Bucket List

One of my Facebook friends posed an interesting question earlier this week, and on the eve of the championships of one of my favorite all-time events, I thought it only appropriate:


What is on your bucket list?


I am not  your average girl/woman.  My life tends to revolve around sports, whether that be as a spectator or in my professional life.  And it's not just one sport in particular, I'm obsessed with them all, from the popular and football to tennis, golf, and wrestling (and no, not the "pro" kind.) I'm on espn.com on a 5 or 6 time a day basis, and you might wonder how someone like me deals without having cable.  Let me tell you, it can get really rough sometimes, but I've survived so far. :)  I've played sports since I was little, devoted notebooks and scrapbooks to sports page newspaper clippings, and had my bedroom walls decorated with season schedules and athlete posters since I was a little girl dribbling with my dad in the driveway.  So when it comes to a bucket list, you will kind of see mine tends to have a general theme, and I've had this list since at least high school, maybe earlier.

1. Attend Wimbledon (yes, this may surprise some people that this is at the top of my list over basketball, but this event just epitomizes all I love about sports. The tradition and history, the venue, the class, the masses of fans, plus the chance to travel to England doesn't hurt.)  I want this so badly, I would even be okay with going and sitting on the hill and watching on the big screen if tickets to the final weren't available at Centre Court.  Just to be a part of the atmosphere would be worth it.


2. NCAA Final Four/Championship- I have attended 1st/2nd round games, as well as Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight, and flown all over the country on my own to do so, but nothing would be as significant as attending the final four/championship weekend. Especially if Mizzou finally makes their first appearance! There is nothing quite like March Madness, and the culmination of the whole year is monumental.  This is so close to being number one on my list, but is a close second.

3. The Masters- I don't know what it is about golf, but it is honestly one of my favorite sports to watch. Most young people find it boring, but I find myself silently screaming for a great putt (or loudly screaming when I'm at home watching on TV.)  The Masters, like Wimbledon, carries so much history and tradition, and I've heard that people try to get tickets for years before actually getting selected, so I better start now!

4. Olympics- Summer or winter, I don't really care, just to say that I was able to attend.  I have to say that in general I prefer summer as a whole, but there are a few winter sports that are my overall favorites, like speed skating or snow boarding.  It would be great to go when the US is host, but I also love to travel so I would honestly go anywhere if I had the money.

5. Super Bowl/NCAA National Championship- Yes, I know these are kind of low on my list, but football is just not at the top for me. I do love it, just a few other events took precedence.  I'm not sure if I had to pick between the two of these which one I'd choose, I guess it would depend on who was playing, but I may actually choose the college game, just because nothing is better than true college fans/alumni supporting their school.  The dedication just runs so deep.

Now these are only my top 5, but you see where I'm going with this.  I do have to say, I have made some minor accomplishments in almost all of these categories in the last several years.

1. Cincinnati hosts a tournament every year that I attended twice, watching Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic
2.  I went to NCAA tournament games through the Elite Eight two different years, each time watching Mizzou
3. Attended a PGA event in Akron, Ohio and saw Tiger, Phil, and all the other top ranked players in person
4. This one I haven't quite tackled yet, although I have seen Ryan Lochte swim at the Missouri Grand Prix :)
5. I've been to two bowl games, including the Cotton Bowl when Mizzou demolished Arkansas and Tony Temple had the game of his life

So maybe someday I'll be able to accomplish all these things, but until then I guess I'll keep dreaming...