Mikey D

The past couple of weeks on 'Mike and Mike' and other sports talk shows I've been listening to people go on and on about how The Masters and The Kentucky Derby are two sporting events you just have to go see in your lifetime. The pageantry...the tradition...blah blah blah. Look, I like golf, and my dad used to take me to Pimlico when I was a kid, so I'm not against either of those sports/events, but it got me thinking- what are five events that I would love to go to before I kick the bucket? It took me awhile to come up with a list, but I've narrowed it down to five.

I have to see these:
5) Olympics: There's not one event I prefer to see, or type of Olympic (winter or summer) that I want to attend. I want to take it all in and see as much as humanly possible. I think it would be fun to attend events with people from all over the world and root for your country instead of just a team. It's an experience, and a chance for me to feel patriotic, something, sadly, that I rarely feel.

4) World Cup Soccer Final (Anywhere but the U.S.): Okay Kevin, I know you are probably shocked. But every four years when the World Cup rolls around I am seriously interested. I don't know the first thing about soccer and won't pretend like I do, but for that month I am interested in all the games for some reason or another. What's even more interesting to me is the enthusiasm and passion that people outside the U.S. have for their country's team. I want to see that first hand. I want to be in the crowd during the World Cup Final in a country that's passionate about soccer and I want to feel the energy from the fans. I think it would be a unique sports experience, as well as eye-opening to how the world treats soccer, the world's game.

3) World Series of Poker: Alright, debate all you want about poker not being a sport and this and that. I hear you. I don't think it is either. Then again, I don't think NASCAR is or golf. So let's not argue about that. I put this on my list because there is an indescribable adrenaline rush when you sit at a card table with nine other men and you are playing for real money. Playing with friends is great. Playing for fun is what it is- fun. But can you imagine paying a $10,000 buy-in to play in the most prestigious poker tournament in the world? Can you imagine sitting down with the best of the best and pushing them all-in? I just want to do it once. I just want it to feel what it is like. I want that rush, and whether I win or lose it won't matter. That's another thing about the World Series of Poker- anyone can buy-in and play. While some may say that waters down the tournament, I think that is what makes it great. In no other "sport" can you decide to just sit and decide to play with the best. I would love to do this if I ever have an extra stack of high society just lying around.

2) Wimbledon: Golf has The Masters, and tennis has Wimbledon. The strawberries and cream, the lawn, the history...god, the history. Just to sit center court during one of those big time matches would be unbelievable. I know the Australian and French Opens are before Wimbledon, but this is the first tennis tournament of the year that I truly care about. It's the one I follow the closest. Huge serves and amazing volleys...it's the kind of tennis I love watching. Too bad there's not a great American tennis player I could hang my hat on, but you never know it the future.

1) World Series Game 7 (Tigers vs. Phillies): I experienced my first ever playoff game a couple years ago when the Tigers took on the A's in the ALCS- and it was amazing. To be at a game where the entire crowd was standing for virtually all nine innings, high-fiving each other after every hit and strikeout, and yelling, screaming, and cheering for everything the Tiger's did made me think that I got a bargain only paying $80 for my ticket. I had never been to a game like that before, and I could only imagine what it would be like if the Tigers were in the World Series...and were in a game 7...against my favorite National League team, Grace's Philadelphia Phillies. I probably wouldn't even be able to sleep the entire night before the game. Just to see a team celebrate after winning the World Series would be special, but to have it with two teams I love would be even more special. Number one, for sure.

But that also got me thinking. What if I could go back in time to any sporting event? Where would I go? Without explanations and order, here's my list:
1) Pacers-Knicks, Playoffs late 90's, Madison Square Garden, Reggie Miller vs. Spike Lee
2) Baltimore Orioles vs. Seattle Mariners, 1993, 25-minute brawl
3) 2131, Ripken passes Gehrig, September 6, 1995
4) Goran Ivanisevec vs. Patrick Rafter, Wimbledon Finals 2001
5) Red Wings-Avalanche, Rivalry Games
6) Murderer's Row Yankees, Ruth, Gehrig, etc., Any Game circa 1927
7) 1991 World Series, Twins vs. Braves, Jack Morris 10-inning game
8) 1992 NCAA Tournament, Duke vs. Kentucky, The Shot
9) 1996 Olympics, Kerri Strug, Women's Gymnastics
10) Fab Five, versus MSU or Indiana, 1991-1992

And then this list got me thinking some more...what events could you give me free tickets to and I still wouldn't go?
1) NASCAR
2) Drag Racing
3) Women's Golf
4) Bass Fishing Tournament
5) Division 7AA Football in Bumfuck, USA

I think I'm done thinking about lists.

~Mikey D