(07-05-2016 08:35 PM)Tiki Owl Wrote:  

(07-04-2016 11:16 AM)doughtyrowdy Wrote:  If a WKU fan can throw in a comment, the Astrodome is probably the Fenway/Wrigley Field of domed stadiums. It was cutting edge in 1965. But I'm not sure a historical designation will be enough to save it though. I have a soft spot for the place as its where WKU played its lone NCAA Final 4 in 1971. Western lost to Villanova in 2 OT's and later beat Kansas in the old 3rd place lead in game prior to the championship. Great memories of the place.

Saw that Final Four sitting about where home plate was with the court around 2nd base. Both Villanova and WKU were DQ'ed due to Howard Porter and Jim McDaniel having signed pro contracts during the season.

You are correct. Both spots are listed as (vacated) by our beloved NCAA. I really can't fault McDaniels gullibility, due to his poor upbringing. But as usual, the NCAA penalizes those left behind. WKU has never really regained its national stature since the probation.

And, that must have been quite a nosebleed seat you watched from...

Two more memories, although I did not participate in person:

Astro's game in the 'Dome rained out because people could not get to the game, including most of the players.

Listening to the 'Stros beat the Pirates on a Sunday afternoon in extra innings when someone hit an easily catch able ball into the outfield and a Pirates outfielder slipped on wet AstroTurf due to a missing roof window during a rainstorm.

Mike Scott's No Hitter.

I was scheduled to go to that game with my off-campus roomies, but got caught in traffic and ended up not going. When they came back that night I was both elated and pissed!

The Rockets celebration after winning the 1994 NBA title. They just played "we are the champions" endlessly. I think Rudy T said "never underestimate the heart of a champion", but I'm not sure if that was the first time he said it.

I wasn't there but I was working nearby when the RNC was held there in 1992. I never saw so many suits wearing dark sunglasses!

as good a tribute as you can find:

The Dome's last decade in the Houston spotlight was the 1990s. What could its future hold?

I was doing stats for UH in the 1970s and early 1980s. They were playing aTm at the Dome, and the Ags were highly favored. But UH just stomped them. About midway the second quarter the press box phone rang, and whoever called asked to speak to the Aggie SID, who at the time was, I believe, Spec Gammon. We paged him to the booth, and he came in and took the call. When he hung up he was laughing. He said, "That is some former student out in town who is listening to the game, and told me to tell the coaches to call time out. I told him that I didn't think that would do any good, so he said, then have them call two time outs.

I have lot of great memories. 35-7, when I was working the UH stat crew but wore my Rice letter sweater to the game. Dierker's, Forsch's, and one of Ryan's no-hitters. First game I saw in the Dome, and first football game in the Dome, UH v. Tulsa football on natural grass, when the footing was so bad that it was obvious that they were going to have to do something. UH v. UCLA in the college basketball game of the century in 1968, the game that started TV money to intercollegiate athletics. Muhammad Ali boxing matches, one of which did not last long enough for some of our party to get to their seats. Astros first ever post-season game, against Phillies in 1980.

I sincerely hope that Houston finds some way to keep it in some capacity. But Houston is not known for preserving history.

My very first MOB experience was at the UH game in the 'Dome in 1973.
I was a speaker pusher, as I hadn't had time to learn the music yet, having just arrived from Houston Baptist.

A lot of MOB experiences, including having my parents in a halftime show as show assistants.

Got to announce for the Whataburger all-star game halftime show (only time I've been in the press box.

Played in the '86 Olympic Festival all-star band that Ken Dye put together.

Saw the Bell rocket pack in action, before a rodeo.

Saw Roy Rogers & Dale Evans perform at my first rodeo, back in high school.

Performed with the Stanford Band, along with three other MOBsters, in the '79 Bluebonnet Bowl.

Performed at an Oilers halftime with The MOB, at a Monday Night Football game. That was likely the the loudest sustained volume my ears have ever endured.

Good times.
Lousy acoustics, but good times.

(11-05-2013 11:59 PM)NYNightOwl Wrote:  Mike Scott no-hitter

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Was there as well. Not just a no-no.... a no-no to clinch the division.

Ryan flirted for 7 innings with a no-no in the previous game.

In the playoff, Game 6 vs the Mets. Billy Hatcher cranking a long ball to left in the bottom of the 14th inning, and curving just barely foul on what would have been the game tying home run.

The despair after that of 'there goes the season'.

The Billy hits the next pitch to the same place, just fair and actually hitting the foul pose, to actually tie the game in the bottom of the 14th. What an incredible low/high in a stunning game.

Went 16. NY ended up +2 in the top of the inning. Astros cut it to down by one, with two on with two outs. Kevin Bass batting, goes to 3-2. Orosco threw nothing but garbage breaking balls to Bass his entire AB. KB Ks to end the season. Just flipping heartbreaking.

I think ESPN ranked that game as one of the top 50 games of the previous 50 years abut 8 or 9 years ago.

'86 was magical summer/fall.

(06-28-2016 09:10 AM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  

(06-28-2016 08:55 AM)Afflicted Wrote:  I just want to throw this out there, but I wonder why the Astrodome can't make it as a multi-purpose sports stadium again? Just renovate it, but keep it as it has always been. It could be the mecca of Texas high school football. The city's professional and high school teams could play there. Partner up with them and come to an agreement. Have them schedule some of their games there, especially in baseball. People would love it. Have a couple of the rodeos there, like old times. People would pay good money to attend events in the dome. Some of that money could be diverted to pay for all the maintenance and upkeep. Make it a lot like a Texas Sports Museum, so folks not only get to attend a game, but also learn some history about all of the greats that played and coached there over the years. I don't see why something like this can't work.

There is a line in the Jimmy Buffett song Permanent Reminder that is an appropriate response.

That is a *bad* memory of the 'Dome. Buffett played the Houston Rodeo there in 86 or so.

Just terrible. That god awful rotating clamshell of a stage in the middle of the arena, and, with all respect, HLSR fans are *not* Parrothead types.

Worst Parrot outing ever in my life. (22 of them...)