OT: Best sporting event attended

I remember watching that game on TV with a bunch of my high school friends, and I’d never been so enthusiastic about basketball.

For me best game attended was the 1990 UT v. Houston game. My friends and I had driven to the Astrodome for the game the year before and UT got killed, ugly. We also got a speeding ticket on the drive back. The next year Texas was putting together a good record with a so-so team (as the game vs. Miami would prove), but the prevailing wisdom was that Houston was the better team — the line started out with Houston as double digit favorites. Texas stomped on the Cougars in a night game and the party went on from there. I’ve seen many better games on TV but this was the most satisfying I’ve attended.

I was 9 and thought Billy Martin’s A’s had filled the void left by Santa Claus years earlier. We attended w/ friends from Boston who got booed the whole time in their Sawks gear.

2 outs, bottom of the 9th- Tony Armas hits a 2 run shot off of Eck to tie it up. Top 11- Yaz pinch hits, hits a blast to dead center and gets Lofton-like robbed by the great Dwayne Murphy. Bottom 11- Murphy hits a walk-off HR to win it.

A’s made the playoffs that year, love affair w/ baseball hit full throttle, and luckily I moved to Texas.

I’d have to say Utah v. TCU in 2008. I believe TCU was 11/12 in the nation and only had 1 loss. Utah was 8/9 or so and undefeated. Great game and ending for us Ute fans. Everyone was decked out in all black and the stadium was shaking from us jumping up and down after the Utes scored to win the game. Opened up he door for us to head to the Sugar Bowl.

I’ve never been to an NFL or NBA game. A lot of baseball games, but none that really stand out over another.

It was my birthday. Dirk dropped 50. The Mavs were one game away from the Finals. Good times (at the time).

I was one of very few Aggie fans in the stands, but to watch that unbelievable defensive battle, and all of the huge hits. It was such an amazing game.

On a personal note: Abilene High vs. Abilene Cooper in 2001 and again in 2002 was crazy. Abilene High came from 10 behind with 1:41 left in the game to send it in to overtime then later won on a blocked field goal. The next year High was #2 in the state Cooper was #4. Both undefeated. 25,000 at Shotwell Stadium in Abilene. Governor flipped the coin. Cooper got its revenge and won in overtime. Back to Back years. Amazing games.

Grand Opening of Cowboys Stadium. Incredible atmosphere and damn good game (had good seats also, so that made it way better)

Looking back, the most exciting regular season game I’ve been to was when Kevin Mench had his walk-off single against Boston during the July 4th game in 2005. Afterwards, I believe Josh and TAG said it was one of the loudest games at the ballpark they had ever heard, and I can attest to that statement.

Also, I was at the game when they shot The Rookie with Dennis Quaid. Hey, at least I can cheat my way into saying that I was in a movie. I’m one of the many specks in the left field stands when he runs out of the bullpen.

I actually have a really pathetic sporting event résumé. However, I was close to going to the UT – TTU game in Lubbock two years ago. I clearly missed out on that one.

OU’s defense puttin’ the wood on Bobby Bowden. Rocky Calmus and Torrance Marshall runnin’ around like madmen. Wee lil Quentin Griffin finding a tiny seam for the games only TD, a 22 yard scamper up the middle. Chris Wienke looking utterly confused. Me rushing the field and patting Josh Huepel on the back and shaking hands with the Boz. Best game ever. Also, I stole a pylon from the corner endzone and hid behind a fat person walking out of the stadium. Best piece of memorabilia ever.

Best part of the game….the FSU guys tailgating next to us before the game and giving us free beer because they felt sorry for the whooping we were about to receive….kiss the rings bitch

Was the Joe Theisman “Happy Birthday” game at Texas Stadium, Dallas vs. the Redskins. That was pretty special.

I was at Reunion Arena in the early/mid-80s when the Mavs could never beat the Lakers, and saw them come back from 20 down in the 2nd half to beat L.A. behind two Mark Aguirre 3 pointers in the last 30 seconds or so.

I’ve been at several Rangers games that were walk-off wins. This one jumps to mind immediately.

Also this one.

At NCR South Country Club, Dayton, Ohio. A member, also an in-law, got me involved by our working the scoreboard on the 17th hole. Up to that point, I had ignored golf since caddying at ages 12-13. I got enthused by the remarkable skill of the touring pros, took the game up as a result, and it made me a lifetime player. Raymond Floyd won the event, but even back then, didn’t look like a standout ball striker. I wouldn’t have picked him to win, but as the tournament progressed he ended up edging out Gary Player by a stroke. Interesting fact: the winner’s purse was $35,000. Today, at the WC championship at Doral, Ernie Els pocketed $1.2 million. They’ve come a long way, baby.

April 19, Rangers vs Royals. More for personal reasons. It’s the last game I went to with my dad, and Michael Young hit the game-winning walk-off homer.

between the Nolan Ryan – Robin Ventura fight and the playoff round between Rocco and Tiger at the 2008 US Open.

