most memorable sporting events you ever attended

[rjose]

I was thinking the other day about all the great games I've been to over the years, here are three that really stuck out. What are your most memorable?


May 4, 1997

Detroit Red Wings defeat Anaheim Mighty Ducks 3-2 in 3OT on their way to their first cup since 1955. Most memorable part of the game; unfortunately I can’t recall who scored the winning goal, the only thing I really remember clearly is a couple being kicked out in between the 2nd and 3rd OT for an oral sex incident.

September 27, 1999

Detroit Tigers defeat Kansas City Royals 8-2 in the last game at Tiger Stadium. We sat in the right field upper deck; Kirk Gibson was sitting a few sections over. In the eighth Robert Frick hit what would be the last homerun at the park, a grand slam off the roof in right. After the game just about every living Tiger great emerged from the center field fence (reminiscent of Field of Dreams) and took their position on the field one last time. A bitter sweat moment for a Tiger fan or any baseball fan for that matter.

May 14, 2004

The Pistons lose a triple OT heartbreaker to the Nets. Billups nailed a 40 footer to send it in to the 1st OT. In the end a three pointer by Brian Scalabrine and a missed three by Billups iced the game. This was by far the loudest and most exciting sporting event I have ever attended. The Pistons would go on to win the series and later the title.

[icehog3]

September 1, 1971...At Wrigley Field, my favorite baseball player of alltime, pitcher Fergie Jenkins, leads the Cubs to a 5–2 win over Montreal by clouting two home runs and driving in three runs.

January 23, 1973...23rd annual NBA All Star Game, Chicago. Not to much for the game itself, in which the West, forced to play without its two biggest guns, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Rick Barry, scored the fewest number of points since the introduction of the 24-second clock in 1954 as the East prevailed, 104-84.

But for the fact that during a stoppage in the game, the Public Address announcer told that crowd that President Nixon had just made the decision to withdraw US Troops from Vietnam. The old Chicago Stadium went up for grabs like never before. It had a profound impact on a 10 year old hog.

January 19, 1991...42nd NHL All Star game at the Chicago Stadium. Again, the game was a great experience, but the highlight was the National Anthem. This was the nationally televised game right after the start of Desert Strom, and doubt there has ever been as electric a National Anthem before or since. They still show this classic as a symbol to patriotism.

February 16, 1992 Michel Goulet scores his 500th NHL goal at the Old Chicago Stadium.

June 1, 1992 The Pittsburgh Penguins beat my beloved Blackhawks in game 4 of the Finals to win the Stanley Cup. While it was a heartbreaking loss, it is the only time I have seen the Stanley Cup skated around the ice live...and with the current state of the Hawks, maybe the only time I ever will.

September 14, 1996 Game 3 of the best of 3 World Cup of Hockey in Montreal. I was lucky enough to score a ticket from a friend who played for Team USA. the USA had a dramatic comeback win on Tony Amonte's game winner...but the celebration was the real fun. I attended the Team reception at the hotel, hit the Clubs of Montreal with most of the team, finally ending up at an all-night Greek Tavern where we partyed until 7AM. A hockey fan's ultimate dream come true.

[steve471]

1993 Game 6 Phillies vs Braves in Philly
Me and a friend got to the game early and walked around, the other person is a huge Braves fan while I am a big Phillies fan. Started talking to some of the Braves pitchers out for their warm-ups and talked some of the starting pitchers into signing a baseball for the Braves fan. The Phillies go on to win the game clinching the series and all hell broke loose in the stadium. What a wild time, one I will never forget.

The 2004 Tour de Georgia
Attended this with my wife and a tour group. Rode all the stages of the race the same day as the pros and finished up the day eating dinner with all the pro teams except US Postal. Got to meet some great riders and people that trip and got to see LA win the event. Watched all the finishes right at the finish line from reserved area, also got to see some of the starts from reserved area and see most riders up close and personal. Mario Cippolini had to be the most engaging rider there without a doubt what a showman he is the peloton will surely miss him. Beautiful weather and great riding along with some very nice people made it a trip and event to remember.

[Sean9689]

I was at the Cardinals game for McGwire's 69th and 70th HRs. Definetly something I will always remember for the rest of my life. Wish Bonds didn't have to break it, oh well. The steroid stuff makes it less memorable for me but it's still a large deal in the sports world.

[ToddziLLa]

Hmmm...ever attended? Tough one.

November 20, 2004 - Ohio State vs. Michigan

My first Ohio State - Michigan football game. We were unranked after a disappointing season and heavily underdogged in the matchup. We literally owned them that day, 37-21. Sitting in the student section at the Shoe is something I will never forget. The 2nd loudest I have ever heard the stadium was when Tony Gonzales caught a wonderful pass by Troy Smith as he almost got sacked but wiggled his way out of the pocket and heaved it downfield for a TD -- in my side of the endzone. I literally jumped up and didn't land for a few seconds -- it was that packed and that intense! The loudest I've ever heard the stadium? Read on...

