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Topic: OT: You Had to Be There!

Topic: OT: You Had to Be There!

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GoCats105
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OT: You Had to Be There!

Posted: 6/18/2019 10:30:10 AM

Bored.

Let's hear your favorite non-Ohio related sports memories which you've witnessed in person.

-Witnessing Michael Jordan hit a game winner against the Cavs...while with the Wizards. He hit it in almost the same exact spot as the shot over Ehlo. I was with my dad and two classmates during my senior year of high school, sitting in the 6th row behind the Wizards bench. I vaguely remember listening to Joe Tate after the game just being exhausted, because MJ had done it to the Cavs so many times.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwW9XbwlV1o

-It's a family tradition for me to go to the Indy 500 every year, and each year presents their own memorable moment. But I'll never forget 2011. It's not rare for a rookie to win at Indy, but it felt extra special that California native and newcomer J.R. Hildebrand took the lead late in the race. It had been a while since an American won the 500 and he was sponsored by The National Guard. Anyone who has ever been to Indy or watched in on TV knows it's all about honoring America and our soldiers. He HAD it...until...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Of-FuBD_2jA&t=165s

-The Miracle in Michigan. I was sitting on the 20 yard line about 15 rows up on the end of the field where the ball was caught. Leading into the play, we all thought the game was over. There's no way the ball will travel that far. We seriously underestimated Kordell Stewart's arm strength. Look at the tape below...he uncorks that ball from the God damn opposite 27 yard line! The trajectory of the ball looks like it will land on or around the goal line. That's a 70+ yard throw! I know Doug Flutie's Hail Mary gets more press, but this was way more ridiculous. And the ball was tipped!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Nt6HjqtJt8&t=53s

-Witnessing Akron St. Vincent St. Mary upset by St. Bernard Roger Bacon for the 2002 Division II State Championship...from the Roger Bacon student section. Most of us know this story. The one state title that LeBron and friends lost. My dad just happened to work with someone in the Cincinnati area whose kids attended Roger Bacon. We were going to the game regardless, but then got the student section tickets the earlier in the day. It was bonkers. Not until my time in the O Zone had I witnessed anything like that. Those kids never sat down the entire time.

-The 2002 Division 4 Regionals at the Canton Fieldhouse were always my goal as a player. I witnessed many, many games at the Fieldhouse and wanted to play there really bad. Unfortunately my senior year we weren't good enough, but the team that bounced us out of the tournament, Strasburg-Franklin, did make it. Strasburg had just went to a state tournament the year prior and lost a couple of really good players, so getting to a 2nd state tournament in a row would have been a huge accomplishment.

That's until they ran into John King and the Bristol Panthers. In the semifinals leading up to the clash with Strasburg, King hit 10 three pointers in a win over Sebring. I remember vividly leaving the game early, and King had already hit eight threes. While walking in the halls of the Fieldhouse toward the exit, we heard him hit the next two to get to an even 10. King led Bristol over Strasburg a few nights later, but hearing the crowd go berserk from the hallway as he hit his 10th was something I'll never forget.

-I hit a 3-run homerun in a wiffle ball tournament off of a former Reds pitcher (according to my friends, which I still don't believe).

OhioCatFan
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RE: OT: You Had to Be There!

Posted: 6/18/2019 11:07:24 AM

Mine has nothing to do with play on the field, or a particularly memorable game. It involves some experiences on a personal baseball excursion to Cincinnati in about 1963. I took the train from Athens to Cincinnati to see the Cubs play the Reds. Before the game at Crosley Field, Ernie Banks, my childhood idol, came out to an area toward the back of the stadium where he could talk to fans. There was a short fence between him and the fans, but it was only about four feet tall, so it didn't really obstruct your view. Some handed him baseballs over the fence for him to autograph. I didn't have a ball with me, but I was able to exchange a few words with him, and be the recipient personally of a hand wave one of his captivating smiles. It's a scene I will always remember and cherish.

