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Had a bad feeling at a recent hockey game
Took the kids to an Ice Hockey game while on LI over the Christmas break. Islanders vs. Rangers. We were all excited to see these two teams play each other and watch them engage the rivalry. We had 8 great seats and I was seated on the next to the last seat on an end row. There was a vacant single seat next to me. A Middle Eastern fellow sat down next to me and he had an islander jersey on like most folks. He was really quiet. The game was heated and there were lots of big hits and wild plays. I was horse in a matter of minutes. I noticed this fellow did not utter a sound. He sat quietly. He has his cell phone on his lap and a small book in Arabic in his hands, which he was reading most of the time. Every now and again his cell phone would ring and he was talking (in Arabic) to another person in the coliseum. The second period he never opened his eyes was clearly praying and it was not for the islanders as their 2-0 lead evaporated. I was starting to get concerned about his intentions on why he was at the game if he didn’t care to look at the game. All I kept thinking was here I am sitting next to a terrorist in NY with my entire family…I didn’t like it one bit. I got up several times during the break and each time I passed him I patted him on the back or stomach or rubbed up against him slightly to see if he was strapped with anything…. felt a little overweight but no bulges. He kept reading and praying and talking to his buddy in Arabic. I kept my eyes open for a security guy and when a group of rowdy guys behind us through a beer bottle (now plastic) at the ice and it fell short and when into the crowd, they quickly appeared and removed the entire group from the game. I was about to tell the guard that this fellow is acting strange to me but by then it was late in the third period and he left.
I regret not telling someone about this sooner. Thinking about it now I was actually frightened at one point. Nothing happened it but I just hate being in places like that anymore.
If I see something that appears strange again I am getting the security folks .
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