Things I Must Do Before I Die

Jared Owens, staff writer

One day we all wake up and ask ourselves, “Have I lived life”?

I mean have you really lived life?

Have you accomplished your goals you set when you were younger? Have you done any of the many things you said you would do before you die?

Well, I haven’t and this is why I have decided to break down the top ten “must do” list for me. I only live once, and maybe this will hold me to that!

10. Salmon Fishing Expedition in Alaska:

You will be hard pressed to convince me that a more beautiful piece of land exists, anywhere. There is a reason that oil companies cannot lay a finger on the state, although America’s most abundant source of oil is here. There’s lush vegetation, and it’s frozen tundra borders some of the world’s best fishing waters. It could be that I was influenced greatly about Alaska from both of my parents, who once called the state home. Stories of fishing in Alaska have always fascinated me. I can just see myself reeling in a huge salmon with a good cigar hanging from the rim of my mouth. Now, that’s the good life! Fishing, which is already a love of mine, mixed with the scenery of “god’s country,” makes this a trip a must on my proverbial “to do” list.

9. Sky Diving:

Oh, yeah! Give me a beer, and a parachute and I’m game! I am an extremely adventurous person, and this is an adrenaline rush that I think everyone should do, sometime. No, I’m not speaking from experience. But I just know I would enjoy myself. What’s not to like about jumping from a plane at 1,500 feet? If an ex-president, senior, likes it, (presidents know what a good time is) than it’s obvious I would have a blast. (This will probably be the only goal I will achieve on this list!)

8. “The Swamp” Florida vs. Florida State:

No, I’m not a fan of either school. But I am an adamant college football fanatic and half of what I get out of the game is the environment in which the game is held. There are not many game-day atmospheres better than a game at Florida University’s “The Swamp”. As rowdy as the students behave at FU every Saturday, they turn it up a couple of decimals for in-state rival, FSU. These two schools hate each other, and I would truly love to be an innocent bystander witnessing this bloodbath in front of 88,000 screaming, intense Gator fans. You have got to love college football!

7. NBA FINALS-GAME 7:

I love basketball, maybe more than any sport, maybe. With that being said, I have to reach for the pinnacle of the sport, with the best players in the world, the NBA. Know don’t get me wrong. The NBA regular season may just be the most boring season in all of professional sports. But in the playoffs, the ‘beast’ comes out of these wonderful athletes as well as their fans. So place me right smack in the middle of the home team’s courtside fans and let’s rock! But since this is my list of must dos, and I can add my own stipulations, give me Lebron James! This young phenom is the real deal, and make no mistake, he will make it to the NBA Finals! I was never blessed enough to see Michael Jordan grace a court, so I guess I’ll settle for Lebron, and I’m very content with that!

6. “The Big House” Michigan and Ohio State:

Yes, another college football game. Well folks, I would travel to see a marquee match-up every week of the collegiate season if possible. I love it that much! But this is not just a marquee match-up, it’s Wolverines and it’s Buckeyes, and they simply don’t get along. When you think Big Ten football, these two names appear immediately in every college football fan’s mind. Plus, maybe more appealing than the match-up is where they play, The Big House! It wasn’t given this name as a joke, it’s huge! More than 110,000 fans, pack Michigan’s stadium every Saturday to cheer on the Wolverines. Wow! Loud fans, the nation’s second best fight song (you’ll find out who’s number 1 later), and two of the most prestigious football programs in all of college football clashing head-to-head. That’s my idea of a good time. I haven’t been there, yet, but I can smell the tradition from Levelland.

5. Super Bowl:

I really don’t care who’s playing! Just as long as I am in the hosting city all week to take in the events and activities associated with this monumental game, I’m all right. This is where  Walter Payton,  Joe Namath and Joe Montana staked their claim as some of the best to ever play the game! Champions are born here, as well as choke artists revealed. NFL athletes play years, and most never sniff a Super Bowl game, let alone a ring. This annual event brings the entire nation together for one day, as new legends of the gridiron are molded. This is an absolute must for my life to be complete! Just stick me in the nosebleed section, give me a beer, a dog, and the rest will take care of itself.  (If you haven’t noticed, I enjoy a cold one!)

