Breaking News

According to ESPN, Chicago has been eliminated in the first wave of voting for the 2016 Olympics. Hong Kong was removed in round two so its between Rio de Janeiro and Madrid for the games.

Video You May Not Have Seen

Wow! Fights like these would cause full season suspensions in the U.S. I mean not only charging at the guy on the field but then attacking him, flying kick video game style, as he leaves the field. Think about that compared to when Prince Fielder "Attempted" to get into the locker room to fight the Dodgers. Not quite the same excitement. Anyway, the good stuff is at 30 seconds but might as well check ou the build up... enjoy

Trip of the Week!

Trip of the Week

Thursday – Washington Capitals @ Boston Bruins 7:05pm

Friday – Cleveland Indians @ Boston Red Sox 7:10p

Saturday  – College Gameday in Chestnut Hill 10:00am

     - Florida State @ Boston College 3:30pm

Sunday – Baltimore Ravens @ New England Patriots 1:00pm

Can you think of a better spot for a sports filled weekend?  Better take an extra day off!  On Thursday, the Boston Bruins opening up the season looking for their first Stanley Cup in 37 years against Alex “the Kid” Ovechkin.  On Friday, the Boston Red Sox get ready for the playoffs when they close out the season against the Cleveland Indians.  On Saturday, “College Gameday,” the famous ESPN Pregame Show heads to Chestnut Hill which leads to the Florida State – Boston College game.  End the weekend up right and head over to Foxboro where the New England Patriots host the 3-0 Baltimore Ravens.

Thursday – Washington Capitals @ Boston Bruins 7:05pm

Head over to the Garden to check out the Boston Bruins and get ready for some NHL!  Always an exciting time in Boston and with high hopes for the team, look for a rowdy crowd.  Before the game, bar hop at some of the most popular bars in Boston, called “Bars on steroids.”  Start off at Boston Beer Works, a two story facility that is the oldest and largest brewery and restaurant in the Boston Area.  Shoot some pool, play some darts and try one of 50 different Beers, Ales and Lagers.  If that is too small for you, head over to The Greatest Bar.  Part sports bar part night club the Greatest Bar features a lot of big screens (including a 14 inch projector screen), plus DJ’s and live music.  On game nights, the Greatest Bar plays a 90 minute video highlighting the greatest moments in Bruins history, good way to get the people pumped up!  Another great spot is Hurricane O’Reillys.  This bar is popular not just on game days but other nights, specifically for young to mid 20’s Boston residents.  Enjoy these bars before and after the game, but get some rest, its going to be a big weekend!

Friday – Cleveland Indians @ Boston Red Sox 7:10pm

What’s Boston without a trip to Fenway Park!  The 2^nd oldest stadium in the Major Leagues created in 1912.  Fenway has more than history though.  It boasts one of the top pre-game bar scenes anywhere in the country.  I would recommend starting off at the Bleacher Bar, a bar attached to the stadium that allows you to look into the field through the right centerfield wall.  Check out batting practice and grab a beer and some food there but don’t stop!  After head over to Game On! Located right down the street.  Head down there and check out their top of the line multimedia center.  From there walk across the street to the Cask n’ Flagon, the #2 rated bar by ESPN.  This bar is one of the most popular pre-game bars by locals and visitors and has both a night club above and outdoor seating right outside the Monster.  Like the Garden these bars are also a great place to enjoy before and after the game!

Saturday – College Gameday 10:00am-noon

-         Florida State @ Boston College 3:30pm

What can be better than seeing some good ‘ole college football and checking out one of the most popular pregame shows in America “College Gameday.”  Get out to BC early (between 8:30 and 9:00am) for a good spot and bring a sign hoping to get on TV.  After the game head straight to the Mods and try and see if anyone will let you enjoy a beer with them (they usually do).  Once you have a couple in your system, head over to Shea Field, the most popular tailgate spot on campus.  Here, alumni and season ticket holders hold large tailgates on the field.  After the game, head over to Maryanne’s, the local spot.  Mary Ann's is BC's most infamous dive, with beer-sopped floors and just-turned-21 students clutching plastic cups of cheap beer. Meanwhile, it's a cult-like rite of passage to stomach a two-and-a-half-pound burger at Eagles Deli. Portions are more polite at City Side Bar & Grill, the area's nicest bar, with many TVs to watch games, good burgers and pizza, and a roof deck.

