It's Only Rock and Roll

The Rolling Stones, October 6, 2005

Scott Stadium, Section 112, Row L



WELCOME MIDLOTHIAN.

The Rolling Stones stopped their show early Thursday night at UVA's Scott Stadium. Sixty minutes into the show Thursday night, Mick Jagger made an unexpected announcement. He stepped to the microphone and announced to the 55,000 fans on hand that the band was taking an intermission at the request of stadium security. Jagger said the Stones would be back in around ten minutes.

Shortly thereafter, the stadium lights came back on and bomb sniffing dogs were brought onto the stage. According to witnesses, the band was escorted out of the stadium. The band was seen getting into vans and being driven away from the stadium under police escort.

Security cleared out those sitting on the stage, those sitting in the first thirty rows on the field and those in the first ten rows in the stadium sections closest to the stage. Dogs were seen sniffing on the stage, in those aforementioned areas of seats and backstage.

In an official press release, Carol Wood, Assistant Vice President for University Relations states, “a bomb threat was phoned in at 8:56 p.m. to 911. The threat was specific to the stage area in Scott Stadium. Every action was taken to ensure the safety of those in attendance. The crowd of approximately 50,000 was cooperative and worked with the police and concert staff throughout the sweep, which lasted for about 45 minutes. Once the police declared the area safe, the concert resumed. The band said it would not cut the concert short, and completed the entire repertoire. The show finally concluded without further incident at about 12:15 a.m”.

The press release further states that the bomb threat will be under investigation by University of Virginia Police with the assistance of Charlottesville, Albemarle and State police, all of which were in attendance at Thursday night's concert and part of the Police Command Center.

The setlist:

1. Start Me Up
2. It's Only Rock'n Roll
3. Shattered
4. Tumbling Dice
5. Rough Justice
6. Ruby Tuesday
7. Sweet Virginia
   
8. All Down the Line
   
9. Night Time is the Right Time
   --- band intros, thru Ronnie.
   Time: 9:43pm
   "We have to take a 10 minute break, according to the authorities". Band leaves the Stadium, they bring in bomb sniffing dogs, clear out the stage people entirely, and vacate everyone in the first third of the field and the seats at the ends of Mick's catwalks.
   Time: 10:38pm
10. Miss You (to second stage)
11. Oh No, Not You Again
12. Get Off My Cloud
13. Honky Tonk Women (from second stage)
14. Sympathy For The Devil
15. Midnight Rambler!
16. Paint It Black
17. Brown Sugar
18. Jumping Jack Flash
19. You Can't Always Get What You Want (encore)
20. Satisfaction (encore)

Inaugural Phantoms Game

Rochester Americans v Philadelphia Phantoms, October 6, 1996

The Spectrum, Section B, Row 19

The Phantoms played their first ever home game at the Spectrum on October 6, 1996 against the defending Calder Cup Champion Rochester Americans, winning the game 3-1. When the Flyers moved into the Big House across the parking lot, the Spectrum needed a tenant. The Flyers moved their AHL affiliate from Hershey to Philadelphia.

The Phantoms became an instant success led by Vaclav Prospal and Frank The Animal Bialowas.

The Phantoms began playing in the Wachovia Spectrum in 1996, and have spent their entire 12 years at the Spectrum. After the Wachovia Area was built, the Philadelphia Flyers moved their minor league affiliate from Hershey to Philadelphia.

The Phantoms have enjoyed a lot of success at the Spectrum. They won their first division title during their inaugural season in 1996-97. The Phantoms also captured division titles in 1997-98, 1998-99, and 2004-04. They are on pace to capture their fifth division title this season.

In addition to their four division titles, the Phantoms have won two Calder Cup Championships. In 1998, the Phantoms defeated the Saint John Flames for their first Calder Cup, and brought the Cup back to Philadelphia in 2005 while sweeping the Chicago Wolves.

In 12 years of play in South Philadelphia, the Phantoms have only suffered two losing seasons, and have missed the playoffs only three times.

