Jim Caple's 101 events every sports fan must view in person

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101 things all sports fans must experience before they die

By Jim Caple

Page 2

Summer officially began Thursday, but it unofficially began with the true sign of summer's arrival: the first pitch of the College World Series.

The CWS is just one of "The 101 Things Every Fan Must Experience Before They Die," a worldwide list of sporting events ranging from the Olympics to the Coney Island hot dog eating contest. The big (the World Cup) and the small (Minnesota town ball) are here, as well as the familiar (the World Series) and the obscure (the veterans wheelchair games), the expensive (the Masters) and the free (a Little League game).

I've attended many of these events while friends and fellow writers swear by the ones I haven't. The rankings are based on the total experience, including the event itself, the participants, the setting and the atmosphere for the fans. Personally, I could fill the list up with nothing but baseball and college football games, but to keep things manageable and varied, I've limited the repetitions within any one sport as much as possible. That's why only two college football rivalries make the list (Ohio State-Michigan and Alabama-Auburn), though many more certainly could have been included. Same with big soccer rivalries.

This is by no means a comprehensive list -- there are just too many games in too many sports for that -- but it does include a full range of national and international competitions well worth camping overnight on the sidewalk for a ticket. In fact, camping out is No. 63 on the list.

The 101 Things Sports Fans Must Experience Before They Die:

1. Summer Olympics (every four years in a different city)

2. World Cup (every four years in a different country)

3. Winter Olympics (every four years in a different city)

4. The World Series (every October, various cities)

5. NCAA subregional (March, various sites)

6. Spring training (February-March, Florida and Arizona)

7. NFL conference championship (January in various NFL cities)

8. The Masters (April, Augusta, Ga.)

9. Wimbledon (late June-early July, London)

10. Tour de France mountain stage (July in various rotating cities in France)

11. Premier League Soccer game (fall-spring, England)

12. Rose Bowl (New Year's Day, or thereabouts, Pasadena, Calif.)

13. NBA Finals (June, various cities)

14. College World Series (June, Omaha, Neb.)

15. Red Sox-Yankees game (April-October, Boston or New York)

16. Hall of Fame induction (July, Cooperstown, N.Y.)

17. Michigan-Ohio State football (November, Columbus, Ohio, or Ann Arbor, Mich.)

18. The F.A. Cup (fall-spring, England)

19. Duke-North Carolina basketball game (winter, Chapel Hill or Durham, N.C.)

20. The Stanley Cup playoffs (late spring, various NHL cities)

21. British Open (July, Great Britain)

22. Cubs game in the Wrigley bleachers (April-September, Chicago)

23. A game at Notre Dame (fall, South Bend, Ind.)

24. ACC basketball tournament (March, various sites)

25. A soccer game at Maracana Stadium (various dates, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)

26. Little 500 (late April at Indiana University)

27. Tailgating in the SEC (fall, SEC campuses)

28. A game at Rucker Park (anytime, Harlem)

29. U.S. Open tennis (late August, New York)

30. Bayou Classic (November, New Orleans)

31. Kentucky Derby (May, Churchill Downs, Ky.)

32. The Indy 500 (Memorial Day weekend, Indianapolis)

33. The All-Africa Amputee Football Tournament (Sierra Leone)

34. MLB Opening Day (April, various cities)

35. Boston Marathon (April, Boston)

36. Frozen Four (April, various cities)

37. Canadiens-Leafs game (winter, Montreal or Toronto)

38. Auburn-Alabama football game (November, Tuscaloosa or Birmingham, Ala.)

39. Town ball in Minnesota (summer, towns throughout Minnesota)

40. The Iditarod (February, Anchorage to Nome, Ala.)

41. An NBA game from courtside (winter-spring, any NBA city)

42. Baseball All-Star Game (July, rotating cities)

43. Il Palio horse race (July and August, Siena, Italy)

44. Play Pebble Beach (year-round, Pebble Beach, Calif.)

45. Daytona 500 (February, Daytona, Fla.)

46. Running of the Bulls (July, Pamplona, Spain)

47. Triple Crown Surfing (November-December North Shore, Oahu)

48. Lady Vols game (winter, Knoxville, Tenn.)

49. Caribbean World Series (January, various sites)

50. Heavyweight championship bout in Vegas (sporadic)

51. Indiana high school basketball tournament (March, Indiana)

52. Golden Gloves tournament (regional)

53. Green Bay Packers game in the snow (December, Green Bay)

54. Koshien baseball tournament (spring and summer, Nishinomiya, Japan )

55. All Blacks rugby game (various dates, New Zealand)

56. World Figure Skating Championships (annual, around the world)

57. Dubai World Cup (late March in Dubai)

58. Calgary Stampede (July, Calgary, Alberta)

59. National Veterans Wheelchair Games (summer, Milwaukee)

60. Maui Invitational (November, Maui, Hawaii)

61. Midnight Madness (October, all over the country)

62. A Big 5 Game at the Palestra (winter, Philadelphia)

63. Camp out for tickets (any event)

64. Wife Carrying World Championships (June in Sonkajarvi, Finland)

65. U.S. Pond Hockey Championships (January, Minneapolis)

66. World Armwrestling Championships (annual, Mohegan Sun, Uncasville, Conn.)

67. Sumo championship (various cities, Japan)

68. 24 Hours of Le Mans (May, Le Mans, France)

69. Prefontaine Classic (June, Eugene, Ore.)

70. The USTA boys tennis championship (August, Kalamazoo, Mich.)

71. Sturgis Motorcycle Rally (August in Sturgis, S.D.)

72. The Beanpot hockey tournament (first two Mondays in February, Boston)

73. Field of Dreams Ghost Sundays (select days in summer, Dyersville, Iowa)

74. Racing at Saratoga (late July-August, Sarasota, N.Y.)

75. Beach volleyball (summer, various cities)

76. Swimming championships in Australia (various dates, Australia)

77. The Dakar Rally (January, southern Europe and North Africa)

78. Rickwood Classic (summer, Birmingham, Ala.)

79. Junior league hockey in small-town Canada (winter throughout Canada)

80. Henley Regatta (July, Oxfordshire, England)

81. Minnesota high school hockey tournament (March, Minnesota)

82. Little Brown Jug race (September, Delaware, Ohio)

83. Bay to Breakers (May, San Francisco)

84. A Raiders game in the Black Hole (fall, Oakland, Calif.)

85. Iowa-Iowa State wrestling match (winter, Iowa)

86. The Ironman (June, Hawaii)

87. "Monday Night Football" (September-December, various NFL cities)

88. Women's College World Series (June, Oklahoma City)

89. Show-Me State Games (July, Columbia, Mo.)

90. Little League game (spring, early summer, everywhere)

91. A Permian High School football game (fall, Odesssa, Texas)

92. Pakistan-India cricket (occasional meetings)

93. Hot dog eating championship (July 4, Coney Island)

94. Tough Guy (January, outside Wolverhampton, England)

95. Ultimate Fighting Championship bout (various dates, Vegas)

96. The All-American Soap Box Derby (July, Akron, Ohio)

96. NCAA women's volleyball championships (December, rotating sites)

97. Calaveras Frog Jumping Jubilee (May, Calaveras County in California)

98. The Baja 500 (June, Baja Peninsula)

99. A Harlem Globetrotters game (many dates, many cities)

100. Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show (February, New York)

101. Driving the Ring (daily, western Germany). There is no speed limit on Germany's autobahn and there is nothing quite like doing 100 mph only to have a family in a station wagon honking at you to pull over and let them pass. But if the autobahn isn't fast enough for you, try out the 14-mile, 170-turn Nurburgring. The former Grand Prix course was closed to Formula One racing for decades before returning this year (too dangerous) but it's open to the public to drive at speeds of up to 150 miles per hour. Just promise one thing: That you won't attempt this until you've accomplished the previous 100.

And in the interest of fairness...TEN EVENTS TO AVOID

1. The Super Bowl. The cost-to-enjoyment ratio is the highest in American sports for this overhyped, outrageously expensive event. You'll enjoy the game more on TV while saving your money for a far more rewarding experience.

2. NFL exhibition games. Why would anyone willingly buy tickets at full price for meaningless games in which the main objective is to play the starters only long enough not to get them hurt? The answer: No one. Which is why teams require that their season-ticket holders buy tickets for these miserable games.

3. NBA draft lottery. Drafts are bad enough, but at least players are actually picked there.

4. Baseball old-timers game. The desire to see your favorite player on the field again is understandable, but don't give in to the temptation. There is nothing worse than seeing a former hero so fat and out of shape that he can't bend over, let alone bend over to scoop up a grounder.

5. Pro Bowl. If you want to go to Hawaii, just go. No need to mix in your vacation with a game that not even the players chosen to play want to attend.

