Best Days In Your Life As A Sports Fan

[GDAWG]

For me it was the 2011 NBA Playoffs and the run that Dallas had.  It erased the demons of the 2006 NBA Finals and lifting the Larry O'Brien Trophy was Dirk Nowitzki telling his haters to "suck it"

[FiddySicks]

November 1st, 2010:

Giants beat the Rangers 3-1 to clinch their very first World Series in San Francisco.

 

January 26th, 2003:

Bucs beat the Raiders like they stole something in Super Bowl XXXVII.

 

June 16th, 2015:

Warriors win their first title since the 1970s and end four decades of futility. The five years since have been absolutely CRAZY (or absolutely infuriating, depending on who you ask), but that first one was so great. And people didn’t completely hate the Warriors just yet! 

 

 

None of these come even close to the best day I’ve ever had as a sports fan, though.

 

October 21st, 2019: 

Sacramento Republic FC is FINALLY awarded their MLS expansion bid. After all the frustration we went through along the way, and all of the hard work we all put in over the course of the past half decade plus, we finally made it. Hard to top that feeling. I’m sure the first game in 2022 is going to be awesome, but it’ll take a lot to top October 21st, 2019. 

[tBBP]

On 11/28/2019 at 8:19 PM, Bucfan56 said:

January 26th, 2003:

Bucs beat the Raiders like they stole something in Super Bowl XXXVII.

 

Yeah, that. Words cannot express the amount of commotion I kept up in my little studio apartment (that at that time still had free cable--now I'm dating myself) watching that game, and in particular seeing my big cuzzo run back two of those INTs. So yeah, I can count that as probably my second-favorite sports moment.

 

I got two more, one listed only because I was there to see it live in person...

 

- 5 January 2008, AFC Wild Card Playoff. Jacksonville Jaguars at Pittsburgh Steelers. The girl I was dating at the time decided on a whim to StubHub some tickets to that game, and surprisingly some were available, so down to Heinz Field we went. Now me, being the Florida Boi* that I am, had on my Maurice Jones-Drew jersey up underneath my coat; of course, she had her Roethlisberger sweater on. Naturally, I caught it at the gate the second they saw teal on me, and caught it the whole way up to the upper bowl, where folk was looking at her and I like we both had a foot sticking out the side of our necks (this was Pittsburgh, after all). Anyway, long story short, after watching MJD32 run a punt back for a TD to put the Jags up by a pretty good margin, I heard some of the most beautiful silence I've ever heard to this day--with me laughing my head off in the middle of that. The Steelers fought back, but the Jaguars won 31-29, and after the game I found the other 11 Jaguars fans who were at the game and boy did we whoop it up.  Now as for my favorite moment...

 

6 January, 2014. The [last] 2013-2014 BCS National Championship game. this was so because a/ the SuperHawk had just blown through Indiana, meaning the big black Peterbilt wasn't going anywhere , and b/ because of the manner in which the game was won (down 18 at the half, three lead changes in the last five minutes), not to mention who it was won against (meaning the very worthy opposing team and the officials, at least in the first half--but I digress)--AND I got to catch this game with a friend of mine, also a native Floridian.

 

 

(Man I miss those uniforms...)

[TheBigFiz21]

2014 ALDS, Game 1 (Tigers at Orioles): First year working at OPACY as an usher and I only attended three of the four postseason games at the Yard. I missed Game 2 (probably the peak moment for many O's fans in recent memory), so the series opener was my happiest day I ever experienced. Watching the infamously mediocre Tigers bullpen get destroyed by the O's offense made for the most fun game I've attended, even better than any game I'd attended before/after my 3 years working at OPACY.

 

2012 AL Wild Card (O's at Rangers): Of all the postseason games I enjoyed, this IMO beats the 2014 games. I didn't attend this game...hell, I only started listening to the game halfway through as I went home, then watched from the 6th down to the final out to watch. And I gotta tell you, I was definitely the happiest man in the house running around in celebration! Not to mention, in the midst of TBS' rough playoff coverage, Ernie Johnson's call was beautiful: "...and the magical season of the Baltimore Orioles continues!!"

 

2013 AFC Divisional (Ravens at Broncos): The Mile High Miracle. Need I say more???

 

2009 East Finals, Game 6 (Cavaliers at Magic): Probably the best day in the 9 years of being a fan of a Dwight Howard-led team. Is it safe to say that 2009 Magic team handled the Cavs in that series? It sure as hell felt like it. Remember...it was 3-1 going into Game 5 and I personally felt that they had the series in the balance. But back to Game 6....that was the pinnacle of Dwight's career as far as team success and it felt so good having settled onto the Magic back in November of that associated regular season.

[Matthew24]

Have to go local here but Stephen F Austin Basketball two biggest wins in school history. First against VCU years ago during March Madness (Their first win in the tournament) and recently with Duke month or so ago. 

[beachperroAZ]

June 9th, 2010 - My Blackhawks finally win the Stanley Cup against the Flyers in game six after so many years of near misses and futility.  When Kane scored the overtime goal I burst out in the living room and then really quick stopped because I didn't know what the hell was going on because it looked like they were going to replay or disallow the goal.  It was this delayed burst and then finally I was able to let it all out!  

