Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine

Off Topic => Sports Arena => Topic started by: Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air on March 27, 2021, 05:09:45 PM

Title: Other live sport you've watched and was it any good ?
Post by: Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air on March 27, 2021, 05:09:45 PM
Apart from the game of Association Football, any sport you have watched live at a professional/semi pro/elite level which has paying spectators.

 Any of the major sports which you have never seen live ?

For me Cricket, Horse racing, Greyhounds, and years ago Speedway I would be in minimum double figures with each of these.
Cricket can be great for all sorts of reasons, horse racing at a small track on a sunny day is a good day out, nights out at Hall green were enjoyable if I hadn't always bet on trap 7, Birmingham Brummies at Perry Barr in the 70s was good fun.

One offs would be Rugby League (Huddersfield v Doncaster 1970s), Badminton (world championships at NIA in 1990s), Snooker (UK championships 1990s), Thai Boxing in Bangkok in 1980s.
The Rugby League match was weird, Badminton was interesting but a bit quick, the snooker was good and the players mixed with the spectators outside the arena, the Thai Boxing was mental.

I have never been to Rugby Union, Tennis, normal Boxing, an Athletics meeting, any American sport if I've been in the US, or the boat race (which would be non paying anyway).






 
Title: Re: Other live sport you've watched and was it any good ?
Post by: JuanMartinez on March 27, 2021, 05:14:21 PM
Cricket has to be the most life zapping game ever created.

Athletics and boxing live are extremely enjoyable, lucky enough to have seen Benn/Eubank fight close up.
Title: Re: Other live sport you've watched and was it any good ?
Post by: LeeB on March 27, 2021, 05:19:03 PM
I've not watched as much cricket live as I should have, living in sight of Edgbaston at one point and enjoying as much as I do.
Other than that I've done a few fights, the best of which was Joe Calzaghe vs Mickel Kessler at the Millennium Stadium, although the most enjoyable was taking my old man for his 60th when Calzaghe fought Peter Manfredo, that was a nothing fight but we were about 10 rows back from the ring and watched all the undercard fights, you hear every blow and get a much better perspective from that sort of range.
Title: Re: Other live sport you've watched and was it any good ?
Post by: Rory on March 27, 2021, 05:28:48 PM
I've not watched as much cricket live as I should have, living in sight of Edgbaston at one point and enjoying as much as I do.
Other than that I've done a few fights, the best of which was Joe Calzaghe vs Mickel Kessler at the Millennium Stadium, although the most enjoyable was taking my old man for his 60th when Calzaghe fought Peter Manfredo, that was a nothing fight but we were about 10 rows back from the ring and watched all the undercard fights, you hear every blow and get a much better perspective from that sort of range.

I'm jealous. Calzaghe v Kessler was an excellent fight.

I love cricket and I've seen loads of it - more than I have of football.

Been to the Crucible twice and that was very enjoyable. I was given a free ticket the first time and I wasn't convinced it was going to be that much of a spectacle, live, but if you enjoy the sport it really adds to your appreciation of the tactical and positional side of the game.

Having said that, one of the matches I saw involved Paul Hunter when his illness was quite advanced, and it turned out to be the last time he played at the Crucible. He was visibly underweight and fatigued and kept having to lean on the other table, which wasn't in play at the time. Very sad.
Title: Re: Other live sport you've watched and was it any good ?
Post by: Lsvilla on March 27, 2021, 05:43:56 PM
Loads of cricket all over the world. 29 test grounds and counting. Also a pretty good hat trick of T20 World Cup final 2010 Women’s 50over World Cup final 2017 and Men’s 50over World Cup final 2019.
Title: Re: Other live sport you've watched and was it any good ?
Post by: Jon Crofts on March 27, 2021, 05:47:28 PM
Rugby, grass roots to internationals at home and abroad.
Cricket at county level.
Henley Regatta although I didn’t pay and I can honestly say I never saw any ships just the inside of a bar all day.
Judo at the Olympics.
Baseball at Wrigley Field and Fenway Park, yawn fests but entertaining to people watch.
American Football at Soldier Field & New Jersey, froze my balls off at both.
Ice Hockey in DC & New York, that was ace.
Track cycling, ace.
Road cycling in Belgium and France, free and ace.
Title: Re: Other live sport you've watched and was it any good ?
Post by: clash city rocker on March 27, 2021, 05:49:52 PM
Because of a mis spent youth at cradley heath dogs I have always loved greyhound racing
Title: Re: Other live sport you've watched and was it any good ?
Post by: Bad English on March 27, 2021, 05:52:21 PM
Ice hockey in Vancouver. Loved it. Some great punch-ups too.
Title: Re: Other live sport you've watched and was it any good ?
Post by: rjp on March 27, 2021, 06:09:43 PM
Cricket, lots of times and I love it very much.
Rugby League is a good laugh.
Ice hockey in Prague was lots of fun and I would go again.
Cheltenham festival but found the whole thing a bit meh.

