Your coolest sports experiences

[Homer Bailey]

This thread idea came to me after reading the "Sports Bucket List" thread. What are the coolest sports experiences in your lifetime? Basically, what have you already crossed off your bucket list? Great chance for us all to brag about our stories and experiences. I figure that RZ will have plenty of great stories to share.

Some of mine:

1. Attended a WVU final 4 game (WVU lost obviously).

2. Attended the 2006 Sugar Bowl (WVU 38 - UGA 35)

3. Attended the 2008 Fiesta Bowl (WVU 48 - Oklahoma 28)

4. Attended the 2010 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach

5. Attended the OSU/UM game in 2001 (year OSU won the title).

6. Attended WVU @ Auburn in 2009 (I had never been to an SEC stadium. Will also be going to the WVU/LSU game in Death Valley this year).

7. Played Muirfield Village Golf Club 3 times.

8. Played Scioto Country Club 4 times.

9. Played Riviera (L.A.) once.

10. Attended the Memorial tournament about 13 times.

11. Attended the 2008 MNC (OSU-Florida)


Used to work at a golf course that Kent Mercker was a member of, and used to chat baseball with him for hours about baseball stories. Guy has some absolute doozies. Phil Mickelson is a friend of my uncles, so I've gotten to talk to him a few times over the years. A few years back, Fil3232 and I threw back many a beer with former British Open champ Todd Hamilton at a local establishment in Dublin, and I whooped him in pool 3 times. We followed him the next round and he told me to come back to the bar that night, and this time we were going to play for some money! We ended up not going back that night. I don't have too many cool athlete-interaction stories.

I'm sure I'll think of more things I've done, but that's all I've got for now. Let's hear yours!

[MWM]

Had an on-field pass for Game 1 of the 2006 World Series in Detroit. Was there watching batting practice and rubbing shoulders with players and media personaliies. Got to meet Ernie Harwell and Jon Miller and was interviewed by MLB.

Also got to spend an afternoon hanging out with Tony Gwynn a few years back. Super nice guy and one of the funniest people I've met.

[westofyou]

Just a few

1971 AS Game
1972 Tigers clinch AL east
1972 Joe Coleman K's 15 in playoffs
1975 Every Home UM game
1976 - Game 2 World series
1978 - Stingers season tickets - watching a dieing league is interesting
1981 - Freezer Bowl
1988 - Bo Knows baseball - oakland
1989 - Rowdy Roddy vs The macho man
1996 - Schilling vs Maddux - 2 hour 2-1 game

[Boston Red]

Wimbledon "People's Sunday" in 2004 (likely the last one ever). Spent the night in the park for the right to sit four rows off Centre Court to watch Serena Williams, Roger Federer and Tim Henman play. Also snuck to an outside court to watch Martina Navratilova play doubles.

[bucksfan2]

1. Playing St. Andrews
2. Playing Pebble Beach
3. Playing Carnoustie
4. Playing Torrey Pines
5. Playing Turnburry
6. Attending the 2002 OSU Michigan game.
7. Going to Wrigley to watch the Reds play. Ended up staying in the same hotel as the Reds and got my picture taken with Barry Larkin
8. Went to a game at Fenway the same day Boston clinched the division in 2008. Talk about an atmosphere
9. Skiing the Birds of Prey run.

[BuckWild03]

By far my greatest sports experience was attending the Game of the Century (2006 Ohio State/Michigan game) when Ohio State won 42-39. I was a student at the time.

I Stormed the field with everyone else and stared up at 105,000 people who had all witnessed the same thing that I had. It was a very surreal moment.

This was the last game with real grass so everyone was tearing up the field.

During the senior introductions before the game, I got the heisman chant going through the south end zone student section for Troy Smith.

Number 2 on the list would probably be my first baseball game with my dad when I was little. Got to meet Pete Rose and got his autograph. Even to this day, when you walk through that tunnel, and see the field and all the players...it's awesome.

I attended the infamous "Bush Push" game in 2005. My girlfriend went to school there and got me tickets about 3 rows up in the student section. I wore my buckeyes jersey to the game so whenever it is on ESPN classic you can see me in my white amongst a sea of yellow Notre Dame students. Before the game, some USC guys offered me $800 bucks for my ticket. I was tempted to say the least but I'm glad I kept it and saw what was an amazing game.

Next would be meeting Allen Iverson and getting his autograph at a Cavs/Sixers game during his rookie season.

