Some of this could be yours. Time’s running out to enter to win.
Just stopping by to remind you that Masters Month officially ends at midnight EDT, Thursday, April 30.
That means you have about 24 hours left to enter to win one of two Masters Ball Markers or two Masters Golf Balls that are up for grabs to four lucky readers.
All you have to do to enter is make a minimum of $5 contribution in support of the work we’re doing here at The Sports Fan Project by 11:59 p.m. EDT Thusday night.
That’s it, that’s all you’ve got to do!
If you’re an ongoing supporter who’s topped $5 or more this month you’re already entered but, of course, you’re welcome to show us some more love.
Please direct your browser to this link to make that contribution safely and securely:
The view from a soft seating area inside Fargo’s West Acres Mall.
When I realized my flight home from Fargo would depart mid-afternoon on Monday, I decided to pay a visit to the West Acres Mall.
Now, before I go on … yes, a mall. A bonafide, functional, and dang-near fully occupied mall.
I know, I was amazed as well when my traveling buddy, Wayne, and I took a lap to see what was what in this spot situated near the junction of Interstates 94 and 29. We saw only two storefronts that seemed to be between tenants. And, might I say, for a Monday late morning, it was hopping!
Though it was still 10 days before Thanksgiving, the holiday decorations were hung with care in hopes that oodles of shoppers would soon be there. And, again, on this Monday morning, quite a few were there.
But I digress.
The reason I wanted to pay a visit to West Acres was to visit one wing in particular at the southeast corner near the Best Buy store. That’s where the Roger Maris Museum was.
This sign hanging in a hallway of the West Acres Mall welcomes visitors to learn more about one of Fargo’s favorite sons.
Maris, whose birth name was Maras before his father changed the family surname in 1955, was born in Hibbing, MN, in 1934, but his family moved to Grand Forks, ND, when he was four and then on to Fargo when he was 12. He’s a graduate of Fargo’s Bishop Shanley High School.
Maris played 12 seasons in the Majors for four teams. Most notably among them, the New York Yankees, when, in 1961, he engaged in an epic season-long home run derby with fellow outfielder, Mickey Mantle. Maris wound up winning that derby and, in so doing, bested Yankee legend Babe Ruth‘s single-season MLB home run record by one, 61-60. Notably, of course, was that during Ruth’s era teams played but 154 games and in 1961 they played 162.
What I found when I made my way down by that Best Buy was small but tastefully done display that seemed to keep with both Maris’ persona and his wishes.
By all accounts he was a no-frills fella who never really wanted to be in the glaring spotlight he found himself in back in 1961. A sort of lunch pail type of player who simply wanted to play the game and head home. In fact, one of the items on display underscores Maris’ wishes for the museum.
My favorite part of the Museum was Roger’s insistence that it be “put in a place where people from all walks of life will see it, and where they won’t have to pay for it.”
Beyond the 70 or so feet of artifacts in a few showcases out in the mall’s hallway, there is also a small room that runs a video about Maris on a loop. It’s decked out with old Yankee Stadium seating and provides a lovely spot to get off your feet for a few minutes and be transported back to the 1950s and 60s.
Sadly, thieves made off with his 1960 and 1961 American League MVP Awards in a brazen middle-of-the-night break in back in July 2016. The museum curators call them out on the display of photos of said awards and plea for them to be returned to their rightful home.
And, yes, odd as it might seem to have a museum for a baseball legend in a shopping mall, it works. If you find yourself in Fargo, pay the West Acres Mall a visit. Come for the Orange Julius, stay for the Roger Maris Museum.
Clockwise from upper left, a photo of the 1960 AL MVP Award; one of two Babe Ruth Sultan of Swat crowns that are displayed; a replica of his Yankee Stadium locker; the Museum’s dedication stone; Fargo’s Roger Maris Day (June 27, 1998) Proclamation; a replica of his tribute in Yankee Stadium’s Monument Park; the centerpiece of the Museum’s display; a look inside the film room, complete with Stadium seating; all 61 of his 1961 home runs have a pennant with the date and opposing pitcher highlighted; Maris spent his final two seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals, winning another World Series there in 1967; and the Museum’s welcome sign.
As noted in the companion post (Where’s the Golf!?! [aka My Time at the 2025 Ryder Cup]), my father and I had our planned itinerary out east get scrambled thanks to the weather forecast … and the generosity of the PGA of America.
We were supposed to finish our travel into Long Island from our Pennsyvlania hotel on Wednesday and stop along the way to check out one of two museums in New Jersey we’d both been eyeballing for sometime: The Yogi Berra Museum and Learning Center on the campus of Montclair State University and the USGA Golf Museum and Library in Liberty Corner. We’d then hit the other museum on our way out of town on Friday.
With the hurry-up call to get to Bethpage Black Golf Course on Wednesday, we made the decision to head to New Jersey on Thursday and pay a visit to both museums rather than spend another day on what was looking to be a soggy and somewhat deserted Ryder Cup grounds.
Here’s my take on the two museums, as different as night and day, but equally enjoyable in their own way.