July 17th, 1994 - World Cup Final - Brazil x Italy.  This was my first world cup and the final fell on my birthday.  My mom made me a Brazil cake in advance.  We are of Brazilian heritage.  The whole game was agonizing for everyone at home, it was hot as hell in Washington State were we lived at the time and down in Pasadena.  We watched the game on the big satelite dish and got a raw feed of Rede Globo straight from Rio de Janeiro.  The penalty kicks was the longest moment of my life it seemed.   

November 23rd, 2019 - Copa Libertadores Final - my Flamengo x River Plate.  I was in Rocky Point, Mexico with friends at the beach house watching the game on the phone.  Flamengo went down 1-0 in the first half and I thought well it was a great run we went as far as possible.  Then at the very last minute Flamengo tied the game and it appeared we would be heading to extra time/penalty kicks.  Then in injury time Flamengo scored again and became kings of South America.  It was the first time in my adult life Flamengo had won the equivalent of the champions league down in South America.  The first time was 1981 with Zico and I was only a baby.  

November 2nd, 2016 - Game 7 World Series - Cubs finally break that mother:censored:ing GOAT curse!  

January 1st, 2007 - My alma mater pulls off the upset of the century by defeating the Oklahoma Sooners in the Fiesta Bowl which at time as a BCS bowl in the old bowl system.  That trick play by Boise State will live in my memory forever. 

2006 NFL season - watching the Bears finally dominate a regular season and make it to the super bowl.   I will never forget going to class at Maricopa Community College with the bears getting their butts handed to them by the Cardinals on MNF only to leave class later that night and hear Dennis Green on local radio in his rant.   I could not believe we came back!  I was too young for the 1985 Bears so I can't count that.  My earliest remembrance of that team was 1988 when they were already on their last legs.  

[TrueYankee26]

I speak for everyone here when I say:

 

When the coronavirus outbreak is over and all sports come back.

[BrySmalls]

• Caps winning the Stanley Cup in 2018.
• Nats winning the World Series in 2019.
• Ryan Newman winning the Daytona 500 in 2008.
• George Mason's 2006 Final Four run.
• Jim Abbott's no-hitter in 1993.

[TheBigFiz21]

18 hours ago, TrueYankee26 said:

I speak for everyone here when I say:

 

When the coronavirus outbreak is over and all sports come back.

And (if not in unison with each league's return), the day fans can come back to the events.

But like you, I'm hoping we the fans looking to attend are there with them once we're back up and running.

[sky1324]

January 24, 2016 - The Carolina Panthers manhandle the Cardinals in the NFC Championship Game. That said, two weeks later was my lowest point, but we don't talk about that.

 

November 26, 2015 - The Panthers, in their first ever Thanksgiving Day game, not only destroy the  Cowboys, but also ended Tony Romo's career. Luke's first ever pick 6 and just utter domination that I loved watching that day. 

 

I wish I had more good memories of the Hornets, but, you know, they kinda suck. 

[crashcarson15]

Purely as a fan, two come to mind: 2016 NBA Finals Game 7 (for obvious reasons), and the Jackets winning their first playoff series last year.

 

As a mixture of a fan and human, the night of Game 4 of the 2016 World Series is probably the happiest I've ever been with just, like, life in general. Tribe are up 3-1 in the World Series; Cavs are reigning NBA champions; in the middle of the best run of ND men's basketball in my life; it's the senior year of college, fall semester at that; my job is writing about sports; it's the Saturday night of Halloween weekend; the world still feels normal. It's like, an all-time "top of the world" moment for me.  

 

Two personal-driven ones: In general, covering the ND men's run in the 2016 NCAA tournament, particularly the first two rounds in Brooklyn. Forget the basketball, which was incredible in that run, but it's like, here I am, sitting courtside and covering what was, growing up, maybe the coolest sporting event in the world. Sitting in a press conference and looking over like, hey, it's Nicole Auerbach or whatever other national reporter I'm covering the same thing as. It also helped that I got to see both Villanova and North Carolina in our stops that year.

 

Second personal one — since graduating college, I've been a volunteer assistant for my high school's baseball team, primarily focused on scouting. We won a state championship last year, which is probably the coolest thing I've been part of. Being part of both building a foundation for the program as a player and playing a small part in seeing that through to the ultimate goal was super neat. 

[Olmec]

 

[Magnus]

Two dates that come to mind?

June 13, 2019 - Raptors win their first NBA title. Funnily enough, that championship game is airing tonight on TSN.
Aug 16, 2013 - Ralph Wilson Stadium, Orchard Park, NY - Bills beat Vikings 20-16 in the preseason.
Not a memorable game for many folks; but it was for me, because it was my big summer trip that year. I traveled to another country (without my parents!), as well as with my girlfriend at the time. I still have the menu from the Anchor Bar (originator of the buffalo wing) around here somewhere.

[TheBigFiz21]

Since every league didn't get to bring back fans all at once for all teams, the first game with a sellout crowd for every team post-pandemic will be memorable.