I've also toured Daytona International Speedway. Got to ride around the track so that was pretty cool. I also met Rusty Wallace and got his autograph. He was always my favorite driver.

So to recap:
1. Game of the Century--2006 Ohio State/Michigan game
2. First Reds game with Dad--Met Pete Rose
3. The Bush Push
4. Meeting Allen Iverson
5. Daytona Int'l Speedway and meeting Rusty Wallace

This year, through my alumni tickets for Ohio State, I was lucky enough to get the Ohio State/Miami game so hopefully I will be able to add that to this list come September.

[Redsfan320]

Was there for the Tuesday night game @ home against the Phillies this season, the one where we ended up losing with about a billion errors in the 10th, Stubbs was afraid of the wall, and Rhodes' streak ended, BUT that was after Votto hit the 3-run shot in the 9th to tie it up. As the Reds were down by 3 heading into the 9th, me and my dad moved from our View Level seats down to standing behind the field level seats. You could hear Votto kill it, and the place was electric. It was awesome. Not on near as grand a scale as some things on here, but still amazing!!

320

[BuckeyeRed27]

By far my best was the "Holy Buckeye" game which was OSU vs. Purdue in 2002.

OSU/UM games in 2002, 2005 and 2006 were also all very cool.

I was at the Adam Dunn walk off grand slam game which was the coolest thing I have ever seen at a baseball game.

I went to the UCLA/USC game in 2006 when UCLA upset USC at the Rose Bowl and kept them from going to the NCG.

[savafan]

In 1988, I was with my family visiting my grandpa in the hospital. Hospital rooms always gave me a funny feeling, and I had a tendency to pass out in them, so I went down to the snack room in the lobby where they had vending machines and a TV. I can almost remember this plain as day. My dad came down and bought me some banana bread and fruit out of the vending machine so I'd have something in my stomach. There was a Reds vs. Expos game on the television, and I believe Johnny Bench was doing the announcing.

In walked this oldtimer, and he sat at a table by himself for a while with a newspaper listening to my dad and I talk about the game. Eventually, he came over to the table and asked if he could join us. He told us his name was Arthur, which was the same name as my grandpa that we were visiting in the hospital, and if I liked baseball. I said that I did, and he told us that he had played for the Cubs back in 1923, and then proceeded to entertain us with stories about baseball from a time long before I was born.

He may have been an old crazy man who was just lying to us, I don't know, but his stories were fascinating, and gave me a timeless perspective on the game. I'll never forget that.

[westofyou]

In 1988, I was with my family visiting my grandpa in the hospital. Hospital rooms always gave me a funny feeling, and I had a tendency to pass out in them, so I went down to the snack room in the lobby where they had vending machines and a TV. I can almost remember this plain as day. My dad came down and bought me some banana bread and fruit out of the vending machine so I'd have something in my stomach. There was a Reds vs. Expos game on the television, and I believe Johnny Bench was doing the announcing.

In walked this oldtimer, and he sat at a table by himself for a while with a newspaper listening to my dad and I talk about the game. Eventually, he came over to the table and asked if he could join us. He told us his name was Arthur, which was the same name as my grandpa that we were visiting in the hospital, and if I liked baseball. I said that I did, and he told us that he had played for the Cubs back in 1923, and then proceeded to entertain us with stories about baseball from a time long before I was born.

He may have been an old crazy man who was just lying to us, I don't know, but his stories were fascinating, and gave me a timeless perspective on the game. I'll never forget that.
Only 5 Cubs from 1923 lived past 1988, 2 died before spring in 1988, one in 1989 and then there was one guy who lived until 1997.. his real name was Arthur.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/weisbu01.shtml

[NorrisHopper30]

UC @ Pitt football game last year in Dec

[savafan]

Only 5 Cubs from 1923 lived past 1988, 2 died before spring in 1988, one in 1989 and then there was one guy who lived until 1997.. his real name was Arthur.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/weisbu01.shtml

Interesting find. The face of the gentleman, who definitely appeared to be in his 80's, was very weathered and wrinkled, but as it was burned into my memory as a child, I can see some resemblance to that young ballplayer pictured there and the old man who sat across from my father and I at the table. I think I'm inclined now to believe it was all true.

[reds44]

I was 15 when I attended this game, and I have a hard time believing it will ever be topped.

YouTube - Illinois/Arizona '05 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTbE4eC-AIc)

[Caveat Emperor]

I was at Yankee Stadium this game: http://www.baseball-almanac.com/boxscore/07181999.shtml

They honored Yogi Berra (for "Yogi Berra Day") before the game, and Don Larsen threw out the first pitch.

