What is the most memorable sporting event you have attended, and why?

2017-10-18T12:00:10-04:00

Sports create memories...and certain sporting events are forever imprinted on our minds, maybe even our hearts.

What is the most memorable sporting event you have been to, and why?

For me, it's hard to narrow to just one, but they each share one thing in common: they were with my father.

- First NHL game: North Stars/Blackhawks. I finally got to go with Dad to a game, and I was blown away by the spectacle and the speed as a 7 or 8 year old

- First NFL game: Vikings/Packers. Second-grader in December chill as the Vikes beat the Pack 3-0. The Minnesota cold? Didn't notice it through my excitement.

- Any baseball game with Dad.

I've also been to the World Series ('91, game 2), and been to Regional Finals of March Madness. But nothing replaces the ones above.

How about you?

Response by SPC Margaret Higgins made Oct 18 at 2017 12:01 PM

2017-10-18T12:01:31-04:00

SGT Mark Halmrast: I went to many a Giants game! I loved photographing the players!
-Margaret

Response by COL Mikel J. Burroughs made Oct 18 at 2017 12:04 PM

2017-10-18T12:04:50-04:00

SGT Mark Halmrast For me it was my first baseball game a Wrigly Field watching the CUBS with my Dad when I was very young. We were both CUB Fans and my Dad passed away on 7 October 2016 and was unable to see the Cubs finally win the big one in our lifetime.

What was your favorite?

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Oct 18 at 2017 12:07 PM

2017-10-18T12:07:53-04:00

I am a jinx. No team I have ever rooted for has ever won a game while I watched in person or on TV, or while listening on the radio. The Baltimore Orioles never rose from the bottom of the league until I entered the Army and left home in 1966 (yes, that's the year they won the World Series). After living in LA for a time, I took a nephew to see the Dodgers play. This was back in the day when they were winning pretty regularly. When they were losing by an irredeemable margin and the shortstop, Russel, threw to first, Garvey, so high that the ball sailed into the stands, someone in the seats behind us called out, "What's the matter with you guys?" My nephew who had seen my jinx at work in other games, stood, turned to face the people behind us, and pointed at me shouting, "It's him, it's all his fault!" That was memorable...

Response by Maj Marty Hogan made Oct 18 at 2017 12:17 PM

2017-10-18T12:17:54-04:00

SGT Mark Halmrast Two stand out and I was not in attendance but watched them. Whitney Houston signing the National Anthem in Superbowl XXV- Bills and the Giants. Simply superb moment in sports and a Nation uniting and in healing- the other was the 1988 World Series when Kirk Gibson gimpy and barely able to move hit a home run rounding the bases pumping his fists.

Attended games: 1977 KC Royals vs Baltimore Orioles. First baseball game- Brett's rookie year, Jim Palmer pitching, Eddie Murray at first- Pete LaCock hit a home run for the Royals win. Pete LaCock has a famous dad- Peter Marshall from Hollywood Squares. Great question and could go on all day.

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Oct 18 at 2017 12:22 PM

2017-10-18T12:22:08-04:00

For me, SGT Mark Halmrast, it would be the 1974 Masters.
A few Signal Officer Basic Course classmates and I were able to attend practice and tournament rounds of the 1974 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, GA. All we had to do was wear a dress uniform (Class Bs), show a military ID and pay $5.00 a day! It was near the end of the course, and we more or less just told our instructors we were going. They didn't seem to object. It was a real treat to be at Fort Gordon and to be able to go. As I understand it now, so many service members wish to go that lotteries are held on post for a limited number of tickets.
Gary Player won and is shown here being awarded the green jacket. Clifford Roberts (now deceased), co-founder and then Chairman of Augusta National Golf Club and Chairman of the Masters Tournament is shown to the left.

