Because competition begs for ranking. Because fans live to argue. Because the sports calendar -- call it the Physical Year -- really begins with NFL training camps and ends after hoops and hockey finals and the All-Star Game. Because the middle of summer is as slow as a Royals-Devil Rays game.

For these reasons, and then some, on Tuesday afternoon ESPN The Magazine and ESPN.com will unveil The ESPN 100 -- a single list that ranks, in order, the most important people, places, events, achievements, teams and trends of the past 12 months.

The list was selected with input from more than 400 ESPN experts, including executives, editors, producers, directors and on-air talent. From Super upsets to humdrum three-peats, from unhittable pitchers to unbeatable wrestlers, from notorious judges to out-of-control point guards -- these 100 are meant to settle a thousand arguments and start a million more. (You can get a jump on this by voting in the poll at left.)

Beginning Tuesday it will be your turn. You'll be able to rank your own Top 25, tell us what we missed, and sound off on literally any topic that interests you -- in SportsNation, a new ESPN.com section that will be the daily meeting place for sports fans.

In preparation for launching SportsNation, ESPN.com conducted an exhaustive survey of 40,000 registered users. The results of this survey will be showcased in a series of layered maps, detailing NFL Nation, Couch Potato Nation, Beer Nation, Weasel Nation (just wait) and more, that will lauch alongside The ESPN 100.

So we're not just stirring up hot topics in July. We're also providing a year-round place you can go to discuss them, and to test your Sports IQ.

A few of the questions the SportsNation survey will answer:

What's the No. 1 sport and team in your backyard and in your state?

In a typical week, how many hours do you spend watching live sporting events and sports-related programming?

How much beer do you drink when you watch sports?

Have you ever had sex at a sporting event?

How much (or how little) money would you accept in place of your favorite team winning a championship?

Do you own a bobblehead doll of a sports figure?

What city has the worst fans?

If your favorite player announced he or she was gay, would that make a difference to you?

Who is Jeff Sluman?

Come back to ESPN.com and ESPNMAG.com late Tuesday afternoon for a look at The ESPN 100. The list will debut in its entirety during a countdown special Tuesday night at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN, as well as in a special issue of ESPN The Magazine, on newsstands Wednesday.