With so many sporting events around the world, every country has its own specialties in the world of sports. But, there are only a select few that capture the attention and amazement of everyone in all corners of the globe.
8. The Championships at Wimbeldon- This is the prize tournament for anybody who has ever played tennis. To one day, play on the lawns of Wimbeldon and hopefully hoist the trophy as the champion. There seems to be nothing better than playing on Centre Court in front of 10,000+ "proper" Englishmen and getting them all riled up over an amazing match of tennis. Even if for just one day, this is an event that truly needs to be witnessed.
7. U.S. Open of Golf- I luckily had the opportunity to witness this event last summer when Rory McIlroy broke through and put on a Tiger Woods-esque performance, dismantling the field by eight strokes. Even with the tournament well in his grasp after the first 36 holes, the atmosphere of 40,000+ people around the grounds of some of America's most amazing golf courses, roaring at the make of every great shot gets your blood pumping. The U.S. Open is the one event where groundskeepers try to make the course as difficult as possible, hopefully bringing the best players in the world to their knees.
6. The Kentucky Derby- It all starts here. For 20 horses, they all come in vying for the prestigious Triple Crown. But, for one horse, they exit the mile-long sprint victorious and still have their dreams of being the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed completed the task 34 years ago. The "Run for the Roses" is considered the most exciting two minutes in sports and in those two minutes hope can turn into agony for so many.
5. 24 Hours of Le Mans- The French race is a marathon. Actually more than a marathon. It takes years of training in order to handle the 24 straight hours of racing around the illustrious Circuit de la Sarthe in France, in a test not of a car's speed, but the car's endurance. It is the oldest active car race in the world, making it a must-see before you exit the world.
4. The Master's- "A tradition unlike any others." This golf tournament, the first major of the season for the world's best golfers, is the only major played at the same course every year, Augusta National in Georgia. The pristine conditions of the course in early April make it one of the first signs of Spring and every year, it brings out the best of the golfers. In fact, the very beauty of the course got CBS golf analyst David Feherty banned for a few years when he explained that the greens were "smoother than a girl's bikini wax." Only at the Master's.
3. The Super Bowl- The two best teams in the NFL, battling for 60 minutes to win the Vince Lombardi Trophy, with over 100,000,000+ watching worldwide. No wonder this is the biggest sporting event in the United States. Football is gradually eclipsing baseball as America's game and the way the NFL is expanding, it will soon take over soccer as the World's Game. But, until that time, football has its own stage on a world-scale, when on one night in early February, football's best team is crowned champion.
2. The Olympics- Is there anything better than the Olympics? Well according to this list, yes, but in the Olympics you have the best athletes each nation has to offer competing against one another to win the ever so coveted gold medal. The only thing that would make this event better is if each country had more to offer. But still, it is great to see the rivalries arise over the course of a month every two years (winter and summer Olympics). This year's Summer Olympics in London, England should be quite a treat for everyone watching both live and at home.
1. The World Cup- This might be the one event, when for every four years, everyone gathers around their televisions for a month during the summer and roots on its national soccer team. The world's game puts on display its best athletes to see which nation is the best in the world. Whether you like soccer or not, its a national thing, pulling together with your buddies, hitting up a bar, and cheering on your national team, there is nothing better.
