Forbes Magazine just released a list of the top earning sport championships in the world with the Superbowl topping them all. Our beloved Kentucky Derby made the list near the bottom of the top ten, bringing in a nice $40 million dollars from gate entry alone. I will say that I am going to be spending my $45 dollars to get into the infeild this coming May. Though these money figures speak of how popular, and thus how exciting these sports are, everyone has their individual tastes. So, I am wondering what your Top 5 Sports Moments are. In your lifetime, what sporting events, plays, moments have been etched into your brain after watching them in person or on TV. If you must you can pick events you have seen on reply (such as Laettner's shot I did not see live, but have seen dozens of time on reply), but events that you witnessed as they happened are better. What events make you love sports?
Mine, in reverse order...
5. USA - Poland, South Korea - Portugal : 2002 World Cup
These games work in tandem to create one of my most memorable sports watching experiences. The World Cup was showing live in the US in the wee hours of the morning, but Greg, Matt, and I made it our job to get up and watch the games. The win over Portugal was exciting, but when South Korea scored a goal that allowed us to advance I can't remember a time I got more exciting, jumping up and down and yelling.
4. Iowa VS Indiana - Football - 2006
It was shaping up to be a long season of IU football when the visiting #13 Iowa Hawkeyes came into town. The Hoosiers played a brilliant game, but the Hawkeyes had a drive to win the game. The drive ended abruptly as the Hoosiers came up with a tip and one handed diving interception. The crowd went beserk, and the Hoosiers had their biggest football win in a decade.
3. Bluegrass State Games - Okolona vs Vine Grove
This one sneaks in because I was a part of this. And it was the most thrilling sporting event I had ever particpated in. During our U-16 year, we played Vine Grove 5 times. We took the two regular season meetings pretty easily, and thought they would be no problem come tournament time. In districts however, they beat us in the championship game. We met again in state in pool play, with the winner to advance to the championship game. We even had the tie breaker on our side. We gave up two late goals and lost, after being up a goal.
Bluegrass was to be our revenge. It was the championship game and we were playing for all the marbles. The heat was blistering and the competition was intense. We scored very late to force overtime, and played a man up in both OT's after their player recieved a red card, but we could not score. Shoot out. I took the first and made it. Final shot was ours with a chance to win. It squeked in, and the most pit ensued. Sweet, sweet revenge.
2. Saint Xavier - Trinity- Football - 2006
WOW. Thats all I have to say about this one. It is the dream of every Saint X or Trinity student. To go into Papa Johns and man handle the rival. And that we did. On a beautiful day, after hours of tailgating and fun, we marched into the stadium and handed it to the Shamrocks. The crowd was 40,000 strong, and it was quiet on the Trinity side. The Tigers left Papa Johns that day with a 46-8 massacre of Trinity. That I will remember forever.
And # 1...
Wisconsin vs IU - Basketball - 2007
The greatest moment of sports I have ever witnessed. Front row to a game of intesity and effort I have never seen before. The Hoosiers welcomed the #2 Badgers and the crowd gave them an earful. The place was the loudest I have ever heard at a sporting event. The Hoosiers banged and clawed and pulled out a hard fought 71-66 win. The joy I felt after that game was indescribable. Amazing.
Honorable Mentions:
Barbaro's Stunning Derby Run
LSU Defeats Kentucky with Hail Mary
UL's Come Back Win to Beat WVU in Elite Eight
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Thinking about it...be back later.
Ok this is way too difficult. I thought of 10 things right off the bat which means they are more than worthy and another 10 seconds of thinking would lead to 10 more. But here's what I got, though I reserve the right to edit it at any time.
#5 (tie). USA 3 Portugal 2 2002 World Cup.- It was the opening game for Uncle Sam's boys and it was against a powerhouse. They came out ready to play and shocked the world, eventually losing a controversial game to Germany in the Round of 8. The really early wake ups and great soccer made this awesome.
#5 (tie). Bluegrass Miracle LSU 33 UK 30- Guy Morris had already been soaked with Gatorade and UK fans were ready to take the field. As LSU ran its final play the fans rushed the field to celebrate victory. Just one problem: LSU completed an improbable tipped Hail Mary for the game winning touchdown. Guy in the tie. Hilarious!
#4. One Yard Short Super Bowl XXXIV Rams 23 Titans 16- In one of the more memorable Super Bowls in recent history, Kevin Dyson took a pass from Steve McNair on the last play of the game, only to be tackled one yard short of the endzone. Classic Super Bowl.
#3. Music City Miracle 2000 NFL Playoffs Titans 22 Bills 16- Without this game there is no One Yard Short. Down 16-15 with only time for a kickoff return, Lorenzo Neal handed the ball to Frank Wycheck, who lateraled it to Kevin Dyson across the width of the field, who returned it all the way for the game winning touchdown. Even after watching on replay over and over again, its amazing how it unfolded.
#2. 2004 Masters Phil Mickelson wins first Major- Didn't expect golf to be on the list huh? Well if you're human you had to be cheering for Phil and as he set up for his winning putt I had goosebumps and chills running down my spine. And this was golf. As the putt fell in the hole I jumped with joy, just as Mickelson did, though I think I got more than 3 inches off the ground.
