I’m bored with sports because my teams are either not playing or not winning. Today on television I watched my newly adopted team, the Oregon State Beavers, lose a tough college baseball game at USC. The “Beavs” had easily won the first two of the series, that I didn’t watch. In fact, I’m beginning to feel that there’s a connection. I’ve seen them win in person twice this year so watching on TV seems to be the problem. The same applies for the Cubs and White Sox but considering that the Sox are the worst team in baseball so far this season, it probably wouldn’t matter if I saw them on TV or in person – they would still lose. Come to think of it, I also watched them lose on TV to the Dodgers in the 1959 World Series, so this viewing curse dates back to childhood. The Cubs did at least just win 3 out of 4 games against the lowly Reds to ease some of my pain but had to contain myself not to turn each of these games on. 

The Beaver game today was particularly disappointing because they had not been shut out for nearly two full seasons. Also, with a win, they would have moved up to the #1 spot in the polls after a winning streak. They could only muster five hits, matching a season-low, and gave up 8-runs after limiting the Trojans to just 2 total in the previous two games. Oregon State has yet to claim a sweep at USC in the history of the program. I feel bad for watching the game on TV and costing them a key victory.

As a result of these recent sports woes, I want to either go back in time or jump ahead. It’s intriguing to think about what’s ahead and rewarding to go back and revisit the past. I’ve had some great moments through the years and have tried to log them all. Here’s my top 10 moments of being there:

  • IU wins NCAA in New Orleans over Syracuse in 1987 on Keith Smart’s bucket (3/31/87)
  • IU upsets #1 and once-beaten UNLV in 1986 New Orleans Final Four (3/28/87) w/Bill
  • Cubs win game 5 of World Series over Indians (10/30/16) with my wife
  • Sammy Sosa hits home runs 61 and 62 with Adam and Dad at Wrigley Field (9/13/98)
  • White Sox win game one of 2005 World Series at Cellular One (10/22/05) with WAND crew
  • Pancho Carter’s Indy Car Pit Crew Elkhart Lake 1986
  • Indy Qualifying Picture 1986
  • Indianapolis Indians AAA Classic celebration on field with Randy Johnson and team 1988
  • Chopper into Indy 500 and Private plane to Bloomington for IU game
  • Finishing Detroit Marathon (10/14/79)