A Year of Games 2011

One of my favorite parts of the year is looking back at all the memories. Here is my 2011 list of major professional and NCAA events that I attended throughout the year. I went to a total of nine different venues in four different states. Four of those venues I visited for the first time in my life. I saw teams from 11 different states. I experienced my first college bowl game and my first MLS game. The teams I supported finished with a record of 12-6 (.667) this season, slightly down from last years 20-4 mark.

I look forward to 2012. I became a half season Jazz ticket owner and have tentative plans to visit the east coast and the likes of Fenway Park and Yankee Stadium. As always, thank you friends and family, it was an interesting year and I am happy to have you all to go to these games with.

Look for my list of the Biggest 2011 Sports Moments next week.

Aggie Men’s Basketball

(all games attended in D.G. Smith Spectrum, Logan, UT unless otherwise noted)
Record in Games I Attended: 10-0

01/20/11 vs. Louisiana Tech W, 74-57
01/22/11 vs. New Mexico State W, 59-49
02/02/11 vs. Nevada W, 67-45
02/05/11 vs. Boise State W, 77-49
02/12/11 vs. Fresno State W, 71-55
02/26/11 vs. Idaho W, 84-68
03/11/11 vs. San Jose State W, 58-54 WAC Tournament, Orleans Arena, Las Vegas, NV
03/12/11 vs. Boise State W, 77-69 WAC Championship, Orleans Arena, Las Vegas, NV
11/11/11 vs. BYU W, 69-62
11/26/11 at Idaho State W, 75-62 Holt Arena, Pocatello, ID

Aggie Football

(all games attended at Romney Stadium, Logan, UT)
Record in Games I Attended: 1-3

09/24/11 vs. Colorado State L, 35-34 (2OT)
09/30/11 at BYU L, 27-24 Lavell Edwards Stadium, Provo, UT
11/12/11 vs. San Jose State W, 34-33
12/17/11 vs. Ohio L, 24-23 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, Bronco Stadium, Boise, ID

Utah Jazz

(all games attended at Energy Solutions Arena, Salt Lake City, UT)
Record in Games I Attended: 0-2

01/05/11 vs. Atlanta L 110-87
02/11/11 vs. Phoenix L 93-85

Major League Baseball

Record in Games I Attended: 0-1

08/30/11 Seattle Mariners vs. Los Angeles Angels L 6-13 @ Safeco Field, Seattle, WA

Other Events

Record in Games I Attended: 1-0

10/29/11 Real Salt Lake vs. Seattle Sounders 3-0 1st Round MLS Playoffs

November in Review- The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

The Good-

Aggie football. A four game win streak and the first bowl bid in 14 years! Robert Turbin is a beast among men out there. Coach Anderson did a great job at rallying the troops after a tough start to the season.

The NBA Lockout is over! After 147 days of negotiations, there will be basketball this year. I didn't think I'd miss the NBA that much but I really have. Obviously the players were starting to miss there paychecks too.

Denver Broncos. Haters going to hate, but week after week, Tim Tebow keeps winning.

The Bad-

Aggie Basketball. It really saddens me to say this, but the Aggies just don't have it together right now. For as long as I have been around Aggie basketball, well that's only about six years, but in that time Utah State has had a system and when players leave, new players fill those spots in that system. Well this year the talent level is different, can't say if its better or worse just different. Up to this point the Ag's haven't figured out what works yet. Hopefully they will get it figured out by the time WAC play rolls around.

The Ugly-

USU apologizing to BYU after the basketball game. This is college basketball, not Jr. Jazz. I am sorry if people were offended, but I was at the game and it was no worse than the other USU/BYU games I have attended before. Nobody was beaten up, nobody left in tears. Athletes like coming to hostile environments and trying to silence the crowd. It makes it exciting. So administrators, let the Spectrum remain a spirited place and if you have a problem with a sign or a students language, take care of it at that moment, have them removed from the game, whatever. Just don't go apologizing later.

USU Student Protest. If there was a "Really, Really Ugly" category this would be in it. Fortunately I wasn't there but last night when the students were quite for the first three minutes of the basketball game for whatever reasons was ridiculous. We are athletic supports, support the athletes and your school. If there is a problem to be resolved, take care of it so that it doesn't effect your team. A young basketball team, as I mentioned before, needs all the help it can get. Give the positive energy, be the 6th man and protest at another time. Maybe sit in your seats after the game when they try to turn out the lights or whatever. If your going to take some credit for wins, ya gotta take some credit for losses.

My First Real Game

Well since the NBA is officially on strike as of today, I had to get my sports fix from another Salt Lake team, the Real Salt Lake. Saturday was the first leg of the conference semi-finals and it turned out to be a very exciting game as Real won 3-0 over the Seattle Sounders. The game is very fast paced and if you look away for a minute you just may miss a goal. The fans get way into it as well, it definitely has more of a college supporters atmosphere with different chants and constant drumming. I will be sure to be back to another game. Check out this photosynth I did of the game, pretty cool if you ask me.

