The year(s) in review...

Happy 2015! As expected, it's taken me a few years to return to any form of blogging, especially since our sports trips significantly decreased in number after the kids were born. But we've still managed some fun trips over the past few years, and have thus far been successful at brainwashing teaching our children about sports and they have already attended a handful of games with us. Because I'm going to include some events that we attended since April 2012, this covers a two year span. Hey, if ESPN can include multiple plays in a "Top Play", then I can include multiple years in a year in review. Besides, it's my blog.

Since 2012, Tony and I have attended twenty-five sporting events together. Jackson has been to two college football games, three college basketball games, 1.3 college baseball games and six MLB games. Natalie is a little more of a slacker at one college football game, one college basketball game, and five MLB games (though you have to give her a little bit of credit since she just had surgery for one of Jackson's MLB games). Here are my best of:

Best City to Visit: I have to admit I don't have a formula in how to figure this out. I purposefully exclude Atlanta, Athens, and Auburn. I am also going to exclude New York since it is my all time favorite city to visit and because I don't think it's fair to compare other cities to New York. This year's trophy goes to Pittsburgh, and no Tony has not completely brainwashed me as well. It's a great sports town, and we also managed to do quite a bit of non-sports activities, including visiting the Andy Warhol museum and the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. The food was great, walking around the city was reasonable, and the skyline is lovely. But that does not mean I'm moving there anytime in the near future (or in my lifetime, Tony).

Roberto Clemente Bridge

Visiting Hines Heinz Field

Best Facility: I could easily be a homer and say Turner Field or Sanford Stadium. But I won't. Begrudgingly, I'm going to say PNC Park. I really wish I could say Consol Energy Center (home of the Penguins) or the Barclays Center in New York, but I am partial to outdoor facilities. There are a lot of ballparks that have more history, and a lot of the newer ballparks that boast awesome views, but this one is special.

Tony gets his first win in Pittsburgh

Best Fans: Penguins fans. I've been to a handful of hockey games, but the energy for Game 2 of the second round of playoffs against the Rangers was like no other. Even though it was a playoff game, I'll give them the benefit of a doubt that they're like that all season.

Best Hall of Fame Induction Speech: Gregory Alan Maddux, first ballot HOFer, 355 wins, 3,371 strike-outs, 999 walks. My favorite line: "My brother, Mike, led by example. Everything I was about to do on and off the field, he had already done. I was very fortunate to have a brother that I could learn from. He even taught me a little bit about science. It has to do with a little methane and a lighter, and I still get a huge kick out of it today."

Best or @#$%^iest Play (depending on where your allegiances lie): This comes from the 2013 college football season. You know it, I know it. Let's leave it at that.