what's the third biggest sporting event in the world?

You are a sports fan. You know the Olympics, of course. The World Cup is on your radar screen as well.

OK, here's a trivia question: After those two quadrennial events, what's the third biggest sporting event in the world?

Here's a hint, it takes place Europe.

No, not the NBA Finals (Sorry, Laker fans, maybe set up a play-date with Maccabi Tel Aviv _ the real world basketball champions. Then we'll talk).

Joe Curley, who covers college sports for the Ventura County Star in California at http://www.insidevc.com, gives his reasons why he believes Euro 2004 was a Soccer Showcase.

"You guys can have those NBA Finals, a rematch of the classic series of a decade ago. I chose to watch old rivals England and France reprise the Hundred Years' War in a Lisbon stadium."