My Sports Bucket List
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Watching the British Open over the weekend made me think about the 2007 movie “The Bucket List” starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. You remember? They were two terminally ill cancer patients who decided to head out on a road trip to fulfill their list of things to do before they die.
It got me to think about my bucket list and what would be on it. Before I share with you some of those things, I first must fully disclose where I’m coming from here.
scott
First, I have been a sports nut pretty much since I was knee-high to a grasshopper. So this list is my “sports” bucket list.
Second, I am a golf nut. I like watching the sport and LOVE to play it.
Finally, because I have been in the sports broadcasting / writing business for more than 20 years, I have been to many stadiums and arenas throughout the country. I have seen the Patriots win three Super Bowls, been to NCAA tournaments and Big East tournaments. I have been to countless Patriots, Red Sox, Celtics and Bruins games. I say this not to rub it in, but rather to explain why going to a Super Bowl, for instance, isn’t on my particular list.
With that said, here’s my sports bucket list in no particular order:
St. Andrews – Watching the British Open this year really made me want to play the old course. The history, the setting and all that comes with the experience of playing there is too tantalizing for a golf nut like me. Plus, who wouldn’t want to stop into the pubs for a few adult beverages after completing their round?
Augusta National – Okay, okay! It’s another golf course I’d like to play before I die. You were forewarned. The pristine beauty of the course which doesn’t seem to have even one blade of grass out of place comes through your hi-def TV like a Monet painting. I can only imagine what it must be like in person.
Pebble Beach – Now you’re getting angry with me, I can tell. Remember, I told you how much I LOVE the sport of golf! I am also partial to ocean courses which is why I have always ranked Newport CC as my clear-cut #1 course in Rhode Island. Greens fees are $495 per golfer plus a $35 cart fee. (like they need to charge for the cart). It wouldn’t be a cheap dream to fulfill but you only live once, right?
Break bread with Bill Bellichick, Bill Parcells and Bobby Knight - In some respects these are polarizing figures in the world of sports, but that’s part of what makes them so intriguing to me. And while I may not agree with everything that they have done in their respective careers, I still respect their tremendous knowledge in their respective sports and would love to sit and hear them tell stories with their guards down.
See Syracuse football play for the national championship – Alright! Enough of the snickering. I understand that some of these are more realistic than others. Truth is, when I was in college, Syracuse went undefeated and played Auburn in the Sugar Bowl whom they tied. They finished 4thin the rankings proving that it is possible for them to compete at the highest level. I have already seen my Orange play for and win the National Championship in men’s basketball which was outstanding! I am equally as passionate about Orange football and hope that Doug Marone can bring it back to the heights it attained in the late 80’s and early 90’s.
Broadcast an Ivy League championship season for the Brown men’s basketball team. I have been lucky enough to have been the radio voice of Brown football and basketball for more than a decade and have had the honor to call three Ivy League championship seasons for the great Phil Estes and Brown football. Now I long for a hoops title and a trip to the NCAA tournament. 1986 was the one and only season where Brown won the Ivy title in men’s basketball and hopefully Jesse Agel and company can win another on college hill.
See my son Jack and my daughter Ellie win any type of sports championship. There’s nothing quite like the feeling of being the best and being able to see your kids experience that would be priceless!
So there you have it! Probably not what you expected, but that doesn’t matter because it’s my sports bucket list, not yours.
Now that I’ve shared mine with you, I’d like to know what’s on yours?
Comments:
Michael Parente
8:54am on Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Scottie, having covered the Patriots for almost nine years, I had the pleasure of breaking bread with Belichick two years ago in San Jose. We spent an entire week out west during the '08 season because the team played back-to-back games in San Francisco and San Diego. One night during the week between games, Belichick invited a small group of writers to dinner (Boston Globe, Boston Herald, Providence Journal and our staff at Patriots Football Weekly). Over a smorgasbord of Mexican food, we listened to Bill tell hundreds of humorous stories from his days in Cleveland and New York. Of course, I asked a thousand questions about the Giants. It was one of those rare moments where he let his guard down. When you get him out of the coaching element for a few hours, he's an incredibly fascinating guy.
Mike Letendre
12:54pm on Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Great article Scott! My friends and I have had the “bucket list” conversation many times over and while that discussion may not have been totally sports-centric, a significant number of items on my wish list certainly were. In no particular order (or more importantly, chance of becoming a reality!)… attend a Michigan/Ohio State football game at the Big House (preferably for the Big 10 Championship!); play a round of golf at St. Andrews; attend the Winter Olympics; experience the Bruins winning the Stanley Cup with my two sons; have dinner with the parents of Sidney Crosby to learn how they, with only modest means, developed not just an exceptional athlete, but an extraordinarily grounded person as well.
Mark McDonald
1:17pm on Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Scott - There is an outside shot I might be playing Pebble Beach on Monday. I will keep you updated. Chatting with Bill Russell and catching a post pattern in the end zone at the Big House were 2 of my other highlights. Definetely a lot more to go though!
Scott Cordischi
2:22pm on Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Great comments! Mike P, that must have been a great night having dinner with Bill and listening to him tell stories. I still remember when I was part of a group of media members he invited into a film session to break down game film of Michael Vick and the Falcons. It was awesome!
Mike L - I definitely like the Ohio State/Michigan game wish. I have been to both stadiums but the Big House was empty when I walked through it. I would like to see Texas/Oklahoma in the Red River battle or even Florida and Georgia. Duke/UNC in men's hoops at Cameron Indoor would be cool too! I'd also love to see the B's hoist the Cup. I was 4 the last time they did it so I was too young to remember or even care. (see you on the 31st!)
Big Mac - I have had the priviledge of talking to Russell. While I enjoyed it, my father is the one who I wish had that opportunity. Russell is, by far, his favorite athlete of all time! As for catching a post for a TD in the Big House, you'd get killed by the free safety because you're too big of a target! (lol!)