Then, as I was walking back to the train station after the game, a car stopped and offered me a ride. You won't believe who was in the car: Jack Quinlan and Lou Boudreau, the Cubs broadcasters. I had listened to them on my radio for several years broadcast the Cub games on WGN. Yes, I had a special radio setup in my room with an outside antenna so I could listen to WGN during daytime Cub games in the summer, sometimes through static crashes when there were storms in the area. Yes, in those days, I was a most devoted fan. And, there I was sitting in the same car with these two legendary broadcasters. It was almost surreal. I don't remember exactly what we talked about, but I'm sure I came off as an awestruck kid (I was about 18 at the time) from the sticks. I do remember we had a pleasant conversation on the way to the train station, and they were both extremely cordial. I suppose the reason they offered me the ride was that I was the only one they saw wearing a Cubs cap.

So, this day is one day that will forever live in my memory. I got to meet Ernie Banks, Lou Boudreau and Jack Quinlan all in one memorable Saturday afternoon in the Queen City!

The only BLSS Certified Hypocrite on BA

"It is better to be an optimist and be proven a fool than to be a pessimist and be proven right."

Note: My avatar is the national colors of the 78th Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry, which are now preserved in a climate controlled vault at the Ohio History Connection. Learn more about the old 78th at: http://www.78ohio.org

SBH
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RE: OT: You Had to Be There!

Posted: 6/18/2019 11:10:18 AM

1. Sitting at ringside when Chuck Wepner, the Bayonne Bleeder, took Muhammad Ali into round 15 at Richfield Coliseum in 1975. Spit and blood everywhere.

2. Having my photo taken next to Wilt Chamberlain (actually Wilt's knee) at the Cleveland Arena in 1970.

3. Evacuating the upper deck of Cleveland Municipal Stadium when my father and others became convinced the building was going to collapse due to vibrations from thousands of kids pounding their Bat Day bats. 1967 or '68

4. Seeing rookie sensation Mark Fidrych make his first start against he Tribe in 1976.

5. Watching Howard Cosell take a swing at my father. My dad was a sportswriter back then and my mom suggested it would be enlightening for me to watch him conduct an interview. It certainly was enlightening.

Favorite Ohio sports memories:

1. "****" at the Ritz" - Homecoming 1981(?)

2. Rufus's head falling off and bouncing near the 50-yard-line as he parachuted into Peden Stadium (2003?)

3. Dave Jamerson scorching Kent in Kent with 52 points in 30 minutes

Last Edited: 6/18/2019 1:14:17 PM by SBH

BillyTheCat
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RE: OT: You Had to Be There!

Posted: 6/18/2019 11:14:32 AM

SBH wrote:

2. Rufus's head falling off and bouncing near the 50-yard-line as he parachuted into Peden Stadium (2003?)

Boeh wanted to fire someone over that one. The guy wearing the suit those was in the military and Boeh couldn�t fire him. But the marketing department took a beating over that one.

Kevin Finnegan
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RE: OT: You Had to Be There!

Posted: 6/18/2019 11:14:37 AM

--Was at Yankee Stadium when Don Mattingly's #23 was retired. He was my guy growing up, so that was pretty monumental.

--Had seats behind home plate (a bit high up) for the Yankees first World Series win at the new stadium. It was Game 2 of the 2009 World Series. My Yankees beat Pedro Martinez. In batting practice, caught a home run ball from Derek Jeter while in Monument Park.

--Was at Yankee Stadium the day that Mickey Mantle passed away. Since that was my dad's player, it meant quite a lot to be there with him.

--Played shortstop while Kevin Costner pitched at the Field of Dreams. Costner was back to watch the movie for the first time on the field and played baseball for hours beforehand, pitching to any kid who wanted to bat. I shagged from SS for him and got to talk to him quite a lot. Meant even more when I returned to the field eight years later with my son and had a catch on that field with him.

--My brother blocked a kick for Virginia Tech in the ACC Championship game as the Hokies beat Matt Ryan and the Boston College Eagles.

