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You are here: Home / z-Retired Categories / Previous Site Maintenance / Open Thread- SI Edition

Open Thread- SI Edition

by John Cole|  July 17, 20072:05 pm| 113 Comments

This post is in: Previous Site Maintenance, Sports

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The previous open thread has caused some debate about the greatest moment in sports history. Rather than have this lost in the comments, let me declare right here and right now that there is a tie for the greatest moments in sports history:

1.) The Red Sox sweeping the last four games of the ALCS vs. the Yankees after losing the first three. Die in a fire, Yankee fans.

2.) In 1971, Baltimore Colts linebacker Mike “Mad Dog” Curtis grabbed a fan who had run out into the field into the huddle during a Colts/Dolphin game, picked him up, and slammed the retard to the ground, knocking him out. Curtis, who graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Duke, later wrote about the event in his book “Keep Off My Turf.”

Those are the top two sporting events of all time, although I would put Secretariat up there. Anything else is either Steeler related, or merely interesting.

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Reader Interactions

113Comments

  1. 1.

    demimondian

    July 17, 2007 at 2:13 pm

    abnout

    John, you’re slippign.

  2. 2.

    Tim F.

    July 17, 2007 at 2:16 pm

    John, you’re slippign.

    I strongly protest the present infinitive tense of that vreb.

  3. 3.

    Jake

    July 17, 2007 at 2:19 pm

    The Superbowl XXXVIII Half-Time Show.

    Oh, that’s not what you meant, is it?

  4. 4.

    Rome Again

    July 17, 2007 at 2:19 pm

    Baseball and Football… I don’t see Hockey!

  5. 5.

    IanY77

    July 17, 2007 at 2:21 pm

    Hard to disagree with those two. However, the Oklahoma/Boise State Fiesta Bowl may be up there (after it’s had a few years to settle in our collective consciousness).

  6. 6.

    Krista

    July 17, 2007 at 2:21 pm

    I’m with Canuckistani on this one:

    Paul Henderson’s game 7 winner in the 1972 Canada-Russia series.

    And, I know that nobody will agree with me, but Kerri Strug nailing that landing with a broken ankle was freakin’ heroic.

  7. 7.

    Mark

    July 17, 2007 at 2:31 pm

    Only because I was unsuccessfully looking for footage of it the other day:

    Franz Klammer winning the downhill Olympic Gold in skiing at Innsbruck in ’76. Thought he was going to jump right out of the teevee–an insane run.

  8. 8.

    Rome Again

    July 17, 2007 at 2:33 pm

    but Kerri Strug nailing that landing with a broken ankle was freakin’ heroic

    It was amazing, but unless one considers Olympic sports to be patriotic warrior games, I couldn’t apply the word “heroic” to it, sorry.

  9. 9.

    John Cole

    July 17, 2007 at 2:35 pm

    Nothing in the Olympics has even approached interesting, really, since the Berlin Wall fell. before, it was a struggle of Good vs. Evil. Now, it is a bunch of people who are overly obsessed with sports 90% of the country couldn’t give two hoots in hell about.

    Equestrian events? Who cares about that but a couple blue-blood horse farmers from Tenn/kentucky.

    The pentathlon- exciting if you are a former Prussian General, the rest of us could give a shit.

    /Thymezone

  10. 10.

    Mark

    July 17, 2007 at 2:37 pm

    …and when Bob Beamon won the Patriotic Warrior Gold in Mexico City by beating the old long jump record by 2 feet. That one too.

  11. 11.

    Mr Furious

    July 17, 2007 at 2:41 pm

    I can go with number one for sure. Everything else is looking upward at that one.

    Just for the record, just beating the Yankees isn’t good enough for the tops pot (D-Backs, Marlins, etc.) Taking four straight down 0-3 from your longtime bully/rival and going on to win the Series after nearly a century makes it sweeter.

    In fact, there was really no more fitting way for the Red Sox to win a World Series. Beating the Cardinals was almost an afterthought.

    —

    I’m sorry, what is this “hockey” those eskimos were talking about?

  12. 12.

    Mr Furious

    July 17, 2007 at 2:43 pm

    I don’t know how this discussion can include both hockey AND the Olympics and nobody mentions the US beating the USSR.

    It didn’t really mean much to me, but I think it ranks pretty high on most lists…

  13. 13.

    Mr Furious

    July 17, 2007 at 2:45 pm

    …there was really no more fitting way for the Red Sox to win a World Series.

    I take that back. After disposing of the Yankees, the Sox should have gone on to sweep the Reds in the World Series. And Joe Morgan should have been forced to do the games.

  14. 14.

    Vlad

    July 17, 2007 at 2:46 pm

    Personally, I think the modern pentathlon is awesome. For that matter, so does General Patton.

  15. 15.

    norbizness

    July 17, 2007 at 2:46 pm

    For me, it was Hakeem Olajuwon absolutely dismantling David Robinson in the 1994 NBA Playoffs.

    We Houston fans don’t have a whole lot else.

  16. 16.

    Krista

    July 17, 2007 at 2:50 pm

    I’m sorry, what is this “hockey” those eskimos were talking about?

    Et tu, Furious?

  17. 17.

    Andrew

    July 17, 2007 at 2:52 pm

    As a Carolina fan, I’m just going to say that the greatest sport moment is whenver Duke loses.

  18. 18.

    Mark

    July 17, 2007 at 2:55 pm

    Baseball’s gotta be Bobby Thomson’s homer in ’51.

  19. 19.

    Dave

    July 17, 2007 at 3:00 pm

    It’s obvious isn’t it?

    The Catch.

    Or if you like college how about the Stanford marching band running on to the field while Cal ran for a TD.

  20. 20.

    ThymeZone

    July 17, 2007 at 3:02 pm

    Greatest Sports moment, as this thread will demonstrate, is entirely subjective and personal.

    However, the idea that “hockey is better than baseball” is just an evil, and disgusting idea that must be crushed, like communism, like cannibalism, before it degrades the entire human experience.

    Let me say this, about that:

    I’m an American. And proud to be one. Even in these times, I think America is the greatest country ever. And Baseball is our pastime, and it is a uniquely American game, and if you are an American, you know that baseball is far superior to a form of kludged soccer designed to be played on ice by people wearing skates.

    There is no game like baseball. It is, as far as I know, still the only game in the world in which the team with the ball is playing defense.

