This place is Dragging: Your Favorite (Personal) Sports Memory? | Page 3 | The Boneyard

This place is Dragging: Your Favorite (Personal) Sports Memory?

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Best: My HS soccer team beat John Jay H.S. (Dutchess County, NY), who was ranked #1 in the state and #4 in the country.
Worst: My good friend was taking pictures for our middle school yearbook and he came to our soccer game. The other team had a female player, who obviously was pretty good. Well, she burned me pretty bad on one play and I was spun around and fell. I can't remember the rest of the game because I knew the crap I was going to get when the game was over. Twenty plus years later and it still comes up.
 
High School Intramural championship in an undefeated season I hit the game clinching free throws. Next year we were still undefeated but we lost in the semi's :(
 
Worst for me was little league all stars versus Rocky Hill. We were getting smoked, down by 8 or 9, but then started chipping away late... But it was starting to get dark. Umps huddle and decide to play the last inning. We are down by 1, two men on base, one or two outs... And they call the game because of darkness right then and there. I BAWLED the whole way home. A few years later they put lights on the field. And many years later, turns out one of my best friends from UConn was on that Rocky Hill team. Bastid. :)
 
Anyone have a favorite video game sports memory. Mine is building up a Uconn Football Dynasty on NCAA out recruiting the likes of OSU, USC, LSU etc, and scheduling at USC, and at Oklahoma on back to back weeks and beating them before I started Big East play. I stock piled talent making sure I redshirted all my recruits, I made Uconn's offense into the Oregon Duck attack (the anti UConn offense lol) getting mobile qbs, a dominant oline, speedy wrs, blocking TE's, and loaded up on LB's, and DB's.
 
Getting punked by Craig Austrie is states was pretty fun, in retrospect.
 
I was a (low level) DI JV player who got to practice with the varsity a lot - wasn't athletic enough to really be a DI guy. I was 17 as a college freshman (skipped second grade) so that may have cost me the chance to be a towel waver in uniform instead of the guy who ended up managing the varsity while playing JV.

Anyway, the head coach would sometimes drop all his freshmen down to play in a JV game if they weren't getting much burn, leaving most of us JV guys to sit and watch. There was one day that the varsity five came down and fell behind 24-6 to start the game because they didn't give a crap. Myself and two other guys check in and the game turns - I hit a couple threes to start the comeback and we end up winning in overtime, when I was 7-8 at the line (pissed about the miss) and finished with 24 or so.

It was just a JV game, so whatever. But the assistant coach later told me that the whole coaching staff was brought in after that game and the head guy screamed and yelled for two hours with such gems as "we spend all this money going out and recruiting and evaluating these guys, and my duck*ing manager is better than all of them." I still feel that rant was my favorite moment - more so than the game.

I also was MVP of a rec league tournament in Cambridge, Mass - when our team of spare parts beat the five time defending champions, led by Mike Bird (Larry's older brother). In the retirement home, I'm just going to remember it as beating Larry, but I'm not senile enough yet.

Worst was HS soccer goalie - almost had a great diving save with two seconds left up 1-0 but it went through my hands. All I had to do was punch it.
 
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I am short and unathletic, so I never had much of a chance of doing much in basketball, although I was a b¡tch to play basketball against no matter who you were: I'd push your grandmother down the stairs to win, and got a lot of rebounds for my size in our piddling little basketball league (not high school--I ran in high school and was decent, if unspectacular). One triple overtime game in the first round of the playoffs. I drew two charges (genuine charges...at least from my perspective) while hounding the other team's best player. Helped us tie the game twice in two different OTs. Despite having the best team, though, we lost that game.
 
86 Mets game 6 World Series

David Tyre miracle catch

All 4 Uconn champs
 
1978 UConn intramural soccer. Won the championship with Crandall C with a header save during penalty kicks. Not sure how they do it now, but back then we played with what were basically lacrosse goals and goalies couldn't use their hands. So ball hits head on one side, head hits pipe on the other side, concussion ensues. I actually came to while my teammates where throwing me up in the air in celebration.