I've had some good nights at the greyhounds in Perry Barr.  My first night I walked away around £80 up.  I thought I'd been very clever by studying the program and only picking dogs that had finished well in their last race.  Then a friend pointed out that the stat I was using was which trap they had started in.
Title: Re: Other live sport you've watched and was it any good ?
Post by: Brazilian Villain on March 27, 2021, 06:21:24 PM
Gaelic football : Too numerous to mention but being on the Roscommon team coach for the All-Ireland final as a 10 year old was a highlight.
Hurling : Croke Park (All-Ireland quarter or semi-final), highly recommended to see live.
Rugby Union : Lansdowne Road for Barbarians v Australia and Ireland denying England the Grand Slam after the 'foot and mouth' delay. Very enjoyable! ;)
Cricket : The old Sabina Park about 6 times. More a rum and Red Stripe drinking marathon than a sporting spectacle.
NFL : Oakland Raiders home game (vs Broncos). Like a Hells Angels convention.
Baseball : Yankee Stadium a couple of times and Florida Marlins at Joe Robbie Stadium. Better on TV.
Golf : K Club about 20 years ago, might have been the European Open. Not recommended, much better on TV.
Cycling : Giro D'Italia. Was flying into Pisa for a wedding and it happened to be going through that day. Meh, blink and you miss it.
Squash : Caribbean tournament. Quite a good watch.
Association Football : Was a stretcher bearer for a World Cup qualifier which was a bit different.
Horse racing : Never been despite there being a racecourse approx. 10 miles away.
 
Title: Re: Other live sport you've watched and was it any good ?
Post by: paul_e on March 27, 2021, 06:21:47 PM
Loads of Cricket and Rugby Union (In truth I think I've spent more time watching both of them than I have football), lots of athletics when I was younger and to add a bit of quirk I've also been to a nordic skiing event and short track speed skating.
Title: Re: Other live sport you've watched and was it any good ?
Post by: Exeter 77 on March 27, 2021, 10:41:39 PM
I've seen quite a lot of live athletics and was at the basketball BBL Cup final one year. I watched quite a bit of rugby union a few years ago and some Davis Cup tennis.
Title: Re: Other live sport you've watched and was it any good ?
Post by: Flamingo Lane on March 27, 2021, 10:46:54 PM
I watched a reasonable amount of rugby union when I lived in Bristol in the 1980s.  I enjoyed watching Bristol, standing up at the Memorial Ground - good beer (Smiles), and lovely pasties.  I also went to a few internationals at Twickenham and Cardiff Arms Park, as my boss at work was a member of a rugby club in Wales and was able to get tickets quite easily.

For a few years I enjoyed going to the races, but not the prestige events - I've been to Bath, Chepstow, Towcester, Newmarket, Wincanton, Leicester, Southwell, Newbury.

I've been to a few test matches at Edgbaston but never really bothered going to county cricket.

Oh, and I went to the speedway at Cradley Heath a couple of times back in the 1970s.
Title: Re: Other live sport you've watched and was it any good ?
Post by: JD on March 28, 2021, 08:32:52 AM
Lots of cricket, mostly international cricket here in NZ. Have seen a bit of rugby, Canterbury in the Super Rugby and The All Blacks. Seen a bit of Rugby League as well.
Title: Re: Other live sport you've watched and was it any good ?
Post by: Chris Smith on March 28, 2021, 12:42:33 PM
Loads of cricket in all formats at Edgbaston. I’ve been to a Rugby League Challenge Cup Final at Wembley and saw Moseley a couple of times when they played at The Reddings. When I was a kid we went to motorbike scrambling a few times as my dad knew one of the riders, Ken Sedgeley. Most unusual thing I think was going to see drag racing at Santa Pod.
Title: Re: Other live sport you've watched and was it any good ?
Post by: Villa Lew on March 28, 2021, 01:02:25 PM
Cricket Test match at Edgbaston v West Indies saw the great Viv Richards
Rugby Union Six Ways Worcester v Leicester English Premiership
Speedway at Cradley Heath
Horse Racing at Worcester
Best ever was 1985 Ryder Cup at The Belfry Europe beat the USA for the first time. Remember seeing Sam Torrance sink the putt that won it, atmosphere was brilliant.

