10.) BRAWL AT THE PALACE---Auburn Hills, MI---November 20, 2004
In an NBA game between the Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons, a fight moved from the court into the stands. Pacers Ron Artest and Steven Jackson led the charge into the seats where they exchanged punches with fans. Artest was hit with the largest suspension in NBA history and sat out the remainder of the season.
9.) VINATIERI’S KICK UPSETS RAMS---New Orleans, LA---February 2, 2002
Adam Vinatieri’s 48 yard field goal split the uprights as time expired to win Super Bowl 36 for the New England Patriots versus the heavily favored St. Louis Rams. Tom Brady was named the MVP after taking the job from the injured Drew Bledsoe. This win was the first of three championships in four years for the Patriots.
8.) BONDS BREAKS RECORDS---San Francisco, CA---2001, 2007
Barry Bonds broke Mark McGwire’s single season home run record and Hank Aaron’s career home run record. While steroid allegations lessened the public’s interest Bonds’ accomplishment, these two moments were certainly memorable.
7.) TIGER DEFEATS ROCCO DESPITE INJURY---San Diego, CA---June, 2008
Tiger Woods limped around Torrey Pines Golf Course all week long, he but still held off little known Rocco Mediate in a final playoff for his 14th major championship. Days later it was discovered that Woods played with a torn ACL and a double stress fracture in his left leg.
6.) 2007 Fiesta Bowl---Glendale, AZ---January 1, 2007
Boise State upset the favored Oklahoma Sooners in one of the most exciting college football games of all time. The Broncos led early 28-10 before Oklahoma took a late lead. Boise State tied the game with 7 seconds to go to send it to overtime. With Oklahoma up by 7, Boise State scored a touchdown and opted to go for two. With the infamous “statue of liberty” play Ian Johnson ran into the endzone for the win, completing Boise State’s undefeated season. The teams combined for 22 points in the final 86 seconds of the game.
5.) 2001 World Series---Phoeniz, AZ---November 4, 2001
Luiz Gonzalez hit a single that scored the winning run in Game 7 to win the Diamondbacks’ first championship. The single came off of Mariano Rivera who had 23 consecutive postseason saves. It was the first World Series walk off win since 1997. It was one of the most exciting World Series’ ever with two extra inning games and three late inning comebacks.
4.) HOME RUN RACE OF 1998---St. Louis, MO---September 8, 1998
Mark McGwire capped off the great home run race of the summer with his 62nd home run of the season. With previous record holder Roger Maris’ family on hand, McGwire send Cub pitcher Steve Trachsel’s pitch over the wall in left. McGwire and Cub Sammy Sosa brought many fans back to the game of baseball for the first time since the 1993 strike with their record setting home run seasons.
3.) Super Bowl 42---Glendale, AZ---February 3, 2008
The 18-0 New England Patriots were looking to become the second undefeated team in NFL history, but they were defeated by the underdog New York Giants.17-14. Eli Manning’s pass to David Tyree will always be one of the greatest catches in Super Bowl history.
2.) 2006 Rose Bowl---Pasadena, CA---January 4, 2006
In a matchup of undefeated Southern California and Texas, the Vince Young led Longhorns won 41-38 for the national championship. With quite possibly the most future NFL players ever assembled on a college football field ever, the two teams marched up and down the field all night. Vince Young’s touchdown run gave Texas the lead for good on fourth down with 19 seconds left in the game.
1.) RED SOX END DROUGHT---St. Louis, MO---October 27, 2004
The Boston Red Sox won their first World Series since 1918 by beating the St. Louis Cardinals 4 games to none. The Sox were down 3 games to nothing in the ALCS to the hated New York Yankees and came back to win 4 straight games, including the final two at Yankee Stadium.
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
---BARTMAN GRABS BALL---Chicago, IL---October 4, 2003
Lifelong Cub fan Steve Bartman reached for a foul ball that could have been caught by Cub left fielder Moises Alou in the 8th inning of Game 6 of the NLCS. The Cubs had the lead in the game and needed one win to reach their first World Series since 1945, but the Marlins rallied to win Game 6 and finished the series with a win in Game 7.
---MUSIC CITY MIRACLE---Nashville, TN---January 8, 2005
In this AFC Wild Card playoff game, the Tennessee Titans beat the Buffalo Bills on a last second kickoff return where three Titans touched the ball. Kevin Dyson took the final lateral and ran to the endzone for a 75 yard touchdown, giving the Titans the 21-16 victory.
---ELWAYS FINALLY GETS HIS RING---San Diego, CA---January 25, 1998
John Elway won his first of two Super Bowls with a 31-24 win over the Green Bay Packers. The game’s highlight was when Elway was running towards the endzone when he dove for the first down and got hit so hard he fly sideways in the air while managing to hang on to the ball to get the first down.
---PHELPS ECLIPLES SPITZ---Beijing, China---August, 2008
Swimmer Michael Phelps broke Mark Spitz’s record by winning 8 gold medals and becoming the story of the 2008 Summer Games. Overall he has won 16 Olympic medals and holds 7 world records.
OTHERS MOMEMNTS TO CONSIDER:
---BUCKEYES UPSET HURRICANS---Tempe, AZ---January 3, 2003
In the 2003 National Championship game, the Ohio State Buckeyes upset the Miami Hurricanes 31-24 in double overtime.
---MICHIGAN LOSES IN BIG HOUSE---Ann Arbor, MI---September 1, 2007
The fifth-ranked Michigan Wolverines lost at home to huge underdog Appalachian State 34-32. This showed that the small FCS schools are catching up to the big FBS schools.
---DALE DIES ON TRACK---Daytona, FL---February 18, 2001
Legendary Dale Earnhardt died in the final lap of the Daytona 500, a race he won 3 years prior. This death is memorable because he died doing his job.
---DUNGY 1st BLACK COACH TO WIN SB---Miami, FL---February 4, 2007
Tony Dungy became the first African American head coach to win the Super Bowl when his Indianapolis Colts won the 41st Super Bowl 29-17 over the Chicago Bears.
---LAKERS 3 PEAT---East Rutherford, NJ---June 12, 2002
The Los Angeles Lakers swept the New Jersey Nets to win their 3rd straight NBA finals championship.
---LANCE WINS 7 STRAIGHT---France---2005
Lance Armstrong won his 7th straight Tour de France after coming back from cancer.
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1 comment:
Good point about Elway finally winning his ring. Because he finished his career with back to back superbowls, people tend to forget that he took his fair share of superbowl heartbreak before getting the trophy. My vote as greatest quarterback ever.
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