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Sport Sporting bucket lists

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I love sport. I love travel.

Combine the two and its happy days!

Nothing beats a sporting pilgrimage across the globe to follow a team or maybe even tick off a lifetime ambition to see a particular event.

This brings me to sporting bucket lists - i'm sure all of us have a certain number of sporting events they wish to see in their lives, some may be pipe dreams, some more achievable. Some might me mainstream, some might be weird and wonderful.

So here we are, a thread to post your top 5 sporting bucket lists, ticked off or not.

Personally ive ticked off a few of mine, but have a few more left. A few that i thought were big ticket items turned out to be underwhelming... which i guess begs the question, do we hype things in our mind so much that they will end up being a disappointment in the end? is it best to leave a few unticked and just out of reach - to keep a bit of magic in our minds?

anyhow.. here goes, my top 5.

1- Follow Australia in a football world cup campaign - ticked

Ideally this would read, be at a world cup final with Australia but ill be realistic. I follwed Australia to 2 world cups, south africa and the dream run in Germany. When i look back now, that month in Germany was the pinnacle month of my life - pure perfection, right age, right country, right climate, right food, right beer, right mates, winning team run. Was perfect time and definatley lived up to the bucket list status.

2- Visit Augusta for the US open golf - unticked

Ive often thought about st andrews as a pilgrimage but i think augusta tops it, they cap numbers so its pretty intimate. The place drips with history, nothing id love more than to park on amen corner for 4 days and watch the drama unfold.

3- Be on the alp d'uez for the last hill stage of the tour de france - unticked

France is a great country to visit, le tour snakes across its villages and towns, most people floock to see the peleton whizz by in 10 seconds then move on to the next. Others would love to be on the champs elysse to see them all come home, but for me the ideal stage would be to sit high up on the alp d'uez, while the thing is still alive and competitive, at the top of a gruelling hill when the riders snail by, not whizz by, you can see every grimace, every muscle - all while eating cheese and drinking wine a meter to the side. ...and no tickets, FREE!

4- Be at an AFL grand final to watch Essendon win - Ticked (maybe)

Been lucky enough to see 2 winning gfs, 93 and 00 - but to be fair i didnt appreciate them enough - the next one will be THE one... but i know i wont be able to get a ticket to it.. so im torn on this list item, i call it ticked but deep down it didnt fill my expectations like another one would. Its still a big aim.


5- Follow Australia on a tour of the west indies - unticked

I always thought seeing the ashes at lords would be my list item, but once there i was underwhelmed - it was not much different to watching cricket here. This goes back to my childhood, when the windies were a force, with that heaving atmosphere - id have loved to follow us on a tour thru that - maybe now its India? altough having been there - its a bit of a head f**k - the west indies is still a strong list item, i just hope their cricket team can grow a leg and make it worth while.

im not much of a car head so f1's dont mean much to me, not a basketballer guy, ditto - Olympics, nahh corrupt, tennis? i enjoyed wimbledon but its not top list worthy - one other weird one floats my boat

be at the winter olympics, high up in the mountains, rugged up drinking mulled wine and ringing a cow bell at the ski jumping while they fly thru the sky.

so top 5 sporting bucket list?

what you got on it?
 
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1. Follow Australia in a WC tourny - Unticked (and will not be going to Qatar or Russia so will remain unticked for a while)

2. Windies Test Tour - As you mentioned, probably wish they still gave a **** about test cricket but it would still be a great trip.- Unticked

3. Superbowl - Not a massive NFL follower, but still reckon this would be a great experience to attend.- Unticked

4. NHL game (preff red wings) - It was off season when I was in the States last so didn't get to tick this one off, will be on the list next trip - unticked

5. Day 4 Augusta Us Open - I'll even wear beige shorts and ralph loren polo to fit in with the crowd
 
1. Follow Australia in a WC tourny - Unticked (and will not be going to Qatar or Russia so will remain unticked for a while)

2. Windies Test Tour - As you mentioned, probably wish they still gave a **** about test cricket but it would still be a great trip.- Unticked

3. Superbowl - Not a massive NFL follower, but still reckon this would be a great experience to attend.- Unticked

4. NHL game (preff red wings) - It was off season when I was in the States last so didn't get to tick this one off, will be on the list next trip - unticked

5. Day 4 Augusta Us Open - I'll even wear beige shorts and ralph loren polo to fit in with the crowd

I'd give my left nut to play just one round on Augusta, could you imagine it?