David Cone took it from there.

[Roy Tucker]

I think my coolest sports experience was when the Reds won game 3 and clinched the Division Series against the Dodgers in 1995.

We had our old season ticket seats at Riverfront/Cinergy so we were 4 rows back from the Reds dugout and right next to Marge Schott. Mark Lewis hit a grand slam to win the game and I saw Dodger owner Peter O'Malley come down the aisle and congratulate Marge. Sitting just down the row from us was then-governor George Voinovich.

The coolest part was that I was with my then-7 yr. old son and he was just drinking it all in. His eyes were THIS big the whole game and he was thrilled beyond words.

After the game, we saw and heard all the Reds on the field with the their post-game celebrating and we stood behind the dugout and watched all the TV lights and cameras and NBC guys do the post-game interviews. It was so cool because we felt like we were right in the middle of it all.

I remember telling my son (who is now 22) to not get used to all the success since it doesn't come along often. Unfortunately, I think that was the last post-season game the Reds have won up to now. It was the Roy kiss of death.

[OldRightHander]

Game 2 of the '76 Series against the Yanks. I was quite young, so memories are a bit hazy. I was also at game 2 of the NLCS against Pittsburgh in '90. There's no topping playoff games.

I've been at quite a few memorable games over the years. I was at Milwaukee County Stadium when the Reds spanked the Brewers and David Weathers went deep a few years back. I'll also remember the Randa walkoff on Opening Day.

The last couple years I've been able to catch a few games at other parks and going to a new park is always a treat. Eventually I hope to catch all of them.

[Benihana]

5. Attended the OSU/UM game in 2001 (year OSU won the title).


I was at that game too. But, I also...

1. Attended the OSU/UM game in 1997 (year MICHIGAN won the title) :cool:
2. Attended the 1997 Rose Bowl - UM beats Ryan Leaf and Washington St. to win the National Championship.
3. Attended the UM 2OT victory in the 2000 Orange Bowl over Shaun Alexander's Alabama team.
4. Attended the 1996 UC Basketball Sweet 16 victory over Stephon Marbury's Georgia Tech team at Rupp Arena- maybe the best sports atmosphere I've ever seen
5. Attended Games 1, 2, and 6 of the 1990 Pennant and Games 1 and 2 of the World Series. No big deal. :cool:
6. Attended Reds away games at Wrigley, Old Yankee Stadium, Citi Field, Shea Stadium, Miller Park, and Jacobs Field.
7. Attended Bengals away games at Pro Player, Raymond James, and Soldier Field.
8. Attended the 2008 Harvard-Yale football game. Coldest sporting event I've ever been to.
9. Attended Game 7 of the 2007 Chicago Bulls-Detroit Pistons Eastern Conference Semifinals at the United Center.
10. Attended 18 (I think) Reds' Opening Days


Games I'm not proud to have attended:

1. The 2005 Bengal Playoff Game aka the Carson Palmer Catastrophe
2. Games 1 and 2 of the 1995 NLCS aka the Reggie Sanders Nightmare
3. The 2001 OSU/UM game (see above)
4. The 1996 UC Basketball Elite 8 loss to Mississippi State at Rupp Arena
5. The 1999 UC Basketball second round upset loss to Temple at the Boston Gardens

Games I probably should have, but am glad that I did NOT attend:

1. The 2007 OSU/UM #1 vs. #2 game
2. The 2010 Bengal Playoff Game upset loss to the Jets
3. Every disappointing second round loss for the Bearcats, and the 2010 Sugar Bowl. What a debacle.

[Kingspoint]

Have to agree with some that my favorite sports experiences are sitting at minor league ballparks listening to ex-major leaguers (from the 30's and 40's many years ago, and from the 50's and 60's today) telling baseball stories.

[will5979]

1. Seeing Dale Jr. win Daytona Pepsi 400 which was the next race at that track after Dale Sr. was killed.

2. Game 6 of 1990 NLCS, 2-1 Reds win, we go to the World Series.

3. Sugar Bowl 2006 WVU vs. UGA, we actually win our BCS games Bearcat fans!

4. Seeing Dale Sr. race at Daytona the year he won his 7th Championship.

5. Dale Sr. race against Dale Jr. July 2000.

6. Game 3 of 1995 NLDS, 10-1 Reds win over Nomo.

7. 2008 Car Care Bowl WVU vs. UNC.