6. World Series of Poker. Poker is not a sport. It's gambling. And your money isn't on the line, so why would you care?

7. WWE. Real sports don't need scripts.

8. Rhythmic gymnastics. Is an explanation really necessary?

9. The Wing Bowl. The contestants may not feel like throwing up at this annual Philadelphia eating competition, but you will.

10. Dogfight night at Michael Vick's house.

[DG_ThenNowForever]

What a dope. If Armwrestling and Wife Carrying World Championships are on this list, then Wrestlemania absolutely should be. Ditto the World Series of Poker, really. And what's so sporty about the Sturgis bike rally? Or the Frog Jumping Jubilee?

And he calls WWE scripted, but recommends we go to a Globetrotters game. Umm, what is the real difference between the two of those events?

[cappital92]

What a dope. If Armwrestling and Wife Carrying World Championships are on this list, then Wrestlemania absolutely should be. Ditto the World Series of Poker, really. And what's so sporty about the Sturgis bike rally? Or the Frog Jumping Jubilee?

And he calls WWE scripted, but recommends we go to a Globetrotters game. Umm, what is the real difference between the two of those events?

The Globetrotters just do moves off the top of their heads. It's the basketball equvilent to improv comedy.

[EatSleepJeep]

I feel pretty good about my representations on this list.

4. The World Series (every October, various cities)

5. NCAA subregional (March, various sites)

14. College World Series (June, Omaha, Neb.)

20. The Stanley Cup playoffs (late spring, various NHL cities)

22. Cubs game in the Wrigley bleachers (April-September, Chicago)

23. A game at Notre Dame (fall, South Bend, Ind.)

32. The Indy 500 (Memorial Day weekend, Indianapolis)

34. MLB Opening Day (April, various cities)

35. Boston Marathon (April, Boston)

36. Frozen Four (April, various cities)

39. Town ball in Minnesota (summer, towns throughout Minnesota)

42. Baseball All-Star Game (July, rotating cities)

61. Midnight Madness (October, all over the country)

63. Camp out for tickets (any event)

65. U.S. Pond Hockey Championships (January, Minneapolis)

71. Sturgis Motorcycle Rally (August in Sturgis, S.D.)

73. Field of Dreams Ghost Sundays (select days in summer, Dyersville, Iowa)

81. Minnesota high school hockey tournament (March, Minnesota)

85. Iowa-Iowa State wrestling match (winter, Iowa)

87. "Monday Night Football" (September-December, various NFL cities)

90. Little League game (spring, early summer, everywhere)

99. A Harlem Globetrotters game (many dates, many cities)

And I'm here as well...

TEN EVENTS TO AVOID

1. The Super Bowl

4. Baseball old-timers game.

[harperdc]

to those not versed in auto racing, the 24 Hours of Le Mans *is* a huge party (tons of Brits go each year, people flock from around the world, there's a carnival in the middle of the track, and EVERYONE gets hammered) and the Nurburgring *is* heaven on earth. try this on-board lap to get a gauge of the 16-plus-mile behemoth.

the only real complaint with the list (beside the odd events) is that it's too US-biased, though it *does* throw in things most Americans haven't heard of, like an All-Blacks rugby game or the cricket match.

[RyanMcD29]

Hows there all these non-sports events but no NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship?

[DarkJourney]

Events I have attended:

2. World Cup (every four years in a different country)

4. The World Series (every October, various cities)

5. NCAA subregional (March, various sites)

6. Spring training (February-March, Florida and Arizona)

7. NFL conference championship (January in various NFL cities)

4. The World Series (every October, various cities)

5. NCAA subregional (March, various sites)

6. Spring training (February-March, Florida and Arizona)

7. NFL conference championship (January in various NFL cities)

20. The Stanley Cup playoffs (late spring, various NHL cities)

41. An NBA game from courtside (winter-spring, any NBA city)

42. Baseball All-Star Game (July, rotating cities)

47. Triple Crown Surfing (November-December North Shore, Oahu)

52. Golden Gloves tournament (regional)

61. Midnight Madness (October, all over the country)

63. Camp out for tickets (any event)

69. Prefontaine Classic (June, Eugene, Ore.)

75. Beach volleyball (summer, various cities)

83. Bay to Breakers (May, San Francisco)

84. A Raiders game in the Black Hole (fall, Oakland, Calif.)

87. "Monday Night Football" (September-December, various NFL cities)

90. Little League game (spring, early summer, everywhere)

97. Calaveras Frog Jumping Jubilee (May, Calaveras County in California)

99. A Harlem Globetrotters game (many dates, many cities)

[HedleyLamarr]

Things I've done in red, things I plan on doing in the next 5-10 years in blue, things I likely have no shot in hell in attending (unless I hit the lottery) in bold.

