Category: New Orleans

That Was RAW-esome!

On January 12, 2016

Nearly two hours into our excursion to Monday Night RAW last night, WWE ring announcer Lillian Garcia proclaimed that it was time for the fans to pull out all of the signs they brought to the Smoothie King Center and to show them off.

Needless to say, it was my time to shine. Yes, I created signs.

Before I go any further, I’ll freely admit that professional wrestling is my guilty pleasure. Go ahead and watch the following video and see if you’re appreciation for the physical performance art doesn’t grow a few times (like the Grinch’s heart).

I bought some double-sided foam board and on one side, it read “The Beast Is Back” in homage to Brock Lesnar’s return to the WWE after a three-month haitus. On the other side — after much deliberation — I wrote “I Love #Booty,” which refers to the stable The New Day and one of their catchphrases, which is simply “That’s booty.”

I looked at my friend Jon — who also plays on the kickball team — nodded and stood up to display our signs. His read “I’m Missing The Bachelor” on one side and “Bring Back Mizdow” on the other. We gave it a few minutes of thought on Sunday night.

Sure enough, the camera pans over to me and I go nuts. Garcia reads my sign, I cheer even louder, smile and give a thumbs up. Jon gets in the shot, too, and we just soak in the moment. The camera had to be on us for 10-15 seconds. People around us were laughing and I’m pretty sure I heard a “Booty” chant start. Unfortunately the third person we were with (Karlie) went to the concession stand at the time and when she came back, she bemoaned that as soon as she heard that it was time for “Sign of the Night,” she knew we’d be on. We could have had pictorial or video proof that we were on the big screen, but you’ll just have to take my word for it.

That was so much fun. Had a blast at #WWENOLA tonight. Group pic! pic.twitter.com/AUwruQj1kH

— Tyler Mayforth (@tylermayforth) January 12, 2016

See those folks in that picture? Those are the people who make nights like these.

If I had to really break it down, I would say that 51 percent of my adoration for professional wrestling comes from the performance art aspect of it all. That other 49 percent has EVERYTHING to do with the company I keep at these events (whether I know them or not). Just like every other sport or art, you’re pulled together by a common bond. You get a completely different feel for it when you’re there LIVE as compared to watching on TV in the comfort of your own home.

I knew I was going to have a good time at Monday Night RAW, but those two folks I shared the experience with (Karlie and Jon) made it GREAT.

Back To Where It RAW Began

By Tyler Mayforth

On January 10, 2016

In Life as a Fan, New Orleans, Wrestling

Finally, Tyler Mayforth is headed back to Monday Night RAW!

Tomorrow night, I and two of my friends — as well as 17,997 of our closest buddies (if it’s sold out) — will head inside the Smoothie King Center to watch the live-action soap opera that is professional wrestling.

You know what’s crazy? Well, other than the fact that I’m a 30-year-old man who is unabashedly excited about going to see professional wrestling? This will be my third live WWE event that I’ve seen in New Orleans.

As some of you know I went to WrestleMania 30 two years ago on a whim. It was held inside the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. If you didn’t know I went or want to read about that trip, feel free to give this post a look.

That same trip, I attended Monday Night RAW the next night. For those who aren’t aware, Monday Night RAW the night after WrestleMania is a sight to behold. My seats weren’t as good for that RAW as they will be for this one, but just being in that crowd is the important part. Check out this video and feel the energy.

There is just something about attending a professional wrestling event. Most, if not all, people know it’s fake — but it’s the pageantry and the aforementioned energy that makes it such a great experience.

I used to ask for tickets to wrestling events ALL THE TIME for Christmas. I’m sure my parents can vouch for me on that. Now that I’m older and I can buy them myself, I’m not going overboard, but when I have an opportunity, I’ll take advantage of it.

Kickball Recap 4: There is No Glory in Pitching

By Tyler Mayforth

On November 5, 2015

In Athletic Achievements, Kickball, New Orleans

As I watched run after run after run after run (you get the idea) cross home plate last night in an eventual 15-2 loss by Big Black Balls, I realized there is no glory in pitching in kickball. The same can probably be said — and is probably said — about pitching in slow-pitch softball.

No matter how hard you try or how much spin you try to put on the ball, it’s going to get crushed. I might have struck out three batters (I’m not even sure how I did that, to be honest), but everything else was belted.

If you want to make a difference in a game where the object is to score as many runs as humanly possible, you get in the outfield. You need to play deeper than you’d think because once that ball bounces over your head, it’s an easy triple or home run for the batter, regardless of speed.

