Football – Page 4 – The Sports Fan Project

How ’bout Them Lions?

October 21, 2024October 21, 2024DouglasTHill2 Comments

Full disclosure: The Detroit Lions at Dallas Cowboys game of the Texas Football Trifecta portion of my Around the World in 80 Sporting Events project was not part of the original plan. It was simply going to be Friday Night Lights and the Red River Rivalry. A daily double, if you will;-) But then the NFL schedule makers revealed the 2024-25 schedule in May and there it was, Lions-Cowboys the Sunday following Oklahoma-Texas in the Cotton Bowl. Suddenly, we were scooping up Standing Room Only tickets as soon as they hit the market to ensure we were in the building for a rematch from last year’s muffed call by the officials. Yes, Decker reported!

**^{Like most things in Texas, AT&T Stadium is oversized.}**

As I’ve noted several times in this space since I began The Sports Fan Project, my relationship with my hometown NFL franchise – the Detroit Lions – is of the love/hate variety. And, until a year ago, it leaned more heavily on the hate side of the ledger. For as long as I can remember, the Lions would figure out innovative ways to lose games. Sometimes with the help of officials (see that 2023 Cowboys’ game, for example) but more often than not it was simply due to ineptitude on the playing field, the sidelines, or the board room.

It should suprise no one, then, when I say that the last time I saw the Lions play in person was almost 18 years ago in Glendale, AZ, during a yawner of a 17-10 loss to the Neil Leinart-led Cardinals; one of just eight games Leinart won as a starting quarterback during his 6-season NFL career.

I’ve still not seen the Lions play a game in Ford Field, which debuted during the 2002 season, but in the name of sports fandom research and experiencing Texas football at all three levels, I’ll absolutely subject myself to whatever product the Honolulu Blue and Silver put on the field at AT&T Stadium.

Jerry’s House

AT&T Stadium from a distance. — **^{The stadium is visible for miles in all directions.}**

I’m sure if I was a Dallas Metroplex native I’d be more tolerant of Dallas Cowboys’ owner/president/general manager Jerry Jones. Afterall, following his purchase of the franchise in 1989, the Cowboys have been to the playoffs 18 times, appeared in three Super Bowls, and won each of them. Granted, an entire generation (or three!) of Cowboys’ fans has been born since their last Super Bowl win in 1995 which makes fans of Dallas’ pro football team not too dissimilar from Lions’ fans, I suppose.

One of his more recent successes was convincing the City of Arlington and its residents to go all in on constructing a new home for his team (and other events). That became AT&T Stadium alternatively known as Jerry World and/or the Death Star. It opened in 2009.

It. Is. Massive.

With a capacity of over 100,000 (including standing room guests) it is the largest NFL venue by capacity. Sitting in a wide clearing among Arlington’s Entertainment District, it does have a the look of a massive spaceship that’s been moored in metro-Dallas.

My friend Rob, whom I was paired with for this event, has a goal of seeing the Lions play in all opposing venues. AT&T Stadium was his 16th and he wanted to give it a thorough walk through so he and I arrived shortly after the gates opened.

There’s plenty to see and do even without a game ticket, which I’m sure was part of the plan. We entered from the West and it features a massive outdoor plaza known as the Miller Litehouse which includes a mini football field (ala the green space adjacent to the high school football field all the little kids play ball on during games), food trucks, beverage service, merchandise stands, and plenty of screens to watch any and all of the NFL action. Following the game there was even a band performing on a small stage.

^{Clockwise from upper left, the West plaza included plenty for fans of all ages; Rob and I just outside the plaza; the East plaza as seen from inside AT&T Stadium; the West plaza post-game was still rollicking close to an hour after the game ended; the decision to stay in a house within walking distance to the stadium more than paid for itself with these parking rates in private lots adjacent to the venue.}

It was more of the same inside.

There was plenty of largese, from the massive video boards over the field to the spacious concourses to the luxury suites at virtually ever level of the stadium.

Much later, I noticed one thing that was lacking: public restrooms. Rob and I set up shop on the East end Standing Room Only area between the third and fourth levels of seating. Unless you had access to the suites on the level we were standing you either needed to go up or down two flights of stairs to get to a public restroom. For a place that routinely tops 90,000 spectators (93,644 for this game) and claims to have room for over 20,000 standing room only patrons, this seems a massive oversight in the construction plans.

^{Clockwise from upper left, we had a encounter with the famous Dallas Cowboys’ cheerleaders as they entered the stadium following a pregame peformance at the Miller Litehouse; me and Rob on the fourth level; a view from the lower level; the view from my vantage point near the end of the game; the look at the East stadium plaza, the building on the right is Globe LIfe Field, home of MLB’s Texas Rangers.}

Not the Lions of My Younger Years

**^{Yeah, I watched most the game on the big screen or over and around the heads}**
**^{of dozens of others, mainly Lions’ fans, from my endzone perch.}**

As noted above, me attending Lions’ road games does not have a solid track record. In addition to the aforementioned Cardinals game, my previous two Lions games were also road losses: a 2003, 20-16, setback in Denver; and a 2001, 28-6, season-opening loss in Green Bay.

To say I was a bit nervous before kickoff was an understatement.

This was, after all, the only game on this Texas gridiron triology where I had a dog in the fight. Sure, Wayne’s son Macker – part of our traveling party – was a University of Oklahoma graduate, but beyond that I had no connection to the Red River Rivalry and certainly none for our Friday Night Lights experience in Odessa on Friday.

Wayne, an ardent Lions’ fan, was confident, and Rob, a longtime Detroit season-ticket holder, was predicting an easy Lions’ win.

Still, when the Cowboys showd an ability to move the ball on their opening drive, appeared to be an functioning NFL team, and took a 3-0 lead on a field goal, I was not yet feeling as comfortable as my traveling companions.

Then, as some Detroit players said during post-game comments, the Lions got the ball and “unloaded the clip” (a handgun reference) on Dallas.

The Lions did not punt during their 47-9 rout of the Cowboys. They did not allow a touchdown. They forced five Dallas turnovers. They targeted Taylor Decker on a tackle-eligible pass. They ran a hook-and-lateral play with another tackle, Penei Sewell, that was waived off due to a penalty.

It was an absolute a$$-whooping … and it was glorious! Especially after learning that it was Jerry Jones’ 82nd birthday.

^{Clockwise from left, the irony was not lost on me that Ford Motor Company (with a plant in Arlington, TX) had advertising all over the stadium but is also the eponymous company of the Detroit Lions’ ownership; the Standing Room Only area was expansive, though views of actual field are minimal (there are big screens in the areas as well as the video boards over the field); me and some of the other Lions’ faithful.}

The best part, however, might have been the number of Lions’ fans who made the trip. Though there is no way to know for sure, I’d place the number of Detroit fans in AT&T Stadium between 15,000 and 20,000 and, due to the way the game was going, they made their presence known.

