By Jared Lloyd
10. “The Cougar Fight Song”: Nothing is quite as stirring as hearing the band break into “Rise and Shout” at the beginning of a sporting event.
9. “Ol?”: No, this is not the Ricky Martin World Cup song. It”s the chant soccer fans around the world have been singing far longer that consists of just that one word: “Ol?, ol?, ol?, ol?… ol?, ol?.”
8. “SportsCenter Theme”: Every true sports fanatic now recognizes the familiar intro to a full hour of the best of the day”s sports action. Most of us watch it two or three times a day.
7. “Chariots of Fire” – Vangelis: This classic theme music has defined track songs for over twenty years. The Olympic team training on the beach idealizes the essences of pushing yourself to the limit.
6. “The Hey Song”: Who can resist the compelling, “duh-dun duh-dun duh-dun duh-dun duh-dun-dun . . . HEY!” during a game? We all know it . . . and we all yell just as loud when it”s played.
5. “Eye of the Tiger” – Survivor: The most compelling sports stories come from the underdogs, the little guys (see March Madness and every sports movie ever made). This song epitomizes fighting against the odds.
4. “Take Me Out to the Ball Game”: Any list on sports songs must include this classic. It conjures up images of lazy afternoons at the ballpark, of the seventh inning stretch, and of preserving the tradition and history of sports.
3. “You All Ready For This?”: Sports action must be on tap whenever you hear this familiar opening music. It gets the blood boiling and the vocal cords limber for the excitement to follow.
2. “We Are the Champions” – Queen: Athletic competition means winners and losers, and no song better embodies that than this one. In extolling the journey, it honors the effort it takes to get to the top.
1. “We Will Rock You” – Queen: Stomp, stomp, clap. Stomp, stomp, clap. Everyone steps up to the challenge when the greatest sports song of all time is played. It”s played at every level in every sport, making it easily #1.
Honorable Mention: “Sweet Georgia Brown” (Harlem Globetrotters theme), “Charge!”, “Hey, Baby”, “Jump Around.”