Sunday – Baltimore Ravens @ New England Patriots 1:00

End the trip and go see the three time champion New England Patriots at beautiful Gillette Stadium.  Head over there early as parking is tough.  Get ther eahd check out the awesome tailgate spots.  Patriots and BC fans are usually two different groups of people, so there wont be any hangovers preventing a top notch tailgate.  While there, also check out Patriot Place where they h ave tons of food and entertainment such as Davios, 5 Guys Burgers and the Blue Fin Lounge.  After the game, go there to grab a bite and let traffic die down before you head home for the weekend.

If you don’t just want to go to sports, here are 5 other top things to do in Boston

• Walking the Freedom Trail, a 2.5-mile signed walk connecting 16 of Boston's greatest revolutionary-era sites, including the 50-acre Boston Common. Note that one of the trail's founders is a BC grad.
• Biking the 8.6-mile Charles River Bike Loop, over stone bridges, past esplanades and grassy banks and sculler rallies.
• Visiting Harvard University in Cambridge and eating or drinking at Harvard Square.
• Toe-tapping at Club Passim, a half-century-old folk-music setting, where Joan Baez once introduced a shy Bob Dylan.
• Drinking beer – check out the Harpoon Oktoberfest on Friday or the Samuel Adams or Harpoon Breweries during your time off

Had a great sports weekend?  Send me a message at taylor.wishman@gmail.com and we’ll post it on the site! 

2010 Sports Traveler's Dream

For you die-hard Olympic and soccer fans out there, it's not too early to start making travel plans if you dream of heading to Vancouver for February's 21st Winter Games or journeying to South Africa for next summer's FIFA World Cup.

For the Vancouver Games, the third hosted by Canada and the first for the province of British Columbia, only one company, CoSport, is authorized to sell tickets in the U.S. and they're already sold out, though more tickets may be released for sale this fall.  Still, we can judge by the Olympics a few years ago tickets will be available on location.  Don't miss your chance to see the winter games close to home!
 
 

 
For soccer fans who like a travel puzzle, Higgins calls the 18th World Cup, the first held on the African continent, "travel roulette" as matches will be held in nine cities during the tournament, slated for June 11-July 11, 2010. Unlike 2006's World Cup in Germany, the distances between venues in South Africa are relatively daunting and less doable via train or bus; in most situations, travel by air will be necessary to get around. Plus, because of how FIFA works, we won't even know which teams are even playing until the qualifying finals December 4, 2009, and, due to the nature of the tournament, you won't know where your team is playing until just a few days before based on how they fared in their previous match.

Luckily, there are several tour operators authorized to sell World Cup tickets to the U.S. market. Hop online, check out the links assembled by Higgins, and get planning. Don't forget that June/July is winter in South Africa, prime safari weather so consider adding to the fun and make your trip a soccer safari.

I need help...

Hey folks,

I need some help.  I will be attending the BC-FSU game this weekend in Chestnut Hill meaning I will be out there for the College Gameday Crew.  I just found their new "sign of the week campaign" and need some good ideas for what to do.  Send 'em over or post in comments below.  I think we can beat these

http://espn.go.com/college-football/gameday#/signs/

MNF Guide: Dallas

 Monday Night Football: Carolina Panthers @ Dallas Cowboys.

May not be an exciting game, but we do get to see America's Team and Jerry Jones' new 1.4 billion dollar stadium.  This stadium, built mostly with his own money, is groundbreaking in size and stature.  Marred with controversy this new stadium has already set multiple records, including NFL attendance (at 105,121) and ha by far the largest video board a whopping 160 by 72 feet (49 m × 22 m) or 11,520-square-feet (1,070 m²).  It is also the first stadium to have seats on the actual field level.  Behind the endzones is the MillerCoors bar, surrounding the Cowboys players as they enter the stadium Gladiator style.