4. Spending a Summer Touring Europe, While the Summer Olympics are in Progress (In Europe):

These two could both make the top ten list separately. So put them together, and it makes my top five! I have always wanted to just take off and spend a summer all over Europe, visiting Italy, England, Germany and so forth! Just taking in a foreign culture and relaxing, doing whatever I feel like doing at the time. How many historical places and objects are in Europe? Yeah, lots. The Sistine Chapel, the Eiffel Tower, the Mona Lisa, and so much more exist all over Europe. Throw that in with a different, arguably crazier, style of people (they like to drink and party), and a loan from the bank, C’Est La Vie, baby! And if planned correctly, that’s only half the trip. The Summer Olympics, is the other half. This is just one big sports festival taken to another level. Country vs. country! Millions, instead of thousands, are routing on their homeland, instead of their team! Hearts are broken, tempers flare, and countries rejoice in unison watching the pride of a land compete in event after event. Besides, it only takes place every four years! What a build up, that starts with the world’s best ceremony, and ends with the second best ceremony! Add Bob Costas, and it’s just a magical month.

3. One Weekend with Heff at the Playboy Mansion

Let’s be honest, I will probably never be lucky enough to sit in the hot tub in the “grotto” with the many voluptuous bunnies that inhabit the mansion on a daily basis. However, this is a goal that I will do everything in my power to achieve. Hugh Heffner is known for his insane-crazy parties at the mansion. Yes sir, I will attend one. Picture this: Sitting around a swimming pool with some of the most gorgeous women in the world, drinking Mai Thai’s, watching these intoxicated babes, wearing just bottoms, playing in the water. Well, at least that’s how my imagination views it! From what I here though, the average 18-25 year old male imagination does no justice to what actually goes on there! Heck, that might be my imagination also, but I can’t help it I have got to go there, just once, please, God! If and when I make that journey, if it’s not what it’s all cracked up to be... I’ll surely lie to all of my buddies! Oh, yeah, I didn’t mention much about Heff because, quite frankly, who cares what Heff’s doing!

2. Duke vs. North Carolina Hoops: At Cameron Indoors

This is a magical atmosphere to watch a basketball game. As I sit here writing this, I shiver as goose bumps crawl up my entire body, just thinking about the game. Wall to wall students and alumni fill the arena, hoping the Dukies will be victorious. Pure Bedlam!! The two schools campuses are mere miles from each other down Tobacco Road. If you’re not a student, an annual season ticket holder, or Dick Vitale, good luck on a ticket. Yeah, there’s a price on almost anything, but who in their right sense of mind is coughing up seats to this event? I wouldn’t! From the opening tip, the chaos starts. In unison, the entire student body leaves their feet, jumping erratically. Their voices echo the sounds of ancient Greek mythological warriors. To the Blue Devil nation, it simply is war! Two of the most storied programs in all of college basketball, compete for 40 minutes, at least, to make their statement in maybe the biggest rivalry in all of sports. It would be worth nearly any price to see this event, if not for the great display of athletes giving it all they have, to simply stare in awe at the history of the building. The Coach K markings on the court, the national championship banners, the retired numbers, and just reflect on all the wonderful moments that have taken place in this building! I would cherish a moment like this, for a lifetime! I will do this, write it down!!

1. NCAA Football National Championship Game

I am extremely biased on this one. This has some “what ifs” that apply to it. See, it’s not just any college football national championship game, this game must include the Texas Tech Red Raiders. This has been I dream of mine ever since I was a little boy.  I would sell my car, yes, literally, to attend this game. I am maybe the most avid Red Raider fan on the planet. Since I was a kid growing up in Lubbock, I had to painfully listen every year to all the other little boys talking about the University of Texas and the Texas A&M Aggies. They would tell me, “Tech doesn’t have a shot against A&M!” I would run home and tell my parents what these mean kids had said. Luckily for me, my parents are Red Raiders also, so they were always there to console me in my times of heartache. Sadly enough, besides some of my best childhood memories, the little snots were right, Tech would lose annually to A&M and Texas. But as I have gotten older, things have changed a little. Tech owns the stinking Aggies, figuratively speaking of course, and we upset the Longhorns every so often. Plus, people around Lubbock now actually respect the program, and most of the awful maroon and burnt orange have been run out of Lubbock. The point is, I didn’t wake up one day and say, “Hey, I’m going to be a Texas fan, or a Miami Hurricane fan.” I had no choice; I was born a Red Raider. I bleed scarlet and black, and soon, I will be an Alumnus of that great university! Yes, this may be a dream that I will never have an opportunity to complete, but I may. See it’s not the game itself that intrigues me the most. It’s the thought, the many sleepless nights I have had thinking about a game of this magnitude for the Red Raiders. This dream is symbolic of my entire life. “ I may be the little guy, without the starting capital, but I will work my butt off to at least say hello to the proverbial ‘Jones’’, and maybe one day, just maybe, I will surpass them.” Texas Tech National Champs 2005!!!