I’m going to the U.S Open at Chambers Bay in Tacoma. It’s my first PGA Tour event, and it’s a Major. Doesn’t get any better than that!
It got me wondering about some of the other major championships that are out there and how many a person has attended.
How many championship events have you been too? Super Bowls, Stanley Cups, World Series, Golf Majors, etc. Lets leave Kona out of this one. Was the event you attended worthy of the title? Epic? He/she with the most wins.
On a side note, I just made my 800th post. Do I get a free chicken dinner or something?
The closest I’ve come is two baseball playoff games as a fan of the opposing team A’s v. Tigers both times in Detroit. They were fucking great. So much different than a regular season game.
But you asked about sporting events, then talked about golf.
A few wild card games and ALCS games at Fenway, a few divisional and semi-final NHL games at the Garden, but no Finals games in either sport unfortunately (and no NFL playoffs, which would be AMAZING). I was at this game last year though: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYosReytpcM
It was the most electric atmosphere I’ve ever experienced by a MILE. And the funny thing was as the game wore on the crowd got more and more silent and dejected, the Tigers staff, in all three games, had absolutely dominated the Sox lineup, it was mildly embarrassing. You could hear a pin drop for about four innings…until the grand slam.
My one and only championship event was the PGA at Oak Hill in Rochester, NY. I was in college at the time, that summer a few buddies and I worked overnights at the golf course as ‘security’, just making sure no one was trespassing. Week of the event we did traffic details, 12-16 hour shifts directing traffic and checking badges (saw a bunch of the golfers driving up in their Escalades, which was the only mildly enjoyable aspect of the job). But we got passes to the Wednesday practice round, got to follow some groups pretty close which was awesome. Then we got passes to the Sunday final round (well, we had our badges and ditched work, to be honest) and camped out on the signature hole (13th, a long par 5 uphill to the clubhouse) and had front-row seats to the entire round. Well, well worth all the overnight shifts, it was incredible.
My advice (which I’m sure you know anyway): have a plan of attack in mind: what hole you’re gonna camp at, and if you’re gonna wander then what groups and holes you’d like to hit, map out the tee times and when players can be expected to be on a hole, etc. For us it was easy: wake up at 4, get in line at 5 and run to the 13th when the gates opened at 6. Regardless of what you do, it’ll be much more enjoyable if you’re not constantly battling the crowds and sitting 10-deep…regardless, enjoy, the majors are a blast!
Cool! Good advice. I’ve already been scoping the layout for Chambers Bay, and she’s pretty wide open. Old style links with lots of undulating terrain. I’m thinking there might be some good spots where I can see more than one fairway or green.
World Series - Braves v Blue Jays - great game as I was a Braves fan and Braves won the game. Tomahawk chop was rocking Fulton County stadium
World Series - Cleveland v Marlins - Wasn’t a fan of either team and it started snowing. So cold I couldn’t wait for the game to end
Wimbledon - Wow. Magical place
US Open (Tennis) - This event is a blast. 3 rows back in Arthur Ashe stadium watching Andy Roddick light up a New York city crowd at 1:30 in the morning. Everything about the US Open is fantastic
Tour de France - 2005 & 2007 - 2005 was epic. Against the rail 20 feet from the finish line on the Champs Elysee as Lance “won” number 7. Watched the penultimate stage (St. Etienne time trial where Rasmussen crashed a million times) from the Versus broadcasting truck. Chatted with Phil and Paul after the stage was over. Awesome when it happened. Feels a little less awesome today.
Masters - have been a few times. One time I was the guest of a member who heads the committee that oversees the pin placement. Day started with a drive down Magnolia Lane to the member’s parking lot. Our “home base” for the day was the Eisenhower cabin where they were staying for the week. Visited friends next door in the Butler cabin. Brunch in clubhouse. Private, “I’m not supposed to let you in here” tour of the Champions locker room. Cocktails on the front porch of the Eisenhower Cabin with 2-time major winner David Graham (Australia) as the day was ending and the grounds emptied out. Coolest sporting opportunity I’ve ever had and ever expect to have.
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Masters - have been a few times. One time I was the guest of a member who heads the committee that oversees the pin placement. Day started with a drive down Magnolia Lane to the member’s parking lot. Our “home base” for the day was the Eisenhower cabin where they were staying for the week. Visited friends next door in the Butler cabin. Brunch in clubhouse. Private, “I’m not supposed to let you in here” tour of the Champions locker room. Cocktails on the front porch of the Eisenhower Cabin with 2-time major winner David Graham (Australia) as the day was ending and the grounds emptied out. Coolest sporting opportunity I’ve ever had and ever expect to have.
Sir, may I call you Sir? You have been to the Holy of all Holy’s! We have a winner!!
The Open, The Senior Open, Race to Dubai End of Season European Tour, Ryder Cup, Firestone, Wimbledon, Qatar Open, Mens end of Season WTA Event, Womens Qatar Open, Qatar Golf Open, Memorial, FINA World Championships (this week), Olympics London, Moto GP, F1, Indy 500, Kentucky Derby, Ascot, the Ashes, the tour de france, OSU-Michigan, OSU-Notre Dame (do they count as big events?)
The best was athletics at the London Olympics because whilst I’m not a huge follower of athletics, it was in London my home town, the whole city was amazing for the duration, and unlike my Grandmother who lived in London for three olympic games (1908, 1948 and 2012) I doubt that I will ever get to see them in my home town again
2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver:
Women’s curling - it was the round robin play but the atmosphere in the rink was wild. My Mum and I went because they were the only tickets we could afford and weren’t expecting much but it turned out to be a really fun afternoon.Biathlon - I was on the course next to the parents of one of the US athletes, which was pretty cool.
Masters (3x)
NCAA Men’s Basketball Final (1x)
NCAA D-1 AA Football (8 x)
World Series (1x)
US Amatuer Golf (1x)
NCAA Golf Finals (1x)
SEC Football (3 x and it’s bigger than the Stanley Cup)
1996 Summer Olympics Track & Field Finals, Marathon, Cycling Road Race among others
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2 NCAA football championships, NCAA final Four & championship game, several MLB playoff games, MLB All Star home run derby, I went to one of the bigger PGA events as a teen…i think at Pinehurst. I went to some big wake boarding and slalom championship in the mid-90s, several Olympic trial and qualifying events.
Bucket list still includes: Wimbledon, Olympics (had tickets the day after the Atlanta bombing), game 7 World Series, World Cup game (saw a qualifier) & Tour de France (wife says 2016).
@ Final Fours and a PGA Champ. I have to say since the advent of the HD experience at home + no drunk idiots falling all over me…it’s hard to beat sitting in the comfort of my home. Kitchen and bathroom 3 seconds away, multiple tv angles. My neighbor has a suite for Lightning games…I go maybe 2x a year.
World CX championship in Louisville a couple years back
National CX championship in KC about six years ago
Heading to Austin to race and watch the CX nats next month
Zero interest in attending a world series, football, or basketball championship… if the tickets were free with a box seat and the stadium a block away I wouldn’t go
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