The Huddle
Sports reporter Jacob Carpenter examines sports issues from the past and present.
Recent posts
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Weekly Treat — Mussina Goes Out Right
I suppose ESPN’s SportsCenter is only appeasing our taste for the salacious in sports, but even I found this morning’s show noteworthy in its presentation choices.
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Weekly Beef — Sports Illustrated Being Outplayed
This week’s sign of the apocalypse? Sports Illustrated has been benched as the best source of sports media.
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The List — Best & Worst College Nicknames
In middle school, I used to pride myself on the fact that I knew every Division I football team’s nickname. It was one of my greatest accomplishments, up there with graduating from elementary school and perfecting cursive in fourth grade.
The Question — Ultimate Stadium Road Trip
I wrote last week about the disgrace of Indiana’s Memorial Stadium and its fans, commenting along the way that Spartan Stadium is an above average site for football, but not necessarily the best in the nation.
That’s got me thinking — if I could take a yearlong excursion to see every major or college sport in the best arena, stadium or other venue possible, where would I go?
My answer, which is definitely up for debate, is as follows, with some sports obviously left off the list for space issues:
Pro basketball: EnergySolutions Arena — It might be the most poorly named arena in basketball, but I can’t argue with the place more NBA players said is the most intimidating arena for visitors. The home of the Utah Jazz is known for an electric crowd that is one of the loudest in the country. Take that, MSG.
College basketball: Cameron Indoor Stadium — Everybody hates Duke. We get it. Secretly, we’re all just jealous that we can’t get close enough to the floor to whisper in a Tar Heels’ ear (no profanities, of course).
Pro baseball: Fenway Park — Sorry Wrigley, I’m the kind of guy that likes a winner. The Green Monster beats out the ivy-covered brick in Chicago because Boston fans are unique and I’m completely behind anybody that hates the Yankees.
Pro hockey: Bell Centre — Haha, me, go to a hockey game. If I have to choose, I’d go to Montreal, the only location among the major sports where fans speak a language I don’t understand (I can moderately understand Bostonian, so that doesn’t count). The Canadiens have hockey’s richest tradition and diehard fans, so I’m heading way north for my hockey.
Pro football: Lambeau Field — Home of possibly the nation’s most ridiculous fan base, the Green Bay Packers’ venue is a classic unmatched in the NFL. Any team as dedicated to their stadium has to be worth at least one trip. If I wanted to see a guaranteed win along the way, I’d make sure that one trip was on Lions weekend.
College football: The Swamp (Ben Hill Griffin Stadium) — College football has the best combination of hallowed stadiums (Happy Valley, Rocky Top, the Rose Bowl and Ohio Stadium), but the murky home of the Florida Gators has the best look for the space. And it has the best nickname, which is really most important.
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