| 2011 |
| Date visiting team home team sport 1/2/11 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 65 Villanova Wildcats 81 CBB 1/3/11 Georgetown Hoyas 58 St. John's Red Storm 61 = CBB 1/4/11 San Antonio Spurs 115 New York Knicks 128 NBA 1/5/11 Marquette Golden Eagles 73 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 65 CBB 1/8/11 Providence Friars 72 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 85 CBB 1/9/11 Tampa Bay Lightning 3 New Jersey Devils 6 NHL 1/11/11 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 53 Connecticut Huskies 67 * CBB 1/13/11 Ottawa Senators 6 New York Islanders 4 NHL 1/14/11 Sacramento Kings 93 New York Knicks 83 NBA 1/15/11 Georgetown Hoyas 74 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 65 CBB 1/17/11 Phoenix Suns 129 New York Knicks 121 NBA 1/20/11 South Florida Bulls 62 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 71 CBB 1/21/11 Detroit Pistons 74 New Jersey Nets 89 NBA 1/22/11 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 66 Seton Hall Pirates 60 CBB 1/22/11 Dallas Mavericks 87 New Jersey Nets 86 NBA 1/24/11 Washington Wizards 106 New York Knicks 115 NBA 1/26/11 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 56 Cincinnati Bearcats 72 CBB 1/29/11 Georgia Bulldogs 60 Kentucky Wildcats 66 CBB 1/30/11 Detroit Pistons 106 New York Knicks 124 NBA 1/31/11 Denver Nuggets 99 New Jersey Nets 115 NBA 2/1/11 Ottawa Senators 1 New Jersey Devils 2 NHL 2/2/11 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 56 St. John's Red Storm 58 CBB 2/4/11 Florida Panthers 4 New Jersey Devils 3 (OT) NHL 2/6/11 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 69 Notre Dame Fighting Irish 76 CBB 2/9/11 Villanova Wildcats 76 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 77 CBB 2/11/11 Los Angeles Lakers 113 New York Knicks 96 NBA 2/12/11 Seton Hall Pirates 69 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 64 CBB 2/13/11 Pittsburgh Penguins 3 New York Rangers 5 NHL 2/14/11 San Antonio Spurs 102 New Jersey Nets 85 NBA 2/16/11 Carolina Hurricanes 2 New Jersey Devils 3 NHL 2/17/11 Los Angeles Kings 3 New York Rangers 4 (SO) NHL 2/19/11 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 80 Syracuse Orange 84 (OT) CBB 2/22/11 Louisville Cardinals 55 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 37 CBB 2/26/11 Washington Capitals 3 New York Islanders 2 NHL 2/27/11 West Virginia 65 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 54 CBB 3/2/11 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 68 DePaul Blue Demons 64 CBB 3/3/11 Minnesota Wild 3 New York Rangers 1 NHL 3/4/11 Cleveland Cavaliers 119 New York Knicks 115 NBA 3/5/11 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 74 Providence Friars 75 CBB 3/7/11 Utah Jazz 109 New York Knicks 131 NBA 3/8/11 DePaul Blue Demons 71 Connecticut Huskies 97 + CBB 3/8/11 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 76 Seton Hall Pirates 70 (OT) + CBB 3/8/11 South Florida Bulls 70 Villanova Wildcats 69 + CBB 3/8/11 Providence Friars 66 Marquette Golden Eagles 87 + CBB 3/9/11 Connecticut Huskies 79 Georgetown Hoyas 62 + CBB 3/9/11 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 63 St. John's Red Storm 65 + CBB 3/9/11 South Florida Bulls 61 Cincinnati Bearcats 87 + CBB 3/9/11 Marquette Golden Eagles 67 West Virginiia 61 + CBB 3/10/11 Cincinnati Bearcats 51 Notre Dame 89 + CBB 3/10/11 Marquette Golden Eagles 56 Louisville Cardinals 81 + CBB 3/11/11 Connecticut Huskies 76 Syracuse Orange 71 (OT) CBB 3/11/11 Louisville Cardinals 83 Notre Dame 77 (OT) CBB 3/15/11 Atlanta Thrashers 2 New Jersey Devils 4 NHL 3/17/11 Memphis Grizzlies 99 New York Knicks 120 NBA 3/18/11 Montreal Canadiens 3 New York Rangers 6 NHL 3/21/11 Boston Celtics 96 New York Knicks 86 NBA 3/23/11 Orlando Magic 111 New York Knicks 99 NBA 3/24/11 Atlanta Thrashers 2 New York Islanders 1 NHL 3/26/11 BYU-Hawaii Seasiders 68 Bellarmine Knights 71 % CBB 