What was the greatest game you ever saw?

The day after the MLB All-Star Game is traditionally the slowest sports day of the year, so naturally Wednesday I was thinking about … sports.

More specifically, the thoughts were about sports that already have happened — and the greatest game I ever witnessed in person: Game 163, 2009. Twins 6, Tigers 5 in 12 innings.

The strange thing is I was at this game as a member of the media, on sidebar duty to cover the Detroit clubhouse postgame. I say strange because usually when you're helping to cover a game — or at least in my experience this is true — you interact with it in a much different way than you would when attending as a fan.

Many times this has a sort of dulling effect, since you're watching for details, making mental (and physical) notes and plotting out what your specific story angle will be. In this case, though, it didn't matter. The game was so compelling from start to finish — and particularly in the late innings — that even though I was at the Dome in a working capacity I still consider it the best game I ever saw in person, and certainly the most memorable.

On a side note: the story I wrote focused on Brandon Inge, the Tigers veteran who controversially was not credited with being hit by a pitch that would have forced in the go-ahead run in the top of the 12th. He was in agony. But even he said it was the greatest game he had ever been a part of.

After asking Twitter followers the best game they've seen in person, it's clear Game 163 is a common theme. Of the 150-plus responses, Game 163 was by far the single most frequent answer, a testament to how great the game was and the recency of it.

Here area couple of those answers, and some of the best of the rest (seriously, y'all have seen some awesome games. These tweets only scratch the surface):

• @ImTellinTim: Game 163 vs. Tigers. I am convinced I won't see something better unless I'm at the clinching game of one of my team's titles.

• @bpann44: The 2009 American League Central tie-breaker game. I cried.

• @JakeAchterhoff: SF @ Vikings. Favre coming out party with the Greg Lewis catch.

• @mattjkonrad: '07 Final Five championship, i.e. the Wheeler goal vs. UND.

• @jbrodbeck819: Notre dame vs Stanford in 2012. Goal line stand in overtime ftw!

• @tropicalchik: game 5, 97 NBA finals. The Michael Jordan flu game.

• @joepriceesq: Tyson Holyfield 1 (was also at ear bite rematch — most surreal by far)

• @tgagemurphy: T-Wolves-Kings Game 7 2004.

• @DaddyBat: The MN Gophers upset of #2 Penn State in Happy Valley in 99. Thought I was gonna get killed leaving there in my Gophers attire.

• @jalbus: game 6 '91. i was only 9, but i still remember it like yesterday.

• @DanIsraelMusic: Game 7 of the 1987 World Series. Game 6 was a better game, but to be there when they won their first title, with my Dad....man...

• @JohnSharkman: Game 6 w/my Dad, Jordan's gold medal game in 84 Olympics w/my Dad (tie)