On more than one occasion, Rob remarked at how quiet (Lions’ fans aside) the stadium was. It was almost eerie.

^{Lions’ fans bust out a rendition of “Gridiron Heroes” in AT&T Stadium after an early Detroit touchdown.}

All Silent

Aidan Hutchinson Injury Scene — **^{My view of the Lions gathered around the injured Aidan Hutchinson.}**

AT&T Stadium did take on an even eerier silence midway through the third quarter when Detroit’s All-Pro defensive end, Aidan Hutchinson, lay on the turf writhing in pain.

There was but one replay of the incident on the video boards – rightly so – but it didn’t take long for the throng of Lions’ fans around us to view the play and injury on social media and ascertain it was not good.

When the cart came out to carry Hutchinson off the field, well, everyone else in the facility knew what most of Detroit did in that moment.

Red River Rivals and Me

October 19, 2024October 23, 2024DouglasTHill1 Comment

I distinctly remember sitting in my La-Z-Boy on October 7, 2023, watching the closing moments of the wild and wacky Red River Rivalry (the annual game between the University of Oklahoma and the University of Texas) played in Dallas’ Cotton Bowl Stadium before a crowd evenly split between Crimson and Burnt Orange.

I thought about two things in that moment:

First, why do we continue college starting games before noon local time? This one began at 11 a.m. in Dallas purely to genuflect to the demands of big television. Seems as though college games should kick off between noon and 8 p.m. local time.
Second, watching Sooners’ quarterback Dillon Gabriel finding Nic Anderson in the back corner of the end zone with 15 seconds left to seal a 34-30 Sooners’ victory, I wanted to be in the stadium for one of these some day.

Fast forward about one year and look where I found myself … in Section 134, Row 23, and somewhere near Seat 13 in the Cotton Bowl, surrounded by Oklahoma Sooners’ crimson-clad OU fans.

How it Happened

Big Tex and the Fellas — **^{Doug, Rob, Wayne, and Macker grab an ussie in front of the Texas State Fair’s iconic Big Tex.}**

In looking at future college football schedules last winter, I saw the date October 12 for this border showdown and filed it away for future consideration. It wasn’t until late spring when the final Permian High School schedule was set and that it had a home game on Friday, October 11, and this jaunt to Texas would be a twofer that I locked it in.

And when the NFL blessed us with its 2024 schedule in mid-May and I saw that my hometown Detroit Lions would be in Dallas on October 13, well, that was simply icing on the cake.

The traveling party came together pretty quickly.

The best man at my wedding, Wayne, was in. His now 29-year-old son, Macker – a Sooner graduate who never made the 3-plus hour trip south from Norman for the Red River Rivalry – was also in. Rounding out our quartet, was my former co-worker Rob Byrd who’s goal is to see the Lions play in every NFL stadium. Rob had not yet checked Dallas’ AT&T Stadium off his list. OU versus Texas was simply a happy bonus for Rob.

Whose Idea was This?

After picking Rob up at his hotel in Arlington on our way back from West Texas (see Part 1 of Event No. 8), we made our way to a commuter train station to begin our trip to the Texas State Fair.

Yes, you read that correctly. In order to attend the Red River Rivalry you need to go to the State Fair. (And everything’s bigger in Texas, right?)

Every year this showdown has been played since 1929, it’s been in Dallas, and every year since 1930 on the grounds of State Fair.

Which, after experiencing it in person, is absolutely nuts!

^{Clockwise from left, the concourses of the Cotton Bowl Stadium are fairly narrow for 92,000-plus fans to navigate; the view of the crush of fans attempting to get in the stadium from above; that same mass of people from ground level; amazingly, due to renovations, one of the routes to the stadium was through the food court.}

Think about it. You bring together the Texas State Fair, a major college football rivalry, and – by the way – basically an auto show and rodeo inside the fairgrounds … what do you think you’ll get?

If you answered “absolute mayhem,” you’re correct.

Did I forget to mention the Cotton Bowl is undergoing renovations at the moment as well?

Ugh:-(

Macker warned us that he’d heard even at its most efficient getting into the Cotton Bowl was challenging. Suffice to say, Saturday, October 12, 2024, was not the Cotton Bowl at its most efficient.

Simply stepping off the train and getting directed to the correct gate was, shall we say, interesting. It only got more challenging from there. All totaled, for Rob and I, it took us about an hour to get to our seats after disembarking.

What none of us could fully grasp were the families that were attending the State Fair on Red River Rivalry Saturday. Mind you, they weren’t attending the game, they were there for the rides, the food, the exhibits. Never mind that 92,100 other folks were coming there for an entirely different reason. There are 23 other days to attend the State Fair, why are people choosing this one!?!

What the infusion of spectators and Fair goers created was something akin to gridlock the closer one got to the stadium. Mind you, we picked Rob up from his hotel in Arlington (just 21 miles away) about 11:30 a.m. and, I kid you not, Rob and I arrived at our seats fewer than 15 minutes before kickoff.

That said, we did make it in time to see the bands pregame as well as the military flyover near the end of OU’s playing of the “Star Spangled Banner.”

^{In the ongoing nod toward neutrality, both bands (Oklahoma, left, and Texas) had pregame and halftime performances.}

^{You know it’s a big game when there’s a pregame military fly over.}

What an Environment!

Cotton Bowl Stadium — **^{The view from my seat pre-game of the Red River Rivalry.}**

The challenges of getting to our seats aside, once in the Cotton Bowl, the environment was as previously witnessed on TV.

That is, electric!

As you’d expect for a neutral site league game it’s almost as though a line is drawn up each side of the stadium at the 50-yard-line and tickets are allocated equally to each university.

Macker, OU alum that he is, was insistent we sit on the Oklahoma side and that was A-OK with my budget. Though ranked No. 18, tickets on the Sooners’ side were a minimum of $100 cheaper than those on the top-ranked Texas’ side.

Boomer Sooner

^{The Sooner Schooner never made an appearance on the field. Partially due to OU never scoring a touchdown and, more likely, due to the heat. Note: Those are portable air conditioners in front of the horses.}

Texas won the game, 34-3, and, hard as it might be to comprehend, Oklahoma actually led after the first quarter, 3-0.

In hindsight, perhaps Macker – and the other 45,000 or so Sooners’ fans – should have ventured out to the State Fair for food and beverages after those first 15 minutes. While OU fans dared to dream, its true freshman quarterback, Michael Hawkins Jr., was under duress all afternoon and was realizing a nightmare scenario and could never get the offense on track.

