#5 Greatest Sporting Event I Ever Attended (12/14/2002)

No haters, please, Big Blue fans but it was an incredible game.

Michigan State Spartans at University of Kentucky Wildcats in Rupp Arena…basketball of course.  Or, according to the Cat fan sitting next to me in the 9th row, a rugby match.  Either way, my Spartans came away victorious in a highly contested game. 

Here’s how the AP saw it:

By CHRIS DUNCAN
AP Sports WriterLEXINGTON, Ky. - In a tight game, Tim Bograkos is the last player Michigan State coach Tom Izzo wants taking a big shot.But the 6-foot-2 sophomore guard sank an open 3-pointer with 49.2 seconds left that gave the No. 21 Spartans the lead for good in a 71-67 victory over No. 12 Kentucky.It was the only 3-point attempt of the game for Bograkos, who averages 1.7 points.”I said, ‘Are you kidding me?’ I guess it was just our day,” Izzo said. “I could lie to you and tell you I set that up. But in all honesty, he was the sixth option out of five guys.”Chris Hill, Izzo’s real go-to guy, made two free throws with 13.6 seconds remaining to seal the victory. Hill scored 16 to lead the Spartans (5-2), who were playing their first game this season on an opponents’ home court.Michigan State was outrebounded for the first time this season – 34-30 – but went 8-of-15 from 3-point range.Keith Bogans scored 23 to lead the Wildcats (5-2), who had won four straight. Bogans was 11-of-17 from 3-point range in Kentucky’s last three games, but he was 3-of-8 on Saturday.The Wildcats trailed 69-67 after Bograkos’ shot and Bogans couldn’t knock down an answering 3-pointer from the top of the key with 21 seconds left.Marquis Estill and Erik Daniels had 12 points each for the Wildcats, who shot 46 percent, their worst effort in four games.”It hurts a lot,” said Bogans, who reached 20 points for the fifth time this season. “It’s our home court and we let them come in here and steal one away.”The teams were tied 40-40 at halftime, but the Spartans surged ahead 50-44. The lead shrank to three near the seven-minute mark when Kentucky point guard Gerald Fitch fell awkwardly and cut his chin after missing a layup.

Fitch left the game and returned with 4:58 left, a bandage spread across his right jaw. He immediately threw an assist to Daniels, whose layup cut Michigan State’s lead to 63-61.Fitch had three stitches put on the injury after the game. He finished with only three points and two assists.”Gerald is not really a penetrator,” Kentucky coach Tubby Smith said. “Tonight, he couldn’t really turn the corner and when he tried to penetrate a couple of times, he got his shot blocked. We just need to get him back doing what he does best.”Estill had an over-the-shoulder tip-in with 3:55 remaining to tie the game. Hill answered with a 3-pointer with 3:38 to go, but Estill scored again at the three-minute mark to keep Michigan State’s lead at one.Each team committed a turnover before Bogans scored on a drive with 1:23 left to put Kentucky up 67-66, its first lead of the second half.The capacity crowd stood and cheered as the clock went under a minute. Bogans ran to double-team Hill, but Hill passed to Bograkos, who silenced the fans with his 3-pointer from the corner.”That’s the biggest shot I’ve ever hit,” Bograkos said. “I don’t look to shoot a lot, but I was open and fortunately, the ball went in.”

 

#6 Greatest Sporting Event I Ever Attended (10/13/2007)

OK Big Blue fans…I didn’t forget you!  There has been some great memories too.  Such as this date that should live in infamy. 

University of Kentucky vs. LSU football.  LSU came into the game #1 in the nation…it was also their first trip back to Commonwealth Stadium since their Hail Mary victory from 2003.  And the Big Blue came up HUGE!  LSU bounced back nicely and wound up being the National Champtions with only ONE loss…against our beloved Wild Cats!  Brad Hudson took me which I owe big time for…Highlights below:

Parents…Please set the Agenda for your Children

I’ve been grieved lately by how many parents abdicate their responsibility to set the priorities for their children.  Too many parents are listening to the world and to the “easy way” and letting their children decide things that children weren’t meant to decide.  We make our kids go to school, brush their teeth, go to sleep.  We want them to be active in things outside of home and school so we sign them up for athletic teams or lessons to learn an instrument.  Those are all good things…and we do the same thing.  But my goal is never to substitute a good thing for a GREAT or BEST thing.  I want my daughter to excel in basketball…but I’m not putting that before God, church, or family.  Yet, I see parents do that ALL the time! 

