Beth's 2007 Top Five
Every once in a while games come along that are so amazing you want to talk about them forever. The Minnesota Twins winning the division in 2006 on the last day--hours after their own game had finished, was one such game. In 2007, I attended five games that I remember quite clearly, and thus I've ordered them. Coming in sixth-tenth places are likely a couple of Wild games and Twins games that aren't quite as memorable, and thus I can't specifically remember them without looking them up. These are the Top Five Sporting Events I Attended in 2007; I remember every one--some I had to look up dates, or the exact final scores, but I remember being there.
5. Last Second Victory
I’m sure everyone remembers this see-saw game between the Minnesota Swarm and the Arizona Sting on April 14th. If it’s slipped your mind, it was an exciting game, with the Sting leading, the Swarm tying then going ahead, then the Sting coming back to take the lead, then the Swarm coming back again and taking the lead, then the Sting tying it again in the final minutes…and the Swarm scoring in the final second—yes, the final second—of the game. The Sting protested the final goal for a couple of reasons, all of which were silly, but officials decided the Swarm scored legally, and the game was over, and the fans left over-joyed. Really, for a minor sport, it doesn't get much better than ending the season (as far as home games go) with a nail-biter like this one.
4. Santana's complete game shut-out
On the way to the June 19th game of Minnesota Twins versus New York Mets game at Shea Stadium in New York, Twins television announcer Bert Blyleven bet Twins starting pitcher Johan Santana that he couldn’t pitch a complete game shut-out. If he did, Johan got to shave Bert’s head. Bert thought it was a safe bet--national league park, Santana hadn't pitched a complete game in a couple of years...but Bert lost and Santana got to get out the clippers before the next game. One of the more interesting things of note about the game was that Santana struck out Paul Lo Duca in the bottom of the ninth. That may not sound interesting, but it was the first strike-out Santana was involved in—he didn’t even strike out when he was at the plate. (He walked, doubled, and scored a run.) For a strike-out artist like Santana, that was surprising.
3. He Was Just Seventeen:
There’s that wacky Johan Santana again on August 19th, up to his old tricks, this time against the Texas Rangers. He didn’t manage the complete game—Joe Nathan came in for the save—but he did pitch eight innings of two-hit, no-walk ball. Oh, and he struck out 17, but who’s counting?
2. G-G-G-G-GAborik
Anytime your favorite hockey player manages a hat trick, it’s a pretty good night for a fan. When your favorite player decides to notch a hat trick, but then continues on and scores two more goals, and gets an assist on the only other goal your team scores…it’s a great night for a fan. On December 20th versus the New York Rangers, Marian Gaborik scored every which way—rebound, batting it in, shooting it in, break-away, power play…he was only missing the short-handed goal. Most interesting fact of the night? The game-winning goal was scored by Pierre-Marc Bouchard. Yep, five goals in a game, and the loan goal he didn’t score (he got the assist) was the game-winner. Way to be clutch…
1. Stupid Mike Sweeney
Everything I’ve ever heard about Stupid Mike Sweeney said he’s a classy, nice guy. I don’t care. He will forever be Stupid Mike Sweeney to me. He could join the Twins, and I’d happily cheer for him and he could become one of my favorite players, but he’d still be Stupid Mike Sweeney. My favorite pitcher, Scott Baker, had a no-hitter going when Stupid Mike Sweeney came to the plate (Baker walked the first guy he faced in the ninth, breaking up the perfect game). And then Stupid Mike Sweeney comes up to bat for the first time in months—literally—and manages a bloop hit to center. Stupid Mike Sweeney. The game was indescribably intense and exciting, and we were all very sad when the perfect game, and then the no-hitter, were broken up. Baker still got the complete game shut-out, and it was still an absolutely amazing game. But…stupid Mike Sweeney!
Happy New Year, everyone! May 2008 bring as much fun and joy to all!