    It is a game without a clock. It is played until each team has had the agreed-upon number of turns at being on offense, and it is played until the turn is over, without regard for the clock. It is unpredictable. It’s the game that will certainly break your heart if you follow it long enough. The more you care about it, the more it will break your heart, and at the same time, provide the greatest thrills you can get from being part of a sporting event.

    Anyone who has ever sat in the upper deck in right field and watched Roberto Clemente or Willie Mays throw a man out at the plate knows what I mean.

    The rest of you? Wallow in your ignorance and mediocrity.

  21. 21.

    Psycheout

    July 17, 2007 at 3:04 pm

    Greatest moment in sports ever:

    On April 25th, 1976 the Chicago Cubs center fielder rescued the American flag moments before it was to be burned by two protesters who stormed the field in a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

    It brings a tear to the eye. Of course today’s far-left would be booing because they hate America and despise our flag.

  22. 22.

    ThymeZone

    July 17, 2007 at 3:05 pm

    The Catch.

    Montana to Clark. Second Greatest Moment ever.

  23. 23.

    ThymeZone

    July 17, 2007 at 3:06 pm

    Of course today’s far-left would be booing

    Booing because you picked a political moment, not a sports moment.

    Idiot.

  24. 24.

    RSA

    July 17, 2007 at 3:11 pm

    Nothing in the Olympics has even approached interesting, really, since the Berlin Wall fell. before, it was a struggle of Good vs. Evil.

    My understanding is the Coubertin, who was largely responsible for reviving the Olympics, was interested in two things: promoting physical education and using sports as a way of improving international relations. It’s funny how quickly the second goal fell by the wayside.

  25. 25.

    Dreggas

    July 17, 2007 at 3:12 pm

    Sports? Forget about it.

    Let’s hurry down to Wal-Mart and buy our very own Jesus Action Figures

    I’d say it was ironic that Wal-Mart would be the first to mass-market this but really…not so much.

  26. 26.

    Tax Analyst

    July 17, 2007 at 3:18 pm

    ThymeZone Says:

    Anyone who has ever sat in the upper deck in right field and watched Roberto Clemente or Willie Mays throw a man out at the plate knows what I mean.

    …or even just MAKE the throw…with the runner on 3rd holding because it’s Clemente (or Mays) that’s going to be making that throw…A strike that “Pops” in the Catcher’s mitt as he straddles home plate…I can hear the buzz of the “Oohs” and “Aahs” of the crowd now…

    …you’ve got a mean point there, TZ

  27. 27.

    Mark

    July 17, 2007 at 3:19 pm

    It is a game without a clock. It is played until each team has had the agreed-upon number of turns at being on offense, and it is played until the turn is over, without regard for the clock.

    The passion you’ve poured into this description is haunting, Thyme.

  28. 28.

    Ned Raggett

    July 17, 2007 at 3:19 pm

    As a Carolina fan, I’m just going to say that the greatest sport moment is whenver Duke loses.

    hahah — I forwarded the initial post to a friend who wrote back:

    Bravo my Steeler friend. I would also argue that watching Duke lose to
    Uconn in the college basketball title a few years back was nice, mostly
    because it was Duke.

    So you’re not alone!

  29. 29.

    Dave

    July 17, 2007 at 3:21 pm

    Let’s hurry down to Wal-Mart and buy our very own Jesus Action Figures

    I’m not a christian, nor do I pretend to understand any of it, but isn’t there something about not creating idols or something?

    On the other hand, Jesus and G.I. Joe tag teaming Barbie might make for a fun YouTube video.

  30. 30.

    demimondian

    July 17, 2007 at 3:22 pm

    Or anyone who’s ever watched a ball come off the monster, low and hard, and watched right field catch it on the bounce, during the turn, a pivot, nailing the runner from third.

    There’s the wonderful hold-your-breath moment, with the ball in the air, the catcher frozen in his stance, then the SLAP of the ball in the mitt, and the thwap of the mitt against the sliding runner’s back.

    Then the crowd erupts.

    Nothing like it.

  31. 31.

    The Pirate

    July 17, 2007 at 3:23 pm

    This thread has only reminded me that the Phils have just hit 10,000 losses, and, in general, of the futility of my beloved Philadelphia sports teams…

    Well, actually, apparently the Kixx are badass, but who cares about soccer?

  32. 32.

    John Cole

    July 17, 2007 at 3:24 pm

    Watching baseball makes me want to move to Paris. Seriously.

    My mother and brother love it, but for me, I will stick to football, hockey, and lacrosse.

    Oh, and btw, hockey is not the only official national sport of Canada.

  33. 33.

    Punchy

    July 17, 2007 at 3:28 pm

    And, I know that nobody will agree with me, but Kerri Strug nailing that landing with a broken ankle was freakin’ heroic.

    Little-known factoid–she didn’t need that score to win. She could’ve fallen foward, backwards, and gave The Moe to one of the officials, and they still would’ve golded.

    As for this:

    It is a game without a clock. It is played until each team has had the agreed-upon number of turns at being on offense, and it is played until the turn is over, without regard for the clock. It is unpredictable

    I’ve never understood this argument. No clock? So what. Athletes should be expected to not just perform well, but within the pressures of a finite ending. Nomar Garcilongname takes ~3 minutes between pitches. That’s not noble, that’s boring as shit.

    I’m riding Krista here by saying that hockey rocks. If you’ve never played it, you wouldn’t understand.

  34. 34.

    Mike S

    July 17, 2007 at 3:32 pm

    The two best moments were

    1 when Kurt Gibson hobbled up to the plate and then launched a homer over the wall against the A’s.

    2 When the Redskins came back in the second quarter against the Bronkos in the Super Bowl after Elway had been destroying them in the first.

  35. 35.

    ThymeZone

    July 17, 2007 at 3:38 pm

    …you’ve got a mean point there, TZ

    Well, fifty years of watching baseball, and there are two moments that absolutely still make my hair stand on end just to think of them.

    And one of those is watching Clemente make a throw to the plate. To this day, I have never seen a throw like it, so perfect, and so strong, and the man made it look easy. I was sitting in the upper deck at Candlestick and looking right down at Clemente, and I saw the ball from above. The throw was so dramatic, it hushed the crowd for a second as if everyone in the place just gasped. The ball flew on a line so straight, you couldnt have painted a straigher one with the lime box.

  36. 36.

    Dreggas

    July 17, 2007 at 3:38 pm

    Dave Says:

    I’m not a christian, nor do I pretend to understand any of it, but isn’t there something about not creating idols or something?

