My Top Ten Sports Memories

by Blitzburgh on Jun 13, 2008 2:08 PM EDT

Ok Steelers fans, it's still the long offseason and I've not been able to post anything in the last couple of days. So, time for me to present the top ten games/events I in my sports viewing life.

A couple of disclaimers:

1) This list will again prove that, as a fairly young guy, I wasn't privvy to many of the most memorable Steelers moments of year's past.

2) The lack of video footage for MLB and the NFL proves how archaic those two leagues are in terms of digital media. Sure it's copyrighted material, but somebody remind me why EXTRA exposure on the intertubes is a bad thing??

3) I was not able to attend most all of these events.

4) I'm sure I'm missing something, but what the hey, nothing's perfect the first time around.

5) The list is in no particular order.

Let's get to it, and as always, feel free to share some of your own in the comments section.

1) Sampras vs. Agassi - 2000 Australian Open Semifinal

Growing up traveling around my hometown state playing tennis for state and national rankings, I tuned in to my fair share of tennis matches. There are a number of Agassi-Sampras duels to choose from, but I went with this hard-fought match between the two American icons. Whether or not you like tennis, it's a fairly accessible spectator sport, and the drama attached to this rivalry always made for exciting stuff.

2) Boise State vs. Okalahoma - 2007 Fiesta Bowl

Sheesh, if you didn't jump up and down with glee, or even have a tear or two in your eye during the conclusion of this one, then you either hate sports, have no pulse, or some combination of the two. Most people remember the ending, but the entire game was actually very entertaining, with only a few lulls in the middle of the game. The dramatic comeback and conlcusion, beginning with a successful hook-and-ladder play on 4th and 18, just might have been the most incredible half hour or so of sports. Ever. On a personal note, the win was against Oklahoma, one of my least favorite schools and athletic programs, due to my affiliations with the University of Texas. If you haven't seen this game, you need to find a way to watch it. Somehow.

3) 1995 British Open - John Daly vs. Constantino Rocca

This one makes my list for a number of reasons. Though the video below doesn't do this final round duel between Rocca and Daly justice, I remember it being an exciting round of golf. There was Long John, bombing it all over the famed Old Course at St. Andrew's, vying for his second major championship. And then there was the European Constantino Rocca, whose clutch putt from off the green on 18, sent the tourney to a playoff. My grandfather, who passed a few years ago, was a scratch golfer and lover of the game, so when I went to visit him each summer, we'd watch plenty of golf. The smell of his apartment and the softness of the carpet that I was sprawled out on watching this memorable tournament still remains fresh in my memory to this day.

4) Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Indianapolis Colts - 2005 AFC Championship game

No need for me to rehash this one. maryrose has done so perfectly just a shortwhile ago.

5) Texas vs. USC - 2006 National Championship Game at Rose Bowl

Besides having been raised in Austin by two parents who were at UT for over three decades, I choose this game because it has to be up there as one of the greatest college football games ever played, and certainly one of the best title games ever played. In any sport. People bag on Vince Young and his accuracy, calling him a one-trick-pony, but he led the NCAA in passing efficiency that year, and his skills, both on the ground, and through the air, were on full display that day. To boot, the game was on my birthday.

6) Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Seattle Seahawks - 2005 Super Bowl

Though the game was somewhat ugly and probably not all that memorable for football fans outside of the 'Hawks and Steelers fanbases, this makes my list for obvious reasons. The first Lombardi Trophy won by my favorite sports team in my lifetime. Hopefully there will be many more.

7) New York Giants vs. New England Patriots - 2007 Super Bowl

I wanted the Giants to win this one, but I was fairly disinterested when I had a slew of people over for crawfish and football on Super Bowl Sunday this year. In case you forgot, the game just flew by, at least early on. The first quarter was over before I knew it, and by halftime, it looked evident that we had ourselves a game. The fourth quarter of course, was tremendous, punctuated by David Tyree's helmet catch. Super Bowls simply do not live up to the hype most of the time. This time it did, in spades.

