pros.

The Man Cave supports minor league sports, the farm hands, and all those people that fill the stands for the guys still trying to make the big league. Oh yea and dollar dogs and drafts we support that too. Give a comment shout out if you live in a minor league city or have a favorite minor league team.

What is the Man Cave?

Welcome one and all to the virtual man cave a place to talk sports, beer and just be one of the guys, and ladies if you want to drop by we don't have any way to lock the door on this man cave.

I am a twenty something living the dream getting paid to watch sports as a sports information director at a Division III college. My teams are based in Pittsburgh with the Steelers, Penguins, and even the Pirates, but I will not talk about any sports story that is interesting or current.

I know this is going to be a shocker, but I enjoy a beer to go along with my sports. I will try any kind of beer once and am always looking for new brews and new places to get said beverages.

I plan on looking into all those things that men enjoy and looking for things that men should know and pay attention to and know how to do.

It is time to pull up the easy chair, grab a brew from the fridge, turn on the HD television and enjoy the game. Stop by the man cave often and bring along a six-pack of questions or manly ideas.

Welcome to the Man Cave.