As Some Exalt With Cup Fever, Others, Well. . . : In Escondido, ‘I’m Tired of Hearing “C’mon Down” ’
Chuck Frank is true American, a Nez Perce Indian with bloodlines stretching back to Chief Joseph.
No one at the Sunset Lounge in Escondido wanted Dennis Conner to bring home the America’s Cup more than Frank did.
The 51-year-old bartender at the Sunset was on the other side of the bar, enjoying a Tuesday night off by watching Stars & Stripes bring back the Cup. For the occasion, he was clad in a red, white and mostly blue “1984 Team USA” hat and a long-sleeve white T-shirt that read “KAN-THE-ROO, Bring the Cup Home.”
“This thing got us so involved in here,” he said. “We’re not going to listen to anymore of this ‘Put another one on the barbie,’ from these people. I’m tired of hearing ‘C’mon down.’ I don’t have a barbie. I don’t have a kangaroo.”
The bartender on duty, Trayon Cionka, said that he had watched every race on ESPN. After Stars & Stripes had won the final race, Cionka gave a thumbs-up sign as Conner guided the sloop into the harbor at Fremantle.
“That,” said Cionka, “is a beautiful sight right there.”
A 30-second drive across South Centre City Parkway from the Sunset Lounge is the Cask ‘n Cleaver, a restaurant with two television monitors and a large-screen TV.
At the bar, directly in front of one set, was Steve Warlick, a 39-year-old contractor who had settled in for the night at 6:30. He used to sail his own boat, so he took a greater interest than most in the races. However, because his home isn’t hooked up to cable TV, he went to six bars in Escondido before finding one showing the race.
“To me this is as exciting as it gets,” he said.
When Stars & Stripes passed the third mark with a 42-second lead, someone said: “America’s Cup is coming home. Bring out the brooms.”
By the time Stars & Stripes had glided over the finish line, the crowd had dwindled to four. But Warlick had hardly moved.
“This is the crowning glory,” he said, pounding his fist on the bar. “Thank you, Dennis. Thank you.”