10. THE AUTISTIC TEENAGER THAT COULD
Jason McElwain, the manager of the Greece Athena varsity basketball team in Rochester, New York was just happy to be on the bench. McElwain had autism, but during the team’s last home game of the season the coach put him in the game. McElwain hit six three-pointers and another jumper at the final buzzer to finish with 20 points. As he sank his final “J,” the ecstatic fans rushed the court and celebrated with McElwain. It truly was a Hollywood ending, as Columbia Pictures bought the rights to his story.
9. ZINDANE’S HEADBUTT IN WORLD CUP FINAL
As France and Italy were playing in sudden death overtime of the 2006 World Cup Final, France midfielder Zinedine Zidane did the unthinkable. He head-butted Italian defender Marco Matterazi right in the chest. The referee quickly ran over and gave Zidane a red card, an automatic ejection from the game. To add insult to injury, this was Zidane’s last game before retirement, a terrible way to go out. France lost in penalty kicks as the Italians and Matterazi celebrated.
8. THE ILLINI’S MIRACLE COMEBACK AGAINST ARIZONA
The 2004-2005 Illinois Fighting Illini were the #1 ranked team the entire season. When the brackets came out in March, Illinois did not have to leave the Midwest to make it to St. Louis, home of the Final Four. Anything short of a Final Four would have been considered a failure for a team that had Deron Williams, Dee Brown, Luther Head and James Augustine. But against Arizona in the Elite Eight in Rosemont, Ill, the Illini looked like they were going to fall a step short of the Final Four. Down 17 to Arizona with just over four minutes to go in the game, everyone thought it was over. However, someone the Illini made a furious rally with some outstanding plays by Williams, Head and Brown and forced overtime. They then survived a Salim Stoudamire miss at the buzzer and escaped with an improbable one point overtime victory. It was the greatest college basketball game I have ever seen.
7. GIANTS OVER THE PATRIOTS IN SUPER BOWL XLII
The Patriots were 18-0 and ready to make history. All they needed to do was beat the New York Giants for a second time in the Super Bowl and history was all theirs. However they did not, losing 17-14. Some say it’s the greatest upset in N.F.L. history.
6. VINCE YOUNG’S SUPERMAN PERFORMANCE AGAINST USC
USC had Reggie Bush, Lendale White, Matt Leinart and many other great players on what was considered the greatest team in college football history. #1 USC vs. #2 Texas. Could not have asked for a better national championship game. Vince Young played the best game I have ever seen a college football player play, rushing for over 200 yards and passing for over 200 yards in leading the Longhorns to an upset victory, 41-38.
6. GREECE’S IMPROBABLE RUN IN EURO 2004
Rewind to 2004. Greece, definitely not a futbol power house in Europe by any means, plays great strategic defensive soccer and catches some lucky breaks along the way in going from afterthought to European champions. Greece won their quarterfinal, semifinal and championship game by identical scores of 1-0. Greatest moment of my life (as a futbol fan).
5. BOISE STATE’S FIESTA BOWL WIN OVER OKLAHOMA
I am sad to admit that I actually turned this game off and went to bed in the 3rd quarter when I saw Oklahoma was up by 20 points. I thought, game over. Then I wake up the next morning and turn on sportscenter and they keep showing highlights from this game. Between the lateral pass on the touchdown to bring Boise within one point, and then Boise’s coach having the balls to go for two points and calling the statue of liberty, amazing victory. I ended up watching the game in its entirety on ESPN Classic as an instant classic the following night.
4. KOBE’S 81 POINTS VERSUS TORONTO
This was just an amazing performance by Kobe. In today’s NBA, 81 points might never be topped again. Kobe hit every time of shot and was just on fire, only missing a couple shots the entire second half. He was a men among boys out on the court.
3. BOSTON’S IMPROBABLE COMEBACK VERSUS NEW YORK IN ALCS
The Red Sox were down 3-0 to the archrival Yankees in the ALCS. Series is over right? Wrong. The Red Sox won the next four games of the series and then swept the St. Louis Cardinals en route to their first world series title in over 80 years.
2. THE TOM BRADY “TUCK RULE” GAME
Brady fumbled the ball, Raiders recovered and would have won the game. Instead the ref called it an incomplete pass, the Patriots won the game and the Super Bowl and the rest is history.
1. MJ’S GAME WINNING SHOT VERSUS UTAH IN 1998
This should be everyone’s number one moment. Jordan, the best player to ever play the game, hit a picture perfect game-winning swish over Byron Russell to give the Bulls their 6th NBA championship in 8 years.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Top 10 sports moments in the past 10 years
Posted by UISJMC Chiakulas at 9:10 PM
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 comments:
Dude weak. You put Kobe's 81 and Brady's tuck rule in your top 10. The only thing memorable about those is that Brady shouldn't have ever won a playoff game and that Kobe is the most selfish player. Even the fact that you have MJ number one doesn't save you. Very disappointed dude.
Jaffe, the reason you disagree with both is that Kobe and Brady are your 2 most hated athletes......you need to put personal hatred aside and realize these were great great moments. The Kobe scoring 81 points was just an amazing individual performance, I saw most of the game and the guy did not miss. He hit every type of shot imaginable. The 3, mid range J and took it to the cup at will.
The Brady "tuck rule" play and game is by far one of the greatest moments in the last ten years. If the refs call that a fumble (as they should have), then the Patriots lose that game and Brady does not go on to become who he is today.
Greece as number 6? I don't know... possibly a bit of bias there? Maybe a bit much on the soccer. Notable exclusions I found:
McGwire hitting 70 (which happened literally almost 10 years ago, although I don't blame you, with steroids and all, but still a memorable sports moment).
Bonds hitting 73 (I do not like Barry Bonds, but this was pretty incredible, steroids or not).
Tiger Woods doing (insert any of the many amazing sports moments Woods has participated in) in the past 10 years.
Michael Phelps, I hate to do it.. because it's swimming, and it just happened, and i don't care about swimming or Phelps, but something to consider.
Rams v. Titans Super Bowl, enough said.
October 14, 2003. You don't know the date, google it. Terrible day, but definitely a "top sports moment."
You want to talk soccer, how about a little American pride and the U.S. women winning the World Cup in 1999, and the whole Brandi Chastain bra thing.
Think about it...
Paul, everybody's top 10 sports moments in the last 10 years is going to reflect their own personal bias.
I put Greece's as #6 because it was my own great moment.
I excluded golf, nascar racing and tennis because I don't care about them.
I did not include anything about the home runs because of all the steroid scandal; who knows if Bonds/McGwire/Sosa/Palmeiro, etc. were even legit?
Post a Comment