| 2008 |
| Date visiting team home team sport 1/2/08 Rutgers 45 South Florida Bulls 68 CBB 1/5/08 Rutgers 52 Ball State Cardinals 30 * CFB 1/8/08 Tampa Bay Lightning 5 New York Rangers 3 NHL 1/9/08 Rutgers 50 Providence Friars 76 CBB 1/11/08 Toronto Raptors 99 New York Knicks 90 NBA 1/12/08 Montreal Canadiens 1 New York Rangers 4 NHL 1/13/08 Louisville Cardinals 64 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 49 CBB 1/13/08 Detroit Pistons 65 New York Knicks 89 NBA 1/15/08 Montreal Canadiens 3 New York Islanders 1 NHL 1/16/08 Rutgers 59 Syracuse Orange 81 CBB 1/19/08 Rutgers 73 De Paul Blue Demons 75 CBB 1/20/08 Boston Bruins 3 New York Rangers 1 NHL 1/21/08 Boston Celtics 109 New York Knicks 93 NBA 1/22/08 Atlanta Thrashers 0 New York Rangers 4 NHL 1/23/08 Villanova Wildcats 68 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 80 CBB 1/24/08 Atlanta Thrashers 1 New York Rangers 2 (SO) NHL 1/26/08 Rutgers 77 Pittsburgh Panthers 64 CBB 1/27/08 Cincinnati Bearcats 61 Seton Hall Pirates 64 CBB 1/29/08 Ottawa Senators 5 New York Islanders 2 NHL 1/30/08 Seton Hall Pirates 84 Rutgers 71 (OT) CBB 1/31/08 Los Angeles Kings 3 New York Islanders 1 NHL 2/2/08 Rutgers 50 Louisville Cardinals 87 CBB 2/4/08 Los Angeles Clippers 103 New York Knicks 94 NBA 2/5/08 Anaheim Mighty Ducks 3 New York Islanders 0 NHL 2/6/08 St. John's Red Storm 52 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 45 CBB 2/7/08 Anaheim Mighty Ducks 4 New York Rangers 1 NHL 2/8/08 San Antonio Spurs 99 New York Knicks 93 (OT) NBA 2/9/08 Cincinnati Bearcats 72 Rutgers 68 (OT) CBB 2/10/08 Dallas Mavericks 82 New Jersey Nets 101 NBA 2/12/08 Philadelphia Flyers 3 New York Islanders 4 NHL 2/14/08 Rutgers 63 West Virginia 83 CBB 2/16/08 Atlanta Thrashers 1 New York Islanders 4 NHL 2/17/08 Notre Dame 71 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 68 CBB 2/18/08 Carolina Hurricanes 1 New Jersey Devils 5 NHL 2/20/08 Chicago Bulls 102 New Jersey Nets 110 (OT) NBA 2/23/08 Rutgers 48 Marquette 78 CBB 2/24/08 Florida Panthers 0 New York Rangers 5 NHL 2/26/08 Connecticut Huskies 79 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 61 CBB 2/28/08 Fairleigh Dickinson 67 Wagner Seahawks 78 CBB 3/1/08 South Florida Bulls 54 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 52 CBB 3/2/08 Florida Panthers 1 New York Islanders 0 NHL 3/3/08 New Orleans Hornets 100 New York Knicks 88 NBA 3/4/08 New York Islanders 4 New York Rangers 3 (SO) NHL 3/6/08 New York Rangers 4 New York Islanders 1 NHL 3/7/08 Tampa Bay Lightning 1 New Jersey Devils 2 (OT) NHL 3/8/08 West Virginia 83 St. John's 74 (OT) CBB 3/8/08 Portland Trail Blazers 120 New York Knicks 114 (OT) NBA 3/9/08 Rutgers 64 Seton Hall Pirates 61 CBB 3/9/08 Sacred Heart 55 Wagner Seahawks 49 = CBB 3/12/08 Cincinnati Bearcats 64 Pittsburgh Panthers 70 + CBB 3/12/08 Seton Hall Pirates 54 Marquette 67 + & CBB 3/13/08 Pittsburgh Panthers 76 Louisville Cardinals 69 + CBB 3/13/08 Marquette 89 Notre Dame 79 + CBB 3/14/08 West Virginia 55 Georgetown Hoyas 72 + CBB 3/14/08 Pittsburgh Panthers 68 Marquette 61 + CBB 3/15/08 Utah Jazz 115 New Jersey Nets 117 NBA 3/16/08 Atlanta Hawks 109 New York Knicks 98 NBA 3/18/08 Toronto Maple Leafs 3 New York Islanders 1 NHL 3/19/08 New York Rangers 2 New Jersey Devils 1 (SO) NHL 3/21/08 Memphis Grizzlies 120 New York Knicks 106 NBA 3/24/08 Pittsburgh Penguins 1 New York Islanders 4 NHL 3/25/08 Philadelphia Flyers 2 New York Rangers 1 (OT) NHL 3/26/08 Miami Heat 96 New York Knicks 103 NBA 3/29/08 Philadelphia Flyers 4 New York Islanders 3 (SO) NHL 3/30/08 Dallas Desperados 33 New York Dragons 31 AFL 3/31/08 Pittsburgh Penguins 1 New York Rangers 2 (OT) NHL 4/1/08 New Jersey Devils 2 New York Islanders 1 (OT) NHL 4/3/08 New York Rangers 4 New York Islanders 3 (SO) NHL 4/4/08 Tampa Bay Rays 13 New York Yankees 4 MLB 4/5/08 Tampa Bay Rays 6 New York Yankees 3 MLB 4/6/08 Tampa Bay Rays 0 New York Yankees 2 MLB 4/6/08 Orlando Magic 90 New York Knicks 100 NBA 4/7/08 Tampa Bay Rays 1 New York Yankees 6 MLB 4/8/08 Philadelphia Phillies 5 New York Mets 2 MLB 4/9/08 Philadelphia Phillies 2 New York Mets 8 MLB 4/10/08 Philadelphia Phillies 3 New York Mets 4 (12) MLB 4/11/08 Atlanta Hawks 116 New York Knicks 104 NBA 4/12/08 Colorado Mammoth 10 New York Titans 14 NLL 4/13/08 Columbus Destroyers 44 New York Dragons 62 AFL 4/14/08 Boston Celtics 99 New York Knicks 93 NBA 4/16/08 Boston Red Sox 9 New York Yankees 15 MLB 4/17/08 Boston Red Sox 7 New York Yankees 5 MLB 4/18/08 New York Rangers 5 New Jersey Devils 3 $ NHL 4/29/08 Pittsburgh Pirates 4 New York Mets 5 (11) MLB 4/30/08 Pittsburgh Pirates 13 New York Mets 1 MLB 5/1/08 Pittsburgh Penguins 0 New York Rangers 3 % NHL 5/18/08 Georgia Force 72 New York Dragons 67 AFL 5/20/08 Baltimore Orioles 12 New York Yankees 2 MLB 5/21/08 Baltimore Orioles 0 New York Yankees 8 MLB 5/22/08 Baltimore Orioles 1 New York Yankees 2 MLB 5/25/08 Chicago Fire 5 New York Red Bulls 1 MLS 5/26/08 Florida Marlins 7 New York Mets 3 MLB 5/27/08 Florida Marlins 3 New York Mets 5 MLB 5/28/08 Florida Marlins 6 New York Mets 7 (12) MLB 6/6/08 Houston Comets 73 New York Liberty 83 WNBA 