The improbable became real Monday night, and J.P. Sebastian was there to see it. Well, not in person, but he was surrounded by friends at a favorite nightspot. Sebastian, John Alexander, Bill McLachlan and Megan Curran were about as close as they could get to the action, just feet from a crystal-clear image of the NCAA championship game between the University of Connecticut and Butler on the television at Partners Café and Pizzeria.
In Kembo we trust, said McLachlan, a Norwalker who absolutely expected UConn to win. At that point in the second half, UConn was ahead 29-26. McLachlans faith was rewarded as UConn never fell behind again, winning 53-41, making the Huskies top dogs of the NCAA.
That is amazing, said Ernie Marsan, whose family owns Partners. Christopher Paris, head chef at Partners, saw it coming with just more than two minutes left in the game, when the score was 41-28. I think its over, he said. Theyve given up.
Paris said he went to Eastern Connecticut State University, right next door to UConn. Youve got to be a little UConn fan, he said.
One man took his life in his hands, wearing a Butler sweatshirt into the bar. His excuse was that his name was John Butler. I get booed a lot, he said, and then pointed to his UConn hat to show that he was rooting for the home team. Its a win-win, he said.
With UConn well ahead, the end of the game was anticlimactic. People clapped appreciatively and Sebastian hugged a friend. McLachlan, a member of UConns class of 2006, joked that he would go burn a couch. He said, We were there for 2004 watching safely in our room.
Marsan said it was much busier than usual for a Monday night, probably busier than ever. A lot of them are second-generation customers, he said. Lots of kids of people who used to come in here a long time ago, in the '90s and '80s.
Its a nice East Norwalk establishment, McLachlan said. Marsan said the Café is having a fundraiser Sunday for the Wounded Warrior Project, beginning at 1 p.m. and ending with last call. Admission in $20 and the event features "general mayhem," an all you can eat buffet, silent auction, door prizes, 50/50 raffles and entertainment.
Did you watch the game? How did you celebrate? Comment below!
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