The Ultimate Sports Fan's Bucket List

The Running of the Bulls

2010-05-24T20:12:00.000-05:00

Do you have the balls to run with the bulls? You have to be a little insane to try running with the bulls but if you don't get gored to death on the way there are few experiences that can match the adrenaline rush. Not to mention, you get to hang out in Spain for a week long party (San Fermin festival). And don't worry, only 200-300 people get injured each year...but it's rarely serious.

Army vs. Navy

2010-05-16T21:31:00.000-05:00

Go Army! Beat Navy!

Go Navy! Beat Army!

Quite possibly one of the most spirited rivalries in all of sports, the annual Army/Navy game is an inter-service rivalry laced with tradition and patriotism: from the pregame "March On" in which the Brigade of Midshipmen and Corps of Cadets march into the stadium to the tear filled singing of each team's Alma Mater following the game. Despite the fact that the game has only been played "on campus" of either academy only six times since the first game in 1890, few college football games rival the pageantry and overall experience of Army vs. Navy.

"A Tradition Unlike Any Other"

2010-05-15T07:47:00.001-05:00

Newly added to the list: The annual golf tournament known as the Masters held at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia.

Honestly, I don't particularly care to watch golf on TV. When I think of the Masters the first thing that comes to mind are the endless commercials promoting the Masters during the NCAA basketball tournament in March with Jim Nance stating, "A tradition unlike any other, the Masters on CBS."

The course looks beautiful and I can see the attraction for golf fans. But I'm a little skeptical of why regular "Joe Sports Fan" would want to attend. Can someone tell me why this event is great to attend if you're not a huge fan of watching golf?

"Mmmm....Beanpot"

2010-05-13T21:28:00.005-05:00

Thanks to Jill for her submission of Boston's Beanpot Hockey Tournament. I have never had the chance to attend the annual tournament featuring Boston University, Boston College, Northeastern University and Harvard men's hockey teams but if it is anything like the Frozen Four it has to be a great time.

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Adding to the list...

2010-05-12T21:47:00.002-05:00

- Sit in the student section at Cameron Indoor Stadium for a Duke vs. UNC game

- Visit the the Baseball and/or Football Hall of Fame (Cooperstown, NY and Canton, OH)

- Visit the "Field of Dreams" in Dyersville, Iowa

- Take in the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Virginia

- Sit in the infield for the Kentucky Derby

- Lumberjack World Championships in Hayward, Wisconsin

- Summer/Winter Olympic Games

- Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York on the 4th of July

- College World Series at Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, Nebraska

- Play a round of golf at Saint Andrew's Links in Scotland

- Watch a World Cup soccer match in the host city

That is all for today. Just a reminder to please e-mail me with an "article" describing why an event should be included on the list. Use the "Contact Us" button at the bottom of the page. Thanks!

More Events to Consider...

2010-05-11T20:22:00.002-05:00

Thanks to Nathan for submitting the following events that are on his bucket list:

- Indy 500

- NASCAR race at Bristol

- Liverpool vs Manchester United

- Bears vs Packers

- Vikings vs Packers

- Cowboys vs Redskins

- Giants vs Jets

- Yankees vs Red Sox

Please submit your bucket list events! If you have been to an event you feel should definitely make the list feel free to write an article about the event that could be published in my book!

101 Sporting Events Every Die-Hard Fan Must Attend

2010-05-10T20:36:00.002-05:00

Thanks to a couple of e-mails I received I have started to compile what will hopefully be a list of the top 101 sporting events that all sports fans should experience at least once in their lives. To kick things off, here are ten events I feel all fans need to put in their "must see" list (in no particular order):

- The Rose Bowl on New Year's Day

- The singing of the Star Spangled Banner at a Chicago Blackhawks home game

- NCAA men's basketball tournament first round in Las Vegas

- Green Bay Packers game at Lambeau Field in December

- "Jump Around" at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin

- Saturday night SEC game at LSU

- Singing of "Sweet Caroline" at Fenway Park

- June day game in the bleachers at Wrigley Field

- Watch a game at Hinkel Fieldhouse (Butler University)

- Michigan vs. Ohio State at "The Shoe" in Columbus, Ohio

I have personally experienced six of these events and heard firsthand accounts of the rest. Some of these are pretty obvious events that most fans dream of attending (Rose Bowl, Wrigley Field). Others are a bit more obscure but are equally as awe-inspiring (National Anthem at a Blackhawks home game or a basketball game at Hinkel Fieldhouse).

Send me the sporting event you feel every fan must see at least once in their lifetime...it just might make it into my book.

The Ultimate Sports Fan's Bucket List

2010-05-09T21:37:00.004-05:00

Attention sports fans:

If you knew you had one more year left on this planet, what sporting events would you like to experience before you move on to the next world?

I recently had the opportunity to sit in the front row for a Chicago Blackhawks playoff game. I am a pretty big Blackhawks fan, although not living in Chicago and not having the financial means to attend a playoff game, I had never done so before this season.

Through the generosity of a business colleague I was given free tickets on the glass for a recent Chicago playoff game. The experience was nothing short of amazing. As someone who spends most of his time at sporting events in the upper deck, sitting mere inches from the ice was like sitting in a different world. Outside of the amazing sights and sounds one encounters sitting in row one at a hockey game, the playoff atmosphere in Chicago is surreal. From the singing of the National Anthem where the crowd roars in homage through the entire song to the historic organ played throughout the game, it is an experience any sports fan would enjoy.

Not to mention, my Blackhawks came back from down a goal in the third period to win with little over a minute left in regulation sending the sellout crowd streaming out of the United Center dancing to the unofficial team song ("Chelsea Dagger" by The Fratelis).

The entire experience is one I will remember the rest of my life. It got me thinking that this is something every sports fan should be able to enjoy. With that in mind, I have begun to think about all of the great sporting events I have attended in my life and those that I wish to attend in the future. Of course, there are many events that I may have heard of but have no idea why they are so special and there are surely many events I have never thought of that would be a dream for any sports fan to witness.

This is where I need help. I need to hear about experiences at various sporting events around the world and what makes them so great (i.e. seeing a game at Fenway, going to the Rose Bowl, etc.). I want to find out all of the little things that every sports fan should try in their lifetime (i.e. tailgaiting at an Ole Miss football game, a Primanti Brothers sandwich at PNC Park in Pittsburgh). My goal is to find the best of the best events and experiences - some may be obvious, some not so obivious - and compile a book for sports fans of all ages as sort of a reference or starting point of things to see and do in the world of sports before you "kick the bucket."

Please send me your best sports experiences and why they should make the list. If they make the cut, you and your story will be in the book.

Thanks for reading!

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