Fair warning this article deals with one of the most certain things in life, death. Also I will try to down play it, but it won't have the same smooth flow of Morgan Freeman, or grins of Jack Nicholas.
Instead these are the things in sports that we should all be so lucky to accomplish or experience before the final buzzer. The inspiration for this article comes from one of the events on the list that I completed today, and had an epiphany about the rest. Today I completed the 4.2 mile run that celebrates, and honors the life and legacy of Pat Tillman. This was the 5th year the event has been held and a record number of over 13,000 people ran this year. That number alone should tell you what his life and legacy has meant to this nation. (maybe more on this later, but there is still a lot more to cover)
1. See a World Championship (in any sport, but one of the big 4 will be something more to brag about)
a. NFL Super Bowl, after all who doesn't need an excuse to find a retreat for a harsh winter with the fan fair of football next to a beach
b. MLB World Series, yeah with all America's history in this game, seeing an October classic will have you wearing your favorite jersey until the snow thaws and Spring Training begins (SEE #7)
c. NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs: This is mission 16 W! Anyone that has ever seen a hockey game up close and the physical demands of such on a person. They then know just the mere thought stringing together 16 wins in a few months time is crazy. So to be there at the end to see a game 4,5,6,or if your lucky game 7, you then know you'll get to see Lord Stanley's Cup hosted for the proud few.
d. NBA Finals: granted I'm not as much of a fan as I used to be when I watched MJ. Then again hard to compare others to one of the games greatest. However we are lucky we get to see acts like LeBron and D. Wade make a case for themselves. So if a team you like is making their run, look for those game 4-7 tickets.
2. The Olympics, (yes both Summer and Winter)
a. This is a great excuse to crash another country with the rest of the world. Especially if your American, your visit has a purpose and most foreign countries understand that. Now while the United States of America might be dominate that year, limit your USA chants to the venues, too many times at the wrong pub and you could be looking for a new visa home.
b. The summer games are great because you get a mixture of some of the fast humans on the plant along with the games we all love to play. Thank God Kerri Walsh plays beach volleyball for the red, white, and blue.
c. The winter games require you to be as tough as old man winter, chances are your going to a place where the average high is going to be in the single digits that week. The payoff is the mankind's revenge to ice and snow, as we master crafts that were by all means were not supposed to take place on these surfaces. See humans become bullets, and the real life Cool Runnings of Jamaica's Bobsled team. Watch the long distance ski jumps, if you think it is all gravity then watch the agony of defeat in Wide World of Sports and think again. Plus if you take your significant other with you, nothing better than warming up in front of a fire place.
3. Buy season tickets to your favorite college football team. Trust me you won't regret the hit this takes on your bank account. Your cardiologist may be a bit more concerned after tailgates full of burgers and beer. Unless you invite him to a game, then you'll both get to relive your college days before kid starts bragging about his.
- another bonus about this one, if your team gets a bowl bid and most do these days, then time for you to finish strong as well. Even better if your a member of said schools Alumni Association
4. Attend all four Major Golf Tournaments. (If you have the means do it in the same year, and if you do it while Tiger is still playing you might see some history)
-The Masters (Magnolia lane, Hogan's Bridge, and Amen Corner have to look even better in person than they do on a HDTV. Plus if it still falls on Holy Week thanking God for his sacrifices to create such an entertaining Amen Corner should count as holding Mass on one of the Lords great wonders.)
-The US Open
-The PGA Championship
-The British Open
(best way for us average Joe's to play some of these holes, look at International Golf Tour in Myrtle Beach, FL they replicated some greats )
4.2 As for mentioned, take part in Pat's Run held annually in Tempe, AZ and San Jose, CA.
Most of us will never be put in the situation of giving up a career in professional sports, the money, and the family. Yet he did and put the excellence he applied to aspect of his life towards a highly demanding job of an Army Ranger.
- 4.2 miles might not seem like much, but go run a 5k about 3 miles, then think about adding another mile on top of that.
- That plus seeing how many people still wear his retired ASU jersey No42, or AZ Cardinals jersey No.40 during the run or to local games.
- If you really need more convincing, read the books and articles on him, his own mother Mary Tillman has written, Jim Rome spoke of his legend on his show.
5. Go to the Kentucky Derby.
- Sing "My old Kentucky Home", take your favorite woman in your life and doll her up with a fancy new hat, buy some of the best Mint Juleps around. Or if you own a mint like Fort Knox you can stroll down Millionaires row. Either way great way to see people and be seen. Plus seeing the start of a potential triple crown winner isn't bad either.
- Once again you win the lottery and have money, one put an investment in a horse that can run in the triple crown. Or if your that allergic to work at that point then plan your tour to all three races.
6. Go watch the surfing competition on the North Shores in Hawaii. Like you need an excuse to go to Hawaii. While your there get the resort you stay at to teach you to "surf". After a day of getting those massive 3 foot waves under control and chasing after your board you will have a higher respect for what they do and make look easy on the other side of the island.
- Need some more Extreme Sports, this is the perfect place to Sky Dive. Think of the money you'll save on driving around the island, or hiring and pilot to take you by the volcanos. I wouldn't leave the only aerial views you get of this place to the chance of the airline you fly in on.
7. You can't have seven, before number eight. Go to Spring Training hot spots like Arizona or South Florida. Both if you can afford the Gulfstream 450 to get you back and forth. However your going to see the true first season of baseball before the boys of summer take center stage for the next six months of the year. A great chance to get up close to your team, new and old players, especially if all this takes place as you play hooky from work. Not to mention Spring comes earlier to these places then most of North America so ditch the winter gloves for a leather baseball mitt.
8. A summer of baseball, especially small ball. Its a long summer and you need a reason to go coast to coast on family vacation. Then consider mapping out some of this. First, the NCAA World Series of Baseball Championship in Omaha, Neb. Yes you'll hear plenty of "Pings" with the crack of the bat, but it also makes a 13 to 2 run game come back possible, and Omaha is a great time. Next follow the college kids and some semi-pros to the Cape Cod League games. Hey chicks like guys in uniform and tight pants, so make sure your in shape in those bleachers or you can throw ideas of you and Jessica Biel out the door.
Third stop on the trip, National Baseball Conference in Wichita, Kan will show you baseball around the clock. Look up Double AA and Triple AAA team promotions, you can see a future All Star and collect Americana in the same breath. Find a team you like to watch and see if they have a couple of home games around July 4th. The feeling of getting through 9 innings on a warm summer night with a little ice cream baseball helmet to cool you off, while a brilliant display of fireworks lights up the skies.
9.Vegas, Baby and the phrase Just Win Baby, mix nicely together in the sports books on the strip. Great days to visit, the first day of the NCAA basketball tournament. Or get your hands on a ring side seats to a title MMA match.
10. Back to Driver's Edu. Seriously if you can spend a few days at a high performance car driving school. You'll finally get to see what the Corvette, Mustang, BMW, Ferrari, or Viper can do. If that's not enough for the speed junkie in us, then pay out to get a Indy Car driver to take you around the Brick Yard at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
So those are the best 10 ideas that I have for now, but the list and stories may grow as I cross them off or find new challenges.
thanks for reading.
J.J. Gilmore
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