    On the other hand, Jesus and G.I. Joe tag teaming Barbie might make for a fun YouTube video.

    Yep to both. Of course I do have my “buddy christ” action figure but it’s buddy christ so it’s all good.

  37. 37.

    Tax Analyst

    July 17, 2007 at 3:38 pm

    demimondian Says:

    Or anyone who’s ever watched a ball come off the monster, low and hard, and watched right field catch it on the bounce, during the turn, a pivot, nailing the runner from third.

    There’s the wonderful hold-your-breath moment, with the ball in the air, the catcher frozen in his stance, then the SLAP of the ball in the mitt, and the thwap of the mitt against the sliding runner’s back.

    Then the crowd erupts.

    Nothing like it.

    OK…here’s what I’m coming up with:

    Baseball: Those Special “Frozen-in-Time” moments…plays that turn into Still Photo’s in your mind that you never forget (Alzheimer’s permitting)…I’ve got a whole shit-load of them, for sure.

    Hockey: A constant flow of movement and action rolled up within a special sort of tension…nothing seems to be happening within that movement/action and then suddenly a flick of a couple of sticks and it all bursts loose.

    Football…I gave up on it several years ago…it’s just too much like “Destruction Derby” now…I can’t root for it because I know what that shit does to the bodies involved down the road. Even more with Boxing…saw Benny (Kid) Paret die in the ring at the hands of Emile Griffith when I was maybe 13 or so…think it was on ABC’s “Wide World of Sports”.

  38. 38.

    Dave

    July 17, 2007 at 3:39 pm

    I’m riding Krista here by saying that hockey rocks. If you’ve never played it, you wouldn’t understand.

    Hockey is like watching paint dry. Score or fight or do something. All they do is skate around and around and around and around.

  39. 39.

    Punchy

    July 17, 2007 at 3:42 pm

    To this day, I have never seen a throw like it, so perfect, and so strong, and the man made it look easy

    Two words: Guerrero, Vlad

  40. 40.

    Steve

    July 17, 2007 at 3:44 pm

    Those are the top two sporting events of all time, although I would put Secretariat up there.

    No one who enjoyed Secretariat’s classic win in the Belmont could fail to be moved by this video starring Secretariat’s son. Beautiful.

  41. 41.

    Krista

    July 17, 2007 at 3:45 pm

    I’m riding Krista

    Don’t you wish… ;)

    And, a personal fave for best moment, was when Canada won the Gold in Olympic ice hockey after 50 years of agonizing defeats. We were visiting my bf’s parents, and watched part of the game there, and listened to the rest in the truck on the way back to Halifax. We were all way too scared to hope, but once the score was 4-2, the announcer said that Gretzy was smiling, and we knew that maybe, just maybe, we’d actually win this thing. With a minute to go, you could hear the fans start to sing our national anthem, and I’m guessing there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. When the game ended, the entire country celebrated as one. That one game did more for our national unity than any politican ever has or ever could.

  42. 42.

    jenniebee

    July 17, 2007 at 3:48 pm

    I was in the stands at Fenway when Mike Greenwell hit an inside-the-park home run. The excitement of those moments, while the man and the ball did a far-flung pas-de-deux, that’s pretty damned hard to eclipse.

    But the Glorious Series – yeah, that was a thing of beauty. Family came in from out of town for that one, and on the last out, somebody said “I feel like we all should stand up” and we did, and my dad reached for my hand and said quietly “I wish your grandfather had lived to see this.” That was one of those carry to your grave moments, that one.

  43. 43.

    Tax Analyst

    July 17, 2007 at 3:49 pm

    ThymeZone Says:

    Well, fifty years of watching baseball, and there are two moments that absolutely still make my hair stand on end just to think of them.

    And one of those is watching Clemente make a throw to the plate. To this day, I have never seen a throw like it, so perfect, and so strong, and the man made it look easy. I was sitting in the upper deck at Candlestick and looking right down at Clemente, and I saw the ball from above. The throw was so dramatic, it hushed the crowd for a second as if everyone in the place just gasped. The ball flew on a line so straight, you couldnt have painted a straigher one with the lime box.

    50 Years? That’s just about how long my baseball-watching memory goes…I remember the Braves beating the Yankees in the ’57 WS…all the bunting hanging from the low walls of Milwaukee County Stadium looked majestic (even though County Stadium was, in fact, pretty much of a dump of a ball park, it still looked majestic to a 7-year old watching his first WS).

    Clemente’s throw? Yeah, never a throw like it…except one I SAW from a slightly different angle (high “Reserve” seats a little to the left-field side of home plate) at the Coliseum here in LA back around 1960. Right-field was a Country-Mile from home plate there and he threw one just like that from maybe a step or two in front of the warning track. Yeah, it looked positively effortless and the runner did not try to score…I think it might have been Jim Gilliam…he feinted towards home on the catch…you’ve gotta at least draw the throw, it might be off-the-mark and get past the catcher…but he had no intention of challenging Clemente.

    I wonder just how many times Clemente made that throw at various ball parks in his career? Best outfield arm I’ve ever seen.

    Oops…almost time to go home…gotta run. This job is hell sometimes…lol…

  44. 44.

    BARRASSO

    July 17, 2007 at 3:50 pm

    The 1980 US V. Russia game is the greatest moment in sports history, all this crap about baseball games just because it was your local team who finally stopped sucking is lame. Why not just say that time your local high school team finally beat those snotty punks from the rich part of town. Baseball only beats hockey as a sleep inducement. If you have never played hockey you have no frame of referance to what it is like, there is no game even close to combining all the physical skills needed to excel.

  45. 45.

    Tsulagi

    July 17, 2007 at 3:55 pm

    1.) The Red Sox sweeping the last four games of the ALCS vs. the Yankees after losing the first three. Die in a fire, Yankee fans.

    When you’re right, you’re right.

    Game 4 was awesome. Being a run down against Rivera closing the 9th, already three games down, but refusing to quit and winning it in 12. Also Game 7 because you just knew, even in late innings, Yankee fans felt they owned the series. I bet there weren’t many babies conceived that night in NYC.

  46. 46.

    incontrolados

    July 17, 2007 at 3:55 pm

    Nolan Ryan v. Robin Ventura

    link

  47. 47.

    Zifnab

    July 17, 2007 at 4:07 pm

    I bet there weren’t many babies conceived that night in NYC.

    That’s extra funny, because I imagine they all felt totally screwed.

  48. 48.

