Robert Tuchman. For real
Here’s something to kick your week off.
So I get a formulaic email out of the blue from a guy called Robert Tuchman, President of Premiere Corporate Events in the USA. He’s got a new book coming out that apparently lists the 100 Sporting Events you should see live, and would like my Australian Rugby blog to help him shift a few. Apparently he “enjoys my blog!”.
Let’s say we’ve had a frank exchange of emails which you can read below, but according to Robert from New York New York, here are the very top 10 sporting events we should bust a nad to see live:
1. Masters – “This is the one golf tournament you have to see at least once in your lifetime. Heck, this is the one event you have to see, period. It’s magical, and that’s why it’s Number One.”
2. World Cup – “The entire world stops to watch this one. The passion I witnessed in the streets is unparalleled.”
3. Super Bowl – “The Granddaddy of American sports, the pinnacle of live events.”
4. Summer Olympics – “Countries root for their athletes with nearly as much passion as they root for their World Cup teams. The immersion into the whichever local culture hosts this event every four years makes it truly memorable.”
5. Army vs. Navy Football Game – “They might not be the best teams in the country but they’re some of our best citizens playing one another in a game that oozes with history.”
6. New York City Marathon – “My personal, number one favorite event. There is nothing like the emotion of being part of millions of people cheering on thousands of runners trying to achieve their lifelong dreams.”
7. World Series – “Even today, this event holds a special place for people around the world. There’s nothing like baseball on a crisp October evening and the excitement you feel in the stands.”
8. Winter Olympics – “Another event that the countries stop to watch no matter what is of interest locally. Newer sports, such as snowboarding, make the Winter Olympics increasingly more relevant.”
9. Red Sox vs. Yankees at Yankee Stadium – “You can feel the gravity of this game regardless of how many times they play each other each year and the fact it might just be another game in the standings. As far as rivalries go, nothing tops Yankees versus Red Sox.”
10. UNC vs. Duke Basketball Game at Cameron Indoor Stadium – “If you want to see what hatred and anger look like up close, you only need to sit in the stands at this game and see it in the faces in the crowd. This game means everything to everyone on the court, in the stadium and in the entire state.”
So out of the top 10 in the world, 7 are in the USA (UNC and Duke are two American universities in case you’re wondering – in at 10).
So here’s a few emails we’ve swapped, starting with mine back to him:
_____________________________________
From: Matt @ Green and Gold Rugby [mailto:matt@greenandgoldrugby.com]
Sent: Saturday, May 09, 2009 2:41 PM
To: Robert Tuchman
Subject: Re: Great Blog!
Robert,
Just from the top 10 list it’s obvious how miopic your view of sports is.
Good luck in the states
Matt
_____________________________________
On 9 May 2009, at 20:15, Robert Tuchman wrote:
Funny thing there is about 30 international events on the list.
11 wimbledon
13 tour de france
16 liverpool vs man u
25 uefa champions league
27 british open
33 dubai world cup
34 hong kong sevens
35 monaco grand prix
37 rugby world cup
42 epsom derby
And 26 other ones outside here…..
As they say don’t judge a book by its cover…lol
_____________________________________
On 9 May 2009, at 20:19, Robert Tuchman wrote:
#57 kangaroos Australian Football Game
59 all balcks rugby game
84 austraililan open
_____________________________________
From: Matt @ Green and Gold Rugby [mailto:matt@greenandgoldrugby.com]
Sent: Saturday, May 09, 2009 3:30 PM
To: Robert Tuchman
Subject: Re: Great Blog!
5. Army vs. Navy Football Game
7. World Series
9. Red Sox vs.Yankees at Yankee Stadium
10. UNC vs.Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium
37 rugby world cup
lmao
Like I say, good luck in the States
_____________________________________
On 9 May 2009, at 23:19, Robert Tuchman wrote:
Dude,
You are a tool.
_____________________________________
On 10 May 2009, at 07:32, Matt @ Green and Gold Rugby wrote:
It’s not me with my head stuck up my ass
and then wrote a fucking book to publicize it
_____________________________________
On 10 May 2009, at 12:18, Robert Tuchman wrote:
Bud, your a hand job.
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device
_____________________________________
On 10 May 2009, at 23:24, Matt @ Green and Gold Rugby wrote:
dickwad
_____________________________________
On 10 May 2009, at 23:27, Robert Tuchman wrote:
Ha ha
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device
_____________________________________
As you an see I think Bobby and I are forming quite a special relationship. If anyone has something to put to Robert the author, feel free below and I’ll send it off.
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Tags: robert tuchman, rugby world cup
Matt a.k.a Gagger or GAGR (short for GreenAndGoldRugby, not a fetish)
Matt started G&GR just before the 2007 Rugby World Cup and has been enslaved ever since. You can follow him on Twitter here http://www.twitter.com/Matt_Gagger 
Odd mix of full series and one-off events there.
Army v Navy definitely not, Duke v USC partial.