Beyond its pregame and halftime peformances, the OU band never got bust out its fight song. Likewise, the Sooner Schooner sat, in neutral, the entire game but that might have been a nod to the heat as well.

My Goodness it was Hot

Did I mention the heat?

The high in Dallas was 93 degrees and, with seats in the east grandstands and a kickoff at 2:30 p.m. local time, we got to enjoy every degree of it. (Suddenly I was a fan of 11 a.m. – or even 10 a.m. – kickoffs!)

**^{“TV Timeout Dude” was a near constant presence on the field … or so it seemed.}**

Compounding the heat was this fella in a red shirt who appeared with a digital clock when there was a stoppage of play. I referred to him as “TV Timeout Dude” (and may have uttered an expletive each time he appeared). Basically, the sign he toted onto the field at about the 20 yard line informed the onfield officials how long the media timeout was going to last. The first time he appeared his sign read “3:25.”

Those consistent breaks, which seemed to be front-loaded in the early part of the game when viewers were still assured to be tuning in, made for an insufferably long first quarter which, by my watch, lasted nearly 50 minutes (for 15 minutes of game action that had just three points scored!).

Scoreboard View — **^{Due to the heat and cramped quarters, I found myself remaining seated regularly,}**
**^{watching the action on the big screen while the Sooner faithful provided some shade.}**

Gameday Dress Code?

Macker passed along the memo that – due to the half of the stadium I was seated in – I should wear red, but he failed to note that I was to be dressed to the nines.

Now, it’s been a minute since I’ve attended a college football game and during those games I was typically in Big Ten country so take this for what it’s worth, but I’ve never seen as well-dressed spectators as I did in the Cotton Bowl Stadium that afternoon.

The number of skirts and sun dresses paired with cowboy boots was off the charts. And then there were the half-dozen or so fellas who wore blazers, ties, and jeans (was later told they were probably fraternity pledges). Needless to say, the 93-degree heat likely treated the former better than the latter.

Dress Code — **^{Dresses like this were more the norm than the exception at the Red River Rivalry.}**

When at the State Fair …

… one must eat interesting foods, correct?

It only made sense.

Afterall, our ticket to the game included admission to the State Fair, so we headed into, perhaps, the only place in the vicinity that was hotter than the Cotton Bowl Stadium’s east grandstands: the Food Court.

Unlike the stadium heat, there was zero breeze inside the Food Court and, apparently, someone ordered extra humidity because it felt Amazonian Rainforest-esque.

Also, inexplicably in the Year 2024, all vendors at the State Fair utilized the ticket/coupon system. That is, we were required to purchase ticket strips from a kiosk for a dollar apiece. Nope, there were no deals. Ten for $10, 20 for $20, 60 for $60 … you get the idea. And, because food and drink were at different (and not divisible by five) price points, attempting to come out with a nice round purchase(s) was nearly impossible.

Nevertheless, we succumbed and strapped on our feedbags following a long, hot day of football watching.

^{Some of the food we sampled, clockwise from upper left, Birria Taco Deviled Eggs from So Eggciting Deviled Eggs; Cotton Candy Bacon on a Stick from Who Dat Daquiris; Fried Apple Cinnamon Crepe from Crepes and Company; the Rise and Shine from Holy Biscuit; and Pickle Pizza from Pizza by the Giant Slice.}

A Few Final Images

^{Clockwise from upper left, a few Longhorns’ fans were in our area, this fella had a good day; the exterio of the Cotton Bowl Stadium post-game; a view from the last row in Section 135 down to the Texas State Fair; the Red River Rivarly logo at midfield; near game’s end, many of the Sooners’ faithful had departed.}

Next Time: How ’bout Them Lions!?!

Friday Night’s Lights Shine Brightly

October 18, 2024October 17, 2024DouglasTHill2 Comments

Permian High School — **^{Doug, Macker, and Wayne in the Permian HS Indoor Turf Facility.}**

When I began developing my list of 80 iconic sporting events and venues to visit as part of Around the World in 80 Sporting Events, in my mind high school athletics were always going to be represented.

Afterall, during my former life as a sports writer, I spent plenty of time in high school stadiums and gymnasiums and, later, during my time as a educator got to know many of those high school coaches who toiled away with little reward in an effort to impact the lives of their student-athletes.

It was my belief there were three places to visit to garner the utmost high school athletic perspective: Indiana (my native state) for basketball, Minnesota for hockey, and Texas for football.

As I wrestled with these locations, it was the latter that proved the most troublesome. I knew Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Florida could all lay claim to excellent and rabid high school football experiences as could, of course, California. But it was Texas that tugged at my heart nearly 25 years ago when I first read author H.G. Bissinger’s runaway 1990 best seller, Friday Night Lights, and when I saw this summer the subject of Bissingers’ book – the Permian High School Panthers – had a home game against city rival Odessa High School the Friday of Red River Rivalary weekend in the Cotton Bowl … well, my decision was made.

Happy Coincidence

As I prepared to travel to Dallas in advance of this Texas-sized football-a-palooza trip, I posted images on social media of my tickets to the three games: Permian-Odessa/Red River Rivalry/Lions-Cowboys. Following that posting I didn’t give it much thought.

I was reviewing emails in the home we rented in Abilene the morning of the game when I saw a comment on one of my ticket posts from my friend Todd Bloch (Conversations guest S:2, E:56) who made mention that one of his former middle school science students was an assistant football coach at Permian HS.

Me: How cool! I'd love to talk to him at some point in the future.
Todd: I'm sure he'd be happy to talk to you. (Todd then tagged his former student, Joe Hilliard.)

And before I knew it, I had Joe’s cellphone number and he’d invited our traveling party to the high school near the end of the school day for a tour of the facilities and the ability to catch the pep rally.

An Unexpected Invitation

Permian Basin Oil Tanks — **^{The view along I-20 on our way to Odessa.}**

My friend Wayne, his adult son, Macker, and I figured we’d find something to do either in Abilene or Midland/Odessa to occupy our time prior to that evening’s 7:30 kickoff. The invitation from Joe certainly changed that.

We piled into our rental and began the two-and-a-half hour journey west on Interstate 20 into the Permian Basin … Texas oil country.

We were a touch early arriving and a call to Joe informed me that he was returning from a quick errand off campus. Then, suddenly, a kindly lady approached my passenger window.

Her: Are you here for a tour?
Me: Yes, we're waiting to meet Coach Hilliard.
Her: Are you from Rice University?
Me: Um, no. Coach Hilliard and I have a mutual friend and he invited us out for a tour. He's on his way back to campus.
Her: Well, there's no reason for you to sit in the car, come on into the office.

