Sports Bucket List

[UMFan83]

So randomly this afternoon I started thinking about all the things that I want to attend in the sports world before I die. Not that I plan on dying anytime soon, but some of the things I want to do take planning (and money). Just curious to see what would be on your sports "bucket" list. It might give me some ideas of what I want to add to mine.

 

I've divided my list into small scale things that would be easier and cheaper to do, and bigger scale things that are a lot harder to attend. I'd like to get the small scale stuff done but won't be upset if I can't do all the bigger stuff.

 

Small scale:

-Attend a college football bowl game

-Attend the first or second day of the NCAA tournament.

-Attend semi-final round of each major sport (NBA, NFL done)

-See each of my favorite teams on the road (NCAAF, NCAAB, MLB, NFL, NBA done)

-Attend the final round of a PGA tournament

-Attend a match from the following rivalries: Michigan/Ohio State, Bears/Packers (done), Red Sox/Yankees (done), Lakers/Celtics, UNC/Duke, Redskins/Cowboys, Alabama/Auburn

-See the following live: No hitter (done), Perfect game, other significant baseball milestone (done), a baseball team clinching playoff spot/playoff round*, Triple OT NBA playoff game (done), OT NFL Playoff game (done), double OT NHL playoff game.

-Attend an Engish Premiere League game (preferably a derby like Liverpool/Everton)

-Attend a goal medal round Olympic event

 

*=DOES NOT COUNT IF ITS THE ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS CELEBRATING ON WRIGLEY FIELD #$%^#*

 

Larger scale:

-Attend a Super Bowl, NBA Finals game, World Series game, and NHL Finals game (done)

-Attend a Final Four

-Attend a BCS Bowl game not involving a Big East or ACC team (unless said team is in the Rose Bowl or NC game)

-Attend a major golf tournament

-Attend a World Cup game (done)

-Attend a champions league game

-See one of my teams play a regular season game in a different country (besides Canada)

-Attend a game in every baseball stadium that is active at the time of completion

-Attend a playoff game in each of the 4 sports where my favorite teams aren't playing

-Attend a gold medal Olympic basketball or hockey game

-Fondle Theo Epstein's privates as a measure of respect and awe.

 

Any other suggestions?

Edited October 26, 2011 by UMFan83

[jersey cubs fan]

you kind of listed everything worth listing.

 

I'd like to see a Blackhawks game in Canada, preferably Montreal or Toronto.

 

as for your baseball game in every stadium that is active upon completion comment, does completion = death?

[rocket]

good thread idea. i agree with a lot of your choices, so i'll just add a couple that you didn't put on.

 

-front row court side seats to any nba game.

 

-attend a wrestlemania (i'm counting it as a sport)

 

you pretty much covered everything else i'd want to see

[UMFan83]

you kind of listed everything worth listing.

 

I'd like to see a Blackhawks game in Canada, preferably Montreal or Toronto.

 

as for your baseball game in every stadium that is active upon completion comment, does completion = death?

 

Haha, not exactly. Meaning that once you have attended the 30th (or however many teams there are when doing it) stadium, you can at that moment say you've been to every active ballpark in baseball.

 

But I can see how that might be difficult, so I could probably feel satisfied with seeing a game at every major league city even if its a former ballpark, like the Metrodome for Minneapolis, etc.

[SpongeWorthy]

I'll add attending a Nadal/Djokovic (or Federer) caliber grand slam final. Men's tennis is pretty unreal in person.

[pitchcs]

Best events I've done/attended:

 

- The Masters: 2006 3rd & 4th rounds (got to sit front row on 16 on Sunday, it was amazing), 2007 3rd & 4th rounds, 2011 practice rounds. I'm extremely lucky with these as my Grandpa, Dad & Uncle are marshals on the 15th hole and are given extra tickets.

 

- Visited 32 baseball parks (7 teams with 2 different venues). This is what my Dad and I did when I was a kid; we typically got to two a year. This is also the first time I met Vance, albeit unknowingly. In Houston I believe.

 

- 2 Cubs home playoff games (2003, Game 3 loss to Braves & 2008 Game 1 loss to Dodgers)

 

- Maui Invitational: Been 3 times and sat court side under the basket. This event is seriously awesome. I've sat next to Magic Johnson & Danny Ainge, seen Joe Montana & Jay-Z. My Dad has a client he audits every Thanksgiving in Maui and I've been fortunate enough to go with him and attend this every time.

