Sports Spectating Accomplishments
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.