I would absolutely love it if one of my kids went to college on an athletic scholarship.  But I’m not going to sacrifice their spiritual, relational, and emotional lives to do it.  It might save us money but at what COST?  Say “NO” to any activity that interferes with your child connecting to God or with His Bride (The Church) or with healthy relationships within the family.  I knew a family once with 3 kids and they had practices and games 5 out of 7 nights a week and ate out almost every night.  They ate more in their mini-van then at the dinner table.  That is insane. 

So make it the priority for your kids to be at church and other spiritual experiences (church camp is the #1 place where your child can grow closer to God in a short span and make relationships that last a lifetime).  Make it a priority to eat and talk together regularly.  Then you’ll have a lot less regrets.

The #1 Greatest Sporting Event I Wish I Had Been At (2/22/1980)

This video is 9 minutes long…but worth every second of it!  I was 9 and remember it fondly.  This is what made me an avid hockey fan.

#7 Greatest Sporting Event I Ever Attended (10/1/2005)

For #8 I mentioned a game that Kentucky lost and kind of rubbed it in with the LSU video.  Now I’m being fair by showing a Michigan State loss.  It was October 1, 2005, and I was on vacation visiting my dad in Michigan.  My team (Mich. State) was 4-0 going into the Big 10 season and they were ranked #11.  They were playing at home against the hated Wolverines who were also 4-0 but not favored to win the game for the first time in my lifetime (I think).   My dad and I drove to East Lansing and paid the most I’ve ever paid for a ticket from a scalper ($100).  While my beloved Spartans lost the game, it was a great one, one I’ll never forget.  While Michigan was later bowl-bound later that year, Michigan State crumbled the rest of the season, only winning one more game.  Highlights below:

#8 Greatest Sporting Event I Ever Attended (9/27/2003)

September 27, 2003

Florida Gators at Kentucky Wildcats football

In my first full season as a new UK football fan I was excited about the possibilities of Rich Brooks as the new coach.  The previous year was a good one for the Cats (by their standards) at 7-5, but Coach Guy Morriss left for Baylor.  In that season, UK lost a heart-breaker to the LSU Tigers on a last play Hail Mary after fans had gone on to the field and players had dumped Gatorado on Coach Morriss.  Embarrassing!  And another classic UK loss.  LSU fans still call it the “Bluegrass Miracle” and it is below this post from youtube if you want to re-live the nightmare.

But 2003 was a new season with new hopes and dreams.  Unfortunately when the Gators came to town UK found themselves 2-2.  I got to go to the game at the last minute and expected a huge Florida drubbing.  But as the 3rd quarter was half way through the scoreboard said 14-3….KENTUCKY.  And they had just intercepted the ball in their own Red Zone to stop a huge Gator drive.  I remember calling my wife on the phone, “You’ve got to turn the game on.  Their finally going to win the big one.  If they can keep playing like they have been then we should win this one!”  As I completed that last sentence, Jared Lorenzen, the 6′4 nearly 300 pound QB was pressured out of the pocket and made an ill-advised pass into double coverage.  The Gators intercepted the ball and ran it back in for a TD.  14-10.

On the ensuing kick-off, Derek Abney, UK’s all-time kick returner proceeded to run it back for a touchdown.  Crowd going crazy!  …FLAG!  Called back. 

I don’t remember much more after that other than to say that the final score was 24-21 Florida and Kentucky had lost another heart breaker.   Kentucky wound up 4-8 on the year.

Soon, you’ll hear about the game that turned around the UK karma, hopefully for good.

#9 Greatest Sporting Event Attended (1/5/1986)

Michigan State vs. Indiana college basketball

Several of my top 10 games are MSU games.  Why?  Because we went to so many and some were so memorable.  For instance, this regular season game between IU and MSU.  Let me set the stage.

Before the season started Scott Skiles had some off-court incidents that could have ended his career.  But Coach Heathcote stuck by him and Skiles came into the season ready to play.  I was at the home opener when they announced Skiles’ name in the starting line-up.  The crowd booed him.  They like their Spartan players to live pristine lives, not ones involving drugs, etc.  That had to be tough on a 21 year old but Skiles persevered and never criticized the critics.  He just played BALL!