Cowboys stadium has alreay been marred with controversy.  In its first preseason game against the Tennessee Titans on August 21, 2009, rookie kicker A.J. Trapasso hit the scoreboard on a punt after repeatedly hitting it during pre-season warmups.  Also, Jerry Jones "Party Pass" idea, helped create the record setter, which allows fans to stand wherever they want (including filling empty seats) was oversold and there were complaints of fans being overcrowded, not being able to see, and being forced into uncomfortable places.  There also have been multiple articles and fan complaints about the scoreboard being a distraction, and taking away from the gameplay.  

  
Though early, the stadium has already booked the 2011 Superbowl, 2009 and 2010 Big-12 Championships, the 2010 Cotton Bowl, 2010 NBA All-Star game and 2014 NCAA Final Four.  It has also hosted multiple concerts, college football and soccer events.

Video You May Not Have Seen

 Wow, incredible.  Just figured I'd show it.  South Korean high school soccer game.  I couldn't imagine that in person, especially not here.  Imagine high school football in Texas having the crowd do that?  I don't think it'd go so well.  Shows how many amazing sports events and things you can see in person not just here but around the world.  Seriously though, how long do you think this took to coreograph, between the different t-shirts, obviously the timing, and the creativity.  Wonder at what point these kids went to class?  Anyway, enjoy. 

Got any good videos?  send them to taylor.wishman@gmail.com and I will post them on the site.

Gota love football

Like most guys I watched plenty of NFL and NCAA Football games this season and I honestly can't think I've seen a season like this in a long time.  Top 10 teams losing left and right, come from behind winsin the final 10 seconds, Brett freaking Favre driving down the field and throwing a game winning TD pass with 4 seconds left.  It's just incredible.  I hope it continues because wow am I enjoying it.  How can you not?  This season already has one of those that just feels right. Baseball races are close again (Thanks Braves and Twins!) Football is going strong, and the NHL starts this week!

Week One of the Trip of the Week didn't go so poorly either.  While the baseball game was a blowout and was in the books early.  You at least saw some runs and got a chance to relax your emotions for the football weekend and boy did you need it!  That Texas Tech - Houston game was amazing!  Houston coming back, keeping their BCS hopes alive, driving for the game winning TD with :45 seconds left.  Not to be outdone, the Texans and Jaguars went back and forth all afternoon until J'Ville finally held it off late.  Couldn't have asked for a better start!

This week shouldn't be any worse and you will see first hand what I have.  Be prepared for the Trip of the Week as we head to Boston, Bruins open the season against Alex "The Kid," Red Sox final series before the playoffs (which is probably the best way to get a cheap ticket), College Game Day heading to Chestnut Hill before FSU takes the field against BC on Alumni Field, and the Baltimore Ravens, led by Ray Lewis, try to take on the New England Patriots.  I will post pictures, videos, update from my cell phone all week to get ready for it.  Show what a true sports weekend truely is

College Football Saturday

So far so good... awesome day in College Football.  So far this season has been unreal, upsets galore, #9 Miami and #6 Cal just proved that they are very very overated, FSU lost at home again, and BC and Wake played in one of the more epic games I have ever seen.  I was at the Wake BC game and didnt leave to tailgate anytime early.  BC was up 24-10 with five minutes left and somehow blew the lead (including a Riley Skinner 15 yard TD pass with 11 seconds left).  In overtime, BC made a field goal to go up 3 and Wake Forest drove to the 3 yeard line until a triple option call on 1st and goal was fumbled and BC recovered for the win.  While it may not be considered the best tailgate scene, or the most wild crowd, I have seen some of the more exciting games at Boston College.  Leads to the Red Sox, FSU and Patriots games next weekend.  Let's hope this amazing college football season continues.

Thoughts on the SEC battle

I, Like many other football fans, watched the SEC Battle between #4 Ole Miss and The University of South Carolina last night. Thought an awesome defensive battle, the game lacked that offensive punch you want to see when you head to see a powerhouse conference. I've always wanted to travel to an SEC game, but I dont think USC is that spot. Baesd on their games that I've watched, they are just too boring. Defense, defense and more defense. While that wins you games, and I respect it, I want to travel down to the "Top" conference and see some points. Based on my readings and what I've seen Baton Rouge or Gainsville, Florida and LSU are the places to visit.  Don't think their battle wont be listed on my places to visit.