3/28/11 Orlando Magic 106 New York Knicks 113 (OT) NBA 3/29/11 Wichita State Shockers 75 Washington State 44 @ CBB 3/29/11 Alabama Crimson Tide 62 Colorado Buffaloes 61 @ CBB 3/30/11 New Jersey Nets 116 New York Knicks 120 NBA 3/31/11 Wichita State Shockers 66 Alabama Crimson Tide 57 @ CBB 4/2/11 Houston Dynamo 1 New York Red Bulls 1 MLS 4/3/11 Detroit Tigers 10 New York Yankees 7 MLB 4/4/11 Boston Bruins 3 New York Rangers 5 NHL 4/5/11 Toronto Raptors 118 New York Knicks 131 NBA 4/7/11 Atlanta Thrashers 3 New York Rangers 0 NHL 4/8/11 New York Knicks 116 New Jersey Nets 93 NBA 4/12/11 Chicago Bulls 103 New York Knicks 90 NBA 4/15/11 Texas Rangers 5 New York Yankees 3 MLB 4/16/11 Texas Rangers 2 New York Yankees 5 MLB 4/17/11 Texas Rangers 5 New York Yankees 6 MLB 4/25/11 Chicago White Sox 2 New York Yankees 0 MLB 4/26/11 Chicago White Sox 3 New York Yankees 2 MLB 4/27/11 Chicago White Sox 1 New York Yankees 3 MLB 4/30/11 White 14 Scarlet 31 $ CFB 5/15/11 Boston Red Sox 7 New York Yankees 5 MLB 5/16/11 Florida Marlins 2 New York Mets 1 (11) MLB 5/27/11 Philadelphia Phillies 6 New York Mets 4 MLB 5/28/11 Philadelphia Phillies 5 New York Mets 2 MLB 5/29/11 Philadelphia Phillies 5 New York Mets 9 MLB 5/30/11 Pittsburgh Pirates 3 New York Mets 7 MLB 5/31/11 Pittsburgh Pirates 5 New York Mets 1 MLB 6/1/11 Pittsburgh Pirates 9 New York Mets 3 MLB 6/2/11 Pittsburgh Pirates 8 New York Mets 9 MLB 6/10/11 Cleveland Indians 7 New York Yankees 11 MLB 6/11/11 Cleveland Indians 0 New York Yankees 4 MLB 6/12/11 Cleveland Indians 1 New York Yankees 9 MLB 6/13/11 Cleveland Indians 1 New York Yankees 0 MLB 6/14/11 Texas Rangers 4 New York Yankees 12 MLB 6/15/11 Texas Rangers 4 New York Yankees 12 MLB 6/16/11 Texas Rangers 2 New York Yankees 3 (12) MLB 6/21/11 Oakland Athletics 7 New York Mets 3 MLB 6/22/11 Oakland Athletics 2 New York Mets 3 (13) MLB 6/23/11 Oakland Athletics 1 New York Mets 4 MLB 7/1/11 San Antonio Silver Stars 75 New York Liberty 81 WNBA 7/7/11 Tampa Bay Rays 5 New York Yankees 1 MLB 7/9/11 Tampa Bay Rays 4 New York Yankees 5 MLB 7/10/11 Tampa Bay Rays 0 New York Yankees 1 MLB 7/15/11 Philadelphia Phillies 7 New York Mets 2 MLB 7/16/11 Philadelphia Phillies 2 New York Mets 11 MLB 7/17/11 Philadelphia Phillies 8 New York Mets 5 MLB 7/18/11 Florida Marlins 4 New York Mets 1 MLB 7/22/11 Oakland Athletics 7 New York Yankees 17 MLB 7/23/11 Oakland Athletics 4 New York Yankees 3 MLB 7/24/11 Oakland Athletics 5 New York Yankees 7 MLB 8/1/11 Florida Marlins 7 New York Mets 3 (10) MLB 8/2/11 Florida Marlins 4 New York Mets 3 MLB 8/12/11 Tampa Bay Rays 5 New York Yankees 1 MLB 8/13/11 Tampa Bay Rays 2 New York Yankees 9 MLB 8/22/11 Chicago Bears 13 New York Giants 41 ! NFL 8/23/11 Oakland Athletics 6 New York Yankees 5 MLB 8/24/11 Oakland Athletics 6 New York Yankees 4 (10) MLB 8/25/11 Oakland Athletics 9 New York Yankees 22 MLB 8/29/11 Florida Marlins 1 New York Mets 2 MLB 8/29/11 Florida Marlins 1 New York Mets 5 MLB 8/30/11 Florida Marlins 6 New York Mets 0 MLB 8/31/11 Florida Marlins 2 New York Mets 3 MLB 9/1/11 UNC Central Eagles 0 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 48 CFB 9/10/11 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 22 North Carolina Tar Heels 24 CFB 9/11/11 Pittsburgh Steelers 7 Baltmore Ravens 35 NFL 9/17/11 Indiana Fever 72 New York Liberty 87 & WNBA 9/20/11 Tampa Bay Rays 0 New York Yankees 5 MLB 9/21/11 Tampa Bay Rays 2 New York Yankees 4 MLB 9/21/11 Tampa Bay Rays 2 New York Yankees 4 MLB 9/22/11 Tampa Bay Rays 15 New York Yankees 8 MLB 9/24/11 Ohio University Bobcats 26 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 38 CFB 9/25/11 Philadelphia Phillies 9 New York Mets 4 MLB 9/26/11 Cincinnati Reds 6 New York Mets 5 MLB 9/27/11 Cincinnati Reds 5 New York Mets 4 (13) MLB 9/28/11 Cincinnati Reds 0 New York Mets 3 MLB 10/1/11 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 19 Syracuse Orange 16 (2 OT) CFB 10/2/11 Detroit