But First … Christy Mathewson
About the time we pulled into to visit the Mathewson family plot, a man was walking his dog and offered to take our photo. A pretty special moment to be sure.
We spent the night during our trip east in New Columbia, PA, which is just a few miles from Lewisburg, home of Bucknell University.
My dad, in doing his research before our trip, discovered that Christy Mathewson, one of the Baseball Hall of Fame‘s original class of inductees, was buried in Lewisburg Cemetery. A native of Factoryville, PA, Mathewson was a 3-sport athlete at Bucknell and his wife was a Lewsiburg native.
It was a no-brainer to pay our respects to a name we were both familiar with.
And then we discovered the football stadium is also named for the baseball great so a campus drive about ensued. Which led to a visit to the Bucknell Golf Club and a spotting of its own version of the more-famous Oakmont Country Club‘s “church pew bunkers.”
Clockwise from upper left, the backside of the baseball stadium’s scoreboard; Christy Mathewson’s gravestone; the Bucknell University Golf Course features it’s own version of the “church pew bunkers” from a more famous Pennsyvlania course, Oakmont Country Club; the Mathewson family plot; and the athletic stadium named in Mathewson’s honor.
The USGA Golf Museum
The exterior of the USGA Golf Museum and the map of its interior.
This has long been on my father’s list of places he’d like to visit.
An avid golfer throughout much of his life and a 1-time card-carrying member of the United States Golf Association (USGA), he’s frequently talked about this spot, but never had the opportunity to get there. I determined we’d make a go of visiting and, if the weather permitted, even pay the extra $10 fee to do some putting on the famed Pynes Putting Course. (Spoiler alert, the weather did not cooperate.)
As one might imagine a golf museum, it is stately and, for the most part, a quiet space to brush with the greatest in the game’s history.
There are five rooms dedicated soley to the accomplishments of five notable golf individuals from golf’s history: Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and Mickey Wright (widely considered the greatest women’s player, ever).
The Hall of Champions, as the name suggests, features the names of every USGA-sponsored competition winner in history as well as all of the trophies on display.
Finally, there is an exhibit near the back that takes visitors through a chronological history of the game in the United States.
Many of the artifacts are breathtaking and straight from the collections of the golfers (in the case of the five themed rooms) themselves. Reading the names of past winners in the Hall of Champions – especially those of Junior-level winners – is fascinating to see who has/have become household names in the sport achieving greatness in their youth.
Clockwise from upper left, a showcase featuring artifacts from Arnold Palmer’s career; this painting of the 16h hole at Augusta National Golf Club was painted by President Dwight D. Eisenhower and presented to Bobby Jones; this portrait of Jones by Thomas Edgar Stephens was later copied by Eisenhower (the Eisenhower version hangs Butler Cabin at Augusta National); this Jack Nicklaus sculpture is a centerpiece in his namesake room; the U.S. Open Championship Trophy includes the name of 2025 winner, J.J. Spaun; a wider look at all the trophies on display; this “Superpowers” area features plenty about Palmer, Nicklaus, and Gary Player; this Sam Snead hat caught my eye; the jumpsuit of Jack Nicklaus II who caddied for his dad during the 1986 Masters; Mickey Wright’s final round scorecard of her 1958 U.S. Open victory at Forest Lake Country Club in Bloomfield Hils, MI, (I’ve enjoyed brunch there on several occasions!); the Ben Hogan Award; Hogan’s Green Jacket from The Masters; various artifacts from Johnny Miller’s 1973 U.S. Open victory.
Perhaps my favorite item in all of the museum was the drawing of Palmer by James David Chase entitled “Gratitude.” At first glance, as you enter the Arnold Palmer Room it appears to be created by a series of lines or a sketch. Upon closer look, it’s actually words and statements either used by Palmer or by others to describe Palmer, his game, his humanity, etc. The accompanying video interview with the artist indicated it took 12 years to create and for many of the smallest statements he needed to wear eye magnification and hold his breath while writing.
It’s hard to do it justice, but what appears to be a pencil drawing of Palmer’s face (top) is, in reality, a series of words and phrases (bottom two images).
The Yogi Berra Museum
A look at Yogi Berra Stadium (home to Montclair State University and the New Jersey Institute of Technology baseball teams), the outside of the museum, and a famous Yogism.
I’m not a New York Yankees’ fan (I live in Detroit, right!?!), but I am a fan of baseball and the English language which, I suppose, means I’m bound by primal forces of nature to be a fan of Baseball Hall of Famer and Yankees’ legend, Yogi Berra.
Having never seen him play, I only knew about Yogi the ex-baseball player and probably wouldn’t have given a second thought about visiting his namesake museum and learning center on the campus Montclair State University, but I am familiar with the Yogisms and his on-the-field success. The tipping point for me wanting to pay a visit, however, was viewing the 2022 Berra documentary, “It Ain’t Over.” I cannot recommend it enough. A total loveletter from his
While there are some lovely artifacts housed here, I’d categorize the spot as more of a menagerie of things collected through the years by either the Berra family or donated to Yogi by former teammates and other Yankees.