8) Duke Blue Devils vs. Kentucky Wildcats - 1992 Regional Finals

This one will haunt me for years to come, much like the Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Atlanta Braves NLCS finals from back then when Sid Breem plated the winning run to advance to the World Series. My father, a hoops junkie and former collegiate player, was raised in Kentucky, and his side of the family still lives there. Of course, the ending of this game is famous, but many forget that this was an epic game from start-to-finish, with incredible plays by both teams in regulation, and in both overtimes. Simply epic stuff.

9) Penn Quakers vs. Princeton Tigers - 2005

Here's an addition to my list that's guaranteed to not be found on anyone else's Top 10. Couple of things about this game. One, it was at The Palestra , the very best place to watch college basketball in the country. Sorry Cameron Crazies. You ain't got the history that Penn's building does. Anyway, as you'll see in the video, Penn was down big. 14 with 6+ minutes, and actually more like 20 with roughly 12 minutes to go. That may not be a huge deficit in the pros, but in the Ivy League, particularly against Princeton, who boringly runs down the shot clock each possession, it's a huge margin to overcome. That building is absolutely electric when it's full (which is nearly all of the time). The acoustics are unreal, and it almost shakes when things are at a fevered pitch. Of course, the rivalry is one of the better ones in college basketball, even if it's just rinky dink Ivy League athletics. I'm somewhere in this video going balistic.

10) Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens - 75th Anniversary Night at Heinz Field, 2008

Though this game did not have the implications of many on my list, I sure did get tremendous pleasure watching the Steelers absolutely annihilate the Ravens on Monday Night Football on the evening that the greatest Steelers legends past and present were honored. Between Big Ben's perfect game, Santonio and Nate's monster evenings, Hines leveling of Bart Scott, Silverback's decking of Ed Reed, and Mel Blount calling the Ravens pathetic on national tv, there was just too much not to love about this game. Plus, we never own Baltimore like that. Just an awesome evening.

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Can't resist this

I don’t know that I can put these in order but here goes:

First, here are my disclaimers: I don’t really follow any sports outside of football and baseball so none of these will be from any other sports. I follow football and baseball so closely that I actually enjoy the break between the Super Bowl and the start of baseball.

Super Bowl XL – Ugly game or not, this was the first time (much like Blitz) I’d ever seen my team win the championship. I’ll never forget it and I still re-watch the game to kick off every regular season.

Steelers vs. Indy – Has to be up there because I’ll never forget it.

USC vs. UT – Blitz explained it, awesome game to watch. I was going for USC but as soon as they didn’t convert and VY was getting the ball back, I knew it was over.

Boston vs. NY ALCS – I can’t remember the year off the top of my head but it was the year they came back from 0-3. I’ve never been a Sox fan but I love an underdog story. I literally planned my week around those games and Big Pappi is still one of favorite players because of that series.

Rangers swept by the Yankees in 1996 – The Texas Rangers are my baseball team and even though they got swept in the first round of the playoffs, my favorite player, Juan Gonzalez, crushed the ball. First off as a Rangers fan you have to cherish any measure of success and I understood this even though I was just a freshman in high school. It was the first time the Rangers had been in the playoffs since I was “sports conscious” and I was in heaven. The Rangers got swept but ‘Juan Gone’ crushed 5 home runs in 4 games and hit over .400 and had 9 RBIs.

Steelers vs. Cowboys – Let me set the stage here, Ben’s rookie season and the team is on a 3 game winning streak. I’m headed to the first game where I can watch my beloved Steelers live and in person. Ben ends up completing 21 of 25 and 2 TDs, Farrior has his best game as a Steeler and The Bus runs in a late TD to complete a comeback 24-20 win over my life-long nemesis the F*ing Cowboys.

Cardinals over Cowboys 1998 – This game was memorable for a couple of reasons. First the Cowboys lost to their perennial whipping boy, the Cardinals in the playoffs. The Cardinals dominated that day and the score was so out of hand in the fourth quarter that a young cgolden ‘got busy’ for the first time . The Cardinals would win 20-7 after a late Cowboys score and quite possibly during cgolden’s first score.