Tigers 5 New York Yankees 3 # MLB 10/6/11 Detroit Tigers 3 New York Yankees 2 # MLB 10/8/11 Pittsburgh Panthers 10 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 34 CFB 10/9/11 New York Jets 21 New England Patriots 30 NFL 10/13/11 Los Angeles Kings 1 New Jersey Devils 2 (SO) NHL 10/15/11 Navy Midshipmen 20 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 21 CFB 10/17/11 Miami Dolphins 6 New York Jets 24 NFL 10/21/11 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 14 Louisville Cardinals 16 CFB 10/23/11 Atlanta Falcons 23 Detroit Lions 16 NFL 10/27/11 Toronto Maple Leafs 4 New York Rangers 2 NHL 10/29/11 West Virginia 41 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 31 CFB 10/30/11 Arizona Cardinals 27 Baltimore Ravens 30 NFL 11/3/11 Anaheim Ducks 1 New York Rangers 2 (SO) NHL 11/5/11 USF Bulls 17 Rutgers 20 (OT) CFB 11/6/11 New York Giants 24 New England Patriots 20 NFL 11/11/11 Dartmouth Big Green 56 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 62 CBB 11/12/11 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 27 Army Black Knights 12 CFB 11/13/11 UMBC Retrievers 59 St. John's Red Storm 82 CBB 11/13/11 New England Patriots 37 New York Jets 16 NFL 11/15/11 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 57 Miami Hurricanes 72 CBB 11/17/11 Sacred Heart Pioneers 75 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 91 CBB 11/19/11 Cincinnati Bearcats 3 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 20 CFB 11/20/11 Hampton Pirates 52 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 66 CBB 11/22/11 Illinois State Red Birds 76 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 70 \ CBB 11/23/11 Richmond Spiders 58 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 53 \ CBB 11/26/11 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 22 Connecticut Huskies 40 CFB 11/28/11 UMBC Retrievers 56 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 94 CBB 12/3/11 LSU Tigers 55 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 50 CBB 12/4/11 Green Bay Packers 38 New York Giants 35 NFL 12/6/11 Tampa Bay Lightning 1 New York Islanders 5 NHL 12/7/11 Princeton Tigers 59 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 57 CBB 12/8/11 Tampa Bay Lightning 3 New York Rangers 2 (SO) NHL 12/10/11 Washington Huskies 80 Duke Blue Devils 86 = CBB 12/11/11 Florida Panthers 1 New York Rangers 6 NHL 12/12/11 Monmouth Hawks 66 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 81 CBB 12/13/11 Dallas Stars 1 New York Rangers 0 < NHL 12/15/11 Dallas Stars 3 New York Islanders 2 < NHL 12/16/11 Dallas Stars 3 New Jersey Devils 6 < NHL 12/17/11 Stony Brook Seawolves 58 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 67 = CBB 12/18/11 Washington Redskins 23 New York Giants 10 NFL 12/21/11 Texas-Pan American 61 St. John's Red Storm 66 CBB 12/22/11 NJIT Highlanders 53 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 77 CBB 12/23/11 Philadelphia Flyers 2 New York Rangers 4 NHL 12/24/11 New York Giants 29 New York Jets 14 NFL 12/29/11 Florida Gators 83 Rutgers 85 (2 OT) CBB 12/30/11 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 27 Iowa State Cyclones 13 / CFB * Game played in Hartford, Connecticut + Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden = Game played at Madison Square Garden % NCAA Division II Championship from Springfield, Massachusetts @ Post-season NIT from Madison Square Garden # American League Division Series & First-round playoff game $ Rutgers spring game ! Exhibition game ? Game played at Yankee Stadium / Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium \ Cancun Challenge, Moon Palace Resort in Cancun, Mexico < Left game before it concluded Back to sports page |
| Strange facts from 2011 |
1. The September 11th Pittsburgh Steelers-Baltimore Ravens game is the first time I went to an NFL game that the New
York Giants, New York Jets, or Philadelphia Eagles did not play in.