Response by MSgt John McGowan made Oct 18 at 2017 12:30 PM

2017-10-18T12:30:29-04:00

For me it was a college WS and can’t remember teams. Batter hits a long ball to center. The center fielder gets moving and run forever and catching the ball over shoulder. Great catch. Willie Mays style. One of the great catches I has seem. And the greatest play in baseball. The burning flag.

Response by SCPO Morris Ramsey made Oct 18 at 2017 12:33 PM

2017-10-18T12:33:03-04:00

SGT Mark Halmrast Attended SF Giants games at Candlestick Park in July needing a jacket with family and friends.

Response by SGT Mark Halmrast made Oct 18 at 2017 12:34 PM

2017-10-18T12:34:29-04:00

Thank you for sharing MSgt John McGowan . It doesn't always have to be sports at the pro level to create the lasting memory.

Response by PO1 Don Gulizia made Oct 18 at 2017 12:40 PM

2017-10-18T12:40:05-04:00

As a huge sports fan, youth coach, and father of a college athlete, I've been to many games and each were memorable for different reasons. However, there are two that stand out....first, my son declared (at 8 years old) that he would some day play college football; so his first game as a college football player stands out. The second is a game at Dodger Stadium when I was about 8 or 9 years old. I couldn't tell you who they were playing, but we had seats down the 3rd base line. Someone hit a foul ball, it hit a concrete step, bounced up, and my 50ish year old grandmother (who was also a huge Dodger fan) caught the ball bare handed. It was one of those memories that had been retold throughout the years. After she passed, of course, it wasn't too long before someone said, "remember the time at Dodger stadium and granny caught that foul ball..."

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Oct 18 at 2017 12:40 PM

2017-10-18T12:40:50-04:00

My grandson's football games, the last one called the Pumpkin Bowl is the best of all, it's a winner takes all at this game.

Response by SGT Dave Tracy made Oct 18 at 2017 12:47 PM

2017-10-18T12:47:18-04:00

I've been to a few Vikings, Timberwolves, and Twins games over the years, but I generally prefer to watch on TV. My favorite game I attended to was a Twins game about 4 years ago...and I don't remember who they played, the score or who even won!

My sister-in-law's financial advisor was trying to drum up new clients, so about a dozen of us were treated to drinks at Keiran's Irish Pub before hand and then tickets to a Twins game. By the time we made it to Target Field, I was fully loaded. You know! ;-)

At some point in the 1st inning, I got up to get a beer. It should be noted a concession stand was directly behind our section (lower level behind home plate!), and I simply walked past it. In fact, I just kept on wandering around the stadium. I was upstairs. I was downstairs. I made it all the way around the ball park at least once, posting pictures of where I was, as well as drunk selfies on Facebook as I went along.

By this point, my wife was wondering where I was, and as she didn't bring her cellphone, it wasn't until her sister checked her phone (for my number which she apparently didn't have), that she noticed Facebook notifications of pictures I took where she and my wife were tagged, that anyone knew where I was! Hell, I didn't always know where I was.

At one point, I opened a dark steel door and walked down a nearly black, concrete hallway, proceeded down some stairs, passing a couple of guys who asked me if I were lost ("Not all who wander are lost!" or something like that was probably my reply), and arrived at what I think was an off-limits area under the stands, perhaps near the locker rooms, but I can't be sure. About that time I saw about some guys in suit coats, who stood quietly and stared intently at me. They didn't say anything nor confront me, but I figured I'd wandered far enough and turned back. I can't even tell you I found my way back to the original door I entered through. I don't recall where in the stadium I eventually popped up at. More Facebook posts followed of course, and those who were looking at the pictures and reading my posts were being thoroughly entertained!

Eventually, I made my way back to my seat--and yes, I did get that beer I originally set out for--just in time for our little group to be escorted up to where select people go to sing "Take Me Out to The Ballgame" during the 7th inning stretch. I guess that's a thing.

So there I was, with my sister-in-law and about 3 other willing people broadcast on the stadium Jumbotron singing the song for the thousands in attendance. With microphone in hand and an inability to feel shame in public even when sober, I proudly belted out the words, and the crowd joined in; at least those not in the bathrooms or getting their own brew during the break. A good time being had by all, no doubt.

