As Sidney Crosby's wrist shot slid past goalie Ryan Miller Sunday, my mood changed for the worse not only because Team USA lost. The two weeks leading up to the greatest hockey game ever transpired perfectly in culmination. Great Olympic moments were abound. Lindsey Vonn took gold in the downhill, Bode Miller wasn't a complete embarassment, and how about the German speed skater who swam across the line after cramping up in the team pursuit. Sunday's hockey game trumped them all, but it was a great two weeks for a patriotic sports fan.
Unfortunately, we won't get to enjoy the games again until August 2012. So what do we do in the meantime? Here are the top five sporting events to look forward to in the near future (in order of awesomeness),
5. NFL Draft
April 22nd. Not everyone's cup of tea, but if you are a die hard NFL fan, or a die hard college football fan, it can be fun. The drafts of previous years are more important, because Raider fans can validate their skepticism and sheer embarassment when looking back. But draft day itself gets the blood going as your team's clock slowly expires.
side note--The Draft beat out the NBA Playoffs. Mostly personal preference on this one...the Warriors are 17-41 at press time.
4. Stanley Cup Playoffs
April 13th. This would be higher on my list, but I am a Sharks fan and my undying interest usually dissipates after they take their early exit. Most casual hockey fans say "call me when the playoffs start", and there is good reason. Every posession is magnified. Teams do whatever it takes not to lose, and it shows. The Cup tournament is the best playoff system in sports.
3. The Masters (yes, even sans Tiger)
April 8th-11th. Ok, I admit, The Masters might have been number two on my list if I knew Tiger was playing. Nevertheless, the tournament at Augusta National will once again captivate golf fans for four days. It has received the tagline "a tradition unlike any other", and rightfully so (Sorry Rose Bowl, that Washington State Oklahoma matchup really bit you in the arse). The stunning beauty of Amen Corner and the drama thick storylines on Sunday make it the best tournament around.
2. NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament
March 18th. There are nothing like the first two rounds of March Madness. Madness truly is the only word to describe it. People who haven't watched a single game all year fill out brackets, which is a good indicator of its Super Bowl like qualities.
1. MLB Opening Day
April 4th. It isn't so much the entertainment value that vaulted this one to the top... no chance I'm watching all nine innings of whatever game ESPN throws on in the morning. It's the idea of baseball being back. It symbolizes the changing of seasons, and re-establishes eternal hope in even the most pessimistic of Cubs fans. After all, Opening Day means next year is upon us.
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Did you see that Tiger is starting to get back in golf shape? You may have to edit this and move up the Masters like you said. I agree with #1.
ReplyDeleteThank you for finally saying everything about those sporting events that skeptics don't understand. I can't decide if April or September is the best sports month (maybe October?).
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