My Sports Bucket List

The following are the top ten sports occurrences I would like to see in my lifetime.

10. The Minnesota Timberwolves become relevant again - For about a decade, the only reason to watch the T-Wolves was a player named Kevin Garnett.  The 6 foot 11 inch forward had a presence on the court that was worth paying admission to watch.  He dominated the game.  I was glued to the tube in 2004 when Garnett, Latrell Sprewell (famous for choking one of his coaches) and Sam Cassell (famous for having a head shaped like an alien) made a deep playoff run.  Since Garnett was traded to the Boston Celtics I have not watched a single NBA game from start to finish.  Shocking, I know.  I've never been a huge NBA basketball fan, but a decent team to follow would make it more interesting.  

9. Minnesota Wild win the Stanley Cup - I'll be the first to admit, I'm not a terribly invested hockey fan.  In fact, I'm probably the definition of a "bandwagon" fan. Sue me. I catch a few games throughout the year and I start watching the NHL regularly only when the playoffs begin.  Even then, I whine and complain about the playoffs lasting into the summer months. Nevertheless, the Stanley Cup is still the coolest trophy in all of sports and it would be great to watch a Minnesota team hoist it.  

8. Spring Training in Arizona - A few years back, I got a chance to see the Minnesota Twins play the Boston Red Sox in Spring Training in Florida.  My life basically hasn't been the same since. A dose of sunshine and baseball in late February and early March - what could be better? Going from red wine and cheese to beer and hotdogs with a side of suntan lotion?!  My god, I'm salivating just thinking about it.  

7. The World Baseball Classic - This international baseball tournament first took place three years ago.  My Grandfather (the year before he died), my Dad and I all got really into it. I happened to be home in Red Wing during the tournament and some of my last days with my Grandfather - who had become ill - were watching the tourny, munching on popcorn and drinking beer.  Ultimately, Japan defeated Cuba in the championship game.  I would love to watch a game in person next year when the tournament returns.  

6. I get a chance to play basketball against Barack Obama.  NO!  H-O-R-S-E.  I want to challenge Obama to a game of horse.  What can I say, the guy would no doubt kick my ass - but the commemorative DVD that the White House would give to me as a gift would make it all worthwhile.   

 

6b. The Minnesota Golden Gophers win the NCAA basketball tournament (without any subsequent major academic scandals surfacing).  

5. The Olympics in Chicago in 2016 - The city of Chicago is up for the 2016 Olympics.  While I tend to be much, much more interested in the winter olympics than the summer olympics, watching them take place in Chicago would be a huge treat.  

4. Minnesota Twins win another World Series in their new ballpark - When I was six years old, the Minnesota Twins won the World Series.  So technically, then, this is an event that has happened in my lifetime.  Unfortunately, my life has pretty much all gone downhill since that point.  After the Twinkies open up a new ballpark in 2010 - I would love to see them do it again.  Give their young pitching rotation a year or two to mature and these guys have a shot.  

3. Minnesota Vikings win the Super Bowl - Every year, I hype myself into thinking that the Vikes are going to be good this year.  Since the Randy Moss years, however, the Vikings have been middling at best.  I make time to watch every weekend, however, so I'm certainly more than a casual fan.  Three years ago, the Vikings became almost unbearable to watch.  Then, after the defense was finally able to turn it around, the team drafted rookie sensation Adrian Peterson.  Peterson has quickly become   

2. California Golden Bears go to the Rose Bowl - unlike many of the other sports occurrences I am hoping for in my lifetime, a trip to the Rose Bowl would make me happy regardless of the outcome.  Watching a college football game on New Year's Day with great interest, being a part of the Rose Bowl, being arrested in Pasadena for drunk and disorderly conduct - none of these things I've been lucky enough to do.  The last time the Bears went to the Rose Bowl was 1959. The last time they won was 1938. 

 

2b. Minnesota Golden Gophers go to the Rose Bowl - see ramblings above. Oh, and the last time Goldy made it to the Rose Bowl was 1962 (they defeated UCLA).  

1. Chicago Cubs win the World Series - In the summer of 1997, my family and I moved from the city where I was born, St. Paul, to the town where I grew up, Red Wing.  I spent the summer rollerblading - yes, rollerblading - and wishing I had friends.  After a couple of days of banal teenage angst, I discovered the Chicago Cubs on WGN.  A few years later, I moved to Chicago and spent most of my off days at Wrigley Field.  After a nearly a couple of years living on and off in Chicago, I was firmly hooked.  I now follow the Cubs with interest every year - this year probably more than ever.  It has been 100 years since the Cubs last won the World Series. Just getting to the Fall Classic is a feat they haven't accomplished since 1945.  These guys find a new way to break your heart every year.  This year offers more than a few reasons to get excited - but don't hold your breath!  

If all of these ten things happen in my lifetime, I could die a happy man.  I better putin my request to Obama's people now.  