It turns out the lady who approached our car was Becky, the Permian Athletic Secretary. As we walked across the parking lot toward the office, I explained what two Michiganders (me and Wayne) and a Kenai, Alaska, resident (Macker) were doing in West Texas and the Cliffs Notes version of the Around the World in 80 Sporting Events project.

No sooner had we entered the office than Permian’s Head Coach Jeff Ellison walks in, introduces himself, and seems intrigued by why we’re there. He was pretty affable for a fella who had a game against his crosstown rival in four hours.

The Tour

Permian State Championship Rings — **^{The six Texas State Championship rings won by Permian are prominently displayed for today’s players to aspire.}**

Coach Hilliard arrived during our encounter with Coach Ellison and we embarked on a tour of the athletic complex at Permian High School.

He showed us the locker room, the coaching offices, the weight room, the indoor turf facility, the outdoor practice facility, the wall that serves as a shrine to the Friday Night Lights movie (full disclosure, I’ve not seen it or the TV series), and the Hallway of Champions (a hallway resplendent with images of Permian teams/accomplishments by decades) which is the last thing the team experiences before boarding the bus before a game.

It. Was. Fascinating.

The differences between what Wayne (himself a 1-time sports writer) and I have experienced in Michigan are stark.

Beyond gyms, indoor athletic facilities are virtually unheard of in the metro-Detroit area. And that Permian HS weight room? It was massive and looked more like what you’d expect to see in a health club gym than what you’d be apt to find at a high school.

And the outdoor turf practice fields in Michigan? Those are called football fields!

^{Clockwise from upper left, the Hallway of Champions; the Permian locker room; this sign was from the 2004 movie “Friday Night Lights and hangs in the indoor turf room;” this wall outside the locker room is a bit of a shrine to the movie; former Permian and NFL player, Roy Williams, made a sizable contribution to help fund for the indoor turf room; the Panther head found in the indoor facility is signed by Billy Bob Thornton, star of the movie; the weight room which was set up for the pregame dinner; the indoor turf room; and the turf practice field.}

Pep Rally

Permian High School Message Board — **^{There is no direct reference to rival Odessa on the message board outside the Permian gym.}**

As referenced above, Coach Hilliard indicated we could check out the pep rally if we were so inclined. Each such pep rally is open to the community and, aside from Wayne’s Olde English D emblazoned on his polo and Macker’s “Detroit Basketball” shirt, we wouldn’t be out of place.

The gym was fairly well packed for the optional pep rally and we found seats in the section with the rest of the community members in the balcony. It turns out there wasn’t much time left, but we got a feel of the chants and the energy for this rivalry game which, according to Coach Hilliard, is akin to the Michigan-Michigan State rivalry. Permian’s biggest rival, it turns out, is Midland Legacy (nee Lee) the equivalent of Michigan’s Ohio State.

^{Scenes from the pregame pep rally in the Permian HS gym. The banner the Panthers will run through, a Panther mural on the wall, and the view of the gym from the balcony.}

Ratliff Stadium

I’d heard that Odessa’s Ratliff Stadium was a big one … it was.

Built in 1982 after the Ector Country Independent School District received a donation of land from ranchers Bud and Sallie Ratliff – who’d established their ranch on this land in 1903 – Ratliff Stadium has a capacity of 17,931.

We parked on the visitors side well before game time and took a lap around the exterior.

The school district had pulled out all the stops for what was dubbed the “Rumble at Ratliff.” Odessa Bronchos’ flags adorned the top of the visitors bleachers while Permian’s “P” flags flew on the home side. Major area auto dealer, Sewell Automotive, had a red and black car on display in front of the main entrance to the Stadium next to sculptures of a Panther and a Broncho.

And, did we mention that everything’s bigger in Texas? Yeah, each marching band had not one, but two semi-trailers parked adjacent to the stadium that had hauled the bands’ gear to the game.

Both schools also had their own merchandise stands. We didn’t linger near Odessa High’s, but did wait patiently in the ever-growing line to nab some Permian gear (and there was a lot to choose from, check it out here)

^{Clockwise from upper left, the Broncho next to a red Sewell Automotive vehicle; one of two Bronchos’ band trailers; the line for Permian Booster Club merchandise; the visiting side of Ratliff Stadium; the home side of Ratliff Stadium; one of two Permian band trailers; the Panther next to a black Sewell Automotive vehicle.}

What the Heck is Mojo?

At Permian HS “Mojo” is everywhere!

We asked Coach Hilliard and the brief story he shared dates to the 1960s when a fan told the team, which trailed going into the locker room at halftime, it needed to get its Mojo back. They came back and won the game.

The sign on the Booster Club’s Merchandise Trailer told a similar story.

Mojo Explainer — **^{This sign on the merchandise trailer helps explain the origins of Mojo.}**

The Game

There was, in fact, a football game played.

After jumping out to a 9-0 lead before the offense even touched the ball, Permian went on to win 50-26. Star running back Gavin Black rushed 24 times for 223 yards and five touchdowns to lead the offense once it finally did have the ball. Odessa kept it close for a half – 22-20, Permian at halftime – before running out of steam.

Though we didn’t hear an official attendance count, our unscientific estimates were at 95% capacity which would mean about 17,000 attended. The Permian side certainly seemed to be sold out and the Broncho faithful represented as well.

^{Clockwise from top, the Permian HS marching band (just under 400 strong!) spells MOJO during the pregame performance; the sunsets over the parking lot at Ratliff Stadium; the Odessa cheer squad runs out the OHS flags; speaking of flags, all four flutter in the breeze; a look at the home stands at Ratliff Stadium.}

Final Thoughts

With another two-and-a-half hour drive back to Abilene in the dead of night, there was plenty of time to reflect on what we’d just witnessed.

The three us agreed the tour by Coach Hilliard elevated our experience. Had we just attended the football game it would have been like dozens of other high school contests we’d all attended, save the 17,000 spectators. While some of the performances on the field were impressive, to our eyes nothing seemed all that much different from what we’ve previously seen in Michigan and elsewhere.

Were we happy to have seen a high school game in football-crazed West Texas?

Absolutely!

Would we make a point of returning?

Probably not.

^{A light show ensued following each touchdown. For Odessa the lights were red. For Permian a pinkish blacklight was used. We grew fascinated by the student carrying the Bronchos’ flag for Odessa. His sprinting, carrying an oversized flag into a headwind, was impressive all game long.}

Next Time: Part II of the Texas Football Trifecta – Red River Rivalry Redux

The Fan Teaser: Week 103 Solution

October 13, 2024October 8, 2024DouglasTHillLeave a comment

^{Another Fan Teaser Doubleplay! IYKYK this pair of decorated 20-somethings.}

In honor of this week’s Red River Showdown (Oklahoma vs. Texas in the Cotton Bowl) we’re turning the clock back to the 1970s when a pair of running backs – both wearing No. 20 and both hailing from east Texas – ran rampant through the old Southwest Conference.

