(Los Angeles) In NFL parking lots, before every game, there is a proud tradition that is not lost, nor should it be lost: the inevitable tailgate.
The word, which could be translated as “enormous drinking session” in French, refers to this highly intellectual activity of parking your car in the parking lot, taking out tables and chairs and grills, and drinking a few refreshing drinks while trying to settle some old debates. Like who was the greatest impressionist, Monet or Renoir?
That question remains, of course, but in the meantime, a lot of other business was settled during Sunday’s massive tailgate in the parking lot of Los Angeles’ lush SoFi Stadium, just before the Chargers-Ravens game.
Cars as far as the eye can see, beer as far as the eye can see… and also some happy guys from Quebec who met here on Saturday at the Canadiens’ game. These gentlemen set foot in the enormous SoFi parking lot for an afternoon, with a rather impressive arsenal, by the way: barbecue, meatballs, jujubes (!), chips, and many other wonders.
Obviously, this was not their first rodeo.
“We went to pick up all this at Walmart for $500, we were already in the store at 9 a.m.,” proudly explained the man we nickname the King, Francis Caputo, who arrived very well prepared with his gang.
In his company, friends Dominique Laberge, René Deblois, Dominic Côté, Philippe Fusey, Marc-André Blais and Jean-François Morin ended up singing O Canada, in a burst of enthusiasm that captivated a good part of the parking lot, before the group photo with some brave Montreal journalists.
The game ? We already forgot the score. But we won’t forget this tailgate anytime soon.