2002
Top 5 sporting events from 2002
5.  September 28th, 2002 -- Tennessee Volunteers 35, Rutgers Scarlet Knights 14:  I've never seen so much
orange in my life.  I walked around Tennessee's campus prior to this night game and everybody -- except myself -- was
wearing a Tennessee T-shirt, shorts, socks, whatever.  The atmosphere closer to game time was a festival, especially
when it came time for everybody to line one of the streets heading to the stadium and watch the Volunteers football
team march in.  The largest crowd for any sporting event I have ever attended (103,925) was stunned in the early going
of this contest as Nate Jones of Rutgers ran back the opening kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown.  Rutgers led 14-7 at
the half and arguably could've had more had the officials ruled that QB Ryan Cubit's spike of the ball to stop the clock
had come before the gun.  Kelley Washington came alive in the second half with seven catches for 197 yards.  His
58-yard TD reception from Casey Clausen gave Tennessee the lead for good, 21-14.  Rutgers' other touchdown came
on a Cubit - Chris Loomis 11-yard pass play.  Clarence Pittman of RU out rushed the entire Tennessee rushing attack,
carrying the ball 31 times for 104 yards.
4.  May 17th, 2002 -- New York Yankees 13, Minnesota Twins 12 (14):   Jason Giambi's grand slam in the bottom
of the 14th inning off of Mike Trombley capped a marvelous comeback by the Yankees to pull this one out.  The
Twins had scored three runs in the top of the 14th to take a 12-9 lead but New York got base hits by Shane Spencer
and Derek Jeter and a walk by Bernie Williams to load the bases with one out in the bottom of the inning.  Then Giambi
came up with his heroics.  Earlier, The Yankees jumped out to an 8-3 lead but Minnesota tallied six times on seven hits
in the top of the sixth inning to take a 9-8 lead.  That held until Eddie Guardado, who hadn't blown a save all year, gave
up Bernie Williams' second homer of the game, with one out in the ninth inning.  Giambi's homer came in the nick of
time too, as pouring rain probably would've resulted in the game not going past 14 innings, if it had gone that far.  
Nevertheless, the game lasted five hours and 45 minutes (thankfully there was no rain delay), and consisted of 40 hits,
10 home runs, and 14 pitchers used.
3.  November 20th, 2002 -- North Carolina Tar Heels 71, Rutgers Scarlet Knights 67:  It was questionable on
whether I would make this game.  Because of a commitment the night before, I couldn't fly down until the morning of
the game.  But I knew it would be special to go to a game at the Dean Dome and the game itself made the trip
worthwhile.  Rutgers played its heart out and got out to a 59-48 lead with seven-and-a-half minutes left in the game.
However, Rashod McCants came up big when it counted for the Tar Heels, scoring eight of his 18 points over the final
six-and-a-half minutes.  North Carolina finally took the lead for good with 31 seconds left on Jawad Williams' go-ahead
layup.  McCants' two foul shots with nine seconds left sealed the game.  One fan came up to me, not knowing I was
with Rutgers, and said, "great game, wasn't it?"  I just gave him a cold, blank stare and he got the message.  This was
the second round of the pre-season NIT.  UNC advanced to the semifinals at MSG with this win, and would go on to
win the tournament.
2.  June 12th, 2002 -- Los Angeles Lakers 113, New Jersey Nets 107:  The Lakers three-peat as champions of the
NBA, sweeping New Jersey in the finals.  The Nets keep it close but never take the lead in the second half.  Shaquille
O'Neal scored 34 points for LA while the Nets were led by Kenyon Martin's game-high 35.  The locker room scene
-- at least what I saw of it -- was nothing like the Rangers Stanley Cup victory in '94.  By the time they let the media in
the locker room, all the champagne had been sprayed and there were just puddles on the floor.  Actually, I was hoping
the Lakers would win this game and end the series tonight.  Had their been a fifth game to this series, I would've missed
it because of a bachelor party I had to attend.