Enjoy the weekend folks.  I will be heading to the Wake Forest - BC game.  Maybe I'll post a picture or 2.

Sports Trip of the Week!

Sports Trip of the Week – 9/23/09

Friday – MLB – Cincinnati Reds @ Houston Astros 7:05

Saturday – NCAAF – Texas Tech @ University of Houston 8:15

Sunday – Jacksonville Jaguars @ Houston Texans 12:00

A surprising stop in the first ever Trip of the Week: Houston, Texas. I choose Houston as my first stop for one big reason, you get to see three sports & three stadiums in three days, talk about the ultimate trip.

I would start my trip off heading to Minute Maid Park to see the Houston Astros face off against the Cincinnati Reds. While both teams have been long eliminated from the playoffs, this gives you a chance to see bashers like Miguel Tejada, Lance Berkman & Carlos Lee take aim at that short left field porch, and centerfielders try to figure out how to play the hill in dead center. Before the game, stop by the B.U.S. bar, the most popular bar to hit up before Astros games. This bar has a huge interior equipped with pool, darts, video games, multiple alma mater flags, big screens, couches and multiple bars. They are also known to have the promo girls walking around, giving out free tastes of Jack Daniel’s, Miller Lite, and other alcoholic beverages. If you want it a little more laid back, hit the Houston Pavilions, filled with stores, restaurants such as Micormic and Schmidts, and other forms of entertainment.

If you want to see some points, head over to Robertson Stadium at the Univeristy of Houston for a in-state battle between the Cougars and the Texas Tech Raiders. Houston is ranked in the Top 25 for the first time since 1991 and while it may be a tough ticket to see the #17 team in the nation at their cozy 32,000 seat stadium, it would be worth it (and you can call you friends watching on ESPN2 to look for you). There’s no better way to get ready for a big game than with a few beers, hot dogs and burgers out at the tailgate scene. Get out there early as people will be getting pumped and ready and the tailgates will be wild. If that’s not your thing, hit up Eric’s Restaurant which offers American bistro fare, its run by the students in the Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management. Plan on staying there late, because this will be a scoring fest from two of the top offenses in college football!

If the Cougars game wasn’t enough for you, get up early and get ready for an early afternoon Houston Texans bash against the Jacksonville Jaguars at noon local time. Get out there early for some more awesome tailgating (make sure to check out the Texans Tailgate Party in the Budweiser Plaza) and get in the stadium early to check out all the awesome amenities in this new retractable roof, stadium. Enjoy the game as Andre Johnson and Matt Schaub try to finally live up to expectations and make the Houston fans happy.

Hope you enjoy this weeks Trip of the Week! Next week, get ready to head out to the Northeast to Boston to check out Fenway Park, Alumni Stadium and Gillette Stadium. Get a live blog at these events as well as I will be attending!

Had a great sports weekend? Sent it along to taylor.wishman@gmail.com. Send a write up and pictures and I will post it on my blog to share for you!

Here it Goes...

This is my first blog discussing sports travel. Traveling to see your favorite sports, venues and teams can be some of the most exciting trips of your life. I personally have gone on baseball trips with my dad and brother every year for the last 14 years (since I was 8). This past summer, my trip to New York and Philadelphia officially put me 30 for 30 in the baseball stadiums. All in all I have visited 40 MLB baseball stadiums as well as many minor league and college stadiums as well including Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, Nebraska which is the home of the College Baseball World Series. I have also visited multiple College and NFL stadiums including two national championship and many bowl games, NHL and College Hockey games, including a National Championship in St. Louis, and College and NBA games. While those are my favorites, I have also attended European Soccer Matches, Golf Tournaments & Tennis Tournaments and visited NASCAR events.

My goal with this site is to display my travel advice, ideas and and showcase trips and venues that I suggest visiting. Sports are fantastic and being able to experience them first hand are some of my greatest memories. Whether you can follow some of my advice and go, or I can show you picures and write-ups of places, I hope you enjoy my blog and enjoy the world of sports travel