The 101 Things Sports Fans Must Experience Before They Die:

1. Summer Olympics (every four years in a different city) 1996 Atlanta Games

2. World Cup (every four years in a different country)

3. Winter Olympics (every four years in a different city) 2010 Games in Vancouver

4. The World Series (every October, various cities)

5. NCAA subregional (March, various sites)

6. Spring training (February-March, Florida and Arizona)

7. NFL conference championship (January in various NFL cities)

8. The Masters (April, Augusta, Ga.)

9. Wimbledon (late June-early July, London)

10. Tour de France mountain stage (July in various rotating cities in France)

11. Premier League Soccer game (fall-spring, England)

12. Rose Bowl (New Year's Day, or thereabouts, Pasadena, Calif.)

13. NBA Finals (June, various cities) Granted, the Hawks gotta get there first....

14. College World Series (June, Omaha, Neb.)

15. Red Sox-Yankees game (April-October, Boston or New York)

16. Hall of Fame induction (July, Cooperstown, N.Y.)

17. Michigan-Ohio State football (November, Columbus, Ohio, or Ann Arbor, Mich.)

18. The F.A. Cup (fall-spring, England)

19. Duke-North Carolina basketball game (winter, Chapel Hill or Durham, N.C.)

20. The Stanley Cup playoffs (late spring, various NHL cities) 2006-07 Games 1-2 NYR@ATL

21. British Open (July, Great Britain)

22. Cubs game in the Wrigley bleachers (April-September, Chicago)

23. A game at Notre Dame (fall, South Bend, Ind.)

24. ACC basketball tournament (March, various sites)

25. A soccer game at Maracana Stadium (various dates, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)

26. Little 500 (late April at Indiana University)

27. Tailgating in the SEC (fall, SEC campuses) UGA, duh....

28. A game at Rucker Park (anytime, Harlem)

29. U.S. Open tennis (late August, New York)

30. Bayou Classic (November, New Orleans)

31. Kentucky Derby (May, Churchill Downs, Ky.)

32. The Indy 500 (Memorial Day weekend, Indianapolis)

33. The All-Africa Amputee Football Tournament (Sierra Leone)

34. MLB Opening Day (April, various cities) Mets@Braves a few years ago

35. Boston Marathon (April, Boston)

36. Frozen Four (April, various cities)

37. Canadiens-Leafs game (winter, Montreal or Toronto)

38. Auburn-Alabama football game (November, Tuscaloosa or Birmingham, Ala.)

39. Town ball in Minnesota (summer, towns throughout Minnesota)

40. The Iditarod (February, Anchorage to Nome, Ala.)

41. An NBA game from courtside (winter-spring, any NBA city) Hawks are still part of the NBA....

42. Baseball All-Star Game (July, rotating cities) 2000 Game @ Turner Field

43. Il Palio horse race (July and August, Siena, Italy)

44. Play Pebble Beach (year-round, Pebble Beach, Calif.)

45. Daytona 500 (February, Daytona, Fla.)

46. Running of the Bulls (July, Pamplona, Spain)

47. Triple Crown Surfing (November-December North Shore, Oahu)

48. Lady Vols game (winter, Knoxville, Tenn.)

49. Caribbean World Series (January, various sites)

50. Heavyweight championship bout in Vegas (sporadic)

51. Indiana high school basketball tournament (March, Indiana)

52. Golden Gloves tournament (regional)

53. Green Bay Packers game in the snow (December, Green Bay)

54. Koshien baseball tournament (spring and summer, Nishinomiya, Japan )

55. All Blacks rugby game (various dates, New Zealand)

56. World Figure Skating Championships (annual, around the world)

57. Dubai World Cup (late March in Dubai)

58. Calgary Stampede (July, Calgary, Alberta)

59. National Veterans Wheelchair Games (summer, Milwaukee)

60. Maui Invitational (November, Maui, Hawaii)

61. Midnight Madness (October, all over the country)

62. A Big 5 Game at the Palestra (winter, Philadelphia)

63. Camp out for tickets (any event)

64. Wife Carrying World Championships (June in Sonkajarvi, Finland)

65. U.S. Pond Hockey Championships (January, Minneapolis)

66. World Armwrestling Championships (annual, Mohegan Sun, Uncasville, Conn.)

67. Sumo championship (various cities, Japan)

68. 24 Hours of Le Mans (May, Le Mans, France)