    Mr Furious

    July 17, 2007 at 4:13 pm

    Anyone who has ever sat in the upper deck in right field and watched Roberto Clemente or Willie Mays throw a man out at the plate knows what I mean.

    And they’re also old.

    ;-)

  49. 49.

    caleb

    July 17, 2007 at 4:17 pm

    How DARE you call yourself a Steeler fan, John, when you don’t even include this in your list.

    Tis blasphemy!

  50. 50.

    canuckistani

    July 17, 2007 at 4:20 pm

    And, a personal fave for best moment, was when Canada won the Gold in Olympic ice hockey after 50 years of agonizing defeats. We were visiting my bf’s parents, and watched part of the game there, and listened to the rest in the truck on the way back to Halifax. We were all way too scared to hope, but once the score was 4-2, the announcer said that Gretzy was smiling, and we knew that maybe, just maybe, we’d actually win this thing. With a minute to go, you could hear the fans start to sing our national anthem, and I’m guessing there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. When the game ended, the entire country celebrated as one. That one game did more for our national unity than any politican ever has or ever could.

    That was on my short list, but I wasn’t sure if a whole game counted as a moment. But it was *sweet*. The only thing that could have made it sweeter was if a couple of protesters had skated out and set an American flag on fire, with no redneck Cubs there to put it out.

  51. 51.

    ThymeZone

    July 17, 2007 at 4:32 pm

    I’m riding Krista here

    Okay, I think the thread has gone off the track with that one.

    Hockey better than baseball? Surely the most absurd argument ever advanced here. But carry on.

  52. 52.

    Tim F.

    July 17, 2007 at 4:40 pm

    If you have never played hockey you have no frame of referance to what it is like

    I hear that you have to play at least two seasons to really get hockey.

    As for my greatest sports moment, it had to be when I found a silver dollar behind the goal during peewee soccer. There was also the time I watched the France-England rugby world cup in an Irish bar in Barcelona, but that’s only because I have never heard the Marsellaise sung louder or worse. I don’t get too worked up about overpaid twentysomethings chasing each other around the dirt.

    However, if I had to pick a moment I witnessed it would have to be Lance Armstrong winning his seventh Tour De put-that-in-your-fucking-baguette France. Absolute, uncontestable dominance and mental sportasmanship that made the best riders in the world look like weekenders.

    I would also throw in Floyd Landis’s astonishing stage 17 win in last year’s Tour. Doping obviously cuts the lustre somewhat, but doping doesn’t explain charging basically solo up and down the most ridiculous climbs in the Alps for 120 kilometers. That was balls.

  53. 53.

    myiq2xu

    July 17, 2007 at 4:42 pm

    Joe Montana’s game-winning drive to beat Cincinnati in the 1989 Super Bowl. Cincinnati took the lead with 3:20 left in the 4th. When Joe Montana ran out on the field following the kick-off, everyone knew he was gonna win the game – including the Bungles. I hate those fucking Niners, but damn, Montana was the best.

  54. 54.

    Gus

    July 17, 2007 at 4:50 pm

    I have a vague memory (I was 9 when he died) of Clemente almost throwing over Sanguillen’s head from the warning track. He did have a gun. Yeah, baseball’s the thing. I don’t know if I gave up on football because it’s become scarily violent or because of the Vikings’ long history of Super Bowl and playoff futility. But I heard the name Rex Grossman (I think?) in a sports radio show and I had no idea who that was. Football is dead to me. Oh, and as a Twins fan, the greatest moment is Black Jack Morris’ performance in game 7, 1991.

  55. 55.

    qwerty42

    July 17, 2007 at 4:52 pm

    Sox vs Yankees was incredible. The Sox win in 4 was incredible and to win every subsequent game, including the Series, was outstanding.

    my own favorite was in fact a season (which ended in a loss) but which became increasingly tense through August and September as the Braves went from “worst to (next to) first” in 1991.

    However, while not the “greatest”, there is a scene that is unforgettable; four words: “the” “agony” “of” “defeat”

  56. 56.

    ThymeZone

    July 17, 2007 at 5:02 pm

    I hate those fucking Niners, but damn, Montana was the best.

    Niner fan here going back to Brodie to Washington.

    Niner fan when they lost 14 games two years before they won the Super Bowl.

    Montana was the greatest. And Young was also the greatest. To have a team where two QBs of that caliber play back to back, just a fan’s dream.

    Can you imagine a team where Joe Montana is your starter and Steve Young is on the bench? OMFG!

    Eat your hearts out, fans of lesser teams. That’s all I can say.

  57. 57.

    Punchy

    July 17, 2007 at 5:03 pm

    However, if I had to pick a moment I witnessed it would have to be Lance Armstrong winning his seventh Tour De put-that-in-your-fucking-baguette France.

    Since Timmay has gone all cycling, there’s actually a BETTER moment than this. It was either TDF ’89 or ’90, and it was Larent Fignon vs. Lemond. Last “real” leg; time trial. Fignon says fuck the aerodynamics bullshit–has hair flying everywhere, shit flapping in breeze, standard bike, standard handlebars. Typical arrogant Frog.

    Lemond steps up, completely encased in Lycra. Aero bars, teardrop helmet, the works. Even shoelaces replaced with velcro. Bladed spokes, disc wheel. Just PWNS Fignon.

    First time I ever cried watching a sporting event. Lemond was Teh God for years afterwards….

  58. 58.

    demimondian

    July 17, 2007 at 5:06 pm

    “the” “agony” “of” “defeat”

    Thud! Bump! Swivel! Off the edge of the jump! *SPLAT*

  59. 59.

    myiq2xu

    July 17, 2007 at 5:16 pm

    I’m a Raider fan and spent years enduring their pathetic play while those fucking forty-whiners kept winning Super Bowl after Super Bowl. But Whiner fans are worse than those white-wine sipping pansies in red and gold. None of them admit they only became fans after the Whiners started winning. I have a test for everyone who claims they were a Whiner fan before the glory days. Who was the last starting quarterback before Montana? Hint: It wasn’t John Brodie.

  60. 60.

    Halffasthero

    July 17, 2007 at 5:27 pm

    However, the idea that “hockey is better than baseball” is just an evil, and disgusting idea that must be crushed, like communism, like cannibalism, before it degrades the entire human experience….

    The rest of you? Wallow in your ignorance and mediocrity.

    As a Minnesota resident who lives hockey (college mostly), those constitute fighting words.

    Anyone who has ever sat in the upper deck in right field and watched Roberto Clemente or Willie Mays throw a man out at the plate knows what I mean.