Title: Re: Other live sport you've watched and was it any good ?
Post by: Damo70 on March 28, 2021, 01:19:31 PM
As a small kid I was taken to the speedway once as my parents friends were into it. We also regularly used to go to the banger racing at Hednesford raceway which I loved. We would go in my Dad's caravanette and stay the weekend. I went to a England v India match at Edgbaston in 1992 and was bored shitless. I got married in Austraila in 1998 and our last evening there coincided with the first night session of the Australian Open tennis. We got to see two matches. Jana Novotna played in the first game and local Melbourne boy Mark Philippoussis played in the second. Also around 1984 I saw the Harlem Globetrotters at the NEC.
Title: Re: Other live sport you've watched and was it any good ?
Post by: UK Redsox on March 28, 2021, 01:44:28 PM
Rugby Union (grass roots) - hundreds of games
Rugby Union (international) - just about every England home game from 1974 to 1982. A few Wales games since. World Cup games at Gloucester

Cricket - Gloucestershire County Championship games in Bristol and 'Nam

Major League Baseball - 289 games
Minor League Baseball - 38 games
College Baseball - 3 games

NFL - 29 games (7 in the USA, 22 in London)
College Football - 3

NHL - 3 games (1 in Boston, 2 in London)
Elite League Ice Hockey - Dozens (Cardiff & Coventry)

Squash - World Championships (I think this was somewhere in Brum)


Title: Re: Other live sport you've watched and was it any good ?
Post by: dave.woodhall on March 28, 2021, 02:28:16 PM
Boxing, kickboxing, cricket a few times, rugby once, speedway at Perry Barr circa 1974 and greyhounds, which is possibly the most uninteresting sport ever invented unless you're sitting drinking champagne and listening to your guest telling you about his goals in the 1957 cup final*.








*Other unashamed namedrops are available.
Title: Re: Other live sport you've watched and was it any good ?
Post by: devilla on March 28, 2021, 02:57:41 PM
Watched the All England Badminton Championships on BT Sport a couple weeks ago. I used to play quite a bit when I was younger and it's great to see the top players showing how it's done.
Title: Re: Other live sport you've watched and was it any good ?
Post by: taylorsworkrate on March 28, 2021, 03:13:33 PM
If you ever get the chance, go and see an Aussie Rules game at the MCG. Saw Collingwood v Richmond a few years ago, and the atmosphere was incredible.
Title: Re: Other live sport you've watched and was it any good ?
Post by: Colhint on March 28, 2021, 03:32:11 PM
went to the womens hockey final at wembley. 50,000 screaming girls and me. Boy did they get their tits of for the lads when they were drunk. Best day out ever.
Title: Re: Other live sport you've watched and was it any good ?
Post by: Rory on March 28, 2021, 03:35:09 PM
went to the womens hockey final at wembley. 50,000 screaming girls and me. Boy did they get their tits of for the lads when they were drunk. Best day out ever.

Sounds quite sleazy.
Title: Re: Other live sport you've watched and was it any good ?
Post by: ADVILLAFAN on March 29, 2021, 09:15:15 AM
Cricket loads of times. Enjoy sitting there all day in the sun having a beer and sometimes the sport is decent too.

American Football. Similar to cricket in that you can enjoy having a drink and food and so on. Also, fans of NFL pretty much all get along, so there's a much friendlier atmosphere than football. Obviously, this might be different if you go to a game in the US.

Went to the Snooker World Championship in Sheffield. We were sat right in the middle, so could see both tables. Enjoyed it, but somehow couldn't help thinking it's better watching on TV and in person makes it somehow seem smaller.

Would like to go to the Rugby League at some stage.

Have been to the Dogs, but it did nothing for me.
Title: Re: Other live sport you've watched and was it any good ?
Post by: JuanMartinez on March 29, 2021, 09:23:26 AM
Raiders v 49ers about 10 years ago.

Awful sport, fans heckling each other from rows between each other which was hilarious.

Would rather watch paint dry.


Title: Re: Other live sport you've watched and was it any good ?
Post by: Risso on March 29, 2021, 10:58:48 AM
Cricket lots of times. Best thing I saw was Lara's 501.
Rugby League - Wigan a few times
Rugby Union - Northampton a few times
NFL in the US - NY Jets
CFL (the Canadian version of NFL). Toronto Argonauts
NHL - Toronto Maple Leafs
IOM TT lots of times
Title: Re: Other live sport you've watched and was it any good ?
Post by: Rory on March 29, 2021, 11:33:13 AM
Cricket lots of times. Best thing I saw was Lara's 501.

