Saturday was a day dedicated to the Winter X Games since it was the first day with Final events during the afternoon rather than just the evening.
Pre Game DiningTo start off the day, Nicole and I shopped in Aspen, followed by brunch at the Wienerstube – one of Aspen’s only restaurants open before noon.
Winter X GamesWe spent most of the day at Winter X Games. The afternoon events were Women’s Skiing Slopestyle Final, Women’s Snowboard Slopestyle Final, Men and Women’s SnowboarderX Final, and Men’s Snowboard Slopestyle Final. However, …

We made the drive to Aspen Thursday afternoon. However, rather than attend Winter X Games Thursday night, we had reservations at the Pine Creek Cookhouse Thursday evening. This restaurant was not only a 30-minute drive from Aspen, but was also a 30-minute sleigh ride from the restaurant’s parking lot! Total cost for the evening $120 per person but was worth the wintery experience.
Friday was a different story. The Ultimate Sports Wife and I skied on Aspen Mountain Friday afternoon, which was followed by an evening at Winter X Games.
Winter X …

With one of the Ultimate Sports Wife’s good friends just moving to Denver, CO a few months ago and a visit to see her long overdue, we decided to fly to Denver Wednesday afternoon for a weekend of skiing and Winter X Games in Aspen, CO.
Nicole’s friend Nicole Neuschler (who I will call “the Neusch” from now on in order to avoid confusion with the Ultimate Sports Wife’s first name) lives in Denver, so we had the option to fly to Denver or Aspen. We decided to fly to …

The Chicago Bulls are now 4-4 this season when I am in attendance at the United Center after losing to the Atlanta Hawks last night 105-102. The loss gave the Hawks their first season sweep of the Bulls in NBA history.
Chicago Bulls AttendanceTwo months ago when I saw the Atlanta Hawks play on a Tuesday night the attendance at the game was 21,738 and the arena was pretty full. However, the Bulls are now seven games under .500 after last night’s loss. Although last night’s announced crowd was 20,389 there …

As was the case five months ago, my friend Todd emailed me that he had a ticket for me to attend WWE Raw last night. I had planned to eat dinner at the Chili’s by the arena before the event. However, Todd called me earlier in the day to say I could eat dinner in the Hospitality room between 5:30 and 7:30 pm.
Rather than pay $20 to park in the Allstate Arena parking lot, I parked in the Target parking lot (by the Chili’s) as I did last time. Since …

In my first men’s college basketball game of the season, Northwestern defeated its first ranked opponent since it defeated then #18 Iowa on February 8, 2006. Northwestern used a 16-0 run early in the second half to take a 47-37 lead over Minnesota and never looked back, defeating the Golden Gophers 74-65.
The arena was mostly Minnesota fans who (after the 16-0 run) began complaining about each referee call that went against them. However, they were not nearly as bad as the Wisconsin fans I sat next to last year.
Obtaining TicketsI …

For the second night in a row I drove down to the United Center. This time it was to watch the Chicago Bulls host the Portland Trail Blazers.
Pre Game DiningI parked in my usual Red Top Parking Lot on the corner of Ashland Ave. and Madison St. I decided to eat at the Taco Bell that is adjacent to the parking lot. This Taco Bell must be one of the slowest fast food restaurants around – tonight it took 20 minutes to order and receive one bean burrito.
The GameIt was …

Around 3:45 pm yesterday, the Ultimate Sports Wife checked her Facebook account and noticed that my cousin’s status read “Carl is going to the Hawks game!!” Having wanted to go to the Blackhawks game myself and get together with my cousins, I called Carl’s father, Jim, and asked if he was going as well. He was, as well as his wife and Carl’s girlfriend. Nicole realizing that her checking of Facebook was leading her directly to the Blackhawks game added “I don’t think I will state anyone’s status to you …

Last night the Chicago Bulls defeated the Sacramento Kings 99-94 (and miss giving the crowd free Big Mac’s by one point). It was the first time I have seen the Kings play at the United Center.
The Bulls converted 33 of 36 free throws. The Bulls converted their first 29 free throws which would have set a franchise record if they had not shot 4 for 7 to end the game. The previous Bulls record for free throws without a miss occurred on February 9, 1977 when the Bulls went 25-for-25 …

The NHL may have given sports fans everywhere a new New Year’s Day tradition: the Winter Classic.  In its second year, Chicago fans were in a euphoric state about the Winter Classic at Wrigley Field on the first day of 2009.  What can be more blissful than bringing two classic hockey teams- The Hawks and Red Wings- to the nations most nostalgic stadium- Wrigley Field?  

After watching the NHL assemble the ice rink piece-by-piece through the opening in left field, I was more than happy to call it an early night …