3) 11/5/2006 - the "blocked field goal game." Novak misses a 49-yarder to win the game, and the Cowboys get the ball back. Cowboys get the ball, drive to the 42, and Vanderjagt has a chance to win. In steps vet Troy Vincent - he blocks the field goal, and the ball ends up in, as Joe Gibbs said, "the one person's hands you want the ball to be in at that moment." Taylor returns the ball about 15 yards, but a Kyle Kosier facemask gives them 15 more. Novak nails the 47-yarder
as time expires to beat the Pukes.
I was also at the game and sitting in the lower level goaline on the end of the field where the winning FG was kicked. Time Had Already Expired, but the game couldn't end because of the penalty.
1.) Superbowl XLIII- It was very interesting to be at the superbowl, in my own backyard, not having any expectations. I was rooting for the Steelers mainly for anti cowboys sentiment, but secondarily because I still don't like the cards from their NFC east days. Had a great time at, arguably, one of the greatest SBs ever played. The excitement and energy in the air was like nothing I'd experienced since the World Series game I attended a couple months earlier.
2.) World Series Game one- Rays vs. Phillies. Once again in my own backyard. About 6pm that evening I asked my wife if she wanted to go to the Tropicana Field and see if we could get some tickets. She wasn't up for it so I rode my motorcycle there and parked right across the street. I walked 10' and purchased a ticket in the 10th row right behind homeplate for face value.
3.) 1999 NFL Playoff game- Redskins at Tampa. Very exciting, a ton of Skins fans there congregating in the concourse. This was an up and down game typical of the Skins. We went into the halftime losing by three I believe then Brian Mitchell ran the second half kickoff back for a TD. We scored again extending our lead. All signs pointed toward victory, but the Bucs battle back and retook the lead (which reminds of the later Skins/Bucs I attended were "Alstot didn't get it, another greatest game ever). With a couple minutes left "Bad Brad" lead the skins down the field in the 2 minute offense. We lined up for the game winning FG attempt with seconds left. Just when you knew we had won the game with a easy FG, Turk the long snapper sends it high to the holder Brad Johnson, who decides to run with the ball against the NFL's fastest defense
The Bucs went on to the NFC Championship and rolled over for the Rams, who we'd beaten in the regular season that year. The Rams went on to win the SB handsomely.
4.) 11/5/06 the Skins / Cowboys FG with no time left after the runback of the blocked FG by Sean Taylor. I'd already left the field and was headed for the entrance to the parking lot, when my friend had to pause for the cause.
We got up to leave as the Cboys were lining up for a FG thinking this game is over and I had to get to National airport for a 6:30pm flight back to Tampa. All the sudden the stadium erupted and I ran over to look at a monitor next to the tunnel. The Skins were lining up for a FG, but how? Just then my friend came out of the men's room completely oblivious. I grabbed his arm and yanked down the tunnel (no time to explain). Just as we cleared the tunnel, in the back corner of the correct endzone, the FG attempt began, went through the posts and the place erupted like a volcano.
Humiliated Cowboys took a barrages of abuse as the scurried for the exits like the rats that they are.
5.) I think that this qualifies. The HOF induction of Darrell Green and Art Monk. I knew in the planning that I really wanted to go to pay tribute to two great men that made my mediocre life, during the 70's and 80's worth living for. I won't elaborate, but somehow for a few hours a week these two helped me get my mind of the daily grind. I gotta admit that I didn't get very good tickets to the ceremony. There were in the stands toward the top, more than halfway back. Then my friend, who I already had a ticket for scored some of the later released floor tickets that were still a couple sections back from the stage. Before the induction began, my friend and I meandered up to the stage to get a closer look at the HOF'ers taking their seats and Chris Berman stood at the mic for a good 20 minutes before hand. Then the show was getting under way and I spied some seats in the 10 row on the aisle and my friend and grabbed them thinking that we'd probably have to move when the owners of the seats showed up. As luck would have it, no one ever came and we were sitting further forward than anyone else besides the players and their families. In fact, John Elway's entire offensive line was sitting in the row right in front of us for the induction of Gary Zimmerman. Many of you readers were there for the nearly 5 minute applause for Art Monk. I was close enough to see the tears welling in his eyes. After I got back home from that wonderful weekend, my friend called to inform me that the washington post had taken a photo of just me in the crowd clapping with Art and Darrell. It doesn't get any better than that for me anyway.
6.) a couple of honorable mentions. Last year I was also able to attend the
Daytona 500, The Gator Nationals, The Honda 200/Bike Week @ Daytona, the St. Pete Grand Prix, and the USGP MotoGP race at Laguna Seca Monterey CA. There will never be another year like last year.