What is the biggest sporting event you have been to? [Archive]

A_C_Slater

01-11-2005, 06:47 PM

A WWF wrestling event back in the early 90's. The Main Event was a "body bag match" between the Undertaker and the Ultimate Warrior. The only way to win is to put your opponent in a body bag and zip it shut.

The Ultimate Warrior ended up putting the Undetaker's manager "Paul Bearer" into the body bag. Then, to my total bewilderment and seething rage the bell rung and they declared the Ultimate Warrior the winner! I felt ripped off. Doesn't the stipulations of the match mean anything?!

Professional Wrestling is more corrupt than pro boxing. /images/graemlins/mad.gif

kyro

01-11-2005, 06:48 PM

hmm, if you mean number of people, then Nebraska at Penn State 2 years ago. I think attendance was 110,000. I've never been to any playoffs of any sort. I'm deprived.

Rick Diesel

01-11-2005, 06:53 PM

Sad to say that to this point it has to be an AFC Championship game in 2001 and the National League Championship Series in 1991, 1992, and 1993.

This will all change if my Steelers can make it to the Super Bowl, as I already have a ticket and hotel lined up.

Mano

01-11-2005, 06:53 PM

I've been to a couple of NBA finals games (including Jordan's last game as a Bull).

vetman81

01-11-2005, 06:55 PM

Big 12 Football championship game in 1998 when my Cats fell on their face against Texas A&M. Great game though.

BottlesOf

01-11-2005, 06:57 PM

World Series, US Open Men's Singles Finals, Belmont Stakes, Chess match between Gary Kasparov and Deep Blue.

Ragnar

01-11-2005, 06:59 PM

I've been to a Final Four (My team--Arizona lost the first game, but I stayed for the whole thing. Arkansas beat Duke.) I've also been to a World Series game--game two Randy Johnson beat the Yankees (oh the irony.)

I'd rate the Final Four over the series game--but maybe not a game 7.

Ragnar

mmbt0ne

01-11-2005, 07:00 PM

hahaha. I went to a WCW match in January of 1998 where the nWo (Hogan's crew for all those too sophisticated for wrestling) attacked Goldberg at the end. Then, all of a sudden some of the Atlanta Falcons stormed the ring to rescue him. I remember Jamal Anderson was one of them, and I think Terrence Mathis or Tony Martin was in the group too. Either way, Anderson ended up getting up on one of the turnstiles and doing the dirty bird while all the crowd chanted "Super Bowl." It was awesome.

Toro

01-11-2005, 07:00 PM

The Belmont Stakes when Secretariat won the triple crown by 31 lengths. Most amazing sports feat that I've ever witnessed.

lapoker17

01-11-2005, 07:01 PM

I was at that same Final Four. Clinton was there and got booed at halftime of the final.

mmbt0ne

01-11-2005, 07:04 PM

Damn, I keep forgetting stuff. I went out to San Antonio last year for the Final 4 and saw GT beat OSU. Fortunately, I had to leave before the finals because I had 2 tests on Monday, so I didn't have to watch my boys got destroyed.

Edit: This one definitely wins, if only because I have that much more of an emotional attachment to the team.

Dynasty

01-11-2005, 07:04 PM

[ QUOTE ]
A WWF wrestling event back in the early 90's. The Main Event was a "body bag match" between the Undertaker and the Ultimate Warrior. The only way to win is to put your opponent in a body bag and zip it shut.

The Ultimate Warrior ended up putting the Undetaker's manager "Paul Bearer" into the body bag. Then, to my total bewilderment and seething rage the bell rung and they declared the Ultimate Warrior the winner! I felt ripped off. Doesn't the stipulations of the match mean anything?!

Professional Wrestling is more corrupt than pro boxing.

[/ QUOTE ]

[ QUOTE ]
hahaha. I went to a WCW match in January of 1998 where the nWo (Hogan's crew for all those too sophisticated for wrestling) attacked Goldberg at the end. Then, all of a sudden some of the Atlanta Falcons stormed the ring to rescue him. I remember Jamal Anderson was one of them, and I think Terrence Mathis or Tony Martin was in the group too. Either way, Anderson ended up getting up on one of the turnstiles and doing the dirty bird while all the crowd chanted "Super Bowl." It was awesome.

[/ QUOTE ]

That's bush league stuff.

For me, it's WrestleMania VIII in the sold out Hoosier Dome.

Boris

01-11-2005, 07:19 PM

Did you make a sign or anything?

