For Highlights, Remembrances and Discussion of American Pop Culture
January 4, 2022
Most Memorable Sports Moments of the 2000s
This started out as just fun reminiscing between me and my son, but it quickly evolved into a half hour long exercise. It's important to know that in the course of compiling this list, neither of us searched YouTube, checked any Reddit threads, or Googled things like “Greatest sports moments”. It wasn’t intentional; it's just that neither of us thought to do it. And that's a good thing because in retrospect, if you have to use the internet to find more moments, then by definition those moments weren’t actually all that memorable... Makes sense, right?... Oh, and if you're wondering why the list only includes football and basketball... well I guess it's just more proof that those are in fact the two greatest sports God ever invented : )
Kawhi's buzzer beater - 2019
Like something out of the cheesiest sports movie ever, the 2019 NBA Eastern Conference semifinals ended at the horn with the ball bouncing around the rim (seemingly in slow motion) while everyone in the arena and watching at home held their breath.
Boise State's trick plays stun Oklahoma - 2007
Trailing powerhouse Oklahoma by seven with :18 left and faced with a 4th and 18, heavy underdog Boise State used a backyard football favorite -- the hook and lateral -- to score and take the the game to overtime. Moments later, the Broncos gambled big again and called on another gadget play (the "Statue of Liberty") to complete a 2-pt conversion and end the game. The cherry on the sundae was watching running back Ian Johnson (after scoring) race over to celebrate with the Boise State fans and then propose to his cheerleader girlfriend.
Ray Allen's clutch three - 2013
In Game 6 of the 2013 NBA Finals, the San Antonio Spurs were on the precipice of sending the Miami Heat superteam home, when unsung hero Chris Bosh rebounded a LeBron miss and got the ball to the corner for this series saving three-pointer by the always unflappable Ray Allen.
Lebron's chase down - 2016
Speaking of King James, this was perhaps the greatest play of his career, executed at the biggest moment because this layup by Golden State's Andre Iguodala would have likely clinched them the championship.
"The Bush Push" - 2005
Another epic match-up between Notre Dame and USC ended with the defending national champion Trojans (who came into the game on a 27 game winning streak) trailing but sitting at the ND goal line with fifteen seconds left. In a crazy sequence, quarterback Matt Leinart tried an end run but was crushed by the Irish defense and driven out of bounds as the ball was knocked loose. The clock continued to run down to 00:00 but the refs (correctly) put time back on for one more play. Leinart then tried a QB sneak and was initially stuffed, only to have teammate Reggie Bush plow him into the end zone for the win. After this game, the NCAA outlawed this type of runner assistance, but then later reversed that rule so these "push the pile" plays are actually legal once again.
Chiefs vs. Rams on Monday night - 2018
Two 9-1 teams, both with super-charged offenses, collided on Monday Night Football and slugged it out touchdown-for-touchdown for sixty minutes. Highlights included four lead changes in the fourth quarter, 50+ points scored by each team, and the highest cumulative score in the history of MNF.
The "Beast Mode" run - 2010
This one might have made the list even if it wasn't a playoff game. Never has there been a more fitting nickname for a professional sports highlight.
Syracuse vs. UConn, 6 overtimes - 2009
Over the years, the Big East Tournament has been a showcase for tons of great players -- Pearl Washington, Patrick Ewing, Carmelo Anthony and Kemba Walker, just to name a few. But what this game lacked in star power, it more than made up for in edge-of-your-seat excitement. Remarkably, this was only a quarterfinal game and the winning team (Syracuse) had to play again the very next night.
Odell's impossible grab - 2014
With all eyes watching in a Sunday night game against "America's team" the Dallas Cowboys, Odell Beckham Jr.'s jaw-dropping catch was a cultural shift that naturally broke the internet.
Chris Davis' "Kick Six" - 2013
A great call by the Auburn announcers ("There goes Davis!... Auburn's gonna win the football game!") only added another layer of memorability to this frenzy of a finish in the 2013 Iron Bowl.
The helmet catch - 2008
There's no bigger stage than one minute to go and trailing in the 4th quarter of the Super Bowl. David Tyree's name would be forgotten today except for this amazingly clutch catch in what was at the time, the most-watched Super Bowl ever.
No comments:
Post a Comment