That’s not ten but it’s all I have off the top of my head. If/When some more come to me, I’ll throw them up.

Revenge of the Birds

by cgolden on Jun 13, 2008 2:53 PM EDT 0 recs

baseball

I should have included Reds World Series win over the Athletics in 1991, but none of the games were that memorable, and despite being underdogs to the vaunted A’s, the REds swept. I watched with my father, a life time Reds fan, and loved every minute of it.

by Blitzburgh on Jun 13, 2008 3:00 PM EDT 0 recs

billy bates come on man!!!!

i was at that game so its right up there for me

by schnifin on Jun 14, 2008 7:30 PM EDT up 0 recs

My 2 cents

-CG, loved the Sox/Yankees series. I actually liked the Red Sox for a year or so after that. We definitely planned our week around watching those games, too.

-I’ve mentioned this before, but Ben’s pass to Plax against the Pats his rookie season was a glorious “wait a minute, they’re for real” moment.

-Being a young bandwagon 49ers fan at the time, the John Candy drive in 1989 was pretty sweet, too.

-Definitely not my favorite memory, but watching the 2 NLCS’s between the Pirates and Braves were probably the most distinct sports memories for me. I can’t say I was happy with the outcomes, but I don’t think I’ve seen a better series since (I haven’t watched as many, in all fairness). I still like pitching and a good sacrifice bunt (Jay Bell rocks!!) more than 7 HR’s a game. Sidenote: don’t look now, but the Pirates have a chance to make it to .500 tonight. I don’t think they’ve been near .500 this late in the season for a long long time. Their pitching is still terrible, but they have a pretty solid lineup right now.

by BadMaafala on Jun 13, 2008 3:49 PM EDT 0 recs

Oh it hurts...

To see a super fan of my second favorite team (Stillers) hate my first favorite team (Sooners). All I can say in this situation is… scoreboard.

by WoodrowWilson on Jun 13, 2008 3:51 PM EDT 0 recs

Daly...

Glad to see you include the Daly/Rocca battle in this. I think we are about the same age, and it was that tournament that cemented me as a golf fan! I don’t remember ever seeing a golf tournament of that magnitude decided in that fashion since. That 100 ft putt by Rocca to force the playoff is possibly the greatest single golf shot in history.
If I were to add a moment, it would be Michael Jordan playing with the flu in game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals. That was one of the greatest individual performances in sports history.

by manosteel9423 on Jun 13, 2008 4:07 PM EDT 0 recs

MJ

That moment was certainly on my short list. That, and Reggie Miller vs. the Bulls in 98 and against NY also were considered.

by Blitzburgh on Jun 13, 2008 4:12 PM EDT up 0 recs

Most memorable games watched

Here’s mine:

1. SB XIV – I was only 6 years old, so the personal memory is a little fuzzy, but this is the game that made me a Steelers fan. We were at my Dad’s friend’s house. I think we were all pulling for the Steelers, except my Dad didn’t care. He was kinda pulling for the underdog. He had been a Dolphins fan, but didn’t care about sports that much when I was growing up. He also liked to do things just to see people’s reactions.

2. SB XL – Of course, my team finally won another SB, when I had begun to despair of them ever winning another.

3. 1994 Duke at NC State football (I was at this game) – Duke had a rare 7-0 record coming in, and we were actually underdogs, I believe. The Wolfpack was down in the first half, but our mascots (male and female mascots) jumped the Blue Devil and beat him up, sparking a rally to win the game in the second half. I think their the kicker missed 4 FGs in that game.

4. 1989 or 1990 Steelers at Dolphins – Steelers don’t look like they belong on the same field with the Dolphins, but then there is a torrential downpour. All of the sudden, Bubby is completing passes like Joe Montana, in a pouring rain. Steelers storm back and defeat the ‘phins in a monsoon. I guess that stuck out because the last time I remember the Steelers being in Miami before that game was the blowout loss in the AFCC game in 84.

