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I was bored and started thinking about some of the greatest moments in sports history that I could remember. I’m only 23 years old, so there are numerous occasions that I’ve probably missed or can’t remember.
Given the content of this post, there will be a lot of disagreement and some agreement here and there. Just remember, this is my opinion and I stand by it.
I’d also like to point out that you might catch some baseball moments here. I’ve played baseball all my life, so I’m kind of biased towards the sport.
This is part 1, and I hope to have part 2 within the next few days. Watch 50 – 26 after the jump:
50.) Julius “Dr. J” Erving and almost every dunk he did.
His dunk from the foul line in the dunk contest, or his reverse dunk where he basically travels in the air for five seconds are two prime examples.
49.) Roger Federer wins his 15th Grand Slam title breaking Pete Sampras’ record of 14.
I liked Pete better as a tennis player, and I feel like he would win if they both played each other in their prime, but Roger is a nice guy and you have to admit that.
48.) The New England Patriots lose Super Bowl XLII, ending their perfect season.
There isn’t much more to say about this, other than the fact that the Giants basically dominated the entire game.
47.) Michael Vick and the dogfighting scandal.
He had a decent career, good endorsements, and a lot of money. However, he felt it was necessary for some pit bulls to tear each other apart. Smart move Mike.
46.) OJ Simpson’s life in general.
Being accused of murdering his wife, running from the police, robbing a store, and possibly kidnapping someone is a normal day for OJ. I wonder what his weekends are like.
45.) The NBA Dream Team from the 1992 Olympics.
I remember when you could watch the NBA and players played for the love of the game rather than the money. Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Charles Barkley, and Earvin “Magic” Johnson were just a few of the players who made the game great back then.
44.) Rulon Gardner defeats Russian Alexander Karelin.
Not many people thought this American fighter could come close to beating this seemingly invincible Russian, but come down and behold, the underdog strikes again. We struck gold!
43.) Bob Knight and that temperament we came to know and love.
Whether it was the hundreds of technical fouls, the chair being thrown across the floor, or the television breaking, Bob Knight knew how to coach and entertain the crowd. “Everyone hears, but few listen.” -Bob Knight
42.) Eight men out of the 1919 World Series.
Eight men conspiring with players to intentionally launch the 1919 World Series seems unbelievable, and yet (they were found not guilty, but the facts are lost) it still took place. A championship would be more important than money, but I guess things change once you see that green.
41.) Ohio State defeats Miami (FL) for the 2002 NCAA Football National Championship.
I know this isn’t one of the top 50 moments in sports history, but I’m a Buckeye fan and it was a great double overtime win. In case you didn’t know, the Buckeyes went 14-0 that season… BOOM!
40.) Mary Lou Retton’s perfect 10 on the jump.
Being 16 and knowing that you need a perfect 10 on your next jump to win the gold medal can affect a lot of us. Mary, for her part, took the pressure and nailed her vault sending her to gold.
39.) Kordell Stewart’s Hail Mary pass to defeat #4 Michigan.
Not only did he beat the team he despised the most, but he tossed the ball some 73 yards into the air for the game-winning touchdown. Maybe Kordell can tell his grandkids this story one day, because he sure as hell doesn’t have many NFL stories to tell.
38.) Don Larson throws a perfect game in game 5 of the 1956 World Series.
Not only is it extremely difficult to achieve a perfect game, but Don is the only player in baseball history to pitch a perfect game in any World Series game. His career never amounted to much, but at least he has a moment to look back on.
37.) Franco Harris catches Terry Bradshaw’s deflected pass for the Immaculate Reception.
This is recognized by many as one of the greatest plays in NFL history. I credit it as one of the luckiest plays in NFL history, but to each their own; It’s still a sweet way to win an AFC divisional playoff game.
36.) Super Bowl I – Green Bay Packers vs. Kansas City Chiefs.
Although the game was a bit one-sided (Green Bay won 35-10), this was the birth of one of the most watched and celebrated games of the year for us today. I usually just watch the commercials, and the game is a bonus.
35.) Ron Artest and Stephen Jackson practice MMA in the crowd.
This was one of the craziest things I have ever witnessed. Players fighting players makes sense, but fighting people in the crowd (still in the stands, mind you) is just ridiculous. I would have gladly paid money to see this, and possibly even be involved. And you?
34.) Dwight Clark of the San Francisco 49ers catches the game-winning touchdown in the back of the end zone.
Billed as “The Catch,” Dwight Clark caught the game-winning touchdown reception to beat the Dallas Cowboys in the 1982 NFC Championship Game. He was the gift of San Francisco! Get it? Rice-A-Roni. I understand that if you didn’t laugh, you just don’t have a sense of humor.
33.) Rocky Marciano retired from boxing in 1956 with a perfect 49-0 record as a heavyweight.
Of his 49 wins, 43 were by knockout. I don’t know about you, but that’s very impressive in my book. Of course, I never got to see him fight, but who cares, 49-0 is 49-0.
32.) Emmitt Smith breaks the all-time record.
He may not have always been the tallest, fastest, or strongest (I’m paraphrasing Emmitt from the movie Little Giants), but he was smart and ran 100% every time. I think Barry Sanders would have this record if he hadn’t taken early retirement, but hats off to Emmitt for this feat.
31.) Texas defeats USC in the 2006 NCAA Football National Championship Game.
The fact that no defense could stop the opposing teams’ offense, except for Texas on that fourth down, was a great game overall. Texas was a big underdog, but Vince Young stepped up his game and came at the decisive moment. I’m a sucker for those underdog wins.
30.) Mike Tyson bites off Evander Holyfield’s ear.
Ok, he doesn’t completely bite his ear, but it was still a pretty gruesome bite. The fight looked epic, but Tyson just couldn’t resist a tasty treat.
29.) The Miami Dolphin are undefeated in 1972.
They achieved what the Patriots couldn’t, perfection. Remaining undefeated in any professional sport, at any time and age, is almost impossible and should be recognized by all. You know the surviving players on this team were jumping for joy when New England lost. Good material!
28.) Larry Bird vs. Earvin “Magic” Johnson.
These two not only met in the 1979 NCAA basketball championship game, but they also met in three NBA title games (84, 85 and 87). Bird and Magic played the game with integrity and passion, this is what I miss most about the NBA.
27.) Mark McGwire breaks Roger Marris’ home run record of 61.
Roger Marris had a tough time when he broke Babe’s home run record. Mark didn’t have it too hard, but he was glad to see the record broken because he sparked a little more interest in baseball again (aside from steroids). It’s a cliché, but records are meant to be broken.
26.) Terrorists murdering 11 Olympians at the Munich Olympics.
There are really no words that can describe the feelings and emotions that people felt after this tragic event, but I guess it makes us stronger and we appreciate what we have.