The theater in the Yogi Berra Museum.
If you find yourself in the area like we did, do take the time to visit the theater, which is built to resemble Yankee Stadium, and view the 2011 episode of “Boys in the Hall” that features Berra. It’s hosted by longtime NBC anchorman Tom Brokaw and provides a terrific backdrop about who Berra was.
Clockwise from upper left, Yogi leads a cavalcade of Hall of Famers onto the field during the 2008 All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium; an area near the entrance to the exhibit hall; Yogi’s Presidential Medal of Freedom and military medals; several artifacts from his playing days with the Yankees; Yogi was on Omaha Beach during the D-Day Invasion; plaques of teammates Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle from the old Monument Park at Yankee Stadium; the jerseys of fellow Yankee catchers Elston Howard (the first black Yankee), Thurman Munson, and Jorge Posada; some artifacts from his time with the New York Mets; the yellow Yankees’ World Series rings are the ones Berra won; portraits of some New York baseball royalty line a wall; broadcaster and former teammate Phil Rizzuto was fond of saying “holy cow,” this one’s signed by many legends; a look at the exhibit area.
E60’s promotional poster for the documentary, “Southpaw.”
I awoke this morning knowing exactly what I planned to write about.
In desperate need of clearing the decks of Event No. 21 from the Around the World in 80 Sporting Events project, I was determined to write about my experience at the 120th Midnight Sun Game in Fairbanks, AK, from back in June.
As its backdrop, the documentary focuses on Saturday afternoon, September 4, 1993, in the Bronx when Abbott – who, for the unfamiliar, was born without a right hand – pitched a no-hitter for the New York Yankees against the then-Cleveland Indians.
The overarching storyline, however, is about Jim Abbott‘s life and the impact he had on others … oh, so many others.
Suddenly I was engrossed in the story of which – hailing from the State of Michigan – I had more than passing familiarity. Heck, I had even met Jim when we were both freshmen in college. He at the University of Michigan and I across Washtenaw County at Eastern Michigan University. One of his Flint Central buddies known to most of us only as Kramer, lived down the hall from me in Phelps Hall. Jim paid Kramer a visit the night of March 21, 1986. I remember the date because we were in Kramer’s room watching the beginning of the Michigan State-Kansas men’s basketball regional semifinal that MSU ultimately lost in overtime due, in part, to a clock malfunction.
What I was unaware of, however, was the volume of communications Abbott received from the families of boys and girls – like him – who were disabled and how, in many ways, he became an almost reverential figure for those children and their parents about what was possible.
That extra burden he carried must have been significant, but to most on the outside world it didn’t show and, as he matured, he grew to understand it came with the territory of being one of the disabled world’s highest profile members.
The film also serves as a reminder to all of us that someone is always watching and we all have the opportunity to inspire, influence, and encourage others with our words and actions. If you ever needed a reminder of this, the film’s final 10-minutes drives this point home emphatically.
To say it was 90 minutes well spent would be an understatement and a disservice to Jim Abbott’s life (and the E60 production team). I encourage you to grab a handful of tissues and enjoy all the emotions.
The farmhouse at the Field of Dreams Movie Site in Dyersville, IA.
I know what you might be thinking:
Doug, this is supposed to be Around the World in 80 Sporting Events. How does the location of a film rise to the level of an event. Or even an iconic venue?
It’s a fair question and one that I wrestled with more than a little bit when building out the 80-ish events/venues. But, in the end it’s my project, my list, right?
That said, my decision seemed vindicated after recently visiting the Dyersville, IA, farm that served as a primary filming location for the 1989 baseball movie, “Field of Dreams.” While spending about an hour on site, my dad and I encountered folks from all corners of the United States, including a couple from southern California that had a family wedding in the Kansas City area and the husband was insistent that this diversion north must occur.
Um, that’s a 6-hour detour, my friend!
He was resolute, however and neither he nor his wife seemed the least bit put out by driving hours through rural America to wander around a baseball field for an hour or so.
But that seems to be the draw of this place. Karin Kinsella and Terence Mann were both spot on with their assessments of Ray Kinsella‘s absurd decision to plow under half his crop and build a baseball field in the middle of nowhere.
Karin and Terence tell Ray why he shouldn’t sell the farm. (Bonus: Archie “Doc” Graham saves Karin.)
People will – and do– come. (Seriously, check out the “Field of Dreams” live web cam here. If sun’s up in Iowa and there’s no rain, you’re bound to see folks on the field.)
There is no charge to visit the site. It’s all a freewill donation and, yes, I handed over $20 without giving it a thought, for it’s money I had and moments I sought.
Those moments were to spend time with my father at one of the more special places for fathers and sons in filmography history and if the weather permitted and we could sneak in a catch, well, all the better.
Without spoiling too much, Ray’s character (played by Kevin Costner) begins hearing a voice and having a vision of building a baseball field on his family farm. Ultimately, the voice’s messages of “if you build it, he will come,” “ease his pain,” and “go the distance” are all designed to reconnect Ray with his long-deceased father whom he had a fractured relationship.