1.  May 2nd, 2002 -- New Jersey Nets 120, Indiana Pacers 109 (2OT):  Arguably, only the Rangers Stanley Cup
clinching game was more exciting than this one.  My first Nets playoff game was a thriller.  In this fifth and deciding
game of the NBA first round playoffs, the Nets held a nine point lead with 5:31 remaining in regulation time.  And while
Indiana fought back, Richard Jefferson by making just one of two foul shots in the closing seconds would've put the
game away.  However, Jefferson missed both foul shots and Indiana instead only trailed by three with one last chance
and Reggie Miller put up a 40-foot prayer.  It looked from where I was sitting next to the Pacers bench that the shot
was way off to the right.  Maybe my brain didn't want to believe that the shot had a chance of going in.  Of course, the
bank shot did go and we went OT.  In the first extra session, the Pacers held a three-point lead and had the ball, but
New Jersey would fight back to take a two-point 107-105 lead with :3.1 seconds remaining.  This time, Miller took it
to the hole and his slam dunk forced the second overtime.  Finally in the second overtime, the Nets outscored Indiana
13-2 to pull it out.  How close was this game?  It was tied at halftime, after the third quarter, and of course, after
regulation and the first OT.  It's hard to imagine what the implications would've been if the Nets lost this game.  They
obviously don't go to the finals this season, and perhaps the heart wrenching loss doesn't give the Nets the confidence
of going to the finals in 2003.  But with this game, the Nets had finally turned the corner.  This was their first playoff
series victory since 1984.
Honorable mentions
1.  November 23rd, 2002 -- Notre Dame Fighting Irish 42, Rutgers Scarlet Knights 0:  Going to a football game at Notre
Dame is everything it's cracked up to be.  You should get out there some time, if you can get tickets.  Good luck.
2.  November 2nd, 2002 -- Miami Hurricanes 42, Rutgers Scarlet Knights 17:  Rutgers leads the number-one ranked
Hurricanes 17-14 after the third quarter before Miami takes control.  Rutgers led at one point in the second quarter 17-8.
3.  December 1st, 2002 -- Tennessee Titans 32, New York Giants 29 (OT):   The Giants fail to hold a 12-point lead in
the fourth quarter en route to the loss.  Their failure to score a touchdown in the fourth when having a 1st-and-goal at the
Tennessee one-yard line, combined with the Titans tying touchdown and subsequent two-point conversion with nine
seconds remaining leads to Joe Nedney's game winning 38-yard field goal in OT.
4.  June 8th:  2002 -- San Francisco Giants 4, New York Yankees 3: Alfonso Soriano's error with two outs in the top of
the ninth allowed Rich Aurilia to score the winning run.  Earlier in the inning, Yankees relief ace Mariano Rivera struck out
Barry Bonds with one out and a runner on 1st in a classic matchup.  But the Yanks couldn't get the third out.  Bonds had hit
a three-run homer halfway up the upper deck in right field in the first inning.
5.  March 11th, 2002 -- New York Rangers 2, Montreal Canadiens 1:  Sandy McCarthy's goal in the final minute of the
game gives the Rangers the win.  This win moves the Rangers past Montreal for the eighth and final playoff spot in the
Eastern Conference, although it would ultimately be the Canadiens who advance to the playoffs.
6.  November 10th, 2002 -- New Orleans Hornets 105, New York Knicks 97 (OT):  Baron Davis' 26-foot three-point
shot with :12.8 seconds left in regulation forced overtime.  New Orleans first lead of the game didn't come until Stacey
Augmon's basket, assisted by Davis, gave it a 92-91 lead in the extra period.
Strange facts from 2002
1.  Attending the San Jose Sharks - New York Rangers game on December 16th signified that I've seen every active
NHL team play at least one game.  The Sharks were the only team I had not seen prior to this game.
2.  I went to opening day at both Shea and Yankee Stadiums this year.  Up until that point, the only other time I went to a
baseball opening day game was the Phillies opener on April 12th, 1991.
3.  The LA Lakers victory on June 12th over the NJ Nets represented the first time since April 30, 1991 that I attended
any part of a best-of-five or best-of-seven playoff series that finished in a sweep.