Maybe I’ll pitch again at some point during the season. Until then I’ll settle in at my usual spot at third base or try to work my way in the outfield. I’m much better at chasing down the ball that got murdered than I am turning around to watch it go really, really far.

	AB	H	R	1B	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB
Game Stats	2	1	1	0	1	0	0	0	0
Season Stats	7	6	6	2	3	1	0	4	1

House of Shock and Halloween Happenings

By Tyler Mayforth

On October 24, 2015

In Life Happenings, New Orleans

Ten-year-old me was a pansy.

I’m going to call it as I see it.

My aunt always took me and my twin sister on little excursions and during one October weekend, she decided we were old enough to try our hand at one of the scariest haunted houses in the nation — the Eastern State Penitentiary. Every October, they turn the abandoned prison that housed Al Capone and a few other known gangsters back in the day into an extreme haunted house. It already has a bunch of history behind it, so why not lock people up in cells and that stuff?

As we got near the front of the line after at least a two-hour wait, I began to chicken out in a big way. I’m pretty sure I started crying, so my aunt tried to console me and took me out of line while her friend waited with my sister. They were still keen on going through with it, but there was no way I could do it and keep my sanity. Well, eventually my sister decided it wasn’t for her either and we gave up on the idea.

Fast forward 20 years or so to this past Friday night.

I had seen ads for one of the scariest haunted houses in the nation called “House of Shock,” which is located about 20 minutes from where I live in New Orleans. I asked folks from my kickball team if they wanted to join and one other person said ‘Sure.’

So off we went.

Long story short, it was a good time. While I had to duck through some of the rooms and it ruined some of the jump scares, they caught me slipping a few times which is all I could really ask for as an adult in those places. My only complaint was that they let too many people go through the “House of Shock” at once. It would have been a lot better if they spaced out the groups more so the volunteers could get back into position and you could be scared more than knowing what was about to come.

Did I atone for chickening out 20 years ago at the Eastern State Penitentiary? Not a chance in Hell. One of these years I’m going to fly back home and make the drive up to Philadelphia and conquer that haunted house. But if I blog about that experience and say I peed myself, please don’t make fun of me. We’re all allowed one as adults.

Who Dat: The Story of My First Saints Game

By Tyler Mayforth

On October 5, 2015

In Life as a Fan, New Orleans, Sports

Who Dat!?

Am I doing that right?

Good.

So I went to my first Saints game tonight. It was a religious experience.

Seriously, I saw the Pope. All right, not that pope — but it was one of four or five “Saints Popes,” who are mainstays in the Superdome and sit in the same section.

Whenever I meet someone new, one of their first questions is, “Are you a Saints fan?” I tell them I just moved down here not too long ago, but am not adverse to it.

Overall, I don’t think I could have been to a better sermon than I did on Sunday.

From start (a Better Than Ezra benefit concert for their charity, in which I got in for free) to finish (Drew Brees’ game-winning 80-yard touchdown pass to C.J. Spiller in overtime), the experience was top-notch. Heck, even our seats — which were at the very top row of the upper deck — allowed us our own private “suite” area (OK. OK. There was a legit metal bar in front of us and a landing behind us, so we could stand).

There were two things that really stood out to me the most Sunday night as I took in the whole experience: Saints fans are unlike any others I’ve been around (and that includes my trip to the CONCACAF Gold Cup in Atlanta) and as much as this topic has been belabored about ad nauseam, New Orleans pulls together in those hours.

An incredible sense of camaraderie surrounded the tailgate and permeated inside the stadium. People of all walks of life love their Saints and just want to see a win. I heard the spirits of New Orleans residents are on high the day following a win and there is just a new aura about the city. So far I hadn’t experienced that, since there were nothing but losses before Sunday night. Then Brees found Spiller on a wheel route and the running back slipped one tackle and was off to the races to pay dirt.

As we filed down the ramps of the Superdome, cheers of “Who Dat” rang through the corridors. Then they got louder as we left the stadium. I couldn’t help but join in as I made my way through the crowd and walked back to my downtown apartment.

Addendums

There was definitely a different energy around the city today. As I walked to work, there were some people saying “Who Dat” to each other. Certain restaurants offered lunchtime specials thanks to the win.

And just to be clear: My No. 1 team is stil the Philadelphia Eagles. I had some great memories watching their games. And while I’m a fan of the Baltimore Ravens because of Joe Flacco (University of Delaware connection), No. 2 team is still up for grabs. Just might be the Saints now.