Sports Time Travel: Where Do You Go?

[DustDevil61]

The DustDevil61 Trip through Time has a few stops.

What I'd go see:

- The first game the (then) New Orleans Jazz played in 1974, and then the first home game the franchise played in Utah in 1979.

- While I'm at it, I'd go see the Utah Stars play, and be there when they won the ABA title in 1971.

- I'd go back to see Stan Musial play for the Cardinals in person, and similarly I'd go see Ozzie Smith.

- I may also drop by Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum and see an A's game before the Raiders moved back--you know, when the park was nice.

I would attempt to make the following changes:

- I'd love to see the look on Georgia Frontiere's face when a certain lead points to her as a suspect in Carol Rosenbloom's death in 1979.

- Warning fans of the Sacramento Kings (and NBA fans in general) that the NBA plans to alter the outcome of Game 6 of the 2002 Western Conference Finals.

- Convincing George Shinn to sell the Hornets to Clay Bennett and keep the team in Oklahoma City permanently (and renaming them the Thunder then, perhaps with a better logo). Sorry, Pelicans fans, and Pierre--may you only roam the darkest imaginations of NBA fans everywhere.

That's all I've got for now.

[B-Rich]

Great topic idea.

I have two approaches. One is "watch", the other is "action".

In terms of watch, I'd love to go back to see some stuff around the time when I was born (1964): some AFL games pre-merger (Lance Alworth in his prime), the last year of Houston Colt .45s, the classic 1964 World Series, the first Clay/Liston fight, a St. Louis Hawks game, and an LSU football game in a non-upper-decked Tiger Stadium.

I'd also like to visit 1974, which I can remember, but due to my age (9/10 yrs. old) missed a lot of things. I'd first see some WFL games (the early part of the season ones); I'd check out a Saints game in the last year of Tulane Stadium (I never got to see them there), I'd see the New Orleans Jazz in their first year (maybe vs. the Buffalo Braves!), catch an actual ABA game and a WHA game; maybe another LSU game to compare the crowds, stadium, etc. to 10 yrs. previous as well as 10, 20, 30 years later (which I already experienced in 1984, 1994, and 2004).

In terms of action, I'd do a few things regarding the New Orleans Jazz. Number one, I'd go back to January 31, 1978, and tell Pistol Pete Maravich not to make any between-the-legs passes in that night's games (in the real world, he badly injured his knee doing that, an injury that bothered him the rest of the career. He, in fact, missed all but three games the remainder of the season, and the Jazz finished 2 games out of playoff contention that year). Secondly, I'd tell Pistol that sometime soon, he needed to see a heart specialist/cardiologist (after he died at 40 of heart failure, an autopsy showed he had a rare congenital defect-- he had no left coronary artery, and his right coronary artery was enlarged to make up for the difference). And then finally, I'd do all I could to get a local moneyman-- Louis Roussel, Edgar Stern, maybe even a younger Tom Benson-- to make a strong offer to Sam Battistone to buy the team, and worked to have gotten the backing of a the local political establishment (who in our timeline did little or nothing at the time) to keep the team . Just a few more years in New Orleans would have gotten them to the BIrd/Magic NBA" re-birth" and maybe into the "David Stern as commissioner" era (starting in 1984). Now, I'm not saying for sure that the Jazz franchise would have stayed in the New Orleans area the whole time since then -- there is a strong possibility that the team would have moved during the "oil bust" time period of the mid to late 1980s, This was also when two other teams were moving from big domes into arenas (Sonics in 1985, Pistons in 1988) and that also may have been a point of contention, with the New Orleans Jazz needing to move into a new arena instead of playing in the cavernous Superdome. But I think that at least without the move to Utah under Battistone in 1979, the name "Jazz" would not have moved as well, as Battistone himself stated that he wanted to keep the name, logos and colors, so that when they became successful, everyone would know it was the same franchise. Thus, even if the Jazz moved in the late 80s, any subsequent replacement team (relocated/expansion, whatever) could have the Jazz name back.

[Vintage White]

The last world series that the cubs and white sox played each other. sometime in the 80s i guess. that musta been something!!!!!!!!

[Needschat]

I would definitely travel back to 1974. I would convince the Schenectady, NY, city council that the mayor's refusal to back the $10 million cost of building a sports arena, at least $2 million would come from a local construction company. This arena would have housed an American Basketball Association expansion franchise for the 1975-76 season, the Tri-City Comets. This arena would more than likely would have housed an American Hockey League or a World Hockey Association team, as well as a Major Indoor Soccer League team, in 1978 or 1979.

From reports I've read, the association, as well as the owners from the Nets, were looking forward to this team. But the mayor did not want it, due to his conflict with the family-owned construction company - they refused to give to his candidacies and the company his family had dealings with would often lose to them.

Initial reports were that the arena would hold 15,000 for basketball, 13,000+ for hockey, though the capacity could be raised with further expansion.

[goalieboy82]

would go back to the 1930's and 1940's and watch the Negro League.

[fouhy12]

I would go back to 2002 and watch New England win the Super Bowl. I would also go to my dad's house for that night to watch his reaction to the game.

[Tigers6884]

These ideas are all really cool. However, we would have to avoid the “action" ones as they would cause a huge change in history as well as a time paradox (some might cause our creation to never take place). Meeting your heros would be cool, but don't try to save their lives or save your team.

Going to historic games would be fine, because that would only cause a small change in attendance.

[rams80]

These ideas are all really cool. However, we would have to avoid the “action" ones as they would cause a huge change in history as well as a time paradox (some might cause our creation to never take place). Meeting your heros would be cool, but don't try to save their lives or save your team.