 

- World Cup: 1994 at Soldier Field. Germany vs. Spain (1-1 tie)

 

- Have a PSL seat at Soldier Field

 

- Been to a lot of great NCAA Tournament games

 

- White water rafted the 3rd largest river/rapids in the US/7th in the World. 1 semi-near death experience

 

So I pretty much owe all/most of these things to my Pops -- he's pretty cool.

 

 

Events I want to do/scheduled to do:

 

- In the process of hitting different football stadiums for Bears games. But I've only been to Cincinnati, Detroit, Minnesota, San Diego and Miami. Will be going to Oakland later this year. Had tickets for New Orleans a few years ago, but damn Katrina.

 

- European Soccer Match

 

- Skydive

[UMFan83]

Ugh, did you also attend that awful Bears/Bengals 45-10 drubbing a couple of years ago?

 

Also, skydiving is really really awesome.

[pitchcs]

Oh yeah, I was there. That thing was over in about 5 minutes and Olin Kreutz was getting in fights with fans.

[UMFan83]

Oh yeah, I was there. That thing was over in about 5 minutes and Olin Kreutz was getting in fights with fans.

 

I unfortunately got my ticket from my girlfriend's family, all 10 of them annoyingly rabid Bengals fans, who thought it was hilarious to rub every score in my face and yell "WHO DEY" constantly. Quite possibly the worst experience at a sporting event ever...worse than being surrounded by Packer fans at Soldier Field during the NFC title game last year.

[rawaction]

My bucket list isn't that long.

 

- Cubs World Series game (don't care if I'm in the stadium, just want to be on Waveland, Sheffield, Clark or Addison while a game is going on)

- Super Bowl (would rather NOT go to a live SB with the Bears playing as I'd imagine there are too many rich yuppy non-fans that would piss me off if the Bears are losing)

- Any NHL game (not big on most lists, but I'm black and about .000005% of us have ever gone to a hockey game)

- Every MLB stadium (football stadiums and basketball arenas aren't really unique. Seen one, seen most)

- US Olympic soccer game

- Attend the Rose Bowl

[Derwood]

- attend a bowl game with Penn State playing (parents retired to Orlando, so hoping this can happen soon)

- Cubs World Series (I don't care where I watch it)

- NCAA Tournament

- Any playoff game

 

Not really much to add

[jersey cubs fan]

Any NHL game (not big on most lists, but I'm black and about .000005% of us have ever gone to a hockey game)

 

Are you in Pittsburgh? You have to go to a game, especially with a great team around.

[apete6]

Cubs World Series game

Super Bowl

Kentucky Derby

Bulls Finals game

Important football game at Cowboys stadium

There are about 50 college football stadiums I'd like to hit someday as well.

 

I stupidly cheaped out for the Hawks Stanley Cup games, but went to game 6 vs. Vancouver last year and I'll be damned if that wasn't as exciting as any Finals game could be, despite having less on the line.

 

Also, have made it to most of the baseball stadiums worth going to, particularly the older ones (Fenway, Dodger, old Yankee).

[Old Style]

Cubs World Series clincher at Wrigley has to be the ultimate.

I'd love to see the Blackhawks win the Cup at the UC. I at least need to get there for a game if for nothing else to hear Cornelison sing the National Anthem.

[Banedon]

The "every stadium in baseball" one is one that my wife and I have talked about since shortly after we started dating. So far our total stadiums attended together is.....three. It's unfortunately been pushed down the priority list a lot, but it's still there.

[17 Seconds]

 

-front row court side seats to any nba game.

 

I got to sit at the press table or whatever right next to the bench for a magic/jazz game when malone/stockton were still around. it was pretty crazy. everything seemed way more fast paced and frantic when you're right there

[Banedon]

 

-front row court side seats to any nba game.

 

I got to sit at the press table or whatever right next to the bench for a magic/jazz game when malone/stockton were still around. it was pretty crazy. everything seemed way more fast paced and frantic when you're right there

 

I've sat in the front row courtside once, but it was almost directly behind the basket, so it wasn't as awesome as I hoped. Was BJ Armstrong's retirement ceremony that night. That was purefly coincidence though.

[Guest]

The "every stadium in baseball" one is one that my wife and I have talked about since shortly after we started dating. So far our total stadiums attended together is.....three. It's unfortunately been pushed down the priority list a lot, but it's still there.

 

I've always had an interest in doing something like that, then I read this article and it really made me want to try it.