Date           Visiting Team                       Home Team                      Sport
1/2/02          Rutgers 66                          Syracuse 87                          CBB
1/3/02          Nashville Predators 4          NJ Devils 3                           NHL
1/5/02          Georgetown Hoyas 87        Rutgers 89                            CBB
1/6/02          Green Bay Packers 34        NY Giants 25                        NFL
1/8/02          Miami Hurricanes 60           St. John’s 71                        CBB
1/9/02          Calgary Flames 1                NJ Devils 5                           NHL
1/10/02        LA Clippers 89                  NJ Nets 108                          NBA
1/12/02        St. John’s 57                      Providence 78                        CBB
1/14/02        Columbus Jackets 2           NY Rangers 2                        NHL
1/19/02        Carolina Hurricanes 3         NJ Devils 3                            NHL
1/21/02        Charlotte Hornets 111        NY Knicks 68                       NBA
1/22/02        Rutgers 55                          Providence 70                       CBB
1/27/02        Rutgers 77                          West Va. 59                          CBB
1/29/02        Philadelphia 76ers 71          NY Knicks 78                       NBA
1/31/02        Milwaukee Bucks 100        NJ Nets 125                          NBA
2/3/02          Miami Heat 93                   NY Knicks 84                        NBA
2/4/02          Sacramento Kings 83         NJ Nets 117                           NBA
2/6/02          Rutgers 72                         Notre Dame 89                      CBB
2/7/02          Atlanta Thrashers 3            NJ Devils 3                            NHL
2/8/02          Vancouver Ravens 13        NJ Storm 8                            MLL
2/9/02          Vancouver Ravens 13        NY Saints 7                           MLL
2/10/02        Pittsburgh Penguins 3         NY Rangers 4                        NHL
2/13/02        Toronto Raptors 82           NY Knicks 89                        NBA
2/14/02        Detroit Pistons 85              NJ Nets 80                            NBA
2/15/02        Detroit Pistons 101            NY Knicks 90                       NBA
2/17/02        Miami Hurricanes 61          Rutgers 64                             CBB
2/21/02        Rutgers 59                         Pittsburgh 78                          CBB
2/23/02        Seton Hall Pirates 60          Rutgers 66                             CBB
2/24/02        Los Angeles Lakers 107     NY Knicks 91                      NBA
2/27/02        Rutgers 49                         Virginia Tech 63                    CBB
2/28/02        Ottawa Senators 3             NY Rangers 0                       NHL
3/2/02          Rutgers 69                         Georgetown 88                      CBB
3/3/02          San Antonio Spurs 99        NY Knicks 83                       NBA
3/4/02          Calgary Flames 5               NY Rangers 3                        NHL
3/6/02          Rutgers 55                         BC 60 %                                CBB
3/6/02          Providence 67                   Georgetown 68 %                   CBB
3/7/02          Villanova 70                      Connecticut 72 %                    CBB
3/7/02          St. John’s 63                     Notre Dame 83 %                   CBB
3/8/02          Miami 71                           Pittsburgh 76 %                       CBB
3/8/02          Notre Dame 77                 UConn 82 %                           CBB
3/11/02        Montreal Canadiens 1       NY Rangers 2                         NHL
3/12/02        Philadelphia 76ers 104      NY Knicks 96                        NBA
3/13/02        Boston Bruins 3                 NY Rangers 1                        NHL
3/14/02        Yale Bulldogs 67               Rutgers 65 NIT                      CBB
3/15/02        Miami Heat 78                  NJ Nets 97                            NBA
3/16/02        NY Rangers 1                   NJ Devils 3                            NHL
3/19/02        Vancouver Canucks 3       NY Rangers 1                        NHL
3/20/02        Portland Blazers 82           NJ Nets 97                            NBA
3/22/02        Atlanta Thrashers 5           NY Rangers 2                        NHL
3/23/02        Carolina Hurricanes 4        NJ Devils 2                            NHL