8. Game 2 of the 1990 NLCS, 2-1 Reds win.

9. 2009 Backyard Brawl, beating sPitt on a last minute field goal with a freshman kicker was huge.

10. WrestleMania VIII Jake Roberts vs. Undertaker, Piper vs. Bret Hart, Flair vs. Savage, and Hogan vs. Sid.

[bucksfan2]

HoBail.

OSU won the National Championship during the 2002 season. The game was played in Jan of 2003.

Benihana

The #1 OSU #2 UM was played in 2006. It was on the BTN last night and I couldn't help but watch it. Probably one of my favorite games ever!

[KOBasinger]

SteAlers @ Bengals game in 09. One of the best comebacks ever.

Bengals @ Redskins game in 04.

Freel's diving catch to rob Albert Pujols.

David Ross walk-off home run.

Opening Day in 2008.

Just went to Wrigley a couple weeks ago when they played the Reds.

When I was real young my dad took me to my first Buckeyes football game. Amazing atmosphere. Must go again.

[15fan]

Living in Atlanta for the 96 Olympics. Saw an event on 11 of the 16 days.

Michigan @ Ohio State 2002.

I had the fortune of going to college at the same time as Rodney Rogers, Tim Duncan and Randolph Childress, so I've got a lot of great college basketball memories.

But nothing, and I mean nothing, compares to being in a mostly empty Jacksonville Stadium on a dreary day in early December 2006 for this game (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=263360059).

[Boston Red]

But nothing, and I mean nothing, compares to being in a mostly empty Jacksonville Stadium on a dreary day in early December 2006 for this game (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=263360059).

I attended Wake's next game. As a Louisville fan, I liked that better.

[Roy Tucker]

Forgot one.

I went to the IU-UK 1975 NCAA regional finals at UD Arena. UK won 92-90. Probably the best basketball game I've ever attended.

IU was 31-0 going into the game and their next year would be their undefeated season. IU was Scott May (I think he played with a broken wrist), Kent Benson, et al and UK was Rick Robey, Mike Phillips, Kevin Grevey, et al. UK had a stellar record as well.

Great game that just went back and forth for the whole game. We sat between the UK and IU bands and they played non-stop. Great college game and great atmosphere. I think UK ultimately lost in the NCAA finals to UCLA.

[Jefferson24]

Games I was at:

Homer Bailey's first game
2003 Iowa / Michigan football, Iowa homecoming, Iowa won 30-27

[SunDeck]

4192

[Homer Bailey]

3. Sugar Bowl 2006 WVU vs. UGA, we actually win our BCS games Bearcat fans!

7. 2008 Car Care Bowl WVU vs. UNC.

9. 2009 Backyard Brawl, beating sPitt on a last minute field goal with a freshman kicker was huge.


Was there for all of those. Unfortunately, was also there on 12/1/07. I'm still not over that game. Probably never will be.


HoBail.

OSU won the National Championship during the 2002 season. The game was played in Jan of 2003.



I screw up college football years all the time.


Games I was at:

Homer Bailey's first game


Was there for that as well. That was pretty awesome.

Also forgot I got to see Clemens win 350 in old Yankee stadium. Also got to see Rivera close that one.

Another cool experience was seeing Hoffman close a game at Petco and come out to Hell's Bells. Truly gave me chills.

[macro]

In the pits and garage at numerous NASCAR Winston Cup (now called Sprint Cup, of course) events, rubbing shoulders and eating meals with drivers, owners, and pit crews.

[SunDeck]

Rijo's comeback night was pretty cool. Forgot I was at that one.

[Caveat Emperor]

I've got a number of experiences at sporting events that I consider to be "cool" for personal reasons, but that I'm sure don't even register as blips on the radar screen for normal people:

- Managed to sneak into the 2001 SEC Championship game, where LSU backup QB Matt Mauck brought a #21 LSU squad back from a 7 point halftime deficit to beat the BCS #2 then-undefeated Tennessee Vols 31-20. Tennessee fans were already booking rooms for the national title game that year.

- Saw the University of Toledo beat a #9 ranked Pitt Panthers team. Toledo's QB, then-unknwown Bruce Gradkowski, was 49-62 for 461 yards (15 of those to also then-unknown Lance Moore for 162 yards) and 3 TDs. One of the more exciting college games I've ever attended.

- Saw the same Bruce Gradkowski, playing for my NFL favorite Tampa Bay, beat the Bengals in the first (and only) game I'd ever attended at Raymond James Stadium. I was born in Tampa, been a lifelong fan of the Buccaneers, but had never been to a game at their new stadium (we moved from Tampa long before it was built). I got tickets to the Bucs / Bengals game as a birthday gift, and went with 3 of my friends. Pretty amazing experience.