Afterword, we were invited to take a picture with the team mascot, "T.C. Bear", and I handed off my phone to my long suffering wife to get the shot. As you can see, I'm standing there wearing a visor on upside down and backwards looking like some d-bag frat boy, arm around T.C. both throwing "duces"--still drunk of course--with T.C.'s rather dour looking bodyguard standing close by.

I can't say I remember everything about that night, but I do remember the highlights, and I must say, I take some surprisingly good pictures with my cellphone even when schnockered!

Response by SSgt Gary Andrews made Oct 18 at 2017 12:57 PM

2017-10-18T12:57:02-04:00

My dad got tickets to an Angel baseball game, but it was on a school night. My dad promised my mom we'd be home no later than 10:30 or 11:00. The game was against the Cleveland Indians and it was my first big league game. It went into extra innings, and I begged him to stay. We stayed until the Angels finally won it.....in the bottom of the 16th inning. We didn't get home until 1:30 in the morning. If looks could kill......my poor dad would have gone up in flames when we walked in the door. Great memory!

Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made Oct 18 at 2017 1:14 PM

2017-10-18T13:14:36-04:00

I used to be a huge boxing fan and live in the Cincinnati area during the short career of Aaron Pryor. He fought a number of his fights in Riverfront and I have the pleasure of watching him take the 140 lb Class from Cervantes. Came out of the corner and beat him like a drum for four rounds before putting him away. Too bad he couldn't get past where he grew up.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 18 at 2017 2:11 PM

2017-10-18T14:11:51-04:00

I didn't attend, but I was home from school because I was sick and watched Don Larson's perfect world series game.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Oct 18 at 2017 9:02 PM

2017-10-18T21:02:08-04:00

For me the most memorable sporting event I attended has been the Army-Navy football game I attended as a USMA, West Point cadet from 1976 through 1979.
However, as an honorable mention I need to include the Philadelphia Fliers Stanley Cup, victorious in 1973–74 and again in 1974–75. Philadelphia broke out into street celebrations those years.
Thanks For alerting me COL Mikel J. Burroughs
FYI LTC Stephen C. Capt Seid Waddell Capt Tom Brown SFC William Farrell SSgt Robert Marx Maj Marty Hogan PO1 William "Chip" Nagel SPC Margaret Higgins MSgt Jason McClish AN Christopher Crayne LTC Bill Koski SPC Tom DeSmet SGT Charles H. Hawes LTC Wayne Brandon SGT Private RallyPoint Member SGT Michael Thorin

Response by LTC Wayne Brandon made Oct 18 at 2017 9:33 PM

2017-10-18T21:33:13-04:00

For me it was on Nov. 26, 1999 at a Red Wings / Oilers game when Steve Yzerman scored his 600th career goal on a power play. We arrived about 10 minutes into the first period and had barely sat in our seats when I watched him break for the net and score. The buzzer sounded, lights flashed and the Joe went nuts. At that time he was only the 11th player in NHL history to break the 600 goal mark. Still have the commemorative puck made available that night.

Response by SFC William Farrell made Oct 18 at 2017 11:55 PM

2017-10-18T23:55:29-04:00

SGT Mark Halmrast I would have to say it was my first professional sports game as a Boy Scout, it was an ice hockey game between the NY Rangers and the Long Island Ducks if I remember right. Well a few minutes into the game it erupts into one bog brawl. The game was cancelled and the entire ice was covered in blood. Turned me off to hockey real quick. Have never seen another one.

Response by SP5 Robert Ruck made Oct 19 at 2017 12:54 PM

2017-10-19T12:54:49-04:00

A young Muhammad Ali (Cassius Clay at the time) beating Floyd Patterson in a heavyweight boxing championship fight. I loved boxing and had never seen anyone with the talent that guy had. Wow!