2. The October 23rd Atlanta Falcons-Detroit Lions game is the first NFL contest I attended which was played indoors.
3. This year marked the fifth consecutive year I did not attend an NBA playoff game. Prior to that, I had been to at least
one NBA playoff game nine year in a row.
4. This year marked the fourth time I had been to a Louisville football home game. None of those games have been
played on a Saturday.
5. This was the first year since 2005 that I attended a Divisional Series Major League Baseball playoff game. In four of
the previous five years I had attended games from the ALCS, NLCS or World Series.
6. This was also the first year since 2004 I attended a WNBA playoff game.
7. 2011 marked the seventh consecutive college football season in which I attended a post-season Bowl game. Prior to
2005, I had never been to a Bowl game.
8. This was the first year I saw the Stony Brook Seawolves play in a game, making LIU-Brooklyn the only local Division I
school from the Tri-State area I have not seen play in a game.
9. October 9th represented the first time I've ever seen the New York Jets play a regular-season game away from their
home stadium. The only other time I saw the Jets play a game not at the Meadowlands was a pre-season game against the
Philadelphia Eagles in 1990.
York Giants, New York Jets, or Philadelphia Eagles did not play in.
2. The October 23rd Atlanta Falcons-Detroit Lions game is the first NFL contest I attended which was played indoors.
3. This year marked the fifth consecutive year I did not attend an NBA playoff game. Prior to that, I had been to at least
one NBA playoff game nine year in a row.
4. This year marked the fourth time I had been to a Louisville football home game. None of those games have been
played on a Saturday.
5. This was the first year since 2005 that I attended a Divisional Series Major League Baseball playoff game. In four of
the previous five years I had attended games from the ALCS, NLCS or World Series.
6. This was also the first year since 2004 I attended a WNBA playoff game.
7. 2011 marked the seventh consecutive college football season in which I attended a post-season Bowl game. Prior to
2005, I had never been to a Bowl game.
8. This was the first year I saw the Stony Brook Seawolves play in a game, making LIU-Brooklyn the only local Division I
school from the Tri-State area I have not seen play in a game.
9. October 9th represented the first time I've ever seen the New York Jets play a regular-season game away from their
home stadium. The only other time I saw the Jets play a game not at the Meadowlands was a pre-season game against the
Philadelphia Eagles in 1990.
I was stunned when I was asked to work the Atlanta Falcons-Detroit Lions game on October 23rd. I was almost as
stunned when I was actually at the game.
stunned when I was actually at the game.
| Top 5 sporting events from 2011 |
5. October 1st, 2011 -- Rutgers 19,. Syracuse 16 (2 OT): This was an emotional victory for the Scarlet Knights
players, who rallied back from a fourth quarter deficit against a team that had beaten them the past two years. And, it was
equally as emotional for the Rutgers fans and administration to defeat Syracuse which just recently had announced that it
was leaving the Big East Conference to join the ACC. In a turnover-plagued game, the Scarlet Knights trailed 13-6 late
in the fourth quarter (and 13-3 going in to the fourth) and faced a 4th-and-9 on offense from Syracuse's 33-yard line.
However, quarterback Gary Nova hit Quron Pratt for a 13-yard completion to help set up Mohammed Sanu's game-tying
three-yard touchdown catch with 2:09 left.
Rutgers had two chances to win the game in regulation. Marcus Cooper returned a blocked field goal 60 yards for a
touchdown but the play was called back on a personal foul penalty. Then with six seconds remaining, Rutgers kicker San
San Te missed a 44-yard field goal.
