Everyone has a “Bucket List” of some type.
For those of you who may not be familiar with the term, a bucket list is a compilation of things you want to do or see before you die. Some people have lists for cities or countries they want to see; some may have a list for favorite restaurants, plays, books, or classic movies they have yet to experience; and for others it might be things they want to learn, like how to play the piano, speak a foreign language, or simply learn how to use their cell phone.
I have several of these lists but the one I want to talk about today is My Sports Bucket List — events I’d like to see in person before the Great Timekeeper in the Sky decides I’ve had enough down here.
I’ve had the great opportunity to experience in person some great sports events in my life. I was there the night Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth’s home run record in Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium.
I saw Lindsay Scott catch the pass and run for the winning touchdown against Florida in 1980. I once saw Muhammed Ali fight, after he had been wrongfully stripped of his title, as he began his comeback. And I attended several of the Olympic events when they were held in Atlanta in 1996.
And, like you I’m sure, I’ve seen some great things happen live but from the comfort of my den in front of my TV. But to qualify for the Bucket List, you must see them in person, so here is my Top 5 Sporting Events I’d Like to See In Person Bucket List. (whew! I’m tired just from typing that title.) By the way, these are not presented in any particular order of importance — I’d take them any way they came to me.
KENTUCKY DERBY
If for no other reason than I would like to see my wife in one of those wide-brimmed, flowery hats the ladies wear, the Derby has special appeal to me. Being at Churchill Downs on Derby Day, the second Saturday in May, would have to be a great place to be.
The sights and sounds of the thousands of people milling around the paddock area or the track would be an exceptional experience. The singing of “My Old Kentucky Home” brings chills even as I watch it from my home so I can’t begin to imagine how it would be to hear it live. Yes, I’d probably have one of those Mint Juleps and yes, I’d probably lay down a few dollars on one of those beautiful animals just to say I had.
INDY 500
Might as well make May a full month from beginning to end. Start with the Derby and end the month at the Brickyard. I am not a racing fan at all so my desire to be at this race is strictly for the experience itself.
Some of sports greatest traditions can be found at Indy. The four most exciting words in all of sports, “Gentlemen, start your engines;” Jim Nabors, accompanied by the Purdue Marching Band, singing “Back Home Again in Indiana;” and the bottle of milk that goes to the winner make this a sports-lovers dream. And I do imagine seeing those bullets fly around the 2.5 mile oval would be thrilling. Who knows? I might even see Danica Patrick and that would be thrilling, too.
THE MASTERS
I am sure that TV cannot begin to show the true beauty of Augusta National in April. This is something you have to experience first hand to get the full appreciation for the event. The golf going on around the beautifully landscaped course is sometimes secondary to the scenery. I’ve been told by different golf fans that there are two ways to watch a golf tournament in person. One, pick a particular hole, either from the tee or the green, and watch all the golfers as they play through. Or, walk the entire course yourself. I think this would HAVE to be the way to see Augusta so that you could capture the entire spectrum of colors. It is definitely on my Bucket List, but alas…..
ROSE BOWL
The Granddaddy of all the New Year’s bowl games is a must-see. I’d actually like to see the parade as well.
While I have no allegiance to either the Pac-10 or Big-10, the game itself, not who is playing in it, is what it is all about. I’d particularly like it if Ohio State was playing but because of all their turmoil, that doesn’t seem likely for a few years. Again, no allegiance to them but I’d love to see their band at half time do the Ohio script with the sousaphone player dotting the “i.” That is still the singularly most exciting tradition in all of college football.
FINAL FOUR OR ACC BASKETBALL TOURNEY
I’ll take either one of these to fulfill this item on the list.
The Final Four is, of course, the culmination of the most exciting three weeks in all of sports. I wouldn’t care at all who was playing. Since my brackets are usually destroyed long before the semis anyway, I’d just find one of the four to pull for or, as I often do, pull against one of them and enjoy the weekend.
The ACC would be a blast, too. I’m one of those rare breeds that like both Duke and North Carolina (although when they play each other I pull for UNC) and to see them play would be a real treat. I’ve seen a couple of games at the Dean Dome in Chapel Hill but the tournament, which usually has so much riding on it, would be great to see.
The Super Bowl and Wimbledon are close runners-up. What’s on your list?
Randy Blalock is a sports columnist for the Barrow Journal. You can reach him at rblalock@mindstream.com.
