News of Manly selling out and re-naming Brookvale Oval to Lottoland caused flash flooding in and around Carlow and Miller Streets late yesterday afternoon.
Old bitter Bears fans were seen standing and dabbing on small tables slamming their schooners together in celebration of Manly’s new era.
Sadly a lot of schooners were sacrificed along with glasses according to eyewitness Aub Le Brocq. Another source claimed a few overzealous fans performed the ‘Don’ under the tables and into poker machine trays, in honour of fallen club legend Don McKinnon’s career highlight with the Sea Eagles.
Publican Craig Makepeace claimed two kegs were emptied within three hours and they had to purchase schooner glasses from nearby hotels as the celebrations kicked in and wound up in the early hours of this morning.
Ray and I joined in with the locals and a cameo from the Maltese Falcon, Mario Fenech, at 10pm ensured the festivities would continue as he and his entourage shouted food to the now well-oiled locals.
Ex-Harold Matthew’s and SG Ball stars Kieran Foran and a well-disguised Mitchell Pearce also arrived to liven things up.
While the house-made garlic sauce and hummus split had made a meal of those who didn’t have cast iron stomachs, those that bought up their lunch, brekkie and litres of Reschs real ale got their second wind a few hours later after being discharged from Royal North Shore.
Not since the Greg Florimo-inspired Bears flogged their mortal enemies 41-8 in 1997, had the Carlow Street pub or surrounding streets of Bear Park been so alive. Sure Craig Hancock was fullback on that magical day and Scott Fulton was on the bench, but the Bears also had Willie McLean in the centres which evened things out on paper prior to kick-off.
Ray and I left with the sound of “the Big Black Bears are…back on the road again, back on the road again, back on the road again….”
It dawned on us Carlow Street Hotel, which was also known as Percy’s Pub, was now known simply as North Sydney Hotel! We both felt cheated for a few seconds until Ray saved the moment and mumbled the word Lottoland!
Ron Swanson
Roar Guru
can't believe Ray and I left out the more modern "Stand aside, here come the mighty Bears..." Boy that got a flogging on the golden period of the 90's when they were hard to beat at Bear Park. Young Benny Ikin and Buettner in the centres, Brett Dallas and the Roy boy on the flanks with Matty Seers at the back, and the conductors Flo and JT calling the shots. Then along came the plan to move to Gosford and the costs escalated after a wrong coat of paint was used and all hell started to break loose culminating in a marriage that Stevie Wonder could see would be more toxic than OJ "The Juice" Simpson and Nicole Brown The real flog that bought the Bears to it's knees and ran up $4 million in debts was Bob Saunders! I despise the bloke.
Ron Swanson
Roar Guru
He couldn't get a release out of his contract he signed with Demtel Music back in the early stage of Dicko's career. Red tape, pfffft!
Ron Swanson
Roar Guru
Hard to split that pair...you can hear Rabs now "First we're off to 1300 Smiles for the Queensland derby and the right to make the preliminary final whilst the sudden death clash at Lottoland will be a dead set bottler between the Jono Wright led Manly Warringah up against the resurgent Knights led into battle by ex Sea Eagle Jamie Buhrer....the F3 has been inundated with Sid Fogg buses bound for Lottoland!!!" Why is Penrith Park now Pepper Stadium?
Ron Swanson
Roar Guru
Nah he couldn't make it down from Charters Towers but George Bartlett and apparently the very under rated Dale Fritz were in attendance. Can't say Ray or myself recognised either.
Ron Swanson
Roar Guru
The Falcon and his posse used to walk laps around the pub so he could be treated like a king as the drunks got down on their knees and bowed to him... Loved that old stale beer smell of the carpet, the sticky bar and old feel of history the place held in Rugby League folklore, plus not many grounds had a pub so close.
Ron Swanson
Roar Guru
That's right bearfax, the Northern Eagles and Geoff Toovey killed my dear old grand mother who couldn't work out why Toovey would pass the steeden to Jason Taylor.
Ron Swanson
Roar Guru
What about that band they had, annoying as all buggery. Highlight was seeing Tiny Tim do a lap singing that 'tiptoe on the tulips' on the back of a bedford. Total train wreck for all at the ground except the old blue rinse set who religiously took their seats under the old Moreton Bay fig.
tim
Guest
I hope that Jason Martin did a solo set.
Wascally Wabbit
Guest
I didn't see it as a kick in the guts. I was one who voted for Crowe, but it was a tough decision. George Piggins resurrected us and South's fans will be always grateful. But in the following 4 years we were struggling on and off the field. Like in a relay, no-one goes on forever and it was time to pass the baton - Crowe will carry the baton for a while and then it will get passed again.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Always happy to bring some joy to a Bears fan On par with 1300 Smiles in the average name department.
Swanny
Guest
The Bears and North Sydney oval and suburban footy . That would make me watch the game again
Jason Hosken
Roar Guru
Nice touch Swanners. Mate, can you tell me if Noel Soloman was spotted?
bearfax
Guest
Would not have happened but for Piggins. And then they kicked him in the guts.
Norad
Guest
All members of the Dead Club Society. Our Rabbitohs got resurrected though.
Haradasun
Guest
Love percys! As a manly fan though, I always thought they could play a game at nth sydney oval. They could call it dance on nth sydneys grave round. Im sure all the old bears fans would turn up to support whoever was playing manly. Seriously its amazing that a sport with its own rich history and tradition would turn its back on that,especially from a marketing pov and allow some random corporate to market their own product instead.
bearfax
Guest
Old timers meeting at local pubs in Glebe will be reminded of their demise at the hands of a 13-12 vote (which they believed was promoted by those Johnny come lately renegades Balmain and Souths to increase their territory) in 1929, when the Dirty Reds of Wentworth Park, were no more, betrayed as Newtown was later on, they believed, by its neighbouring teams, especially Wests. Bitterness prevails. The Bears are merely the latest fallen club to hold grudges. Of course such decisions were made by League authorities of the day, but someone has to be the scapegoat dont they, otherwise who do you blame.
Rabbitz
Roar Guru
Pure Gold, there Ron. And for those that know, all I have to say is "Stand Aside".
Norad
Guest
The Bears - the supplementary number of NRL history.