 

http://artofmanliness.com/2011/10/12/how-to-plan-a-mlb-road-trip/

[bcl412]

My dad and I have been to a decent amount of stadiums together although a few are ones that don't exist anymore (Tiger Stadium, Riverfront, whatever Cleveland played in before Jacobs field). Personally I would love to visit all Minor League stadiums as well as I love going to Minor League baseball games.

[pitchcs]

My dad and I have been to a decent amount of stadiums together although a few are ones that don't exist anymore (Tiger Stadium, Riverfront, whatever Cleveland played in before Jacobs field). Personally I would love to visit all Minor League stadiums as well as I love going to Minor League baseball games.

 

Now that would be impressive!

 

I need to get to Seattle, San Francisco, Arizona, Baltimore and Tampa (eww, been putting this one off) still.

[Sammys Boombox]

I'll just list my favorite milestones/games/etc.

 

Witnessed:

Sosa's last HR as a Cub (franchise record)

Griffey, Jr. 500 HR

Favre breaking career passing yardage record

Furcal unassisted triple play

Maddux 3000 K

Packers clinch division

Storm the court (Mizzou over kU)

Storm the field/Gameday (Mizzou over #1 OU)

Walkoff grand-slam (Soriano in August 09 vs. Astros/Aaron Miles vs. ???? as a Cardinal) I enjoyed Soriano's much more.

Rookie hitting HR in first MLB AB (two dudes for the Cardinals back in the old stadium)

 

What I want to see:

Packers play at Lambeau

No-hitter

Cubs clinch division/wild card spot

Cubs playoff game at Wrigley

NHL postseason game

NFL postseason game

Mizzou in a BCS Bowl or Conference Championship

Mizzou in a NCAA Tournament game or Conference Championship

Be in Wrigleyville when the Cubs win pennant and/or World Series

Be in Green Bay when Packers win a Super Bowl

World Series game (may actually pull this one off tomorrow)

Every MLB stadium (14 of 30 completed, 15 of 31 if you count old Busch)

 

Weird occurrences: I've seen two games where the first batter of the game for the visiting team got a basehit and the visiting team ended with just that one hit. My first game at Wrigley (Steve Trachsel vs. Astros in 1996) and a Tulsa Drillers MiLB game.

Edited October 27, 2011 by Sammy's Boombox

[UMFan83]

I've been to a few but definitely never coordinated a trip to knock out a bunch of them..it's mostly been situations where I've been heading to that city for another reason and they happen to be in town.

 

Wrigley Field

US Cellular Field (Comiskey Park as well)

Miller Park (Milwaukee County Stadium as well)

Great American Ballpark

Fenway Park

(Old Yankee Stadium)

(Metrodome)

Chase Field

(Qualcomm Stadium)

Camden Yards (Memorial Stadium)

 

These don't count at all but I've driven by the following (and by driven by I don't mean on the highway, I mean drove up to the field on a surface street specifically to see the stadium):

Jacobs Field

Turner Field

(Shea Stadium)

New Yankee Stadium

Tropicana Field

Target Field

New Busch Stadium

[rawaction]

Any NHL game (not big on most lists, but I'm black and about .000005% of us have ever gone to a hockey game)

 

Are you in Pittsburgh? You have to go to a game, especially with a great team around.

 

Yeah, I'm pretty sure I'm going when the Blackhawks are in town December 23rd or something like that. New arena too, so that should make it even better.

[bcl412]

I haven't been to anything too exciting though I have been to Lambeau for a Packers game, they lost 42-0 to the Patriots. The only thing redeeming from that was that I saw Favre, Brady, Rodgers and the great Vinny Testeverde play.

 

I also went to game 4 vs the Braves in 2003 and I attended Iowa beating Penn State in 08'.

 

I had tickets to game 7 of the Blackhawks vs Predators series a couple years ago but that game didn't happen and I had tickets to one of the Bulls vs heat series from a few years ago but I was dumb and bought tickets for a game in Miami and not Chicago so I was unable to attend.

[Butterscup1679666578]

I was at Game 6 in 2003...

 

Going to my first Hawks game on Dec. 4 in St. Louis

 

I was at the 2001 Bears game against the 49ers where they scored a bunch of 4th quarter points and then Mike Brown got a pick-six to end the game in OT.

 

I want to go to a World Cup game and a Hawks game in Chicago. I don't have a huge bucket list.