# Witness to Sports Greatness **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 20, 2000, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witness-to-sports-greatness/26281 "2000-07-20T20:49:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![meek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ce73a5/32.png) [@meek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/meek)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2000, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witness-to-sports-greatness/26281/21 "2000-07-21T07:54:01Z")
Could someone translate the above post for me? ---
**Author:** ![DAVEW0071](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e19b73/32.png) [@DAVEW0071](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DAVEW0071)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2000, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witness-to-sports-greatness/26281/22 "2000-07-21T11:25:22Z")
Sheesh, **smug** , isn’t it obvious? It’s test cricket. You know. ---
**Author:** ![Mullinator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@Mullinator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mullinator)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2000, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witness-to-sports-greatness/26281/23 "2000-07-21T11:44:42Z")
Chief Straight from the NBA website… **Most points, both teams, game 370-Detroit (186) at Denver (184), December 13, 1983 (3 OT)** Best darn game I have ever seen. Of course, there was that time when Charles Barkley missed 3 dunks in a game. I have also had the thrill of making a couple of halfcourt (or greater) shots to win a game and I have broken a backboard. Not great sports moments, but great crowd moments. ---
**Author:** ![Milossarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Milossarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Milossarian)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2000, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witness-to-sports-greatness/26281/24 "2000-07-21T12:49:45Z")
Mully: I watched that Pistons-Nuggets game on TV. No games I’ve been to stand out for the action within the game, but I have seen live arguably the greatest basketball and football players ever (Michael Jordan once, and Barry Sanders many times). Saw Mark McGwire a couple of weeks ago, too. I was in the stands for perhaps the rarest event in professional sports history. The year back in the early '90s that the Detroit Lions won a playoff game, thumping Dallas at the Silverdome. My coolest sports spectating day was probably in 1980. I (a youngster) was in the stands while my undefeated school beat its undefeated rival, 81-80, to win the conference championship in absolutely the most exciting basketball game I have seen at any level. Then, I went home that night and watched the U.S. Olympic hockey team beat the beyond-heavily-favored Soviets, in the Miracle on Ice. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2000, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witness-to-sports-greatness/26281/25 "2000-07-21T13:05:20Z")
> [@](#): > > But then I’m assuming that any one gives a toss about test cricket. If this had been a real cricket, further instructions would appear on your screen… I was in the stands at Atlanta-Fulton County stadium when the Braves won a record 13th consecutive game to open a season. ---
**Author:** ![Mullinator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@Mullinator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mullinator)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2000, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witness-to-sports-greatness/26281/26 "2000-07-21T13:15:46Z")
Just thought of something else (and kind of wishing these would all come to me at once). In high school I was in a game that set a state record for largest comeback in the least amount of time. My time was down by 15 with 3 minutes left and somehow won the game. I saw the longest homerun in Mile High Stadium (pre Rockies) by a member of the minor league Denver Bears. I was at the first game where the Tampa Bay Buccaneers wore their new uniforms. That puts everything else to shame. ---
**Author:** ![Bottle\_of\_Smoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Bottle\_of\_Smoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bottle_of_Smoke)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2000, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witness-to-sports-greatness/26281/27 "2000-07-21T13:46:08Z")
Hey Milo – Sounds like you are a Lions fan, no? I was at the Lions vs. Packers game when the Pack held Barry to -11 yards rushing. Heh heh. Of course, I’ve been on the other end many times. I watched Joe Montana shred the Packers at Lambeau for 450 yard passing, including and 80 yard touchdown bomb to Jerry Rice. I don’t even think he broke a sweat. I’ve seen Barry Sanders have his way with my beloved Pack too many times to count. I was even there when William “god-damned big-ass fridge” Perry caught his first ever touchdown pass for the Bears. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2000, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witness-to-sports-greatness/26281/28 "2000-07-21T14:36:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jack Batty \* > **That’s some cool stuff. I especially envy denbo and Robot Arm.** Don’t be, it was nothing to write home about. It was supposed to be Ryan’s last road game with a big farewell sendoff at home to end the season. Something not-at-all good happened to his shoulder in the first inning and he left the game. Didn’t even get anybody out. > [@](#): > > **What nobody was at Cal Ripken’s record breaker? I would have loved to have been there.** A FOAF was at the first game of the streak, and has the ticket stub to prove it. ---