5. SB XXIV – Like Badmaafala, I was a bandwagon 49ers fan, mainly because I liked how they won without showboating. That final drive was classic.

6. SB XX – I got caught up in the Fridge craze, and was a Bears fan for a year. What can I say, it was fun to watch a game where the team I was pulling for never had their victory in doubt.

7. UT and USC – I have to agree, this was the best BCS championship game ever, between probably the two best college football teams since the 95 Nebraska team. Certainly, head and shoulders above any of the teams since that year, IMO.

8. MNF Steelers at Chiefs 1993? – This was one of those games that made me believe more in Bill Cowher early on. The Steelers were playing on MNF in one of the most hostile stadiums in the NFL. The Chiefs still had Derrick Thomas and the DE (Neal something, I hate it when I can’t remember). Anyway, they had Marty-ball going at that point, with a top ten D and good running game (I think Christian Okoye and Barry Word were still there). The Steelers rolled into town and beat them something like 30-3 or 27-7. No plays stick out, just that the Steelers had beaten a very solid team in a very convincing fashion.

9. Ohio State over Miami in the 2001? championship – Not the most exciting game if you love offense, but a solid hard-hitting game where the OSU played a great game against a great Miami team.

by WolfpackSteelersFan on Jun 13, 2008 4:58 PM EDT 0 recs

Let me into this too

1. 1960 World Series, seventh game. Argueably the greatest moment in Pittsburgh sports history. I say that in part b/c it had been nearly 40 year since Pittsburgh had won any championships in major sports, two generations of fans. I was in third grade at the time. Mazeroski hit his homerun just as we were being released from school.

2. The Rumble in the Jungle. Ali vs Foreman 1974. The fight that sealed Ali’s greatness. I watched it closed circuit at the Spectrum in Philly. Sharing a moment like that with 20 thousand people, priceless.

3. AFC Conference Playoff Game; Steelers vs. Raiders 1972. The Immaculate Reception. The game was played either on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, I think the latter. The significance was that my mother passed away just after Thanksgiving that year. My father, brother and I gathered at my brother’s home in Philadelphia to watch the game and celebrate the holiday as best we could. The ending seemed like a gift from God specifically for us.

4. AFC Conference Championship Game; Steelers vs. Raiders 1974. This is the one that got the Steelers over the hump. My only regret is that I watched it alone. It was the type of game that should have been celebrated with as large a group possible.

5. Super Bowls IX, X, XIII, XIV. I cheated in order to include a few other things.

6. 1971 World Series, game seven. Roberto Clemene’s last moment on a big stage. My first sports hero. His death the following year on New Years Eve, following so close on the heels of my mother’s passing was a particularly devestating blow.

7. 1979 World Series, game seven. All the Pirates World Series went seven games. This time Willie Stargell came through with a home run late. Friends and schoolmates of mine, Sister Sledge provided the team with their inspiration.