[freestyle55]

Happy Valley for JoePa's record breaking win against OSU, watched PSU come back from a 27-9 deficit to give Joe Paterno sole possession of the CFB career wins record.

Opening Day 2003 in GABP.

Yankees game in which Ruben Sierra hit a HR in the bottom of the 9th to win the game 1-0.

BGSU vs. Central Florida - Daunte Culpepper came to Bowling Green and seemed larger than his lineman...

Reds vs. Brewers in 2008 when they hit 7 home runs (Bruce and Votto played "Anything you can do, I can do better")

Visits to Notre Dame, Michigan, and OSU on game days (games @ ND and UM)

Bengals vs. Ravens in 2005 where the Bengals went up 34 - 0 at one point (Chad did the end zone marker putt IIRC)

[edabbs44]

Saw Game 7 of the ALCS where the Yanks lost to the BoSox after being up 3-0. As someone who was at the height of their Yankee hatred, this was awesome. I felt like Cartman after Scott Tennerman ate his parents.

Wrestlemania 1 was also a huge milestone when I was young. Tremendous experience.

Oh, and after a Cincy game a few years back, my wife and I got hammered at 5th and Vine and O'Malley's with a Nats scout and Jim Hickey, the then pitching coach for Houston. Very cool night talking baseball with these guys. The scout was extremely nice but Hickey left a little to be desired.

[Benihana]

Benihana

The #1 OSU #2 UM was played in 2006. It was on the BTN last night and I couldn't help but watch it. Probably one of my favorite games ever!

You're right, my bad. Tried to block it out I guess :cool:



- Saw the same Bruce Gradkowski, playing for my NFL favorite Tampa Bay, beat the Bengals in the first (and only) game I'd ever attended at Raymond James Stadium. I was born in Tampa, been a lifelong fan of the Buccaneers, but had never been to a game at their new stadium (we moved from Tampa long before it was built). I got tickets to the Bucs / Bengals game as a birthday gift, and went with 3 of my friends. Pretty amazing experience.



Bengals @ Redskins game in 04.

I was at those two as well. 2 of the 4 times I've seen the Bengals play at another team's stadium- random.

[Razor Shines]

I was sitting on the Pacers bench for this:

YouTube - Reggie Miller Game Winner vs.Celtics (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toDl8B7v0hU&feature=related)

Right before the play started Jalen Rose yelled down at Derrick Mckey (who was inbounding the ball) to "fake him in the nuts". And I spilled water on Dale Davis during the time out.

[OldRightHander]

I watched bp from the upper deck at Wrigley...while sitting there talking baseball with Harry Caray. He had some stories. That was just a few months before he died.

[dabvu2498]

Forgot one.

I went to the IU-UK 1975 NCAA regional finals at UD Arena. UK won 92-90. Probably the best basketball game I've ever attended.

IU was 31-0 going into the game and their next year would be their undefeated season. IU was Scott May (I think he played with a broken wrist), Kent Benson, et al and UK was Rick Robey, Mike Phillips, Kevin Grevey, et al. UK had a stellar record as well.

Great game that just went back and forth for the whole game. We sat between the UK and IU bands and they played non-stop. Great college game and great atmosphere. I think UK ultimately lost in the NCAA finals to UCLA.


My dad and uncle were at that game and I've heard about it so much, I feel like I was there, even though I was still 6 months away from being born.

Supposedly Joe Hall's pregame speech was "ladder, scissors, net, bridge, state troopers" or something like that. I've heard him tell that story, but it's been a long time.

Edit: Box score and game story can be found here: http://bigbluehistory.net/bb/statistics/Games/19750322Indiana.html

As to mine, it's my 15th birthday. Game 2 of the 1990 NLCS. My mom (not dad... mom) signed me out of school early to go to the ballpark. The weather was great and the Reds won.

[cumberlandreds]

Forgot one.

I went to the IU-UK 1975 NCAA regional finals at UD Arena. UK won 92-90. Probably the best basketball game I've ever attended.

IU was 31-0 going into the game and their next year would be their undefeated season. IU was Scott May (I think he played with a broken wrist), Kent Benson, et al and UK was Rick Robey, Mike Phillips, Kevin Grevey, et al. UK had a stellar record as well.