6/7/08 New Orleans Voodoo 51 New York Dragons 58 AFL 6/8/08 Argentina 0 USA 0 USA 6/13/08 Texas Rangers 1 New York Mets 7 MLB 6/15/08 Texas Rangers 8 New York Mets 7 MLB 6/15/08 Texas Rangers 2 New York Mets 4 MLB 6/20/08 Cincinnati Reds 4 New York Yankees 2 MLB 6/21/08 Cincinnati Reds 4 New York Yankees 1 MLB 6/22/08 Philadelphia Soul 59 New York Dragons 30 AFL 6/26/08 Indiana Fever 96 NY Liberty 102 (3 OT) WNBA 6/30/08 Texas Rangers 2 New York Yankees 1 MLB 7/1/08 Texas Rangers 3 New York Yankees 2 MLB 7/2/08 Texas Rangers 7 New York Yankees 18 MLB 7/3/08 Boston Red Sox 7 New York Yankees 0 MLB 7/4/08 Boston Red Sox 6 New York Yankees 4 MLB 7/8/08 Tampa Bay Rays 0 New York Yankees 5 MLB 7/9/08 Tampa Bay Rays 1 New York Yankees 2 (10) MLB 7/12/08 Detroit Shock 64 New York Liberty 74 WNBA 7/14/08 Justin Morneau wins Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium MLB 7/15/08 National League 3 American League 4 (15) @ MLB 7/19/08 Indiana Fever 71 New York Liberty 55 # WNBA 7/20/08 Oakland Athletics 1 New York Yankees 2 MLB 7/22/08 Philadelphia Phillies 8 New York Mets 6 MLB 7/23/08 Philadelphia Phillies 3 New York Mets 5 MLB 7/24/08 Philadelphia Phillies 1 New York Mets 3 MLB 7/25/08 Los Angeles Sparks 68 New York Liberty 69 WNBA 7/28/08 Baltimore Orioles 13 New York Yankees 4 MLB 7/29/08 Baltimore Orioles 7 New York Yankees 6 MLB 7/30/08 Baltimore Orioles 3 New York Yankees 13 MLB 8/5/08 Houston Dynamo 2 New England 2 (NE, 6-5) < MLS 8/8/08 Florida Marlins 0 New York Mets 3 MLB 8/9/08 Florida Marlins 6 New York Mets 8 MLB 8/10/08 Florida Marlins 8 New York Mets 2 MLB 8/11/08 Pittsburgh Pirates 7 New York Mets 5 MLB 8/16/08 Washington Redskins 13 New York Jets 10 ! NFL 8/18/08 Cleveland Browns 34 New York Giants 37 ! NFL 8/23/08 New York Giants 7 New York Jets 10 ! NFL 8/24/08 Houston Dynamo 0 New York Red Bulls 3 MLS 8/28/08 New England Patriots 14 New York Giants 19 ! NFL 9/1/08 Fresno State Bulldogs 24 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 7 CFB 9/4/08 Washington Redskins 7 New York Giants 16 NFL 9/5/08 Philadelphia Phillies 3 New York Mets 0 MLB 9/7/08 Philadelphia Phillies 6 New York Mets 2 MLB 9/7/08 Philadelphia Phillies 3 New York Mets 6 MLB 9/8/08 Florida Marlins 6 Philadelphia Phillies 8 MLB 9/11/08 North Carolina 44 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 12 CFB 9/13/08 Tampa Bay Rays 7 New York Yankees 1 MLB 9/13/08 Tampa Bay Rays 5 New York Yankees 6 MLB 9/14/08 New England Patriots 19 New York Jets 10 NFL 9/15/08 Chicago White Sox 2 New York Yankees 4 MLB 9/16/08 Chicago White Sox 6 New York Yankees 2 MLB 9/18/08 Chicago White Sox 2 New York Yankees 9 MLB 9/19/08 Baltimore Orioles 2 New York Yankees 3 ? MLB 9/20/08 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 21 Navy Midshipmen 23 CFB 9/21/08 Cincinnati Bengals 23 New York Giants 26 (OT) NFL 9/21/08 Baltimore Orioles 3 New York Yankees 7 MLB 9/22/08 Ottawa Senators 1 New York Rangers 2 ! NHL 9/25/08 Tampa Bay Lightning 4 New York Rangers 2 ! NHL 9/26/08 Florida Marlins 6 New York Mets 1 MLB 9/27/08 Morgan State Bears 0 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 38 CFB 9/28/08 Florida Marlins 4 New York Mets 2 MLB 10/4/08 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 17 West Virginia 24 CFB 10/5/08 Washington Redskins 23 Philadelphia Eagles 17 NFL 10/9/08 Los Angeles Dodgers 2 Philadelphia Phillies 3 % MLB 10/11/08 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 10 Cincinnati Bearcats 13 CFB 10/12/08 Cincinnati Bengals 14 New York Jets 26 NFL 10/13/08 New Jersey Devils 1 New York Rangers 4 NHL 10/17/08 Toronto Maple Leafs 0 New York Rangers 1 (SO) NHL 10/18/08 Connecticut Huskies 10 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 12 CFB 10/19/08 San Francisco 49ers 17 New York Giants 29 NFL 10/20/08 Dallas Stars 2 New York Rangers 1 NHL 10/23/08 Dallas Stars 5 New York Islanders 3 NHL 10/25/08 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 54 Pittsburgh Panthers 34 CFB 10/26/08 Tampa Bay Rays 2 Philadelphia Phillies 10 / MLB 10/27/08 Tampa Bay Rays 2 Philadelphia Phillies 2 / ^ MLB 10/29/08 Tampa Bay Rays 3 Philadelphia Phillies 4 / > MLB 10/30/08 Atlanta Thrashers 2 New York Rangers 3 NHL 11/1/08 Houston Dynamo 1 New York Red Bulls 1 $ MLS 11/2/08 Milwaukee Bucks 94 New York Knicks 84 NBA 11/3/08 Columbus Blue Jackets 3 New York Islanders 4 (OT) NHL 11/5/08 Charlotte Bobcats 98 New York Knicks 101 NBA 11/6/08 Tampa Bay Lightning 2 New York Rangers 5 NHL 11/7/08 Detroit Pistons 96 New Jersey Nets 103 NBA 11/8/08 Syracuse Orange 17 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 35 CFB 11/9/08 Utah Jazz 99 New York Knicks 107 NBA 11/10/08 Edmonton Oilers 3 New York Rangers 2 (SO) NHL 11/12/08 New York Rangers 5 New Jersey Devils 2 NHL 11/15/08 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 49 South Florida 16 CFB 11/16/08 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 85 Delaware Blue Hens 77 CBB 11/17/08 Ottawa Senators 1 New York Rangers 2 (SO) NHL 11/19/08 Vancouver Canucks 6 New York Rangers 3 NHL 11/20/08 Duke Blue Devils 83 Southern Illinois Salukis 58 CBB 11/20/08 UCLA