    Tony Oliva could do that as well and it was great to watch. I will give you that one.

  61. 61.

    les

    July 17, 2007 at 5:42 pm

    You’ve definitely tapped an image, Thymezone–mine is Bo Jackson, deepest left at Royals stadium, throw-on-a-rope direct to catcher’s mitt; the runner had no idea what had happened to him. Gorgeous.

  62. 62.

    Ben

    July 17, 2007 at 5:52 pm

    VY slides around right end (Frostee Rucker) for a TD to put Texas in the lead for good & punk the “greatest football in history” USC 41-38 and win the national championship. Texas wins and VY shows the world who the REAL heisman winner was. The Eyes of Texas are upon you and that is the greatest moment in sports history.

  63. 63.

    Blue Shark

    July 17, 2007 at 5:53 pm

    …Boise State Beats Oklahoma in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl in a spectacular Overtime display of guts, tricks, and talent.

  64. 64.

    ThymeZone

    July 17, 2007 at 5:53 pm

    the runner had no idea what had happened to him. Gorgeous.

    The really great Outfield Assist is just one of the great things in all of sports. It’s a lost art to some extent, but when you see a great one, you never forget it.

    It’s pure kid stuff but on a grownup scale, the catch, and the throw. And it’s one guy, out there by himself in the middle of a field of grass, doing the thing. It’s poetry in motion.

    In baseball, “The Catch” is Mays’ catch and throw against … Cleveland.

    Wow. To have been there that day!

  65. 65.

    DougJ

    July 17, 2007 at 5:59 pm

    Or if you like college how about the Stanford marching band running on to the field while Cal ran for a TD.

    By far the greatest moment in sports history. By far.

    And I’m a huge Red Sox fan.

  66. 66.

    HyperIon

    July 17, 2007 at 6:06 pm

    regarding baseball and roberto clemente:

    a great right fielder is a thing of beauty when he makes that long throw to home or the perhaps longer one to 3rd. here in seattle we have been lucky to have an outstanding right fielder since 2001. of course ichiro is in center now and he will never hit with the power of clemente. but it was an extreme pleasure to see him for six years in right, always positioned properly and with a quick jump on the ball. i can recall only one time that i have seen him miss the cutoff man. he’s a throwback, a guy that knows the fundamentals.

    i used to have an old clemente baseball card. remember those funny pirate uniforms? but my real hero was bob gibson from the same era. what individual has been so overpowering as to trigger a substantive modification of a sport? lowering the mound 5 inches after 1969 dramatically altered the game and NOT in a good way IMO. and to come full circle, from wiki:

    His 1967 World Series performance was also notable. Gibson allowed only three earned runs over three complete game victories (Games 1, 4, and 7), also hitting a vital home run in Game 7. Moreover, he had come back late in that season from having his leg broken earlier in the season from a line drive by Roberto Clemente.

    TA, your remarks about football (too much like “Destruction Derby”) are dead on.

  67. 67.

    Pauline May

    July 17, 2007 at 6:20 pm

    I haven’t seen golf mentioned here, but here’s my two cents:
    ——————————————————–

    09-27-1999
    GOLF: US makes greatest comeback in Ryder history to win Cup

    by Jim Slater

    BROOKLINE, Massachusetts, Sept 26 AFP – Justin Leonard sank a 45-foot birdie putt on the
    17th hole here today to seal a United States Ryder Cup triumph and complete the greatest
    comeback in Cup history.

  68. 68.

    ThymeZone

    July 17, 2007 at 6:53 pm

    but my real hero was bob gibson from the same era. what individual has been so overpowering as to trigger a substantive modification of a sport? lowering the mound 5 inches

    Yes, there have been a few pitchers of that caliber in our day. Gibson was one of them. Marichal. Koufax. I got to see them all. Gibson was phenomenal. Nolan Ryan. Wow.

  69. 69.

    Northman

    July 17, 2007 at 7:03 pm

    And, a personal fave for best moment, was when Canada won the Gold in Olympic ice hockey after 50 years of agonizing defeats. We were visiting my bf’s parents, and watched part of the game there, and listened to the rest in the truck on the way back to Halifax. We were all way too scared to hope, but once the score was 4-2, the announcer said that Gretzy was smiling, and we knew that maybe, just maybe, we’d actually win this thing. With a minute to go, you could hear the fans start to sing our national anthem, and I’m guessing there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. When the game ended, the entire country celebrated as one. That one game did more for our national unity than any politican ever has or ever could.

    One of my personal favourites as well, though given who it was we beat in that game, I doubt you’ll find a lot of takers here.

    I don’t see any other boxing fans here, but the best sporting moment I’ve actually watched while it was happening, was the first Arturo Gatti-Mickey Ward fight. It was a throwaway match between two journeymen who were probably making just a few thousand bucks, but it was such a wild fight with massive shifts in momentum that they both got paid millions to try and recreate it twice.

  70. 70.

    Mr. Furious

    July 17, 2007 at 7:12 pm

    Pedro was right there with them for a time.

    Gibson is the poster boy for that mound change, but pitching v. hitting was out of whack as a whole.

  71. 71.

    ThymeZone

    July 17, 2007 at 7:14 pm

    I have a test for everyone who claims they were a Whiner fan before the glory days. Who was the last starting quarterback before Montana? Hint: It wasn’t John Brodie.

    Well, everybody remembers Plunkett, and then there was Steve DeBerg, IIRC. Not that anyone cares.

    Whiner? Look at your post. You’re the fucking whiner. You’re just sorry that you were on the wrong side of the bay during the years when the Niners were the dominant force in football. In a previous time, the Raiders were not exactly mincemeat. Madden’s team was legendary.

    In addition, Madden’s overall winning percentage (including playoff games) ranked second behind only legendary Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi. Both Madden and Lombardi won the Super Bowl and neither had a losing season as a head coach. Madden has a winning record (36-6-2) as a head coach against other NFL head coaches in the Hall of Fame that he coached against and coached the Raiders to a 11-1-1 Monday Night Football record.

    And were it not for the Immaculate Deception, the scam of the football century, he’d have had another Super Bowl ring.

    Instead of whining about the superior franchise over the bay, you could have sung the praises of a good Raider team.

  72. 72.

    Mr. Furious

    July 17, 2007 at 7:15 pm

    Caleb,

    I thought your link was going to be the Immaculate Reception. An equally egregious oversight by a Steelers fan. I guess John gets off due to age…

  73. 73.