Which made up for singlehandedly losing the intramural bowling championship. Went in with a 153 average and rolled something like a 380.

That, and after being injured for two years, I did finally made an appearance with the Stamford branch baseball team in our final game of 1976, drawing a walk and allowing me to retire with a perfect 1.000 OPS. We had some decent players, including Bobby V's cousin Gary.
 
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Personal: 313 rushing yards and 4 TDs in a game

Non-personal: Malice in the Palace (TV Gold!)
 
pnow15 said:
It was late at night after a few beers, we had just met earlier at a horse show and we were sharing a cot.....
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That's hot. What was the horse's name? I bet you crazy kids wrecked that cot.
 
storrsroars said:
Al Bundy?
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Ha, Polk High!
But no, true stat.... Ended up playing ball at USAFA

I am a proud member of NO MA'AM tho ;)
latest
 
Back around 76, I was meeting a friend at Woodbury Ski and Racquet where we had a court scheduled. He canceled, so I was just banging some serves when this little girls asks if she can hit with me. So we statrt, shes about 12 years old and everything I hit at her comes back with more pace. We played 2 sets which I BARELY won. Turns out, she was Barbara Potter who was #8 in the world for a while. The girl could play!

I also beat the crap out of Bruce Jenner in tennis when he came to speak at Central. Knowing what I know now, I shouldn't have been so proud of myself, but I guess I really fracked him up:)
 
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Was 5 under after 9 holes, as a 13 handicapper. Played my normal game for the last 8 holes. Still remember all the first 10 holes. Still trying to forget the last 8. That was 37 years ago.
 
Red Sox World Series. 1st UConn National Championship. Red Sox beating the Yankees in 7. The Whalers, in general.
 
Last winter in between periods at a Springfield Falcons hockey game. My 9 year old daughter and I are sitting and eating nachos. They fire up the shirt cannon, blast one our way and all 225 fat pounds of me jumps up with nachos in my left hand and grabs the shirt with my right hand all while leaving terra firma. My daughter was wide eyed and amazed that not one nacho hit the ground as I handed her the shirt. She still brings it up once in a while.

Hitting three home runs my last season of Little League while my dad was the head coach was pretty cool, too.
 
Young mau:
Throwing a 1 hitter and hitting 2 HR's in beating Wallingford LL All Stars 2-0 in '72. Batted .759 with 12 dingers regular season and had 5 more in 3 all star games.
Getting 28 and 24 points in consecutive games vs New Haven and Bridgeport Boys clubs as Meriden Boys Club advanced to Junior Pro Northeast regionals in Junior Pro tourney. Eventually played in Rupp Arena after winning those also. Averaged 21 throughout and we finished 3rd on country. Fun team, many still friends as we shared something really special.
Old mau:
17 and 23 points vs Mattatuck CC and Al Fredericks ('78) who were ranked Top 10 in the NJCAA that year. Did have to guard Al much of those games and refuse to ruin a good story with telling you how he did! By the way, a super guy and competitor, could score at will and did pretty much.
Went 6-6 against cross town rival Platt in a game ('77) to extend consecutive hit/AB streak to 10. Next game had 2 hits first 2 times up before ending 2-4 and finishing with 12 straight. Records weren't huge then but I was told it was, never much made of it no biggie. Most importantly as a team we beat New Britain that year who owned a 48 straight win streak including 2 state titles, to stop that in '77.
Real Old Mau:
Was fortunate enough to play on the 1st Meriden team allowed to play in the GHTBL in '81 also MLB strike season (Katz Sport Shop - long story they didn't want to add teams back then to their tradition but finally did that year, some of the older Meriden guys played in the league with other teams but wanted to swing the Meriden banner but were not allowed). It was special because there was no MLB baseball so the crowds were tremendous and the Meriden people traveled in hoards, made it so fun, brought signs and chanted during the playoffs. I hit and fielded well (3rd) well in the playoffs but this was all about team, 20-30 year old guys (east side, west side Meriden) who played against and with each other for years and finally the best playing against the states best. We had 3 mid to late 20 minor leaguers who could still play and were very strong, quite honestly didn't sit well with many in Hartford - it was a good ole boys league. Made it even more enjoyable.