All of it?!
Title: Re: Other live sport you've watched and was it any good ?
Post by: Nev on March 29, 2021, 11:54:05 AM
I love going Racing, attend the Festival every year, been to the Derby and various other courses.
You can't beat a day out at the cricket.
I've been to the Open a couple of times, including at St Andrews in 2000 when Tiger Woods won.

Wimbledon is still on the list, for the tennis, not football.

With all of the above, if you really want to study the action you're better off watching at home on TV but what you lose in that respect you gain by actually being there, something that nothing can replace. It's wonderful.
Title: Re: Other live sport you've watched and was it any good ?
Post by: PGW on March 29, 2021, 12:15:21 PM
I've not watched as much cricket live as I should have, living in sight of Edgbaston at one point and enjoying as much as I do.
Other than that I've done a few fights, the best of which was Joe Calzaghe vs Mickel Kessler at the Millennium Stadium, although the most enjoyable was taking my old man for his 60th when Calzaghe fought Peter Manfredo, that was a nothing fight but we were about 10 rows back from the ring and watched all the undercard fights, you hear every blow and get a much better perspective from that sort of range.

I was also at the Kessler fight, i had a mad dash from VP after we played Derby. Great night, i was on my own and didn't have a hotel booked spent the night in a Casino not
far from the stadium and caught first train home in the morning.
Going back to the original post I enjoy my boxing and in addition to Kessler fight i travelled to Vegas for Mayweather v Hatton fight. If any decent fights at NIA/NEC i never miss.
Did the Brummies Speedway myself in 70's for a couple of years, but cricket my main vice been a member at Edgbaston nearly 50 years now, love test cricket never miss a test at edgbaston but i also ensure i get 1 day in at Old Trafford as so easy to get to.
Did one Ashes tour, the disastrous 06/07 whitewash. Love to do that again.
Not been to much Rugby but i booked flights to Edinburgh with my father to celebrate his 70th with Wales winning the grand slam up there. My father was a taff. Saw Moseley beat Leicester in a SF many many moons ago and been to Worcester Warriors once.

Never done Athletics, surprised really as i thoroughly enjoy the big events. I suppose an opportunity to break that duck with the Commonwealth games here in Brum.
Title: Re: Other live sport you've watched and was it any good ?
Post by: Brazilian Villain on March 29, 2021, 01:26:04 PM
Cricket lots of times. Best thing I saw was Lara's 501.

All of it?!

A nine-darter doesn't take long.
Title: Re: Other live sport you've watched and was it any good ?
Post by: paul_e on March 29, 2021, 02:30:58 PM
Forgot one, went to see the WWE thing at the NEC because a friend won some tickets, would've been about 97 or 98 I think, I was never a fan and it was the biggest pile of bollocks I've ever seen live.
Title: Re: Other live sport you've watched and was it any good ?
Post by: Villa Lew on March 29, 2021, 03:18:06 PM
Events I would love to attend World Cup Final, Champions League Final, Euros Final, Open Golf Championship, Ashes Test match, Six Nations match at Twickers, Lions Test match, Wimbledon and Olympics Athletics final day.
Title: Re: Other live sport you've watched and was it any good ?
Post by: UK Redsox on March 29, 2021, 03:58:14 PM
Forgot one, went to see the WWE thing at the NEC because a friend won some tickets, would've been about 97 or 98 I think, I was never a fan and it was the biggest pile of bollocks I've ever seen live.

Also....not a sport
Title: Re: Other live sport you've watched and was it any good ?
Post by: paul_e on March 29, 2021, 04:01:37 PM
Forgot one, went to see the WWE thing at the NEC because a friend won some tickets, would've been about 97 or 98 I think, I was never a fan and it was the biggest pile of bollocks I've ever seen live.

Also....not a sport

True.
Title: Re: Other live sport you've watched and was it any good ?
Post by: Risso on March 29, 2021, 05:26:04 PM
Cricket lots of times. Best thing I saw was Lara's 501.

All of it?!

We went down on the last day, the Monday. It was my final year at university and we lived about 10 mins from Edgbaston. It was announced on the radio that something special was happening, so loads of people went down to see him twatting the Durham bowling to all corners.
Title: Re: Other live sport you've watched and was it any good ?
Post by: paul_e on March 29, 2021, 06:00:13 PM
Cricket lots of times. Best thing I saw was Lara's 501.

All of it?!

We went down on the last day, the Monday. It was my final year at university and we lived about 10 mins from Edgbaston. It was announced on the radio that something special was happening, so loads of people went down to see him twatting the Durham bowling to all corners.