69. Prefontaine Classic (June, Eugene, Ore.)

70. The USTA boys tennis championship (August, Kalamazoo, Mich.)

71. Sturgis Motorcycle Rally (August in Sturgis, S.D.)

72. The Beanpot hockey tournament (first two Mondays in February, Boston)

73. Field of Dreams Ghost Sundays (select days in summer, Dyersville, Iowa)

74. Racing at Saratoga (late July-August, Sarasota, N.Y.)

75. Beach volleyball (summer, various cities)

76. Swimming championships in Australia (various dates, Australia)

77. The Dakar Rally (January, southern Europe and North Africa)

78. Rickwood Classic (summer, Birmingham, Ala.)

79. Junior league hockey in small-town Canada (winter throughout Canada)

80. Henley Regatta (July, Oxfordshire, England)

81. Minnesota high school hockey tournament (March, Minnesota)

82. Little Brown Jug race (September, Delaware, Ohio)

83. Bay to Breakers (May, San Francisco)

84. A Raiders game in the Black Hole (fall, Oakland, Calif.)

85. Iowa-Iowa State wrestling match (winter, Iowa)

86. The Ironman (June, Hawaii)

87. "Monday Night Football" (September-December, various NFL cities) Eagles@Falcons in 2005

88. Women's College World Series (June, Oklahoma City)

89. Show-Me State Games (July, Columbia, Mo.)

90. Little League game (spring, early summer, everywhere) Played them for like 10 years

91. A Permian High School football game (fall, Odesssa, Texas)

92. Pakistan-India cricket (occasional meetings)

93. Hot dog eating championship (July 4, Coney Island)

94. Tough Guy (January, outside Wolverhampton, England)

95. Ultimate Fighting Championship bout (various dates, Vegas)

96. The All-American Soap Box Derby (July, Akron, Ohio)

96. NCAA women's volleyball championships (December, rotating sites)

97. Calaveras Frog Jumping Jubilee (May, Calaveras County in California)

98. The Baja 500 (June, Baja Peninsula)

99. A Harlem Globetrotters game (many dates, many cities)

100. Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show (February, New York)

101. Driving the Ring (daily, western Germany).

[TFoA]

Same as Hedley...

1. Summer Olympics (every four years in a different city)

2. World Cup (every four years in a different country)

3. Winter Olympics (every four years in a different city)

4. The World Series (every October, various cities)

5. NCAA subregional (March, various sites) Went a few years back, also went to The Final Four this past year.

6. Spring training (February-March, Florida and Arizona)

7. NFL conference championship (January in various NFL cities)

8. The Masters (April, Augusta, Ga.)

9. Wimbledon (late June-early July, London)

10. Tour de France mountain stage (July in various rotating cities in France)

11. Premier League Soccer game (fall-spring, England)

12. Rose Bowl (New Year's Day, or thereabouts, Pasadena, Calif.)

13. NBA Finals (June, various cities)

14. College World Series (June, Omaha, Neb.)

15. Red Sox-Yankees game (April-October, Boston or New York)

16. Hall of Fame induction (July, Cooperstown, N.Y.)

17. Michigan-Ohio State football (November, Columbus, Ohio, or Ann Arbor, Mich.)

18. The F.A. Cup (fall-spring, England)

19. Duke-North Carolina basketball game (winter, Chapel Hill or Durham, N.C.)

20. The Stanley Cup playoffs (late spring, various NHL cities)

21. British Open (July, Great Britain)

22. Cubs game in the Wrigley bleachers (April-September, Chicago)

23. A game at Notre Dame (fall, South Bend, Ind.)

24. ACC basketball tournament (March, various sites)

25. A soccer game at Maracana Stadium (various dates, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)

26. Little 500 (late April at Indiana University)

27. Tailgating in the SEC (fall, SEC campuses) Did this @ Mississippi St.

28. A game at Rucker Park (anytime, Harlem)

29. U.S. Open tennis (late August, New York)

30. Bayou Classic (November, New Orleans)

31. Kentucky Derby (May, Churchill Downs, Ky.)

32. The Indy 500 (Memorial Day weekend, Indianapolis)

33. The All-Africa Amputee Football Tournament (Sierra Leone)

34. MLB Opening Day (April, various cities)

35. Boston Marathon (April, Boston)

36. Frozen Four (April, various cities)

37. Canadiens-Leafs game (winter, Montreal or Toronto)

38. Auburn-Alabama football game (November, Tuscaloosa or Birmingham, Ala.)

39. Town ball in Minnesota (summer, towns throughout Minnesota)

40. The Iditarod (February, Anchorage to Nome, Ala.)

41. An NBA game from courtside (winter-spring, any NBA city) I love having a sister that has connections with the city of Atlanta.