Great game that just went back and forth for the whole game. We sat between the UK and IU bands and they played non-stop. Great college game and great atmosphere. I think UK ultimately lost in the NCAA finals to UCLA.

That's my favorite UK game of all time. It was a big revenge game for UK. Earlier that season IU pummeled UK in Bloomington by about 25 points. Also that was thegame Knight gave Joe B Hall a slap or cuff to the back of his head during the game. It was probably a big turnaround for that team that season because that game made them a lot tougher. I watched the NCAA game at home with my dad and uncle who was in visiting and was a big UK fan too. I think most everyone was expecting another IU blowout. Just a great game to watch and loved watching Knight stopmped off the floor after the game not shaking hands with anyone.

My list is short of actual game experiences but here it is:

1. 1988 All Star Game in Cincy. Just a great atmosphere to be in.

2. 1982 SEC Tournament in Lexington. The SEC Tourney wasn't as big then as now so I'm sure it wasn't as big a deal to most. But still very neat to see all the teams and their fans come in.

3. July 1,1973 doubleheader Reds/Dodgers. The turnaround games for that season for the Reds. Probably one of the best days of my childhood too. It was banner day and I got to walk on the field between games. Just an awesome experience for a 10 year old kid.

[Homer Bailey]

Can't believe I forgot this story when I started this thread. A lot of my friends refuse to believe it, and I don't care if you believe it or not, but I SWEAR that every single word of this story is true.

When I was in 7th grade (year 2002), I was attending a practice round at the Memorial tournament, and was attempting to follow Tiger Woods. This was right in the beginning of "Tigermania", and he had an absolutely huge crowd, even though it was a practice round. Anyways, I skipped ahead two holes, and waited in between the 10th green and the 11th tee to try to get an autograph on my program. I waited, and waited. As I waited, the crowd grew around me. Tiger putted out on 10, and began his walk towards 11. I had my blue sharpie out, and my program ready. As Tiger comes, so does EVERYONE else following him. I get bombarded by people trying to get up to the front where I was. People are reaching over top of me, to the left of me, to the right of me. I've never felt so claustrophobic. My blue sharpie cap is off, and my arms are extended out into the walkway. However, at this point, my arms are stuck because so many people are trying to reach around me. I lose my hat in the fray. I can barely even see Tiger as he walks by. But I did feel him.

After the fray, I walk back to the top of the hill behind the tee box, and meet back up with my friends.

"Did you get it? Did you get it?"

"No. But guys, I think I just wrote on Tiger Woods."

"What? What are you talking about?"

Sure enough, we look over at the tee box, and see Tiger and his then-coach Butch Harmon examining a 7"-9" blue streak across his white shirt from his left pectorl to his left bicep. We started dying laughing.

To this day, I do not have a Tiger Woods autograph, but by God, he has mine.

As an epilogue, I told this story to my parents when I got home, and I'm pretty sure they didn't believe me. Later that evening, we were sitting in the kitchen eating dinner, and the news played a short clip from the practice round, that showed Tiger getting his ball out of the hole on the 18th green. Sure enough, as he stood up, the big blue streak showed up on camera as clear as day.

[KOBasinger]

Can't believe I forgot this story when I started this thread. A lot of my friends refuse to believe it, and I don't care if you believe it or not, but I SWEAR that every single word of this story is true.

When I was in 7th grade (year 2002), I was attending a practice round at the Memorial tournament, and was attempting to follow Tiger Woods. This was right in the beginning of "Tigermania", and he had an absolutely huge crowd, even though it was a practice round. Anyways, I skipped ahead two holes, and waited in between the 10th green and the 11th tee to try to get an autograph on my program. I waited, and waited. As I waited, the crowd grew around me. Tiger putted out on 10, and began his walk towards 11. I had my blue sharpie out, and my program ready. As Tiger comes, so does EVERYONE else following him. I get bombarded by people trying to get up to the front where I was. People are reaching over top of me, to the left of me, to the right of me. I've never felt so claustrophobic. My blue sharpie cap is off, and my arms are extended out into the walkway. However, at this point, my arms are stuck because so many people are trying to reach around me. I lose my hat in the fray. I can barely even see Tiger as he walks by. But I did feel him.

After the fray, I walk back to the top of the hill behind the tee box, and meet back up with my friends.

"Did you get it? Did you get it?"

"No. But guys, I think I just wrote on Tiger Woods."

"What? What are you talking about?"

Sure enough, we look over at the tee box, and see Tiger and his then-coach Butch Harmon examining a 7"-9" blue streak across his white shirt from his left pectorl to his left bicep. We started dying laughing.