How do you justify the inclusion of the ENTIRE world series [including such delights as the A's v the Pirates] AND the Reds v Yankees?
Who the fuck are the all balcks and where is austraililan?
What number is the dunk contest or home run derby? Or Daytona? I’d be more inclined to see them if I was in the US than any of the others.
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I’m curious about the kangaroos Australian football game. It’s been ages since I’ve seen a good all marsupial game of Aussie rules.
Kangaroos=North Melbourne. Who they’re playing is a mystery. A tugging contest, perhaps?
ahem…does he have an e-mail address?
ahhh, no reason in particular.
What number was the Lithuanian honey wresling?
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Tell him that it should say “you’re”, not “your” in his handjob email.
miriam’s last blog post..the 100 greatest McSport events
Matt you shouldn’t have resorted to his childish name calling. You cant compete with someone calling you a handjob…
This guy has obviously emailed all the sporting blogs in the world to flog his shitty book.
He’s never gonna read this page.
Lol, hong kong 7′s before RWC? ask the players what they’d rather play in. Someone who won a 7′s tornament would trade it all in for a second on the field at a RWC.
and futhermore, American Sports are gay, thats why no one else in the world wants to play them. And if they did they would beat the americans.
To be fair he is talking about events to see, not the quality of each event. Having been to two rugby world cups and two hong kong sevens I can understand why some people would rather go to Hong Kong, especially if you are not a rugby fan.
well nintendo ds, to be fair,
i dont think a non-rugby fan would want to go to either.
“He’s never gonna read this page.”
But that’s where you’re wrong Bobas…more to come!
(or should I call you Robert?????)
Typical Yank. Thinks everybody wants to be a part of his stupid book hoping he will mention their name. He should name his book ” I’m a fuckhead with no idea about sports”.
Any other sugestions
How about the state of origin? If that doesnt scream passion for a full 80 minutes i have no idea what does.
I know its not internationally massive; but if a uni game or army vs navy ranks in the top 10 then surely, in there somewhere?
FA Cup Final
Barcelona v Real Madrid at Camp Nou
6 Nations Ireland v England Croke Park
Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe
Grand National
Ice Hockey World Championships
UEFA Euro Championships
Can’t find room for these in a list of top 100 sporting events to see? Hmm Army v Navy or Barca v Real?? What a toss up….
This guy epitomises what people hate about Americans.
As someone who lives close too Americans, and interacts with them fairly often I would just like to say…..you are all pretty much spot on. Having had the privledge of living in Australia as well as Canada and the US, I can tell you that it would be hard to pick these events in any order. However, since he seems to be mostly talking about emotion. How about England/France at Twickenham? How about the Gaelic sports in Ireland? Boxing Day test at the MCG? Or even staying in North America, some of the great ice-hockey rivalaries, like Toronto and Montreal. Putting the Masters first shows that he is not only totally locked into North American sports, he’s locked in Southern USA sports. I can think of roughly 15 sporting events I would like to go to before the Masters.
I think I lost my original point in there somewhere. Suffice to say, Americans suck…..sometimes.
no-one wants to watch the masters.
I love it…antoher yank just blinkered by his belief that everyone wants to see anything that is American.
To be fair, the book probably has a US based audience. But no excuses for some of those decisions.
Following the Olympics and the Soccer world cup the RWC is the 4th most watched event..yes that is inclusive of BOTH olympics sorry…
really is an intersting list. would liek to se the full one. Im sure there are some there that are lower than they should be but once they were on, i guess i could accept that.
Maybe he doenst like the RWC because Canada can beat them at it.
i’d liek to add…
AFL Grand Final.
Boxing Day test
Lords Test
Eco Challenge (or whatever it is called now)
Oxford Cambridge Boat Race (and probably rugby match if he wants us to watch UNC vs Duke)
Juan Cote swimming laps
Brisbane Premier Colts rugby Souths vs Sunnybank maybe?
What a wanker. Another word Seppos don’t understand, because they have no concept of it, because they are more often than not the embodiment of it…
Redsboy – State of Origin..? You’re on the wrong blog mate…
Bit harsh,
theres talk on here about soccer and afl,the atmosphere at SOO is so intense. I also know plenty of people who come from overseas who hear about it and get hell excited.
I like both codes but union is by far my favourite, i just reckon if your talkin about quality competitve passion, state of origin is up there.
Also blediloe cup gotta be in there, not just an ‘all blacks game’
Is this whole thing related to some bank advertsement? It seems familiar…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l77uZv3Hdgw
But seriously, golf at number one? Maybe his book should be entitled 100 sporting events you should see to die of boredom.
Yeah, I was a little stunned that the Master’s was rated numero uno. I know there are a lot of people who like golf…but not this yank.
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I would also add that the Super Bowel is not the Grandaddy of American Sporting events-the very first Super Bowel was only in 1967-yeah, it was over 40 years ago, but there are a lot more sporting events that can make an argument for the “Grandaddy” title in the small pool that makes up American sport.
