New Jersey/NYC, Part 1: Traveling by bus to watch the Crew play RBNY

June 4, 2011, 5:00am- Brock and I arrive to Crew Stadium with little to no sleep to board a bus that was about to endure eight hours of the road. I'm already feeling a little sick just from nerves and not eating too much, so I exit the bus and throw up continuously. I think I get 10 points for being the first on the trip to lose their stomach. We intended to get some sleep, but Talladega Nights began playing loud and clear before we had even merged onto I-71.

But that's okay, we play for keeps.

Our arrival at the Hampton Inn at 2:45 seemed to catch the front desk staff off-guard, and when I say "off-guard" I mean completely blindsided them.

Check-in time? 3pm. Rooms vacant and ready at 2:50? Zero. But that's the norm with any group, and the staff did a great job of organizing quickly and getting us checked in. Housekeeping must have partied it up Friday night. No worries.

Once checked-in and geared up, some bottles were passed around and we commenced the walk down to O'Donnell's pub where we found a Crew supporters scarf hanging in the window, and the 2010 HSH member shirt gracing the wall. The old school jukebox was soon reading "OFF" across its classic display (immediately after I inserted $3, no less) and the volume was turned up on Spain vs USA. Too bad that remote control didn't have a way to turn up the US performance. The Carlsberg was flowing often and before long LTA was putting the beat down for us on the street. Flags were waving wildly and two-sticks held high and mighty. We sounded intimidating just walking down the damn street, or atleast we felt it. Plenty of traffic and RBNY fans in bars and business's sticking their heads out car windows or bar doors to watch us pass by. We entered Red Bull Arena to much heat from the most casual of fans, and I couldn't have enjoyed it more.

Game notes: Heinemann had some close chances. Gaven utilized a clever shot from distance that almost beat Sutton. Our DP missed two goals while unmarked and posted up in spots with a clear advantage over Sutton. Rookie Justin Meram took an opportunity and owned it confidently. Rookie Rich Balchan showed off his soccer IQ by doing what few Crew players have done this year: position yourself and score beautifully.

In the upper sections of RB Arena we were celebrating as you would expect us to be. Flags waving almost uncontrollably, continuing to chant as loudly as we could with what was left of our voices (still not 100% from 5/28), and putting three or four smoke bombs to great use. I hope the guys enjoyed us being there. I hope we still contribute something when showing our passion.