Syracuse also had a golden opportunity in the third quarter to put the game out of reach after Marquis Spruill recovered a
Nova fumble at the Rutgers 16 yard line. However, the Orange failed to score when a Ryan Nassib pass ricocheted at
the goal line and was intercepted by David Rowe.
In double OT, Te kicked a 47-yard field goal to give Rutgers a 19-16 lead, and the Scarlet Knights finished it off by
recovering a fumble by Antwon Bailey, a play which was upheld by video review.
4. October 6th, 2011 -- Detroit Tigers 3, New York Yankees 2: This was probably the greatest game I've ever seen
in which I actually missed the ending (which doesn't happen very often). During the bottom of the ninth inning and with the
Tigers leading by a run of this deciding ALDS game, I had to be downstairs by the Detroit locker room to quickly set up a
mic and headset for potential live clubhouse interviews should the Tigers have held on. Thus, it would be about 15
minutes after the game ended did I know that Alex Rodriguez struck out with the bases empty to allow the Tigers to move
on to the ALCS.
What I did get to be around, however, was the early stages of the Tigers champagne-filled clubhouse celebration.
The key inning of this game was the first, when Don Kelly and Delmon Young each homered on back-to-back pitches by
Ivan Nova. Doug Fister, the Tigers starter, pitched in and out of trouble all night. In the 7th inning, Joaquim Benoit struck
out Nick Swisher with the bases loaded to preserve a one-run lead.
3. December 29th, 2011 -- Rutgers Scarlet Knights 85, Florida Gators 83 (2 OT): The RAC has been in previous
games over the years just as loud as it was on this night. Heck, the RAC can have one of the best atmospheres in all of
college basketball. But, what I don't recall was the building being as loud as it was for such an extended period of time, as
in virtually the entire game.
The initial buzz in the building was caused by Mike Rosario entering the game for the Gators. Rosario had transferred to
Florida from the Scarlet Knights and this was his first appearance back. And it was the suddenly charged atmosphere that
allowed the Knights to recover from a slow start and turn this game in to a neck-and-neck affair until late in the second
half. It was at that point, when the Gators held a seven-point lead with under two minutes left, that the Scarlet Knights
turned it on. Myles Mack hit a three-pointer, Eli Carter hit a layup and Dane Miller would tie the game with a layup with
45 seconds left. During that 7-0 run, Carter also had two assists and a steal.
Carter would then go on to tie the game late in the first OT with a three pointer with 18 seconds left And, he scored four
straight points in the second OT to give Rutgers the lead for good. The Gators became the second #10 ranked team the
Scarlet Knights defeated in this calendar year.
2. November 6th, 2011 -- New York Giants 24, New England Patriots 20: When was the last time Tom Brady had
lost a regular-season start at home? Was it in 2006 against the Jets? Well, doesn't matter anymore as the Giants scored a
touchdown with 15 seconds remaining in the game to pull out the victory.
After a scoreless first half, the Giants took a 10-0 lead and could've very easily led 17-3 in the third quarter had Eli
Manning not thrown an interception in the end zone with his team down at the New England five-yard line. Instead, New
England quarterback Tom Brady on the Patriots ensuing possession hit Aaron Hernandez with a five-yard touchdown
pass in the opening minute of the fourth quarter. It was the first of four combined touchdowns scored in the fourth quarter
between the two teams.
With the Giants holding on to a 17-3 lead late in the game, Brady found Rob Gronkowski with just 1:36 remaining for a
14-yard TD pass on a 4th-and-9 play to give the Patriots the advantage. New York, just one play away a second ago
from winning the game, would instead have to drive the field for the victory, and the Giants did just that. A Sergio Brown
pass interference penalty gave the Giants the ball on New England's one-yard line, and with just 15 seconds remaining,
Jake Ballard caught a TD pass from Manning to provide the final margin.
Impressive about this win for the Giants was they pulled it out without wide receiver Hakeem Nicks or running back
Ahmad Bradshaw, who were injured.
1. July 9th, 2011 -- New York Yankees 5, Tampa Bay Rays 4: There were questions as to whether Derek Jeter
could gain his 3,000th hit before the end of this series, which was the end of the homestand. With the Friday, July 8th
game rained out, he had to get two hits in two games against the Rays top two pitchers. Well, it turns out he only needed
two at-bats, and the history-making hit turned out to be a solo home run to left-center field against David Price in the third
inning. Needless to say, there was an on-field delay after the homer, which made him the first-ever Yankee player to have
3,000 hits.
