Crap Day 2 is the BEST. We've already educated you on what to get your significant other on Valentine's Day. You should also know that Monday is my 24th birthday, and I'd love a Georgetown Barbie Doll, if your heart so desires. Now I'm going to count down the top 5 ways to take in a Georgetown game and the best ways to celebrate a victory.
5. Black out the entire affair
This method starts with an early morning wake up on a Saturday after going out Friday night. The beauty of an 8:00 am wake up is you're most likely still a little drunk from the night before, so when you have your first beer there will be no headache, just a perpetual state of drunkenness. From there, you will have somewhere between 6 and 35 more beers, shots, and assorted mixed drinks before 1:00 pm tipoff. You will also have danced and sang to assorted Miley Cyrus, Ke$ha, and Kelly Clarkson songs. You probably screamed a few times and if you are a senior, definitely had an emotional talk about this being "the most fun you'll ever have."
When getting to the Verizon center, you'll get four more beers to keep you going, but really won't have much of a clue about the actual basketball game going on. Things that will be much more important to you will include talking to the opposite sex, screaming obscenities at opposing fans, heckling the male cheerleader, trying to catch a shirt from the shirt gun, and not getting ejected from the stadium.
Pros to this method:
You get a full day of drinking, a lot of friendship, a good workout from dancing, and you'll meet a lot more people by being overly gregarious in your drunken state
Cons to this method:
There's a decent chance you fall asleep mid game, you don't really remember any of the game, you will probably offend some people, your Saturday night will consist of passing out around 7:00 pm.
Enjoyability factor on 1-10 scale:
10
Personal anecdote:
I used this method for the Seton Hall game in February 2008. I threw up around 11:00 am, I spent the entire game waving a Georgetown pom pom in people's faces, I got on the jumbotron and screamed "I'm famous" for the next four hours. After the game I ventured to Tombs with some friends, saw JT3 there with two assistant coaches, a recruit and his family. I decided that the best idea would be to order a round of shots for them and sit at their table. JT3, while friendly, made sure I moved to the end of the table, where I badgered the assistant coach for 30 minutes about how Vernon Macklin wasn't a good person. Pretty sure the recruit was Nate Lubick, but all I really remember was he was white.
Sorry for ruining your first Tombs experience pal.
Read more methods after the JUMP.
4. Aggressive pregaming followed by sobriety at the game
Similar to method 5, this starts with waking up at 8:00 am and pregaming very aggressively. The same singing, dancing, and emotional conversations will take place. But when you get to the game, you have no more drinks, buckle down, and watch the actual basketball going on.
Pros to this method:
You get a lot of friendship and fun in before the game, you watch the actual game and remember it, your night isn't ruined, you don't pay $400 for four beers at the Verizon Center, your chances of getting thrown out of the game decrease significantly, getting down to the Verizon Center is still really fun.
Cons to this method:
You still started drinking at 8:00 am, which is shunned in most societies, you will definitely have a headache for a good portion of the game as early stages of a hangover seep in, and your parents will still be ashamed that they are shelling out $50,000 a year for you to spend your Saturday mornings singing "Party in the USA".
Enjoyability factor on 1-10 scale:
10
Personal anecdote:
I took this approach to the Duke game back in 2006. The pregame was a lot of fun, if not absurdly rowdy, climaxing when one of my friends jumped on a DOPS car on the way to the buses at McDonough. When we got to the stadium, my brother, a high school senior at the time, struck Shelden Williams with a water bottle as Duke came out of the tunnel. I had a headache for most of the first half, but got to fully appreciate our program changing win. That said, I probably would have rather been drunk when rushing the court, because that was all sorts of claustrophobic.
Sorry about the water bottle.
3. Sober before, throughout, and after the game
Pretty self explanatory method. This is particularly enjoyable for a big game. You are clear headed, have no chance of getting thrown out, and act like a reasonable human being throughout the game.
Pros to this method:
You don't feel like an alcoholic, you don't act like you're from West Virginia, you enjoy the game much more, and your parents aren't magnificently disappointed in you
Cons to this method:
You're in college bro! College is about drinking! Best four years of your life! Time isn't wasted when you're getting wasted!
Enjoyability factor on 1-10 scale:
10
Personal anecdote:
I used this method for my first game as a college graduate - when we played Memphis in December 2008. The game was really intense, and my heart was beating through my chest the entire time. It was also really funny to watch the college kids all drunk and think to myself "Man am I glad I don't do that anymore." The game ended with an overtime victory, and my lasting image was Jessie Sapp jumping on the scorer's table in front of the students as I thought "Wow we could be awesome this year." And then we went 16-15, Wright and Sapp fought, and Nikita took a last second shot that went over the backboard.
I wish he used that fist only on himself last year.
2. Sober before and throughout the game, aggressively drunk soon thereafter
Another phenomenal method, especially after a big victory. You pour out of the Verizon Center excited and ready to get rowdy, head over to a nearby bar, and start celebrating with your friends and maybe even your blog friends you've never met before but talk to 30-60 times per day.
Pros to this method:
You enjoy the entire game start to finish, take in every nuance, enjoy the crowd and energy at the Phone Booth, and then get to drink and be merry afterwards, which will take you into a very memorable night
Cons to this method:
You could get too drunk after the game, ruin your night, and get made fun of on the GLOBAL PHENOMENON for eternity
Enjoyability factor on 1-10 scale:
10
Personal anecdote:
If you are familiar with Casual Hoya, you know that I was recently ejected from the Irish Channel. I followed this method for the most recent Duke game, and it backfired on me. I had too many shots of tequila, decided that it wasn't in the cards for me to pay, and have subsequently received a lifetime ban from Casual Hoya Headquarters. I am full of shame.
1. Running to the White House after going to the school's first Final Four in 22 years
Self explanatory and awesome.
Pros to this method: Everything
Cons to this method: Nothing
Enjoyability factor on 1-10 scale:
10
Personal anecdote:
I was actually at the Meadowlands for this game, so any personal anecdotes in the comments will be greatly appreciated.