Moneyball

What a great movie to end the baseball season! It definitely took the sting off the Phillies losing so early in the playoffs. It's always a long off season but I know as soon as the snow starts to melt I will begin to romanticize about baseball again. It's such an amazing game and as a Mickey Mantle was quoted in the movie, "It's unbelievable how much you don't know about the game you've been playing (or watching) all your life."

Just some follow up facts and stats from the movie:

• The A's made the playoffs every year from 2000-2003, every year losing 2 games to 3 in the ALDS.
• The character Peter Brand is actually based on the person Paul DePodesta. In reality DePodesta graduated from Harvard, not Yale, and joined the A's in 1999, not 2001. DePodesta is now the vice-president of player development for the New York Mets.
• Billy Beane continues to be general manager of the Oakland A's. They have only made the playoffs once since 2002. Beane is now focusing more on defense, his club led the league in 2010.
• The Oakland A's 2011 payroll was $66 million, 21st among Major League teams. The New York Yankees payroll was $202 million. The two teams in the World Series, St. Louis and Texas, had payrolls of $105 million and $92 million respectively.

Heartbroken x 3

This is definitely not the blog I wanted to be writing today after attending last night's Utah State/BYU football game in Provo, UT. But lets face it, bad things happen. And if you are a Utah State fan, alumni, support, player, etc. bad things seem to happen just about every time the Aggies take the field.

The Aggies blew a 10-point lead with 3 minutes left to Auburn in the first week of the season, that hurt, but a loss to Auburn was expected. In week 3, the offense and defense played well enough to win but because of two muffed punt returns, Colorado State was able to score in the last minutes to tie the game and win in double overtime. And to cap it all off, last night, with a lead in final minutes once again, that hated team from down south was able to put together a 96 yard touchdown drive against the Ags to win the game with 11 seconds remaining.

What can be done! I can't take anymore heartbreak, this team has the talent and skills to win, they just somehow seem to miraculously lose each and every game! One thing that I think would help would be for Coach Anderson to take given points or at least shots at given points i.e. the extra point in the second overtime of the CSU game and the field goal late in fourth quarter against BYU. When the team wasn't as talented as opponents, trick plays and going for it was fine, but now, I believe we have a good team, we need to take points!

I'll always support the Aggies but its going to take a couple of wins before I make the trek back up to Logan to watch another game. I hope the team has some moral left and can still rally to make a bowl game.

Oh and p.s.- BYU don't say its not a rivalry game anymore. You stormed the field. A win over the Aggies must now mean something!

161 down, 1 to go!

What a great baseball season! It amazes me that after 161 games, the playoff picture still hasn't been figured out.. and if things fall just the right way, there could be, count them, two play-in games for the final spots. Talk about the playoffs starting a little early. I'm rooting for the Braves and Sox.

Luckily the Phillies won't have to worry about making the fall season. A win tonight over the Braves will give them their most successful season in franchise history with a record of 102-62 and the best record in the MLB for the year. The team was on track to break all kinds of records before an eight game slide the last couple of weeks. The starting pitchers finished with an ERA under 3.0 for the season and are all looking good for the playoffs. Can't wait!

On side note, be sure to catch ESPN's 30 for 30 movie, Catching Hell. It puts you in the mood for playoff baseball and gives ya some perspective on just how crazy sports fans are.

Conference Shuffle

I have been opposed to conference realignment in college football for quite some time, with the loss of rivalries and historic match-ups, but at this time it seems like it is unavoidable. So if things must change and it appears like they must, this is what I would like to see happen based on current moves and other rumors.

Most analysts believe there are going to be four power conferences with 16 teams a piece. Those conferences being the Pac-12, ACC, SEC, and Big 10.

The Pac-12 is likely to add Oklahoma, Texas, Texas Tech and Oklahoma St.

The ACC has already added Syracuse and Pittsburgh. Connecticut has been rumored to want in to stay with long time rival Syracuse, leaving the ACC with 15 teams. And breaking news today is that if forced to give up independence Notre Dame would like to be the 16th in the ACC.

The most elite football conference the SEC has added Texas A&M and is now at an odd 13 teams. I see the SEC either adding West Virginia from the Big East or Missouri from the Big 12 or both! If both teams go, a 16th would most likely be added.

The Big 10 has been relatively quiet in this new wave of rumors but it is unlikely that they wouldn't make a move to pick up some pieces of the disparaged Big 12 and Big East. The four candidates I see most likely moving to the Big 10 (assuming Notre Dame goes to the ACC) would be Rutgers, Iowa St., Cincinnati, and Louisville.

So there we have it, four big 16 team conferences. Something similar to this will most likely happen. My opinion differs on what will happen, and what I hope happens to some of the remaining schools though. A fifth super conference composed of Big 12 teams and other powers under the name of the Big 12 so that the automatic BCS bid still applies. Here is my list of the those teams and where they would be coming from. From the Big 12- Baylor, Kansas, Kansas State; BYU (Independent); and from the current and future Mountain West- Boise St., TCU, Air Force, Colorado St., New Mexico, SDSU, UNLV, Wyoming, Hawaii, Fresno St. and Nevada. A 16th team would of course be added at a future time. This could definitely be a power conference with TCU, Boise St., Baylor and BYU. Hawaii, Fresno St., SDSU, and Nevada have all been known to have good seasons too.