September 10, 2005 - Ohio State vs. Texas

The hype of this game was unhuman. I work in downtown Columbus too, and when the Texans arrived, you could just feel it in the air. Everyone was thinking about it everyday for the week prior to the game. I woke up the morning of and headed out to the ESPN Gameday show on campus at 9:00. Watched that, then went and partied it up all day like it should be done in college. I was really "hydrated" as Tom would put it before the game. Time flew by as we went from party to party, never paying a dime for alcohol. Walked to the stadium just a few minutes before kickoff (it was a night game), walked up to our seats and didn't sit down the rest of the night. What a game. Unfortunately, we lost that one, but boy was it a memory of a lifetime. I had blisters on my feet and no voice the day after. I wouldn't have it any other way.

[cquon]

Took my son to the Texas - Texas A&M game and got to see Ricky Williams break Dorsett's all time NCAA rushing record.

Then we went a year or two later to the Big 12 Championship game against Nebraska. Texas lost, but is was fun seeing Bevo take a big crap in the Nebraska endzone.

[Stogiefanatic182]

Hands down with out a doubt it was July 24, 2004. For my high school graduation present my parents got my family tickets 5 rows behind the visitors dugout at Fenway Park. The game turned out to be the greatest event in my life so far. ARod got his pansy ass kicked which started a bench clearing brawl, chants of Yankees Suck from 30k people, multiple ejections, and a walk off home run in the bottom of the 9th off Mariano Rivera.

[pistol]

My father in law got us Bank of America passes to the US Open at Pinehurst no 2. It was amazing, we sat on the porch of the clubhouse in highback rocking chairs eating gourmet food and sipping top shelf booze (they were passing out dominican monte churchills as well). The pass distribution for our area was extremely restricted, so there were no crowds to deal with, we could walk freely from one end of the porch and watch the guys tee off on number one and then walk back to the other side of the porch and watch them putt on number 18. We watched the last two rounds from our perches there under the ceiling fans. It was friggin amazing; I've never been treated like royalty like that before. We also got out and walked the course and followed Vijay, Fred, and Sergio for a while, it was an awesome weekend, and one that I'll never forget. It was also neat to watch Campbell win with an even par score (it's heartening to watch the best of the best bogey holes!).

[vtdragon]

Sept 9, 2004, New England Patriots raise their second Super Bowl banner and host the Indianapolis Colts for the opening game of the NFL season. My daughter took me to the game and treated me to tickets on the 40 yard line four rows from the field behind the Colt's bench.
The game see-sawed back and forth all night and came down to a Colts field goal attempt to tie it as time was running out. Van-der Jerk missed the kick and the Patriots won 27 to 24.

[wshell]

1999 US Open in Pinehurst, watching Payne, Tiger, Mark O'Meara...unforgetable, especially after what happened to Payne

2004 NCSU Duke, one of the most electric games I've ever been to, watching NC State knock off No. 1 Duke

2003 Gator Bowl- NC State vs Notre Dame...watching the wolfpack smoke Notre Dame to end the best season in NC State football history

[joed]

I don't remember exactly what it was - but it sure was a great game

[icehog3]

Originally Posted by joed

I don't remember exactly what it was - but it sure was a great game

I remember that...that one guy was awesome!! I can't believe it did that!!

[floydp]

My first big league game, Yankee Stadium sometime in the 60's. Dad told me some years ago that Whitey Ford pitched. I don't remember much other than the smell of the grass and that dad bought me a Yankee cap, thats saying something because he hated the Yanks. The Mick played as well as Maris. There I was with my dad and my ball glove. He'd take me on the train from Delaware to games in Philly, Pittsburg, Ny, Mets and Yanks. We shared baseball till the day he died, Jan 93. I sure miss my dad. Its funny, I was only a Yankee fan when I was very young. It took alot of years to find my soul mate and she turns out to be a Yankee fan.

For the record I've been a Reds fan since about 10. They sure make it easy because other than every 10 years or so they suck.

Most of memorable sporting events have had little or nothing to do with the game itself, just the company. Went to a minor league game last year with JR and his family on Oklahoma City that was great and also last summer when we attended a R Brave game with Mark and Tim after a Va Herf. Those were great times.

[floydp]

Originally Posted by icehog3

I remember that...that one guy was awesome!! I can't believe it did that!!

He sure was, we stood almost the entire game when he scored two goals, kicked a field goal and stole that base, I thought it was impossible but my eyes didn't lie.

[AAlmeter]

1989 Sabres vs Blues. Clint Malarchuk was in goal. Yup, THAT game.