42. Baseball All-Star Game (July, rotating cities)

43. Il Palio horse race (July and August, Siena, Italy)

44. Play Pebble Beach (year-round, Pebble Beach, Calif.)

45. Daytona 500 (February, Daytona, Fla.)

46. Running of the Bulls (July, Pamplona, Spain)

47. Triple Crown Surfing (November-December North Shore, Oahu)

48. Lady Vols game (winter, Knoxville, Tenn.)

49. Caribbean World Series (January, various sites)

50. Heavyweight championship bout in Vegas (sporadic)

51. Indiana high school basketball tournament (March, Indiana)

52. Golden Gloves tournament (regional)

53. Green Bay Packers game in the snow (December, Green Bay)

54. Koshien baseball tournament (spring and summer, Nishinomiya, Japan )

55. All Blacks rugby game (various dates, New Zealand)

56. World Figure Skating Championships (annual, around the world)

57. Dubai World Cup (late March in Dubai)

58. Calgary Stampede (July, Calgary, Alberta)

59. National Veterans Wheelchair Games (summer, Milwaukee)

60. Maui Invitational (November, Maui, Hawaii)

61. Midnight Madness (October, all over the country)

62. A Big 5 Game at the Palestra (winter, Philadelphia)

63. Camp out for tickets (any event)

64. Wife Carrying World Championships (June in Sonkajarvi, Finland)

65. U.S. Pond Hockey Championships (January, Minneapolis)

66. World Armwrestling Championships (annual, Mohegan Sun, Uncasville, Conn.)

67. Sumo championship (various cities, Japan)

68. 24 Hours of Le Mans (May, Le Mans, France)

69. Prefontaine Classic (June, Eugene, Ore.)

70. The USTA boys tennis championship (August, Kalamazoo, Mich.)

71. Sturgis Motorcycle Rally (August in Sturgis, S.D.)

72. The Beanpot hockey tournament (first two Mondays in February, Boston)

73. Field of Dreams Ghost Sundays (select days in summer, Dyersville, Iowa)

74. Racing at Saratoga (late July-August, Sarasota, N.Y.)

75. Beach volleyball (summer, various cities)

76. Swimming championships in Australia (various dates, Australia)

77. The Dakar Rally (January, southern Europe and North Africa)

78. Rickwood Classic (summer, Birmingham, Ala.)

79. Junior league hockey in small-town Canada (winter throughout Canada)

80. Henley Regatta (July, Oxfordshire, England)

81. Minnesota high school hockey tournament (March, Minnesota)

82. Little Brown Jug race (September, Delaware, Ohio)

83. Bay to Breakers (May, San Francisco)

84. A Raiders game in the Black Hole (fall, Oakland, Calif.) Not that I can't...That's just one of those moments where if someone gave me a ticket to a Raiders game, I'd be like "Anywhere but the Black Hole."

85. Iowa-Iowa State wrestling match (winter, Iowa)

86. The Ironman (June, Hawaii)

87. "Monday Night Football" (September-December, various NFL cities) Falcons season ticket holder.

88. Women's College World Series (June, Oklahoma City)

89. Show-Me State Games (July, Columbia, Mo.)

90. Little League game (spring, early summer, everywhere)

91. A Permian High School football game (fall, Odesssa, Texas)

92. Pakistan-India cricket (occasional meetings)

93. Hot dog eating championship (July 4, Coney Island)

94. Tough Guy (January, outside Wolverhampton, England)

95. Ultimate Fighting Championship bout (various dates, Vegas)

96. The All-American Soap Box Derby (July, Akron, Ohio)

96. NCAA women's volleyball championships (December, rotating sites)

97. Calaveras Frog Jumping Jubilee (May, Calaveras County in California)

98. The Baja 500 (June, Baja Peninsula)

99. A Harlem Globetrotters game (many dates, many cities)

100. Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show (February, New York)

101. Driving the Ring (daily, western Germany). There is no speed limit on Germany's autobahn and there is nothing quite like doing 100 mph only to have a family in a station wagon honking at you to pull over and let them pass. But if the autobahn isn't fast enough for you, try out the 14-mile, 170-turn Nurburgring. The former Grand Prix course was closed to Formula One racing for decades before returning this year (too dangerous) but it's open to the public to drive at speeds of up to 150 miles per hour. Just promise one thing: That you won't attempt this until you've accomplished the previous 100. I didn't do the driving, but I know this happened when I was a baby in Germany.

