One really strange happening that I have never shared with anyone and that I will never forget was walking in New York City the night of 9-10-01. I was right near Rockefeller Center and it started to pour. It was raining so hard that I had to duck into the nearest place that I could find. It just so happened that place was a museum like learning center called the FDNY Fire Zone. “At the Fire Zone, visitors are led into a Simulated Fire scene. Through real life testimonies, they learn how easily fires can start, and how quickly they can spread, and most importantly, how an escape plan could get them to safety.” I spent a good half hour walking through the Fire Zone waiting out the rain and learning about the horrors of a fire with no idea that in a little over twelve hours I would personally witness the most devastating effects of a fire in American history.

I happened to work in Midtown Manhattan at the time and I remember coming into my office at 225 West 34th street on the morning of 9-11. Freddy the building Super told me that a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center. In my mind it was some tiny twin engine plane. I then took the elevator up to my office and I remember walking in the door and a colleague telling me that a another plane had hit the other tower. I turned on the radio and a disc jockey was talking about America being under attack. A few people in my office gathered around the radio to listen to details on the developing story. I felt completely helpless and frightened as to what was going to happen next. I was in total shock. The DJ talked about more planes still in the air targeting other sites. It was a harrowing experience. Growing up in this country and up until that exact moment it never even crossed my mind to worry about being attacked in such a manner. This was the United States for God’s sake. 9-11 marked the end of the innocence for me and so many others. The unbelievable had happened and I witnessed it first hand. No longer could I ever think or believe that something could not happen. Now anything was possible.

A group of us went up to the roof of our building which provides a clear view of downtown Manhattan. The sky was a perfect shade of blue that day. A beautiful Indian Summer day. It was easy to see the smoke coming out of both Towers. As we stood aghast I didn’t even realize we were standing in the shadow of the Empire State Building another potential target. I was too enthralled by the spectacle I was witnessing to even make the connection. I watched as each tower crumbled to the ground. It was totally surreal. Still to this day when I find myself in lower Manhattan it is hard to comprehend that the towers are simply no longer there.

Ten years later when I think about that day the first image that comes to my mind is of the people caught above the impact of where the planes hit the building. The ones who had no where to go because they were cut off from being able to walk down the stairs. These are the people who were forced to decide to either jump or become engulfed in flames. There are photo’s I have seen over the years of people standing in the broken out windows of the top floors peering down hundreds of floors above the ground knowing that they had to choose how they would die. It is so difficult to look at these photo’s and think about those people as to what was going on in their minds at that very moment.

At my local gym which I have been a member of since 1999 there are pictures of two guys tacked to the bulletin board near the basketball court. The two guys were regulars in our pick up basketball games. The photo’s were cut out from the New York Times which ran stories on every person who died in the towers shortly after 9-11. The photo’s have been pinned up on the wall for ten years. I often look at the pictures of the two guys. As each year passes I often think to myself what these two people missed and all the wonderful things in life that they never got to experience. They were my age at the time of their deaths. I think about all I have experienced since that day like marriage, children, new friendships, and so much more.

They probably died never having heard the words Osama Bin Laden and certainly not capable of knowing the meaning 9-11. I often wondered if they were to walk back into the gym today ten years gone all of the things I could fill them in on. It’s incredible to think how much has changed in our world in just ten short years. I don’t even think they could comprehend technology and the changes that have happened since 2001. Iphone, Ipads, Social Networks, and so on. Its incredible what has changed. How about the first African American President? Or the Boston Red Sox actually winning the World Series. Even more incredible is the New Orleans Saints are Super Bowl champs and New Orleans itself was almost wiped off the map. What would they think if I told them Lehman Brothers and Bear Stearns no longer exist. Gone. How about taking a trip to see a game at the new Yankee Stadium, new Shea Stadium, new Giants Stadium, new Devils Arena, and the new Red Bulls stadium. What would they think looking at these amazing structures. So much has changed and so much has been missed by all those who perished. Thinking about 9-11 always reminds me to enjoy all the blessings I have been able to experience in my life. As I quickly found out on 9-11, anything can happen in this world of ours and nothing is guaranteed so make sure to be thankful for all the good we are able to experience.