And, Jeter's chase for 4,000 hits got off to a quick start as he would get three more hits on the afternoon, finishing
5-for-5. The final hit came in the bottom of the 8th to score Eduardo Nunez from third with the tiebreaking run. Perhaps
Jeter's only blemish on the afternoon? He was caught stealing in the 8th as part of a double play that ended the inning.
After the game, the Yankees properly showed all the post-game press conferences on the center field video board for all
the fans to see.
players, who rallied back from a fourth quarter deficit against a team that had beaten them the past two years. And, it was
equally as emotional for the Rutgers fans and administration to defeat Syracuse which just recently had announced that it
was leaving the Big East Conference to join the ACC. In a turnover-plagued game, the Scarlet Knights trailed 13-6 late
in the fourth quarter (and 13-3 going in to the fourth) and faced a 4th-and-9 on offense from Syracuse's 33-yard line.
However, quarterback Gary Nova hit Quron Pratt for a 13-yard completion to help set up Mohammed Sanu's game-tying
three-yard touchdown catch with 2:09 left.
Rutgers had two chances to win the game in regulation. Marcus Cooper returned a blocked field goal 60 yards for a
touchdown but the play was called back on a personal foul penalty. Then with six seconds remaining, Rutgers kicker San
San Te missed a 44-yard field goal.
Syracuse also had a golden opportunity in the third quarter to put the game out of reach after Marquis Spruill recovered a
Nova fumble at the Rutgers 16 yard line. However, the Orange failed to score when a Ryan Nassib pass ricocheted at
the goal line and was intercepted by David Rowe.
In double OT, Te kicked a 47-yard field goal to give Rutgers a 19-16 lead, and the Scarlet Knights finished it off by
recovering a fumble by Antwon Bailey, a play which was upheld by video review.
4. October 6th, 2011 -- Detroit Tigers 3, New York Yankees 2: This was probably the greatest game I've ever seen
in which I actually missed the ending (which doesn't happen very often). During the bottom of the ninth inning and with the
Tigers leading by a run of this deciding ALDS game, I had to be downstairs by the Detroit locker room to quickly set up a
mic and headset for potential live clubhouse interviews should the Tigers have held on. Thus, it would be about 15
minutes after the game ended did I know that Alex Rodriguez struck out with the bases empty to allow the Tigers to move
on to the ALCS.
What I did get to be around, however, was the early stages of the Tigers champagne-filled clubhouse celebration.
The key inning of this game was the first, when Don Kelly and Delmon Young each homered on back-to-back pitches by
Ivan Nova. Doug Fister, the Tigers starter, pitched in and out of trouble all night. In the 7th inning, Joaquim Benoit struck
out Nick Swisher with the bases loaded to preserve a one-run lead.
3. December 29th, 2011 -- Rutgers Scarlet Knights 85, Florida Gators 83 (2 OT): The RAC has been in previous
games over the years just as loud as it was on this night. Heck, the RAC can have one of the best atmospheres in all of
college basketball. But, what I don't recall was the building being as loud as it was for such an extended period of time, as
in virtually the entire game.
The initial buzz in the building was caused by Mike Rosario entering the game for the Gators. Rosario had transferred to
Florida from the Scarlet Knights and this was his first appearance back. And it was the suddenly charged atmosphere that
allowed the Knights to recover from a slow start and turn this game in to a neck-and-neck affair until late in the second
half. It was at that point, when the Gators held a seven-point lead with under two minutes left, that the Scarlet Knights
turned it on. Myles Mack hit a three-pointer, Eli Carter hit a layup and Dane Miller would tie the game with a layup with
45 seconds left. During that 7-0 run, Carter also had two assists and a steal.
Carter would then go on to tie the game late in the first OT with a three pointer with 18 seconds left And, he scored four
straight points in the second OT to give Rutgers the lead for good. The Gators became the second #10 ranked team the
Scarlet Knights defeated in this calendar year.
2. November 6th, 2011 -- New York Giants 24, New England Patriots 20: When was the last time Tom Brady had
lost a regular-season start at home? Was it in 2006 against the Jets? Well, doesn't matter anymore as the Giants scored a
touchdown with 15 seconds remaining in the game to pull out the victory.
After a scoreless first half, the Giants took a 10-0 lead and could've very easily led 17-3 in the third quarter had Eli
Manning not thrown an interception in the end zone with his team down at the New England five-yard line. Instead, New
England quarterback Tom Brady on the Patriots ensuing possession hit Aaron Hernandez with a five-yard touchdown
pass in the opening minute of the fourth quarter. It was the first of four combined touchdowns scored in the fourth quarter
between the two teams.
