Back to St. John’s 5 Things I Can’t Wait to Do

Before the season started I was selected to be 1 of 16 participants in a relatively unknown contest involving Volvo cars and Big East Basketball. Like my man Barney Stinson would say, “challenge….accepted!”

So the challenge began with polls opening up on MyBigEastVolvo.com and the stakes keep on being raised with each and every day. Last week the challengers were all informed that winner for the “Biggest Fan of the Big East” would win a brand new “naughty” Volvo S60 car and their school would receive a $10,000 donation.

Volvo has been kind enough to send me out to see the Red Storm play against the Duke Blue Devils at Madison Square Garden this season while lending me the S60 for the weekend. There are 5 things you need to know about the naughty S60 according to Volvo it’s driving dynamics, bold design, turbocharged engine, sophisticated handling, and innovative technology. Just like Volvo I also have 5 things I can’t wait to do heading back to St. John’s.

Sit in Traffic

No matter what day I decide to go, no matter what time of day I decide to go, and no matter which route of travel I decide to go I will always hit traffic heading into New York City. I’m really looking forward to getting plenty of quality time with my future car sitting in bumper to bumper traffic while enjoying the sophisticated sound system.

It’s really quite funny sometimes because you see things like a plastic bag blowing in the wind that are moving at a faster rate of speed than you are. I try to avoid traffic by listening to 1010 wins every 10 minutes (traffic report on the 1’s) to try and at least pick the lesser of evils but it never really matters if I go GW Bridge or Lincoln Tunnel. I’m open to more suggestions!

Seeing Old Faces in Same Places

St. John’s University and Volvo have one very important thing in common. Great tradition! When you go to St. John’s or a game at Madison Square Garden there are so many people you can always count on. One of my favorite traditions going to St. John’s pre and post game is heading over the Sly Fox where the owner Eddie always greets me with a warm smile, firm handshake, and a cold beverage. Double J’s Deli is another place where everyone from St. John’s students to the NYPD go for great deli sandwiches. John the owner is always rocking Red and White! Betty at Dunkin Donuts always knows what St. John’s students need after 2:00 AM.

Within the St. John’s campus you’ll see the same lunch ladies and if you walk around the athletic facilities you’ll hear the custodian yell, “Hey Bayyyy-bay!” You’ll see the athletic trainers cruising Gatorade around on their golf carts and the same public safety officers checking storm cards in the facilities.

Heading into the city to the Garden you’ll see the same ticket scalpers hanging out on the corner trying to sell you tickets for way too much money. Getting inside you’ll see the same ushers checking tickets and escorting people to their seats.

Maybe some people take these traditions for granted but I enjoy every last one of them.

I am Queens Boulevard

To play off entourage and Vinny Chase, “I am Queens Boulevard”

Just like Vinny, E, Drama, and Turtle we painted the town red and we really grew to love a lot of things about Queens. For four years my friends and I all felt like we owned Queens.

With this contest I’m able to fly in my best friend Eddie McDonough up from Miami to see the game with me. A lot of my other friends are in close proximity to Queens so we’ll be round up the old entourage, catch up, and reminisce like old times. We’ll hit up all our old spots and have a good time celebrating the big win over Duke.

The only difference between the guys of Entourage and myself will be instead of cruising a 1965 Lincoln Continental we’ll be in the New Naughty S60.

Feeling the Garden Magic

There is something about Madison Square Garden that just isn’t created anywhere else. You just get this awe about being inside the building and the court shines bright. You’re in the spotlight in the most powerful city in the world.

I’ve been to some amazing games at MSG and there is probably no greater feeling then storming the floor. I’ve done it a few times in my day and one time it was caught on video here.

Now this person who shot the video made a few crucial mistakes when storming the floor.

1. You either have to be the initial surge or third wave because the 2nd wave of people get stopped by the ushers.
2. You have to use some jukes to get past the ushers. You can’t just run straight out you have to plan out your attack.
3. You have to jump and dance around center court. Don’t run on the sidelines of the court
4. Do your thing and get off the court before you get arrested!

City That Never Sleeps

There is one characteristic every St. John’s student gets with their degree and that is the ability to be a quick thinker and great networker. Maybe its just from being in the city for four years but we’re always working to get ahead.

Just as I’m having a great opportunity to influence you reading this to check out Volvo S60 cars (shameless plug) I’ll also be able to meet and greet a ton of people at to promote JohnnyJungle.com.

There is never a missed opportunity meeting people at St. John’s games and I always enjoy talking with each and every person I come into contact with whether its in the subway, on the ticket line, going up the escalator, or in the stands you always take the opportunity to introduce yourself to meet new people. So the St. John’s family should extend this post to others by LIKING, TWEETING, and just introducing the Volvo family to all.

Visit MyBigEastVolvo.com and VOTE for Dave (St. John’s) Show your support by spreading this article!

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