My Moments (Pean)

by user Pean

I've been meaning to add something to The Beast's my moments idea (which I think is a fantastic idea). Instead of an overall top 10, I decided to break it down into moments I've seen in person and moments from other sources. Hope you enjoy.

My Top Moments In Person

5. New York Giants "at" New Orleans Saints

Giants Stadium

September 19th, 2005

My ticket to anarchy

Out of all the sporting events I've ever been to, this was definitely the most out of control game ever. After Hurricane Katrina, the Saints were forced to play their "home" game at Giants Stadium. Since this was not a normal Giants home game, tickets were opened up to the public, as opposed to the season ticket holders. The result? Crazy fans + Tailgaiting in the afternoon for a 7:30PM Monday Night game = absolute anarchy. I saw one Giants fan punch a fellow Giants fan in the back of the head, knocking him into the railing out cold. Security came in and eventually dragged the puncher down the stars by holding his legs and not really paying attention to his noggin'. After almost getting kicked out ourselves, we were able to see the Giants coast to a 27-10 victory to improve to 2-0. It was a fun night, and the Giants looked like they were on to a promising season.

http://www.giants.com/news/eisen/story.asp?story_id=8952

4. Dallas Stars at New Jersey Devils

2000-2001 Stanley Cup Finals - Game 1

Continental Airlines Arena

May 2000

I couldn't find the right stub, so I just used the 2003 Finals Stub :)

Back when I liked hockey, I used to be a HUGE Devils fan. In 2000, me and my brother landed a few Stanley Cup tickets for Game 1 against the Dallas Stars. I can't remember the Meadowlands being more rowdy. It was unbelievable, because Dallas had a pretty good squad that year, but the Devils just absolutely crushed them 7-3. I don't remember the exact sequence of scoring, but I wouldn't be surprised if the Devils had a 7-0 lead. This Championship was great, because I didn't have to hear "tainted cup" from stupid Rangers fans who said the Devils 1995 half-season championship didn't count.

3. Providence College vs. #14 University of Illinois

Jimmy V Classic

Madison Square Garden

December 9th, 2003

Armchair readers, you're going to have to put my college basketball moment into perspective. I've been following PC since 1998, and the good times have been hard to come by. However, on this night we upset a highly touted Illini team at the Garden. Afterwards, my college buddies and I went to a bar that was owned by another PC alum. Coach Tim Welsh showed, and received an enormous amount of cheers from everyone. George Steinbrenner also made an appearance (I think he was a part-owner of the bar), so I was also able to meet him. With a few drinks in me, I said something smart-assed about letting Andy Pettitte (my favorite player) go and getting Javier Vasquez. Maybe he remembered my ramblings.

2. Baltimore Ravens at New York Giants

"Let me on the field!"

Preseason Game 2004

Giants Stadium

September 2, 2004

How can a preseason game possibly make the list? Because I was on the sidelines holding a parabola! I was able to get the gig because my brother works for a television production company who did some NFL games. They needed people to hold the sound dishes, so I jumped at it (I think they even payed me like 50 bucks or something). Even though my arms got pretty tired, it was awesome to be that close to the action. Ray Lewis walked by me, and I was genuinely terrified.

1. Boston Red Sox at New York Yankees

Ah 1992. The good 'ol days

Home Opener 1992

Yankee Stadium

April 7, 1992

Even though the Yankees were horrible in the early 90's, this was a great moment because my parents took me and let me skip school in order to go! Eh, what do you learn in 6th grade anyway. Unfortunately, my hatred for the Red Sox had not quite completely festered. Although, growing up, my Mom always told me I should hate them. The hatred fully sprouted at college, dealing with hundreds of drunk Sox fans a day. Anway, the Yanks won, Don Mattingly had 3 hits, I got my yearbook -- Needless to say, I was a happy 11 year-old.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYA/NYA199204070.shtml

Honorable Mention - San Francisco Giants Win Cranford 11-12 Year-Olds Championship

Superstar in the making

Cranford, NJ

Sometime in 1991

Although winning a small town little league championship didn't get the offers from scouts I thought I would get, it was still fun. We upset the Boston Red Sox (ha!). It was a rough season because I had to constantly fight off those steroid allegations (even though the back of my baseball card lists me as Height: 4' 10", Weight: 70).