When the inevitable occurs as the sun sets over the Iowa cornfields and Ray asks his dad if he wants to have a catch, well, pass the tissues for most fellas I know who’ve watched the film … or read the book “Shoeless Joe” by W.P. Kinsella.
Admittedly, my dad is not as fluent in “Field of Dreams” as I am, but he had a pair of homework assignments prior to this stop on the Around the World in 80 Sporting Events project: Refamiliarize himself with the movie and get his arm in good enough shape to toss the horsehide around for a few minutes.
To me, this is one of those films that, if I see its airing on the on-screen guide, I’m stopping by and staying for a while (probably for the duration).
Clockwise from upper left, the author visited with his family (son Jake, wife Carol, and daughter Helena) in 2018; the view of the field from the farmhouse; behind the backstop; Terence Mann’s monologue about baseball; the author and his father, Jerry, enjoying a catch in rightfield; the view from the pitcher’s mound; the view from homeplate; the corn was still working on its height during our visit; the welcome sign; construction is ongoing for a more permanent professional field.
It was a steamy mid-June Tuesday on the day of our visit and while my family and I had stopped by seven years earlier, I was excited to return and see what’s changed and, more importantly perhaps, what’s stayed the same from 1988 when principle shooting occurred. And, yes, I had the same feeling turning off the road onto the long gravel driveway leading to the farm that most viewers probably have when they see the twinkling lights on that aerial shot at the films end.
My son’s friend, when they were younger, used to call that feeling “getting the goosies.”
The house with the white picket fence … check!
The red barns … check!
The ballfield with its ramshackle bleachers and light posts … check!
The corn field … check!
Aside from the corn approaching just knee high and not the fully grown stalks the ghost players disappear into on film, it was as most would remember it.
There were differences from when I first visited: The smaller of the two barns is now a merchandise shop filled with the Baseballism product line; there is now a restaurant (The Dugout) in part of the larger barn, a seasonal ice cream stand between the two barns, and a concession stand counter (The Stretch) and pavilion with picnic tables down the leftfield line. There is still the opportunity to tour the farmhouse ($20 per adult, of course;-) but we opted against it as I’d completed it during my previous visit. New, however, is the ability to spend the night in the house. For a mere $600 (weeknights) you’re able to rent a room for the night (find the details here).
In the distance, well beyond the lights in left field, construction continued on what is to become a more permanent field where Major League Baseball hosted a pair of games during the 2021 and 2022 seasons. The goal, per Dyersville Events Inc. President and CEO Keith Rahe which purchased the land from Go the Distance Baseball in September 2024 for $27 million, “is that professional baseball is back there. Honestly because we know how important and how significant those games were.”
That aside it was, as Ray Kinsella says during film, “perfect.”
My father and I did enjoy a catch and our newfound friends from southern California even recorded our poor form for posterity. This means I’ve now had a catch with my father and my son (2018) at the “Field of Dreams” diamond. (I’m not saying I want to be viewed rather than seen anytime soon, but this gives me comfort in having accomplished this.)
Doug and Jerry brought their gloves and took time to have a catch.
After our time doing what fathers and sons have done for generations in this country, we did something else that fathers and sons do. We visited the ice cream stand, purchased a couple dishes, and made our way to the shaded comfort of the picnic tables where we enjoyed a treat on a hot summer day while the voices of others playing catch and soaking in the sights of this slice of Americana echoed in the distance.
The Western Michigan University Broncos celebrate their double-overtime victory over Denver University in Thursday’s Men’s Frozen Four semifinal. (Photo by Adam Sheehan/WMU)
(Editor’s Note: The following post is written by longtime journalism colleague, Paul Beaudry, whom I worked with ages [and ages] ago at the Ypsilanti [MI] Press, a newspaper that hasn’t existed in decades. Paul posted this on Facebook and I felt it captured the spirit of what I’m striving to do here at The Sports Fan Project. All sports fans have these memories and emotions tied to moments and I aim to continue to provide an opportunity for anyone who wishes to share them. If you have a reflection, essay, Haiku, or any other thing tied to your sports fandom you’d like to share with a wider audience please contact me at hilldouglast@gmail.com.)
A throwback WMU logo.
For context, the Western Michigan University Broncos play the Boston University Terriers in the 2025 NCAA Men’s Frozen Four Championship in St. Louis, MO. It is Western Michigan’s first-ever appearance in the title game.
As a someone tied to the Western Michigan hockey program during my undergrad years as a broadcaster, writer, public address announcer, and rink rat custodian, I’m just stoked to see the Broncos in Saturday’s NCAA championship against Boston University.
But there are a couple of reasons this weekend is special.
The first comes nearly 50 years ago and my only other trip to a title game. My dad worked in advertising for Michigan’s largest department store, J.L. Hudson’s, and getting sports tickets was not uncommon. This time, it was to see Michigan play Wisconsin at Detroit’s Olympia Stadium for all the marbles in the 1977 Championship.
As someone who, truthfully, probably became a Michigan fan to harass my Sparty father, this was a big deal. Only problem was Michigan didn’t play like it was and trailed, 5-2, early in the third. But they rallied in a furious third period to tie it, 5-5, and send the game to overtime.
