by Newbear
It would only make sense that a tailgating honcho would answer his phone with a grill practically in-hand. For Round 2 of the Bing National Tailgating Championship interviews, I got to hear the steak sizzle - then see it on my iPhone almost immediately.
Sweet, sweet technology.
“I’m testing some products from EZ Grill right now. They want to sponsor us, so I’ve got a couple of their portable grills going. I cooked two inch-thick pork loin chops - bone-in - on the smaller, personal one and then on the bigger one, I’ve got a 2.5 lb. Tri-Tip Roast going. It smells gooooood,” Rob said.
Portable. Easy-to-use. All-natural. Green.
Bitter, bitter jealousy.
At least my Bears are still playing. After all, it was a frustrating year to be an Arizona Cardinals fan.
“We played one of the best playoff games ever last year, beating the Packers 51-45 in overtime. And we knew this year might be a struggle - losing a Hall of Fame quarterback like Kurt Warner - but we really thought we’d be able to win with a really good defense and a quarterback who could just manage the game,” he said.
After opening the season with a 17-13 win over the Rams, Cardinals fans had hope. After limping through a 5-11 campaign, they’re eagerly looking forward to turning things around next season.
But not even an 0-for-November could dampen the tailgating scene.
“It was really awesome, our first year on the Great Lawn. We had so much gear during our first three years that we just pulled into our parking spots and set up shop. This year, we wanted to compete for Tailgater of the Week - and to do that, you’ve got to be on the lawn. So it was really great when won for the New Orleans game,” he said.
From Tailgater of the Week to Arizona’s Bing Championship representative? That’s highlight-of-the-year territory.
“We put so much effort into it - we got so up for it. We really prepared and had so much fun - everybody that we knew was in on it, asking how they could get out there and help out and be part of the team. And then to win? That was just incredible, a really amazing feeling,” he said.
Not bad for a bunch of self-proclaimed amateurs. Not bad at all.
The House of Cards learned a lot this year, too.
“At the beginning of the year when we started our planning, one of our team couples was in Europe for a 50th birthday trip. Our tailgating matrix spit them out as head chefs for the December 12 game, and there was some friction over other commitments they had. But we have a great cycle of assignments and responsibilities within the team and we figured it all out. It’s important to keep the synergy,” he said.
Cohesion achieved, the team turned their attention to the little things.
“We’ve learned to pay attention to the details. As an example: the majority of us like tequila. So we created and assigned an ‘Intoxicologist’ - and that person is in charge of the adult beverages every week,” he said.
And of course, that too has a theme.
“We always try to create a signature experience. So say we’re playing the Giants. Maybe that week the drink will be a Markers Mark Manhattan,” he said.
Rob subscribes to the true ethos of tailgating. Food. Family and friends. Fun. Football. Check marks - and weekly signature experiences - across the board. But concerning the evolution of this ever-expanding labor of love, there’s one issue where he’s torn:
“A lot of our competitors - and tailgaters in general - they have an RV or some sort of vehicle as their focal point. But we disperse our gear between everybody, bring it all in, set it all up and then do the reverse after the game and call it a day,” he said.
A trip Rob took to the Daytona 500 further clouded the scale of debate.
“I had an all-access pass, so I went all around on a golf cart, checking out all the different kinds of things those fans do. They’re not getting up in the morning, partying and shutting it down in a single day - it’s three or four days of tailgating for them. And I saw some pretty incredible things, different vehicles with attachments and modifications - even people unloading lumber to build Tiki Bars with upstairs balconies,” he said.
Big. Bigger. Biggest. More sophisticated. Utterly amazing. But better?
“This may come across as kind of snobbish, but to me, tailgating is supposed to be done from the bed of a pickup truck. That’s the origin of it all. But like I said, I’m torn. Maybe the evolution is a vehicle that helps you tailgate even more,” he said.
Regardless of where the overarching themes of the parking lot games go, Rob and crew are focused on the next level of community.
“We’ve decided that we’re really going to focus on contributing to charities. There’s a few we’re discussing right now, and that’s the thing: we’re amateurs, we’re not in it for money. If we win this thing, whatever proceeds we get beyond helping to cover some of the costs will be donated to charity,” he said.
They’ve pretty much got everything covered. Head chefs. Sous chefs. Intoxicologists. So if you find yourself at a Cardinals tailgate next year, all you’ll need to experience championship-level gluttony is a donation.
In the interest of fair exchange, the House of Cards are tailgating with a stacked deck.
And the Joker in Rob couldn’t resist one more pic.
Caption: “Just pulled the Tri-Tip off the EZ Grill. Letting it rest. :)”
