Our Minnesota Timberwolves are moving into the NBA Western Conference Finals this week, which means that I am already thinking about getting tickets should they win and advance to the NBA Finals.
I’ve been “collecting” sports championships / playoff games my whole adult life, going back to when our Minnesota Twins won the World Series in 1987 & 1991. In 1987, I was a poor college student, but by 1991, I was plunking down some of my MegaCorp salary for outfield seats for the Autumn Classic (Twins won G2, and went on to win the Series in 7 games).
Since then, we’ve gone to some great events. Maybe I was ahead of the crowd in buying “experiences” instead of things …
- 🏈 Super Bowl LII, 2018
- 🏈 Rose Bowl, 2011 🌹
- 🏀 First Timberwolves Game, 1990
- 🏀 Final Four/NCAA Title, 2019
- ⚾️ MLB World Series – Twins, 1991
- ⚾️ StP Saints – First Game, 1993
- ⚾️ MLB – 32 Different Ballparks
- ❄️ Winter X Games, 2005-07
- 🛹 Summer X Games, 2017
- 🎾 US Open Men’s Finals, 1997
- ⛳️ Ryder Cup, Hazeltine, 2016
- ⛳️ PGA Championship, 2002
- ⛳️ LPGA US Open, 2008
- 🥅 NHL Winter Classic, 1/1/2022
- 🥅 Stanley Cup Semifinals, 2015
- 🤸♀️ Olympic Gymnastics Trials, 1984
- 🥌 Olympic Curling Trials, 2017
- 🏁 Indianapolis 500, 2000 & 2022
- 🏁 NASCAR BofA 500, 2005
- 🏁 Rolex 24 Hours Daytona 2021-23
Now I’ll be looking to add the 2025 NBA Finals to the list. I have the program & ticket stubs from each event framed on the wall next to my pool table. It’s a fun collection of memories.
I had tickets secured for the for 2004 NBA Finals 21 years ago, but they didn’t make it that far – being taken out by the LA Lakers before they could get there. Hopefully this year will be different, but the Timberwolves are again underdogs to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The top of my sports bucket list is the 2028 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles. My wife knows that if I’m alive, I am going. Beyond that, other Championships that I would love to add to the list are the Stanley Cup Finals (if our MN Wild ever make it), one of the Triple Crown Horse Races, The Masters in Augusta, and a Formula 1 Grand Prix. (Maybe I’ll want to see a Pickleball championship sometime, too!)
Yes, all of these would be expensive, but after buying NFL Super Bowl tickets back in 2018, I think I could fit each of them in my “fun money” budget if I went to one every year or so.
I know most early retirees get to early retirement by being more sensible with their money, but this is one of my guilty pleasures. I know that you get a better view watching on TV. Please don’t spoil my impracticality on this one.
For me, there is just something special to being in the crowd and feeling the vibe. I’m thinking when I’m too old to do anything but sit in my chair and watch these events on TV, at least I’ll enjoy remembering when “when we were there”.
What’s your guilty pleasure to spend some time ”fun money” on?
Images: (c) MrFireStation.com
MrFireStation 
That is quite a list. Great job. I was at the first Timberwolves game as well. I have a story behind that one.
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That game was at the Metrodome against MJ & the Bulls! I have a great picture (from the Star Tribune) of MJ dunking the ball with Kirby Puckett cheering him on from a court side seat.
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We splurge on Concert Tickets and quality food including for our dogs. Just bought tickets to three concerts over the weekend in the first couple rows.
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We don’t have any concerts lined up right now. Those sound like great seats! Who are you going to see?
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KC and the Sunshine Band at the Pacific Amphitheater, Boz Scaggs at the Segerstrom Performing Arts Center, and Dwight Yoakum and The Mavericks at The Greek. Really nice venues!
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I think I’d go to all of those! A friend saw Boz Scaggs last summer and he said it was excellent.
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Definitely fewer concerts than last year’s plethora so far.
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My wife is going to Rick Springfield with her sister, but my summer is open (for now!).
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Great musicians with strong bands and good showmen as well.
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Here is a really small venue that Rick Springfield plays at from time to time. I think local musicians use this as a warm up before they hit the road. If you jump on getting your tickets, you can get a table right up against the stage.
https://wheremusicmeetsthesoul.com/canyon-agoura-hills/
I also forgot to mention that we saw a really nice animal movie on Amazon Prime over the weekend called “A Bear named Winnie”. Been out since 2004, but never saw it before. It is the true story about how bear cub was rescued by a Canadian soldier going to WW I in the veterinary corps. His regiment took the bear with them as a mascot. Winnie ended up in the London Zoo and was a big hit with kids who could feed her by hand. The playwriter L.L. Milne saw this and wrote the children’s book “Winnie the Poo”.
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Wow – I’m familiar with that Winnie the Pooh story. I’ve been to that city on the north shore of Lake Superior – White River Ontario – that the bear was “adopted”. I did a “circle tour” of Superior with some JEEP buddies a few years ago. I’ll check that movie out!
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