OLDEST Mau:

My son threw a no-hitter in his 1st playoff game in LL at 12 years old and couldn't wait to bring dad the ball and hug me - NOTHING above matched this, no shot!

I thank my parents for bringing me everywhere and anywhere throughout my youth through HS. I had so many memories but only because of my truly wonderful parents. I was lucky as hell no doubt.
 
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mauconnfan said:
Young mau:
Throwing a 1 hitter and hitting 2 HR's in beating Wallingford LL All Stars 2-0 in '72. Batted .759 with 12 dingers regular season and had 5 more in 3 all star games.
Getting 28 and 24 points in consecutive games vs New Haven and Bridgeport Boys clubs as Meriden Boys Club advanced to Junior Pro Northeast regionals in Junior Pro tourney. Eventually played in Rupp Arena after winning those also. Averaged 21 throughout and we finished 3rd on country. Fun team, many still friends as we shared something really special.
Old mau:
17 and 23 points vs Mattatuck CC and Al Fredericks ('78) who were ranked Top 10 in the NJCAA that year. Did have to guard Al much of those games and refuse to ruin a good story with telling you how he did! By the way, a super guy and competitor, could score at will and did pretty much.
Went 6-6 against cross town rival Platt in a game ('77) to extend consecutive hit/AB streak to 10. Next game had 2 hits first 2 times up before ending 2-4 and finishing with 12 straight. Records weren't huge then but I was told it was, never much made of it no biggie. Most importantly as a team we beat New Britain that year who owned a 48 straight win streak including 2 state titles, to stop that in '77.
Real Old Mau:
Was fortunate enough to play on the 1st Meriden team allowed to play in the GHTBL in '81 also MLB strike season (Katz Sport Shop - long story they didn't want to add teams back then to their tradition but finally did that year, some of the older Meriden guys played in the league with other teams but wanted to swing the Meriden banner but were not allowed). It was special because there was no MLB baseball so the crowds were tremendous and the Meriden people traveled in hoards, made it so fun, brought signs and chanted during the playoffs. I hit and fielded well (3rd) well in the playoffs but this was all about team, 20-30 year old guys (east side, west side Meriden) who played against and with each other for years and finally the best playing against the states best. We had 3 mid to late 20 minor leaguers who could still play and were very strong, quite honestly didn't sit well with many in Hartford - it was a good ole boys league. Made it even more enjoyable.

OLDEST Mau:

My son threw a no-hitter in his 1st playoff game in LL at 12 years old and couldn't wait to bring dad the ball and hug me - NOTHING above matched this, no shot!

I thank my parents for bringing me everywhere and anywhere throughout my youth through HS. I had so many memories but only because of my truly wonderful parents. I was lucky as hell no doubt.
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Nothing from the golf course? That surprised me. What's your low round? Low 9?
 
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Deepster said:
Nothing from the golf course? That surprised me. What's your low round? Low 9?
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Didn't play golf until after I stopped playing the twilight leagues around 30. Well not as much that is.

Best is 70 about 12 times. Many of these would go under "worst" personal because I gagged coming down the stretch knowing I could break 70 on a few of those. The worst - 3 years ago at Wintonbury par 70 I was 3 under with 2 to play. Doubled the par 3 17th and bogeyed the 18th from 130 in.......devastated - drank hard after LOL. Still trying Deep. Low 9 was 30 at Edgewood which I followed up with a solid 41 (lol) on the back. Birdied the first 4 holes out of the gate and still couldn't shoot 69.

Now you know why no golf. What's yours? I know you've had some good 9 holes in the leagues.
 
mauconnfan said:
Didn't play golf until after I stopped playing the twilight leagues around 30. Well not as much that is.