Bruins 52 Michigan Wolverines 55 { CBB 11/21/08 Delaware Blue Hens 85 St. Bonaventure 81 ] CBB 11/21/08 Robert Morris Colonials 55 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 69 CBB 11/22/08 Army Black Knights 3 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 30 CFB 11/23/08 St. Bonaventure 64 Rutgers 63 (OT) CBB 11/23/08 Delaware Blue Hens 88 Marist 83 (OT) ]? CBB 11/25/08 Cleveland Cavaliers 119 New York Knicks 101 NBA 11/26/08 Lehigh Mountain Hawks 76 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 71 CBB 11/29/08 Ottawa Senators 2 New York Islanders 4 NHL 11/30/08 St. Peter's Peacocks 47 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 68 CBB 12/2/08 Washington Wizards 108 New Jersey Nets 88 NBA 12/3/08 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 66 Rider Broncs 62 } CBB 12/4/08 Louisville Cardinals 14 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 63 CFB 12/6/08 Binghamton Bearcats 66 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 56 CBB 12/7/08 Detroit Pistons 92 New York Knicks 104 NBA 12/7/08 Calgary Flames 3 New York Rangers 0 NHL 12/10/08 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 49 Princeton Tigers 44 CBB 12/12/08 New York Rangers 5 New Jersey Devils 8 NHL 12/13/08 Carolina Hurricanes 2 NY Rangers 3 (5 SO) NHL 12/14/08 Delaware State 55 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 60 CBB 12/17/08 Utah Jazz 103 New Jersey Nets 92 NBA 12/19/08 Ottawa Senators 1 New Jersey Devils 5 NHL 12/20/08 Bryant University 37 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 67 CBB 12/21/08 Carolina Panthers 28 New York Giants 34 (OT) NFL 12/22/08 Houston Rockets 114 New Jersey Nets 91 NBA 12/23/08 NJIT 52 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 78 CBB 12/26/08 Charlotte Bobcats 95 New Jersey Nets 87 NBA 12/27/08 Miami Hurricanes 70 St. John's Red Storm 56 { CBB 12/29/08 North Carolina State 23 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 29 | CFB 12/31/08 Pittsburgh Panthers 78 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 72 CBB * International Bowl at the Rogers Centre, Toronto, Ontario + Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden = NEC Semifinal & Left game before it concluded $ First round playoff game % Second round playoff game # Game played at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing, Queens @ All-Star game at Yankee Stadium < SuperLiga Final played in Foxboro, Massachusetts. New England won, 6-5, in penalty kicks ! Exhibition game ? Left game before it concluded / World Series ^ Game suspended after 5 1/2 innings > Completion of suspended game } Game played at Sovereign Bank Arena, Trenton, NJ { Game played at Madison Square Garden ] Game played at the Louis Brown Athletic Center, Rutgers University | Papajohns.com Bowl played at Legion Field, Birmingham, Alabama Back to sports page |
| Am I supposed to be ecstatic for the Phillies winning the World Series? |
| Top 5 sporting events from 2008 |
5. March 9th, 2008 -- Rutgers Scarlet Knights 64, Seton Hall Pirates 61: In my eight years or so of engineering
radio broadcasts, I have never been late to a game. But I had a close call today. I was scheduled to engineer the
Rutgers radio broadcast in Newark, a 2:00 game against the Seton Hall Pirates, then head over to Wagner College on
Staten island for an Internet broadcast to begin at 7:00. Definitely a realistic scenario, provided the game in Newark
doesn't go overtime. And it looked "good" at the beginning that I wouldn't have to worry about OT, albeit for the wrong
reason, as the Scarlet Knights fell behind by 17. But Rutgers, in its final game of the season, fought back to take a
six-point lead in the second half, but this see-saw affair was going down to the wire. What also didn't help my cause
was the Seton Hall head coach, Bobby Gonzalez, was arguing every call, getting the refs attention during the entire
second half, and thus slowing the game down. His actions from the game would eventually lead to a one-game
suspension next season. My fate looked like it was finally sealed when Jamar Nutter tipped-in a missed shot for the
Pirates to tie the game at 61 with only three seconds remaining. Overtime seemed inevitable. I literally had the phone to
my ear in preparation for calling my contacts at Wagner warning them to set themselves up with the equipment they
have. But JR Inman saved my life, or at least my attendance streak, as Rutgers moved the ball down the court in those
final three seconds, and his running three-point "desperation" shot fell in, promptly ending the game. And I would make
it to Wagner by just before 6:00, plenty of time to get that broadcast up and running. What is most bizarre is that I
worked two games the day before and both of those basketball games at MSG did go in to overtime. But today, I was
saved by the bell...or, I should say, the basket. And hey, a Rutgers win at Seton Hall is always a thrill, especially when
it allows the Scarlet Knights to end their season a winner. BTW, more details of this game can be found on one of my
"Evidence there is a God" blogs on my MySpace.
