GMScud
11-10-2009, 01:45 AM
So tonight was one of the biggest thrills I've had as a football fan. The restaurant group that I work for here in DC (4 fine dining restaurants, I'm the beverage director) hosted Dick Vermeil and the reps from his Napa Valley winery at one of our locations. Todd Collins is a partner in his business, and he was there as well.
I sat down in our private climate controlled wine room with Todd and Coach Vermeil, just the three of us, and talked football and wine for the better part of an hour. It was awesome. Coach let me hold and try on his Super Bowl ring. He had great stories about Kurt Warner, Al Saunders, Carl Peterson, the Chiefs O-line when Priest Holmes was running all over the league, his close friendship with Gibbs, working under George Allen with the Rams, and he had some really interesting stuff to say about the Skins, Snyder, and Cerrato. Even more interesting was Collins' take.
I know I may come off as a tease, but I can't and won't repeat what they said. I'm not media, and they were off the record for sure. But I was agreeing, I will say that.
Apparently Todd invited about a dozen other players and Coach Zorn, but none of them showed. He told me that if we were 6-2 instead of 2-6, they would have all been there. He said the guys are getting ripped when they show their faces in public. So I can't say I blame them for staying home.
Anyway, Coach Vermeil has his own winery, and his wines are pretty kick ass. He has 5 or 6 different varietals. I tried them all tonight. Our restaurants will be pouring some of them in the near future. When Coach left for the night to catch the late train back to Philly, he gave me a hug and called me "an exceptional young man." Needless to say, I will never forget tonight. Great stuff.
These pics are super fuzzy as they were taken by a drunk dude and there was no flash, but it's proof of my story. :) (Side note, Todd Collins is tall as shit. I'm 6'3", and you can see how he's got a good two inches on me).
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s274/gmscud/vermeil1.jpg
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s274/gmscud/vermeil2.jpg
I sat down in our private climate controlled wine room with Todd and Coach Vermeil, just the three of us, and talked football and wine for the better part of an hour. It was awesome. Coach let me hold and try on his Super Bowl ring. He had great stories about Kurt Warner, Al Saunders, Carl Peterson, the Chiefs O-line when Priest Holmes was running all over the league, his close friendship with Gibbs, working under George Allen with the Rams, and he had some really interesting stuff to say about the Skins, Snyder, and Cerrato. Even more interesting was Collins' take.
I know I may come off as a tease, but I can't and won't repeat what they said. I'm not media, and they were off the record for sure. But I was agreeing, I will say that.
Apparently Todd invited about a dozen other players and Coach Zorn, but none of them showed. He told me that if we were 6-2 instead of 2-6, they would have all been there. He said the guys are getting ripped when they show their faces in public. So I can't say I blame them for staying home.
Anyway, Coach Vermeil has his own winery, and his wines are pretty kick ass. He has 5 or 6 different varietals. I tried them all tonight. Our restaurants will be pouring some of them in the near future. When Coach left for the night to catch the late train back to Philly, he gave me a hug and called me "an exceptional young man." Needless to say, I will never forget tonight. Great stuff.
These pics are super fuzzy as they were taken by a drunk dude and there was no flash, but it's proof of my story. :) (Side note, Todd Collins is tall as shit. I'm 6'3", and you can see how he's got a good two inches on me).
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s274/gmscud/vermeil1.jpg
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s274/gmscud/vermeil2.jpg