I saw the start of that innings, straight from school to get there just in time for the evening session, think he got his century just before the close. I should've been there for the entire 3rd day but the weather reports were terrible so we never bothered, I think it was a complete wash out.

The other time I saw him that sticks out was a sunday league game later that summer, can't remember who against but he hit 60 or 70 odd in decent win towards the end of the season when it was pretty clear to everyone that the Bears were about to win a whole bunch of trophies.
Title: Re: Other live sport you've watched and was it any good ?
Post by: Risso on March 29, 2021, 08:12:28 PM
Cricket lots of times. Best thing I saw was Lara's 501.

All of it?!

We went down on the last day, the Monday. It was my final year at university and we lived about 10 mins from Edgbaston. It was announced on the radio that something special was happening, so loads of people went down to see him twatting the Durham bowling to all corners.

I saw the start of that innings, straight from school to get there just in time for the evening session, think he got his century just before the close. I should've been there for the entire 3rd day but the weather reports were terrible so we never bothered, I think it was a complete wash out.

The other time I saw him that sticks out was a sunday league game later that summer, can't remember who against but he hit 60 or 70 odd in decent win towards the end of the season when it was pretty clear to everyone that the Bears were about to win a whole bunch of trophies.

Yep, they almost did the 4/4 clean sweep of the trophies at the time, but the toss was all important in the Natwest final which they lost and subsequently lost the match.  My mate had got a tenner on them to win all four at the start of the season at something like a combined 8,000-1 so was a bit gutted to say the least.
Title: Re: Other live sport you've watched and was it any good ?
Post by: Gareth on March 29, 2021, 11:18:07 PM
Basketball - Knicks vs Spurs at Madison Square Garden, Globetrotters at NEC, BBL final at Wembley Arena when Worcester won (happy coincidence as had tickets months in advance)

Badminton - tournament at NIA, sat in middle of the Malaysian & Indonesian fans when the big name in the sport (subsequently banned I believe) was playing - proper obsession around us.

Athletics - NIA indoors years ago, sure one of the long distance WR was achieved.

Snooker - Champion of Champions at Cov, watched Ronnie win and score a couple of centuries

Darts - Premier League at NIA, dullest sporting event ever attended, like a piss poor Wetherspoons without Wetherspoons prices and plastic glasses

Tennis - day at Wimbledon, rained most of day, saw Steffi Graf warming up on outside court & she yelled at my mate for taking a photo at wrong time :-)

Golf - several days at Belfry / Forest of Arden when various tournaments were on

NFL - Jacksonville vs someone else, can’t remember who at Wembley...ok, spend more time listening to the announcer telling what goes on than anything actually happening....did seem to be full of little boys trying their first weak as pee lager acting all OTT

Rugby - sixways several times, even saw Worcester win once or twice!  Leeds as they were known then be Newcastle at Headingley

Cricket - plenty of days at New Road & the odd Bears v Pears at Edgbaston

Cycling - by side of road when either milk race or old tour of Britain whizzed through Bromsgrove...sure Raleigh Banana(?) was one of the teams

Horse Racing - Nottingham

Touring Cars - Donnington & Silverstone - prefer Donnington for viewing

Played mess about cricket for an hour or so on the beach in Chennai....nearly saw one of the 50 or so balls that were hurled my way by kids of about 15 :-)

Thinking def want to get to boxing when all open again.

Bucket list will always be Ashes test in Aus - pref Boxing Day....& Lions touring NZ or Aus for a few weeks taking in full test series
Title: Re: Other live sport you've watched and was it any good ?
Post by: AV82EC on March 30, 2021, 09:42:08 AM
Cycling tours from the roadside, Volleyball Olympic Final, Olympic White water canoeing, Cricket at Edgbaston, one dayers and tests, Old trafford for a few T20s, numerous athletics meets at Alexander stadium, Rugby at Twickers a few times back in the 90s and didn't miss attending the Open Golf for about 10 years in the 80's/90s watching Faldo in his pomp and 3 Ryder Cups. I vaguely recall going banger racing once but for the life of me cant remember where. Been racing a few times as well Cheltenham, Chester, Haydock and Cartmel.

For atmos I'd say the Ryder Cups were the best and the Open Golf can get quite tense if its close or goes to a play off but nothing comes close to the Football for me.

