What's the Greatest Sporting Event You've Seen in Person?

[Donoghus]

I had one of my buddies asked me this the other day and its a really difficult thing to answer, at least to me.  I've been fortunate to have attended many big (mostly local) sporting events (a lot can be chalked up to my father being a Sox season ticket holder for 24 years) and trying to narrow them done hasn't been easy. 

So, what is the biggest, greatest, more historical sporting event that you actually attended.  You were in the ballpark, arena, stadium, etc.. to see the event unfold?

[EJPLAYA]

I once saw Billy McGee jump his BMX bike over 5 bricks and stick the landing... It was awesome!!

[Redz]

More memorable ones

2008 Game 4 Red Sox clincher vs Angels
1979 Celts vs Houston - Larry's first game
1986 Pats vs Raiders playoff game in LA
1990 Red Sox vs White Sox - Sox clinch on last day of season (Bruno catch in corner)
1999 Red Sox vs Cleveland - Sox score 23 runs in Divisional Playoff Game
1993 Larry Bird Night at the Garden
1978/79 Pats vs Houston - first home playoff game in Foxboro (a loss)

those one's standout

In terms of actual biggest games, I'd say the `08 Sox clincher

[Steve Weinman]

I've got a few in mind, but mine are all dwarfed by Game 2 of the 2008 NBA Finals. 

Definitely one of - if not the - coolest things I've ever done.

Powe power!

-sw

[kenmaine]

Here's a few-
A Sox game in 67- exact details are foggy, but they were down 5-2 in the ninth, tied it on a Tony C homer, and won in the tenth.
The Celtics double overtime loss in the playoffs to the Bucks in 74, I think, when Cowens fouled out and Jabbar hit a hook shot at the end. Of course, the C's won the series.
Tech Tourney at the old Garden- 68 or 69, Braintree vs. Hyde Park.

[Celtics1990]

I was at the game early this year when Pierce hit the buzzer beater against the Hawks.

[Donoghus]

Here's my memorable ones:

-1999 MLB All Star Game at Fenway
-2004 ALCS Game 4 (Roberts' Steal)
-2002 ECF Game 3 (Celts comeback over Nets)
-2008 NBA Finals Game 6 (Clincher)
-2004 NFL Divisional Playoff (Pats over Titans with - wind chill)
-2002 BC over ND in college football- South Bend (ND comes out in green jerseys and were #4 in the country but BC pulls the upset)
-2004 World Series Game 1 (Sloppy game but my first WS game)
-2007 World Series Game 1 (Beckett gem)
-2003 ALCS Game 3 (Pedro throws Zimmer to ground, Sox lose though)
-1999 ALCS Game 3 (First Pedro/Rocket showdown; Sox hammer Clemens)
-2001 Beanpot Finals (BC beats BU, 1st beanpot for Eagles since '94)
-Also, pretty much any C's playoff game since '02

Actually, quite a few good ones I'm leaving off this list too.

In terms of best, I'd probably go with 2004 ALCS Game 4.  That game started like we were going to a funeral and ended up this crazy jubiliation and the slight hope that the Sox would comeback (which they did).  Although, that comeback against the Nets was so incredible and still the loudest I've ever heard the Garden (I don't think anything in the '08 run beat it, to be honest)

[Hoops]

I've got a few in mind, but mine are all dwarfed by Game 2 of the 2008 NBA Finals. 

Definitely one of - if not the - coolest things I've ever done.

Powe power!

-sw

Right there with you on that one! I was also at Game 2. I made a promise to myself some 10 years ago that if the Celtics ever made it back to the Finals, I'd find a way to attend one of the games in Boston. I flew across the country and paid a small fortune to upgrade (scalp) my 300 level seats for 100 level seats. But it was worth every penny. A once in a lifetime experience. Literally.

[Chris]

2008 Game 6 of the Finals...Just amazingly fun
2007 Game 2 (I think) of the ALDS...Manny's walkoff homerun.  And the best part was that I was sitting literally right next to the Ted Williams seat.

After those two, nothing really compares.

[Fox40Kid]

My first Celtics game in Nov of 1987.

Game 7 loss to the Pacers in the 2005 playoffs.

Game 1 and 5 of the 2008 Eastern Conference Finals.

Game 2 and 6 of the 2008 NBA Finals.

Opening night of the 08-09 season to see banner 17 raised.

And if it counts as a sport, Wrestlemania 14!

[SShorefan 3.0]

NBA (there's so many, but two stick out in my mind)
10/31/84
Celtics vs. Nets
The raising of the 1984 banner.  Celts won the game, but the banner was the story.

12/9/84
Celtics vs. Hawks
Celts win 128-127 on a McHale tip in of a Bird miss at the buzzer.  Less than a minute earlier, McHale got an elbow to the nose and had broken it.  I was sitting near where the teams came out and the high 5 McHale gave me still hurts!

(Pitino's 1st game, last year's playoffs and others, but these two stick in my mind)


MLB (again, so many, four stand out)
10/16/99
Sox vs Yankees
Game 3  ALCS  Pedro beats Clemens 13-1

10/2/83
Sox vs Indians
last game of the year.  Yaz's last game.  An amazing experience, my grandfather's last game.

10/24/04
Sox vs. Cardinals
Schilling pitches, bloody sock and all.  Sox win 3-1

10/18/04
Sox vs. Yankees
14 innings, Sox win to send series back to NY
(There are so, so many more, but these are immediate to my mind)

Pro Football
11/13/94
Patriots vs Vikings
Bledsoe lights up second half for a come from behind OT victory, setting NFL marks in attempts and completions

Pro Hockey
4/14/85
Bruins vs Canadians
Bruins win 7-6 in the old Garden, your's truly gets thrown out and then sneaks back into to see the win!

World Cup
7/9/94
Italy vs. Spain
Quarter finals Italy wins 2-1

College Football
11/25/83
Boston Collge vs. Alabama
Sullivan Stadium cold, rainy, snowy, power goes out, BC wins 20 - 13

College Hoops
Nothing really stands out -- lots of games, a few tourneys, but nothing shattering.

[wil]

Game one of the 2008 NBA finals

10/28/08 Opening night to see Banner 17 raised!

[Andy Jick]

3 of my buddies and i got tickets for the ncaa regional basketball tournament back in early 2000 (it may have been 2002) at Rupp Arena in Lexington, KY...it was the game where indiana came back to beat duke after trailing (if i recall correctly) by 18 points.  it was mike davis' first year as head coach, for a reference point.

one of the most amazing things i've ever witnessed live, in an environment that was unbelievable.

[Redz]

Game one of the 2008 NBA finals

10/28/08 Opening night to see Banner 17 raised!

Forgot that one my list!  Derrr 

View from my seat...And a TP to Wil for the seat hookup!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2CgNL3Ixew

[Hoyo de Monterrey]

SNOW BOWL!!!!!!!!

That glorious, glorious tuck rule... Three obnoxious Raider fans had already started celebrating in the stands after seeing the replay on the screen, and were DESTROYED by a flurry of snowballs to the head (some may have been ice). Security looked the other way on it, and to add insult to injury, the game played out the way it did.

Honorable mention (not even same ballpark haha)
Celtics-Atlanta game 7: the place ERUPTED when Zaza got dropped by KG
Sox-Angels ALDS game 4: Lowrie's walk off single to win the series...
Best baseball seats I ever had... I can see where we were sitting on this video in the 3rd row.
 
 http://ianonsports.wordpress.com/2008/10/10/red-sox-2008-alds-game-4-walk-off-hit-jed-lowrie/