International Sport Events

1. The best international sporting event, hands down. Besides the incredible opening ceremonies that took place during the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the wide variety of events and star power alone makes it must see TV.This past Olympics we had Michael Phelps, Usain Bolt, and the Redeem Team among others. It seems that each Olympics there are better and more skilled athletes setting record after record.There is so much raw emotion that takes place in .....

Winter Olympics

2. The Winter Olympics might take a backseat to the Summer Olympics from time to time, but it is still one of the best international sports competitions in the world.It produces the best hockey tournament known to man, curling, which is everyone favorite, and speed skating, which nobody gives due credit.What the winter Olympics gives up in flash, it makes up in speed. People become exposed to sports that they have never played nor seen before, maki .....

Tour De France

3. In 1903, a few good men had the idea to go on a little bike ride around France. The 2200 mile, three week race pits the best cyclists from around the world in a test of endurance and teamwork. The course wraps around a majority of France, and ends in Paris.Americans know about the race through the accolades of Lance Armstrong, who won the race seven times.The New York Times once printed that the Tour de France is arguably the most physiologicall .....

Wimbledon

4. Certainly the classiest tennis tournament there is, The Championships at Wimbledon has taken place at the All England Club since 1877. This historic major takes place in late June, early July and has produced some of the greatest tennis matches ever played.While some resonate in our minds more clearly (Federer versus Nadal), you do not have to look back too far to find a match that kept you on the edge of your seat.The green grass courts and the .....

Running of the Bulls

5. Take it from someone who has run with bulls before.It is not a smart idea. While I was doing it, I did not for a second think that it was a bad idea. In retrospect, running alongside angry bulls in a confined area was one of the coolest experiences in my life, but also one of the dumbest.I cannot knock tradition, though, and while a lot of people will agree that it does not make much sense, the Spaniards will continue with this encierro as long .....

The French Open

6. The French Open takes place in Paris, France at the Stade Roland Garros. One of the four tennis majors, the French Open provides some of the most unique tennis there is. For some, playing on clay might as well be like playing on gravel some players simply hate it.Others, like Rafael Nadal, feed off of the home court advantage. It is considered the most physically demanding tennis tournament in the world and is also the most watched.I wonder if N .....

UEFA Champions League

7. There is no disputing that the best footballers in the world pay in Europe. Founded in 1955, the UEFA Champions League title is arguably the most prestigious prize outside of the World Cup.Because of the high level of competition, there has been a great deal of parity, though Spanish and Italian teams have had the most success. .....

British Open

8. This historic golf tournament is traditionally played in England or Scotland, and at times presents players with the most difficult elements a golfer can encounter.It is an age old course in which golfers who win become part of one of the hollowed traditions in all of sports. .....

The Masters

9. Augusta National Golf Club hosts the most premier golf tournament in the world. The world best ascend upon Augusta, Georgia in order to partake in one of the four major tournaments, and win the most prestigious article of clothing in sports.Casual golfers want to win a few tournaments and ride off into the sunset. The greatest in the world know that the Masters is where legends are born. Golf immortality can be reached once the green jacket is i .....

Monaco Grand Prix

10. The Monaco Grand Prix, first held in 1929, is one of the most prestigious races in the world. Formula One drivers navigate through the narrow course carefully yet daringly, trying to avoid hitting the walls on this high speed, high risk track.Rain or shine, this race goes on, and only the most skilled drivers in the world can handle this beast. .....

Ironman Triathlon

11. In 1978, the island of Hawaii became the destination of the world most incredible athletes. The Ironman Triathlon, which features a 2.4 mile swim, a 112 mile bike ride and a marathon (26.2 miles) run, tests even the toughest men and women from all over the world, and pushes them to inhumane limits.The race starts at 7 a.m. and must be finished by midnight (12 a.m.) the next day. There is no way to ever know what you will be putting your body thr .....

Summer X Games

12. Who would have thought that guys who skateboard and ride bikes would one day get a legitimate competition that allowed them to put on some of the most incredible shows of talent.Believe it or not, it is here to stay.Watching these athletes from all over the world come together to make death defying jumps and tricks is great every time. The X Games have evolved and I am glad to be along for the ride. .....

