26 June
2007

Sports Spectating Accomplishments

101 things all sports fans must experience before they die

The previously mentioned lost post has been resurrected from the dead...

After reading an article on ESPN's Page 2 written by Jim Caple entitled:
101 things all sports fans must experience before they die, I decided to see how I measured up.  9 out of 101 is NOT a good percentage.  I got most of those from simply attending UNC.  I decided to list my handful of accomplishments anyway.  Leave a comment on how many you have experienced out of the 101 listed sports events.  Now, for my list....

Experienced
19.  Duke/North Carolina basketball game.  Attending UNC for just over 4 years allowed me several opportunities to see this matchup, although I only attended the 1993 matchup.  I did sell my 1994 tickets for $200.
20.  The Stanley Cup Playoffs.  You may recall several blog entries documenting the Carolina Hurricanes quest for Lord Stanley's Cup last season.  If not, I have pictures too.
22.  Cubs game in the Wrigley bleachers.  In 2003, a rag tag bunch from North Carolina ventured to Chi-Town to watch the Cubs split 2 games with the Astros.  I was even able to walk on the field.
27.  Tailgating in the SEC.  In 1998, Abby took me to see LSU upset the then ranked #1 Florida Gators at Tiger Stadium.  Both the food and the football were top notch.
61.  Midnight Madness.  I have seen at least 4 Midnight Madnesses, if not more.  Luckily, I have not been to one since ESPN bastardized it.
63.  Camp out for tickets.  It seemed like I camped out for tickets every weekend my freshman year at UNC.
87.  "Monday Night Football".  Watched the Carolina Panthers host the San Fransisco 49ers in 1997, back when the geographically challenged NFL had both teams in the same division.  Could be the worst sporting event I have seen in person.
90.  Little League game.  Wasn't everyone forced to play at least one season of Little League as a child?  Seems fairly common for a list like this.
99.  A Harlem Globetrotters game.  Saw the 'Trotters at the old Charlotte Colosseum as a tyke.  I distinctly remember Twiggy Sanders stealing the show.

Close, but not quite
9.  Wimbledon.  I have been to Wimbledon, albeit in April not June or July.  I did not get to see any tennis matches, although the Wimbledon museum was surprisingly entertaining. (1991)
41.  An NBA game from courtside.  Back in 1997 I attended a Charlotte Hornets game with about 1,000 other fans, which allowed me the luxury of sitting rather close to the action, but not quite courtside. (They didn't hustle all that much)
96.  The All American Soap Box Derby.  I once saw the hill they use for racing in Akron, but without seeing the pomp, circumstance and the people, it was just a hill.  Not all that steep, if I remember correctly.

A Bit of a Stretch
-I attended the 2005 U.S. Open (golf) at Pinehust #2.  Following the odd logic in my mind, I consider that a combination of two items on the list:  the British Open and the U.S. Open in tennis.

Unique
-N.Y./N.J. Knights play the London Monarchs at Wembley Stadium for a World League of American Football game in 1991.  It may have been London's home opener.
-In 1993, I watched Ric Flair win the WCW/NWA Heavyweight Championship in Charlotte (also at the old Charlotte Colleseum) as part of Starrcade.  According to Flair's Wikipedia entry, Flair's victory made Hulk Hogan cry.
-Watched my high school compete in the North Carolina High School State Championships in both basketball (once, they lost) and football (3 times, they won once)
-I have seen a game at the old Durham Athletic Park, made famous by the movie, Bull Durham.  Watched a guy from the Frederick Keys blast a home run OVER the bull, then looking over his shoulder to show up me and my friends who had heckled him earlier. 


Posted by steve at 16:07 | Comments (5) | Trackbacks (0)
Re: Sports Spectating Accomplishments

I only made 7.. and failed horribly on the college basketball stuff.

1. Summer Olympics (Soccer in Atlanta)
2. World Series (Atlanta vs Yankees)
3. Stanley Cup (Hurricanes vs. Detroit and Edmenton)
4. Tailgating SEC (Go Dawgs)
5. MLB Opening Day (Atlanta tradition)
6. Little League Game
7. Harlem Globetrotters (I always pulled for the Generals)

Posted by: Shigas at July 03,2007 11:21
Re: Sports Spectating Accomplishments

Here's some events that I have been to that should be on the list:

Talladega 500 (fastest track in NASCAR)
A high school football game
My daughter's figure skating program
Superbowl of Motorcross

Some events not on the list that I would like to see:
Tour de France
Baja 500 off-road race
Iditarod

Posted by: Shigas at July 03,2007 11:33
Re: Sports Spectating Accomplishments

How's 7?

I got the following...
1) NCAA subregional game
2) Duke/UNC game (4 of them, all UNC victories - you have no soul if you sell these tickets)
3) Stanley Cup playoffs - awesome!
4) Cubs game in the bleachers
5) Midnight Madness - eh, I could take it or leave it - it's just so dang late!
6) Camp out for tickets - more times than I can remember
7) Little League games - I think this counts, I coached for a season, but it may have not been called Little League - maybe we'll say 6 1/2.

Of all the others on the list, I'd most want to go to a World Series game or maybe a Premier League soccer game.

Posted by: Ed at July 04,2007 11:26
Re: Sports Spectating Accomplishments

Only 7 for me...
#4--World Series, game 2, 2005
#5--NCAA subregional, 1998
#8--the Masters, 2007
#19--UNC-Duke games, 1995-1998
#22--Cubs game in bleachers, 2003
#64--Camping out for UNC tickets
#91--Little league games (many)

Posted by: Erica at July 09,2007 14:12
Re: Sports Spectating Accomplishments

actually, 8
forgot about #62, Midnight Madness, many times

Posted by: Erica at July 09,2007 14:14
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