And in the interest of fairness...TEN EVENTS TO AVOID

1. The Super Bowl. The cost-to-enjoyment ratio is the highest in American sports for this overhyped, outrageously expensive event. You'll enjoy the game more on TV while saving your money for a far more rewarding experience.

2. NFL exhibition games. Why would anyone willingly buy tickets at full price for meaningless games in which the main objective is to play the starters only long enough not to get them hurt? The answer: No one. Which is why teams require that their season-ticket holders buy tickets for these miserable games.

3. NBA draft lottery. Drafts are bad enough, but at least players are actually picked there.

4. Baseball old-timers game. The desire to see your favorite player on the field again is understandable, but don't give in to the temptation. There is nothing worse than seeing a former hero so fat and out of shape that he can't bend over, let alone bend over to scoop up a grounder.

5. Pro Bowl. If you want to go to Hawaii, just go. No need to mix in your vacation with a game that not even the players chosen to play want to attend.

6. World Series of Poker. Poker is not a sport. It's gambling. And your money isn't on the line, so why would you care?

7. WWE. Real sports don't need scripts.

8. Rhythmic gymnastics. Is an explanation really necessary?

9. The Wing Bowl. The contestants may not feel like throwing up at this annual Philadelphia eating competition, but you will.

10. Dogfight night at Michael Vick's house.

[KevinMcD]

I've only been to 2.......

20. The Stanley Cup playoffs (late spring, various NHL cities)

90. Little League game (spring, early summer, everywhere)

In the next 12 months I will probably attend 3 more...

16. Hall of Fame induction (July, Cooperstown, N.Y.) Hopefully my uncle will take me. His friend may back out, and said if he does back out I am going.

74. Racing at Saratoga (late July-August, Sarasota, N.Y.) My aunt lives in Saratoga, and I am going to visit her in mid-August

87. "Monday Night Football" (September-December, various NFL cities) 10-8 Bills vs. Cowboys

[infrared41]

Been there. Done that.

4. The World Series (every October, various cities) 1984 Detroit vs. San Diego Game 5

5. NCAA subregional (March, various sites) Tampa in 2003 and Albany in 1995

6. Spring training (February-March, Florida and Arizona) Florida in 2003 and 2005

34. MLB Opening Day (April, various cities) Cleveland in 2000

90. Little League game (spring, early summer, everywhere) Played in hundreds...watch them occasionally.

Must do before I am done...

17. Michigan-Ohio State football (November, Columbus, Ohio, or Ann Arbor, Mich.)

23. A game at Notre Dame (fall, South Bend, Ind.)

38. Auburn-Alabama football game (November, Tuscaloosa or Birmingham, Ala.)

45. Daytona 500 (February, Daytona, Fla.)

53. Green Bay Packers game in the snow (December, Green Bay)

12. Rose Bowl (New Year's Day, or thereabouts, Pasadena, Calif.)

Would love to go...

7. NFL conference championship (January in various NFL cities)

14. College World Series (June, Omaha, Neb.)

16. Hall of Fame induction (July, Cooperstown, N.Y.)

19. Duke-North Carolina basketball game (winter, Chapel Hill or Durham, N.C.)

20. The Stanley Cup playoffs (late spring, various NHL cities)

22. Cubs game in the Wrigley bleachers (April-September, Chicago)

24. ACC basketball tournament (March, various sites)

27. Tailgating in the SEC (fall, SEC campuses)

30. Bayou Classic (November, New Orleans)

32. The Indy 500 (Memorial Day weekend, Indianapolis)

84. A Raiders game in the Black Hole (fall, Oakland, Calif.)

87. "Monday Night Football" (September-December, various NFL cities)

88. Women's College World Series (June, Oklahoma City)

99. A Harlem Globetrotters game (many dates, many cities)

Would go if I got ever got the chance but isn't a priority...

