Biggest annual U.S. sporting events

In connection with the NCAA men's basketball tournament, I wanted to start a discussion on what people think are the five biggest annual U.S. sporting events in terms of the public's and media interest. Here's my list:

1. Super Bowl.

2. NCAA men's basketball tournament.

3. Bowl Championship Series bowls and national championship.

4. World Series.

5. NBA Finals.

 

No Masters?

 

Ditto. Also, Daytona and Indy 500s.

 

Also, I think you can just limit the college football one to the BCS national championship. On a national level, no one really cares about any of the others unless their team is involved.

As for the World Series, TV would have us think that any regular-season meeting between the Yankees and Red Sox is a bigger deal than, say, an Astros vs. White Sox World Series.

 

Just trying to get opinions. Where would you rank the Masters? How does it do in television ratings, a key indication of interest?

How would you compare the interest in the Masters to the Daytona 500?

 

I would put The Masters in front of Daytona and Indy.

 

The winner of the Masters will be on the cover of SI before the winner of Daytona or - certainly these days - the Indy 500.

Don't know if that means fuck all, just sayin'....

 

How high do the ratings tend to be on that? I know my family members don't watch horse racing unless there is a chance at a Triple Crown, and even then they may not watch it.

 

What do you mean by 'biggest'? TV Ratings? National hype? Social/historical importance? Personal preference?

 

NBA Finals shouldn't be on that list. Those ratings hit an all-time low last year.

 

The popularity of the men's NCAA tournament is overrated.