The Ryan fight is easily the coolest baseball event, but I was far away in the nose bleeds behind home plate, and I didn’t really know what happened until I got home. It was probably the last Nolan game I saw in person (his last start was a few weeks later, I think).

I think if Tiger doesn’t come back, his playoff win at Torrey Pines will be his last major, and one where he won on essentially one knee. Regardless, It will probably be when his legend peaked. That may just be a transcendent sports moment, and the Ryan-Ventura fight may havae to take a back seat.

The turning point for the CART-IRL rivalry may have come in 2001. That year, CART tried to stage a race at the Texas Motor Speedway, the Firestone Firehawk 600. However, unprecedented g-forces brought on by TMS’ steep 24-degree banking caused several drivers to experience dizziness and disorientation. CART was unable to slow the cars down in time to run the race safely, and it was postponed and ultimately canceled; this led TMS to sue CART.

Background. On Friday, April 27, 2001, two drivers were unable to complete practice laps on he Texas Motor Speedway (TMS) due to disorientation, dizziness, nausea and blurred vision. Another driver reported being unable to walk away from his car for several minutes after practice laps on April 28. Later at a dinner meeting, 21 of the 25 drivers scheduled to start the Firestone Firehawk 600 on Sunday April 29 expressed concern about these symptoms. As a result, the race was cancelled;

The race was never held but my brothers and I went to this famous practice. The cars were turning laps in just over 20 secs and reaching 250 mph at times. We all agree that it was one of the scariest, hairiest spectacles we’ve ever seen. Other-worldly exhibition of speed – like watching jet fighters race around the track. Crazy dangerous.

Ian Kinsler goes 6 for 6 and hits for the cycle and plus it was calender night so I made out with those too. It definitely was a magical Rangers moment. I was standing about ten feet away from Ian as he raised his hand for that one post game awesome pic of him that gets used over and over…chills down the spine moment.

dallas versus san francisco. and then shortly thereafter we had the baseball strike and i didn’t pay attention to sports for five years.

oddly probably my best memory surrounding this game was waiting for tickets outside of a ticketmaster in the near freezing cold with my best-friend for hours. it was the first time i’d ever had coffee. we got our tickets before the thing sold out (probably sold out in under ten minutes) and we left with a true sense of accomplishment.

gamewise: there was a lone niners fan sitting near us. he was loud but not too obnoxious. he ribbed us when things went well for his team but we playfully got all over him as dallas slowly controlled the game. as the game ended and the cowboys won several of us fans hugged him or shook his hand. i knew how he felt but he was gracious. i took a lot from that guy.

still don’t care about football, basketball or whatever. but i’ve never loved baseball more, not even when i was twelve and the only thing i seemed to care about in this world was baseball. i can’t explain how many tears of joy i’m hanging on to for when these rangers win it. good god let’s do something this year.

Awesome experience….even though we lost.

the best is also the worst. Game three of the 1996 ALDS. The first playoff game in Arlington. Darren Oliver pitched his ass off. When Juan Gonzalez hit the tying home run in the 4th inning — moments after the fireworks guy thought he had hit one and set off the fireworks prematurely — I thought I was watching Zeus play baseball. It was the most euphoric feeling of my sports life. The atmosphere at the Ballpark was pure mass insanity.

Of course, then the 9th inning happened…

I’ll never forget walking out of the stadium over to the hill next to Mark Holtz Lake where my family was holding my place in line, camping out, to get World Series tickets in the morning, as Yankee “fans” ran past through throngs of disappointed Ranger fans screaming “BERRRRRRNIEEEEEE!” and a kid saying to his dad, “Well, if anyone can do it tomorrow, Bobby Witt can!” I knew deep down, right then, that those World Series tickets would never be torn.

Still, what a night to be a Texas Rangers baseball fan. A Red October at last.

got in free bc a local grocery store was just handing out free tix.

Also, when I was like 7 or 8 the Von Erich’s threw down in the old “Pit” at UNT in Denton. I’ll never forget the long, beautiful, flowing locks of Kerry Von Erich.

R.I.P. Texas Tornado

PS – In googling Kerry Von I noticed he has a daughter who is quite delicious. More undeniable proof of The Modern Day Warrior’s impeccable genes.

Not a lot to choose from.

The year Ware won the Heisman. Cougars: undefeated and ranked 12th. A&M throws out a 1-5-5 defense. Ware is held under 300 yards for the first (and only) time, and the Cougars get their first loss on the year.

I know there are a lot of claims for the loudest stadium. In my mind, this one day, this was the loudest. On their first possession, the noise was getting to Ware, and he made the mistake of being too demonstrative to his receivers. The crowd figured it out, and stepped it up. It was already bothering him, and it just got louder. Towards the end of the game, Aaron Wallace sacks ware and knocks his helmet off. Then, he picks it up and holds it high like a trophy.

So probably June 7th, 1997, Detroit-Seattle. A-Rod hit for the cycle.

TCU won 17-10 taking out Adrian Petersen (high ankle sprain that caused him discomfort for half that year). It was pretty awesome to hear 80,000 OU fans go silent watching their team lose for only the second time ever at home under Bob Stoops.