“Get your coat, we’re going,” said my dad.
Ummmm, ‘scuse me?
“I don’t want to get caught in traffic. We’re going.”
Protests were futile, we were gone – made more frustrating because I couldn’t find the game on the radio. I got home to find out Michigan lost – 23 seconds into OT.
As a 15-year-old into hockey, I was crushed. (David Soul‘s, “Don’t Give Up on Us,” was playing on the car radio during that drive. I still think of that game when I hear it.) I got over it.
The second came in 1983. I had just graduated a couple weeks before and was headed to Boston over a New Year’s Eve weekend as a last hurrah to broadcast the game on WIDR-FM, where I’d done a slew of games over the previous 4 1/2 years.
It was a great trip. I stayed in the Parker House, enjoyed many beverages at Friar Tuck’s in downtown Boston and got to cover the twinbill against Boston University and legendary coach Jackie Parker.
As the first game started out, Western got caught with a little home cooking from the officials and was understandably frustrated.
At one point my broadcast partner, the late Tom Skinner, opened the window to our broadcast booth, stuck his head out and yelled to the officials, “HEY REF!!! OPEN YOUR EYES!!! YOU’RE MISSING A GREAT GAME!!!!”
The referee blew his whistle, looked up at Tuff, looked over to the Western bench, looked back up to the box, and skated over to coach Bill Wilkinson for a little chat.
It seemed he thought Skinner was a coach and was set to give Western a penalty but wanted to talk to Wilkie first.
As this is going on, Skinner is bright red, realized he’d overstepped, and told me, “don’t you dare say a word about what’s going on” because he doesn’t want anyone back in Kalamazoo to know. So I have to fill time during a delay, but not say why we’re delayed. A true WTF moment.
No penalty was called and it all worked out after longtime BU Sports Information Director Ed Carpenter came over to tell Tuff that he shouldn’t do it again because if he does, the officials will throw us out and give Western a bench major.
The game is over, we get back on the bus, and instead of being down from the 8-3 loss, all anyone wanted to know is what Skinner said to the officials. He was a freakin’ hero for saying what they couldn’t. (Epilogue: I got in the car after the return flight just in time to hear Detroit Lions’ Eddie Murray miss a game-winning field goal against San Francisco in a playoff game. But enough disappointment.)
So Saturday night, when I wear my jersey and inevitably turn off the TV during rough patches in the game to change the mojo, I’ll think of my dad and I’ll think of my friend. Both are gone to a better place, but I’m in a better place for having known them.
During Season 1 of Conversations with Sports Fans we were blessed to be joined by Erv Inniger, a former basketball and baseball player at Indiana University, a one-time Minnesota Muskies player, and, utlimately, the head men’s basketball coach (and later an athletic director) at North Dakota State University.
Later today he’ll be enshrined in the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame during ceremonies at the Hall in New Castle and at a banquet in Indianapolis.
We felt it only fitting that we repost his episode of Conversation. You’re able to find it here or by searching for Erv Inniger, Season 1, Episode 30 on your favorite podcast provider.
This image is notable not just for the action but for the technology by which it was taken. We’re looking for the game, the year, the outcome, and – if you’d like A LOT of extra credit, why was this image so technologically advanced?
This image was captured in New Orleans’ then-Superdome during the 1981 Sugar Bowl by Sports Illustrated photographer, Heinz Kluetmeier. It’s notable not only because it captures University of Georgia freshman, Herschel Walker, scoring from a yard out, but also because it was the first time a photographer used strobe lights in a domed stadium. Notice, in the full image below, how bright the players appear.
We’re also running a photo from Kluetmeier because the legendary SI photographer died on Tuesday at the age of 82. Here is fellow SI staffer Jon Wertheim‘s obituary.
Georgia freshman running back Herschel Walker goes airborne to score from the 1-yard-line for the top-ranked Bulldogs during their 17-10 victory over seventh-ranked Notre Dame in the 1981 Sugar Bowl. (Photo by Heinz Kluetmeier/Sports Illustrated)
Three of Kluetmeier’s most notable offerings have already been used by us as Fan Teasers. He was in rink at Lake Placid for Team USA‘s stunning upset of the Soviets in the 1980 Winter Olympics (Week 71 Fan Teaser). It served as Sports Illustrated‘s cover on its March 3, 1980, issue. Beyond the name of the magazine and the date it contained no other text on the cover; a first in SI‘s history. He also happened to have is underwater camera set up in 2008’s Beijing Olympics and caught American Michael Phelps out-touching Serbia’s Milorad Cavic in the 100-meter Butterfly (Week 61 Fan Teaser). And his image of Jackie Joyner-Kersee from the longjump in the 2008 Seoul Olympics (Week 93 Fan Teaser).
More of Heinz Kluetmeier’s incredible work from the pages of Sports Illustrated.
If you’d like to see which shots Kluetmeier most admired, check out this 2008 article in Sports Illustrated where he discusses some of his all-time favorite photos.