15. Red Sox-Yankees game (April-October, Boston or New York)

28. A game at Rucker Park (anytime, Harlem)

36. Frozen Four (April, various cities)

37. Canadiens-Leafs game (winter, Montreal or Toronto)

41. An NBA game from courtside (winter-spring, any NBA city)

48. Lady Vols game (winter, Knoxville, Tenn.)

49. Caribbean World Series (January, various sites)

51. Indiana high school basketball tournament (March, Indiana)

54. Koshien baseball tournament (spring and summer, Nishinomiya, Japan )

60. Maui Invitational (November, Maui, Hawaii)

71. Sturgis Motorcycle Rally (August in Sturgis, S.D.)

72. The Beanpot hockey tournament (first two Mondays in February, Boston)

73. Field of Dreams Ghost Sundays (select days in summer, Dyersville, Iowa)

79. Junior league hockey in small-town Canada (winter throughout Canada)

81. Minnesota high school hockey tournament (March, Minnesota)

Couldn't care less about the rest...

[BaltimoreFan]

I haven't really been to any of them, but plan on seeing a few sometime in my life. The closest I've been is the Carribean World Series. I actually went to the World Baseball Classic in Orlando and saw the Dominican Republic play Venezuela. It's definitely an experience, completely different from what most Americans expect from a baseball game. It was in the 9500 seat park in Disney, but was just as loud if not louder than the Ravens games I've attended. People were chanting and cheering the entire game. Any baseball fan should take the opportunity to see an international game like this.

[MrAsterisk]

First of all:

Don't tell me what to do, Caple!

But seriously:

11. Premier League Soccer game (fall-spring, England)

Two of the three soccer mentions are English. Jim Caple would seriously rather watch, say, Fulham and Blackburn Rovers than El Clasico at the Bernabeu? I'm not asking for more soccer mentions -- although my list would have a few extra -- just slightly better selection. The other two are fine, but just any old league match at 11? That's a little silly.

[sscrunner06]

I've been to a few of these myself:

5. NCAA subregional (March, various sites) -- New Orleans, 2007

27. Tailgating in the SEC (fall, SEC campuses) -- 2003 Florida @ LSU

61. Midnight Madness (October, all over the country) -- A&M, brought the court onto Kyle Field

90. Little League game (spring, early summer, everywhere)

99. A Harlem Globetrotters game (many dates, many cities) -- some years ago in Biloxi

Pretty good list...he did a good job of representing many different sports.

[Eye]

Here are the events I have attended:

20. The Stanley Cup playoffs (late spring, various NHL cities) - Game six 1995 Eastern Conference Finals Flyers @ Devils - Devils win and get their first berth in the Stanley Cup Finals

90. Little League game (spring, early summer, everywhere) - I've attended a Little League game in my life. Who hasn't though, right? However, you'd never see me at the LLWS. I hate the LLWS and never even watch it on television.

That's all.

-E.A.R.

[Alphabet Man]

Some things that should be on that list is the Boxing Day Test at the MCG or an Ashes Test at Lords'. Also the Melbourne Cup.

[goalieboy82]

also what about the AFL Grand Final (or other aussie rules football games). i have been to just one aussie rules game (in LA California, the Kangaroos vs Swans game). also i have seen A Harlem Globetrotters game and played in a Little League game.

[spyboy1]

I've done 14 of these.

4. The World Series (every October, various cities)

6. Spring training (February-March, Florida and Arizona)

11. Premier League Soccer game (fall-spring, England)

15. Red Sox-Yankees game (April-October, Boston or New York)

20. The Stanley Cup playoffs (late spring, various NHL cities)

22. Cubs game in the Wrigley bleachers (April-September, Chicago)

32. The Indy 500 (Memorial Day weekend, Indianapolis)

34. MLB Opening Day (April, various cities)

36. Frozen Four (April, various cities)

63. Camp out for tickets (any event)

65. U.S. Pond Hockey Championships (January, Minneapolis)

81. Minnesota high school hockey tournament (March, Minnesota)

90. Little League game (spring, early summer, everywhere)

99. A Harlem Globetrotters game (many dates, many cities)

I'm kinda pissed that I don't get credit for the NBA All-Star Game!

[Shumway]

I only did two, and I don't even really remember seeing the Globetrotters. I just know I went. I've been to Calder Cup finals games, but alas, they didn't make the cut.

[FiddySicks]

Nice. Bay to Breakers is a pretty fun event. My dad ran in B to B a few times back in the 80s and 90s.

The Pro Bowl is one of the most enjoyable events i've ever attended, and is really not that unfeasable.