Apparently after each masters the journos got to play a round the next day under tournament conditions, that would be the way in, be a scribe or camera guy
 
Hmmm...

I was on the Champs Elysees to see Cadel Evans win Le Tour, that was a good one.

Biggest one for me was seeing Roy Jones Jr fight in Las Vegas, which I did in the mid 2000s.

I'd like to get to an NFL game (The Jets). Not too fussed if its the Superbowl (yeah, like the Jets are ever going to make a ****ing Superbowl...).

Other than that I'd like to attend some events at the Olympics - missed my chance in 2000.

And I'd love to see Essendon win a Grand Final - which I never have at the ground.
 

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Hmmm...

I was on the Champs Elysees to see Cadel Evans win Le Tour, that was a good one.

Biggest one for me was seeing Roy Jones Jr fight in Las Vegas, which I did in the mid 2000s.

I'd like to get to an NFL game (The Jets). Not too fussed if its the Superbowl (yeah, like the Jets are ever going to make a ******* Superbowl...).

Other than that I'd like to attend some events at the Olympics - missed my chance in 2000.

And I'd love to see Essendon win a Grand Final - which I never have at the ground.

Being at a hyped title bout in Vegas would be awesome! So much adrenaline and testosterone mixed in with front row glam I assume
 
Being at a hyped title bout in Vegas would be awesome! So much adrenaline and testosterone mixed in with front row glam I assume

I was second row - paid a fortune for the ticket.

Unfortunately, that was the second Tarver bout. The near-omnipotent Jones was knocked out COLD in the second round. The sound was unnerving up close.

I reckon I was in a daze for the next day - it was THAT unbelievable.
 
In no particular order (hence no numbers)
  • NBA finals game 7
  • World heavyweight boxing bout
  • Home and away legs of UEFA Champions League pool matches, preferably between 2 big teams with rabid followers like Juventus vs Bayern Munich
  • Follow an Ashes tour in England - apparently only costs about $50K :eek: Intersperse the test matches with short trips both within the UK and Europe
  • Alabama NCAAF home game, preferably against a team like the Sooners, Clemson, Auburn, Georgia who can go toe to toe with them (as much as anyone can go toe to toe with the Crimson Tide at home)
Items ticked - NONE

I would've had "see Essendon win a GF live in the flesh" but I was fortunate enough to do that in 2000.
 
I was second row - paid a fortune for the ticket.

Unfortunately, that was the second Tarver bout. The near-omnipotent Jones was knocked out COLD in the second round. The sound was unnerving up close.

I reckon I was in a daze for the next day - it was THAT unbelievable.

This is why I want to see a heavyweight bout (was this one light heavyweight or heavyweight?). It'd be something else seeing what these guys can both dish out and absorb.
 
This is why I want to see a heavyweight bout (was this one light heavyweight or heavyweight?). It'd be something else seeing what these guys can both dish out and absorb.

That one was at light heavyweight.

Both guys can bang though, no doubt.

Being a massive Jones Jr fan, was frustrating - Tarver closed his friggin eyes - I could see it from ringside.

At the risk of starting a whole 'nother shit fight though, this is why I find the whole MMA fighter v boxer 'in the real world' to be no where near as simple as many think - boxers strike much, MUCH better - and harder - than MMA fighters.
 
5- Follow Australia on a tour of the west indies - unticked

I always thought seeing the ashes at lords would be my list item, but once there i was underwhelmed - it was not much different to watching cricket here. This goes back to my childhood, when the windies were a force, with that heaving atmosphere - id have loved to follow us on a tour thru that - maybe now its India? altough having been there - its a bit of a head f**k - the west indies is still a strong list item, i just hope their cricket team can grow a leg and make it worth while.

2. Windies Test Tour - As you mentioned, probably wish they still gave a **** about test cricket but it would still be a great trip.- Unticked

I thought about this one but for me it'd be based on the Windies of the 80s and early 90s and the associated crowds. Nowadays I'd more go for a holiday in the Windies and maybe take in a few days of cricket here and there rather than make it a true sporting bucket list item.
 
I'm going to do what I haven't done so far:

1. Old Trafford for a United game. Preferably against Liverpool, but any game really.

2. Test match at Lords

3. Mountain stage at Le Tour

4. Celtics vs Lakers at Boston.

5. World Cup for any match

6. Any Golfing major. Probably the Open Championships.

7. Wimbledon. Not big on tennis but that's the pinnacle.

Would also love to see stages in the Giro and Vuelta, but Le Tour is the big one.
 