--As a kid, I got to be the batboy for the USO Tour in Frankfurt, Germany. I played catch with Bob Feller, George Foster, Jim Bunning, and others.

Greatest non-sports You Had to Be There! moment, hands-down, was being in East Germany on November 9, 1989. That night, we stood on top of the wall when the fall of Berlin was announced. We even knocked chips out of the wall that night until we were yelled at by guards to stop. I was 9 years old, and it was the thrill of a lifetime that I still haven't forgotten.

https://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/fall-of-the-berli...

Last Edited: 6/18/2019 11:16:44 AM by Kevin Finnegan

shabamon
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RE: OT: You Had to Be There!

Posted: 6/18/2019 11:29:00 AM

BillyTheCat wrote:

SBH wrote:

2. Rufus's head falling off and bouncing near the 50-yard-line as he parachuted into Peden Stadium (2003?)

Boeh wanted to fire someone over that one. The guy wearing the suit those was in the military and Boeh couldn�t fire him. But the marketing department took a beating over that one.

Don't tell me that happened twice, because that definitely happened in the 2008 game vs BG.

OU_Country
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RE: OT: You Had to Be There!

Posted: 6/18/2019 11:30:15 AM

Since we're in the basketball forum, I'll mention one I was lucky to be at. My dad was a CPA, and one his clients was a Pizza Hut franchise owner, who at the time got access to NCAA Tournament tickets via their corporate sponsorship. I went with Dad to several games, but one of the most memorable was when underdog Xavier took down the Georgetown "Twin Towers" of Dikembe Mutumbo and Alonzo Mourning at the now long gone Hoosier Dome in the Midwest Regional.

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/postseason/1990-ncaa...

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/boxscores/1990-03-18...

rpbobcat
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RE: OT: You Had to Be There!

Posted: 6/18/2019 11:35:30 AM

1.Going to the "old" Yankee Stadium for the first time.

2.Sitting in the stands,freezing my butt off, watching the Giants
win their first NFC Championship.

3.Watching OSU get beat by Miami at the Kickoff Classic at Giants Stadium

4.Going to a Springsteen concert at the Garden,and seeing Al Leiter a few rows up behind me.
(Couldn't believe we had better seats then a Mets' pitcher)

5.Going to a Springsteen Concert at Shea Stadium and walking on
the same field as the 69 Mets,including the pitching mound Tom Seaver used.
(Al Lieter was at this concert too.But he was on stage playing the tambourine with Suzy Tyrell.)

5.For my wife:Getting to meet Joe Paterno at the Garden at the finals of the N.I.T.

Last Edited: 6/18/2019 11:37:43 AM by rpbobcat

shabamon
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RE: OT: You Had to Be There!

Posted: 6/18/2019 11:43:13 AM

I was at Game 3 of Cavs/Raptors series last year when Lebron hit this runner at the buzzer. I've been to fewer than 10 NBA games in my life, so to say I saw a top 3 player of all time hit a playoff buzzer beater sits nicely with me. BTW, Cavs games are LOUD. Not due to fan noise, but PA/music. Good lord.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rfsj8zHNfls

2015 or so, saw the Bengals come back from 17 down in the 4th quarter against Seattle. They had to basically do a Chinese fire drill to kick a tying field goal at the end of regulation because they had no timeouts. They then doinked a field goal between the uprights in OT to win it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VOlcrBRSEc

I was also at the dreadful playoff game later that year against Pittsburgh when they crapped their legs in the final minute. Obviously not a "favorite" memory, but as I reflect on it, I'm thankful to have experienced a game so bizarre with bottles thrown onto the field and fights all over the stadium, etc.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3vcdYNwQ6k

I took my son to his first baseball game last summer, Cubs at Reds. Reds pitcher Anthony Desclefani hit a grand slam and the place went delirious. My son got scared at the eruption.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q870hUoFkSI

This awesome high school Hail Mary where one guy Mossed the entire defense last year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqpZb-UjVKk

Last Edited: 6/18/2019 1:16:41 PM by shabamon

Doc Bobcat
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RE: OT: You Had to Be There!

