Through the magic of five ESPN channels, constant major network sports coverage, a job where I go to sporting events and the bank account of a college student, I don?t have to pay to watch many games. But there are some guys and gals that, given the opportunity, I?d be willing to plunk down good money to watch them in person.
While clinging to every moment of yesterday?s Monday Night Football matchup between the New York Giants and Cleveland Browns (I had a fantasy win riding on the game), I realized how much of a treat it is to watch plus-sized Giants running back Brandon Jacobs bowl over defenders like an offensive lineman. Every time Jacobs got near a Browns tackler, you held your breath, wondering if he would put the defender on his butt three yards from the point of contact or five.
You can?t put a price tag on a moment like that and you can?t duplicate it yourself (Jacobs, on a good day, weighs twice as much as I do. For my sake, I?ll leave it to you to look up how much he weighs).
So who else would I be willing to spend my hard-earned money that I can?t afford to spend on right now? This week?s list:
1. Manny Pacquiao ? With the Pretty Boy?s retirement earlier this year, Pacquiao is the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. I watched him meticulously destroy lightweight David Diaz earlier this year and I expect the lightning-quick Filipino to do the same to the Oscar De La Hoya in December.
2. Joel Zumaya ? When the fireballer isn?t sidelined by a shoulder or Guitar Hero-related injury (if not for Kellen Winslow?s enlarged?well, you know by now?that would be the most embarrassing injury yet revealed), there is no pitcher more electric than the Tigers reliever. Call it a homer pick, but if you had to watch three innings of baseball, who would you want to see on the mound more than Zoom-Zoom?
3. Alexander Ovechkin ? Sidney Crosby may be a better all-around player, but flash beats dash when it comes to ticket value. The NHL?s best scorer makes sweeter moves than Joey Tribbiani and looks better doing it.
4. Rafael Nadal ? There?s a certain joy in the way Nadal plays that makes Roger Federer look like a robot in comparison. Tennis? first or second best player, depending on the surface, darts around the court with abandon that makes him exciting to watch.
5. Kimbo Slice ? Just kidding.
5 (for real). Tyler Hansbrough ? My college basketball man-crush is like an Energizer Bunny in Tar Heel blue, jumping up from any knock down (Gerald Henderson, that means you) and coming back twice as strong. Any 6-foot-9 guy that plays as hard as Hansbrough and can knock down a 18-footer gets my dollar.