    Joshua

    July 17, 2007 at 7:18 pm

    I vote for #1.

    Look, I do live in Boston, but I’m really not a sports guy. I don’t care about sports. Usually, my only contact with the Red Sox is when their fans screw up my commute.

    But the Fall of 2004 was still one of the most amazing experiences I’ve ever had. I remember pulling some overnighters for my engineering project, and me and my team members would always keep a web browser open to check the progress of the game. I think we spent more time refreshing the scores than working, and not one of us gave baseball half a thought the rest of the year.

    The 2004 championships were a very special thing indeed.

    Plus, I hate the Yankees, so that helped.

  74. 74.

    Beej

    July 17, 2007 at 7:54 pm

    I’ve forgotten the year, but picture it:

    13 below zero in Green Bay, the last year before there was a Superbowl. The NFL Championship Game-Green Bay Packers vs. Dallas Cowboys (boo! hiss!) It’s so cold the players’ breath turns to ice and falls to the ground.
    Fourth quarter
    score is 13-10 in favor of Dallas
    Green Bay is on the 1 yard line
    It’s 4th down
    10 seconds left on the game clock. Since this is a championship game, there is overtime. All Green Bay has to do is kick a field goal and it goes to overtime.
    Vince Lombardi and Bart Starr do not kick a field goal.
    Quarterback sneak, and Starr scores.
    Green Bay wins.
    Best. Football Game. Ever.

  75. 75.

    Keith

    July 17, 2007 at 8:29 pm

    My favorite sport is boxing, and seeing as how I was pbp’ing it in a chatroom while it happened, the 10th round of Castillo-Corrales I was the greatest sports moment for me (it means more when it happens in “my” time). When a disfigured Corrales went down the 2nd time, I was typing “Corrales is DONE” and literally seconds later, I’m typing “HOLY SHIT HOLY SHIT HOLY SHIT CORRALES TKOs CASTILLO!!!!!”
    The “inches short” ending of Superbowl XXXIV was pretty incredible even though it would have been truly legendary if the ball had crossed the goal line.

  76. 76.

    Rome Again

    July 17, 2007 at 8:34 pm

    OT (sorry, I don’t spend a lot of time on sports) but… can we have a thread to discuss what’s going on in the speeches since the Senate is in long (perhaps all night) session tonight? Pretty please?

  77. 77.

    Adam

    July 17, 2007 at 8:39 pm

    VY slides around right end (Frostee Rucker) for a TD to put Texas in the lead for good & punk the “greatest football in history” USC 41-38 and win the national championship.

    Agreed, except that it put us up 39-38. Regardless, we’re obviously Texas homers.

    It was awesome, though.

  78. 78.

    Keith

    July 17, 2007 at 8:46 pm

    Oh, yeah, in the spirit of Mike Curtis, an over-40 Nolan Ryan pummeling Robin Ventura is probably my favorite baseball moment.

  79. 79.

    Adam

    July 17, 2007 at 9:07 pm

    really…. vince young is the greatest sports moment of all time:
    http://youtube.com/watch?v=Xk7EDQ_UBjw

  80. 80.

    DougJ

    July 17, 2007 at 9:08 pm

    then there was Steve DeBerg

    I wander into a thread about great sports moments and someone is talking about Steve DeBerg? What the hell happened?

  81. 81.

    Rome Again

    July 17, 2007 at 9:19 pm

    Lieberman’s talking about partisanship and you guys are talking about sports. I’m sorry, I just don’t get it.

  82. 82.

    Adam

    July 17, 2007 at 9:24 pm

    … and since I didn’t get to post any Vince Young NFL highlights, here they are, with the requisite mocking of Merrill Hoge:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4RAq0eZUcA

    Personal favorite moment: Vince — while being tackled — throwing a bullet pass backward over his head for a TD… I think that’s the best way to describe it. If you watch the video, you’ll know the clip I’m talking about.

    OK, I’ll stop now. But hey, it’s an open thread, right? :)

  83. 83.

    Alan de Bristol

    July 17, 2007 at 9:33 pm

    I must say I felt deeply grateful to see The Red Sox beat the Yankees in 2004. An education in baseball. Most of what everyone else is talking about I don’t know much about.

    Outside of Planet USA

    Carlos Alberto’s Wonder Goal

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZkR5Wb2KQs

    Or maybe this Baa-Baas try?

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwCbG4I0QyA

  84. 84.

    Adam

    July 17, 2007 at 10:10 pm

    Lieberman’s talking about partisanship and you guys are talking about sports. I’m sorry, I just don’t get it.

    Wait, is this not Jim Rome from Rome Again?

  85. 85.

    Rome Again

    July 17, 2007 at 10:14 pm

    Wait, is this not Jim Rome from Rome Again?

    Ummm, Adam, you haven’t been paying attention. I’m female, and I am not named Jim.

    I’ve been Rome Again for years. I’ve been here for two and a half years. You never knew, huh?

  86. 86.

    demimondian

    July 17, 2007 at 10:21 pm

    can we have a thread to discuss what’s going on in the speeches since the Senate is in long (perhaps all night) session tonight

    Let me get this straight, RA — a bunch of gasbags are bloviating about a filibuster that won’t actually happen, because of a veto that would happen…or something like that…and we need to talk MORE about that?

  87. 87.

    Rome Again

    July 17, 2007 at 10:30 pm

    Let me get this straight, RA —a bunch of gasbags are bloviating about a filibuster that won’t actually happen, because of a veto that would happen…or something like that…and we need to talk MORE about that?

    There’s some great moments, and some sadly hysterical ones too. I think the opportunity should be presented, yes. if you don’t want to attend, I would perfectly understand.

  88. 88.

    Adam

    July 17, 2007 at 10:42 pm

    Ummm, Adam, you haven’t been paying attention. I’m female, and I am not named Jim.

    I’ve been Rome Again for years. I’ve been here for two and a half years. You never knew, huh?

    It was a joke… But since you asked, no, I didn’t actually think you were a TV sports commentator…

  89. 89.

    Adam

    July 17, 2007 at 11:01 pm

    –Although before anybody points it out, I will concede that it was a horrible joke, but hey — it’s a sports thread. As you were the process of pointing out, Rome Again, we’re not exactly at a Senatorial level of discourse here. (Pun intended… I’m on a roll!)

    However, I do want to apologize for comparing you to a nitwit sports commentator for a cheap laugh. I’ve lurked here for a long while (and only occasionally commented, for obvious reasons), and I do get the subtext of your name (I think), so my ham-handed attempt to lighten the mood at your expense may have been misplaced.

