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Tailgating: The New Picnic

No more lounging in a meadow—we picnic in parking lots now

By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 21, 2009 12:17 PM CDT
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(Newser) – The good old-fashioned picnic—a blanket, a thermos, the countryside—is a thing of the past. Its replacement: Tailgating, “jammed together, on asphalt, amid exhaust fumes and exhausting vulgarities,” writes Frank Deford for NPR. This new American tradition “crosses all ethnic, racial, and religious lines. You just have to like football and, likewise, alcoholic beverages. You don't even have to have a vehicle with a tailgate in order to tailgate.”

“Even late in the season, football fans will tailgate, foregathering on the cold, hard tarmac for hours, dining al fresco Americano, when it's cold and raw and very un-picnic-y,” the vaunted sportswriter continues. The same can be said for rock concerts—at least, those of the Bruce Springsteen or U2 variety, because “teenyboppers don’t tailgate.” The death of picnics is sad, but tailgating does have one thing to offer: “At least there are no ants in stadium parking lots.”

Southern California fan Tim Wesley puts cheese on burgers while tailgating before the Rose Bowl between USC and Penn State in Pasadena, Calif., Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009.
Southern California fan Tim Wesley puts cheese on burgers while tailgating before the Rose Bowl between USC and Penn State in Pasadena, Calif., Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009.   (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)
Charlyn Hawkins of Cedar Hill, Texas, grills during a tailgate party for friends and family visiting from Atlantic City, NJ.
Charlyn Hawkins of Cedar Hill, Texas, grills during a tailgate party for friends and family visiting from Atlantic City, NJ.   (AP Photo/Ralph Lauer)
Aaron Duca left, of Dallas, and Evagelos Agapios, right, of Rockwall, Texas, tailgate in the parking lot before an NFL game, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009, in Arlington, Texas.
Aaron Duca left, of Dallas, and Evagelos Agapios, right, of Rockwall, Texas, tailgate in the parking lot before an NFL game, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009, in Arlington, Texas.   (AP Photo/Sharon Ellman)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 3 comments
Snarfeh
Oct 21, 2009 6:23 AM CDT
There's a commercial out about tailgating. I can't remember the product (shows you how effective ads are), but there's 2 women and one says to the other, "Do you know what a tailgate is?" and the other, without hesitation, blinking or even looking away from the camera, says with a smile "Nope!" like she's proud of it....cracks me up every time the way she says it...
Stasis
Oct 21, 2009 5:40 AM CDT
Beer + automobiles + parking lots full of pedestrians = endless fun and gore!
alkaseltzersammich
Oct 21, 2009 5:40 AM CDT
I love tailgating on the weekends. It's especially fun during college games when there are kegs, kentucky deluxe, and bbq's invloved.

 
sports • football • concert • picnic • trends • tailgating

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