28 notes &
I was honored to be asked to contribute to The Final Four of Everything, the new book that’s the sequel to the other new book that solves all life’s mysteries through the elegant simplicity of the NCAA Tournament Bracket. (Mine is about 21st Century Sports Books.) You can make your own bracket on their site, and I’m fond of this one. Something about someone constructing a legitimate bracket ranking exits off the Garden State Parkway makes me love America.
(Other great brackets from the book: Best Bald Guys, Best Acting Performances By People Essentially Playing Themselves, Best Astronauts, Best First Ladies, Best Jim Henson Creations … aw, there’s a lot. Buy it here.)
Sorry but Sayreville is generally kind of a dump. Freehold is a decent town, they’ve got Freehold Raceway, and a nice, albeit small downtown area.
Glaringly absent here is 114, my hometown exit, and the only exit that reads “Shore Points”
If Jersey is good for nothing else, it’s good for some pretty nice beaches. It ain’t Aruba, but Avon and Spring Lake are as nice if not nicer than any beach along the eastern seaboard. Avoid Belmar and Seaside Heights like the plague.
Gonna be a little Jersey-centric here, but I’ve got issues here. First, I have to agree with soup about avoiding Belmar and Seaside Heights…..but you’ve gotta take the Seaside Heights exit for Lavallette, which is one of the nicest beaches, and communities, on the Shore, in my opinion.
As for the matchups, this whole tournament appears to be rigged. First, there’s no way that Exit 172 (last exit) can beat Exit 1 (Cape May). Cape May is beautiful, with a combination of Victorian Style, and beach environment. The refs must have been on the take (which wouldn’t surprise me in Jersey) for Cape May to lose that matchup. And, of course, Cape May would then kick Sayreville’s butt in the next round.
Also, the Paramus - Atlantic City matchup must have been a very close game. Sure you’ve got the Casinos in AC. But that’s it. At that Paramus exit, you’ve got two of the biggest shopping malls around, plus an IKEA, plus a BJs club, plus the high-end Riverside Square mall….and a Hoop Zone club just down the road. I’m thinking Paramus must have had an off shooting night or something.
Finally, Freehold over the Lincoln Tunnel? Seriously? The gateway to New York City, midtown Manhattan, and the theater district loses to Freehold? I don’t think so.
Overall, I think Cape May got jobbed.