On January 5, IU was scheduled to come into town.  This was a few weeks after Coach Bobby Knight’s chair-throwing incident so the crowd was poised to jump on him.  Plus, Skiles had been recruited by Knight but not very hard…Knight wanted a purer shooter by the name of Steve Alford and Alford came into the game leading the league in scoring. 

When Skiles’ name was announced that night the crowd went crazy with excitement.  All had been forgiven because of Skiles’ hustle and determination.  And we watched one of the most exciting games in the MSU/IU rivalry.

MSU prevailed67-61.  Remember, this was before the 3 point shot.  I couldn’t tell you the point total for Alford or Skiles just to say that they lead their respective teams and each would trade bombs with the other. 

Skiles ended the season with a 27.4 points/game average and ended his career as the Spartans’ all-time leading scorer.  MSU had no true Center that year.  Barry Fordham played that position defensively at 6′8 and was called to play almost every minute of the game.  Along with Fordham, Heathcote started 3 guards and a small forward.  He called it his donut offense.  A big hole in the middle.  They went on to upset a highly-favored Georgetown in the 2nd round and lost to eventual champion Kansas in the Sweet 16 when the clock malfunctioned and didn’t work for 26 seconds.  Kansas won in the final seconds.  But State fans we’ll always remember this little team that could…and especially it’s captain who cleaned his life up off the court, and became a legend on it.

#10 Sporting Event Attended (1/29/1992)

January 29, 1992

Michigan Wolverines come to the Breslin Center to play Michigan with a lot of swagger.  This was the year the “Fab 5″ from Michigan would win the national championship.  Good for them.  But that night the Spartans won an improbable victory in overtime. 

What made the game memorable was the fact that I was there in attendance with my dad, mom, and Jennifer (my fiance at that time).  I was so pumped for the game.  I just knew State would pull off the upset.  I almost regretted one thing.  I still don’t know what got into me.  But right before game time I bet that if Michigan State point guard, Eric Snow (later in the NBA) would score 10 or more points then I would get my head shaved.  I believe he was averaging about 3.8 off the bench and shot about 45% from the charity stripe.  I was in disbelief at half time when State was up by about half a dozen AND Eric Snow (career high 7 points at that point!) had 9 points!  I was doomed.  Somehow State not only pulled the upset off…but Snow was scoreless in the second half and overtime. 

Michigan State wound up being a 5 seed that year and lost to 4 seed Cincinatti 72-65.  Michigan won the national championship…until it got stripped from them for recruiting violations.

Top 10 Sporting Events I’ve Ever Attended (part 1)

Over the next few weeks I thought I would tell you the greatest games I’ve ever been to.  May be boring for some of you, but typically there’s a life lesson behind each game somehow.  I’ve been extremely blessed to have attended so many memorable games, games that they show on ESPN Classic.  I won’t put down any of the games I played in, that would be truly boring for you, dear reader.  The top 10 comes from NCAA basketball, football, NBA, NHL, and MLB (sorry, no NFL games make my top 10 primarily because I haven’t been to that many).

Part 2 will start with my #10 game.  But I do offer an honorable mention or a #11. 

January 9, 1990-Michigan State over Ohio State basketball by an odd number of points.  Why is this game making it?  Because this was my first real date with Jennifer.  Yes, I took her to a college basketball game but she was a Kentucky girl so she understood the importance.  Anyways, about half way through the second half the Spartans had a healthy lead so I started to scheme.  I decided to bet her whether they would win by an odd or even amount.  She took even; I took odd.  The winner would get 1 request from the other later that night.  She was intrigued what I could possibly be leading too.  Was I trying to scam on her?  No, I was trying to be a gentleman but was a tad shy about “making the first move” so to speak.  I guess this shows my maturity.  State won by 7 (or 9) and when we got back to Grand Rapids I asked her for a goodnight kiss as my request.  She was eager to comply.

One other funny thing happened that night.  When we got to our parked car we discovered that I had locked my keys in the car.  What a great impression I was making?  I remained calm and cold (it’s January in Michigan!).  We finally got in with some help.  Later she said that she was so impressed with how I stayed calm under pressure.