by Jim Gorant
First published 2008
Jim Gorant realized he had a problem. As a Sports Illustrated staffer and devoted sports fan, he had somehow never witnessed any of the most legendary events in American sports. This discovery sparked a mission that consumed an entire year of his life. Gorant compiled his list of ten must-see spectacles and set out to experience them all firsthand. His journey took him from Churchill Downs during Derby week to the frozen stands of Lambeau Field. He watched Jack Nicklaus play his final Masters round among the azaleas at Augusta. He navigated the tribal warfare between Ohio State and Michigan fans. He climbed atop an RV to witness NASCAR's distinctly American pageantry. At the Super Bowl, he met a fire-breathing Patriots supporter. From Wrigley Field's day games to Wimbledon's two-week tournament, Gorant immersed himself in each event's unique atmosphere. His quest reveals why these gatherings hold such power over millions of fans and how sports shape our collective identity.
Genres: travel, sports, memoir, non-fiction
Vibes: fast-paced, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water
Setting: Churchill Downs, Lambeau Field, Augusta, Ohio, Michigan, Wrigley Field, Wimbledon
Period: 2000s
116 pages · Kindle Edition · Mariner Books