It's not a trip to Miami without visiting South Beach, the epitome of a trendy neighborhood, a bright, colorful splash of Art Deco garishness at the bottom of the Florida peninsula. It seemed a strange place for a sports bar, but the Clevelander Sports Bar is no ordinary sports bar.
On the afternoon of the first day of our new year 2007, the UofL Alumni Association identified three official gathering spots in the Greater Miami area for Cards fans who want to engage in the most cherished of New Year's Day activities--watching college bowl games. UofL fans in town for the Orange Bowl had the option of meeting up at The Park at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino; the Ugly Tuna in Fort Lauderdale or the Clevelander in South Beach.
We took the opportunity to see South Beach. (See Tom's photos.)
Shortly after we arrived in the area, the UofL Marching Band rumbled down Ocean Drive and stopped in front of the Clevelander, which was already filled with Cardinal fans. While large groups of people wearing brightly colored clothes really isn't all that unusual in South Beach, you couldn't miss the band as they thundered through a set of music that included the UofL fight song and "My Old Kentucky Home" and plenty of opportunities for fans to "C-A-R-D-S ... CARDS!"
The outdoor area of the Clevelander is colored in neon green, purple and pink and features a pool that wraps throughout a maze of tables and bars. But what are those stages for? I asked myself. When I found out, I fought back an urge to call my wife and apologize. The Clevelander has go-go dancers. (No darlin', they were not strippers.) Like I said, no ordinary sports bar.
The party at South Beach was big fun in sun. But for all the wonderfully weird sights and sounds, Cards fans were keeping their eyes on the TVs. I was impressed at how loudly they were cheering for West Virginia as the Mountaineers came back and defeated Georgia Tech in the Gator Bowl. I dug the Big East solidarity. Tomorrow the Cards try to make the conference 4-0 this bowl season when they take on Wake Forest in the Orange Bowl. I think I can speak for Cardinal fans in Florida, Louisville and parts there of and beyond, we're ready for the football. We're ready for the Orange Bowl.
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