5. Last Second Victory
I’m sure everyone remembers this see-saw game between the Minnesota Swarm and the Arizona Sting on April 14th. If it’s slipped your mind, it was an exciting game, with the Sting leading, the Swarm tying then going ahead, then the Sting coming back to take the lead, then the Swarm coming back again and taking the lead, then the Sting tying it again in the final minutes…and the Swarm scoring in the final second—yes, the final second—of the game. The Sting protested the final goal for a couple of reasons, all of which were silly, but officials decided the Swarm scored legally, and the game was over, and the fans left over-joyed. Really, for a minor sport, it doesn't get much better than ending the season (as far as home games go) with a nail-biter like this one.
4. Santana's complete game shut-out
On the way to the June 19th game of Minnesota Twins versus New York Mets game at Shea Stadium in New York, Twins television announcer Bert Blyleven bet Twins starting pitcher Johan Santana that he couldn’t pitch a complete game shut-out. If he did, Johan got to shave Bert’s head. Bert thought it was a safe bet--national league park, Santana hadn't pitched a complete game in a couple of years...but Bert lost and Santana got to get out the clippers before the next game. One of the more interesting things of note about the game was that Santana struck out Paul Lo Duca in the bottom of the ninth. That may not sound interesting, but it was the first strike-out Santana was involved in—he didn’t even strike out when he was at the plate. (He walked, doubled, and scored a run.) For a strike-out artist like Santana, that was surprising.
3. He Was Just Seventeen:
There’s that wacky Johan Santana again on August 19th, up to his old tricks, this time against the Texas Rangers. He didn’t manage the complete game—Joe Nathan came in for the save—but he did pitch eight innings of two-hit, no-walk ball. Oh, and he struck out 17, but who’s counting?
2. G-G-G-G-GAborik
Anytime your favorite hockey player manages a hat trick, it’s a pretty good night for a fan. When your favorite player decides to notch a hat trick, but then continues on and scores two more goals, and gets an assist on the only other goal your team scores…it’s a great night for a fan. On December 20th versus the New York Rangers, Marian Gaborik scored every which way—rebound, batting it in, shooting it in, break-away, power play…he was only missing the short-handed goal. Most interesting fact of the night? The game-winning goal was scored by Pierre-Marc Bouchard. Yep, five goals in a game, and the loan goal he didn’t score (he got the assist) was the game-winner. Way to be clutch…
1. Stupid Mike Sweeney
Everything I’ve ever heard about Stupid Mike Sweeney said he’s a classy, nice guy. I don’t care. He will forever be Stupid Mike Sweeney to me. He could join the Twins, and I’d happily cheer for him and he could become one of my favorite players, but he’d still be Stupid Mike Sweeney. My favorite pitcher, Scott Baker, had a no-hitter going when Stupid Mike Sweeney came to the plate (Baker walked the first guy he faced in the ninth, breaking up the perfect game). And then Stupid Mike Sweeney comes up to bat for the first time in months—literally—and manages a bloop hit to center. Stupid Mike Sweeney. The game was indescribably intense and exciting, and we were all very sad when the perfect game, and then the no-hitter, were broken up. Baker still got the complete game shut-out, and it was still an absolutely amazing game. But…stupid Mike Sweeney!
Happy New Year, everyone! May 2008 bring as much fun and joy to all!
Labels: G-g-g-girl, I'm probably never going to use that tag again so here's another longer tage I'll never use again
posted by thisisbeth | 7:49 AM
4 Comments:
holy crap its lacrosse
Heh. Well, I had to include all sports, and it was a pretty exciting game. :)
Lacrosse starts in a couple of weeks, too. ;)
That lacrosse game was a blast. I'm so excited for the new season! Watching Santana strike out 17 was pretty fun too.
Beth, those were some great moments. The Swarm game would easily be among my top five as well. That is, if I were ambitious enough to think and write about such things. Or even blog at all.
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