Slacker13

01-11-2005, 07:20 PM

Stanely Cup when the Col Avalanche Beat the Florida Panthers, it was pretty awesome. But most memorable sporting event was seeing McGuire hit 58 & 59 here against the Marlins, there was more energy at that one game than I have ever seen at a sporting event.

I have had many chances to see a world series game but just never went.

Sponger15SB

01-11-2005, 07:22 PM

[ QUOTE ]
The Belmont Stakes when Secretariat won the triple crown by 31 lengths. Most amazing sports feat that I've ever witnessed.

[/ QUOTE ]

Now that kicks freaking ass.

I haven't been to any playoff games ever, so uh does the "pacific classic" horse race count even though I worked at the track?

Slacker13

01-11-2005, 07:23 PM

[ QUOTE ]
The Belmont Stakes when Secretariat won the triple crown by 31 lengths. Most amazing sports feat that I've ever witnessed.

[/ QUOTE ]
I am jealous. I would love to see something like that.

ThaSaltCracka

01-11-2005, 07:25 PM

I have been to two game 5's for the ALDS and the M's won both, of course 1995 was the best game I have ever been to.

TimM

01-11-2005, 07:32 PM

Kasparov vs. Deep Blue, New York, 1997 /images/graemlins/tongue.gif

I had a seat in the press room for all 6 games.

nolanfan34

01-11-2005, 07:34 PM

Jan 1, 1998 - Rose Bowl, WSU vs. Michigan. I had a press pass, but I bought a ticket as well so I could sit with my friends. About 12 of us caravaned from Seattle down to LA. Used the press pass to go the press box and ate free food during halftime, then went down to the field for the end of the game.

I was on the sidelines when Ryan Leaf spiked the ball with 2 seconds left and the Cougs driving. Was on the field afterward when the refs ran off the clock anyway, almost got trampled by a bunch of reporters, got knocked to the ground and picked back up (by Charles Woodson it turned out, visible at the end of the ABC telecast - I still have the tape).

The atmosphere there was amazing, great place to watch a game. That game if I remember correctly was also the LAST true Rose Bowl before it was tainted by the BSC rotation.

So, it was the biggest event I've been to, and probably the most memorable, for many reasons.

Close runners up are game 3 of the ALDS in 1995, the first playoff game in Seattle Mariners history, and game 4 of the 1996 NBA Finals, Seattle vs. Chicago (they actually won that game).

Dynasty

01-11-2005, 07:40 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Did you make a sign or anything?

[/ QUOTE ]

No. But, I did have third row ringside seats. So, you could probably find me on a tape of the show.

Uston

01-11-2005, 07:58 PM

Oakland at Boston, game four of the 2003 ALDS. Two run double for David Ortiz off Keith Foulke in the 8th. 5-4, Sox. Undoubtedly one of the ten to twenty greatest games in the history of Fenway Park.

DonWaade

01-11-2005, 08:01 PM

This is kinda objective. I went to Womens World Cup against Nigeria at Soldier Field. (They went on to win it all. Chastain's memorable PK)

The biggest global event I have even been to is a World Cup qualifier, Honduras vs Costa Rica. The winner went on to the WC. Costa Rica won 3-2. In Central America, soccer (futbol) is everything. The atmosphere is so much more intense. We got there 3 hours early and still could not find a seat. We ended up standing (so was everyone else) in the oft trampled area against the sideline fence. After the game was over, the whole of Honduras was on suicide watch.

Homer

01-11-2005, 08:04 PM

World Series in '93 (Phillies / Blue Jays). From there it's a huge step down to the Eagles/Packers playoff game last year (with the 4th and 26 play). Hopefully I'll get to go to the SB someday.

RogerZBT

01-11-2005, 09:27 PM

Runner-up: 2000 World Series Game 2. The Clemens bat tossing game.

Winner: 2003 ALCS Game 7. The greatest game ever.

Beerfund

01-11-2005, 09:39 PM

I was at the US open in 2000 when Tiger won, the 96 super bowl in Tempe, and game 6 of the 96 world series in Atlanta /images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Homer

01-11-2005, 11:30 PM

[ QUOTE ]
I was at the US open in 2000 when Tiger won, the 96 super bowl in Tempe, and game 6 of the 96 world series in Atlanta /images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Heh, I totally forgot I went to the final round of the US Open at Bethpage a few years ago. For some reason it wasn't that memorable.