Just to review, The Fan Teaser was the creation of former Ann Arbor News Sports Editor Geoff Larcom. Longtime friend and fellow Ann Arbor News alum, Pat Schutte, took it to heights previously unknown. We aim to keep it alive here at The Sports Fan Project. The cropped photo and the accompanying clue give you an idea as to who or what the image is of. We invite you to use the Comment option to take a crack at solving the Teaser and, if you’re so inclined, participate in some good-spirited banter with your fellow sports fans. The Fan Teaser will appear each Friday morning with the reveal coming to you Sunday.
A Word from the Author: My heart is breaking for those impacted by the wild fires in greater Los Angeles. To say the past week has been surreal would be an understatement. I spent the better part of December 30 through January 2 in Glendale and Pasadena and while no area I visited was under mandatory evacuations, they came pretty dang close. That the Rose Bowl grounds, less-than a week following New Years, have been used as a hub for donations and staging for fire and rescue crews is sad. With that as a backdrop, it is with a heavy heart that I share with readers the second of three installments about Event No. 11 of my Around the World in 80 Sporting Events project that took me to Pasadena.
Tim and Doug along the Rose Parade route on New Years Day 2025.
My January 1, 2025 was one that might as well have been lifted from my wildest dreams.
I’ve stated – repeatedly:-) – about how the majority of my prior New Years Day plans revolved around two events: Tuning into at least part of the Rose Parade late each morning and settling into a comfortable seat to watch the Rose Bowl Game and see the pageantry that is this game each evening.
Ringing in 2025 on the Parade Route
To find myself in Pasadena on New Years Eve preparing to see both events in person was – and still is – a bit of an out-of-body experience.
Yet there I was, along with my longtime friend Tim Parker who traveled from Fairbanks, AK, to join me for Event No. 11, getting dropped off by the Lyft in the vicinity of Colorado Boulevard. We were both registered to participate in the second annual “Run with the Roses 5K” which stepped off at precisely midnight and moved down approximately two miles of the Rose Parade Route before looping back to the finish area.
From left, my view from the starting chute; some of the assembled campers along the route; and a DJ kept everyone entertained pre-race.
To be clear, I would not be running. My last 5K at more than a serious walking pace was about eight years ago, so for me this would be a lovely midnight stroll. Tim, however, was hoping to complete it at about a 10 minute per mile pace.
What many may be unaware of (and what I was unaware of until beginning to research this trip) is that the Rose Parade is a very big deal in this area. Like a VERY BIG DEAL! Families and groups of friends take to the streets on December 30 to chalk off their spots along the parade route and then arrive early in the afternoon on December 31 to begin occupying said spots. It turns into a massive, multi-mile camp out for thousands of folks along the parade route.
Countdown to New Years 2025.
The turnaround on the 5K route.
My dash to the finish line.
I’m told marshmallows are thrown at vehicles on New Years Eve while Colorado Boulevard is still open and can attest to plenty of squashed marshmallow remains along the the 5K route. Also witnessed by Tim and I was Silly String, portable heaters, air mattresses, boom boxes pumping various beats, and plenty of small grills along the way.
In a word, I’d describe the scene as … wild. Think tailgate meets all-night party.
Along my journey I even spotted a family from Dearborn, MI, sporting Detroit Lions gear. I, of course, stopped for an ussie and an impromptu “Ja-red Goff, Ja-red Goff” chant.
Spotted along the 5K route, fellow Detroit Lions’ fans from Dearborn, MI.
My time was respectable (49 minutes and change), but not befitting the post-race champagne they were offering. Plus, we needed to sleep fast as the Rose Parade stepped off in less than seven hours which meant a return trip to Colorado Boulevard.
Clockwise from left, my time was, sadly, representative of my current fitness level; the post-race celebration included champagne; imagine my surprise when I recognized the Pasadena Auditorium across from the post-race celebration. The auditorium hosts NBC’s “America’s Got Talent.”
Bands, Floats, and Horses Aplenty
If I’m being totally honest with myself, there were two things I was most looking forward to during Event No. 11:
First, was seeing the sunset at and that cotton candy-colored sky beyond the San Gabriel Mountains during the fourth quarter of the Rose Bowl Game;
Second, was was seeing the Rose Parade in person.
As I’ve noted previously, the Rose Parade was a consistent presence in my childhood on New Years Day. Mom loved the floats resplendent with all the fresh flowers (remember, every inch of each float is covered in flowers or other natural materials, such as leaves, seeds, and bark) and while not musically inclined herself, she always seemed to enjoy watching the marching bands.
To be sitting in a grandstand on the 500 block of Colorado Boulevard a little after 8 a.m. waiting for the pageantry to get to us … well, I was deep in reflection mode when the Pasadena motorcycle police zoomed down the boulevard clearing the route of pedestrians.
And, before long, 2025 Tournament of Roses Grand Marshal, Billie Jean King, stopped and waved to me (or at least I think she waved to me).
Grand Marshal Billie Jean King gave Doug a wave as she passed the 500 block of Colorado Boulevard.
