Last night, after passing my PMP certification exam, I attended the Chicago Bulls game. Once again, I had purchased the ticket at the start of the season for $10. Since I took my exam in downtown Chicago I had wanted to eat dinner in the West Loop before the game. However, I decided to go home and relax after the test and drove directly to the United Center for the start of the Bulls game.
The GameThe Bulls defeated the Knicks 110-103. In the first half, the Bulls showed a video …

I generally do not attend many Chicago Fire games during the season. Their games are usually scheduled on Saturday nights or Sunday afternoons. Saturday nights are normally off limits for sporting events and since I live right by Wrigley Field, Sunday afternoon games sometimes compete with a Sunday afternoon Cubs game. However, today the Fire was home on a Sunday afternoon and the MLB season had not yet started.
Pre Game DiningI invited my friend, FOXSoccer.com columnist Jamie Trecker, to the match. We met Sunday morning at Purgatory Pizza – a …

For the first time I attended the Illinois Derby at Hawthorne Racecourse. I chose this event rather than attend the Chicago Bulls game which tipped off Saturday afternoon at 1 pm. The reasons I chose to attend the Illinois Derby were:
1) I had never attended the Illinois Derby which is a prep race for the Kentucky Derby. 2) I had never attended an event at Hawthorne Racecourse.
Obtaining Tickets and ParkingParking at Hawthorne is free unless you want to park close to the entrance. Entrance to Hawthorne Racecourse …

I had not planned to attend the Chicago Blackhawks game on Wednesday night, but my cousin (who I have either attended with or met at the Beer Bistro the last four Blackhawks games I have attended) invited me on Tuesday night.
Rather than go to the Beer Bistro or Billy Goat Tavern before the game, my cousin had promised his kids he would pick up the Jonathan Toews bobblehead promotional giveaway. So we parked in the official United Center parking lot for $21 and walked into the United Center at …

On Saturday afternoon, the Bulls defeated the Pacers 112-106 in a game that had a couple large lead changes. At one point the Bulls trailed by 14 points and they also blew a 10 point lead in the 4th quarter.
Obtaining TicketsThe Ultimate Sports Wife and I attended the game with two other couples – a “triple date” so to speak. When attending a game with more than 4 people it is generally wise to buy tickets ahead of time since it will guarantee everyone can sit together – especially if …

On Wednesday night, I witnessed an NHL game go to a shootout for the fourth time. The San Jose Sharks, who were behind 4-1 and 5-3 during the game, came back with two goals in the final 5:07 to tie the game at 5 goals apiece – becoming the 15th NHL game I have attended where two teams combined to score more than 10 goals in the same game.
The Blackhawks made their first two shootout attempts while the Sharks missed their first two resulting in the Blackhawks OT win.
Obtaining …

The Chicago Bulls and Chicago Blackhawks are home every day this week. With the Bulls home Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday and the Blackhawks home Wednesday, Friday and Sunday I needed to decide which games to attend since attending all six would not be possible.
Earlier today Nicole called me to say she would be working at the ice skating rink until 8:30 pm and be home around 9 pm. Since the Bulls game started at 7 pm and I would be home no later than 10 pm, I decided …

The Windy City Rollers is Chicago’s premier all-female flat track derby league. As a figure skater, the Ultimate Sports Wife was asked to join the team a couple of years ago and always wanted to attend one of their “bouts.” However, the problem with prior seasons was that the league skated at The Stadium in Cicero – a bit of a jaunt for an evening from Wrigley Field.
This season the team moved to the UIC Pavilion (home of the Chicago Sky and UIC Flames) and began selling their tickets on …

On Monday afternoon I changed hotels from the Ramada to the Hilton Aeropuerto. Nicole arrived from Chicago on Monday evening. The Hilton is located in Terminal 1 which is an easy train ride from Terminal 2 – where Nicole was flying into. Since Nicole was not arriving until after the game started and would need to go through customs, baggage claim and make her way from Terminal 2 to the hotel in Terminal 1, I would have time to attend about half the game Monday night before …

I took a cab back from the hotel to the stadium for Sunday night’s game between Australia and Mexico. I arrived over an hour early for the game and decided to buy a Cuba hat as a souvenir. However, all of the Mexico and Cuba hats were sold at the game Sunday afternoon. I thought to myself – how could the World Baseball Classic not supply enough hats for even the fans attending the second game to purchase?
Just as I had eaten for lunch, I ate at …