The Yankees pulled it off, taking three in a row from "ChOakland" while facing elimination. Let me start off with a resounding "SCREW YOU!!!" to all those who busted my stones last Friday over the Yanks – especially the Red Sox fans and bitter Mets fans. It must be sad to support teams where your only joy comes from seeing a better team lose – a sort of sports schadenfreude that clearly exhibits a total absence of character on your behalves.
Anyway, baseball is still alive in the Metro area (thanks in no small part to the fantastic defensive play of Derek Jeter), and meanwhile football season is well under way. So now the question on everybody’s lips is "where should we watch the game?"
Last week I spent my Sunday afternoon watching the NFL in Hobson’s Choice (77 Hudson Pl., Hoboken). I whacked back a few bottles of Amstel Light ($4 – light beer because I’m on a diet) while I sat parked in front of one of their 10 TV sets that carry EVERY NFL game each week. During the games, Hobson’s features $2 special on certain domestic draughts and fantastic wing specials. Also, if you want to catch one of those weekday afternoon baseball playoff games, they feature the same $2 draught special for happy hour from 4 to 7 p.m. plus $2 wing specials.
On October 23, there’s another reason to stop by Hobson’s Choice. Owner/manager, Robert "Wayne" Hobson would be turning 37, and it’s his birthday party. Wayne worked for Cantor Fitzgerald, and is one of the thousands missing as a result of the September 11 attacks. For that evening of October 23, ALL PROCEEDS will go to both the Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund and the Hoboken Police Department Relief Fund.
While researching this piece, I spoke with Belinda, a friend of mine and bartender at Hobson’s Choice. She warned me not to write anything morbid or melancholy, saying Wayne wouldn’t want that. "Just say that he was a fun guy who loved life, loved working at Cantor Fitzgerald, loved working at the bar, and loved people," she said. So I’ll leave it at that.
Just remember when you get off the PATH next Tuesday, October 23 to stop by Hobson’s Choice for a beer or two. And next time you need a place to watch the game, you’ll know where to go.
If you know how I can effectively waste $50 in the metro area, please write to:
"Hal Wastes His Wages"
c/o The Hudson Current
1400 Washington Street
Hoboken, New Jersey 07030
Or via e-mail:
Current@hudsonreporter.com
Caption:
Robert Wayne Hobson
October 23, 1964 – September 11, 2001