Title: Re: Other live sport you've watched and was it any good ?
Post by: Villa Lew on March 30, 2021, 12:00:34 PM
Cycling tours from the roadside, Volleyball Olympic Final, Olympic White water canoeing, Cricket at Edgbaston, one dayers and tests, Old trafford for a few T20s, numerous athletics meets at Alexander stadium, Rugby at Twickers a few times back in the 90s and didn't miss attending the Open Golf for about 10 years in the 80's/90s watching Faldo in his pomp and 3 Ryder Cups. I vaguely recall going banger racing once but for the life of me cant remember where. Been racing a few times as well Cheltenham, Chester, Haydock and Cartmel.

For atmos I'd say the Ryder Cups were the best and the Open Golf can get quite tense if its close or goes to a play off but nothing comes close to the Football for me.

What's your favourite Open course?
Title: Re: Other live sport you've watched and was it any good ?
Post by: Brazilian Villain on March 30, 2021, 01:07:15 PM
Events I would love to attend World Cup Final, Champions League Final,

I was fortunate enough to be at the World Cup final in the Maracanã. As it's unlikely ever to be at Croke Park probably as good as it'd get for me.

Yours is a good (bucket) list but I would really like to go to a Champions League final (preferably with Villa in it :) )
Title: Re: Other live sport you've watched and was it any good ?
Post by: AV82EC on March 30, 2021, 01:16:46 PM
Cycling tours from the roadside, Volleyball Olympic Final, Olympic White water canoeing, Cricket at Edgbaston, one dayers and tests, Old trafford for a few T20s, numerous athletics meets at Alexander stadium, Rugby at Twickers a few times back in the 90s and didn't miss attending the Open Golf for about 10 years in the 80's/90s watching Faldo in his pomp and 3 Ryder Cups. I vaguely recall going banger racing once but for the life of me cant remember where. Been racing a few times as well Cheltenham, Chester, Haydock and Cartmel.

For atmos I'd say the Ryder Cups were the best and the Open Golf can get quite tense if its close or goes to a play off but nothing comes close to the Football for me.

What's your favourite Open course?

Muirfield, plenty of space and good for spectators. Not keen on St Andrews, too small, quite liked Troon and Lytham but wasnt a huge fan of Birkdale or Turnberry either.
Title: Re: Other live sport you've watched and was it any good ?
Post by: Woofles The Wonder Dog on March 30, 2021, 06:27:08 PM
Cricket: highlights being Fred Trueman's 7-for against the West Indies and due to the back foot no-ball rule that magnificent rooster-tail Fred left as he dragged his foot, Alan Donald bowling against Kent at Tunbridge Wells (I honestly say I never saw the ball after it left his hand).

Ice Hockey: the only sport in the US that came near to watching football back home, especially when play broke out between the fights. Detroit, New York Rangers. Great fun, and leaving Cobo Hall with thousands of other spectators herded through a tunnelled exit going "Mooo" instead of fighting.

Baseball: Phillies vs Houston. Even I knew I was watching an all-time great in Nolan Ryan, but the atmosphere was bizarrely placid. Constant ferrying of sodas and food amongst the crowd being the highlight (I don't remember the score).

American Football: Philly Eagles vs St. Louis Rams. My goodness it was slow going, but seeing it live brought home how f*cking huge the majority of the players are. Also it might have been the first start for Randall Cunningham, a rare sight - a black quarterback! The consensus at work was that, despite being a good athlete, he'd never make the grade because black people didn't have the brains to make the tactical decisions. Sigh.
Title: Re: Other live sport you've watched and was it any good ?
Post by: Woofles The Wonder Dog on March 30, 2021, 07:51:21 PM
Oh, and Basketball: watching Celtics, Knicks, Pistons, Nets, 76ers...great athleticism in a game the scoring is more or less pointless until the end. Yawn. At least I saw Erving, Ewing, Thomas and Bird play, but the big thing I don't get is why I managed to go to so many games of a sport I cordially dislike?
Title: Re: Other live sport you've watched and was it any good ?
Post by: SteveN on March 30, 2021, 09:16:44 PM
{alt}
Speedway at Perry Barr and Motor Bike Scrambling with my Dad when I was a kid.

Rugby Union, Streatham & Croydon at Thornton Heath when I think they were in the second division.  Free to get in and better than watching Palace. Also one international at Twickenham.  Against Wales when Ringer got sent off.

Horse racing at Epsom including the Derby, great atmosphere and at Lingfield, Goodwood, and Sandown.  Only flat racing.

Baseball, Sox v Yankees at the London Stadium.  Loved it.

Cycling, finish of the Tour de France in London when Marcel Kittel won. The start of the Tour of Britain in Reigate.  All the big names could not have been more approachable.