The first float was the Honda float (one of the major corporate sponsors) and from there it was one piece of artwork after another. I’m unsure any words I use to try and articulate the detailed beauty of these floats would meet the moment. Suffice to say each seemed to outdo the previous in their vibrant colors, details, and animatronics that created the sense of movement. I was particularly impressed with the UPS Stores float (“Helping Dreams Take Flight”) and the Visit Mississippi entry as well as several local municipalities (Torrance and Alhambra, in particular).
From left, the Alhambra, Burbank, and Torrance floats. The giant pterodactyl on the UPS float was too cool.
The Pasadena Humane float (“Welcome Home”) has taken on a new meaning now that the agency has been heavily involved in assisting displaced pets and other animals due to the Eaton Fire. To support Pasadena Humane please visit this site.
The Pasadena Humane Society float, “Welcome Home,” certainly took on new significance a week later.
Similarly, the marching bands did not disappoint. My favorite (and the one that would’ve likely been my mom’s) was the entry from Jackson State University, known as the Sonic Boom of the South. This band brought the energy even for an early morning. I also walked away impressed with the military band entries: the United States Marine Corps and the U.S. Navy, though as Tim (himself a former band member) pointed out, serving in the band is these service personnel’s only assignment (e.g. a professional band).
The Sonic Boom of the South.
The U.S. Navy Band.
The USMC Band.
I was never big on the equestrian entries in the Rose Parade, though I’ve grown to understand why so many are featured: the number of horse riders at the turn of the 20th Century in southern California when the Rose Parade originated was plentiful and there’s – no doubt – been a tradition established that’s carried on. Sometimes the best part of the equestrian troops are the, um, clean up crews that follow and provide not only a much-needed service but also some comic relief.
The Mini-Therapy Horses from Calabasas, CA, marched in the Rose Parade. And, as with each equine entry, a team of scoopers followed behind ready to tend to any messes that may have been left behind.
Visiting the Granddaddy of them All
We eventually made our way to this iconic spot, but it was not our point of entry for the game.
Seemingly contrary to legendary broadcaster Keith Jackson‘s phrase “Welcome to the Granddaddy of them all” as I walked into the the Rose Bowl Stadium it was rather, um, anti-climatic.
We didn’t walk into Gate A where the giant Rose Bowl logo sits atop the Stadium. Rather, we entered the grounds along the backside via the Fan Fest which was free for ticket holders.
The Fan Fest was, essentially, a spot for the game’s corporate partners to tout their products. We only checked out a couple. The first was the Gin & Juice by Dr. Dre and Snoop because – well – 2024 was certainly the “Year of Snoop” so why wouldn’t we see what it’s all about. At $19 for a can of their beverage, 2025 was not going to be the “Year of Doug Drinking Gin & Juice.” We also sidled up next to the Jersey Mike’s booth hoping there might be a sample or two or, at the very least, a lifesize Danny DeVito cutout to pose for a photo or two. No dice on either:-(
After grabbing a quick bite to eat in the Fan Fest, we entered the Stadium’s concourse and began a slow stroll around the venue soaking in as much of the historical significance as we could. There are photos devoted to various momentous occasions, as well as plaques to honor some of the greats who’ve been on the field, and, of course, statues honoring some legendary performances. We lingered for a bit at as many as we could access.
Clockwise from upper left, the most-recent statue is that of Ohio State great Archie Griffin; a plaque commemorating longtime Grambling State University coach Eddie Robinson who coached in the Junior Rose Bowl; an image of USC and Penn State from the first Rose Bowl in the Stadium; Notre Dame’s Four Horsement played here in 1925; Vince Young had a game for the ages in defeating USC for the National Championship; Terry Donahue was the longtime coach at UCLA which has called the Rose Bowl Stadium home since 1982; and the University of Tennessee’s Peyton Manning made his college debut stepping in for injured starter, Jerry Colquitt, against UCLA in 1994.
Under the big Rose Bowl sign at Gate A spectators will find the Rose Bowl’s Court of Champions which includes plaques featuring the final scores, head coaches, and MVPs from each Rose Bowl Game. There are empty plaques all the way through 2045 so it seems likely this tradition of casting the results in bronze will continue for another 20 years … at least.
The Court of Champions main plaque features players in action. I was fond of the 1968 Rose Bowl (Indiana University’s lone appearance) and wonder who might be playing in the game 20 years from now.
Eventually, following a complete circuit of the concourse we found our way to Ramp 7L which would lead us darn near to the top of the Rose Bowl Stadium and our seats for the afternoon. I captured the moment I got my first glimpse of the interior of the Stadium on video.
There’s nothing like that first look inside an iconic venue feeling.
And suddenly we were inside, fighting the glare of the mid-afternoon son to eye the Goodyear Blimp (I once rode one of those, BTW), the ESPN set, the Oregon and Ohio State teams going through final preparations. All of it! It was everything I’d hoped it would be and, with bright sunny skies, it also meant that about 5:30 p.m. local time that sunset I’d always dreamt of seeing in person was going to happen.
