In part 2 of the Best Games list, we share sheer joy. Before that, some honorable mentions: Comiskey Park trying to catch home run balls in batting practice from Canseco and McGwire, and later talking to Ron Kittle in LF through the netting. My road trip games to PNC Park where a Sammy Sosa HR landed about 10 feet away from me, and my birthday trip to old Riverfront stadium. Finally, a preseason Bears game that I mentioned a couple days ago where 8 of us drank at regular season pace on the way to a memorable evening.
Back to the list, and here’s the top 5:
5. April 27, 2013: Brooklyn Nets at Chicago Bulls
Yes, the 3 OT thriller in Game 4 of the playoffs that ended with a 142-134 Bulls victory. Talk about being truly exhausted after a game… The ups and downs, standing up, sitting down, yelling and screaming… all with my 1 year old son crying every time the crowd went nuts from the 4th quarter on; we were NOT leaving this game early, no matter what! I barely had a voice after this one. For this game alone I will always remember Nate Robinson. This was a true Bulls game in every way. Battling through a year without their best player pitted them against the #4 seed Brooklyn Nets. Yeah, it went 7, and yeah, Noah answered the bell, and yeah, the Bulls brought it home. This was the best game of the bunch, an epic playoff victory that showed just how much fight the Bulls had in them game in and game out. An instant classic that will always be remembered.
4. May 16, 2011: Miami Heat at Chicago Bulls
In Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, the Bulls absolutely pasted the Heat. It was great to have season tickets. It allowed us to enjoy some awesome games in person. We chose to attend Game 1 of this series. This was the first time the Bulls made it to the Eastern Conference Finals in a while, and who was waiting to meet them, but the hated Big 3. The UC was rocking from the outset. I think the Bulls left everything out there for this game, as they couldn’t win another game in the series. Although it didn’t end in a playoffs series victory, it was still one of the sweetest victories. Poor girl sitting next to me in a Lebron jersey… Before the game her dad was bragging that she shook hands with Lebron as I said “who cares”. Towards the end of the game, her dad put his jacket over her jersey as they headed for the gates early. It’s never pretty up there in the 300 level for a fan of the opponent, especially a hated one. I always wanted the Bulls to get another shot at them at full strength, but it never happened. I guess we’ll have to settle for a Cavalier matchup…
3. August 28, 2008: Philadelphia Phillies at Chicago Cubs
The best Cub game I ever attended. I was still living in LA at the time, and was back on vacation. I had to make a trip to the baseball cathedral that is Wrigley. This night was supposed to be a couples thing, but my brother had to back out last minute; this left my wife and I with 2 lucky guys we sold the tickets too. They were die hard fans too, which is always nice. My brother missed a good one here…
It was a perfect night. In a playoff preview, the game was played closely. With a 5 game winning streak on the line, the Cubs trailed 4-1 going into the bottom of the 8th inning; that’s when magic struck. As Aramis Ramirez stepped to the plate with the bases loaded, he hit the 1st pitch into the bleachers, and I went nuts. Wrigley was out of control. This was a sign. This was our year! Well, yeah, it was the best Cubs game I ever attended. I’ll never forget it.
Stress due to work pressure also tadalafil online 40mg results in much higher electricity bills. In many ways bullies are addicted to bad behavior and it is a real uphill battle cialis tadalafil 10mg to cure anyone of an addiction. Regular intake order viagra of this medicinal drink helps in relieving stiff and aching of joints. However, one has to be extra cialis pills insightful and careful when buying products through online pharmacies. 2. October 16, 2006: Chicago Bears at Arizona Cardinals
My cousin, who lived in Phoenix, wanted to hookup with my aunt who was in Vegas for a conference. Living in LA, I flew down to Phoenix, we drove to Vegas, and had a blast… so much so, I was barely able to wake up the next day. We needed to get going. We had to drive back to Arizona because he was a Cardinal season ticket holder… and they were playing on Monday Night Football… against the undefeated Bears. Bring it on!
I couldn’t even force myself to drink that game, and it was probably better that I didn’t. Up in the last row of the stadium, we watched the first half in disbelief as the Bears were getting pounded, and trailed 20-0. I was sick to my stomach. As we sat through halftime, our luck was about to change. A guy in front of us offered his 2 tickets for our 2 tickets… he wanted to sit up there to talk with his father. Of course we said OK, and we began the 2nd half about 15 rows up at the 30 yard line in the middle of a sea of Cardinal red.
Do you remember where you were for this game? The Mark Anderson sack and Mike Brown fumble recovery TD. The Urlacher strip and Peanut fumble recovery TD. By the way, I have never seen Urlacher play a better game. He was a man on a mission that night, and I questioned whether he was on something the way he flew around that field. The Hester punt return TD. I’ll never forget that one… as soon as he made that one cut, I knew he was gone. It wasn’t over yet though… the Cardinals had one last chance, and the ball was spotted almost exactly in front of us as Neil Rackers came on for a game winning FG attempt. He missed and I took off my Butkus jersey and began waving it for everyone around me to see. As we continued to celebrate the victory, while talking to Brian Baldinger from NFL network saying this is the Bears year, the big screen went to the Dennis Green postgame conference. Yeah, I remember that night clearly. Bear down baby.
1. June 14, 1992: Portland Trailblazers at Chicago Bulls
How do you get tickets to Game 6 of the NBA Finals? The answer is you don’t. You have a best friend whose father is a fireman, who was able to drop us off at the Stadium gate; yeah, they let us in. I remember as my best friend, brother, and myself flocked towards standing room only territory, seeing the NBA championship trophy sitting there. I couldn’t believe I was in the stadium… this was not real.
Yeah, after 3 quarters, I was telling myself the same thing; this was not real. The Bulls trailing by 15 points to start the 4th quarter, I was worried. Everybody knows what happened next. How many times can a crowd sing that famous pump you up, comeback song… da, da, da, da, da, HEY, da, da, da, da! The 1992 bench mob began the comeback that saw MJ famously waving the towel on the bench. Of course, he was in there for the final touches, which included stripping Buck Williams of the ball late in the 4th. The Bulls were back to back champions, and I was there.
I didn’t stay and see them dancing on the tables… our ride was waiting and we had to go. I remember high fiving everybody on the way to the car. I remember driving home in a convertible as the streets were flooded with people. I remember getting home and slamming one of my first cans of beer. It was an unforgettable night. There is only one way this game gets topped…
So there it is: the completion of my top 10 games I attended. I hope you enjoyed it. How does your list look? It was fun to go down memory lane. Compiling this list brought back many happy memories; can’t say the same about my top 10 worst. I hope to add to this best list going forward. Get out there, and get to a game. You never know what could happen. You may just see one of your top 10 games. Next scheduled game for me: August 22nd Baltimore Orioles at Chicago Cubs. Will this game make the cut?
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