3/25/02        NY Rangers 4                  NY Islanders 2                        NHL
3/29/02        Minnesota T-Wolves 98   NY Knicks 77                        NBA
4/1/02          Pittsburgh Pirates 2           NY Mets 6                             MLB
4/2/02          Charlotte Hornets 85        NY Knicks 91                        NBA
4/3/04          Pittsburgh Pirates 5           NY Mets 3                             MLB
4/4/04          Pittsburgh Pirates 3           NY Mets 2                             MLB
4/5/02          Tampa Bay D-Rays 0       NY Yankees 4                        MLB
4/6/02          Tampa Bay D-Rays 0       NY Yankees 3                        MLB
4/7/02          Tampa Bay D-Rays 2       NY Yankees 7                        MLB
4/7/02          Boston Celtics 102           NJ Nets 90                             NBA
4/8/02          Carolina Hurricanes 2       NY Islanders 1                        NHL
4/9/02          Orlando Magic 108          NY Knicks 97                        NBA
4/12/02        Montreal Expos 1             NY Mets 2                             MLB
4/13/02        Montreal Expos 9             NY Mets 8(11)                       MLB
4/14/02        Montreal Expos 4             NY Mets 6                             MLB
4/21/02        Carolina Hurricanes 0        NJ Devils 4#                          NHL
4/23/02        Carolina Hurricanes 1        NJ Devils 3#                          NHL
4/27/02        Carolina Hurricanes 1        NJ Devils 0#                          NHL
5/2/02          Indiana Pacers 109            NJ Nets 120 2OT#                NBA
5/7/02          San Francisco Giants 5      NY Mets 1                             MLB
5/8/02          San Francisco Giants 8      NY Mets 2                             MLB
5/9/02          San Francisco Giants 4      NY Mets 3                             MLB
5/16/02        Tampa Bay D-Rays 0        NY Yankees 13                     MLB
5/17/02        Minnesota Twins 12          NY Yankees 13(14)               MLB
5/18/02        Minnesota Twins 2            NY Yankees 6                        MLB
5/19/02        Minnesota Twins 0            NY Yankees 3                        MLB
5/24/02        Florida Marlins 4               NY Mets 5(10)                       MLB
5/25/02        Florida Marlins 6               NY Mets 5                             MLB
5/26/02        Florida Marlins 0               NY Mets 3                             MLB
5/27/02        Florida Marlins 5               NY Mets 3                             MLB
5/28/02        Philadelphia Phillies 5         NY Mets 3                             MLB
5/29/02        Philadelphia Phillies 3         NY Mets 4                             MLB
5/31/02        Boston Red Sox 5             NY Yankees 2                        MLB
6/1/02          Boston Red Sox 2             NY Yankees 10                      MLB
6/2/02          Boston Red Sox 7             NY Yankees 1                        MLB
6/5/02          Detroit Shock 59               NY Liberty 60                        WNBA
6/6/02          Buick Golf Classic in Westchester                                      Golf
6/7/02          San Francisco Giants 1      NY Yankees 2                        MLB
6/8/02          San Francisco Giants 4      NY Yankees 3                        MLB
6/9/02          San Francisco Giants 2      NY Yankees 4                        MLB
6/12/02        LA Lakers 113                  NJ Nets 107*                          NBA
6/16/02        Charlotte Sting 53              NY Liberty 54                        WNBA
6/18/02        Minnesota Twins 6             NY Mets 1                             MLB
6/19/02        Minnesota Twins 2             NY Mets 4                             MLB
6/20/02        Minnesota Twins 2             NY Mets 3                             MLB
6/23/02        Buffalo Destroyers 52        NJ Gladiators 45                     AFL
6/28/02        Cleveland Rockers 63       NY Liberty 58                        WNBA
6/30/02        Portland Fire 54                NY Liberty 44                        WNBA
7/2/02          Seattle Storm 63                NY Liberty 74                        WNBA
7/11/02        Philadelphia Phillies 1         NY Mets 9                             MLB
7/12/02        Philadelphia Phillies 9         NY Mets 8                             MLB
7/13/02        Philadelphia Phillies 7         NY Mets 6(12)                       MLB
