Best In-Person Sporting Event?
Another great question of the day from Dan Shanoff:
What was the greatest sporting event you ever saw live in-person?
For me, the top two contenders are easy. Picking just one is a little tougher.
Wings win the 1998 Cup for Vladdie vs. 2006 World Series
Essentially, I like hockey just a little more than I like baseball. However, as my first love, I think I get more emotional over baseball. Essentially, my dad took me to loads of Tiger games over the years, so there's a strong emotional connection to baseball games. But I've still never seen a Wings game in-person at the Joe. (Weird, I know.)
Still, just going to Game 1 of a World Series the Tigers eventually lost can't top being there the night your team wins it all. There's no better way to feel like you're a part of something bigger than yourself. That night remains one of the top 5 moments of my life.
Now, talk to me around Halloween, when I'm celebrating with a million Tiger fans in Hart Plaza. Might be a different story...
Several come to mind and not in any rank order:
I was at the NYG/Colts football overtime game in 1958, called by many the "greatest game ever played".
I was at MSG in 1964 to see Bill Bradley against Michigan -- one of the all time great performances on a basketball court. The UM team all came over and shook his hand when he fouled out.
Bradley's value to the team was underlined in the 1964 Holiday Festival Tournament, when he scored 41 points against the University of Michigan to give Princeton a 75-63 lead before fouling out with about 41/2 minutes to play. With Bradley on the bench, Michigan outscored Princeton 17-3 to win 80-78.
Was at Giants Stadium and saw Pele in one of his first US appearances -- he scored 4 goals in front of 70000!
Any game Todd and I went to!
The Frozen Four in Buffalo -- let's do that again!