 

I was hoping that the first games with fans back would have that pageantry of honoring frontline workers in pregame presentations.

[-kj]

On 11/24/2019 at 8:48 AM, BC985 said:

Attending Game 7 of the 2011 World Series.

...

Watching your team win a championship in-person is an incredible experience. If you ever have the chance, buy the tickets.

 

 

We had an older thread about this at some point, I swear.  But, no matter; since someone unearthed this, I'll add to the above.

 

No, I wasn't at that game, but I did watch it on TV from my house in Minneapolis.  It was fantastic to watch the Cards win the Series, of course.

 

The very next day, I got on a plane to Ft. Lauderdale.  That night, NSC Minnesota (now known as Minnesota United in MLS) was playing in the second leg of the NASL final against the Strikers.  The Stars took a 3-1 first-leg lead into the game and won the Soccer Bowl after a scoreless draw in the pouring rain.  After the game, the players invited those of us who'd made the trip to join them at a bar to celebrate.  Let me tell ya: beer tastes even better when drinking it from a championship trophy.

 

[sc49erfan15]

March 16, 2007 - I was a sophomore at Winthrop, and our basketball team had just completed their best season. 28-4, undefeated in conference play, ranked in the Top 25 for the first time. I knew going into Selection Sunday that I wanted to go to the game no matter where it was played. Selection Sunday comes around... and Winthrop is given an 11 seed vs. Notre Dame and sent to Spokane, WA - 2,500 miles away. I tried to coax friends into going, but it was too far away for anyone to be interested. Just me, it is. I had just received my tax returns, so I booked a flight that night... to Portland. Flights directly to Spokane were upwards of $1k, but I figured Portland put me on the right side of the country. $475 flight to Portland + $99 Amtrak ride to Spokane, and I was in business.

 

I got up at 5am (Eastern) and my parents dropped me off at the Charlotte airport for my 8am flight. Got into Portland around lunch time, had lunch and explored the city for a few hours. Attempted to call my college roommate, who was (obviously) in Portland visiting his girlfriend. He didn't pick up. I got on the train just before 5pm and arrived in Spokane just before 1am Pacific... which felt like 4am Eastern. Nearly 24 straight hours of travel, and Winthrop was playing at 11:20 that same morning.

 

Winthrop won 74-64. Our first (and so far, only) tournament win. Completely worth it.

[flasah]

August 29, 1987 - Watched Dale Murphy hit a home run at Busch Memorial Stadium

January 31, 1993 - Dallas Cowboys win Super Bowl XXVII

October 28, 1995 - Atlanta Braves win the World Series

March 10, 1996 - Iowa State Cyclones win the last Big Eight Conference Men's Basketball Tournament

June 25, 1999 - San Antonio Spurs win NBA Championship

 

[neo_prankster]

January 31, 1988: Washington beats Denver in Super Bowl XXII, played literally the day after I was born.

March 25, 1991: The first HelmetCam game.

December 24, 1994: Chargers beat the Steelers at the Murph to qualify for a first round bye.

June 23, 1996: Scottish Claymores trounce the Frankfurt Galaxy in the 1996 World Bowl. Later that night, Stone Cold Steve Austin defeated Jake the Snake at King of the Ring.

October 14, 1998: Padres beat the Braves to advance to the World Series.

August 6, 1999: Tony Gwynn got his 3000th hit against the Montreal Expos (Google it, kids).

January 30, 2000: Arena Football superstar Kurt Warner named Super Bowl XXXIV MVP.

June 19, 2000: Kobe and Shaq's first ring.

June 13, 2014: Kings beat the Rangers to win the Stanley Cup.

November 2, 2016: Cubs win the World Series...finally.

February 4, 2018: Cue the Rocky theme song.

June 2019: Just a few days apart, the Toronto Raptors and St. Louis Blues win their first rings in their respective sports. (Play Gloria!)

February 2, 2020: Chiefs' first Super Bowl ring since the debuts of Scooby Doo, Monty Python and Sesame Street.

July 30, 2020: The return of the NBA after the suspension of the season the previous Spring.

 

Nothing can really top January 15, 1995 when I rooted for the Chargers.

 

[sportsfan7]

October 6, 2009 - Alexi Casilla hits a weak single to the outfield and Carlos Gomez scores from second in the bottom of the 12th to win Game 163 for the Twins over the Tigers, one year after losing to the ChiSox by 1 in another Game 163. In typical Twins fashion, they proceeded to get swept by the Yankees in the ALDS, which made Game 163 the last Twins win at the Metrodome.

 

January 14, 2018 - Minneapolis Miracle, need I say more?

 

November 9, 2019 - The undefeated, 17th ranked Gophers upset undefeated 4th ranked Penn St 31-26. Quite possibly the biggest win for the Gophers since the invention of the airplane and overshadowed by the 1v2 Bama-LSU game later that day. This is the only one of these games I attended in person, with family friends near the top of TCF Bank Stadium (although I attended the Twins next home game after 163, a 4-1 loss to the Yankees in game 3 and the last game at the Metrodome and the Vikings game prior to the Miracle, a New Year's Eve win over the Bears).

[ManillaToad]

Good times