Now here is my best tip at this event. The good news is that what I am going to tell you is also cheap. So don’t worry about shelling out $3,000 for court side tickets at the Semi’s or buying into a luxury suite for the finals because the best part of the Open happens in week one. This is when you can purchase a basic grounds admission ticket which will run you less then lunch at the food court. During week one there a tons of matches taking place on the outer courts each session. Park yourself at one of these outer courts and take in some of the best tennis in the world from literally ten feet away from the players. There are usually only a handful of people sitting on the metal benches watching any given match so you can literally hear the players talking to one another and the chair judge. It’s really incredible that most people rush right to Arthur Ashe Stadium to watch the featured match when the Open gives you the opportunity to roam all the outer courts and watch as you please. The beauty is it’s first come first serve but that rarely ever matters because most folks just head into the main stadiums leaving you plenty of space to spread out and enjoy the fun.

1. Miami
2. New Orleans
3. Phoenix
4. San Diego
5. NYC

The two experiences that can make a sporting event great are attending a championship or playoff game between two rivals whose fans love to hate each other and going to an event that is so unique and fun that it can be a lifelong memory, even if you weren’t a fan of the sport.

NASCAR’s popularity is at an all-time high and the Daytona 500 is its Super Bowl, except instead of coming at the end of a long season, it kicks off the NASCAR season in February and is possibly one of the country’s biggest parties. Plus, a road trip to Daytona Beach, Florida in the heart of wintertime is always a good time. Whether you get to spend time relaxing on the beach or not, you’re going to want to check out the Daytona 500 Experience a few days before the race. The Daytona 500 experience is a fan friendly attraction located next to the racetrack. At Acceleration Alley, you can get a simulated feel for what it’s like for Jimmy Johnson to blow by Kurt Busch along the wall and get a glimpse of the highly tuned skills and coordination it takes to drive a NASCAR car. The ride provides you with a rush of adrenaline and an IMAX theatre 3D movie provides you with a glimpse of the fun you’ll have when you attend the race.

Get ready for over three hours of fun and exhilaration as you join about 170,000 race fans at the speedway to cheer on their favorite drivers. The power of the cars whirling at 200 mph is palpable and if you’re not a fan of the sport you will be when you leave. If you are able to get into the Sprint Fan Zone you will feel closer to the action and at the Budweiser Party Porch, you’ll enjoy be bonding with strangers more at Florida’s loudest party.

Ever since Babe Ruth made his road trip from Boston to New York in 1920 the Yankee-Red Sox rivalry has transcended sports. From Bucky Dent’s homerun in 1978 to decide a one-game playoff for the Yankees to Aaron Boone (Red Sox fans say his name a bit more colorfully) winning the 2003 A.L. pennant with a homerun in extra innings of Game seven, the Yankees have long pushed die-hard Red Sox fans to drink. But, after the miraculous 2004 season when the Sox came back from 3 games down to break “the curse” and win the World Series, the two teams have been battling it out for baseball supremacy.

Whether you go to the new, palatial Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, or the old, legendary Fenway Park in Boston, a chance to attend a Red Sox-Yankee playoff game can be bigger than the World Series. A road trip to either one of these cities during the playoffs will remind you of the passion that sports can bring out in the true fan. The electricity in the air at both parks will move you to your feet at the big moments and you’ll either leave heartbroken or enthralled, but either way, you’ll never forget you were there.

When planning the ultimate sports road trip, use a site like RentACarNow.com to get the lowest options on car rental prices.