Going to historic games would be fine, because that would only cause a small change in attendance.

Nah, it'll be fine. I grabbed a foul ball as a souvenir while I went back in time to Wrigley to watch Game 6 of the 2003 NLCS. The Cubs still won, right?

[Tigers6884]

These ideas are all really cool. However, we would have to avoid the “action" ones as they would cause a huge change in history as well as a time paradox (some might cause our creation to never take place). Meeting your heros would be cool, but don't try to save their lives or save your team.

Going to historic games would be fine, because that would only cause a small change in attendance.

Nah, it'll be fine. I grabbed a foul ball as a souvenir while I went back in time to Wrigley to watch Game 6 of the 2003 NLCS. The Cubs still won, right?

Well played, Bartman. Well played.

[FiddySicks]

October 1st, 1903, Boston, Mass. To see the Boston Americans take on the Pittsburgh Pitates in the first ever World Series game.

Or I'd go WAY back to see the Roman Colosseum in its heyday. Preferably when it had a roof, because Rome gets damn hot in the summer.

[goalieboy82]

October 1st, 1903, Boston, Mass. To see the Boston Americans take on the Pittsburgh Pitates in the first ever World Series game.

Or I'd go WAY back to see the Roman Colosseum in its heyday. Preferably when it had a roof, because Rome gets damn hot in the summer.

would be interesting to see the gladiatorial combat. would need to learn latin first (unless you have somekind of language device that lets you speak and hear different languages).

off topic, would also like to go back to November 1863 to hear Lincoln's Gettysburg Address and back to early American history (listen in to the drafting of the Declaration of Indpendence and the drafting of the Constitution).

[illwauk]

1965... I can see one of Lombardi's championship Packers teams, the last year of the Braves in Milwaukee, The Crusher becoming AWA World Heavyweight Champion, and convince the students at UWM to choose Clippers instead of Panthers as their nickname.

[goalieboy82]

just thought of a few

North Melbourne related

1975 VFL Grand Final (North wins first VFL flag)

Round 11 2003 North Melbourne game (Jason McCartney's comeback game)

VFL/AFL related

1945 VFL Grand Final (the Bloodbath game)

1996 Fitzroy's last game in Melbourne and last game ever a week later

boxing

Ali-Frazier I

Joe Louis vs Max Schmeling on June 22nd 1938

Any fight of Rocky Marciano

would also get to the 1936 Summer Olympics and see Jesse Owens win his races.

[NJTank]

1969 World Series

[Tigers6884]

1969 World Series

I'm supprised that you, as a Mets fan, didn't choose the 1986 World Series game 6 (ball gets through Buckner game).

[cappital92]

I'd love to see some baseball games played at the really different stadiums of long ago. The Senators at Griffith, Giants at the Polo Grounds, Phillies at the Baker Bowl, and the Dodgers at the LA Coliseum. The dimensions of those parks are so different from today's that it would be a real change to see a game from then. Also, I'd love to see a game in the Astrodome's prime. Domed baseball has always fascinated me, and the Astrodome is the biggest name in domes.

As for basketball, I'd want to see a Bullets-Knicks game from the early 70's, a Celtics-Lakers game from the 60's, the two Canadian NBA teams play in late 90's Vancouver, the '03 Wizards again, an ABA game, and an early NBA or BAA game were the key was at it's original size.

[infrared41]

some time around 1918-1920. Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig would be something incredible.

You'd have to go see Gehrig play High School ball since he'd still be 3-5 years from his Yankees debut, but I get what you're saying.

Anyway, this is a great idea for a topic. Just off the top of my head...

1980 Winter Olympics - USA vs. USSR Men's Hockey (this one should be at the top of every list)

Game 6 of the 1974 NBA Finals - Kareem hits a sky hook with 3 seconds left to force a game 7 against the Celtics.

Game 6 of the 1985 NBA Finals - Kareem scores 29 and the Lakers finally beat the Celtics in the Finals.

Game 6 of the 1977 World Series - Reggie Jackson's 3 HRs on 3 pitches.

The 1972 World Series - Two of the greatest teams of all time facing off in the World Series.

Dodgers at Braves - April 8, 1974. Hank Aaron hits #715

Super Bowl III

I could go on and on...and I just might in another post.

[Tigers6884]

some time around 1918-1920. Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig would be something incredible.

You'd have to go see Gehrig play High School ball since he'd still be 3-5 years from his Yankees debut, but I get what you're saying.

Anyway, this is a great idea for a topic.

Thanks.

[FiddySicks]

some time around 1918-1920. Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig would be something incredible.

You'd have to go see Gehrig play High School ball since he'd still be 3-5 years from his Yankees debut, but I get what you're saying.

Anyway, this is a great idea for a topic.

Speaking of that, I'd love to see Joe DiMaggio play for the old San Francisco Seals.

[Tigers6884]

I'd love to see some baseball games played at the really different stadiums of long ago. The Senators at Griffith, Giants at the Polo Grounds, Phillies at the Baker Bowl, and the Dodgers at the LA Coliseum. The dimensions of those parks are so different from today's that it would be a real change to see a game from then. Also, I'd love to see a game in the Astrodome's prime. Domed baseball has always fascinated me, and the Astrodome is the biggest name in domes.

As for basketball, I'd want to see a Bullets-Knicks game from the early 70's, a Celtics-Lakers game from the 60's, the two Canadian NBA teams play in late 90's Vancouver, the '03 Wizards again, an ABA game, and an early NBA or BAA game were the key was at it's original size.

Polo Grounds would be amazing to see in person with the 480 foot distance to centerfield.