ON THE CLUB LEVEL

Going to a professional football game can be an exciting experience. For example, there are not many chances in life where you can see a human leg bone in person.

Once a year, I make my yearly pilgrimage to Atlanta to take in a Falcons game with my father-in-law, a season ticket holder. And he has assured me that he will have a ticket for me any time, so long as his grandchildren are not old enough to enjoy it. I am fairly sure that the minute either of my children shows the slightest interest in football, my privileges will be revoked.

So we headed to the Sunday night game against the Carolina Panthers. It was an exciting game, because it marked the first start of the year for Falcons' quarterback Michael Vick. As I was leaving the house wearing my Vick jersey, my daughter asked if I was going to a game. I told her that, in fact, I was going to a game, and that she should make sure to look for No. 7. I am confident this caused some confusion when she saw No. 7 on the screen, as Michael Vick and I are not exactly twins.

We rode to the game with a couple of my father-in-law's friends. The main reason for this is that they have been season ticket holders since somewhere around 1924 and have graduated to having very good parking privileges. Normally, we park in a lot located somewhere around Macon, so this was a nice change.

My father-in-law has very good seats, very close to the field. However, for this game, we were going to be sitting in the Club Level. The Club Level is a place I had never been. There are stairwells and elevators that lead up to the Club Level, but they are blocked by security personnel who will only let the special people ascend.

In all of my games, I had wondered what wonderful world was being kept hidden in the Club Level. Flowing rivers of brandy? Bikini-clad supermodels dispensing champagne? Turns out it is a Hooter's. Seriously.

But the Club Level does afford you the luxury of smaller crowds and more expensive beer. I guess people will pay much more for a beer if there isn't a substantial line.

Besides the Hooter's, the food at the other locales is different, too. I had a Cuban sandwich and pasta salad, which was very good, but left me with a certain sense of betrayal toward hot dogs. (I did have a giant pretzel later, which seemed blue collar enough to cleanse some of the guilt.)

We also visited one of the suites at the Georgia Dome. The suites encircle the dome, and are like little apartments peering out around the stadium.

There is also a little porch-type area with a handful of stadium seats. Inside, there are couches and televisions and, of course, a full bar. If you stay inside the suite, it is actually quite like watching a game at my house, only way more expensive. (A lease for my living room is a bargain.)

I found that the personality of the crowd in the Club Level was slightly more tame than down below. For example, in the first quarter, the Falcons had a fourth and one. I, of course, stood up and began to cheer. I felt a tug at the back of shirt. "Excuse me, I'm trying to watch the game, sir."

I looked at my father-in-law, who was probably quietly praying to himself that, for once, I would not act like myself. Seeing as how I had not paid for these seats, I decided that throwing a beer on the man and erupting into full-blown hockey fight mode would be less than appropriate, so I quietly sat in my seat.

Later in the game, the Falcons were driving and the crowd was getting into it. (Well, the crowd outside of the Club Level.) My father-in-law became swept up in the excitement and jumped to his feet, grabbing my shirt and pulling me up, too. "Come on," he said. "We've gotta stand for this."

Redemption, I thought.

"Besides," he said in a hushed voice, "we can take those guys."

Uh-oh, I thought.

Turns out the entire stadium was getting charged up, and the electricity flowed deep into the Club Level. Although the Falcons were stymied on that drive, they ended up winning in overtime, and I even high-fived my sit-down nemesis. It is amazing how a common thread such as a football team's victory can bring people together.

That and knowing your father-in-law's got your back.