Bored.
Let's hear your favorite non-Ohio related sports memories which you've witnessed in person.
-Witnessing Michael Jordan hit a game winner against the Cavs...while with the Wizards. He hit it in almost the same exact spot as the shot over Ehlo. I was with my dad and two classmates during my senior year of high school, sitting in the 6th row behind the Wizards bench. I vaguely remember listening to Joe Tate after the game just being exhausted, because MJ had done it to the Cavs so many times.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwW9XbwlV1o -It's a family tradition for me to go to the Indy 500 every year, and each year presents their own memorable moment. But I'll never forget 2011. It's not rare for a rookie to win at Indy, but it felt extra special that California native and newcomer J.R. Hildebrand took the lead late in the race. It had been a while since an American won the 500 and he was sponsored by The National Guard. Anyone who has ever been to Indy or watched in on TV knows it's all about honoring America and our soldiers. He HAD it...until...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Of-FuBD_2jA&t=165s -The Miracle in Michigan. I was sitting on the 20 yard line about 15 rows up on the end of the field where the ball was caught. Leading into the play, we all thought the game was over. There's no way the ball will travel that far. We seriously underestimated Kordell Stewart's arm strength. Look at the tape below...he uncorks that ball from the God damn opposite 27 yard line! The trajectory of the ball looks like it will land on or around the goal line. That's a 70+ yard throw! I know Doug Flutie's Hail Mary gets more press, but this was way more ridiculous. And the ball was tipped!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Nt6HjqtJt8&t=53s -Witnessing Akron St. Vincent St. Mary upset by St. Bernard Roger Bacon for the 2002 Division II State Championship...from the Roger Bacon student section. Most of us know this story. The one state title that LeBron and friends lost. My dad just happened to work with someone in the Cincinnati area whose kids attended Roger Bacon. We were going to the game regardless, but then got the student section tickets the earlier in the day. It was bonkers. Not until my time in the O Zone had I witnessed anything like that. Those kids never sat down the entire time.
-The 2002 Division 4 Regionals at the Canton Fieldhouse were always my goal as a player. I witnessed many, many games at the Fieldhouse and wanted to play there really bad. Unfortunately my senior year we weren't good enough, but the team that bounced us out of the tournament, Strasburg-Franklin, did make it. Strasburg had just went to a state tournament the year prior and lost a couple of really good players, so getting to a 2nd state tournament in a row would have been a huge accomplishment.
That's until they ran into John King and the Bristol Panthers. In the semifinals leading up to the clash with Strasburg, King hit 10 three pointers in a win over Sebring. I remember vividly leaving the game early, and King had already hit eight threes. While walking in the halls of the Fieldhouse toward the exit, we heard him hit the next two to get to an even 10. King led Bristol over Strasburg a few nights later, but hearing the crowd go berserk from the hallway as he hit his 10th was something I'll never forget.
-I hit a 3-run homerun in a wiffle ball tournament off of a former Reds pitcher (according to my friends, which I still don't believe).