Packers vs. Bears and Other Great Games

On Saturday night the Green Bay Packers easily disposed of the #1 seeded Atlanta Falcons from the NFL Playoffs and on Sunday the Chicago Bears man-handled the sub-.500 Seattle Seahawks for three quarters and came away with an 11 point win. This coming Sunday is now an NFL fan's dream as the Packers will travel to Soldier Field for an NFC Championship matchup against their division rival. As a Bears fan I am very excited for the game as it is the only the second time that the two teams have met in playoff history. The Pack is hot right now with Aaron Rodgers looking like the best QB in the game but the Bears D has also looked good lately minus the 4th quarter against Seattle. As soon as the Bears won the Divisional Round game I got on StubHub.com and checked the tickets and the fact of the matter is, fans will be paying at least 500 bucks for a seat. I would love to be at the game even though the temperature will be below 10 degrees. This game got me thinking about what games I would have loved to be at in person so I compiled a list of five games in my lifetime that I wish I could have been at.

2004 ALCS Game 6 (Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees)- To see this game would be seeing history. The Red Sox tying up the series after being down 3-0. Led by Curt Schilling and David Ortiz's heroics, the BoSox went to the World Series to break the Curse of the Bambino. Schilling pitched seven innings with a torn tendon in his right ankle that was held in place by three sutres that connected the skin to the tendon and connective tissue. NYPD members had to take the field in riot gear after Yanks fans threw balls and debris on the field because they were unhappy with Alex Rodriguez being called out for interference. A-Rod slapped Bronson Arroyo's arm as he tried to tag him out and the umpires called him out. This game had it all and would have been an amazing game to be at.

1997 NBA Finals Game 5 (Chicago Bulls vs. Utah Jazz)- "The Flu Game" is one of the most legendary stories of Michael Jordan's career. He woke up with a stomach virus on Tuesday and team trainers said there was no way he could play in Game 5 on Wednesday night. With the series tied at two games apiece and the Bulls playing on the road, Jordan took the floor and got off to a slow start but dropped 17 in the second quarter. MJ did little in the third as fatigue set in but in the fourth he had 15 points including a big three at the end. He played 44 minutes and collapsed into Scottie Pippen's arms at the end of the game, which the Bulls won 90-88.

2009 NBA Playoffs Round 1, Game 6 (Boston Celtics vs. Chicago Bulls)- Without a doubt the most epic game for the Bulls in the post-Jordan era, Chicago defeated the Boston Celtics 128-127 in three overtimes to force a Game 7. John Salmons led the Bulls with 35 points and Ray Allen's 51 was not enough for the C's. The Bulls took the lead when Joakim Noah stole the ball from Paul Pierce, dribbled length of the floor, dunked the ball while being fouled by Pierce and then made the free throw for a three point play. Derrick Rose, who finished with 28 points, blocked Rajon Rondo's potential game winner with 8 seconds left in the third OT.

2009 Big East Tournament (Syracuse Orange vs. UConn Huskies)- After 3 hours and 46 minutes of back and forth basketball the Orange defeated UConn at Madison Square Garden 127-117. The Orange's Eric Devendorf made a three at the buzzer of the regulation to win the game but the refs ruled that Devendorf didn't get it off in time. Jonny Flynn had a monster game for Cuse with 34 points, 3 rebounds, 11 assists, 6 steals, and 1 block. To be at this game where numerous future NBA players were playing in a primetime game in the Big East tournament would be incredible to see.

2010 NCAA Championship (Butler Bulldogs vs. Duke)- Funny thing about this game is that my grandpa had tickets but sold them. It would have been the ultimate Cinderella story had Gordan Hayward's last second heave gone in. Instead the ball bounced off and Duke came away with a two point win in the one of the most thrilling national championship games ever. 70,000 fans were in Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis where the hometown Bulldogs nearly upset the number 1 seed Blue Devils.

Sports produce some of the best drama in the world and there certainly will be some when the Packers and Bears clash with a chance for the Super Bowl. These are just five games that I wish I could have seen but there are countless others. So now its your turn, let me know what games you wish you were at in your lifetime.