To this day, I do not have a Tiger Woods autograph, but by God, he has mine.

As an epilogue, I told this story to my parents when I got home, and I'm pretty sure they didn't believe me. Later that evening, we were sitting in the kitchen eating dinner, and the news played a short clip from the practice round, that showed Tiger getting his ball out of the hole on the 18th green. Sure enough, as he stood up, the big blue streak showed up on camera as clear as day.

That is awesome! haha great story

[reds44]

I love this thread, I'm going to add a few more of mine.

-As a 14 year old, I watched my beloved Northern Illinois Huskies lead by Michael Turner defeat #14 Maryland, the highest ranked team they have ever beaten, in overtime. Next to the Illinois/Arizona game, this has to be my favorite.
YouTube - Northern Illinois Upsets Maryland (2003) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72ZF8T90klc)

Then after traveling to see them lose games at Iowa State, Michigan, Northwestern, Iowa (twice), Minnesota, and Wisconsin (twice) I finally got to see them upset another BCS opponent last year. The NIU fans at this game were LOUD.
YouTube - Northern Illinois at Purdue (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHCEUNs8gtE)

[15fan]

I attended Wake's next game. As a Louisville fan, I liked that better.

I was there, too. Good game. Bummed at the outcome, but I still find it hard to comprehend that my school was in a BCS game. Kinda like watching Northwestern in the Rose Bowl or Butler in the NCAA title game. Did it really happen?

A few others:

* 1990 Liberty Bowl (http://www.nytimes.com/1990/12/28/sports/college-football-air-force-stays-on-ground-to-win-liberty-bowl.html). I grew up an Ohio State fan, but I was pulling for Air Force that night. Air Force Sr. LB Brian Hill was game MVP. He was OSU trainer Billy Hill's son. It was the only time Billy got to see him play in person in college.

Brian went to my HS. I was a HS Sr. at the time. After the game, my uncle who wrote for the Memphis paper, got me down on the field. I had on my HS letter jacket, and I got to talk to Brian for about 30 seconds while he was still in uniform on the field after his final college football game.

* Reds won the 90 Series my Sr. year of HS. My dad (in very un-dad-like fashion) pulled me out of school so that we could drive down for the Fountain Square parade. Always the early bird, my dad made sure that we were the first fans in the Square. Literally. We set up shop before anyone else was there. I was in the front row for Chris Sabo's victory celebration tirade about the A's.

* During the mid-70s, my family went to a Reds-Padres game in Cincinnati. I was probably about 5 or 6 at the time. Got there when the gates opened to watch batting practice, infield practice, etc. My dad & I walked down to the railing next to the visitor's bullpen and watched Rollie Fingers work out. When he was done, Fingers walked over to me, asked my dad for a pen, and autographed the ball for me. If I could grow facial hair, I'd grow a Rollie Fingers stache.

* Watched in person as George Foster homered in his first game back in Cincinnati after going to the Mets. I cheered. Loudly.

* 9/22/04 - Reds vs. Braves (http://espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=240922115). It was epic. Anderson Machado scored on his own bunt in the 4th inning (3 runs total on the play), and John Smoltz gave up 5 runs in the 9th to blow a save.

* Saw a game in Tiger Stadium in then-owner Tom Monaghan's "luxury" box. Only time I have ever worn dress slacks and a sports coat to a sporting event.

[RedsManRick]

1. Attended the 1995 Rose Bowl. PSU capped a 12-0 season with a drubbing of Oregon, punctuated by an 80 TD run by Ki-Jana Carter on the 2nd play.

2. The Bengals trading up to #1 to draft Ki-Jana was pretty darn awesome for me. I was living in State College and was a huge Nittany Lion fan. If only his knees had held out.

3. 1995 "Snow Bowl" between Michigan and PSU. It snowed 18" on Wednesday. 100's of volunteers cleared out the stadium, but there was still snow everywhere. Joe-Pa had two personal fouls called against him for people throwing snowballs at Michigan players. Me and a buddy meanwhile (age 13) were pelting a stupid, fat, shirtless Michigan fan 15 rows below us who decided to make himself a target.

4. 2003 - 23rd ranked Wisconsin (where I was a Junior) beats #3 and defending national champion OSU 17-10 when Lee Evans burns Chris Gamble late in the 4th quarter. Our starting quarterback, Jim Sorgi, had been knocked out of the game with a throat injury when an OSU linebacker tried to strangle him after a play.