7/14/02        Philadelphia Phillies 2         NY Mets 4                             MLB
7/15/02        Florida Marlins 3               NY Mets 8                             MLB
7/16/02        Florida Marlins 5               NY Mets 10                           MLB
7/17/02        Detroit Tigers 1                 NY Yankees 2                        MLB
7/18/02        Detroit Tigers 5                 NY Yankees 6                        MLB
7/19/02        Boston Red Sox 4             NY Yankees 2                        MLB
7/20/02        Boston Red Sox 8             NY Yankees 9(11)                 MLB
7/21/02        Boston Red Sox 8             NY Yankees 9                        MLB
7/22/02        Cleveland Rockers 52       NY Liberty 71                        WNBA
7/28/02        Houston Comets 56          NY Liberty 62                        WNBA
7/30/02        Houston Astros 16            NY Mets 3                              MLB
7/31/02        Houston Astros 0              NY Mets 10                            MLB
8/1/02          Houston Astros 3              NY Mets 1                              MLB
8/2/02          Miami Sol 54                    NY Liberty 66                        WNBA
8/8/02          Washington Mystics 65     NY Liberty 54                        WNBA
8/10/02        New England 19               NY Giants 22!                         NFL
8/11/02        Oakland Athletics 5          NY Yankees 8                         MLB
8/17/02        Los Angeles Dodgers 10   NY Mets 4                              MLB
8/18/02        Los Angeles Dodgers 2     NY Mets 1                             MLB
8/21/02        Anaheim Angels 5             NY Yankees 1(11)                 MLB
8/22/02        Anaheim Angels 2             NY Yankees 4                        MLB
8/23/02        Texas Rangers 6               NY Yankees 2                        MLB
8/24/02        Texas Rangers 2               NY Yankees 3                        MLB
8/24/02        New York Giants 7          NY Jets 28@                          NFL
8/25/02        Texas Rangers 6               NY Yankees 2                        MLB
8/26/02        Texas Rangers 3               NY Yankees 10                      MLB
8/29/02        Baltimore Ravens 0           NY Giants 13!                        NFL
8/30/02        Philadelphia Phillies 7        NY Mets 5                             MLB
8/31/02        Villanova Wildcats 37       Rutgers 19                              CFB
9/1/02          Philadelphia Phillies 9        NY Mets 5                             MLB
9/4/02          Florida Marlins 3              NY Mets 11                           MLB
9/5/02          Detroit Tigers 3                NY Yankees 9                        MLB
9/6/02          Detroit Tigers 1                NY Yankees 8                        MLB
9/7/02          Buffalo Braves 34             Rutgers 11                              CFB
9/13/02        Chicago White Sox 13     NY Yankees 2                        MLB
9/14/02        Army Black Knights 0      Rutgers 44                              CFB
9/15/02        Chicago White Sox 4        NY Yankees 8(6)                   MLB
9/21/02        Rutgers 3                          Pittsburgh 23                          CFB
9/22/02        Philadelphia Flyers 4         NY Rangers 6!                       NHL
9/23/02        Tampa Bay D-Rays 3       NY Yankees 2                       MLB
9/26/02        Philadelphia Flyers 0         NJ Devils 4!                           NHL
9/28/02        Rutgers 14                        Tennessee 35                         CFB
9/29/02        Boston Bruins 3                NY Rangers 4 OT!                 NHL
10/6/02        Kansas City Chiefs 29      New York Jets 25                  NFL
10/11/02      Montreal Canadiens 4       NY Rangers 1                        NHL
10/12/02      West Virginia 40               Rutgers 0                               CFB
10/13/02      Atlanta Falcons 17            NY Giants 10                         NFL
10/19/02      Rutgers 14                        Virginia Tech 35                     CFB
10/20/02      Minnesota Vikings 7         New York Jets 20                   NFL
10/21/02      Tampa Bay Lightning 4     NY Rangers 2                        NHL
10/24/02      Florida Panthers 3            NY Islanders 5                       NHL
10/26/02      Rutgers 14                        Syracuse 45                           CFB
10/27/02      Cleveland Browns 24        New York Jets 21                 NFL