Been lucky enough to see most of what I've wanted to see. With splitting my time between Los Angeles & Melbourne in 2018, I'll be able to see a lot more!

- See Chicago Blackhawks more. Seen them 5 times already, all in Chicago for a record of 3-1-1. Pretty happy with the 5 games I've attended. I'll get to see them in back to back away games in Los Angeles & Anaheim in March. Tempted to fly up to San Jose and make it 3 games in 4 days. Have attended 14 NHL games, and have seen 17 of the 31 teams play. Yet to go to a Playoff game, but the LA Kings will be up there this season, so will get along to one of those.

- Don't really have an NBA team these days, with all the player movement that goes on. I love watching Damian Lillard & Jimmy Butler play though, was able to see them both last year. NBA isn't a sport I particularly enjoy live though. Would love to see Russell Westbrook play in person.

- What surprised me last year, was how much I enjoyed going to the MLB. I'll be in Los Angeles when the season starts, and am hoping to get to open day this year where they play the Giants.

- Purchased tickets to see West Ham vs Crystal Palace to see in a couple of weeks time in London. Wilfried Zaha is someone who I love watching, so was frustrated by the talk that the big teams were chasing him. Nice to see our ownership come out and say they won't be selling him in the last few days. Which is a smart move considering we're far from a lock for being safe from relegation. Side note - Getting tickets to this game was excruciatingly painful. I can't imagine what it's like for visiting Arsenal/Manchester/Liverpool/Chelsea fans.
 

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Been lucky enough to see most of what I've wanted to see. With splitting my time between Los Angeles & Melbourne in 2018, I'll be able to see a lot more!

- See Chicago Blackhawks more. Seen them 5 times already, all in Chicago for a record of 3-1-1. Pretty happy with the 5 games I've attended. I'll get to see them in back to back away games in Los Angeles & Anaheim in March. Tempted to fly up to San Jose and make it 3 games in 4 days. Have attended 14 NHL games, and have seen 17 of the 31 teams play. Yet to go to a Playoff game, but the LA Kings will be up there this season, so will get along to one of those.

- Don't really have an NBA team these days, with all the player movement that goes on. I love watching Damian Lillard & Jimmy Butler play though, was able to see them both last year. NBA isn't a sport I particularly enjoy live though. Would love to see Russell Westbrook play in person.

- What surprised me last year, was how much I enjoyed going to the MLB. I'll be in Los Angeles when the season starts, and am hoping to get to open day this year where they play the Giants.

- Purchased tickets to see West Ham vs Crystal Palace to see in a couple of weeks time in London. Wilfried Zaha is someone who I love watching, so was frustrated by the talk that the big teams were chasing him. Nice to see our ownership come out and say they won't be selling him in the last few days. Which is a smart move considering we're far from a lock for being safe from relegation. Side note - Getting tickets to this game was excruciatingly painful. I can't imagine what it's like for visiting Arsenal/Manchester/Liverpool/Chelsea fans.

Every EPL game I went to I had to get from a flat capped scalper sat outside the William Hill...guess it's not ideal but it worked
 
Saw a Premier League game back in 1998 but would love love love to go back and see more. Tottenham would be the dream.

That being said:
1) Would love to see any NBA game (no preferences)
2) Any NFL game (pref Seahawks)
3) Any NHL (pref Coyotes)
4) The Ashes in England
5) Soccer World cup

Anything else would just be a bonus.
 
Hmmm...

I was on the Champs Elysees to see Cadel Evans win Le Tour, that was a good one.

Biggest one for me was seeing Roy Jones Jr fight in Las Vegas, which I did in the mid 2000s.

I'd like to get to an NFL game (The Jets). Not too fussed if its the Superbowl (yeah, like the Jets are ever going to make a ******* Superbowl...).

Other than that I'd like to attend some events at the Olympics - missed my chance in 2000.

And I'd love to see Essendon win a Grand Final - which I never have at the ground.
I was on rue Madeline watching from a balcony drinking leffes and eating cheese as he rode past.... Amazing. This could only be surpassed by a premiership. Sadly I have only been to a losing GF.
 
Just so you all know, when you attend a Grand Final and your teams wins, it’s ****en awesome!!!!!

I dunno.....

When you followed Essendon , when you had 4 flags already in your short lifetime.... I know it's sick but deep down I thought they would just keep coming. In my dimented mind I was dissapointed because I wanted to be at the 'classic' gf, the one like 84, a huge comeback or win post siren. Both gfs were cake walks.

I know it's dumb.. I'll never underappreciate it again.
 

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