First on the scene was the University of Texas’ Earl Campbell, from Tyler, TX. The 1977 Heisman Trophy winner and consensus All-American, Campbell finished his time in Austin with 4,443 yards rushing and 40 rushing touchdowns. He became the No. 1 pick in the 1978 NFL Draft by the Houston Oilers.

^{Earl Campbell (left) and Billy Sims made life tough on Southwest Conference defenses during the 1970s. (Photos from the University of Texas and Oklahoma University)}

Meanwhile, Billy Sims (from Hooks, TX) matriculated Oklahoma University and though he was slow to get started, by the time he was a junior (1978 Heisman Trophy winner) and senior (1979 Heisman runner-up) he was hard to stop. Sims left Oklahoma with 3,813 yards rushing and 48 rushing touchdowns during his 4-plus years on campus. He became the No. 1 pick in the 1980 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions.

For what it’s worth, Campbell finished 1-2-1 in Red River Showdown games and Sims 2-2-1.

^{A compilation of Earl Campbell highlights from his time at the University of Texas. The man was a beast of a running back.}

^{A compilation of Billy Sims highlights from his time at the University of Oklahoma. As a bonus, enjoy plenty of Keith Jackson audio in the background:-)}

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.

The Fan Teaser: Week 99 Solution

September 15, 2024September 10, 2024DouglasTHillLeave a comment

**^{Easy like Sunday morning. Who belongs to those}**
**^{knees and feet?}**

Walter Payton made a habit of going airborne whenever the Chicago Bears were anywhere near the goal line or in a short yardage situation. He does so in this image from nearly 40 years ago (October 7, 1984) when the host Bears beat the New Orleans Saints, 20-7. It was Payton’s only score that day, though he did rush for 154 yards on 32 carries.

Most significantly, perhaps, is that this was the game when Payton moved past fellow Pro Hall of Fame running back, Jim Brown, for the all-time rushing lead among NFL players. Payton went on to finish his career with 16,726 yards rushing over 190 games (Brown had 12,312 yards over 118 games). Emmitt Smith is the current record holder with 18,355 yards over 226 games.

^{Here’s a compilation of some of Payton’s airborne moments.}

Event 5 – The Pro Football HoF Corollary

September 9, 2024September 8, 2024DouglasTHillLeave a comment

I recalled a Conversation with Sports Fan Craig Pringle (S:2, E:39) about his growing up in the northeastern Ohio town of Massillon.

Craig, who attended Massillon Washington High School about the same time as former Ohio State and Detroit Lions’ linebacker Chris Spielman. He recollected about what football games were/are like in Massillon, how newborn boys used to have tiny football’s placed in their hospital cribs, and what the rivalry game against Canton McKinley High School was like.

It seemed a no-brainer, then, to ensure I checked out both McKinley and Washington’s football stadiums.

McKinley HS’s stadium is hard to miss.

**^{Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, OH, is home to the McKinley HS Bulldogs. You’re able to see the top of the Pro Football Hall of Fame at left.}**

It’s the former Fawcett Field which sits adjacent to the Pro Football Hall of Fame and has annually hosts the annual Hall of Fame Game, the Hall of Fame Enshrinement, and other events. It underwent renovations from 2015-21 and now known as Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium (for the longtime owner of the New Orleans Saints). It seats a whopping 23,000.

**^{This statue of Tom Benson stands at the west end of the stadium.}**

Fewer than eight miles to the west is Massillon Washington HS.

While McKinley sits adjacent to the Hall of Fame and Interstate 77, Massillon HS’s Paul Brown Tiger Stadium is situated in a more residential environment. It is no less impressive with a seating capacity of 16,600.

^{The sites from Paul Brown Tiger Stadium, clockwise from upper left, the Ohio Historical Marker outlining the significance of Paul Brown to Massillon, football, and all of Ohio; the stadium; boasting the state and national championships above the press box; there is an adjancent training facility that puts many small college facilities to shame; a statue of Brown stands sentry out front; and, of course, no media are allowed at practice.}

To cap our visit to Massillon, I sought Pringle’s advice on any local food spots to hit up. He offered a couple, one of which was Jay’s Pizza, which (like Washington HS) sits in neighborhood. I picked up a pie, and some pepperoni rolls for my dad and I and we adjourned to nearby Wampler Park and it’s under-renovation pavilion to enjoy our repast.

^{Jay’s Pizza provided a tasty dinner after a day of touring the Pro Football Hall of Fame and checking out rival football stadiums at Canton McKinley HS and Massillon Washington HS. And great news for Massillon residents, Wampler park is getting a splash pad and new pickle ball courts when the renovations are completed.}

Event 5 – The Pro Football Hall of Fame link

Event 5 – Decking the Pro Football Hall

September 2, 2024September 3, 2024DouglasTHill1 Comment

**^{The exterior of the original Pro Football Hall of Fame building.}**

Before I get into the highlights of Event (Venue) 5 of my Around the World in 80 Sporting Events project I need to confess something: I am not a big pro football fan.

My theory on this case is, actually, twofold.

First, I grew up in smalltown Indiana during the time before the Colts’ midnight move from Baltimore to Indianapolis. That meant the teams geographically nearest to me during my formative fan years were the Chicago Bears, Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati Bengals, and Detroit Lions. If you check the records of these teams during the 1970s you’ll have a pretty good idea what I was subjected to (cumulative record of 278-292-6 with eight total playoff appearances).

**^{The author, at right, and his father at the entry of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, OH.}**

Second, when my family moved in the late 1970s, it was to suburban Detroit. A city where, until a year ago, pro football dreams went to die an agonizingly slow, painful, and – usually – a creative death.

So, I’d suggest, my longtime apathetic feelings toward pro football are justified.

Having confessed that, the Pro Football Hall of Fame still made my list of 80 iconic events or venues to visit.

With good reason. My love of sport, history, and culture all converge in places such as this.

The Bust Gallery

The Hall of Fame Gallery — **^{A look at one of the walls of the Hall of Fame Gallery.}**

Much like it’s baseball hall cousin in Cooperstown, the Pro Football Hall seemingly saves the best for last.

There is plenty to see and experience with the exhibits on the first and second floors, but the allure of any hall of fame is how the curators showcase the honored. If your time in Canton is limited, you’re able to proceed directly to the Hall of Fame Gallery to find your favorite great. But if you follow the designed touring plan, you’ll wind up in the Gallery near the conclusion of your visit.

