What Are America’s ‘Bucket List’ Sports Experiences?

livemint.com:

airport. The Boston Marathon-Red Sox Double “Patriots’ Day" honors American revolution battles—and also whatever genius came up with the idea of an 11 a.m. ET Red Sox game leading into the homestretch of the grandest event in U.S.

distance running. You can literally leave Fenway, walk over the Mass Pike, wander your way into Kenmore Square, and find yourself among the throngs cheering for elite record-chasers as well as spouses and strangers closing in on 26.2 miles from Hopkinton. One of the great sports combination plates—much preferable to mixing a delightful U.S.

Open day pass with a sad New York Mets nightcap. The Women’s College World Series I’d been told about this one for years, and I finally got to Oklahoma City in June. Lived up to the hype—the exuberant chanting, chatter, and quality of play.

Nestled in a stadium that seats 13,000, but feels more like 1,300. Has a heavy favorite in the local Oklahoma Sooners, winners of the last three. What jumps out is the passionate fan base—some of whom go back to the WCWS’s Omaha days—and the talent on the field.

You think you can hit that lights-out pitching? Trick question! You can’t. Lambeau Field It’s Lambeau Field, what more do you need to know? Just go. Pack your warmest socks, and remember: sausage is a vegetable.

The Final Four (Semifinal Round) This event can get better—the men’s tournament insists on playing inside gargantuan football stadiums; the women’s tournament needs more resources; there aren’t anywhere near as many students in attendance there should be. But a semifinal Final Four round—back-to-back games for spots in the championship round—is peerless do-or-die theater. Sometimes you get a pair of classics; usually, there is at least one.