    To make up for it, a joke that’s in the proper context of your nom de plume:

    OK, so a Visigoth and an Ostragoth walk into a bar, right?

    THEN THEY BURN THAT SUCKER DOWN

    …note that I didn’t guarantee the quality of that one, either. …I don’t claim to be funny, but I am topical! :)

  90. 90.

    Adam

    July 17, 2007 at 11:06 pm

    …But here’s a serious question, if you want to field it (sports pun!) (god I’m embarrassing myself):

    Why is it that, regardless of whether the Democrats are trying to stop a vote (judicial nominees) or force a vote (Iraq), it’s still called a “Democratic filibuster”? Can the Dem spin control possibly be that bad? (OK, I know the answer to that question — YES, it is that bad — but really, any theories on why this hasn’t been explained in every single talking point as “forcing a Republican filibuster”? Did someone forget to send a memo? How hard is that?)

  91. 91.

    Andrew

    July 17, 2007 at 11:19 pm

    I’m all for introducing cage fighting to the floor of the Senate.

  92. 92.

    Andrew

    July 17, 2007 at 11:35 pm

    Also, did anyone else notice that Sen. Vitter looks like a 7/10ths scale model of a person standing next to his wife?

    Also, she was dressed like a prostitute.

  93. 93.

    Andrew

    July 17, 2007 at 11:41 pm

    Also, did anyone else notice that Sen. Vitter looks like a 7/10ths scale model of a person standing next to his wife?

    And she was dressed like a prostitute.

  94. 94.

    Andrew

    July 17, 2007 at 11:55 pm

    Dang nabbit double posting slow ass web site.

  95. 95.

    Cain

    July 18, 2007 at 2:53 am

    Personally, there must be some conspiracy with the media and republicans. I just don’t understand how CNN can spin it into a Democratic filibuster when the whole idea was to stop Republicans from filibustering. Sheesh.

    I mean it sounds insane that media and the republican party are in cahoots but I’m forced to concede that it is possible if the deck is this stacked against them.

    By the way, The Nation has an excellent article about the crazy stuff going on in Iraq by soldiers. It can only be described as Mad Max. One time, apparently a couple got shot and they’ve been left in their cars for days as the U.S. military would go past them every day and nobody did anything. There are other stories (I heard on NPR regarding the same article on The Nation) about guardsmen running over people without stopping because of the threat to their lives. It’s no wonder this war is where it is at.

    The Nation Article

    It’ sad that soldiers resort to this. I don’t personally blame them, but I do place the blame on Rumsfield for creating the atmosphere for this.

  96. 96.

    Jimmmmm

    July 18, 2007 at 7:14 am

    Secretariat was a FUCKING HORSE. Sorry, John, not an athletic accomplishment.

    Greg LeMond’s :08 win over Laurent Fignon in the ’89 Tour de France–greatest moment in sport. Comes into the last stage–a time trial–down :52. Puts in a superhuman effort (without drugs). Beats the Parisian rider on his home turf, capping an incredible comeback from injuries that nearly claimed his life.

    Everything else is in a race for second.

  97. 97.

    Grumpy Code Monkey

    July 18, 2007 at 7:33 am

    Ali. Foreman. The Rumble In The Jungle.

    That is all.

  98. 98.

    aliceandbob

    July 18, 2007 at 7:38 am

    One of my personal favourites as well, though given who it was we beat in that game, I doubt you’ll find a lot of takers here.

    Dude, I’m an American hockey fan and that game was frickin awesome. And frankly, given the nationality of most of the hockey players on US teams, anyone who get all hyper-patriotic about that sport is just fooling themselves.

  99. 99.

    Zifnab

    July 18, 2007 at 8:09 am

    Ok, completely OT, but I just thought I’d relay this out if you haven’t already seen it.

    During the July 17 edition of ABC’s Good Morning America, co-anchor Diane Sawyer falsely claimed that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) “vows to filibuster, talking all night to close out all topics besides a vote on Iraqi troop withdrawals.” Sawyer was referring to Reid’s plan to hold an all-night Senate debate prior to the July 18 cloture vote on a Democratic proposal to withdraw troops from Iraq. However, by planning to extend the Senate session throughout the night, Reid is not “vow[ing] to filibuster,” as Sawyer reported. Rather, he is highlighting the Republicans’ blocking of an up-or-down vote on the proposal; in other words, it is the Republicans who are filibustering the withdrawal proposal by requiring that 60 senators vote for the amendment in order for it to pass.

    Additionally, on the July 16 edition of Fox News’ Special Report with Brit Hume, Weekly Standard executive editor Fred Barnes asserted that Reid is “filibustering his own bill.”

    ~link

    Dear Media,

    Fuck You Very Much

    Sincerely,
    America

  100. 100.

    uh_clem

    July 18, 2007 at 9:17 am

    Woody Hayes ending his career in a blaze of glory by punching out Clemson middle guard Charlie Bauman after he intercepted a pass along the Buckeye sideline in the closing seconds of the 1978 Gator Bowl.

    There are few things more amusing than a middle aged man having a temper tantrum on national television. (Unless, of course, it’s the president doing it, in which case it’s not so funny.)

  101. 101.

    Third Eye Open

    July 18, 2007 at 9:37 am

    I still assert that the Roy vs. Osgood fight at center ice was the greatest single moment in sports history, closely followed by Nolan Ryan beating the snot out of Ventura, and possibly Ryan’s homerun with the Astros.

    Greatest.Fucking.Pitcher.EVER!

  102. 102.

    Mr Furious

    July 18, 2007 at 10:17 am

    Just went and watched the Roy/Osgood fight at Youtube. You guys have got to be fucking kidding me… Completely underwhelming. I think NHL hockey is a goddamn joke, and the fights are the biggest reason why, and that wasn’t even a good hockey fight.

    Ryan v. Ventura is much better. And Mo Vaughn levllling George Bell [video] works for me too.

    Those are more entertaining fights, but to list any of them as Greatest Moments in Sports is an insult to what sports are supposed to be.

    The fact that extracurricular bullshit is hockey’s great appeal is exactly why that sport is where it is. Not on tv. And barely above pro wrestling.

  103. 103.

    Mr Furious

    July 18, 2007 at 10:18 am

    ESPN’s Top Ten Baseball Fights from a few years ago.

  104. 104.