4. September 21st, 2008 -- New York Yankees 7, Baltimore Orioles 3: This highly anticipated sporting event, the
final game played at Yankee Stadium, was everything it was expected to be. It was a zoo outside the stadium just
getting in to the parking lot before the game, it was a tourist's picture-taking paradise inside the stadium all night long, the
pre-game ceremony had all the stars that were supposed to be there (in other words, not Roger Clemens), and hey, the
Yankees stayed alive in the post-season hunt by winning (a loss would've eliminated the Yankees on the spot; the
Yankees did wind up missing the playoffs for the first time since before the 1994 players strike). Having gone to an
average of about 35 games at Yankee Stadium for this entire decade, I felt it fitting that I had reason to be at this affair.
Although this would wind up being the second part of a very long day, as I had to first work a broadcast at the
Cincinnati Bengals-NY Giants game earlier in the day, and naturally that game would go in to overtime. But I still got to
Yankee Stadium by about 5:45, got in to the parking lot 25 minutes later, no thanks to.....well, never mind, and was able
to get my pictures taken and take in the atmosphere before engineering the Orioles radio broadcast beginning at 8:00. I
probably didn't get home until about 2:00 a.m. and I was definitely sick the next day, though I still managed to struggle
through a pre-season hockey broadcast that night.
3. September 28th, 2008 -- Florida Marlins 4, New York Mets 2: The excitement of being able to attend the final
game at Yankee Stadium at first did overshadow the fact I'd be in attendance for the final game at Shea Stadium as well.
But when all was said and done, this game, and the festivities associated with it, would prove to be more dramatic, more
uncertain, and would bring out more emotions in people than what you would normally see at a sporting event. The
Mets entered the game in a similar situation to last year, tied for a playoff spot going in to the final game of the regular
season, and playing at home against the Florida Marlins. But unlike last year, this game would go in to the late innings.
Carlos Beltran tied the game at two-apiece for the Mets with a two-run homer that had Shea Stadium as electric as
ever, but the range of emotions this day would provide would then go on display in the 8th inning as Wes Helms and
Dan Uggla hit back-to-back homers for Florida to provide the final cushion. This Mets game, thanks to a 50-minute
rain delay at the start, would end just after the Milwaukee Brewers defeated the Chicago Cubs, so the Mets were
eliminated as soon as the Marlins recorded the final out. And the stadium couldn't be more low. Yet, the fans didn't
leave before the closing ceremonies. Despite their disgust, they stayed to honor past Mets greats who were on hand to
close the ballpark. And an inspired crowd cheered them on, particularly when Doc Gooden was introduced, despite its
disappointment with the current club. The Mets organization received some criticism for scheduling the stadium's
ceremony for after the game, but what the Mets actually created, without realizing it, was a most dramatic, and, as I
mentioned, emotional scenario that couldn't be scripted. And that became evident by friends of mine, both in the stands
and in the press box, who were crying over the events of this day.
2. July 15th, 2008 -- American League 4, National League 3 (15): They say good things come to those who
wait. Well, I wouldn't say I had been waiting with baited breath to attend my first All-Star game in any sport, but it
would wind up being what some would call the best Major League Baseball All-Star game ever. In a game that will be
remembered for its outstanding defensive plays, besides Dan Uggla's three errors, it would be a bang-bang play at the
plate on a sacrifice fly by Michael Young that would score Justin Morneau just ahead of Corey Hart's throw from the
outfield that provided the winning run. That play would end an All-Star game record four-hour, 50-minute affair. And
the 15 innings played tied a record for most frames played in an All-Star game. The game started innocently enough as
the NL took a 2-0 lead in to the bottom of the 7th thanks to a Matt Holliday homer and Lance Berkman sacrifice fly.
But the American League, which hasn't lost the All-Star game since 1996, tied it on a J.D. Drew two-run home run.
Then with the National League leading, 3-2, Evan Longoria tied the game again for the AL with a ground-rule RBI
double in the bottom of the eighth. Then the real excitement took place in extra innings. The American League loaded
the bases with nobody out in the 10th inning, but Grady Sizemore and Longoria both hit ground balls that forced the
third-base runner out at home. And, with two outs, a brilliant defensive play by Miguel Tejada on a slow ground ball by
Morneau allowed the NL to escape the frame. In the 11th, the NL's defense came up big again, as Nate McLouth
threw Dioner Navarro out at home on a single by Young to keep the game alive. In the 12th, the NL had its chance but
Uggla and Adrian Gonzalez both struck out with the bases loaded. And the AL stranded another runner on third in the
bottom half of the inning. In all, there were 28 runners left on base before the Young sacrifice fly ended the night in the
15th. The result gave the American League representative home field advantage in the World Series, and would
ultimately set up my attendance at the Fall Classic, my number one sporting event of the year.
