The mood of the second date in The Spectrum's Experiment in Romance series was very subdued in comparison to the first date, on which the daters, Carmen and Steve, went to Game Zone and Bubble Tea Caf?(c) and had a noticeably good time.
This time, the date was set for a Bandits lacrosse game at the HSBC Arena on Feb. 8th. The evening began with Steve picking Carmen up at 7:30 p.m. for the game that he thought was to begin at 8 p.m. Carmen seemed less energetic than on the first date.
Conversation during the car ride to HSBC Arena was sporadic but amicable as the two chatted politely about the weather and shared anecdotes: Steve's drunken bowling trip and Carmen's strange request to her best friends.
"I went bowling last night, I was a little drunk, so it didn't work out too well," Steve joked.
"I've been trying to get my best friend to call me 'shawty,' like in the song," said Carmen as the 50 Cent song "In Da Club" played on the radio. "She refuses, but once I got her to say 'Yo what up shawty' online. I was so happy."
Steve said that he had never seen a live lacrosse game.
"We didn't have a lacrosse team at my high school so I didn't go to any games," he said.
"My brother used to play lacrosse, it's pretty rough. I like it," Carmen responded.
After arriving at the Arena and finding it close to full and the score at Buffalo Bandits 5, Toronto Rock 1, Steve realized the game had most likely begun at 7:30. Steve and Carmen were just in time for the halftime performance, which Steve thoroughly enjoyed. Spectators were entertained by a mini lacrosse game between little leaguers and a performance by female halftime dancers.
"It reminds me of playing soccer when one kid kicks the ball and everyone just runs behind him," Steve said about the children's game.
His reaction was limited to " woo-hoo" and whistles as he watched the halftime dancers perform to Guns 'n' Roses' "Welcome to the Jungle." He did manage to say "good song" in the midst of his very male reaction to dancing women.
The second half of the game began, and the pair kept their eyes on the field and said little. Steve was noticeably enjoying himself while Carmen seemed a bit preoccupied.
"Are you all right over there?" Steve asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Carmen said with a slight smile.
That was the extent of conversation between the two during the game; Steve did not seem to mind much, as there was a host of things inside the Arena to keep him entertained, such as the rowdy gentlemen sitting next to him who felt the need to chant "bladder boy" every time someone got up to walk out of the arena and who kept trying to get Carmen and Steve to participate in a bleacher wave.
The extreme dedication of the cheering fans, rallied by the commentator into one chant or another whenever the Bandits made a good play or when the Rock missed a scoring opportunity, also added to entertainment.
The fans were so devoted to cheering that even the reticent Carmen had to comment.
" Wow, they've got some really hardcore fans," she said.
Steve thoroughly enjoyed the roughness of the game, responding with "ooohs" and laughter whenever someone took a bad hit.
"It's crazy. I wish we had (lacrosse) in high school," he said. "I wouldn't mind just running around and hitting people."
As the fourth quarter started winding to a close with the Bandits leading by 5 points, the Bandits fans brought their cheering to new levels and decibels. The crowd's enthusiasm was infectious, and Carmen and Steve had to stand and cheer during the countdown on the game clock.
"That was a good game," Carmen said as they walked out of the arena. "At least Buffalo has one winning team."
"The music they played was awesome," Steve said. "I've never been to a sports event where they just cranked music like that."
The night ended when Steve dropped Carmen off and the two said a short sociable "good-bye."
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