    Rome Again

    July 18, 2007 at 10:42 am

    Why is it that, regardless of whether the Democrats are trying to stop a vote (judicial nominees) or force a vote (Iraq), it’s still called a “Democratic filibuster”?

    Because Republicans influence the message and they think they can get away with it.

  105. 105.

    Cain

    July 18, 2007 at 11:40 am

    Because Republicans influence the message and they think they can get away with it.

    They think? They are getting away with it. Apparently, we aren’t hurting the media where they need to be hurt. Their bottom line.

    cain

  106. 106.

    ThymeZone

    July 18, 2007 at 11:52 am

    Greatest.Fucking.Pitcher.EVER!

    Certainly a candidate, but I don’t think he’d get the cup. Way too many walks. WL% way too low.

    But the man was awesome, no doubt about it.

    If you want a reference on walks, look at the Ryan stats versus Juan Marichal. Best pitcher ever? Clearly Marichal over Ryan just on those two metrics alone. I mean, Marichal could deliver a dozen different pitches from anywhere on the rubber and for strikes, from three different deliveries, and do it all day. Nobody, and I mean nobody, has ever done it better. Or with more poetry, and class. I don’t think there was any kind of known pitch that Marichal could not deliver on any given count, for a strike, at any time in a game, from out of nowhere. Absolutely a fucking magician.

    Ryan WL% 529 Marichal 631

    Walks: Ryan 2795 in 5386 innings, Marichal 709 in 3507 innings

    Sorry, Ryan is not the greatest ever. His strikeouts and his no hitters are legend, but he is not the complete package.

  107. 107.

    Tax Analyst

    July 18, 2007 at 1:06 pm

    Greatest.Fucking.Pitcher.EVER!

    Hmmm…Tough call. I’m kind of partial to the 60’s era pitcher’s, but I do recognize they had a higher hill and bigger strike zone (I think the mound-lowering occurred just prior to the 1969 season, but I might be slightly off there). Still, I’d go with…either Koufax (except for lacking longevity) or Bob Gibson. Marichal was very, very good, and I’ve even gotten over him pounding Johnny Roseboro over the head with his bat, although Roseboro would have had every right to break Juan’s freaking neck after that. Randy Johnson, in his primo years…after he got his control in order was awfully fucking tough, even though I always kind of disliked him. But whoever one wants to choose I think it ought to be someone who could complete a game, regardless of era. It blows my mind that in “modern” baseball they’ll pull a pitcher throwing a shutout after 7 innnings because he’s thrown “over 100 pitches”…even though I understand their underlying thought process. I’m trying to think of a manager taking the ball out of Don Drysdale’s hand in that situation and I’m seeing beeg trouble…

  108. 108.

    HyperIon

    July 18, 2007 at 2:10 pm

    from wiki:

    Marichal finished his career with 243 victories, 142 losses, 244 complete games, 2,303 strikeouts and a 2.89 ERA over 3,507 innings pitched.

    Gibson finished his career with 251 victories, 174 losses, 255 complete games, 3,117 strikeouts and a 2.91 ERA over 3,884 innings pitched.

    i had not realized the stats were so close.
    AND i just got my first ever WordPress error.

  109. 109.

    Third Eye Open

    July 18, 2007 at 2:25 pm

    TZ and TA,

    I will be more than happy to defer to TZ’s assertion that Marichal–based on the metrics presented–was the superior pitcher. But if I may stray into the realm of “intangibles”; Nolan Ryan pitched (and, I would argue produced) for 27 years as compared to the extremely notable 15 years of Marichal. In an era of pitchers going complete games you have to recognize the conditioning and in some respects, luck involved with going that sorta distance.

    Secondly, while his 7 no-no’s are amazing, his 11 1-hitters and the 18 2-hitters are an amazing number, even without the Cy under his belt.

    I must admit that my opinion is tainted by him being my own personal sports hero, so take that for what it’s worth.

  110. 110.

    ThymeZone

    July 18, 2007 at 3:24 pm

    I will be more than happy to defer to TZ’s assertion that Marichal—based on the metrics presented—was the superior pitcher

    Well, they are both dominating and fascinating players.

    I wasn’t touting Marichal as BestPitcherEver, though, as much as just using him as a convenient, and compelling, example of why Ryan is NOT BestPitcherEver. But that doesn’t mean that both of them are not true Hall of Famers and truly amazing in their own right.

    To me, the no-nos and the 1-hitters are amazing, and the fact that he was still doing it after 40 was even more amazing. For durability, he was beyond amazing, he was almost other-worldly.

    BTW, the bat and Roseboro? Fuck Roseboro, and the Dodgers. Marichal was probably the nicest guy and classiest guy that ever played the game, modest and unassuming despite his superhuman talents. My only regret is that he didn’t hit Roseboro harder.

    In the world of Giants and Dodgers, these things take on a new meaning. I lived 20 minutes from Candlestick so you can sort of figure out where I came down on those issues.

  111. 111.

    Psycheout

    July 18, 2007 at 3:37 pm

    Upcoming great moment in sports:

    On Thursday, Brownback will announce his Iowa Catholic Leadership Team, host a youth outreach ice cream social in Des Moines, attend a house party in Urbandale, and throw out the first pitch at the Iowa Cubs game in Des Moines.

  112. 112.

    croatoan

    July 18, 2007 at 7:12 pm

    Game 1 of the 1988 World Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers against the heavily-favored Oakland A’s. The A’s lead 4-2 with two outs and a man on the bottom of the ninth, with Dennis Eckersley, the best closer in the game at the time, pitching.

    Tommy Lasorda sends in Kirk Gibson as a pinch-hitter. Gibson had badly injured his leg during the League Championship and wasn’t expected to play in the World Series at all. Gibson falls behind 0-2, then Eckersley misses a couple of pitches to make the count 3-2. Gibson hits a two-run homer pretty much one-handed to win the game and change the tone of the Series (the Dodgers won the Series 4-1). It was Gibson’s only at-bat of the Series.

    This has it all. World Series game. Bottom of the ninth. Underdogs losing. Two outs. Two strikes. Two men on. The best closer in the game. Gibson would’ve been thrown out easily if he’d hit it anywhere except out of the park. Absolutely one of the best moments in the history of baseball.

  113. 113.

    g-rant

    July 18, 2007 at 11:56 pm

    There is no game like baseball. It is, as far as I know, still the only game in the world in which the team with the ball is playing defense.

    Cricket. There’s “The Catch” in baseball and “The Ball” in cricket, i.e. this.

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