**Author:** ![ChrisP\_One\_Kenobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@ChrisP\_One\_Kenobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChrisP_One_Kenobe)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2000, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witness-to-sports-greatness/26281/29 "2000-07-21T14:56:53Z")
I was participating in the games where I broke the following records: Most shots taken Most blocked shots most points scored most steals Most rebounds in a season in Junior Varsity Basketball. _remenincing(sp?) about the good old days_ Pretty sad, huh? Never been to many prfessional sports games. ---
**Author:** ![right\_said\_fred](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9d8465/32.png) [@right\_said\_fred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/right_said_fred)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2000, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witness-to-sports-greatness/26281/30 "2000-07-21T15:19:42Z")
Back when I was a card-collecting, baseball-drooling, hero-worshipping youngster I loved the Houston Astros ‘cause of their pitching staff: Nolan Ryan, JR Richard, etc. I made my mother take me to at least one ‘Stros game per year when they were in the area. We bought tix for a mid-summer game at [then] Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati to see my beloved Astros. We purchased the tix the previous winter, well in advance. So Nolan spends the summer chasing down his 3,000th strikeout: at the time a feat only attained by two others. My friend and I are following the drama all through the season with the excitement building each week as it appears Nolan will be starting the night we have tix. In his start prior to the Cincinnati game he only needed about six or seven to hit the milestone. We were certain he’d reach the mark the in the game; after all, this guy got eight or ten K’s every time he took the mound. So we would be burned by Lady Luck. But things worked in our favor that game, and Nolan needed three more K’s. We go to the game where we have upper-deck, front row seats in left field. As kids we think the seats are great. We’re hanging over the railing while hanging on every pitch. Nolan takes no time mowing down two Reds in the first inning. One more, one more. Caesar Geronimo [center fielder] was the Reds second(?) batter in the second inning. Nolan goes to work, makes the pitches, hits the milestone. My friend and I JUST GO CRAZY. We’re yelling, we’re screaming, and everyone within one hundred feet of us thinks we are the most obnoxious and delusional children ever spawned. We notice NO ONE else in Riverfront is cheering, so embarrassed we slink back into our seats. In the top of the third inning the Reds announced to the crowd exactly why we were cheering like animals some five minutes prior. A few of those in attendance applauded, but I wouldn’t even describe the reaction is tepid. I was so amazed the fans didn’t care about this historical event. Even if it was the visiting team. C’mon! Nolan went on to get shelled that game. The Reds won 8-1, and Caesar’s K was the last Nolan would record that night. Emotionally I was so far up and so far down that game. [I was at an impressional age, ya know.] Point of trivia: Caesar Geronimo was also Gibson’s 3000th strikeout victim (1968?). Of the first three to hit this milestone, he was the victim for two. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2000, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witness-to-sports-greatness/26281/31 "2000-07-21T15:40:44Z")
Just missing sports greatness: I was in the Kingdome for the Mariners’ 1995 season closer. That’s right, the game they lost to force the historic one-game playoff. However, I was in the Kingdome for Game Four of the subsequent five-game New York series; I got to see the M’s tie up the series after the Yankees won the first two and were headed for a sweep. I was not, unfortunately, there for Game Five. And thankfully I wasn’t there for the crummy Cleveland series that followed. Somewhat more obscure, but in a certain way more cool, moment of greatness: I was at the finish line and got to see Joan Benoit win the first-ever women’s Olympic marathon qualifying trial. I was young and didn’t really understand the fuss, but I remember it because everybody else was going crazy. Now I’m glad I was there… ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2000, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witness-to-sports-greatness/26281/32 "2000-07-21T16:01:42Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Cervaise \* > \*\* > I was at the finish line and got to see Joan Benoit win the first-ever women’s Olympic marathon qualifying trial._\* Olympia, Washington, right? I was in college there at the time. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2000, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witness-to-sports-greatness/26281/33 "2000-07-21T16:26:53Z")
I saw Todd Zeile make three, count 'em, THREE errors on ONE PLAY! Busch Stadium, early 90’s, Cards vs. Reds (IIRC). Reds batting, Zeilie playing 3rd base. The Reds batter hits a Texas-league pop-up toward third base, and Zeile positions himself under the ball for the catch. Knowing he’s going to be out, Reds batter slowly trots toward first. Whaddyaknow, the ball lands right in front of Zeile! :eek: Error #1 Now the Reds batter realizes that he should have run harder, so he takes off toward first base. Zeile picks up the dropped ball … and heaves it right over the first baseman’s head! :eek: Error #2 The Cards’ first baseman heads toward the dugout to retreive the wayward ball. In the meantime, the Reds batter is chugging around the bases, heading toward 3rd. The first baseman fires a rocket toward 3rd, and the Reds runner slides head-first toward the bag. It would have been a dramatic, bang-bang play except … Zeile dropped it. :wally Error #3 By this time the crowd doesn’t know whether to laugh or to cry, the Cards’ manager is pulling his hair out, and the Reds are in stitches. A truly great moment in sports. ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2000, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witness-to-sports-greatness/26281/34 "2000-07-21T17:18:10Z")