Best is 70 about 12 times. Many of these would go under "worst" personal because I gagged coming down the stretch knowing I could break 70 on a few of those. The worst - 3 years ago at Wintonbury par 70 I was 3 under with 2 to play. Doubled the par 3 17th and bogeyed the 18th from 130 in..devastated - drank hard after LOL. Still trying Deep. Low 9 was 30 at Edgewood which I followed up with a solid 41 (lol) on the back. Birdied the first 4 holes out of the gate and still couldn't shoot 69.

Now you know why no golf. What's yours? I know you've had some good 9 holes in the leagues.
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I never broke 80. Shot 80 on the button 3 times and one time I needed a bogey on 18 and a left a 6-7 ft putt SHORT. Best 9 hole score was 38. I rolled in a big bender birdie on 9 from about 45 ft away. It hit the back of the cup, popped about 2 ft straight up in the air, then plunked in.
 
mauconnfan said:
Didn't play golf until after I stopped playing the twilight leagues around 30. Well not as much that is.

Best is 70 about 12 times. Many of these would go under "worst" personal because I gagged coming down the stretch knowing I could break 70 on a few of those. The worst - 3 years ago at Wintonbury par 70 I was 3 under with 2 to play. Doubled the par 3 17th and bogeyed the 18th from 130 in..devastated - drank hard after LOL. Still trying Deep. Low 9 was 30 at Edgewood which I followed up with a solid 41 (lol) on the back. Birdied the first 4 holes out of the gate and still couldn't shoot 69.

Now you know why no golf. What's yours? I know you've had some good 9 holes in the leagues.
Expand ...
Golf opens up a different can of worms for me. 4 handicap that has never shot even par or better. So far in my head at this point that I just break down. Was -4 through 6 last year in my club's annual stroke play tournament. Finished the front 9 at even par at shot 78 on the day. Nightmare.
 
1. Going to the FF in Tampa/St. Pete in 1999 for the Saturday games and then watching UConn win it from home on Monday.
2. Walking Augusta National for a practice round in 2002
3. Watching the Sox win the world series while deployed onboard CV-67 John F. Kennedy in 2004.
4. Houston/Louisville FF game. Breathtaking athleticism.
5. Daytona 500 in 2001. That was the race when Dale Earnhardt died.

Bonus: Not a sporting event, but a thrill. Two flights in an F/A-18 Hornet when I was with the Blue Angels. One was a flight over the Colorado river at the California/Arizona border. The other was while the planes were practicing in formation. No way to explain four planes separated by 2-3 feet while flying over 350mph.
 
My personal beer league softball story is from when I was in the Navy.

I normally played 1st base but moved to the outfield for a game. Fly ball to RC field, me coming in, 2nd baseman running out. His forehead hit my face. Rumor has it we collided right as I caught the ball. He collapsed on the spot, knocked out with a broken nose and two broke ribs. Rumor continues that I took a step back, went to throw the ball and collapsed. I woke up in the hospital with my front tooth dangling. I don't have any memory of the catch, the fall or the ride to the hospital.
 
Highs: Scoring 2 touchdowns and then kicking a 32 yd field as time expired to beat Mt. Diablo HS 21-20 in my last varsity game. (We were 0-10 and on a 19 game losing streak)

Winning the league championship in the 300 LH and 4x400. Qualifying for the California state meet in the 4x400 relay.

Pinning a layup attempt by future Stanford and NBA (Magic, Nuggets) player, Todd Lichti, against the backboard during a game. Especially impressive as I'm just slightly taller than an Oompa loompa (5'7) Sadly, we lost the game and missed the playoffs.

Lows: hearing , 2 minutes after qualifying for the state meet in the 4x400 that we were disqualified because our 1st leg had run out of his lane. (Not me, I was 2nd)

Getting absolutely embarrassed by Gary Payton in a game my senior year. We lost 99-49 and he may have had 60 of them.
 
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