It is worth the wait.

While most halls utilize plaques of some sort, the fine folks in Canton zigged when the others zagged. They utilize sculpted bronze busts of the inductees’ likeness, places them in a reverent room with dim lights and some mirrors, and creates a truly memorable experience for visitors.

There really were not many players’ busts I wanted to see. In fact, the majority that I had interest in lingering at a bit were coaches.

^{The busts of Hall of Fame coaches Tony Dungy, John Madden, and Don Shula.}

Tony Dungy never coached a team I pulled for, but I always appreciated his style and the way his team’s played. The fact that he was a Michigan native might have helped some as well. And, if I’m being honest, my Hoosier roots nudged me to root for his Indianapolis Colts team that won Super Bowl XLI.
If you’ve been a fan of pro football for even a modicum of time from the mid-1970s through present day, you’re acquainted with the work of John Madden (coaching, broadcasting, or video game). I’m no different, so seeing his bust was pretty cool to see.
With the lack of a decent local NFL team to root for during my formative years, I naturally gravitated to a team that was successful. In this case it was the Miami Dolphins and their coach was Don Shula.

Of the players busts I wanted to see, there were two I made a point of seeking out.

^{Bob Griese, at left, and Barry Sanders were two of the author’s favorite NFL players.}

One was Bob Griese, the quarterback of the aforementioned Dolphins. I enjoyed watching him because, well, the Dolphins won – a lot – during this era. The other reason was because he became one of the first quarterbacks to wear eyeglasses. As a glasses wearing from the age of two myself, it was wonderful to see an NFL player donning spectacles.
The other player was Detroit Lions’ running back, Barry Sanders. As someone who was subjected to what seemed an weekly dose of Lions’ mediocrity every Sunday, Sanders was often the entire Lions’ highlight reel each week.

There was one Hall of Fame Class oddity I noticed in reviewing the Gallery. It was the Class of 1985 that included Dallas Cowboys’ quarterback Roger Staubach who is widely regarded as one of the most sincere and classiest players in the game’s history. His bronze bust sits just below HoF classmate, O.J. Simpson. Hmmm?

Enhanced Interactivity

A Game for Life Lockerroom Theater — **^{That fuzzy image at the front of the lockerroom is a holograph of Joe Namath.}**

My father and I had visited the Pro Football Hall of Fame some 16 years ago and I’m pleased to report it seems to have modernized itself.

From basic things like audio and video included to enhance exhibits, QR codes to allow for further exploration, to a hologram of Joe Namath providing a lockerroom discussion, the Hall has certainly fully embraced the 21st Century.

Namath is your host in the “A Game for Life” lockerroom theater. His holograph introduces attendees to fellow Hall of Famers Jim Brown, Jim Kelly, Steve Largent, Curtis Martin, Warren Moon, and Alan Page who share the lessons they learned while playing and being part of a team.

Another series of interactive exhibits really makes the size and strength of the game’s players tangible for visitors.

^{These exhibits allow visitors to measure themselves against various professional football players as it relates to arm strength, hand size, and lower body physique. The author was unable to get his ankle into Gilbert Brown’s (6-foot-2, 340-pound) mold seen at the far right of the Lower Body Strength; the mold was too narrow.}

The Vince Lombardi Trophy

The Lombardi Trophy — **^{The author and the Vince Lombardi Trophy.}**

The previous time I’d visited the Hall, the Vince Lombardi Trophy sat under glass in a fairly basic display. Today, it is the culmination of an entire exhibit know as the Lamar Hunt Super Bowl Gallery that includes artifacts from each decade’s Super Bowls. The trophy itself, is in its own glass-enclosed room under glass.

While I’ll never consider the Vince Lombardi Trophy to be on par with NHL’s Stanley Cup, the Hall treats its top trophy with the reverence it deserves.

^{A look at the room where the Vince Lombardi Trophy is displayed.}

Other Artifacts

I devoted much of my time to the more modern day exhibits and artifacts. Rather than prattle on about them, I’ll include some photos to give you a feel for what’s currently on display.

^{Clockwise from upper left, a chart of every team to have played U.S. prof football with their season-by-season records; Steelers’ quarterback Terry Bradshaw’s helmet; the jerseys of Eric Dickerson and Drew Brees; the jersey of running back Jim Brown; some of the artifacts from the 1972 unbeaten Miami Dolphins’ team; the five Lombardi Trophies won by defensive lineman Charles Haley; quarterback Jim Kelly’s custom built Harley Davidson chopper; the full display dedicated to the last unbeaten and untied Super Bowl champion team; the puppets from the “Bring Down the House” NFL commericial; Patrick Tillman’s jersey; looking up at the Jim Thorpe statue; jerseys of Super Bowl quarterback stars; some artifacts from the most-recent Super Bowl; the author with his namesake do-everything star Taysom Hill’s artifacts; Tony Dorsett’s cleats from his 99-yard touchdown run, a record that can never be broken.}

Next Time: Checking out a couple of rival high school football stadiums.

The Fan Teaser: Week 97 Solution

September 1, 2024August 31, 2024DouglasTHillLeave a comment

**^{In honor of college football ramping up we provide you with this}**
**^{Fan Teaser image. One could presume this lineman played at Duke}**
**^{University … or did he?}**

Apparently a middling high school football player at Glendale (CA) High School, Marion “Duke” Morrison, parlayed his size, over 6-foot-4, into a tuition scholarship at the University of Southern California to play some football. He played on the freshman team in 1925 and then found his way to varsity as a spot player.

Allegedly, Morrison broke his collarbone while bodysurfing in the Pacific Ocean between season and the injury left him too weak to perform on the field and, ultimately, had his scholarship revoked.

He found his way to Hollywood as an extra in some westerns directed by John Ford and, eventually, became known to the rest of the world as John Wayne.

Just to review, The Fan Teaser was the creation ofr 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.

Crafting a List of 80-ish Sporting Events

July 8, 2024August 5, 2026DouglasTHill5 Comments

^{Attempting to go Around the World in 80 Sporting Events means visiting some wonderful destinations and witnessing some monumental moments. Clockwise from upper left, the scoreboard at the 150th Open Championship at St. Andrews’ Old Course; Roberto Clemente’s jersey in the Baseball Hall of Fame; downtown Cooperstown, NY; the Swilcan Bridge at St. Andrews; the author and the Stanley Cup at the Hockey Hall of Fame; and the Hoosiers’ gym in Knightstown, IN.}

As noted in the previous installment, once some foundational guardrails were in place, it was up to me to determine what Around the World in 80 Sporting Events would encompass. That is, what events/venues would rise to the level of iconic for inclusion?