10/28/02      Phoenix Coyotes 2           NY Rangers 3 OT                  NHL
11/2/02        Miami Hurricanes 42        Rutgers 17                              CFB
11/3/02        Jacksonville Jaguars 17     NY Giants 24                         NFL
11/4/02        Milwaukee Bucks 97        NY Knicks 88                        NBA
11/5/02        Edmonton Oilers 2            NY Rangers 5                        NHL
11/6/02        Sacramento Kings 88        NY Knicks 95                       NBA
11/9/02        Edmonton Oilers 6            NJ Devils 3                            NHL
11/10/02      New Orleans 105             NY Knicks 97 OT                 NBA
11/10/02      Miami Dolphins 10            New York Jets 13                 NFL
11/16/02      Temple Owls 20                Rutgers 17                            CFB
11/17/02      Washington Redskins 17   NY Giants 19                        NFL
11/18/02      Detroit Pistons 91             NY Knicks 94                       NBA
11/20/02      Rutgers 67                        UNC 71 NIT                        CBB
11/23/02      Rutgers 0                          Notre Dame 42                     CFB
11/24/02      Santa Clara 54                  Temple Owls 65                   WCBB
11/24/02      Rutgers 59                        Temple Owls 53                    CBB
11/25/02      Carolina Hurricanes 1        NY Rangers 3                       NHL
11/27/02      Ottawa Senators 2            NY Islanders 2                      NHL
11/29/02      Alabama 54                      Ohio State 48 ?                     CBB
11/30/02      Rutgers 14                        Boston College 44                 CFB
12/1/02        Tennessee Titans 32          NY Giants 29 OT                  NFL
12/2/02        Cleveland Cavaliers 93      NY Knicks 125                     NBA
12/3/02        Columbus Jackets 3           NY Rangers 5                       NHL
12/4/02        Orlando Magic 87             NY Knicks 85                       NBA
12/8/02        Rutgers 70                         Auburn Tigers 82                  CBB
12/11/02      Portland Blazers 104          NJ Nets 105                        NBA
12/13/02      Washington 65                   NJ Nets 79                          NBA
12/14/02      Miss St. Bulldogs 71          Xavier 61&                            CBB
12/14/02      Hofstra Pride 59                St. John’s 84&                       CBB
12/14/02      Boston Celtics 113            NY Knicks 90                      NBA
12/15/02      Dallas Cowboys 7             NY Giants 37                       NFL
12/16/02      San Jose Sharks 1             NY Rangers 2 OT                NHL
12/17/02      NC State 60                      Gonzaga 69 $                      CBB
12/17/02      Oregon 52                         Cincinnati 77$                      CBB
12/18/02      Ottawa Senators 3             NJ Devils 0                          NHL
12/19/02      Montreal Canadiens 3        NY Rangers 1                      NHL
12/21/02       Dallas Stars 3                   NJ Devils 5                           NHL
12/21/02      Detroit Pistons 92             NJ Nets 100                         NHL
12/22/02      Miami Heat 92                 NY Knicks 84                       NBA
12/23/02      Montreal Canadiens 1       NY Islanders 3                     NHL
12/25/02      Boston Celtics 81             NJ Nets 117                         NBA
12/26/02      Pittsburgh Penguins 6        NY Rangers 1                       NHL
12/27/02      UNC Tar Heels 56           Iona Gaels 65+                       CBB
12/27/02      Manhattan Jaspers 72       St. John’s 65+                        CBB
12/28/02      UNC Tar Heels 63           St. John’s 59+                        CBB
12/28/02       Iona Gaels 63                  Manhattan 68+                       CBB
12/29/02      Green Bay Packers 17      NY Jets 42                           NFL
12/30/02      Prairie View A&M 57       Rutgers 66                            CBB

%  Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden
#  First round playoff game
* NBA Finals
!  Exhibition game
@  Joined in progress
&  Game played at Madison Square Garden
$  Game played at Brendan Byrne Arena
+  ECAC Holiday Festival at Madison Square Garden
NIT  National Invitation Tournament
?  Tip-off classic from Springfield, Massachusetts
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2003
2001