It seems inevitable that the NFL will turn championship Sunday into a weekend extravaganza — one conference title game Saturday night, the other Sunday. Until that happens, we’re left with one of the best Sundays on the sports calendar. Where does it rank with these? 5. NBA All-Star Game » Sure, it has devolved into a half-speed showcase for smiling, posing multimillionaires to throw each other choreographed alley-oops. Still, it remains the year’s most overwhelming collection of athletic talent on one stage.
4. NFL Week 1 » After a long, meaningless preseason, watching so many NFL teams play for real on one day is like unwrapping gifts on Christmas morning.
3. Masters » For most, its importance varies year-to-year depending on the leader board. For golf fans, however, this is the most anticipated day of the year. Familiarity with pristine Augusta National, the reverential TV production and the surreal green jacket ceremony set it apart for reasons good and bad.
2. Selection Sunday » After weeks of speculation over who’s in and who’s out, the NCAA tournament committee reveals its pairings to a nation full of college basketball fans and to casual observers ready to fill out their brackets.
1. Super Bowl » No day of the year seems like a national holiday as much as Super Sunday. When the game lives up to the hype and you haven’t overdosed on hype, beverages and guacamole, it can be a rare thrill knowing that so many sports fans are hanging on every snap.
– Kevin Dunleavy
