Monday Extra: You had to be there
It's an appealing title and concept. What sports fan wouldn't be intrigued by the idea of a book called "The 100 Sporting Events You Must See Live?"
After all, many fans collect trips to stadiums, arenas and events like kids collect baseball cards. If you gave an adult baseball fan 15 minutes, he or she probably could come up with a list of every personally visited big-league ballpark even if the number stretched into the dozens.
Robert Tuchman has written that book. Tuchman is in the business of arranging trips to big events for clients, so he knows something about the subject. He has compiled some basic information about each of the 100 events and their locations.
Tuchman also includes a plug for his own business in virtually every one of the 100 chapters. That turns his book into one big advertisement, in a sense. He also seems to lean toward the more pricey and distant selections, which are on few Americans' lists but might make more money for the booking agency. Buyer beware.
It is fun to look over the choices, though, and think about your own personal rankings. Many Western New Yorkers spent the years from 1967 to 1990 wondering if they'd ever see the Bills play in a Super Bowl. Then came the next four years, and those dreams came true. Well, most of those dreams.
Five events on Tuchman's list have been or will be held in Western New York. The highest-rated game is a Stanley Cup final (No. 12); we've hosted those in 1975 and 1999. Then there's an NFL conference championship game (No. 18); we had those in 1991, 1992 and 1994.
The Harlem Globetrotters play a game in this part of the world every so often; that is listed at No. 86. The World Junior Hockey Championships (No. 92) are less than two years away, and the Frozen Four (honorable mention) was played in HSBC Arena in 2003.
Other big events can be a reasonable drive away. The World Series (No. 7) has been in Toronto or Cleveland, although not lately. The Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Weekend in Cooperstown (No. 22) is always a summer highlight, as is horse racing at Saratoga (No. 28). A Canadiens-Maple Leafs game in Toronto (No. 30) is an attraction no matter how the teams are doing in the standings. The U.S. Open golf tournament (No. 64) has been played in Rochester a few times.
In addition, many Bills fans will travel to Canton, Ohio, next Saturday to see this year's Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction (No. 94) of Bruce Smith and Ralph Wilson. Plus, Toronto and Cleveland have been awarded All-Star games in other sports over the years.
The top 25 events from Tuchman's point of view are listed in the adjoining box. It's very surprising to see an English soccer game (No. 16) listed ahead of the Daytona 500 and the Final Four. And really, the Harvard-Yale game ahead of the Kentucky Derby? The Happy Handicapper may have his letter-writing pen out to complain already. But most of the author's events deserve to be somewhere around the top.
Get below No. 25, and more arguments will follow … even without the inclusion of overseas events Tuchman lists such as the Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament (No. 34), the Koshien Baseball Tournament (No. 44), and a Kangaroos Australian Football game (No. 57).
Would you put any Notre Dame football game (No. 39) ahead of the baseball All-Star Game (No. 40)? A high school football game in Odessa, Texas, of "Friday Night Lights" fame (No. 47), ahead of any baseball game in Fenway Park (No. 55)? The F.A. Cup (No. 62) in front of the NBA All-Star Game (No. 82)?
It's also a surprise to see such events as Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest (No. 73), Pipeline surfing (No. 83), the Westminster Dog Show (No. 93), and a UFC Title Fight (No. 100) on such a list. While acknowledging that some might be considered must-see events by a small niche of the public, public gluttony hardly ranks as a sport to most.
If nothing else, "The 100 Sporting Events You Must See Live" might inspire fans to start on their own personal sports "bucket list." It could reveal some insight into your sporting priorities and give you some targets for future vacation plans.
What's more — it's a personal list — so no one can tell you you're wrong. Even though some will try.
Log into MyBuffalo to post a comment
MyBuffalo is the new social network from Buffalo.com. Your MyBuffalo account lets you comment on and rate stories at buffalonews.com. You can also head over to mybuffalo.com to share your blog posts, stories, photos, and videos with the community. Join now or learn more.
Reader comments