5. Reds/Cubs in 2000. My first game at Wrigley and Sean Casey takes my pen, signs a dozen autographs for other people, gives it back, and starts to head back to the dugout. After a few steps, he turns back and signs my hat, flashing me a classic Mayor grin.

6. 2001 Twins/As double header. Both games went in to extras and a young reliever named Johan Santana pitched 5+ innings in relief in the 2nd game. We got to the park at noon and didn't go home until midnight.

[Roy Tucker]

1970 All Star game

Seeing Leo Durocher windmill Pete Rose around third base and flatten Ray Fosse to win the game was completely awesome. The buzz of everyone walking out of the game was absolutely tremendous. It was quite the moment.

Plus, as a 17 yr. old long hair hippie, I got to boo Richard Nixon.

[edabbs44]

Here's another for me...

I'm a Falcons fan and they were rolling in 1998. So I got a bunch of guys together and went to the Sunday night Falcs/Giants at Giants Stadium. All day tailgate, Falcs crush them, an all around great day.

So after the game we hit the pub at the hotel next to Giants Stadium and Paul McGuire was drinking at the bar. A friend of mine is a huge Titans fan and they were pretty good that year also. So we walk up to McGuire and my friend asks him who's better: The Titans or the Falcs. After McGuire says "After tonight, you'd have to say Atlanta", he looks him right in the face, points his finger at him and yells "You don't know what the F you're talking about". The whole bar went silent and we just dragged him away.

An absolute classic.

[smith288]

Was a Columbus clippers batboy in he 90s when jeter, pettite, posada and rivera were all there.

Very fun times

[RichRed]

I've got a number of experiences at sporting events that I consider to be "cool" for personal reasons, but that I'm sure don't even register as blips on the radar screen for normal people:


Mine are like that. Probably the best one was when my alma mater, James Madison, beat 3-time defending I-AA champs - and my wife's alma mater - Appalachian State in 2008. In doing so, they avenged a heartbreaking loss to App State in the playoffs the previous year, 28-27, when a JMU RB fumbled at the 10-yard line as the team was trying to position itself for the game-winning FG.

But this time, JMU trailed 21-0 at halftime and ended up winning 35-32 in front of the largest ever home crowd at the time - a whopping 17,163 people. Scotty McGee, who was just drafted by the Jaguars in April and is the nicest kid you could ever meet, returned the opening kickoff 99 yards for a TD. Then on JMU's first offensive play of the half, QB Rodney Landers (had a tryout with the Bucs but didn't make it) ran 62 yards for a TD. The lead went back and forth from there with the Dukes coming out on top.

Sure, it's not on the same scale as a Big 10 or SEC clash, but it was damn exciting nonetheless.

One of my other favorites was seeing the Reds play the Rangers the weekend of the RedsZone gathering - has that been 3 years ago already?? Got to hang out with a lot of great folks whose names I won't list in case I leave someone out, but they know who they are.

[freestyle55]

I love this thread, I'm going to add a few more of mine.

-As a 14 year old, I watched my beloved Northern Illinois Huskies lead by Michael Turner defeat #14 Maryland, the highest ranked team they have ever beaten, in overtime

Not to rain on your parade, but I did watch my alma mater, BGSU, defeat NIU at home when ESPN College Gameday came to our campus...it was a pretty big game at the time because both were ranked at the time.

[Hoosier Red]

I called Bob Knight's last IU victory for my campus radio station. Of course we didn't know it at the time.
IU beat Purdue by 15 on Senior night, then went on to lose a heartbreaker to Wisconsin in Madison, lost to Illinois in the BTT on a three from the corner by Corey Bradford, and then got trounced by Peppedine.

[Kingspoint]

While Jabbar was standing on the first step of the team bus and I was standing on the cement, I was looking right at his knees while getting his autograph. Then I went around to the other side of the bus and knocked on the last window. The guy opened it up and I got "Big O" for an autograph.

[top6]

I was at Tom Browning's perfect game with my dad. Will be tough to top that one for me (especially since it was with my dad) - unless we can go to a Reds World Series win or Bengals Super Bowl win.

I'm surprised nobody else (I don't think) has mentioned the Browning game. More people have probably told me they were there as well than were actually at the game total. But we really were there!

[reds44]

Not to rain on your parade, but I did watch my alma mater, BGSU, defeat NIU at home when ESPN College Gameday came to our campus...it was a pretty big game at the time because both were ranked at the time.
That game sucked lol