1. October 27th, 2008 AND October 29th, 2008 -- Philadelphia Phillies 4, Tampa Bay Rays 3: Among other
things, this is the longest sporting event I have ever attended, as the Phillies would win the World Series for the second
time in their history, winning game 5 which had to be played in two parts after rain forced the game to be suspended in
the middle of the 6th inning on Monday, the 27th and the game couldn't be resumed until two days later. But to just
describe the game's events doesn't do this whole affair justice. It was a Philadelphia I wound up staying in for four days
that I had never experienced while living there for seven and a half years during and after college. After flying home
from a Rutgers football game in Pittsburgh on Saturday night, the 25th, I got a call at 2:00 in the morning warning me
that my broadcast would be going on the air at noon. So, I drove down to Philadelphia on only four hours of sleep, not
having a clue that I wouldn't be coming home for four days. And during my time down there, I would experience the
highs of wearing a Tampa Bay Rays shirt prior to game 4 of the series at a bar attached to Citizens Bank Park -- during
an Eagles game -- and getting booed mercilessly, the lows of waiting out a Nor'easter which completely drenched the
World Series atmosphere during the game's suspension, and ultimately staying in five different locations in five different
nights (if you count staying in Pittsburgh Friday night and at home on Saturday night before going to Philly where I
stayed at three different hotels). But when they were finally able to resume playing the bottom of the 6th inning, the
World Series atmosphere was back and Brad Lidge's strikeout of Erik Hinske with a runner on second would give
Philadelphia its first major pro championship since 1983. And the celebrating outside the stadium, particularly at the
players parking lot entrance, was bigger than I had ever seen before at any game -- yes, including the Rangers win in the
1994 Stanley Cup finals. Heck, any Philadelphia sports fan under 25 years old had never experienced one of their
teams win a championship, so this was their chance to let loose. And let loose they did.
radio broadcasts, I have never been late to a game. But I had a close call today. I was scheduled to engineer the
Rutgers radio broadcast in Newark, a 2:00 game against the Seton Hall Pirates, then head over to Wagner College on
Staten island for an Internet broadcast to begin at 7:00. Definitely a realistic scenario, provided the game in Newark
doesn't go overtime. And it looked "good" at the beginning that I wouldn't have to worry about OT, albeit for the wrong
reason, as the Scarlet Knights fell behind by 17. But Rutgers, in its final game of the season, fought back to take a
six-point lead in the second half, but this see-saw affair was going down to the wire. What also didn't help my cause
was the Seton Hall head coach, Bobby Gonzalez, was arguing every call, getting the refs attention during the entire
second half, and thus slowing the game down. His actions from the game would eventually lead to a one-game
suspension next season. My fate looked like it was finally sealed when Jamar Nutter tipped-in a missed shot for the
Pirates to tie the game at 61 with only three seconds remaining. Overtime seemed inevitable. I literally had the phone to
my ear in preparation for calling my contacts at Wagner warning them to set themselves up with the equipment they
have. But JR Inman saved my life, or at least my attendance streak, as Rutgers moved the ball down the court in those
final three seconds, and his running three-point "desperation" shot fell in, promptly ending the game. And I would make
it to Wagner by just before 6:00, plenty of time to get that broadcast up and running. What is most bizarre is that I
worked two games the day before and both of those basketball games at MSG did go in to overtime. But today, I was
saved by the bell...or, I should say, the basket. And hey, a Rutgers win at Seton Hall is always a thrill, especially when
it allows the Scarlet Knights to end their season a winner. BTW, more details of this game can be found on one of my
"Evidence there is a God" blogs on my MySpace.
4. September 21st, 2008 -- New York Yankees 7, Baltimore Orioles 3: This highly anticipated sporting event, the
final game played at Yankee Stadium, was everything it was expected to be. It was a zoo outside the stadium just
getting in to the parking lot before the game, it was a tourist's picture-taking paradise inside the stadium all night long, the
pre-game ceremony had all the stars that were supposed to be there (in other words, not Roger Clemens), and hey, the
Yankees stayed alive in the post-season hunt by winning (a loss would've eliminated the Yankees on the spot; the
Yankees did wind up missing the playoffs for the first time since before the 1994 players strike). Having gone to an
average of about 35 games at Yankee Stadium for this entire decade, I felt it fitting that I had reason to be at this affair.
Although this would wind up being the second part of a very long day, as I had to first work a broadcast at the
Cincinnati Bengals-NY Giants game earlier in the day, and naturally that game would go in to overtime. But I still got to
Yankee Stadium by about 5:45, got in to the parking lot 25 minutes later, no thanks to.....well, never mind, and was able
to get my pictures taken and take in the atmosphere before engineering the Orioles radio broadcast beginning at 8:00. I
probably didn't get home until about 2:00 a.m. and I was definitely sick the next day, though I still managed to struggle
through a pre-season hockey broadcast that night.
3. September 28th, 2008 -- Florida Marlins 4, New York Mets 2: The excitement of being able to attend the final
game at Yankee Stadium at first did overshadow the fact I'd be in attendance for the final game at Shea Stadium as well.
But when all was said and done, this game, and the festivities associated with it, would prove to be more dramatic, more
uncertain, and would bring out more emotions in people than what you would normally see at a sporting event. The
Mets entered the game in a similar situation to last year, tied for a playoff spot going in to the final game of the regular
season, and playing at home against the Florida Marlins. But unlike last year, this game would go in to the late innings.
Carlos Beltran tied the game at two-apiece for the Mets with a two-run homer that had Shea Stadium as electric as
ever, but the range of emotions this day would provide would then go on display in the 8th inning as Wes Helms and
Dan Uggla hit back-to-back homers for Florida to provide the final cushion. This Mets game, thanks to a 50-minute
rain delay at the start, would end just after the Milwaukee Brewers defeated the Chicago Cubs, so the Mets were
eliminated as soon as the Marlins recorded the final out. And the stadium couldn't be more low. Yet, the fans didn't
leave before the closing ceremonies. Despite their disgust, they stayed to honor past Mets greats who were on hand to
close the ballpark. And an inspired crowd cheered them on, particularly when Doc Gooden was introduced, despite its
disappointment with the current club. The Mets organization received some criticism for scheduling the stadium's
ceremony for after the game, but what the Mets actually created, without realizing it, was a most dramatic, and, as I
mentioned, emotional scenario that couldn't be scripted. And that became evident by friends of mine, both in the stands
and in the press box, who were crying over the events of this day.