Doctor Jackson: I love you. I want to be the mother of your babies. Well, maybe not. But I love the Braves. With a passion. And some day, SOME DAY, I WILL get to a game. ---
**Author:** ![ReservoirDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8edcca/32.png) [@ReservoirDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReservoirDog)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2000, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witness-to-sports-greatness/26281/35 "2000-07-21T18:04:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by iampunha \* > \*\* > I love the Braves. With a passion. > \*\* _cough_loser_cough_ The only thing I can think of, even though I wasn’t terribly impressed with it at the time (I was only 11, what did I know?): I saw Carl Yastremski’s last game played in Fenway Park. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2000, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witness-to-sports-greatness/26281/36 "2000-07-21T18:27:01Z")
ResevoirDog, you BASTARD! How dare you keep that to yourself for so long. I would have killed to have been there. I did see that one on TV. I grew up in New England too. Everybody wanted to be Yaz at the whiffle ball games. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2000, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witness-to-sports-greatness/26281/37 "2000-07-21T18:47:18Z")
> [@](#): > > _Me:_ I was at the finish line and got to see Joan Benoit win the first-ever women’s Olympic marathon qualifying trial. > > _Robot Arm:_ Olympia, Washington, right? I was in college there at the time. Yep. Over by Capitol Lake. (Yes, the same lake referenced by the Indigo Girls in one of their songs.) ---
**Author:** ![Montfort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Montfort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Montfort)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2000, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witness-to-sports-greatness/26281/38 "2000-07-21T19:05:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Quadzilla \* > **_gasp_ Montfort, I’m incredibly jealous. Man, I _still_ want Stanley again.** Well, I’m a Flyers fan, so I ain’t going to let you have another one until we avenge '97. But, I live near DC, and when the local team does good, I’m a fan, too (especially when my Flyers get knocked out in the first round). Anyway, back in '98 when the Caps made it to the finals, I had a friend of a friend who worked for the Wizards, the basketball team that Abe Pollin also owned at the time. He was able to get my friend and us tickets to all the games, but I could only afford to go to one finals game, so I figured that since the last three Finals had been sweeps, I’d be best off going for game 4 in case there was another one that year. My friend of a friend came through for me, and that night, with the Wings up 3-0, the Phone Booth (aka, MCI Center) was Detroit East. _So many_ Wings fans came in for the game it was like being at a home game for them. I was actually interviewed by the _Washington Post_ for a “Caps fan watches their city get over run by Detroiters” article. It was really exciting watching the Wings win, even though I was rooting for the Caps. The best part, though, was [getting to see the Cup](http://falstaff.net/mweintr/pictures/maw-stanley-cup.jpg) on display at Union Station earlier that afternoon. (I changed jerseys before the game started, so the _Post_ reporter thought I was really a die-hard Caps fan.) As a hockey fan, though, it was incredible watching it be handed to Stevie Y. The electricity in the air as Konstantinov, in wheelchair, had the Cup placed on his lap was amazing. Even the Caps fans, more fanatic than I, had tears in their eyes. ---
**Author:** ![voguevixen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5ac83/32.png) [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2000, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witness-to-sports-greatness/26281/39 "2000-07-21T19:58:13Z")
I don’t know if it was a record, but last year at an A’s game I saw Miguel Tejada hit home runs at all three of his at-bats. They were absolutely crushed, too. It was so exciting and everyone was going nuts. I think he was pulled in the late innings and didn’t get to bat a fourth time, and everyone was soooo bummed, lol. ---
**Author:** ![Sledman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/839c29/32.png) [@Sledman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sledman)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2000, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witness-to-sports-greatness/26281/40 "2000-07-21T20:53:19Z")
Greatness… Maybe not Greatness but I was at the Packer Steeler game when Yancey Thigpen endeared himself to Packer fans everywhere by dropping a sure TD and thus giving the Pack a win and their first NFC Central title in 24 years I think it was. Also had the privlege of seeing Steve Tasker ejected from his last game about 3 minutes into the first quarter. Also at the beloved Lambeau Field. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witness-to-sports-greatness/26281.md?page=1)