Fortunately, by the time I’d arrived at this point in the planning stages I was well into the second season of hosting the podcast, “Conversations with Sports Fans,” so I knew what a lot of other folks felt were notable sporting events. Plus, many just nominate themselves because of the significance around the event.

What follows is a list by sport. The number in parentheses next to the sport are the total events in that category. At the bottom of each grouping is a brief explanation (where needed) of what’s included.

Baseball (17)

Wrigley Field Marquee — **^{One hopes any trip to Wrigley Field ends with “Cubs Win!”}**

~~St. Louis Cardinals-Chicago Cubs Game at Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL~~ (Completed! Read about it here.)
New York Yankees-Boston Red Sox Game at Fenway Park in Boston, MA
San Francisco Giants-Los Angeles Dodgers Game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA
~~MLB World Series Game in Toronto~~ (Completed! Read about it here.)
~~National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, NY~~ (Completed! Read about it here.)
~~Negro Leagues Museum in Kansas City, MO~~ (Completed! Read about it here.)
Banana Ball in TBD
~~Men’s College World Series in Omaha, NE~~ (Completed! Read about it here.)
~~Little League Boys World Series in South Williamsport, PA~~ (Completed! Read about it here.)
~~“Field of Dreams” Film Site in Dyersville, IA~~ (Completed! Read about it here.)
~~Midnight Sun Game in Fairbanks, AK~~ (Completed! Read about it here.)
~~Nippon Baseball League Game in Japan~~ (Completed! Read about it here.)
~~Korean Baseball Organization Game in South Korea~~ (Completed! Read about it here.)
MLB Grapefruit League Game(s) in Florida
MLB Cactus League Game(s) in Arizona
World Baseball Classic Game(s) in TBD
Caribbean Series Game(s) in TBD

_{Baseball was the first sport I was really exposed to so it should come as no surprise it’s the one that has the most events. … The three longest standing and, perhaps, most fierce rivalries in the game are the three listed above. In a perfect world I’d attend a game in all six locations, but this world is neither perfect nor free so I had to make a difficult decision and chose the three oldest ballparks. … Cooperstown is as close to Valhalla for me as I’ll find and I’ve heard way too much about the Negro Leagues Museum to not include it. … As noted previously, I have history in Fairbanks so returning there for the Midnight Sun Game (game time, 10 p.m., no artificial lighting used) seems fitting. … The remainder are all opportunities for me to experience baseball through the lens of other cultures.}

Basketball (16)

~~New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY~~ (Completed! Read about it here.)
Duke University at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, NC
~~Kansas University at Phog Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, KS~~ (Completed! Read about it here.)
~~Butler University at Hinkle Field House in Indianapolis, IN~~ (Completed! Read about it here.)
UCLA at Pauley Pavilion in Brentwood, CA
A Big 5 Game at the Palestra in Philadelphia, PA
~~Indiana High School Basketball (preferably an early-round tournament game)~~ (Completed! Read about it here.)
~~“Hoosiers’ Gym in Knightstown, IN~~ (Completed! Read about it here.)
Maui Classic Games in Lahaina, HI
Men’s NCAA Final Four Games in TBD
Women’s NCAA Final Four Games in TBD
Men’s NCAA Tournament Opening Week in Las Vegas, NV
Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers in TBD
Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, MA
UConn Women’s Basketball Game at Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, CT
Calvin vs. Hope Men’s Basketball in “The Rivalry” in Holland, MI

_{Growing up in basketball-mad Indiana, having 14 basketball events should not shock anyone either, I’d guess. … With a nod to my Hoosier roots, seeing the gym where “Hoosiers” was filmed is a must, as is a high school game, and a visit to Butler’s Hinkle Field House. … The five other venues I’d like to visit are, simply, those that captured my fascination through years of fandom. They are old-school gyms that anytime the networks have been there have tugged at me to pay homage someday. … The Maui Classic has been such a part of Thanksgiving week for me that I want to experience that environment in person. … Some might call the inclusion of the Women’s Final Four the Caitlin Clark effect, but I’ve been tuning into those games for the better part of a decade. Clark sucked me into some more early round action, but I love the current women’s college game and believe it’s time I see some in person, including a pilgrimage to Storrs, CT, to see UConn in Gampel Pavilion.}

Football (16)

**^{It’s long been a dream to see a Rose Bowl in person.}**

~~Detroit Lions’ Thanksgiving Day Game~~ (Completed! Read about it here.)
~~Ohio State-Michigan (The Game) in Ann Arbor, MI~~ (Completed! Read about it here.)
~~Auburn-Alabama (The Iron Bowl) in Tuscaloosa, AL~~ (Completed! Read about it here.)
~~Ole Miss-Mississippi (The Egg Bowl) in Oxford, MI~~ (Completed! Read about it here.)
~~USC-Notre Dame in South Bend, IN~~ (Completed! Read about it here.)
Army-Navy Game in TBD
~~Texas High School Football Game in Odessa, TX~~ (Completed! Read about it here.)
~~Oklahoma-Texas at Cotton Bowl in Dallas, TX~~ (Completed! Read about it here.)
~~Dallas Cowboys Game in Arlington, TX~~ (Completed! Read about it here.)
~~Chicago Bears-Green Bay Packers in Green Bay, WI~~ (Completed! Read about it here.)
~~The Rose Bowl and Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, CA~~ (Completed! Read about it here.)
~~NCAA FCS National Championship Game in Nashville, TN~~ (Completed! Read about it here.)
Super Bowl in TBD
~~Canadian Football League’s Grey Cup in Winnipeg, MB~~ (Completed! Read about it here.
~~A North Dakota State Bison (a FCS powerhouse) Game in the Fargodome~~ (Completed! Read about it here.)
~~Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, OH~~ (Completed! Read about it here.)

