Rally Dog

The man sitting next to me at the Brooklyn Nets vs. Miami Heat game was eating a hot dog as the whistle blew for the start. I wasn't hungry...yet. But I kept eyeing the dog with my peripheral vision. And of course there was the smell...oh, the smell.

The first quarter of the game was horrible. The Heat looked awful; the Nets looked like All-Stars. The man's hot dog was long gone, but it lingered in my consciousness. By halftime, the score was only mildly depressing, not beyond hope. The cast from Stomp performed, so we decided to stay seated and watch, but I was still thinking about the hot dog.

"Hmm," I said casually to Ricky as the performers below slammed garbage can lids together as artistically as possible. "I think I may want something to eat."

"Like what?" asked Ricky.

"Oh, I don't know," I said. "Maybe popcorn. Or a hot dog."

"Well, if you're really hungry, it would probably be better to get a hot dog," he said. (This is why I love him.)

As the third quarter began, I very nonchalantly agreed. Since the arena just updated and redid all the concessions this year, Ricky started flipping through the program to find the map of where the food vendors were located. (Human GPS inputting new data)

"There's a kosher hot dog stand right here outside of section 102," he said.

So at the next timeout, out I went. I stood near our section entrance and scanned back and forth up the concourse. Sure enough, there was a little hot dog stand that I had not noticed, wedged right between gourmet popcorn and gluten-free extreme tacos.

The second I got back to my seat, clutching my kraut-covered bounty, the Heat made a big play. And then another. And moments later, when I was only half way through eating (How long does it even take to eat a hot dog?) , the Heat tied it for the first time after being behind all game. The crowd roared and everyone jumped up. I remained focused on my dog and munched away, trying not to drip ketchup onto my Dwyane Wade jersey.

From then on, the Heat were superstars and they won the game. So, you're welcome, Miami Heat fans. My rally kosher hot dog and I say you're welcome.