Some moments are simply better enjoyed in person.
Sporting events are certainly no exception.
Sometimes, television just can't do it justice. You can see every angle of a play lose out on enjoying the feelings of those sitting in the stands &ndash the passion, the intensity, the exhilaration, the defeat.
For good or bad, it all feels more real.
While I laid on my couch on Sunday catching the second half of the epic men's Wimbledon final, my thoughts drifted during the commercials.
"Man, how cool it would be to be there."
I know tennis crowds don't get all that rowdy. I know it was across the Atlantic Ocean. I know any seat I could've purchased would probably have had a less-than-stellar view.
But I didn't care. I just wished I was there.
With that, I present the Top 10 Sporting Events I Wish I Saw Live.
(My qualifications were simple. First, you will undoubtedly disagree with some of my selections. Second, I had to be alive &ndash so July 1988-Present. Third, I know you missed my lists, so enjoy.)
10) Men's College Basketball &ndash 2004 NCAA Regional Final: No. 2-seeded Oklahoma State defeats No. 1-seeded St. Joseph's, 64-62
This game and season as a whole probably caught me at the peak of my own basketball playing days. A family friend was an alumnus of St. Joe's and had me paying attention to the Hawks well before they became beloved by a nation because of their undefeated regular season. I loved then-senior Jameer Nelson's play and wanted to emulate it in my own action on the hardwood. A loss to Xavier in the Atlantic 10 Tournament put a blemish on the Hawks' record, but they had so much to live up to in the Big Dance after earning a No. 1 seed at a school not normally known for such things. The image of Oklahoma State guard John Lucas III's game-clinching 3-pointer contrasted sharply with a defeated Nelson, who missed a potential game-tying jumper at the buzzer.
9) Tennis &ndash 2009 Wimbledon Men's Singles Final: Roger Federer defeats Andy Roddick 5-7, 7-6 (6), 7-6 (5), 3-6, 16-14
Obviously the most recent event on the list, this immediately went down in my books as my second-favorite tennis match ever. Roddick reminded everyone why he has been so highly touted his entire pro career, while Federer fought yet another tough challenge on Wimbledon's grass to capture his record-breaking 15th Grand Slam title. How can a 16-14 final set not be captivating? It made me remember why I love Wimbledon's lack of a fifth-set tiebreaker so much. We could've been cheated (I'm looking at you, U.S. Open). You really had to wonder who would blink first, yet either winner presented an amazing story. The timing - Sunday morning and early afternoon, the perfect accompaniment to brunch - is so unique and special. This one definitely had people saying "Did you see that?" and people who had missed it clamoring for the replay. Here's to hoping the 2010 final can come even close to the last two years.
8) Men's College Basketball &ndash 2008 NCAA Tournament First Round &ndash Tampa: (13) Siena defeats (4) Vanderbilt, (12) Villanova defeats (5) Clemson, (12) Western Kentucky defeats (5) Drake, (13) San Diego defeats (4) Connecticut
This one would rank near the top if we were ranking sporting events I really had a decent shot at attending and passed up. I'm not sure if I've despised coworker Mike McCall any more than I did on March 22, 2008. McCall was fortunate to cover the four games, and I debated attending as a fan but decided against returning to my hometown. Any guess how much I second-guessed that choice the next day? Four games. Four upsets (and big ones at that). It may go down as one of the best first-round sites in Big Dance history. It's really too fitting McCall lucked into one of the best gigs ever, while I was criticizing myself for watching on TV in Gainesville.
7) College Football &ndash 2006: No. 6 UF defeats South Carolina, 17-16
I'm not sure much introduction has to be given for this game, at least around Gainesville. "The Block" will likely suffice. While still in my pre-Alligator days, I unfortunately chose to spend the weekend at home. I've imagined and heard after the fact just how crazy the atmosphere was inside The Swamp. Instead, I was left watching one of the biggest plays of the year on my living room television. It sure didn't capture the worry, pause of wonder and complete euphoria felt by those at the game. I guess seeing The Promise firsthand was my consolation prize.
6) NHL &ndash 2004 Stanley Cup Finals Game 7: Tampa Bay Lightning defeat Calgary Flames 2-1
This game marked the end of my brief love affair with the NHL. I will absolutely admit my 16-year-old self jumped on the Lightning bandwagon along with the rest of the Tampa Bay area. We got a heck of a series too, going the full length, and Games 5 and 6 went into overtime. Heck, I was listening to hockey playoff games on the radio if I couldn't be around the television for a period. I readily admit this was an absurd moment of my life, unlikely to be repeated even if the Lightning become relevant again. And in the days of pre-HD television coverage - and perhaps still now - hockey games are a lot more fun in person (this coming from a man who has only been to a handful).
To be continued on Tuesday… What other five events will make Phil's list? Do you already hate/love him for his bottom five?
