Always struck me as funny that 100m finals are so popular to watch live. It is amazing, and very impressive, but it is just over 9.5 seconds!!! I mean, imagine if you had to sneeze just as the start gun went off, you'd miss almost the whole thing. I have been to a Wimbledon men's final, a good few hours of entertainment. Loved it.
1971, went to see the original 'Fight of the Century' live at the Odeon Kensington High Street. I'd paid the princely sum of £10 for a seat to watch the closed-circuit broadcast of the first ever meeting of two undefeated Heavyweight Champions Ali v Frazier. This was when there was only one recognised champion at each of the eight classic weights, Ali had been stripped of his title for refusing his call-up where he made the classic observation that "No Viet-Cong ever called me a ******". Frazier succeeded him and was an awesome 'in yer face' hard-man, it was the ultimate boxer v fighter contest. The cinema was absolutely packed out with an equal number of supporters for each boxer, the action was tremendous and the atmosphere electric as they went toe to toe for 15 brutal rounds, the fight reaching a stunning climax in the last round when Frazier nailed Ali with a brilliant left hook which broke Ali's jaw and floored him, a moment that was etched in the memory with the hairs standing up on the back of your neck, truly unforgettable. What was more amazing was that Ali got up from it and held Frazier off for the remainder of that last round. The place was in absolute bedlam from the moment that blow was landed until the judge's verdict which almost brought the roof down. Ali lost the fight but won new respect for his stubborn bravery that he later showed against all the top fighters of that 'Golden Era'. Simply a night to remember...
Brilliant description Sooper. I think the hottest tickets only become clear in retrospect. I went to the World Cup Final in Italy 90, Germany 1 Argentina 0 and it was awful, mainly due to Argentina. Everyone knew it was going to be dire and it was easy to get a ticket. I've written about this on here before, but for me the 'hottest ticket' was for the second leg of the European Cup semi final 1989, AC Milan v Real Madrid. First leg in Madrid ended 1-1, Milan destroyed Madrid 5-1 at the San Siro with the most awesome display of total football I have seen. Nearly 80,000 in the stadium which was moving discernably when we were jumping up and down in unison. My favorite game attended, next to my first QPR match (3-0 v Cardiff, 1972).
That Milan side with the three Dutchmen was really the ultimate superteam, no weaknesses anywhere. It's funny how certain things from these great occasions stick in your mind, I always remember in the lead-up to the fighters coming into the ring none other than Frank Sinatra taking photos of them and continuing to take pictures through the fight...
3 Dutchmen and 8 Italians - I have a hankering for a return to the days of restricted numbers of foreigners, but it will never happen. At the same time Inter had Klinsmann, Matthaus and Brehme. When you have restricted numbers you go for quality. Frazier seems to have been dealt a rough hand by history, forever in Ali's shadow, but he was an awesome boxer. The heavyweight division from 50s through to late 70s, was, for most of the time, outstanding.
I really think that 1st Ali v Frazier fight took so much out of both boxers they never reached those peaks again, it was not long after that Foreman totally destroyed Frazier in two rounds flooring him six times including one punch that lifted a 15 stone Frazier clean off his feet...
Absolutely brilliant..I had totally forgotten abot boxing For me..A Hagler v Hearns ticket would be well up there Thank you
Possibly, but anyone who has boxed wil tell you that there was a lot of skill involved in those battles... How about Duran? a man of steel
Certainly not this winter OGs ****. Because all the channels are taken up with it I can choose between watching the Scum (not happening) or watching skating or some other pony. Paying good money for PL and streaming Norwich-Man. City
Yes, that match is right up there - as a lad I watched this with my Dad on TV and our comeback was absolutely amazing after all the doom & gloom we felt at half-time. When I came over for the Charlton game last year on Nov 23rd, before my stadium tour I took a walk around the perimeter of Loftus Road to soak up the atmosphere and met & chatted with an oldtimer R's fan, Peter Sangster, 86 yrs old, who mentioned that he had unexpectedly been given 3 tickets for that League Cup Final at Wembley, which was a wonderful surprise for his family. Also his mother grew up in Paddington, on the same street as my Grandfather - Hethpool Street (near the canal).
Despite the Olympics I still had 3 matches available to watch live on TV:- Chelsea v Newcastle (you missed a couple of choice Eden Hazard goals?) Norwich v Man City Saints v Stoke plus Leicester v Watford on Bet 365 live stream. Will definitely be watching some Olympics coverage later, but generally Sat/Sun, I like to get my chores out of the way and watch football. Napoli v AC Milan is also on later at 3:45pm (my time) on Bet 365 live stream.
WE didn't even have the Leicester game, although that was what I watched on Firstrow. None of the QPR games that are on Sky are scheduled either.