JeffO

01-11-2005, 11:52 PM

2001 World Series. Game 1, Yankees Diamondbacks in AZ. I;m a Yankee fan so it was a series I'd like to forget.

kenberman

01-12-2005, 12:38 AM

World Series Games 1 and 2, this year.

Although I was also at Game 5 of the ALCS this year, and that was better game, with a far more electric crowd, in a more heated rivalry, than either World Series game

bdk3clash

01-12-2005, 12:46 AM

I've never even been to a playoff game or anything like that, so my answers a little off.

Michigan vs. Notre Dame at Michigan in 1989, 105,000+ fans. This was the game where Raghib Ismail ran back 2 kickoffs for TDs. (He actually did it one other time in his career against Rice.)

From both a fan-intensity and personal basis, every Duke-UNC game at Duke from 1997 to 2000.

PhatTBoll

01-12-2005, 12:56 AM

The Notre Dame-Boston College game in 1993. The one where ND came back from way down but BC kicked the game winner as time expired. ND was #1 at the time. Absolutely crushed me.

I was also at the 1991 PGA when John Daly won after being an unheard-of 4th alternate or something going in.

The Indy 500 has the largest attendance of any one-day sporting event, so I'll throw that in. Been to like 10 of those.

Brain

01-12-2005, 12:59 AM

I was sitting inside Deep Blue.

Brain

01-12-2005, 01:00 AM

[ QUOTE ]
I've been to a Final Four (My team--Arizona lost the first game, but I stayed for the whole thing. Arkansas beat Duke.)

[/ QUOTE ]

Bad memories, bad memories!!! /images/graemlins/frown.gif

nolanfan34

01-12-2005, 01:02 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Heh, I totally forgot I went to the final round of the US Open at Bethpage a few years ago. For some reason it wasn't that memorable.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, golf is a tough sport watching it live. You spend so much time either walking around, or just watching one hole. Hard to get into the flow of what's happening in a round.

Brain

01-12-2005, 01:06 AM

2003 Stanley Cup (Hockey? I don't remember what that is)
2002 NCAA D3 Men's Basketball Championship (we lost, but I got some good heckling in)
Only one Duke game @ Cameron (jealous of bdk3clash, although I've seen them at MSG and Continental before)

Chap_Stick

01-12-2005, 01:06 AM

1990 YMCA Third grade Baseball championship. at least 20+ people.

plaster8

01-12-2005, 01:33 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Jan 1, 1998 - Rose Bowl, WSU vs. Michigan.

[/ QUOTE ]

I was there, too. Surprised we didn't run into each other. /images/graemlins/laugh.gif And I'm still pissed about the ending.

I also went to the 2003 Rose Bowl, WSU vs. Oklahoma. Not nearly as much fun as the first one.

Second place for me is the 2000 ALCS at Safeco Field (I think that was the year). I saw Roger Clemens throw a one-hit, 15-strikeout shutout at the M's. Greatest performance I've ever seen live.

Clarkmeister

01-12-2005, 01:40 AM

Game 7 of the 1982 World Series.
Games 3 and 4 of last year's Cardinal-Dodger NLDS (Thanks to Andy Fox for the ticket to the clincher in game 4! )

Game 6 of the 1998 Eastern Conference Finals - One of the Bulls last games in the Jordan era.

7 Kentucky Derby's
3 Indy 500's
Several first and second round NCAA Mens Basketball tournament games.

bosoxfan

01-12-2005, 01:58 AM

AFC championship game Pats beat Jacksonville to go to the superbowl and lose to Green Bay. /images/graemlins/mad.gif

The tuck rule game against Oakland in the snow. Best game I ever went to. /images/graemlins/grin.gif

David Steele

01-12-2005, 02:01 AM

US-Brazil World Cup quarter-final at Stanford stadium.

Stanley Cup Final game 3 NY Islanders vs Vancouver
this was the year Roger Neilson invented the white towel waving.

I saw Kasparov play Michael Adams in NY city, there was only about 100 people there, Korchnoi sat right next to me!

D.

ftball0000

01-12-2005, 02:02 AM

Super Bowl 27, poor bills /images/graemlins/frown.gif
Stanley Cup Game 6, Brett Hull's skate was in the crease /images/graemlins/frown.gif /images/graemlins/frown.gif

-Ftball

cardcounter0

01-12-2005, 02:10 AM

The Kentucky Derby and The Indy 500.

nolanfan34

01-12-2005, 02:23 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Game 7 of the 1982 World Series.

