Foley's Serves Up Spirits, and NASCAR Spirit

DECEMBER 4 – When NASCAR visits New York City each year for the annual awards banquet and other related activities, a day is set aside for the Sprint Cup Series champion to have lunch with media members from the Northeast.

This year, it also served as a reminder that there is at least one significant sports story happening in New York this week, other than Plaxico Burress.

Generally held at upscale restaurants like the 21 Club, for 2008 NASCAR decided to loosen things up a bit, and moved the event to a place called Foley’s Pub and Restaurant.

I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to find Foley’s; frankly, I still have trouble finding my way through the hotel. But the smallish building, located almost right across from the Empire State Building on 33rd Street, was so noticeable it was impossible for even navigationally-challenged me to miss. Its color makes it stand out. It isn’t green; it is painted bright, fire engine red.

No banners advertising the impending arrival of Jimmie Johnson, his crew chief Chad Knaus, his team owner Rick Hendrick, and Raybestos Rookie of the Year Regan Smith flew over Foley’s. No crush of paparazzi waited in the street.

Only a small chalkboard with the words “Welcome NASCAR” and someone’s drawing of a Keystone Cops-looking car with a small number “48” on the side propped up on the sidewalk acknowledged the event at all. I opened the door and went inside.

In case you’ve never been in an Irish pub before, they’re usually kind of small, rather dark and not much given to big, rowdy crushes of people. The clientele tends to know one another, and the atmosphere is almost an extension of your own home and family.

But not today.

Foley’s was the most crowded Irish pub, or any other type of pub for that matter, I have ever seen. It wasn’t just crammed full of people, but of stuff. The place is a Mecca of sports memorabilia. Walls are lined top to bottom with baseballs signed by celebrities ranging from Joe DiMaggio to Derek Jeter to 2003 Cup Series champion Matt Kenseth. There are bats and hats, magazine covers and stadium seats. It’s like a museum. A really cool museum with free beer nuts.

In keeping with the fact that Academy Award-winning actor and director Kevin Costner is the special guest at this year’s banquet, the sports maniac in me was compelled to make a little joke to myself: Is this Heaven? No, it’s Foley’s.

There were plenty of media folks at the luncheon, and the public relations team from NASCAR, and, unusual for an event like this one, fans. Lots of fans. Some lucky members of NASCAR’s Members Club were allowed to attend; one group from Staten Island was particularly happy to be there, if you know what I’m saying.

Jimmie Johnson entered the room to a huge round of applause and made some nice remarks before lunch was served. The most popular comment he made was completely impromptu. As soon as he walked through the door, he announced that he had bought a round of drinks for the house.

I’m not sure what Johnson’s background and cultural heritage is, but on this day he offered up the famed luck of the Irish to everyone in attendance.

We all know NASCAR knows how to give fans a great experience. On this day, that same experience was extended to those who cover the sport rather than just watch it. Yes, it’s true – a good time was had by all.

I went back to Foley’s later in the afternoon after everyone was gone. I wanted another look at all that cool stuff.

I enjoyed checking out the 1,200 signed baseballs, the 130 jerseys hanging from the rafters, the 40 used game bats. I admired the montages filled with tickets and programs and score sheets and such. As always, the bobbleheads made me smile, and there are about 300 of them at Foley’s. There seemed not to be a single inch of space for one more thing to be displayed.

And then, I noticed a new piece of memorabilia. Hanging in the back, stretching floor to ceiling, is a banner that simply reads, “Jimmie Johnson, Reigning Champion.”

It didn’t have a thing to do with baseball or hockey, but at Foley’s, a place that appreciates sports excellence, NASCAR looked right at home.

– Cathy Elliott, LIVE from New York