10. Game 1 of the 1986 World Series. We had great seats courtesy of my friend Mike who’s dad hooked us up big time with field level “old orange seats” behind home plate. Tim Teufel lets a grounder go through his legs to lose the game for the Mets. I am sure Bill Buckner was laughing when that happened. Little did he know what he was in for later in the series…..and little did I know what game 6 would become. I ended up turning down tickets for game 6  due to flu like symptoms, biggest mistake of my life.

9. I was in Boston one week before 9-11 with friends to relive the old college days at Boston University and take in a Red Sox/Yankees game. Mike Mussina carries a legite perfect game into the 9th inning. One out to go for a perfect game and he gives up a hit to Carl Everett of all people. The Yankees win the game and sweep the series as me and my friends serenade Sox fans with brooms. Little did I know what was going to happen a week later. We flew home that Monday on the same route the 9-11 Hijackers would take out of Boston a week later. Scary and sad.

8. Smarty Jones wins the Kentucky Derby. My first trip to the Derby. An absolute incredible event experience. Kentucky Derby instantly becomes my favorite major event.

7. 1995 Greenwich Village Little League game in North Meadow Central Park. The Expos take second place as I manage my first and only Little League team. To think those kids I managed are now 25 years old makes me sick.

6. Big John Stud comes to the Westchester County Center 1984. Nothing got bigger then this in WWF wrestling pre Wrestlemania. I can’t tell you how pysched I was for this match at the time.

5. 1996 World Series clincher at Yankee Stadium. We had seats in the right field bleachers. Yankees win their first World Series since the 70′s. Boggs rides around the stadium on the horse. Yankees fans go nuts on River Avenue. I took my dad and I will always share this experience with him. I also went to Game 1 with my friend Jason as the Yankees got pummeled and we just happened to scalp tickets in the section with Braves families. Not too much fun but game 6 made up for that one.

4. The Giants beat the Pats in the Super Bowl in Phoenix, Arizona. I took my father-in law to the game who is a die hard Giants fan. I think I enjoyed this one as much as seeing the Pats lose as watching the Giants win it. I am a die hard Jets fan but root for the Giants as long as they are not playing the Jets, especially when they are playing the Pats. It was an incredible game and now a great memory.

3. Jets beat the Pats in Foxboro last year to win a trip to the AFC championship game in Pittsburgh. No feeling like being in the crowd in a hostile enviornment and sharing in such a huge win with other fans who traveled to the game. Too bad the following week in Pitt I wouldn’t be too happy.

2. The New York Rangers win the Stanley Cup in game 7 at the Garden, 1994. “This one will last a lifetime.” I didn’t realize Sam Rosen actually meant it! I cant even describe how good this one felt and what it was like outside the Garden that night. Magical.

1. The New York Rangers defeat the New Jersey Devils in game seven of the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals. Never ever felt an energy in my life so low when the Devils scored to tie it to send it to OT. Never felt an energy so great when Matteau scored that goal!

Britain is a great place to visit especially if you love golf. Here is my shameless plug for Golftours.com. Golftours.com can help you re-enact your favorite British Open moments whether it’s in England at courses such as Royal St. George’s or in Scotland at the world famous St. Andrews Golf Club. Another good reason to visit Royal St. George’s is you can play other great links courses such as Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club or Princess Golf Club which are both former British Open Courses. You can actually play every course the British Open has ever taken place on if you wanted to. This is something you could never do in the states with playing all the US Open courses and the Masters course. Try booking a tee time at Augusta!

Special thanks to my man, Nic Makepeace, interning for me this summer all the way from London helping me out with these international event posts.

It got me thinking what I find really offensive at a sporting event.

Here are my top five most offensive sites at a sporting event.

5. Those empty seats up close while people are packed in the bleachers

4. Die hard fans in the upper deck and the empty suit on his cell phone in the front row

3. The $10 Beer, you just feel like you got ripped off unless you are a New Yorker then its normal

2. Guy who wears the jersey of the wrong player (Jets fans if you own a Mark Gastineau or Keyshawn Johnson jersey get rid of it)

1. Even worse the guy who wears his own jersey, Jets #99 “Goldberg”