TOP 5 : GAMES

In my 25 years, there have been a lot of games. For every twenty you go to, you might see one or two that are memorable. These are the best games I have seen in person.

5. 2009 Thanksgiving Day

This is before the Cowboys were 1 - 7, and the Raiders were showing signs of life for the first time in years. Yea the game was lopsided, but being part of the spectacle of the inaugural Thanksgiving Day game in the new stadium was worth every penny. The best part may have been that all of my coworkers came with. We partied, tailgated, and, before I forget, managed to get down to watch the game from the sidelines. Everything about the atmosphere was amazing, and might not be topped until I spend my life savings one year on a court side, Christmas Day Lakers game.

4. When the Saints Go Marching In

I already wrote in detail about my experience at the Saints game earlier this year on "Who Dat," so I wont get into it too much. But the atmosphere was electric. Something tells me if the Saints had lost that game, or later on in their playoff run, not much would have changed. Everyone would have talked about how exciting it was, and Bourbon St. would have been a party just the same. I'm sure their all much happier the way everything worked out.

3. Naming Rights

Growing up, I was always a huge UCLA fan. I attended summer camp there for 7 years, where I met the late legend John Wooden a handful of times. So the chance to attend the court dedication renaming it in his honor was a must. With close to 50 years of UCLA basketball alumni present. The hour long ceremony was intense, culminated by a pretty insightful speech by Wooden. Then there was the game. While newcomer coach Ben Howland was still in his infancy, and hadn't quite yet built the teams that made 3 consecutive Final Fours, the Bruins won a tight one over highly ranked Michigan St. No one could bring down the Wizard of Westwood on this night.

2. The First of Many

Growing up my favorite sport was hockey. Loved everything about the game and it didn't hurt that this was around the time that the Kings traded for the greatest to ever play, Wayne Gretzky. So the first game I ever attended that I can remember was a Kings game. Approximately twenty rows up behind the net, I couldn't get enough. Startled by the sound of the siren from the first goal, I'll never forget my dad's words when I complained. "Son. That's the greatest hockey player of all time. We are not leaving." A hat trick and an assist later, the greatest of all time didn't disappoint.

1. "Kobe. To Shaq!"

Game 7 of the 2000 Western Conference Finals is one of those moments I will never forget. Jumping in place for half an hour with my dad after the game had ended was something I'll never forget. The Lakers" path to their first of three championships was a bumpy one, but worth all the drama. I have seen a handful of game winners, walk offs, and buzzer beaters in my day and nothing ever comes as close to the excitement in Staples that night.

Plenty of games I've attended have had amazing finishes, or holy shit moments, but not quite the same feelings as these. Come back tomorrow to read about my top 5 sports experiences from the road.