In lieu of a lame bio about why I like sports or my credentials (of which there are none), Jon and I have decided to list the top 10 sports moments from our individual lives.
10. Home Run Derby Oriole Park at Camden Yards in 1993, when Ken Griffey Jr. hits the Warehouse. I idolized Ken Griffey Jr. when I was growing, and truth be told I still do. There’s something rewarding, sadly, about not hearing anything negative about your favorite baseball player from your childhood. I mean, who has been injured more than Griffey? Yet, no steroid rumors. That’s refreshing. Although, maybe he should have stepped up to the needle. I would have been able to see him more. (Griffey Jr. hitting 600)
9. Seeing Bonds hit #715. This, of course, is the complete opposite from my #10, but what can you do? It was quite amazing. We were perched in the suite, and Ray had just shown up. If he would have been 0.03 seconds late, we would have missed it. The fact that it happened in San Francisco, the only place where anyone likes Bonds, was pretty great. On a side note, because of the tickets and him hitting #715, I closed 2 fairly large deals with clients I had brought with me. (In-Person) (Photo here and here)
8. Emmitt Smith becoming the all-time leading rusher in NFL history. You know, say what you will about Emmitt Smith, but he’s phenomenal. I’ve met him twice. Once his rookie year when my Dad took me to get his autograph at Montgomery Wards (I still have the autograph). And, I met him at a football camp at Texas Stadium with Aikman, Irvin and Novacek. Probably one of the most genuine people ever. No one deserves to be the rushing leader more than Emmitt Smith. (Video Download)
7. Watching Dirk take over and the Mavs finally beating the Spurs to later appear in their 1st ever NBA Finals in 2006. The 3 point play at the end of regulation, just as it was all slipping away, to force overtime… was… well… amazing. I had actually forgot about standing in line at 4am to get Mavs tickets with Jon. Read his #4. It was so amazing. Shit like that always happens to us. Between that and the Weezer concert (when his credit card didn’t work, and no one else was able to get tickets because it sold out so fast) I’d say we own the ticket world. (Video)
6. Watching Michael Johnson smash the world record in the 200m in 19.32 seconds during the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta while wearing those sweet gold shoes. I’ve admired Michael Johnson more than any athlete. I actually ended up running the 400m and the 200m in the Michael Johnson classic. Got smoked in the 200, won the 400. I met him, and he signed my shirt. Pretty bad ass. (Video)
5. Nolan Ryan beating the crap out of Robin Ventura. (Video)
4. Being at the ‘07 All-Star game in San Francisco. Regardless what you think, Baseball All-Star games are awesome. Diabla and I got into a massive fight, because we were getting married 2 weeks, and I wasn’t contributing. She said that if I go to the All-Star game I will be forced to sleep on the couch till our wedding night. I went to the game, and made sweet love to her after. However, I did still sleep on the couch. Totally worth it. Who’s your favorite Yankee… call me Jeter… (In-Person) (Photo Here and Here)
3. Standing beside Ricky Williams on the field during Texas - OU at the Cotton Bowl his Heisman year in ‘98. I may have gotten a contact high just being there. (In-Person) (Video)
2. Witnessing, for the first time, Derek Jeter play in the 1996 playoffs at the Ballpark in Arlington. The same year he’s named Rookie of the Year and the mutual obsession (between both Jeets and I) begins. My uncle finagled handicapped tickets. He’s not handicapped, but he has a lot of money. It was awesome. (In-Person) (Photo)
1. Seeing Anika Sorenstam tee off as the first woman in 58 years to play in a men’s pro golf tournament at the Colonial, and coincidentally, valeting her car as well in that tournament in ‘03. It might not sound so cool, but being there (albeit as a valet, and sneaking off to see her tee off) was so electric. There was such a buzz and then her reaction, exhaling, after her first shot off the tee. Well, it was all pretty damn cool. I’m not scared to admit it either. (In-Person) (Photo)
