Captain Of The Tailgate: Are You Really The Captain? Find Out

I had no idea you could actually win cool stuff just for tailgating, but you can.

Brats versus burgers; team jersey versus winter coat; early departure versus post-game party in the parking lot - all are important game-day decisions for football fans and tailgaters this time of year. Today, Bing, the Decision Engine from Microsoft Corp. that provides football fans with everything they need to make these vital game-day choices, is introducing a new competition that will celebrate tailgating and crown the team that makes the best tailgating decisions in four key categories: cooking, sports trivia, parking lot athletics and team spirit.

The Tailgating Institute of America (TIA), led by nationally recognized Commissioner of Tailgating Joe Cahn, will host the competition. Local panels of judges will determine winners in six regional competitions, with the regional winners traveling to compete in Dallas/Fort Worth on Feb. 3 for the championship title. All competitions will take place in major football stadiums on game days in the following cities (all times local):

• Houston's Reliant Stadium, Nov. 7, 9:30 a.m.
• Denver's Invesco Field at Mile High, Nov. 14, 11:30 a.m.
• New York/New Jersey's New Meadowlands Stadium, Nov. 21, 10:30 a.m.
• Phoenix's University of Phoenix Stadium, Dec. 5, 11:30 a.m.
• New Orleans' Louisiana Superdome, Dec. 12, 12:30 p.m.
• Seattle's Qwest Field, Dec. 19, 10:30 a.m.
•  Dallas/Fort Worth's Sundance Square (Finals), Feb. 3

Beginning today, fans can apply to compete at http://www.bingfootball.com. Four tailgating crews will be selected to compete in each of the six regional markets.

The only problem with any of this from the perspective of a Giants fan is that Nov. 21 is a Jets home game at NMS. Of course, wouldn't it be nice to get all geared up in your Giants stuff, go tailgate the game in the midst of all the Jets fans, and actually win? Even if you didn't win, I'm guessing you come away with some stories. And maybe some bruises.