Post 9/11 Opening Night

New York Rangers v Carolina Panthers October 5, 2001

RBC Center, Section 312 Row H

Opening Night just a month after 9/11. A New York team on the ice. Families of victims were introduced before the game. It was Eric Lindros first game in a Rangers uniform.

A rather somber pregame ceremony. And fitting, given the circumstances.

Sandish Ozolinsh got the Canes ahead rather quickly with a goal on the Rangers Mike Ricther at 0:28 in the first. Darren Langdon tallied the Canes 2nd goal 2 minutes later.

In the 2nd Hurricanes Sami Kapanen added the team's 3rd late in the 2nd. The only other goal of the game came in the 3rd when the Rangers Mark Messier closed the gap at 11:23.

Arthus Irbe got the win for the Canes. Richter suffered the loss. The shots on goal was even at 31-30.

This was a special game as it was my daughter's first NHL game.

New Building

Florida Panthers v Philadelphia Flyers,

October 5, 1996 CoreStates Center, Sec 221 Row 3

The Flyers closed out the classic Spectrum in the late spring with a playoff elimination by Florida. Philadelphia, as a sports city, does not have a stellar record of winning in big hype games. We have a brand new building and a lot of press.

This is my third time in the Big House. An open house carnival, the World Cup Finals and tonight.

Our old seats in the classic Spectrum were in the 3rd level Crows Nest. This atmosphere-less building only has 2 levels. For some reason our season tickets from the old building to the new "upgraded" us to the 3rd row in the second level. All in all, the distance to the ice was about as high and as far.

You would expect with all the hype surrounding the christening of a new building the team would come out of the gates on fire. Not so.

Brian Smyth for the Panthers got the first goal in the new building (in regular season NHL play) at 3:51 in the first. A minute later the Flyers Dainus Zubrus notched the first Flyers goal.

A former friend of a neighbor and former Flyer, Scott Mellenby, scored the 2nd for the visitors. Garpenlov for the Panthers scored again in the 3rd for the final goal of the game.

The Flyers were able to control the puck, only allowing 19 shots on Ron Hextall. The home team put 32 shots on net. John Vanbiesbrouck turned away all but one.

The largest crowd in Flyers history was on hand, 19,137. The old Spectrum housed only 17,666 when busting at the seams.

At least the official panoramic photo for the opening of this new building included me in the photo.

Martinez Wins for Boston

Boston Red Sox v Baltimore Red Sox, October 2, 1999

Camden Yards, Sec 72 Row WW

A Martinez gets the win for Boston. It was not Pedro.

A scoreless game until the 6th. Mike Stanley and Lou Merloni both homered with men on to jump to a 4-0 lead. Boston's Damon Buford hit a grand slam in the top of the 9th to seal a 8-0 win for the visiting Red Sox.

Ramon Martinez was credited with the win in front of 48,000.

Red Sox in October 2004

Boston Red Sox v Baltimore Orioles, October 1, 2004

Camden Yards, Sec 61 Row C

The Red Sox in October in the magical year of 2004. But not the playoffs.

Camden Yards was packed with Sox fans. We arrived early. Myself in a Sox hat. Son in a Sox shirt, buddy in a Sox jersey and his nephew in a Sox jersey. Never felt intimidated wearing what I wanted to wear. But we were the1st to arrive in a bar outside left field hours before the game. The 2nd crew to arrive were adorn in Sox garb. And so were the 3rd, 4th, etc.

Knuckle baller Tim Wakefield took the mound for the Sox. The Red Sox jumped on the board first with a Johnny Damon HR to center. The O's responded in the 5th and 6th with manufacturered runs for a 2-1 lead.

The Sox chiseled a few more in the 6th and 7th. The bullpen decided this one. The Sox got to the O's closer in the 9th with a 2 runs followed by a David Ortiz 2 run homer.

Over 39,000 were on hand, mostly Boston fans on their sendoff to the team who was on a quest to break a curse dating back to 1918.