Cricket at Edgbaston, including the West Indies with Hall and Griffiths.  Later the Windies at The Oval when Michael Holding was lightning quick.
Title: Re: Other live sport you've watched and was it any good ?
Post by: cdbearsfan on March 30, 2021, 11:22:02 PM
Cricket: seen England and Warwickshire many times. The highlights are seeing the former beat the Aussies in a one day and seeing the latter win a trophy at Lord's. A good piss up in the sun while watching cricket is a much missed pleasure during Covid.

American football: seen three games including the mighty Chicago Bears once at Wembley (won) and once at Tottenham (lost). Both great days despite the latter result and I hope to see a game in Chicago one day.

Snooker: only done the Crucible so far, in 2018 and 2019. Bought tickets for 2020 but were carried over to this year and now again to 2022. Fancy seeing the UK Championship and The Masters, too. Maybe the competition they have in Coventry as it is only down the road.

Indoor football: does this count as a different sport? Anyway Villa Masters lost to Small Heath who went on to lose to Wolves in the final, as I recall. Just sat and got drunk and there wasn't the aggro you would usually get mixing fans like that. I'd have gone again but it seems to have been cancelled a few years ago.

Dog racing: can't remember ever winning much, always got drunk. It was alright.

Para-athletics: didn't watch much of it, a friend got free tickets and invited me. The main person we had heard of, I think Johnny Peacock, got disqualified. It was a ridiculously hot day and there was a picnic area outside selling beer and burgers so I got drunk. There may be a theme developing here...

Never been to a rugby match but I have been to a party at Moseley's old ground and climbed the floodlights for a dare. Because I'm an idiot.
Title: Re: Other live sport you've watched and was it any good ?
Post by: UK Redsox on March 31, 2021, 10:28:09 AM
Oh, and Basketball: watching Celtics, Knicks, Pistons, Nets, 76ers...great athleticism in a game the scoring is more or less pointless until the end. Yawn. At least I saw Erving, Ewing, Thomas and Bird play, but the big thing I don't get is why I managed to go to so many games of a sport I cordially dislike?

I struggle with basketball for similar reasons; there's just too much scoring.

I've never been to an NBA game but I have been to the Basketball Hall of Fame (a mate works there)

I missed the Harlem Globetrotters off my list of other sports watched because, as with WWE, it's really just circus clowning dressed up as a sport.

Also, I've just remembered that I've been to a few UK American Football games. The Cotswold Bears played a couple of home games at Lydney RFC back in the 1980s.

I went to watch the South West Royals (not 100% sure of the name, but it was something like that) play in Gloucester. I walked out of that one. It was absolutely dire
Title: Re: Other live sport you've watched and was it any good ?
Post by: UK Redsox on March 31, 2021, 10:32:12 AM
I am surprised at the number of people who have never been to Rugby Union, or have only seen a couple of games.

However, I suppose we get a false impression down here where Rugby is the number one sport.

Until my first trip to Villa Park at age 26, the only football I'd seen was a couple of school trips to Wembley to watch England U15/18 and a 1980ish pre season game at Lydney between Bristol City and a Forest Select XI
Title: Re: Other live sport you've watched and was it any good ?
Post by: ADVILLAFAN on March 31, 2021, 11:19:16 AM
My granddad got free tickets for Gladiators years back and took me and my brother.

Can't remember a lot about it and sort of a sport/soap opera crossover
Title: Re: Other live sport you've watched and was it any good ?
Post by: luke:lamf on March 31, 2021, 03:16:22 PM
England vs. Canada at Twickenham in 1994 with school. Suspect our rugby master, among with others around the country, was given a bucketload of tickets to get kids into the game and to assure a full stadium. Can't remember much of the game, other than the Canadian 10 throwing one pass out like a quarterback, and that I had said Canadian 10 in the sweepstake for first try which I think was won by England 14 (Tony Underwood?).
Title: Re: Other live sport you've watched and was it any good ?
Post by: cdbearsfan on March 31, 2021, 05:19:46 PM
I am surprised at the number of people who have never been to Rugby Union, or have only seen a couple of games.

However, I suppose we get a false impression down here where Rugby is the number one sport.

Until my first trip to Villa Park at age 26, the only football I'd seen was a couple of school trips to Wembley to watch England U15/18 and a 1980ish pre season game at Lydney between Bristol City and a Forest Select XI

I'm surprised you're surprised, to be honest. Birmingham isn't a rugby city. People watch the Six Nations but in all the jobs I've skived at I can't remember a single colleague who went to watch, say, Moseley.
Title: Re: Other live sport you've watched and was it any good ?
Post by: AV82EC on March 31, 2021, 06:09:40 PM
I am surprised at the number of people who have never been to Rugby Union, or have only seen a couple of games.