[/ QUOTE ]

You win.

/images/graemlins/grin.gif

jdl22

01-12-2005, 03:06 AM

I went to the Rose Bowl in 1995 when Oregon played Penn State. I also went to the Fiesta Bowl a few years back and watched my Ducks humiliate Colorado.

I've also been to the quarterfinal of the Champions League (Real Madrid - Man United) and had a ticket but did not go to the semifinal (Real Madrid - Bayern Munich) because I couldn't find any transportation from Sevilla to Madrid during Feria.

in the 1999 Women's World Cup I went to the Semifinal where the US beat Brasil in Stanford Stadium.

nothumb

01-12-2005, 03:08 AM

Orioles / White Sox at Camden Yards, circa 1997 or so. John Kruk starts in place of Frank Thomas at first, gets a single in the first inning. They give him the ball and after the inning announce that he's retiring. I'm like, WTF? And some guy in front of me turns around (he's already drunk and has like 3 teeth) and goes, "Cancer of the balls, dude."

NT

ArchAngel71857

01-12-2005, 03:45 AM

Music City Miracle.

All Cleveland games in the NBA Eastern Conference Finals in 1992. F*** Michael Jordan.

Greensboro Rodeo.

-AA

Analyst

01-12-2005, 03:57 AM

[ QUOTE ]
hmm, if you mean number of people, then Nebraska at Penn State 2 years ago. I think attendance was 110,000. I've never been to any playoffs of any sort. I'm deprived.

[/ QUOTE ]

*Yawn* The University of Michigan averages over 110,000 per game. /images/graemlins/grin.gif Though, to be fair, I think Penn State has the second highest average attendance.

I was at the last U of M game where they did not hit 100k, back in 1975; also the game that year where only 86k showed up to watch Michigan beat Northwestern 69-0 in a constant downpour.

OT, I've been to a couple of Rose Bowls, one Orange Bowl and several NCAA playoff games including a regional final. Not too hard to go to some good games when you're in the Michigan Band!

Kurn, son of Mogh

01-12-2005, 06:46 AM

NBA Playoffs, conference championship series. Celtics vs. Pistons c. '88 or '89 (not sure of the year - McHale phantom 3-pointer sends it into overtime)

2002 Fiesta Bowl (Oregon stomps Colorado)

Stanley Cup playoffs

Sheriff Fatman

01-12-2005, 08:18 AM

As a non-American I'm finding this thread quite intriguing as the vast majority of the events quoted are US-only sports which hardly register on a world stage.

The only 2 truly worldwide sporting events mentioned here are the Olympics and the Football World Cup (soccer to you guys, football to the rest of the planet).

NFL, NBA, MLB, etc are minority sports outside of the US. Sure, there are followers of each in most countries but none of them will ever be anything more than 'cult sports' on a world stage.

Sheriff

NB: I'm not trying to knock any of the responses - I'm just intrigued by how differently sport is viewed within the US and outside it.

beerbandit

01-12-2005, 09:18 AM

us open 1996 -- golf

at oakland hills, mi

cheers

fnord_too

01-12-2005, 09:37 AM

The VA Tech/FSU national championship game in 2000 (Sugar Bowl that year). Great time.

Shajen

01-12-2005, 10:26 AM

[ QUOTE ]
As a non-American I'm finding this thread quite intriguing as the vast majority of the events quoted are US-only sports which hardly register on a world stage.

The only 2 truly worldwide sporting events mentioned here are the Olympics and the Football World Cup (soccer to you guys, football to the rest of the planet).

NFL, NBA, MLB, etc are minority sports outside of the US. Sure, there are followers of each in most countries but none of them will ever be anything more than 'cult sports' on a world stage.

Sheriff

NB: I'm not trying to knock any of the responses - I'm just intrigued by how differently sport is viewed within the US and outside it.

[/ QUOTE ]

The US is not as rabid about sports as some countries are, but damned if we don't love our own games.

The olympics, World Cup soccer, for most those are little distractions every few years. The SuperBowl or World Series? Those are where it's at.

Rather odd, when you think about it.

IndieMatty

01-12-2005, 10:58 AM

I'm a huge sports fan, and unfortunately...none.

I went to some ECW pay per views, and some very special Raws...I go to Belmont each year too, but never any memorable real sporting events.

So my answer is the Fordham - Duquesne game in 1999 aired on ESPN2...there's more to "why" but that deserves its own post someday.