Is this a solution to the problems in college football? Most definitely not. Believe it or not there was a 16 team conference in college football once before. The WAC from 1996-1998. Why did it fail? Elite teams felt that the super conference compromised academic and athletic integrity. Travel costs were also cited as a reason of league failure. The conference stretched from Hawaii to California to Oklahoma.

As far as the new super conferences go they probably will be around for a while, this isn't the 90's anymore. Rivalries, traditions, academics, and athletic excellence don't really matter. The only thing that matters is money and the money could be big in big conferences.

Safeco Field

Safeco Field
Home of the Seattle Mariners, Seattle, WA
Date Opened: July 15, 1999- San Diego Padres 3, Seattle Mariners 2
Capacity: 47,878
Games Attended: August 30, 2011 Los Angeles Angels 13, Mariners 6

Location & Accessibility (0-5): 5
A beautiful setting near downtown Seattle and the Puget Sound. An easy walk from public transportation as a train station runs right behind the stadium. Century Link Field, home of the Seahawks and former location of the Kingdome, is right next door. The 1st base side of the ballpark offers amazing views of the Seattle skyscrapers.

Historic Value (0-5): 2
Hosted the American League playoffs in each 2000 and 2001 but the team failed to make the World Series either year losing both times to the New York Yankees. Also hosted the 2001 All-Star Game, where Cal Ripken Jr. hit his final All-Star home run. Ichiro broke the single season hit record on Oct. 1, 2004 with his 258th hit of the season.

Originality (0-5): 4
Not the first stadium to have a retractable roof but unique in the way that the roof serves as an umbrella. This gives the park an open air feel all the time while calming the worries of wet games in rainy Seattle.

Fans (0-5): 2
In a down year and a blowout of a game there was still close to 16,000 at the game. It would be nice to see the atmosphere when the team was still competitive.

Fun Factor (0-5): 3
The grounds grew did a little break dance after the 3rd inning which was quite entertaining. The bullpens were also in a great location for fans to see pitchers warm up their arms.

Concessions & Restaurants (0-5): 4
I wish I would have had a little bigger appetite that night because there are plenty of great choices at Safeco Field, from Thai food to crepes to sushi where there is an "Ichiroll." The also have a completely gluten free concession stand.

My own Subjectivity (0-5): 3
Of course this is great place to watch a ball game! I would like to attend a game to when the team was still in contention to get a true feel for the place. I definitely recommend going early and having a beer across the street at the Pyramid and then heading in the ballpark and seeing all the views it has to offer.

Total Score (0-35)= 23

Criteria for "The Ballpark Series" can be found here.

And here is why I love baseball stadiums!

Huntsman Springs

On Monday I got the opportunity to play golf at Huntsman Springs in Driggs, ID. Huntsman Springs was designed by the same man that did Oregon's famed Bandon Dunes, David McLay Kidd. The course has received numerous accolades, including being named to lists such as Best Modern Course and Best Residential Course by Golfweek Magazine.

For the first 18 holes of the day we had the privilege of using a forecaddie. Let me tell you how neat of an experience it is to not have to worry wear to hit your ball, just follow the caddies instructions and make a decent swing. If i could afford it, I think I might just want a caddie everyday. The course was definitely unlike anything I have ever played before. A lot of hidden hazards, and HUGE greens. Here are some pics from the day.

Golf: A Father/Son Game

(AP Photo: McIlroy's after the 2011 US Open Victory)

First of all a big congrats to Rory McIlroy! What an impressive wire to wire win in the The 111th US Open. If he had been pressed at all near the end of the day, I think he would have dropped a a lot more of those putts and could have easily flirted with 20-under. And what a great scene it was for him to be able to hug his dad after the victory. The older I get the more sentimental I get about stuff like that. Two weeks ago my dad and I played in the Pressbox Scramble/Bestball for the 10th consecuctive year. Even though we aren't as good as we used to be it was still a fun time! I owe so much to my dad and am so happy we have golf and sports to enjoy together among other things.

(Pressbox 2011)

Just Another Reason Why I Love Baseball

Samantha and I went down to the Bee's game yesterday afternoon and when the sun was shining it was a perfect day for baseball. It was Sam's first game so we had to do it right. With a bag of peanuts and a Coke we watched the game from right behind the Bee's dugout. A player tossed me a ball when an inning was over and we got a picture with the mascot. Despite the occasional cloud and the Bee's 3-2 loss the afternoon couldn't have gone much better.

On the way out we passed a guy in a Phillies jacket and since I was wearing my Phills sweatshirt we immediately struck up conversation. He was getting married next week and taking his new bride to San Diego to watch the Phillies play. "I hope I am not divorced five days after I get married," he joked. I'm guessing he won't be, watching the Phillies sounds like the perfect honeymoon to me!