Archive for the Category »sports travel «

Sep
16th		   Travel to that Tailgater!
Leave a Comment Category: Travel, southern california, sports travel Tags: , ,

You can feel it in the air: Bring on college football!

This time of year gives many die hard fans a chance to travel back to their alma mater and feel like they are 20 again, tailgating before the football game.

UCLA vs Stanford 9-11-10

OK – me included.

UCLA vs Stanford Tailgater 9-11-10

This past weekend we threw a tailgater (but much more civilized than we would have if we really were 20!) with good food, drink, music, and most importantly good friends.

I feel so fortunate to have connected with people whom I may have never seen again…and to bond with those I already adore. Let this post be an inspiration to organize your own – or at least attend one to which you have been invited.

Some reasons to travel to one: Each area of the country brings a unique flavor….crisp autumn air… aroma of BBQ – or whatever is popular in your college region…and spirit. Double entendre here – school spirit, but yet, a spirit of appreciation for the past, a special time you can’t ever replicate.

But – you can try ! SO here are two links to the best colleges for tailgating. I am relying in the pros’ choices. However, it is awfully strange that some certain home of the Bruins made both of my mentioned lists….Totally coincidence. Totally. Really.

http://sports.espn.go.com/travel/columns/story?columnist=caple_jim&id=3037293

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/367553-the-10-best-pre-game-and-tailgating-experiences-in-college-football#page/1

(This list was obviously not compiled based on recent football team success. Football gods, please help those Bruins.)

 
Jun
08th		   A trip John Wooden would hate…
Leave a Comment Category: Boston, Travel, sports travel Tags: ,

Entrenched in basketball over here.

Rooting for the Lakers….and like the rest of the world, marvelling at Kobe.

Mourning the death of former UCLA basketball coach John Wooden in an ” I-didn’t-know-him-personally-but-loved-him” kind of way. I can’t stop reading the articles about him. What a great life.

I did have one brush with The Coach while I was a student at UCLA. I worked at the John Wooden Center throughout my four years as a Bruin. My job was to check the student and faculty identification cards to make sure no one unaffiliated with the university was admitted.

One day when I was a freshman or sophomore, a little old man walks up to my desk and stands there. So… I asked for his ID.

Yep. I carded the Wizard of Westwood… on the campus where he is worshipped…in a facility that has his name on it. Nice.

But the point of this story is his reaction. A man with a bigger ego could have had me fired. His response was gracious, humble, and showed a sense of humor. Coach Wooden simply put his hand on my desk…looked around… and in a gentle voice said “Am I going to have a problem getting into this place?”

I’m sure he had no problem entering the pearly gates.

So what does this have to do with a trip Wooden would hate? Knowing how humble he was, visiting the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass. may not have been top on his list, since he was inducted there twice: Once as a player and another time as a coach.

Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

That doesn’t mean all you basketball fans shouldn’t go – Springfield is about an hour and a half from Boston – near a major airport, and plenty of other sightseeing opportunities.

The facility has nearly 300 inductees, and about 40,000 square feet of memorabilia, interactive exhibits, and a basketball court on the first floor visible from the second and third floors. A nice addition is to hear the dribbling in the background while one browses through. Some interactive exhibits test one’s rebounding skills and shooting, let you measure your height compared to a pro player, and another lets you practice your broadcasting skills.

Some interesting artifacts on display: jerseys from players like Lebron James… the original written rules of the game…and a hand written speech that Coach Pat Riley gave after one of his games.

Note: I’v e never been myself, but it seems interesting. I’d definitely take my kids when I go to New England. However, some of the reviews I read about the place indicate that it is more compelling if you are a history buff because many of the current players and coaches haven’t been inducted yet.

If anyone’s been there let me know…otherwise, it’s up to you to experience the hoopla for yourself.

www.hoophall.com

BTW  - set your TIVOs tonight… Prime Ticket will rebroadcast “Scully and Wooden for the Kids” after the Dodgers post game show… Two sports legends together on stage that was only shown on tv once before.

 
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