All the Things I've Seen

Driving home from the gym (yeah that's right, I went for a run) this morning I was listening to one of my favorite bands, The Killers. The track All the Things I've Done filled my car with its sweet sound and reminded me of the fantastic Nike commercial that played last year during the Olympics.

I got thinking about all the wonderful sporting events I've been to over my years as a spectator. Oilers games, Olympics (Calgary & Salt Lake), Joe Louis Arena for the playoffs, the PGA Championship, an Arsenal soccer match, Seattle Mariners, the Seahawks... But of all the things I've witnessed in the flesh, two events last year resonate in my mind.

2008 US Open. Tiger Woods. Need I say more? That Saturday as Tiger wobbled around Torrey Pines on one leg I was amazed. The eagle putt on 13 from somewhere near Hawaii (70ft) was one of the Tiger moments. It just seemed to take forever to get there, but all along you just had that feeling it might go.

Then on 17, chipping from beside the green, Woods hits it to hard, but the ball simply takes one hop and then just like Dr. J. slams into the hole. If that wasn't enough, Eldrick goes right ahead and sinks a 30 footer for another eagle, just for good measure on 18.

Then came Sunday and anthor epic Tiger moment that will be on hilite reels for years. This time it was only a 12 footer on 18, but just getting it to sneak inside the corner and force a playoff. And while the US Open makes the players square off over 18 holes, that wasn't enough for Rocco Mediate to take Tiger out. Finally, after 91 holes, Woods was got to put his hands on his third US Open trophy. What a weekend? And all the while I was receiving daily updates from the course from my friend Larry Isaac (A great tv sports producer and a bit of an idol of mine).

The other event in 08 that will stick with me for awhile is Michael Phelps. While it was cool to see Usain Bolt dominate the competition with ease in 100m and 200m track events. The way in which Phelps picked up 8 golds is a once in a generation event.

The Men's relay where the Americans came out of nowhere. But that was just the tip of the iceberg. Phelps already had six shiny gold donuts in his bag when he dove into the pool for the final f the Men's 100m butterfly. Four lengths of the pool separating him from tying Mark Spitz and history. Coming down to the wire it appeared as though Phelps' journey towards destiny might fall short. But at the wall, one final, quick stroke and touch of the wall...Phelps beat out his Croatian competitor by 1/100ths of a second. Unreal! The Americans captured the 4x100m Medley the next day and the pages of history needed changing.

Two great moments that will not soon be forgotten in my mind, even among all the things I've seen!.