2. July 15th, 2008 -- American League 4, National League 3 (15): They say good things come to those who
wait. Well, I wouldn't say I had been waiting with baited breath to attend my first All-Star game in any sport, but it
would wind up being what some would call the best Major League Baseball All-Star game ever. In a game that will be
remembered for its outstanding defensive plays, besides Dan Uggla's three errors, it would be a bang-bang play at the
plate on a sacrifice fly by Michael Young that would score Justin Morneau just ahead of Corey Hart's throw from the
outfield that provided the winning run. That play would end an All-Star game record four-hour, 50-minute affair. And
the 15 innings played tied a record for most frames played in an All-Star game. The game started innocently enough as
the NL took a 2-0 lead in to the bottom of the 7th thanks to a Matt Holliday homer and Lance Berkman sacrifice fly.
But the American League, which hasn't lost the All-Star game since 1996, tied it on a J.D. Drew two-run home run.
Then with the National League leading, 3-2, Evan Longoria tied the game again for the AL with a ground-rule RBI
double in the bottom of the eighth. Then the real excitement took place in extra innings. The American League loaded
the bases with nobody out in the 10th inning, but Grady Sizemore and Longoria both hit ground balls that forced the
third-base runner out at home. And, with two outs, a brilliant defensive play by Miguel Tejada on a slow ground ball by
Morneau allowed the NL to escape the frame. In the 11th, the NL's defense came up big again, as Nate McLouth
threw Dioner Navarro out at home on a single by Young to keep the game alive. In the 12th, the NL had its chance but
Uggla and Adrian Gonzalez both struck out with the bases loaded. And the AL stranded another runner on third in the
bottom half of the inning. In all, there were 28 runners left on base before the Young sacrifice fly ended the night in the
15th. The result gave the American League representative home field advantage in the World Series, and would
ultimately set up my attendance at the Fall Classic, my number one sporting event of the year.
1. October 27th, 2008 AND October 29th, 2008 -- Philadelphia Phillies 4, Tampa Bay Rays 3: Among other
things, this is the longest sporting event I have ever attended, as the Phillies would win the World Series for the second
time in their history, winning game 5 which had to be played in two parts after rain forced the game to be suspended in
the middle of the 6th inning on Monday, the 27th and the game couldn't be resumed until two days later. But to just
describe the game's events doesn't do this whole affair justice. It was a Philadelphia I wound up staying in for four days
that I had never experienced while living there for seven and a half years during and after college. After flying home
from a Rutgers football game in Pittsburgh on Saturday night, the 25th, I got a call at 2:00 in the morning warning me
that my broadcast would be going on the air at noon. So, I drove down to Philadelphia on only four hours of sleep, not
having a clue that I wouldn't be coming home for four days. And during my time down there, I would experience the
highs of wearing a Tampa Bay Rays shirt prior to game 4 of the series at a bar attached to Citizens Bank Park -- during
an Eagles game -- and getting booed mercilessly, the lows of waiting out a Nor'easter which completely drenched the
World Series atmosphere during the game's suspension, and ultimately staying in five different locations in five different
nights (if you count staying in Pittsburgh Friday night and at home on Saturday night before going to Philly where I
stayed at three different hotels). But when they were finally able to resume playing the bottom of the 6th inning, the
World Series atmosphere was back and Brad Lidge's strikeout of Erik Hinske with a runner on second would give
Philadelphia its first major pro championship since 1983. And the celebrating outside the stadium, particularly at the
players parking lot entrance, was bigger than I had ever seen before at any game -- yes, including the Rangers win in the
1994 Stanley Cup finals. Heck, any Philadelphia sports fan under 25 years old had never experienced one of their
teams win a championship, so this was their chance to let loose. And let loose they did.
| Honorable mentions |
1. January 5th, 2008 -- Rutgers Scarlet Knights 52, Ball State Cardinals 30 -- The Scarlet Knights win their second
bowl game in as many seasons as they run roughshod over the Ball State Cardinals at the International Bowl in Toronto.
Ray Rice, in his final collegiate game, rushed for 280 yards and four touchdowns. The game for me brought back
memories as it was a return to the Rogers Centre, which was among five baseball stadiums I got to visit while traveling
with the Yankees in 2005.
2. January 26th, 2008 -- Rutgers Scarlet Knights 77, Pittsburgh Panthers 64 -- Rutgers defeats its highest-ranked foe
on the road in team history, as #13 Pittsburgh loses its 100th ever game played at the Peterson Events Center.
Pittsburgh scored the last eight points of the first half to take a seven-point advantage, but a 20-2 Rutgers run in the
second half, keyed primarily by guard Mike Coburn, who finished with 17 points, gave Rutgers the winning margin.
The RU win also ended a 13-game winning streak for the Panthers on their home court.
3. February 8th, 2008 -- San Antonio Spurs 99, New York Knicks 93 (OT) -- Leave it to the 2007-08 Knicks to
leave a three-point shooter wide open when they're leading by three in the final seconds. But that's what happened
when Renaldo Balkman focused more on guarding the paint, leaving Michael Finley wide open from behind the arc to
tie the game at the regulation buzzer, and the Spurs would win it in OT.
4. March 8th, 2008 -- West Virginia Mountaineers 83, St. John's Red Storm 74 (OT) -- St. John's rallies from a
12-point deficit in the second half to take the lead, but Joe Muzzulla's drive the length of the court and hits a layup to tie
the game for the Mountaineers with 0.3 seconds remaining to force OT. This was the first of two overtime games I
attended at MSG on this day, as the Knicks would lose to Portland at night.
5. April 10th, 2008 -- New York Mets 4, Philadelphia Phillies 3 (12) -- Angel Pagan drives in Jose Reyes with a
single in the 12th inning to give the Mets a win. Naturally, the Mets bullpen blew a three-run lead, capped by a two-run
eighth inning for the Phillies.
6. April 18th, 2008 -- New York Rangers 5, New Jersey Devils 3 -- The Rangers clinch this first-round series in five
games against the Devils.
7. May 28th, 2008 -- New York Mets 7, Florida Marlins 6 (12) -- The Mets seem to turn their season around and
begin a run towards the top of the division, inspired by this victory. Endy Chavez hits his first pinch-hit homer in the
ninth inning to tie the game, and after the Marlins scored a run in the top of the 12th, Fernando Tatis doubles home two
runs to win it for New York in the bottom of the inning.