ArchAngel71857

01-12-2005, 11:32 AM

[ QUOTE ]
As a non-American I'm finding this thread quite intriguing as the vast majority of the events quoted are US-only sports which hardly register on a world stage.

The only 2 truly worldwide sporting events mentioned here are the Olympics and the Football World Cup (soccer to you guys, football to the rest of the planet).

NFL, NBA, MLB, etc are minority sports outside of the US. Sure, there are followers of each in most countries but none of them will ever be anything more than 'cult sports' on a world stage.

Sheriff

NB: I'm not trying to knock any of the responses - I'm just intrigued by how differently sport is viewed within the US and outside it.

[/ QUOTE ]

Oh I forgot to mention the Olympic events I could get tickets to:

China v. Angola men's prelim Basketball round.
The qualifying round of the Women's 5K.

Seriously though, I did enjoy 1996 Gold Medal rounds of the High Jump, Shot put, and Hammer throw. I also went to the trials that year in ATL. Wasn't the most impressive thing, but by far was the funnest one. we got invited to Dennis Mitchell's room (he had just won the trials in the 100m dash), ended up getting bad directions from the bodyguard, and called his mom at 4 AM and woke her up. Also I think we called him and he asked what happened to us.

-AA

Sheriff Fatman

01-12-2005, 01:04 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Oh I forgot to mention the Olympic events I could get tickets to:

China v. Angola men's prelim Basketball round.
The qualifying round of the Women's 5K.

[/ QUOTE ]

Ironically, the only World Cup Finals match I've ever managed to get tickets for was a Germany vs USA Group stage game in Paris in 1998.

Naturally, like any Brit attending this game, I was supporting the USA on 'Anybody But Germany' grounds but, unfortunately, they didn't manage to pull off a shock and lost 2-0.

Sheriff

Toro

01-12-2005, 01:09 PM

[ QUOTE ]
but, unfortunately, they didn't manage to pull off a shock and lost 2-0.

Sheriff

[/ QUOTE ]

English is like a foreign language for you Brits, it's like you have a different word for everything. /images/graemlins/smile.gif

shock = upset

I like it!

on_thg

01-12-2005, 01:28 PM

Football: Any number of U of Michigan games, 1 Rose Bowl

Basketball: NCAA Final Four at the Metrodome

Baseball: 1984 World Series

Golf: Two U.S. Opens (watching on TV is better)

Hockey: None, had a ticket to the UM-MSU outdoor game where they set the attendance record, but didn't go because the weather and roads sucked azz.

I wouldn't have the first idea how to choose between them if I had to pick one "biggest".

heavybody

01-12-2005, 03:34 PM

U.S. open golf, Pebble Beach,Cal. 1982. Tom Watson wins it.

Shajen

01-12-2005, 03:44 PM

[ QUOTE ]
U.S. open golf, Pebble Beach,Cal. 1982. Tom Watson wins it.

[/ QUOTE ]

Is that the sand trap shot (on 17 wasn't it?) if so, I think this may be the co-winner with Secretariat man up above.

nolanfan34

01-12-2005, 04:03 PM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
U.S. open golf, Pebble Beach,Cal. 1982. Tom Watson wins it.

[/ QUOTE ]

Is that the sand trap shot (on 17 wasn't it?) if so, I think this may be the co-winner with Secretariat man up above.

[/ QUOTE ]

No, out of the greenside rough, he chips it in.

That is pretty sweet, I can only hope you were close to the 17th hole.

Tyler Durden

01-12-2005, 04:18 PM

I went to the game where Cal Ripken broke Lou Gehrig's streak and became the Iron Man back in 95. Never clapped so much in my life.

tpir90036

01-12-2005, 04:20 PM

Wrestlemania 15 in Philly.

Justin A

01-12-2005, 04:54 PM

[ QUOTE ]
I haven't been to any playoff games ever, so uh does the "pacific classic" horse race count even though I worked at the track?

[/ QUOTE ]

Of course it counts! I've been to that one too, and I was also working at the track.

Justin A

iamonlyme

01-13-2005, 08:01 PM

I am from Honduras, and I love soccer, but I dont think we take soccer (futbol) seriously, and its not everything for us. We have so much more to do… I know soccer may be just a game in other parts of the world, but in Honduras or any other central america region its a passion, there is nothing else in the form of sports that can begin approach the levels of passion we have for our futboll, I am proud to be a Hondureña, Catracha, Central American, Latina.