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One of the great things about being an American sports fan is having the ability to select from a wide range of great events that cover so many different sports. From the World Series, to the Masters, the Super Bowl, and Kentucky Derby, there is no shortage of fantastic spectacles. Getting tickets to these events can be expensive and difficult, but we have that covered to as we Americans make sure we televise every event! As many great events as there are to talk about, I'll cover what I believe to be the most prestigious, unique and fun.
The Kentucky Derby is an American tradition that captures the spirit and imagination of the public. It has taken place every year since 1875 and is the longest running continuous sporting event in the USA. The traditions of the Kentucky Derby is one of the hallmarks of the event as mint juleps, hats, suits, and the singing of My Old Kentucky Home have almost became synonymous with horse racing to the general public. Churchill Downs is the most famous race track in the world and every year upwards of 150,000 race fans making the journey to Louisville, Kentucky to be a part of the excitement. The Bluegrass State has long held a sterling reputation as the place where champion thoroughbreds are born and raised in hopes of someday making it into the "Run for the Roses" on the first Saturday in May. The Kentucky Derby race itself lasts just over two minutes, but the hype and excitement build up for months and it truly is one of our greatest events.
The Super Bowl does not have a long standing tradition like the Kentucky Derby or the World Series, but it has made up a lot of ground in a short amount of time. The first Super Bowl was played in 1967 and was originally a game conceived out of a merger agreement between the NFL and the now defunct AFL. As professional football began to compete with baseball as the nation's top sport, the NFL made a more concerted effort to promote this game as the premiere one day event in all of team sports. With the emergence of television and Monday Night Football, the NFL became a marketing giant and the Super Bowl gained popularity with each passing year. Not only is the game a big deal to fans, but people who do not watch a snap of football during the regular season use it as a reason to gather with friends and have parties. The promotion of the game has led to a week-long celebration in host cities, while there are countless radio and television shows devoted to breaking down the big game. You could say the Super Bowl has become a big part of our economy as it generates revenue for host cities, apparel manufacturers and most importantly (well, if you are a big fan of ballpark food) party food distributors! The Super Bowl is watched by fans all around the world and while it's still quite American, it has transcended our borders and has become a global phenomenon.
Perhaps the most recent explosion in sporting interest has been the NCAA basketball tournament. It began in 1939 as a way for the college and universities that played basketball under the banner of the NCAA to crown a season champion. Only eight teams participated in the first few years, but over time it has evolved to having 16 teams, then 32, then 48, and all the way up to 64. Most recently four more teams were added to the tournament field and we now stand at 68. The event may have been popular with the fans of schools that participated in the tournament, but it was not until 1969 that it was inaugurated in any meaningful capacity. As the age of sports on television began to explode, so too, did interest in the tournament. It was marketing that truly got the ball rolling towards what is now one of the most exciting times of the year. The tournament started being called "March Madness" and suddenly people who barely watched a game other than one played by their favorite team, started enjoying basketball as a hobby or pastime. Office pools started springing up and people who had previously not cared about basketball were making predictions on who would win and local pubs began hosting "watch parties". The emergence of ESPN as a broadcaster of NCAA regular season games also bolstered interest, as fans no longer were relegated to local coverage of teams. They could now watch almost every team play from any area of the country. The NCAA tournament is now one of the top sporting events in the country, as it's impossible to go anywhere in the USA during March without hearing people discussing the tournament.
There are other great American sporting events that we could go on about, such as The Masters golf tournament, the BCS Football Championship, the Indianapolis 500, and the World Series, but no sports capture the attention of the nation quite like the Kentucky Derby, the Super Bowl, and the NCAA basketball tournament. Those events have transcended our shores and thrill fans all over the globe!
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Source by Freddy Caple
