January 1 - The Rose Bowl
This is truly the Granddaddy of them all and no matter what you're level of hungover, you should see this game. It is the bowl game that is the most full of tradition and spectacle and is always worth a watch. Even id you're not from the Midwest or West Coast and therefore don't watch Big 10 or Pac-10 football, this game is what players from those 21 schools dream of. I only wish we could get Keith Jackson to un-retire for just one day a year and come back and call this.
Early January - The BCS National Championship
The culmination of the journey that is college football. It doesn't matter if your team isn't in it, this is the biggest college football game of the year and you will watch. Besides, it's usually on a Tuesday night in the middle of winter. What better way to burn off an otherwise boring night?
The holiest of days on the sports calendar. Even if you're a Lions fan and your team won't sniff the Super Bowl for years, you must watch. Devout followers of sport will throw a social gathering for the watching of the Super Bowl. However, a few rules. Appropriate cuisine for a Super Bowl party: grilled any meat, chili, brats, beer, chips and the like. Follow tailgate rules for guidance, but when I go to a Super Bowl party I want to have to make up for the food I eat in the following week's workouts. Vegetarian should never be mentioned when considering menu. Also, the halftime show should be left on. There are no prohibitions on getting a quick game of cards, beer pong, trashcan basketball, etc. in while whoever is performing is on. (Unless Prince plays the Super Bowl again. Everyone should be riveted to his performance.)
Now, I think I put this one on the second level of obligation for myself. That's the beauty of starting your own religion, the rules apply to you only when you want them to. NASCAR is not my cup of tea. I just have a hard time getting into it, so for this race I think that it should be mandatory to take in at least 25 laps and the final 5. The Great American Race is one of those experiances that you really should have to call yourself a well-rounded sports fan. Actually, it would be immensley better to experiance live, so if the opportunity presents itself, go. Traditions are traditions.
February - every 4 years - Winter Olympics
Yes, these are the less popular Games. But the essence of sport lives in the spirit of the Olympics. Athletes from all over the world gather to celebrate the unity that sports can bring and compete for the highest accomplishment in their chosen sport. Sure, we may not understand how each sport works or may seem rather pointless to us. There is something for everyone here are you are required to watch at least 3 days of competition over the course of the Games. For any and all Winter Games, the hockey finals should be among your chosen viewing days.
3rd weekend in March - The Opening Rounds of the NCAA Tournament
The first days where it is acceptable to watch sports at the office. Many employers give in these days and allow their cube dwellers to watch games on that Thursday and Friday that the tournament starts. I would and have used vacation days to make sure that my tournament watching is unimpeded. These are the best four days in sports. You will see everything that is great and wonderful about the game of basketball on display. The thrilling upsets as smaller schools play their hearts out for a dream. The big teams being pushed before proving why they belong on the top of the heap. The 12 straight hours of games, with only an hour-long dinner break. And of course, rooting for all of the teams that you picked in your office pool. (All followers should get into at least one pool, even if it is just online). How could it get much better than that?
Note: Personally, I extend this holy observance to include the two weeks before so that conference tournaments are included. Not so much the power conferences, but really the mid-major and small conferences. Almost every team from the Patriot League, the SWAC, the Big Sky, and the Atlantic Sun are playing for everything right there in the conference tournament. That's the only way they punch a ticket to the big dance and most likely, the only post season win those teams will taste. It's the epitome of sports, and just a feel-good watch.
No matter what baseball team you root for, Opening Day is the height of excitement until the September stretch run. For those teams that suck, it is a day where there is the great feeling of hope even if they're in the division cellar in two weeks. For the good teams, it is an omen of things to come throughout the summer and early fall. On a more sentamental note, it can be a day for a father to do some real bonding with his son/daughter. Baseball has traditionally been a game that brings fathers and children closer together and nothing epitomizes baseball better than Opening Day. So Dad, take a vacation day, round up the kids, and go to the ballpark. This one's more about family than the actual game. And whose to say that we don't have family values in our new religion?
See the description for the Daytona 500. This one is even more of an American institution and can provide a great background for grilling and beer drinking on a holiday off. Also, have you seen Danica Patrick?
June-July every four years, next in 2012 - FIFA World Cup
Yes, I know that it's soccer. The vuvuzelas are gone, but the game goes on. It really is a great sport and is easy to get into if you're open-minded to a sport that can end in a scoreless draw. Some of the world's greatest athletes are soccer players and what do we do for superb athletes, but admire them. You'll notice that his is the only soccer event on the calendar, although I considered including the UEFA Champions League final. If you want to see the game played at it's highest level, that's the game to watch.
July-August - every four years - Summer Olympics
Everything that makes the Winter Olympics great make the Summer Games even better. In my opinion, since there are more sports and more countries participate the Summer Games are the best. With the advent of Internet coverage, there is no reason that you cannot find a niche sport that you love in the games and take in as much of the competition. Because of the importance of the Games, and because we Americans usually do far better in the Summer Games, you should take in at least seven days of competition. If you like to get a good variety and like exploring events that you normally wouldn't watch, let me suggest diving (it's sick what divers can do in the air), cycling (BMX is always cool, but the road races are always more interesting than you'd think), handball (no freaking clue how you play, but it reminds me of something you'd play in high school gym class), and beach volleyball (do I even have to explain to members of either sex?).
That last summer weekend signals the return of the great American game. The excitement on campus, rivalries being renewed, memories of the halcyon days of your youth, excuses to wake up on Saturday morning and crack a beer before 10am: college football. There are always great games on, even though most big teams prey on the FCS, MAC, and Sun Belt for their first games. You should view and or attend the game of your favorite team/alma mater and at least one other game. There will be plenty of games to come throughout the season and you likely do not need to be reminded to take part in this weekend, but still. It's dogma, man.
Weekend after Labor Day, NFL Kickoff
Everything that is great about the fall can be found in both professional and college football. I prefer the college game myself, but there are diehard fans of both and everything I listed above for the return of college football being great apply here as well. Again, you should take in the game of your favorite team, and at least one other that weekend. Then there's the reason that I watch so intently: fantasy football.
Once again with the football. It's kind of our national game here. But once you have you alma mater or favorite team of choice, you must begin hating their rival school. Ohio State and Michigan, Texas and Oklahoma, Florida and Florida State, or in my case Bowling Green and Toledo (Tuck Foledo). No matter what the biggest game of the year for your team, you must make every attempt to attend/watch your school's rivalry game. If you're a fan of a team, you have no excuse for not watching. If you have no team, then pick one that looks intriguing.
Just as the beginning of the baseball season is an obligation, so is the end. You've got to catch at least one game of the Fall Classic and I encourage more than that. The legend of the World Series is one that stretches back as far as the country has been holding sporting events and there are stories that have been told from so many Series' past. Plus, there's always the possibility of watching the Yankees lose and I'll always relish that thought.
These days are days that you are obligated to participate in under the rules of the Church of Sport. This is considered the minimum you have to do. You are always encouraged to view more, but these are just the bare minimum. Of course you will always be looked upon with higher regard in the hierarchy of the Church, should you choose to include more events and sports in your viewing habits.
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