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Didn’t see any mention of:
camel racing
dwarf throwing
snail racing
crab racing, or the immortal
dry river boat racing…
tell him he’s dreaming…
This guy is clearly a Twat but it is a great question that is always fun to try and answer. Ive been extremely lucky and ticked off most of the ones on my own personal list but there are still a few I would love to do.
My Top 30 Sporting events seen live in 2007/8 were
Cricket World CuP
Rugby World Cup
FA Cup Final
Australia England at Twickenham
Lords Test Matches
Wimbledon
US Masters Golf
Americas Cup Sailing
British Open Golf
Australia vs NZ in Hong Kong
NY Rangers NHL playoff game
Royal Ascott
Epsom Derby
Australia vs Italy at Padova
Man Utd @ Old Trafford
French Open
NY Yankees game at Yankee stadium
Sydney Cricket Test Match
Challenge Cup final at Wembley (R.L)
Cambridge vs Oxford boat race
Cambridge vs Oxford rugby match
Royal Henley Rowing Regatta
England Ireland at Twickenham
Australia vs France at Paris
Portsmouth vs Chelsea at Fratton Park
NJ Nets NBA playoff game
World Darts Championships
Guiness Premiership Final
Twickenham Sevens
London Marathon
The order is purely subjective and based on my own experience at the event. When I say experience I take into account all sorts of factors such as the atmosphere, the people I was with, the quality of seats-food-beer etc, whether the right team won or not, whether I had been before or not and many many more.
What I would like to know is everyones favourite personal live sporting experience.
With all the ‘rooting’ this Seppo is talking about at the Summer Olympics, I reckon it should be number 1.
Makes me pissed off I missed Syd-a-ney 2000
UPDATE:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Tuchman
Check his wiki page. It mentions this book!
I hope he’s secretly playing Fantasy super 14 with us too, i’ll check the names!
But don’t edit it, that would be juvenile and wrong.
and funny
Robert Tuchman signed an agreement with AMACOM in 2007 to release a part autobiography and part “how to” book titled, “Young Guns, The Fearless Entrepreneurs Guide To Chasing Your Dreams and Breaking Out on Your Own.” The story is a self-proclaimed inspirational one, for readers looking to succeed in business by following their passion in life- something Tuchman says he did with his dreams of working in sports. Tuchman is also the author of “100 Sporting Events You Must See Live”. A book noted for it’s US bias and a general lack of research into “foreign” sports. Both books were released in April, 2009.
Brilliant
Gold
What a lame list. Outside of the top 4 the top 10 would struggle into the bottom half of most 100′s, if they even made it.
And what everyone else said.
as a fellow yank myself, i have to apologize for this douche and every other american like him. i don’t often comment here, but maybe you’ll recognize my name. point is, i frequent this blog and have been following rugby in anyway that i can for a few years now. so thanks for helping me to better understand a sport i now love. hopefully i can serve as some proof that a few americans aren’t all permanent a-holes and can be converted. cheers.
Yep I recognise you Newb and well said. You’re always welcome and I think everyone above realises that not all Americans are like our friend the Doucheman, just a disturbingly large number!
I am living here/there (ok in America) temporarily and I can guarantee that very few are as a fuckwitted as this guy, but that doesn’t make him any less fuckwitted.
Patrick, what part of the US are you in?
Nursedude’s last blog post..Revenge of the Lycra Rugby Jersey
VA, a long way from Minnesota!
Even as an American, I was stunned at how American Centric this guy’s list was. I was also somewhat taken aback that this guy asked you for an honest opionion(would never expect anything less from an Aussie, anyway) you gave your honest opinion, and then HE started being a wanker.
I think a couple of his items on the list are very good ones to understand the American sports fan, like a UNC-Duke Basketball game, Yankees -Red Sox in Baseball and Army navy football-but just because we like it does not mean it’s a global-worthy event.
Matt, I’m so sorry you had to deal with this guy. There are a lot of nice people here, but we have our share of idiots.
Nursedude – one of the very first followers of G&GR – way back in the day!
A badge I wear proudly. I only wish I had a VB or XXXX handy with which I can toast it!
Nursedude’s last blog post..Revenge of the Lycra Rugby Jersey
no seriously, you can do better than that – they are barely better than Harp.
America should quit making beer and just drink dos ecquis (or of course Aussie beers other than the bottom of the barrel).
We know not all yanks are giant douches or turd sandwiches, check out these fellas for example. One of the best tries of all time against one of the best/most hated teams.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkU3zR-dsXU
At least when the rest of us hold a world championship we invite other countries!
LOL @ Pedro….you sure you aren’t a yank too?
Reminds me of a beer – “Lonestar, the national beer of Texas”
Ironic that myopia is colloquially coined ‘having your head up your own ass’ and that Bob’s surname phonetically invokes at least half of that image
His wiki page got changed back, so someone changed it again, this time, more rudely.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Tuchman
Again, gold
Number 9 should be – Red Sox vs. Yankees at “Fenway Park” where fans are much crazier