However, I suppose we get a false impression down here where Rugby is the number one sport.

Until my first trip to Villa Park at age 26, the only football I'd seen was a couple of school trips to Wembley to watch England U15/18 and a 1980ish pre season game at Lydney between Bristol City and a Forest Select XI

I'm surprised you're surprised, to be honest. Birmingham isn't a rugby city. People watch the Six Nations but in all the jobs I've skived at I can't remember a single colleague who went to watch, say, Moseley.

I'd agree with that, when I first started working in Brum, all anyone talked about was Football and that was despite moving over from the Anglia/East Mids border which is a biggish Rugby area and having played Rugby most of my teen years. I was quite surprised at how little impact or cut through Moseley had as the areas premier Rugby Union team. I think they missed the boat massively as professionalism came in in the early 90s as well. 
Title: Re: Other live sport you've watched and was it any good ?
Post by: Woofles The Wonder Dog on March 31, 2021, 06:12:34 PM
In all the sports I saw in America, the thing that struck me was the lack of away supporters, which created a very odd (to me as a neutral most of the time) atmosphere.
Title: Re: Other live sport you've watched and was it any good ?
Post by: Brazilian Villain on March 31, 2021, 07:07:50 PM
In all the sports I saw in America, the thing that struck me was the lack of away supporters, which created a very odd (to me as a neutral most of the time) atmosphere.

One exception I saw to this was at a Marlins home game against the Mets. Lots of NY snowbirds at it and there were as many if not more Mets chants than Marlins. No trouble at the game to report though.
Title: Re: Other live sport you've watched and was it any good ?
Post by: Meanwood Villa on April 01, 2021, 10:44:28 PM
I've been to a fair bit of cricket over the years. Very little rugby union, only one club game and a couple of internationals. Living oop north I've been to more league live. The missus and I went to a couple of ice hockey games pre lockdown which she enjoyed, unusually for sport. Could have become a regular thing I think. Maybe it will yet. Seen NFL a couple of times at Wembley, would love to go to a game in the US at some point.

It's not the same as watching the Villa but some highlights:

1991 Refuge Assurance Cup final Old Trafford. Nail biting one dayer watching Worcester winning at Lancs. We were only kids but I remember it being hugely enjoyable.

Leeds v St Helens in 2003 I think. 20-0 down with 20 to go and ended up winning 30-20. Absolutely buzzing coming out of the stadium that night.

2007 rugby union world cup quarter final, New Zealand v France in Cardiff. Watched England win in the pub earlier in the day. Great day drinking outside with all nationalities and then France knock out the All Blacks. The world turned upside down.
Title: Re: Other live sport you've watched and was it any good ?
Post by: UK Redsox on April 01, 2021, 11:42:58 PM
I am surprised at the number of people who have never been to Rugby Union, or have only seen a couple of games.

However, I suppose we get a false impression down here where Rugby is the number one sport.

Until my first trip to Villa Park at age 26, the only football I'd seen was a couple of school trips to Wembley to watch England U15/18 and a 1980ish pre season game at Lydney between Bristol City and a Forest Select XI

I'm surprised you're surprised, to be honest. Birmingham isn't a rugby city. People watch the Six Nations but in all the jobs I've skived at I can't remember a single colleague who went to watch, say, Moseley.

Yep, i’ve probably watched more games at Moseley than most people in Brum.

Title: Re: Other live sport you've watched and was it any good ?
Post by: JD on April 02, 2021, 08:31:28 AM
I've seen the best club team in the world, The Crusaders a few times.

Have seen the All Blacks a few times as well, even against The Lions in Christchurch.   
Don't really like rugby that much though, I usually go when I get offered free tickets and as I am a mate of the CEO of Canterbury Rugby that's quite often.   
Title: Re: Other live sport you've watched and was it any good ?
Post by: Gary Penrice on April 02, 2021, 02:44:44 PM
Rugby Union - Countless Moseley games at The Reddings but drifted more to grass roots when they moved.

Rugby League - A good few Wigan games when they played at Central Park.

Horse Racing - Most of the big meetings but still prefer a day at Worcester,Warwick,Stratford etc

Dog Racing - Haven't been since Hall Green closed.

Boxing - From arenas to small halls I've lost count.....York Hall is still a must for any follower of the noble art.
Title: Re: Other live sport you've watched and was it any good ?
Post by: JuanMartinez on April 02, 2021, 03:16:24 PM
Hurling, arguably the most entertaining sport I’ve witnessed live but for all the wrong reasons.

Crucible 1994, The Whirlwind best ever player to never win it.
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