Posted: 6/18/2019 12:02:58 PM

Favorite Non Ohio

Getting Stan Musials autograph and having him step on my foot......ouch.

Favorite Ohio

Taking my sons to see Dave Jamersons record breaking 3 point game...he stepped to the foul line and missed his first foul shot....It was quiet and I yelled �BACK UP�....the next day in the Cbus Dispatch the reporter mentioned that a fan had yelled Back Up.

Mike Johnson
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RE: OT: You Had to Be There!

Posted: 6/18/2019 12:28:53 PM

September 1954. Age 9. With my dad at Municipal Stadium, packed with about 84,000 fans, to watch the Indians host the Yankees in a doubleheader. Indians swept, virtually locking up the American League pennant.

http://www.facebook.com/mikejohnson.author

FearLeon
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RE: OT: You Had to Be There!

Posted: 6/18/2019 2:52:40 PM

Game 6 of 1986 World Series. Mets-Red Sox #BillyBuckner

#BleedGreen #TrentIsGOAT

cc-cat
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RE: OT: You Had to Be There!

Posted: 6/18/2019 3:23:54 PM

On field pre-game for 100th anniversary of Rutgers/Princeton football game - my great grandfather is credited with scoring the first touchdown (goal) in college football history.

Last Game at Connie Mack - Got bats from clubhouse attendant afterwards

First Game at the Vet

Three Rivers for Clemente's 3,000th

Yankee Stadium on Fleet Day the afternoon of the 1st Gulf War Parade - took my father - a Navy man.

Madison Square Garden sitting just above the NBC platform as they (Costas, etc) and everyone else watched the OJ white Bronco chase on their monitors.

On field holding American flag with son and wife as Panthers were introduced for 2015 Conference Championship on way to Super Bowl.

Atlanta Olympics watching two non-contending teams play men's field hockey - a reminder of what the Olympics were suppose to be about.

Playing softball and basketball with Maria Maples - pre Trump affair (barely)

GoCats105
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RE: OT: You Had to Be There!

Posted: 6/18/2019 3:25:41 PM

FearLeon wrote:

Game 6 of 1986 World Series. Mets-Red Sox #BillyBuckner

No way!

GoCats105
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RE: OT: You Had to Be There!

Posted: 6/18/2019 3:27:38 PM

cc-cat wrote:

Madison Square Garden sitting just above the NBC platform as they (Costas, etc) and everyone else watched the OJ white Bronco chase on their monitors.

That one is bananas. Since this was the time before cell phones, wasn't pretty much everyone in the stands totally out of the loop?

cc-cat
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RE: OT: You Had to Be There!

Posted: 6/18/2019 3:31:32 PM

GoCats105 wrote:

cc-cat wrote:

Madison Square Garden sitting just above the NBC platform as they (Costas, etc) and everyone else watched the OJ white Bronco chase on their monitors.

That one is bananas. Since this was the time before cell phones, wasn't pretty much everyone in the stands totally out of the loop?

They actually had the "chase" on the TVs at the concession stands instead of the game. Hundreds stood in the concession area and watched the chase instead of the game. We were able to watch both thanks to Bob Costas. Watched 30 for 30 the other day on that day's events. Realized if he had actually killed himself we probably wouldn't have the Kardashians today.....oh what could have been.

Last Edited: 6/18/2019 3:33:02 PM by cc-cat

OU_Country
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RE: OT: You Had to Be There!

Posted: 6/18/2019 3:41:39 PM

GoCats105 wrote:

cc-cat wrote:

Madison Square Garden sitting just above the NBC platform as they (Costas, etc) and everyone else watched the OJ white Bronco chase on their monitors.

That one is bananas. Since this was the time before cell phones, wasn't pretty much everyone in the stands totally out of the loop?