Other games of note are Kenny Rogers perfect game, TCU vs Utah in Fort Worth in 2009 packed in like sardines to win 55-28, and TCU vs BYU in Provo in 2009 winning 38-7.

where Ricky broke the NCAA rushing record. The only real resistance on the big run came appropriately from Dat, another one of my favorite college players. Fun thing to witness, but alas it wasn’t all that great a game, just a great spectacle for a Texas student & fan.

My baseball favorites are the Hamilton walkoff against K-Rod over the head of Vlad; and the Kinsler cycle game. The Hamilton walkoff was a great game, the Kinsler cycle was not a great game, but it sure was fun to watch.

Great experience, but man, it sucked to lose that game.

Other memorable games:

- The Stars knocking San Jose out of the 1st round the year after winning the Cup. I also attended their first ever practice in Texas.

- San Antonio vs. Frisco, the final game of the Texas League championship, with San Antonio winning

- FC Dallas’ playoff loss to Colorado in 2006 (followed by FCD goalkeeper Dario Sala punching out a Rapids player), and their Open Cup final loss in 2007 to New England

- Danny Darwin’s first ever start as a Ranger

Nov. 24, 2007: Missouri 36, Kansas 28. Totally worth braving the cold to see Mizzou break up Kansas’ perfect season, become No. 1 in the nation and win the Big XII North. When Mizzou sacked Todd Reesing to seal the game, I’m not sure I’ve ever jumped higher.

Jan. 16, 2006: Missouri 89, Kansas 86 (OT). Mizzou’s season is eventually going to be lost — finishing 12-16, losing in the first round of the Big XII Tournament, Quin Snyder in his death throes — yet Mizzou pulls out an insane comeback. Trailing by seven with 30 second left, Mizzou manages to come all the way back to tie it. Thomas Gardner drops 40 — his career high — and MU pulls off a minor miracle. Still the only Mizzou basketball game my brother has ever attended.

i have a pretty good basis for comparison

cool but not exciting – dallas cowboys in london and in mexico city

cool, exciting but no real interest in outcome – mlb all star game at bp in arlington

cool, exciting and a lot of fun – three super bowls, nolan ryan 5000th, first home game at bp in arlington

but the best event(s) – without question heavyweight fights in vegas when boxing meant something. bowe, holyfield, tyson… for a few years in the 90s, there was nothing better than attending hw fights in las vegas. most memorable was probably the worst – fan man stopping action for an eternity while in the very cold outdoor arena at ceasar’s.

In Lubbock. A&M was ranked #6 to start the sesason and #5 coming into the game. I was on the sidelines as a Saddle Tramp for the final 3 minutes of the game. Tech pulls off an amazing upset and the first of many (unfortunate) goal post tear downs under Mike Leach. That was back when the fans weren’t used to winning and any beating of UT or A&M was worthy of tearing down the goal posts. The fans have grown used to pulling those wins out the last 5 years and leave the goal posts and storming the field alone, except when Tech beats the #1 team in the nation in ’08. : )

Was the coolest game I’ve ever been to. The pandamonium that ensued following that hit was something I will never forget. Ironically, the relatively small crowd (it was a day game, a Wednesday I believe) and the fact that I went by myself and had to hug complete strangers made it even more memorable.

The Ballpark was so loud (without even taking into account the attendance) and I was still amped up hours after the game. A close second for me was Stars/Sharks 2008 playoffs game 6 (the 4OT game). It was an amazing atmosphere – we were in the upper deck in the defensive zone and we stood throughout all the overtimes, as did pretty much everyone else in attendance. Also, TCU/Utah this past year was by far the best football game I’ve ever gone to, and it would be my top game experience if TCU won in a closer game. The way the Carter was buzzing an hour before the game and increased from there was awesome, and the place was absolutely packed (we really crammed everyone in to the student section!)

Went to the All-Star Home Run Derby in Arlington. It was awesome for a 15 y/o kid that loved baseball. I was just walking around that stadium trying my hardest to get in an area where Albert Belle or Frank Thomas would launch one. No dice, but very cool anyway.

We had seats in the upper bowl on the UT 30-yd. line or so, on the non-press box side, That whole game was back and forth, electric, intense, and so, so satisfying, especially as a former UT student and band member. Not to mention the whole aspect of the State Fair, and the weather was absolutely perfect.

By far the coolest game I’ve ever seen in person.

Texas 41
USC 38

Sports tears my friends, sports tears

at Fenway Park when Pedro threw Zimmer to the ground. It happened pretty early in the game, third or fourth inning, I think, and they stopped beer sales right then.

Also, the 2004 Super Bowl in Houston was pretty cool. The game came down to the wire, Janet Jackson’s boob fell out and the streaker appeared just before the second half kickoff.

Went to the Big 12 Championship and National Championship this year, but as great as the big 12 championship was for this TX fan, I still have to say TX/OU from 2 years ago. Just an amazing back and forth game