Clockwise from upper left, the Goodyear Blimp was omnipresent; past Conversations with Sports Fans guest, Brent Myers, stopped by to say hello; the OSU and Oregon marching bands during pre-game festivities; I have no idea why a sky writer wrote “Wheel of Fortune” but do know it was not the blimp; a wide shot of the Stadium from my vantage point; the ESPN set (which was collapsible) in the corner of home endzone.
Might I say, thank heavens for the anticipation of the sunset! What with the one-sidedness of the game (the Buckeyes led 7-0 a minute in, 14-0 halfway through the first quarter, and 34-0 by halftime) as neutral spectators there really wasn’t much to hold our attention.
I found myself feeling sorry for the Ducks fans seated in front of us. They were kicking off the celebration of their 25th wedding anniversary year by traveling to Pasadena to see the Rose Bowl for the first time. They, along with many other Oregon fans in our area, were subjected to a group of high school-aged OSU fans seated directly behind us who were incessant with their heckling of the Ducks. And then there was the guy seated to Tim’s right wearing a No. 4 OSU jersey (Jeremiah Smith who was the game’s offensive MVP) who reminded anyone within earshot that “No. 4 is still open.” And then, there was the fella in the last row of our section who urged all Oregon fans to stop at 7-Eleven to get a Big Gulp for the 14-hour ride back to Eugene.
It became torturous by about the mid-point of the third quarter when the only thing left to be decided was the final margin and how magnificent the sunset might be.
The answers:
A 20-point Ohio State shellacking;
And … Spectacular!
The sunset did not disappoint.
Getting Back to the Hotel
A benefit of skipping the shuttle was seeing the main entrance at night.
All that was left to accomplish was getting back to Glendale where our lodging was located.
We’d taken the shuttle busses from downtown Pasadena to the Stadium following the Parade. While there was a sizable queuing line it was a pleasant enough wait in the late-morning sunshine. Our assumption is that we’d take the shuttle busses to return, but then we walked outside and saw the line.
It. Went. For. A. Long. Way.
We quickly deduced that walking back downtown was the way to proceed and that’s what we did. It was a bit under two miles – though a tad uphill – and a lovely early evening to stretch the legs following a long day of sitting. Even when we arrived back downtown, ride services were in short supply so we settled into our spot from Monday night – Congregation – split a plate of nachos and enjoyed a cooling beverage waiting for the crowds to thin out.
Before collapsing into bed, I made sure to capture a screenshot of my Fitbit’s account of my first day of 2025.
It was – shall I say – an eventful one.
The Fitbit did not lie. We covered a lot of ground on January 1, 2025.
Who is this gap-toothed man and why is he smiling? And why might he be smiling wider in a few months?
Washington Capitals captain, Alexander Ovechkin, is the man seen smiling with a tooth missing in this week’s Fan Teaser. When this image was captured, he was smiling because NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman had just handed him the Stanley Cup following the Capitals’ 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Finals victory over the Vegas Golden Knights.
Ovechkin, who’s been in the NHL since the 2005-06 season has now amassed 873 regular-season goals. That puts him – as of the morning of January 12, 2025 – 21 goals behind record holder, Wayne Gretzky.
Gretzky’s owned the record since surpassing Gordie Howe‘s mark of 802 back in March 1994. Gretzky retired in 1999 (of course he did, right!?!) which mean’s he’s owned the mark for 25-plus seasons. It seemed somewhat insurmountable (the closest anyone’s come before Ovechkin was was Jaromir Jagr‘s 766) but the Russian sniper seems destined to take the Great One down.
Washington Capitals captain, Alexander Ovechkin, just took possesion of the Stanley Cup in 2018 and couldn’t contain his excitement. (Photo Getty Images)
One Gretzky record that’s unlikely to ever fall is his career points scored (goals + assists): 2,857. Jagr is second with 1,921. For perspective, Gretzky’s total is 48.7% higher than Jagr’s. Record holders in other leagues would need to finish their careers with the following totals to be 48.7% better (cap tip to reader and author of From Box Scores to Test Scores, Michael O’Connell, for the math):
MLB Home Runs – 1. Gretzky 1,133; 2. Barry Bonds 762; 3. Hank Aaron 755
MLB Hits – 1. Gretzky 6,329; 2. Pete Rose 4,256; 3. Ty Cobb 4,189
NFL Touchdowns – 1. Gretzky 309; 2. Jerry Rice 208; 3. Emmitt Smith 175
NBA Points (through 1/11/25) – 1. Gretzky 61,355; 2. LeBron James 41,261; 3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 38,387
It’s a couple years old at this point, but here are some of Ovi’s all-time great goals.
Just to review, The Fan Teaser was the creation of former Ann Arbor News Sports Editor Geoff Larcom. Longtime friend and fellow Ann Arbor News alum, Pat Schutte, took it to heights previously unknown. We aim to keep it alive here at The Sports Fan Project. The cropped photo and the accompanying clue give you an idea as to who or what the image is of. We invite you to use the Comment option to take a crack at solving the Teaser and, if you’re so inclined, participate in some good-spirited banter with your fellow sports fans. The Fan Teaser will appear each Friday morning with the reveal coming to you Sunday.