IAAF World Championships

13. Of course we need to put in the IAAF World Championships. This is where Usain Bolt has been lowering his own world records time and time again.While Bolt might be the most notable athlete at the competition, which takes place every two years, there were over 2000 competitors there in Berlin, Germany in 2009. .....

Volvo Ocean Race

14. Established in 1973, the Volvo Ocean Race is the world biggest yacht race and takes place every three years. It a nine month, 39000 nautical mile race that goes around the entire world.Along the journey, crew members experience sleep deprivation, hunger and extremely hot and cold temperatures, while facing dangerous terrains.The crews must trust their skippers in order to win the race, let alone get home alive. It is one of the most dangerous r .....

Cricket World Cup

15. Like rugby, this sport does not get as much play in the United States, but it certainly has an international following. The Cricket World Cup has just taken place in 2011, resulting in a victory for India.The tournament, which takes place once every four years, continues to have a lot of political influences as highlighted through the match between India and Pakistan. .....

Rugby World Cup

16. Though not as popular in America, the Rugby World Cup has brought historically significant political events to the forefront. The Rugby World Cup became official in 1987, though it was played in an unofficial fashion for decades. This is not a sport that many relate with, but it is internationally liked and produces some of the toughest men in the world. If you have not seen it before, the New Zealand All Blacks Haka War Dance is the coolest pre .....

New York City Marathon

17. The race, established in 1970, features some of the best professional and amateur runners in the world. This is one of the most coveted races in the United States and draws some of the best in the business.Competitors from the United States, Africa, Europe and South America have won the title, and the course runs through all five of New York historic boroughs. .....

24 Hours of Le Mans

18. This French race has been held since 1923 and features a test of endurance that cannot be matched.driving for 24 straight hours. Granted it is a team of drivers, but this unique competition tests the manufacturers abilities to make cars that are both fast and durable.Unlike the uniformity of other races, the cars are different, and the style of racing is like nothing you have ever seen.The track is not nearly as difficult as some of the other ma .....

Little League World Series

19. Few people realize that this is both an international competition, and the envy of any guy that has ever played Little League baseball.The Little League World Series, held in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, is the oldest Little League championship, and pits the winners of the United States and World brackets. The tournament has evolved over time and has become a cornerstone of late summer ESPN programming. .....

Billabong ISA World Surfing Games

20. I tried surfing once, and was repeatedly punished by the ocean for even attempting the feat. But watching the Billabong ISA World Surfing Games reassures me that it is possible to stand on a surfboard and to master the craft. .....

World Baseball Classic

21. International baseball competitions have never been a significant part of the game. The Olympics, where all other international sports are settled, has lacked star power.In 2005, this changed with the introduction of the World Baseball Classic. This three week tournament included some of the best baseball teams from North America, Latin America and Asia.Japan has won both tournaments thus far and, as time goes on, the tournament will continue to .....

FIBA World Championships

22. For those people that think this is just another basketball tournament that the United States dominates, you need to think again. This is not the Olympics. The United States won the 2010 FIBA title, but before that, the tournament saw a great deal of parity.Most countries put out their best lineups, while the United States takes a backseat. This is no longer the case. Look for this tournament to gain more attention as the United States begins to .....

FIS Alpine World Ski Championships

23. The International Ski Federation, since 1931, has put on the world premier downhill skiing championship.Though hosted mostly in Europe, the competition is attended by skiers from all over the world and is similar to many of the other contests that alternate every two years with the winter Olympics. .....

World Cup Soccer

24. Thirty two nations play, but billions of people in countries all around the world drop everything they are doing for a month every four years to see who claims the title of World Cup soccer champion.The teams that compete in the World Cup finals are those that emerge from a series of qualifying rounds played out over the prior three years. The tournament of tournaments is therefore a showcase of the finest squads from across the continents and he .....

The Super Bowl United States

25. The Super Bowl is so big that even the commercials are worth watching. The first Super Bowl (held in January 1967) was played to plenty of empty seats and a waning TV audience. But now Super Bowl Sundays, progressively marked with Roman numerals, are the most celebrated one game professional championship on the 12 month Gregorian calendar.The Super Bowl concludes a 16 game regular season, and three postseason play off rounds. It pits the top team .....