With the Giants holding on to a 17-3 lead late in the game, Brady found Rob Gronkowski with just 1:36 remaining for a
14-yard TD pass on a 4th-and-9 play to give the Patriots the advantage. New York, just one play away a second ago
from winning the game, would instead have to drive the field for the victory, and the Giants did just that. A Sergio Brown
pass interference penalty gave the Giants the ball on New England's one-yard line, and with just 15 seconds remaining,
Jake Ballard caught a TD pass from Manning to provide the final margin.
Impressive about this win for the Giants was they pulled it out without wide receiver Hakeem Nicks or running back
Ahmad Bradshaw, who were injured.
1. July 9th, 2011 -- New York Yankees 5, Tampa Bay Rays 4: There were questions as to whether Derek Jeter
could gain his 3,000th hit before the end of this series, which was the end of the homestand. With the Friday, July 8th
game rained out, he had to get two hits in two games against the Rays top two pitchers. Well, it turns out he only needed
two at-bats, and the history-making hit turned out to be a solo home run to left-center field against David Price in the third
inning. Needless to say, there was an on-field delay after the homer, which made him the first-ever Yankee player to have
3,000 hits.
And, Jeter's chase for 4,000 hits got off to a quick start as he would get three more hits on the afternoon, finishing
5-for-5. The final hit came in the bottom of the 8th to score Eduardo Nunez from third with the tiebreaking run. Perhaps
Jeter's only blemish on the afternoon? He was caught stealing in the 8th as part of a double play that ended the inning.
After the game, the Yankees properly showed all the post-game press conferences on the center field video board for all
the fans to see.
| Honorable mentions |
1. January 29th, 2011 -- Kentucky Wildcats 66, Georgia Bulldogs 60 -- The only other chance I had to possibly go to
legendary Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky was nearly 19 years earlier, if Temple had been able to get as far as the
Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament that year. The Owls didn't, and thus this game gave me my first in-person
experience of the atmosphere in this venue.
2. February 9th, 2011 -- Rutgers Scarlet Knights 77, Villanova Wildcats 76 -- Jonathan Mitchell's four-point play in the
final seconds of the game allowed the Scarlet Knights to defeat the 10th-ranked Wildcats. The fans did rush the court
after the game.
3. February 19th, 2011 -- Syracuse Orange 84, Rutgers Scarlet Knights 80 (OT) -- Rutgers had the ball at the end of
regulation with a chance to win its first men's basketball game at the Carrier Dome, but couldn't convert. The Scarlet
Knights shots 33 less foul shots than the Orange.
4. March 8th, 2011 -- Rutgers Scarlet Knights, Seton Hall Pirates 70 (OT) -- The Scarlet Knights win their first Big East
tournament game since 2006 (also against Seton Hall). The Scarlet Knights rallied from an eight-point second half deficit,
and only a Jeremy Hazell three-pointer at the buzzer for Seton Hall prevented the Scarlet Knights from winning in
regulation.
5. March 9th, 2011 -- St. John's Red Storm 65, Rutgers Scarlet Knights 63 -- The Scarlet Knights rallied to take a brief
lead in the final minute, then the referees took over from there.
6. April 4th, 2011 -- New York Rangers 6, Boston Bruins 3 -- The Rangers, in a desperate fight for the second year in a
row to make the playoffs, fell behind quickly in this game, 3-0, then came back with six unanswered goals. Of course, the
Bruins would go on to win the Stanley Cup. though the Rangers would at least qualify for the playoffs after being left out a
year earlier.
7. September 11th, 2011 -- Baltimore Ravens 35, Pittsburgh Steelers 7 -- This game stunk, but it was my first time ever
at a Baltimore Ravens home game. I'm also relieved I made it since I drove from Chapel Hill, North Carolina to
Baltimore the day before and got a flat tire along the way.
8. October 23rd, 2011 -- Atlanta Falcons 23, Detroit Lions 16 -- This was maybe the loudest NFL game I ever
attended, partly because it was my first ever NFL indoor game. This game makes the honorable mention list because it
was played at Ford Field, another new venue, and venture, for me. And as for Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh
taunting Atlanta Quarterback Matt Ryan, when the quarterback left the field injured...well, I never even knew about it.
