My Sports Feast

The Music City Miracle

Over the last two weeks ESPN's Mike Greenberg and Kenny Mayne shared their thoughts on ultimate sports experiences or events as part of the networks "Fan Feast" summer series. Greenberg focused on marquee events such as the Masters golf tournament whereas Mayne focused on pure fan experiences such as attending a world cup game or watching the 100 meter dash at an Olympic games.

Watching those reports and chatting with a good friend about sporting venues visited got me to thinking about my most memorable sporting experiences and what events remain on sports bucket list. So here are my top five sports moments and my three dream experiences.

My top five
1. Red Sox vs. Yankees, Yankee Stadium 1978 - My earliest sports memory and my fondest. My dad, a lifelong Sox fan, and his 11 year old son, a Yankee die-hard even at a young age, sitting in the bleachers of the old Yankee Stadium. The Yankees won the game, I uttered my first cuss word as part of "Boston Sucks" cheer, and my dad, a gentleman in defeat, quickly paying off our 25 cent bet on the outcome.

2. Buffalo Bills vs. Tennessee Titans, Adelphia Coliseum, January 8, 2000 - The Music City Miracle is one of the greatest plays in the history of the NFL. It occurred at the end of the Wild Card Playoff game between the Tennessee Titans and Buffalo Bills. The 22-16 Titans victory, in front of a franchise-record crowd at Adelphia Coliseum, allowed the Tennessee franchise to advance to the divisional round of the AFC playoffs for the first time since 1993. Subsequent victories over the Indianapolis Colts and Jacksonville Jaguars sent the Titans to Super Bowl XXXIV to face the St. Louis Rams, where they lost by a touchdown.

3. Nashville Predators vs. Florida Panthers, Nashville Arena, October 10, 1998 - The first game in the history of the Predators franchise - an incredible fan experience, even better as member of the team's front office. I remember every goose-bump worthy moment from raising the inaugural banner, dropping the puck, the unveiling of Gnash the mascot, and the standing ovation for the team, even in defeat, at the final horn.

4. Georgia vs. Clemson, Death Valley, September 21, 1985 - I will never forget my first college football game experience, watching the Tigers touch Howard's Rock and run down the hill (It is the most exciting 20 seconds in college football), a sea of orange for the first nationally televised game from quaint Clemson, S.C. Close game, but a loss for the Danny Ford coached Tigers, 21-13.

5. Oklahoma vs. Clemson, Florida Citrus Bowl, January 1, 1989 - This sports memory started some eight weeks earlier when I had the chance to accompany Goofy to Clemson's Memorial Stadium to present the Tiger the bowl invitation after their final home game versus Maryland. The Citrus Bowl itself would be Danny Ford's final game as Clemson's coach, and Barry Switzer's last contest as coach of the Sooners. The Tigers capped a 10-2 season by beating the Sooners 13-9.

My three bucket list sporting events
1. World Cup Soccer - Every sports fan should experience the world's game at its penultimate moment. Imagine the Super Bowl played out with 32 teams over a month tournament with millions of fans in stadiums across one nation.

2. Stanley Cup Finals, Game Seven - I have attended several NHL playoff games and the intensity of each is almost electric - I will never forget the first ever Predators home playoff game against the Red Wings, absolutely electric! Multiply that electricity times 4 playoff rounds and six finals match-ups leading to the last 60 minutes of the season and the right to hoist Lord Stanley's Cup.

3. Little League World Series Championship - In an age of sports commercialization and steroids, million dollar contracts and hype, the Little League Championship in Williamsport, PA is the closest thing to pure sports as can be found in the world today.