An article appeared on espn.go.com by Jim Caple on “101 things all sports fans must experience before they die”. The Hawaii Ironman was #87!!! Might find it interesting to look at. http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=caple/070625
I read that earlier today and my initial response was the same as yours. Then I went back and looked at it again. No where in there does his say this is a “ranking” or in any “order.” He simply says this is 101 things to experience. So, I do not think he was trying to put any priority to the entire list.
In the top 10, he makes some comments about one event being “bigger” or “more rare” than another. But, he really does not claim all 101 are in any order.
yea, but Kona is not in June…
I would add a Motocross Outdoor National to that list too.
From the looks of it, I think it was ordered. At least few would argue about Summer Olympics, World Cup, and Winter Olympics as the top three.
Anyway, I would like to think it is ordered because they had the best bike race of all time, the Indiana University Little 500, ranked as number 26. They had it ahead of the Kentucky Derby and the Indy 500. Little 5 really is an amazing event and belongs way up the list.
-Marc
Great to see the list was so international, rather than just pandering to the US audience.
Of course we could all argue our favourite event, but some of them got me interested. For example, an India/Pakistan cricket game. Cricket is big here in NZ too, but internationally it’s pretty small fry, until you realize 1 BILLION Indians pretty much live and die for cricket. Makes college baseball seem pretty insignificant in comparison.
Maybe since the IM in Hawaii in October fills up so quickly, maybe I could start training for the one in June. hehehe
Yeah, they had the Tour de France at 10 which was cool…and then Kona in June, haha.
I mean are these things even fact checked or what? How hard would that be to look up?
To hell with Kona, I’m all over this:
- Wife Carrying World Championships (June in Sonkajarvi, Finland).
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A friend of mine place 12th in the world wife carrying championships last year…he said it was a riot. In fact, he made the sports center highlight reel from the race.
Personally, I liked this one…
- Sturgis Motorcycle Rally (August in Sturgis, S.D.). I could tell you that an estimated 500,000 bikers attend this annual nine-day rally. I could tell you that Buffalo Chip campground has room for 25,000 bikers and its own Taco Bell, A&W and Subway restaurants, plus a soundstage – and that it’s just one of several such campgrounds. I could tell you there is football field-sized bar with women dancing on the tables and booths selling knives and animal skins. But to really get a feel for the rally, just know that I sat down at a table and within five minutes had two women in thong bikinis ask me to walk outside with them.
and I was happy to see Henley Regatta made the list as well. I think he did a great job with the list…whether it was ranked or not. I don’t think it was meant to be a ranking…just 101 “must do” things in sports.
"I would add a Motocross Outdoor National to that list too. "
Absolutely! I have been to Unadilla twice and it is absolutely amazing. Great athletes.
I miss my mx bike. I “traded” it for a Kuota Kalibur.
I was at the Yamaha dealer yesterday looking at a new YZ250F
Kurt
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Oh man, I could not torture myself like that. I found that MX and Tri’s don’t really mix well. MX makes my arms too sore to swim and my legs soe to ride or run. That doesn’t leave much else!
I still go to the track with some friends to watch…but not too often as I get sad…
good points…
I really want to come watch Unadilla some day. I have been to Southwick and Glen Helen. When I was younger, I went to the USGP at Carlsbad.
Kurt
So I guess I can check off 3, 4, 6, 13, 15, 20, 25, 35, 36, 64, 73, 86, 91, and 100.
Boy, I’ve got a long way to go before I die.
So Joe Bloe sports fan should see a hot dog eating contest before seeing a Formula One race, or Top Fuel/Funny Car drag race. Thrilling.
Let’s start a rumor that Kona is in June now…because some dumb ass uninformed ESPN writer said so.
Kona is in June??? Damn! I missed it!!! 
Yeah…didn’t you hear? I won.