_{Of North America’s four major sports, football is probably the one I’m least likely to view from contest beginning to end. That said, Keith Jackson and John Madden made it enjoyable and Brent Musburger telling spectators “you’re looking live at (fill-in-the-blank)” made many games feel more significant than they actually were. … The Rose Bowl has been the quintesseential college football dream for this midwesterner and it needs to come with the Parade as a nod to my late mother who loved watching each year. … If I have my druthers, the Texas high school game will be at Permian in Odessa where “Friday Night Lights” was based. And, as fate has it this year, Permian’s home on a Friday, the Red River Rivalry is on Saturday, and the Cowboys host the Lions on Sunday. … Still to be determined is which rival I see the Packers host at Lambeau Field. What say you sports fan nation?}

Hockey (11)

NHL Winter Classic in TBD
~~Montreal-Toronto Game in Toronto, ON~~ (Completed! Read about it here.)
Calgary-Edmonton Game in Edmonton, AB
~~New York Rangers Game at Madison Square Garden in NY~~ (Completed! Read about it here.)
2026 World Junior Tourament in St. Paul, MN
U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in Eveleth, MN
Minnesota High School Hockey Game in TBD
~~Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, ON~~ (Completed! Read about it here.)
Stanley Cup Trophy Presentation in TBD
Michigan State University-University of Michigan at Yost Ice Arena in Ann Arbor
University of Maine-University of New Hampshire at Alfond Arena in Orono, ME

_{I may be a Hoosier native, but my most formative years were in metro-Detroit (aka Hockeytown) and I covered college hockey for the Ann Arbor News and Fairbanks Daily News-Miner so there’s some hockey love within. I’m not as enamored with the Winter Classic as I am the Rose Bowl, but some of the images from New Year’s Days past have been too cool. … Similar to the baseball rivalries above, there were the two I most wanted to see and a decision was needed for which city to see them. Edmonton was the Detroit Red Wings’ nemesis a few seasons in the 1980s so it’d be neat to see it in person and Toronto is drivable and that gives it the nod. … Every year during college hockey season, handful of players from U-M would head off the World Juniors. With the advent of streaming services it’s become more accessible and it comes to the U.S. in 2026. … Much like high school basketball in Indiana and football in Texas, hockey in Minnesota borders on a religion so it seems natural to want to check it out. … There’s only one trophy in sport I’d like to see presented and that’s the Stanley Cup. It might mean having to do multiple cross-continental flights and pay obscence resale ticket prices to do it, but I’m here for the challenge.}

Golf (8)

**^{The 2024 U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2.}**

The Masters in Augusta, GA
PGA Championship in Newtown Square, PA
~~U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina~~ (Completed! Read about it here.)
~~The Open Championship at Royal Troon in Scotland~~ (Completed! Read about it here.)
~~The Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black in Long Island, NY~~ (Completed! Read about it here.)
~~The President’s Cup at Royal Montreal in Montreal~~ (Completed! Read about it here.)
~~The Solheim Cup at Robert Trent Jonese Golf Club in Gainesville, VA~~ (Completed! Read about it here.)
Pebble Beach Pro-Am in Pebble Beach, CA

_{My dad was and is an avid golf fan and that’s no doubt rubbed off on me, though my playing days are long behind me. That said, there are four Major Championships, so it follows that they all should be patronized. The men’s and women’s team competitions are captivating to me and the scenery at Pebble Beach is virtually unparalleled.}

Tennis (4)

Australian Open
French Open
Wimbledon
U.S. Open

_{Four Grand Slam events = four tennis tournaments to visit.}

Futbol/Soccer (5)

^{World Cup 2026 logo.}

Men’s World Cup Match(es) in North America (2026)
English Premier League Match(es) in TBD
Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco (2025)
~~South American World Cup Qualifying in Argentina~~ (Completed! Read about it here.)
European Soccer Match(es) [Champions League, Europa League, or Bundesliga/La Liga/Ligue 1/Serie A] in TBD

_{We’ll call it the “Ted Lasso” effect. I do enjoy my weekend mornings checking out soccer from across the pond, plus many of my friends have clubs they follow. … As far as the African and South American matches, we can’t very well call this project Around the World in 80 Sporting Events and not get to six of the seven contintents can we?}

Motor Sports (6)

Daytona 500 in Daytona, FL
~~Indianapolis 500 in Indianapolis, IN~~ (Completed! Read about it here.)
Formula 1 in TBD (preferably overseas)
NASCAR Bristol Night Race in Bristol, TN
~~NASCAR Cup Semifinal in Martinsville, VA~~ (Completed! Read about it here.)
AMA Supercross in Detroit, MI

_{The first three were pretty straightfoward. The final two, I’m relying on my NASCAR friends Frank and Kevin to not steer me wrong (see what I did there;-)}

Horse Racing (3)

Kentucky Derby in Louisville, KY
Preakness Stakes in Baltimore, MD
Belmont Stakes, in Saratoga, NY

_{I’m sure the Breeder’s Cup is a phenomenal event, but these are the three races that have piqued my curiosity through the years (typically in descending order as well).}

Others (10)

^{The peloton from Stage 5 of the 2024 Tour de France (Video from Tim Parker)}

Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy (2026)
Iditarod Sled Dog Race in Alaska
Boston Marathon in Boston, MA
~~Championship Boxing Match(es)~~ (Completed! Read about it here.)
Tour de France
Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City, OK
~~Rodeo at Frontier Days in Cheyenne, WY~~ (Completed! Read about it here.)
~~NCAA Women’s Volleyball Tournament in Madison, WI~~ (Completed! Read about it here.)
USBC Masters PBA Bowling in Allen Park, MI
~~NCAA Wrestling~~ (Completed! Read about it here.)

_{The timebound nature of this quest (a goal of completing by 2027) prevents me from getting to a Summer Olympics (Los Angeles in 2028 is on my list of next things to do!) so the Winter will be enjoyable. … I’ve already referenced my Alaska history so seeing the start (or the finish) of the Iditarod beckons. … The Boston Marathon and Tour de France are both so noteworthy I believe they must be sampled in person. … I’ve long enjoyed the WCWS and welcome the opportunity to swelter in the blazing sun and occasional severe weather alerts around my birthday someday. … I’d not call myself a rodeo fan, but seeing an event such as this as part of Cheyenne Frontier Days in Wyoming just seems right.}

My math teaching friends have no doubt calculated there are actually 87 events listed. This is, in fact, accurate. I’m of the belief I need to overplan and cut (or swap out) as the process unfolds. Myriad things can occur between now and the proposed completion of this venture so it’s good to have options in the event something comes up.

Anyhow, let the gnashing of teeth begin. What am I missing? What am I overvaluing? Should it be Vikings-Packers or Bears-Packers at Lambeau? Do you want to attend any of these events with me? Let me know in the comments or by emailing me at hilldouglast@gmail.com.

It was a Good Run

January 29, 2024January 28, 2024DouglasTHill1 Comment

**^{The Lions celebrate Jameson Williams’ first quarter touchdown in the NFC Championship. (Photo Junfu Han, Detroit Free Press)}**

In my nearly 46 years living in Detroit, I’m not sure I’ve witnessed a city that so coalesced around one of its sports teams quite the way it has with this year’s Detroit Lions’ group. The 1984 “Bless You Boys” Tigers World Series Champions were close as were 1989’s “Bad Boy” Pistons, and, of course, the post-limousine accident Red Wings’ Stanley Cup Championship in 1998 was incredible.

None of it, however, would have equalled what this region would have witnessed had Detroit managed to seal the deal in Santa Clara Sunday night.

But alas …

Good news, there’s only about seven months until training camp opens.