8. June 8th, 2008 -- Argentina 0, USA 0 -- The only disappointing thing about this game was there were no goals
scored. Over 75,000 packed Giants Stadium to attend what was, needless to say, the highest attended soccer game
I've ever been to. The Argentinian fans were out in full force, and gave me a sports atmosphere I had never
experienced. And this was just an exhibition match, played when the temperatures reached the upper 90's earlier in the
day.
9. July 15th, 2008 -- Justin Morneau wins HR Derby -- Justin Morneau might've won the HR Derby, but it was Josh
Hamilton that stole the show at Yankee Stadium. Hamilton, the final batter in the first round, set a record by hitting 28
home runs in the first round of the event.
10. July 19th, 2008 -- Indiana Fever 71, New York Liberty 55 -- This was another game played in the soaring heat.
Didn't matter that it was a basketball game, as this was played outdoors at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Queens, the
first-ever professional basketball regular season game played outdoors, so they say.
11. August 5th, 2008 -- New England Revolution 2, Houston Dynamo 2 (New England win, 6-5, in penalty kicks) -- I
was warned ahead of time that this soccer game wouldn't end in a draw after 60 minutes but didn't make much of it.
Well, sure enough, the Super Liga final goes to penalty kicks, then through several rounds of kicks, before the
Revolution prevail. Well, for my first game ever at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, I got my fill.
12. August 11th, 2008 -- Pittsburgh Pirates 7, New York Mets 5 -- A makeup game from a rainout in April turned in
to a Mets embarrassment. Pedro Martinez allowed just one run in six innings for the Mets, only to have the bullpen
blow it by allowing three runs in the seventh and three runs in the 9th. But hey, at least the rainout gave me an extra
day's work in August, which was a pretty slow month for me.
13. October 9th, 2008 -- Philadelphia Phillies 3, Los Angeles Dodgers 2 -- My first Phillies playoff game was a
prelude of things to come. After a very quiet first five innings, when the Dodgers took a 2-0 lead, the crowd woke up,
and a very noisy Citizens Bank Park witnessed two home runs in the 6th inning by Chase Utley and Pat Burrell that
provided the winning margin.
14. October 18th, 2008 -- Rutgers Scarlet Knights 12, UConn Huskies 10 -- A Tony Ciaravino 42-yard field goal
attempt that hit the right upright and was no good with just 1:09 left in the game might've turned the entire Rutgers
football season around. The miss allowed Rutgers to hold on for a 12-10 win, and the Scarlet Knights would improve
their record to 2-5. After this game, Rutgers would roll off five more victories, all blowouts, en route to its fourth
straight Bowl appearance.
15. October 26th, 2008 -- Philadelphia Phillies 10, Tampa Bay Rays 2 -- Hey, it's a World Series game, so it should
be an honorable mention. This game 4 of the World Series came after flying back from Pittsburgh the night before, then
having to be in Philadelphia at 10:30 the next morning. Didn't matter...I was ready. This was also the day when I had
my McFadden's Bar experience.
16. December 21st, 2008 -- New York Giants 34, Carolina Panthers 28 (OT) -- A very overrated football game
allowed the Giants to clinch home field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs over the Panthers. A lot of good that
did. But the game itself, without the scenario, was interesting, as the Giants rallied back by 11 points to win the game in
OT. DeAngelo Williams, who didn't talk to the media after the game and just bolted, scored four touchdowns for
Carolina.
17. December 29th, 2008 -- Rutgers Scarlet Knights 29, NC State Wolfpack 23 -- Rutgers rallies back from a 17-6
halftime deficit to win its third bowl game in as many seasons.
bowl game in as many seasons as they run roughshod over the Ball State Cardinals at the International Bowl in Toronto.
Ray Rice, in his final collegiate game, rushed for 280 yards and four touchdowns. The game for me brought back
memories as it was a return to the Rogers Centre, which was among five baseball stadiums I got to visit while traveling
with the Yankees in 2005.
2. January 26th, 2008 -- Rutgers Scarlet Knights 77, Pittsburgh Panthers 64 -- Rutgers defeats its highest-ranked foe
on the road in team history, as #13 Pittsburgh loses its 100th ever game played at the Peterson Events Center.
Pittsburgh scored the last eight points of the first half to take a seven-point advantage, but a 20-2 Rutgers run in the
second half, keyed primarily by guard Mike Coburn, who finished with 17 points, gave Rutgers the winning margin.
The RU win also ended a 13-game winning streak for the Panthers on their home court.
3. February 8th, 2008 -- San Antonio Spurs 99, New York Knicks 93 (OT) -- Leave it to the 2007-08 Knicks to
leave a three-point shooter wide open when they're leading by three in the final seconds. But that's what happened
when Renaldo Balkman focused more on guarding the paint, leaving Michael Finley wide open from behind the arc to
tie the game at the regulation buzzer, and the Spurs would win it in OT.
4. March 8th, 2008 -- West Virginia Mountaineers 83, St. John's Red Storm 74 (OT) -- St. John's rallies from a
12-point deficit in the second half to take the lead, but Joe Muzzulla's drive the length of the court and hits a layup to tie
the game for the Mountaineers with 0.3 seconds remaining to force OT. This was the first of two overtime games I
attended at MSG on this day, as the Knicks would lose to Portland at night.
5. April 10th, 2008 -- New York Mets 4, Philadelphia Phillies 3 (12) -- Angel Pagan drives in Jose Reyes with a
single in the 12th inning to give the Mets a win. Naturally, the Mets bullpen blew a three-run lead, capped by a two-run
eighth inning for the Phillies.
6. April 18th, 2008 -- New York Rangers 5, New Jersey Devils 3 -- The Rangers clinch this first-round series in five
games against the Devils.
7. May 28th, 2008 -- New York Mets 7, Florida Marlins 6 (12) -- The Mets seem to turn their season around and
begin a run towards the top of the division, inspired by this victory. Endy Chavez hits his first pinch-hit homer in the
ninth inning to tie the game, and after the Marlins scored a run in the top of the 12th, Fernando Tatis doubles home two
runs to win it for New York in the bottom of the inning.
