Sports Aren't Everything

I care about sports more than I should.  But, had it not been for my parents, I may have cared about sports way more than I should.  When I was young I played youth sports during most seasons of the year: soccer in the fall, basketball in the winter, and baseball in the spring (and touch football everyday at recess).  And with the exception of baseball, I had a fair amount of success in athletics at an early age.  This led to invitations to play on some traveling soccer teams, and weekend basketball tournaments.  However, the rule was that I could not play on Sunday mornings if it interfered with church.  This meant that I had to say no to such teams.  Not playing on these teams probably hindered my athletic development to some degree.  I missed out on a chance to play more, against better competition, with better teammates.  However, I thank my parents for making this decision, because it taught me that there are things more important than sports.  And it gives me something to blame my short "athletic career" on, when what truly limited me was a lack of the requisite running ability, jumping ability, and strength.  It also softened the blow when I was cut from three basketball teams.  My parents provided me with priorities, balance, and perspective, and for that I will always be grateful.
In spite of this, there is still ample evidence that I care about sports too much:
1.  I write a sports blog.
2.  I got a throwback Hakeem Olajuwon t-shirt jersey for Christmas.  I was really excited, and wear it quite often.  I am 27.
3. I am the commissioner of my fantasy football league.  And baseball league.  And basketball league.  And I dabbled in fantasy hockey for one season.

However, there is also evidence to the contrary:
1.  I have never had cable television, thus severely limiting my opportunities to watch sports on TV.
2.  I have never been to a postseason sporting event.
3.  I routinely skip watching important sporting events because of church or family.

You see, I have limits as a sports fan.  And these limits probably also affect my ability to blog about sports, because by and large, I don't watch most of what's going on in the world of sports.  This last month, I contemplated going to a place I have never gone as a sports fan before: season tickets.  You see the Minnesota Timberwolves are not very good at basketball.  Therefore, for next season, they are practically giving away tickets.  The latest deal allows one to commit to buying season tickets for a price that corresponds to the Wolves' draft position (which will be 1-5).  Meaning that I could have Wolves season tickets for anywhere from $40-200.  Either way, those are still some cheap tickets.  However, I couldn't pull the trigger for these reasons:
1.  To enjoy the games, I'd need someone to go with.  (I guess I value friendship over sports)
2.  When I thought about and additional ticket, parking for the games, eating at the games, buying foam fingers at the game, the price kept rising.  (I guess I don't value sports enough to invest in them financially)
3.  As much as I would enjoy seeing so much basketball, I think there would be nights that I would feel compelled to go, and though my wife enjoys the occasional sporting event, I am not sure that it would be as fun for her 41 times in a year.  (I guess I care about my family more than sports).
4.  There would undoubtedly be games that interfered with church either on Sunday or Wednesday nights.  (I guess my faith is more important to me than sports)

In the end, I could not justify purchasing the tickets.  All of those things in parentheses were too important to me.  This has made me come to terms with the fact that I may never have season tickets.  There is a chance I might never go to a playoff game.  I might never get ESPN.  But I think I'd rather have it that way.  Most of us have limits as a sports fan.  And maybe sports are more fun when they are not our life, but just a part of our lives.  And maybe, be just checking out the occasional game that I have the time for, or the money for, or the friends to go with, I'll add to this somewhat eclectic list of sporting events that I have attended live.  And maybe these events will be more interesting, more spontaneous, and more memorable than 41 Timberwolves game in a row.

The Best Sporting Events I Have Attended Live (not necessarily in order)
1.  Yankees vs. Cubs, Summer 2003, Wrigley Field.  My brother and I went to see the the first two games of the first interleague matchup between these two historic teams.  In the second game Roger Clemens was going for win 300.  He left the game in line for the win, but with runners on base.  The first pitch from the reliever was hit out of the park and the Cubs took the lead.  The crowd went wild.
2.  First Cubs home game after September 11, 2001.  Went with friends to see the Cubs, not even sure who they played.  I remember "Amazing Grace" being played on the bagpipes.  I remember huge flags being unfurled from the buildings behind Wrigley.  I remember caring about the national anthem.  I remember a moment of silence.  I remember Sosa taking the field waving an American flag, and homering in the first inning.
3.  Pacers vs. Heat, Easter 2002.  After church on Sunday, some friends and I went to a fairly meaningless game in Indianapolis, featuring a very poor, pre-Dwayne Wade, Heat team.  But we almost witnessed the 5th quadruple-double in NBA history from Ron Artest who finished with 24 points, 9 rebounds, nine assists, and eight steals.
4.  Second game ever at Target Field (see last week's post).
5.  The last three Indianapolis 500s.  Notable for the magnitude of the event and time spent with friends.  I am not really a racing fan.
6.  Great seats at a Bears-Vikings game at Soldier Field.  Notable because, at this point, the Bears were my "second favorite" football team, and it was my first ever live NFL experience.
7.  A's vs. Red Sox, late 80s or early 90s, Fenway Park.  The first baseball game I remember attending.  I remember Terry Steinbach homered for the A's.
8.  Red Sox vs.  Royals, Kaufmann Stadium.  Saw Pedro Martinez pitch, and pitch well.
9.  Somebody vs. Royals, 2004.  Notable, because four other post-college age friends seemed to be the only non-kids or non-parents in line for their run the bases promotion at the end of the game.
10.  Cornhuskers Football vs. Pacific, 1994.  My first Huskers game.  They won 70-21.

I would be interested to hear from some other people about exciting, or random, sporting events that you saw live.