Things noted here and there: 

I'll have an upcoming post focus on baseball divisional championship gear later this week.  The Angles have already clinched the AL West and the Cubs are on their way to . . . well, I won't say it.  Here is what the Cubs divisional championship hat looked like last year.  I might end up snagging a Majestic 2008 Central Division Champs t-shirt if it winds up happening.  

I think I'm in love with this 1939 Chattanooga Lookouts jersey.  This style of crushed hat from The Franchise has really grown on me.  Finally, this Montreal Royals jacket would make me look awesome.  Just sayin'. 

Dos and Don'ts: Chicago Baseball Fans

Chicago baseball fans have starkly different reputations based on gross generalizations.  The city, generally divided into south and north sides is home to two Major League Baseball teams, both of which are enjoying a significant amount of success this season.  The Chicago White Sox, on the city's south side, recently won a World Series.  The Chicago Cubs, on the other hand, are still looking to end a century-long championship drought this season.  

White Sox fans have the reputation of being blue collar and more knowledgeable about the game.  I'm still waiting to have a friendly, intelligent discussion about the game with a White Sox fan - and I'd be willing to put money on the notion that this reputation comes as a response to the perceived makeup of the Cubs' fanbase.  The Cubs have a reputation of attracting more white collar, former fraternity members, less interested in the game itself than the scene at Wrigley Field.  As a Cubs fan, I'd like to believe that this isn't always true.  Heck, when you listen to John Cusack visit the booth on WGN - you know that it isn't always true.  The guy knows his stuff, plain and simple.   

All this said, every team's fanbase does tend to have a particular personality, which is likely to be subjected to stereotype and cliche.  In order to look cool at a baseball game in Chicago, try to avoid the common pitfalls that so many fans fall into.  Figure out a way to stand out without over doing it.  

Quick Tip: If you attend a game at Wrigley Field, avoid wearing anything pink.  Serious baseball fans constantly mock female Cubs fans wearing their pink jerseys, t-shirts and hats. Besides, Cubbie blue looks good on most women.   

Well Dressed Sports Guy: It is hard to put into words how terrible this get-up is, but I'll try.  This isn't just a crime against sports, this is a crime against humanity.

Well Dressed Girlfriend: Agreed.  Although honestly, if some pigtailed brunette was wearing that to be adorable, I'd hate it even more.  Balancing the surplus testosterone is usually a good idea, but this is not the right way to do it.  How about try some bright blue sunglasses or something equally kitchy, but not furry.

Well Dressed Sports Guy: This guy does pretty much everything correctly, right up to the point where he gets smoked by a dude twice his age employed to wear a children's batting helmet and shag foul balls.  You've got to hand it to the guy, his jersey fits him correctly (not too baggy), his shorts aren't outrageously long and he isn't wearing a dorky hat. A Cubs franchise hat or Cubs New Era 5950 hat would also work here.

Well Dressed Girlfriend: He looks normal.  If you're looking for a second glance, spice it up a bit.  If you are just looking to not make waves, but still exhibit fandom, this look's for you.

Well Dressed Sports Guy: Fukudome has been a fan favorite this season, so a lot of bandwagon jumpers have picked up his jersey.  Don't get me wrong, I've got one hanging in my closet, but I would hesitate before going overboard.  The Cubs alternate blue jersey works well here, but I would ditch the silly armband.  It says, "I wanted to go clubbing with Justin Timberlake in early 2003," not, "I'm a serious baseball fan."  

Well Dressed Girlfriend: Really, it says 'first 500 fans get a free t-shirt" to me.  Even if you're a Fukudome fan from the beginning (I know, I know), you've got to let it go.  This kind of thing happens all the time to hipsters who swear-to-god-listened-to-that-band-in-a-loft-in-Queens-in-99, and they dutifully step aside to allow the general population their simple pleasures.  Fukudome fans, it's your turn.

Well Dressed Sports Guy:  Ummm, yeah?

Well Dressed Girlfriend: I'll bet you $12 she's from New Jersey.  Nice work, though, getting some cleavage out in the open without being tasteless. Seriously, that's hard to do at a day game.

Final Take: Baseball tickets in Chicago are hard to come by because the city is filled with both serious and casual fans.  We recommend breaking the mold a bit if you want to look good at Wrigley or the Cell.  For White Sox fans, check out this Negro League Chicago American Giants jacket. In fact, the color scheme for American Giants throwbacks works for both teams, depending on whether you are looking at road or home threads.  Their home jerseys from 1919 would look great with a Cubs hat.  The same is true for their 1926 duds. 

The Chicago Whales, the city's Federal League team, also had jerseys possessing elements of both the White Sox and Cubs color schemes.  Their road jersey from 1914 is pretty spectacular, but the 1915 Chicago Whales home jersey takes the cake as possibly one of the sweetest jerseys I've seen in awhile.  Try rocking this with a Chicago Cubs 5950 road hat and be prepared to have an intelligent baseball conversation with a north sider.