8. June 8th, 2008 -- Argentina 0, USA 0 -- The only disappointing thing about this game was there were no goals
scored. Over 75,000 packed Giants Stadium to attend what was, needless to say, the highest attended soccer game
I've ever been to. The Argentinian fans were out in full force, and gave me a sports atmosphere I had never
experienced. And this was just an exhibition match, played when the temperatures reached the upper 90's earlier in the
day.
9. July 15th, 2008 -- Justin Morneau wins HR Derby -- Justin Morneau might've won the HR Derby, but it was Josh
Hamilton that stole the show at Yankee Stadium. Hamilton, the final batter in the first round, set a record by hitting 28
home runs in the first round of the event.
10. July 19th, 2008 -- Indiana Fever 71, New York Liberty 55 -- This was another game played in the soaring heat.
Didn't matter that it was a basketball game, as this was played outdoors at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Queens, the
first-ever professional basketball regular season game played outdoors, so they say.
11. August 5th, 2008 -- New England Revolution 2, Houston Dynamo 2 (New England win, 6-5, in penalty kicks) -- I
was warned ahead of time that this soccer game wouldn't end in a draw after 60 minutes but didn't make much of it.
Well, sure enough, the Super Liga final goes to penalty kicks, then through several rounds of kicks, before the
Revolution prevail. Well, for my first game ever at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, I got my fill.
12. August 11th, 2008 -- Pittsburgh Pirates 7, New York Mets 5 -- A makeup game from a rainout in April turned in
to a Mets embarrassment. Pedro Martinez allowed just one run in six innings for the Mets, only to have the bullpen
blow it by allowing three runs in the seventh and three runs in the 9th. But hey, at least the rainout gave me an extra
day's work in August, which was a pretty slow month for me.
13. October 9th, 2008 -- Philadelphia Phillies 3, Los Angeles Dodgers 2 -- My first Phillies playoff game was a
prelude of things to come. After a very quiet first five innings, when the Dodgers took a 2-0 lead, the crowd woke up,
and a very noisy Citizens Bank Park witnessed two home runs in the 6th inning by Chase Utley and Pat Burrell that
provided the winning margin.
14. October 18th, 2008 -- Rutgers Scarlet Knights 12, UConn Huskies 10 -- A Tony Ciaravino 42-yard field goal
attempt that hit the right upright and was no good with just 1:09 left in the game might've turned the entire Rutgers
football season around. The miss allowed Rutgers to hold on for a 12-10 win, and the Scarlet Knights would improve
their record to 2-5. After this game, Rutgers would roll off five more victories, all blowouts, en route to its fourth
straight Bowl appearance.
15. October 26th, 2008 -- Philadelphia Phillies 10, Tampa Bay Rays 2 -- Hey, it's a World Series game, so it should
be an honorable mention. This game 4 of the World Series came after flying back from Pittsburgh the night before, then
having to be in Philadelphia at 10:30 the next morning. Didn't matter...I was ready. This was also the day when I had
my McFadden's Bar experience.
16. December 21st, 2008 -- New York Giants 34, Carolina Panthers 28 (OT) -- A very overrated football game
allowed the Giants to clinch home field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs over the Panthers. A lot of good that
did. But the game itself, without the scenario, was interesting, as the Giants rallied back by 11 points to win the game in
OT. DeAngelo Williams, who didn't talk to the media after the game and just bolted, scored four touchdowns for
Carolina.
17. December 29th, 2008 -- Rutgers Scarlet Knights 29, NC State Wolfpack 23 -- Rutgers rallies back from a 17-6
halftime deficit to win its third bowl game in as many seasons.
| Strange facts from 2008 |
1. January 26th represented the first time I saw Pittsburgh lose a basketball game not played in the Big East tournament
since January 30th, 1991. Pittsburgh had won seven straight basketball games I had attended since (not including the
BE Tournament), five of them against Rutgers.
2. By attending the February 2nd game at Louisville, I have now been to a home game for every Big East team in men's
basketball.
3. I saw the Los Angeles Clippers win a basketball for the first time ever on February 4th, 2008. The Clippers had lost
the first six games I had previously seen them play in.
4. February 12th is the first time I ever saw the New York Islanders defeat the Philadelphia Flyers in regulation time.
The only other time I had seen the Islanders beat the Flyers was an overtime decision on November 21st, 1993. The
Flyers went 11-1-1 against the Islanders in games I attended prior to this Islanders regulation win.
5. June 26th was the first time I attended a WNBA game that went triple overtime.
6. I attended my first Philadelphia Phillies playoff game on October 9th, meaning I've now seen each Philadelphia pro
team play in a playoff game.
7. The Phillies clinching of the World Series on October 29th is the third time I have seen a pro team clinch a
championship at its home stadium. The 2008 Phillies join the 1994 New York Rangers and 2003 New Jersey Devils.
7. November 16th was the first time since December 3rd, 1988 I saw the Delaware Blue Hens play in a game.
8. November 20th was the first time I ever saw UCLA and Southern Illinois play in a game.
since January 30th, 1991. Pittsburgh had won seven straight basketball games I had attended since (not including the
BE Tournament), five of them against Rutgers.
2. By attending the February 2nd game at Louisville, I have now been to a home game for every Big East team in men's
basketball.
3. I saw the Los Angeles Clippers win a basketball for the first time ever on February 4th, 2008. The Clippers had lost
the first six games I had previously seen them play in.
4. February 12th is the first time I ever saw the New York Islanders defeat the Philadelphia Flyers in regulation time.
The only other time I had seen the Islanders beat the Flyers was an overtime decision on November 21st, 1993. The
Flyers went 11-1-1 against the Islanders in games I attended prior to this Islanders regulation win.
5. June 26th was the first time I attended a WNBA game that went triple overtime.
6. I attended my first Philadelphia Phillies playoff game on October 9th, meaning I've now seen each Philadelphia pro
team play in a playoff game.
7. The Phillies clinching of the World Series on October 29th is the third time I have seen a pro team clinch a
championship at its home stadium. The 2008 Phillies join the 1994 New York Rangers and 2003 New Jersey Devils.
7. November 16th was the first time since December 3rd, 1988 I saw the Delaware Blue Hens play in a game.
8. November 20th was the first time I ever saw UCLA and Southern Illinois play in a game.