9. November 5th, 2011 -- Rutgers Scarlet Knights 20, South Florida Bulls 17 (OT) -- Rutgers trailed 17-3 in the fourth
quarter, but came back to tie thanks in part to Jeremy Deering's 98-yard kickoff return. USF had a chance to win the
game at the end of regulation but Maikon Bonani missed a chip shot, 27-yard field goal.
10. November 22nd, 2011 -- Illinois State Red Birds 76, Rutgers Scarlet Knights 70 -- This game was played at an all
inclusive resort in Cancun. Enough said.
11. November 23rd, 2011 -- Richmond Spiders 58, Rutgers Scarlet Knights 53 -- Ditto
12. December 24th, 2011 -- New York Giants 29, New York Jets 14 -- Victor Cruz's 99-yard TD catch and run totally
turned the game, and the Giants season, around. The Giants would ride the momentum of that play all the way to a Super
Bowl victory.
13. December 30th, 2011 -- Rutgers Scarlet Knights 27, Iowa State Cyclones 13 -- The Scarlet Knights win their fifth
straight bowl game.
legendary Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky was nearly 19 years earlier, if Temple had been able to get as far as the
Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament that year. The Owls didn't, and thus this game gave me my first in-person
experience of the atmosphere in this venue.
2. February 9th, 2011 -- Rutgers Scarlet Knights 77, Villanova Wildcats 76 -- Jonathan Mitchell's four-point play in the
final seconds of the game allowed the Scarlet Knights to defeat the 10th-ranked Wildcats. The fans did rush the court
after the game.
3. February 19th, 2011 -- Syracuse Orange 84, Rutgers Scarlet Knights 80 (OT) -- Rutgers had the ball at the end of
regulation with a chance to win its first men's basketball game at the Carrier Dome, but couldn't convert. The Scarlet
Knights shots 33 less foul shots than the Orange.
4. March 8th, 2011 -- Rutgers Scarlet Knights, Seton Hall Pirates 70 (OT) -- The Scarlet Knights win their first Big East
tournament game since 2006 (also against Seton Hall). The Scarlet Knights rallied from an eight-point second half deficit,
and only a Jeremy Hazell three-pointer at the buzzer for Seton Hall prevented the Scarlet Knights from winning in
regulation.
5. March 9th, 2011 -- St. John's Red Storm 65, Rutgers Scarlet Knights 63 -- The Scarlet Knights rallied to take a brief
lead in the final minute, then the referees took over from there.
6. April 4th, 2011 -- New York Rangers 6, Boston Bruins 3 -- The Rangers, in a desperate fight for the second year in a
row to make the playoffs, fell behind quickly in this game, 3-0, then came back with six unanswered goals. Of course, the
Bruins would go on to win the Stanley Cup. though the Rangers would at least qualify for the playoffs after being left out a
year earlier.
7. September 11th, 2011 -- Baltimore Ravens 35, Pittsburgh Steelers 7 -- This game stunk, but it was my first time ever
at a Baltimore Ravens home game. I'm also relieved I made it since I drove from Chapel Hill, North Carolina to
Baltimore the day before and got a flat tire along the way.
8. October 23rd, 2011 -- Atlanta Falcons 23, Detroit Lions 16 -- This was maybe the loudest NFL game I ever
attended, partly because it was my first ever NFL indoor game. This game makes the honorable mention list because it
was played at Ford Field, another new venue, and venture, for me. And as for Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh
taunting Atlanta Quarterback Matt Ryan, when the quarterback left the field injured...well, I never even knew about it.
9. November 5th, 2011 -- Rutgers Scarlet Knights 20, South Florida Bulls 17 (OT) -- Rutgers trailed 17-3 in the fourth
quarter, but came back to tie thanks in part to Jeremy Deering's 98-yard kickoff return. USF had a chance to win the
game at the end of regulation but Maikon Bonani missed a chip shot, 27-yard field goal.
10. November 22nd, 2011 -- Illinois State Red Birds 76, Rutgers Scarlet Knights 70 -- This game was played at an all
inclusive resort in Cancun. Enough said.
11. November 23rd, 2011 -- Richmond Spiders 58, Rutgers Scarlet Knights 53 -- Ditto
12. December 24th, 2011 -- New York Giants 29, New York Jets 14 -- Victor Cruz's 99-yard TD catch and run totally
turned the game, and the Giants season, around. The Giants would ride the momentum of that play all the way to a Super
Bowl victory.
13. December 30th, 2011 -- Rutgers Scarlet Knights 27, Iowa State Cyclones 13 -- The Scarlet Knights win their fifth
straight bowl game.