#1 Illinois Fighting Illini 2004-2005 season- I could take any moment from this season (despite not winning the National Championship) but of course the defining moment was simply "The Comeback" (aka greatest college basketball game ever played). Down 15 with only four minutes to play the Illini stormed back to eventually tie it. Deron, Dee, and Luther did most of the work but lets not forget about Jack Ingram who managed to tip the Arizona inbounds pass for Deron to collect and shoot the game tying three. The Illini went on to win 90-89 in overtime. I can re-live that game every day and it makes me happy!
Honorable Mentions: 2006 Rose Bowl, They're Not Guarding the Inbounder, 2006 Indianapolis 500, Snow Job/SnowBowl/Tuck Game
Damn that was too hard (in a very fin way)!
I had a few of those in my mind too. Good picks, but I expected that from you. And I knew some of yours.
I got another to add to the honorable mentions: 2002 Sweet 16 Rupp Arena Indiana defeats Duke
Yep, was gonna put that one as well. But it was so painful. Now look at me.
I love Duke. I want Duke to win. Blah, blah, blah. Fuck Duke. I can't believe you. At least I don't hate Indiana as much as Duke. Haha. Really at this point I'm not really into college sports, but I've been warned about this. Apparently for the next 2-3 years college sports are just college sports. Nothing I have a rooting interest in.
5. 1988 World Series. Dodgers win! Tommy Lasorda. Orel Hershiser. Kirk Gibson. Vince Scully calling the games.
4. 1996 Olympics Gold Medal Win by the US Women's Gymnastics Team. Kerri Strugg, after being injured on her first vault, comes back to perfectly land on one-foot her second vault. It's the last shot for the US, and with her score they win the team event. It's the first ever US team gold, and it breaks the Russian hold on wins which dates back to the 1950s.
3. Greece wins the 2004 Euro Cup. They weren't supposed to be any good, but they kept winning. And our celebrations got crazier every time ending with us partying in Omonia Square with people shooting off fireworks, jumping on cars, climbing lightposts, etc.
2. US vs. Germany in the 2002 World Cup Quarterfinals. I was living in Germany and we went to watch the game with hundreds of Germans. We brought big American flags, stood up and sang the national anthem loudly, and screamed madly. We didn't win but it was a lot closer than anyone thought it would be.
1. Rice wins the 2003 College World Series. It's the most I've ever personally been invested/interested in a sporting event. The championship game itself probably wasn't the most exciting as Rice won in a blow-out, but the winning itself was fabulous. And the lead-up, including beating Texas two times to make it to the championship.
I got one to add now that Theresa reminds me. That Rice game where Jeff got that hit...oh wait, he didn't. Run Jeff Run.
Ok, here's my crack at this. Commence with the mockery now.
5. 1998 Bainbridge vs. Bremerton Football - A matchup of the bottom two teams in the league, the 0-8 Bainbridge Spartans vs. the 1-7 Bremerton (whatevers). We (Bainbridge) were down 24-0 at halftime, and it looked like it would be a winless season for the Spartans. But I threw three of my 6 touchdown passes that year in the second half of that game, and converted three straight two point conversions to tie the game at 24. We went into overtime, intercepted their first pass and took 5 plays to run the ball in to win the game. The fans stormed the field and it was my greatest football moment and only football win.
4. 1998 NCAA Sweet 16 - UW vs UConn. The most heartbreaking loss of my high school days. UW had taken a surprising #11 seed to the sweet 16 to meet #2 seeded UConn. A tight game the whole way, Donald Watts hit a three pointer with 10 seconds left to take the lead by 1. What ensued was the longest 10 seconds of my life. UConn's set play missed, but they left enough time to miss three more times and grab the offensive rebound each time, followed by a mad scramble for the ball that Rip Hamilton picked up with just enough time to turn and shoot a fadeaway 15 foot jump shot as time expired ... that swished through to give UConn the win.
3. 2007 Fiesta Bowl - Boise State vs. Oklahoma. This one is still fresh enough that everyone remembers it, but seriously, ending the game on a statue of liberty play is enough to make the list, let alone all the other crap that ensued in this game. The wildest and craziest game I've ever seen, and I'm glad Boise got to make their case for parity in college football.
2. 1995 American League Divisional Series - The game that saved professional baseball in Seattle. After a miraculous 11 game comeback in the last two months of the season (decided by a one game playoff won by Seattle), the Mariners find themselves in game 5 against the hated New York Yankees. The other games have been nothing short of thrilling, a 15 inning marathon and yet another Mariner come from behind victory, but they would be nothing compared to game 5. Both aces, Randy Johnson and Jack McDowell, are summoned late to preserve a tie game, and they do, into the 11th. In the top of the 11th, the Yankees scratch out a run off of Randy Johnson. But in the bottom of the 11th, Joey Cora leads off with a drag bunt for a hit, diving headfirst into first base, Ken Griffey, Jr. follows with a single to right center, and Edgar Martinez seals the deal with a line drive double down the left field line. Ken Griffey, Jr. slides home just ahead of the throw to send the Mariners to the Championship Series.
1. (like you didn't see this coming) 2003 College World Series - I can't pick out one game, but the two Texas games followed by the three Stanford games were absolutely incredible, every single one of them (except the loss to Stanford, that was lame) was incredibly intense and an amazing experience.
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