I vividly remember this one. My family was travelling on vacation and my dad and I were arriving at a hotel excited to watch the Knicks and Rockets. Instead we got hours of the white Bronco.

OU_Country
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RE: OT: You Had to Be There!

Posted: 6/18/2019 3:43:45 PM

Doc Bobcat wrote:

Favorite Non Ohio

Getting Stan Musials autograph and having him step on my foot......ouch.

Outstanding!

ytownbobcat
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RE: OT: You Had to Be There!

Posted: 6/18/2019 4:11:07 PM

As a young man I saw Jim Piersall go after Jim Bunting on a full assault. It was a fathers day game and I had never seen or heard of anything so bizarre.

GoCats105
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RE: OT: You Had to Be There!

Posted: 6/18/2019 4:49:45 PM

Mike Johnson wrote:

Its crazy to me that the attendance for a baseball game was that high back then. I guess that's what happens when you play in a football stadium.

Doc Bobcat
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RE: OT: You Had to Be There!

Posted: 6/18/2019 5:48:02 PM

ytownbobcat wrote:

As a young man I saw Jim Piersall go after Jim Bunting on a full assault. It was a fathers day game and I had never seen or heard of anything so bizarre.

They broke the mold on Piersall....he�d run around backwards after hitting a homer...then on the next homer he�d slide into all the bases..watched him beat the crap out of a fan who came onto the field of play...funniest act had to be when he and Harry Caray announced a Sox/Cubs game from the Wrigley outfield...drunk.

Last Edited: 6/18/2019 5:49:00 PM by Doc Bobcat

Jeff McKinney
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RE: OT: You Had to Be There!

Posted: 6/18/2019 6:30:18 PM

OhioCatFan wrote:

Great story!

PhiTau74
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RE: OT: You Had to Be There!

Posted: 6/18/2019 7:29:59 PM

The Drive, Elway vs the Browns and I�m still pissed.

OUVan
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RE: OT: You Had to Be There!

Posted: 6/18/2019 7:32:42 PM

I was an Air Force brat and lived in St. Petersburg, Florida from 1965-71. My Dad was sent to Vietnam in late 1969 and we used to send him audio tapes every week that we made as a family. St. Pete used to be the Spring Training home to both the Cardinals and the Mets. The country club we belonged to used to host a celebrity golf tournament during Spring Training every year and my Mom got the idea that we should try to get some interviews from some ball players. My Dad was a huge baseball fan (Reds) and we thought he'd get a kick out of it.

Anyway, we get to the course and the first two players we come across are Bud Harrelson and Jerry Koosman. Keep in mind that this is the Spring of 1970 so the Mets are still basking in their WS win. My Mom pushes us up there and my brother and I are sitting their stammering trying to ask a question when Harrelson kneels down, grabs the microphone and calls Koosman over and they proceed to interview us. If it had ended there it would have been a special moment but it didn't. They then grab our hands and walk us around the golf course and we got about 20 players on tape, including Stan Musial. After hearing our story Musial even offered to buy us dinner later which we unfortunately had to decline because we were driving to my Grandmother's house that night across state. Anyway, only two players declined to be interviewed. One was Yogi Berra but he was literally getting into a cab. The other one hurt, Johnny Bench. As I said earlier my dad was a Reds fan and as such I was a Reds fan and Bench was my 2nd favorite player (Vada Pinson). He was on the practice tee and just waived them off when they asked. But the good far outweighed that moment and I still have a warm place in my heart for Harrelson and Koosman (and Musial). The tape was a huge hit in Vietnam (actually Laos but you didn't hear that from me) and my Dad said he played it for everybody he knew. He passed away in 2005 and we came across it. Took a while to find someone who had a reel-to-reel tape player but we played it for our families.

BillyTheCat
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RE: OT: You Had to Be There!

Posted: 6/18/2019 8:16:06 PM

OUVan wrote:

Totally NOT surprised by Johnny Bench, he is known for such attitudes towards fans. Amazing how well he was liked due to the demanor that he shows in private to fans when cameras are not around.

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