8. US vs USSR Hockey game 1980. That game always brings me to tears.

9. Sugar Ray Leonard vs Marvin Hagler.

10. Super Bowl XL

by RickVa on Jun 13, 2008 8:59 PM EDT 0 recs

Immaculate Reception

12/23/72

When You Run The Ball Good Things Happen

by 5020 on Jun 13, 2008 10:55 PM EDT up 0 recs

Number 11

Nebraska vs Oklahoma 1971

and # 12 North Carolina vs Georgetown 1982 NCAA basketball championship game

by RickVa on Jun 13, 2008 9:01 PM EDT 0 recs

50's 10

I must say RickVa and I led similar lives!
1) Immaculate Reception game for me is radio only as it is blacked out in Pittsburgh and unavailable to those who aren’t in attendence. Did listen on the radio and was born into the Steeler Nation on that day, 12/23/72.
2) The USSR cheats the USA and takes the Olympic basketball gold in 72. The US boycotts the medal ceremony. The terror war on the west actually begins (not 9/11) with the heinous & cowardly murder in cold blood of the Israeli athletes at Munich.
2) Clemente goes deep in Game 7 in 71. The Pirates win the series! Clemente was my first sports hero. I cried too on 1/1/73.
4) IX, X, XIII & XIV Oh what fun to be young and in love…with the Steelers! XL was 26 years in the making!
5) Pops goes deep in the 7th at Baltimore to put the Family in the lead in 79. Sister Sledge still gives me goose bumps!
6) Do You Believe In Miracles? Eruzione rocks!
7) Lets Go Pens! Lemieux wins two Cups in the early 90’s!
8) Being at The Forum to see the Lakers and Magic Johnson win again against Boston for the Championship in 87. I hugged Dyan Cannon after the game in the parking lot!
9) Being at Game 6 and 7 against Detroit at the Forum in 88. Down 3 games to 2 against the Bad Boys Kareem hits 2 FT in the last 3 seconds for the 1 point Laker win to force Game 7. In Game 7 James Worthy earns the moniker Big Game James dropping in 38 and setting up the Lakers 5th title of the 80’s!
10) 5020 is at Staples for the Shaq dunk from Kobe as the Lakers come back from 15 down in the 4th quarter against Portland to advance. It is 2000 and the first title in the Shaq Kobe Phil era! Get to see them finish Indy and Reggie Miller for the only title of three they won in LA at Staples. Shaq says “Can U Dig It?!”

When You Run The Ball Good Things Happen

by 5020 on Jun 13, 2008 11:19 PM EDT 0 recs

Nice

2005 AFC game and Super Bowl
Capping the second Stanley Cup win with a dominating shutout victory
Agassi’s final match at the US Open a few years ago. Beautiful retirement speech
Catching an Andy Van Slyke deep foul ball c. 91-92. It is unfortunately lost
MJ’s flu game
Winning the Crosby sweepstakes
Boise State v Oklahoma
18-1, Manning to Tyree
‘92 and ‘96 Dream Teams

Honorable mentions: 75th Anniv. game against Baltimore, Malkin’s slapshot in the face of Martin Biron and Fleury’s six-period game against Detroit, Texas v USC in the Nat. championship, back-to-back wins against New England and Philly in 2004,

by Desroko on Jun 14, 2008 4:53 PM EDT 0 recs

nice lists.

Wish i could say that I remember the 4 rings, but I dont really. I sorta remember the last two,
Mine:

1- Arkansas vs. Wichita State – 2005 Regional. Arkansas was down to their last out in the bottom of the ninth inning, down 3 runs, in a sunday elimination game. Brady Toops comes up and smacks an 0-2 fastball over the left field fence, to the elation of all 11000 of us there at the field. It was unbelievable. Arkansas went on the beat Wich. St in the next game, sweep Florida St in the superregional and then get annihilated by Texas in the College World Series.

2- Duke vs. Kentucky – That game was unbelievable.
3- Superbowl XL for obvious reasons.
4- Pens vs. Flyers – 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs. I hate the flyers with a passion, the Pens crushed them 6-0 to go to their first Cup Finals since 1992.

5- Pens vs. North Stars – 1991 Cup Finals. Pens win their first ever championship in crazy fashion, beating the North Stars 8 – 0. Not sure if any of you guys watched this, but seeing a franchise that I love so much win its first ever championship is something I will never forget.

6- Pens vs. Blackhawks – 1992 Cup Finals. Despite most pundits predicting otherwise, the Pens go on to sweep the Blackhawks winning their eleventh playoff game in a row(record still stands).

7- Pens vs. Wings – 2008 Cup Finals – with 34.8 seconds to go, Maxime Talbot pushes a rebound past Chris Osgood to force OT, a game that would be won by the Pens in the 3rd OT on a sweet shot by Petr Sykora, who called it early in the 1st OT that he would get the game winner.

by steelerark on Jun 15, 2008 12:16 PM EDT 0 recs

oops

8 – Steelers vs Eagles – 2004. Eagles came in udefeated. My best friend is an Eagles fan, and we watched the game together. That win was one of the most complete victories that I have ever watched. The Steelers dominated in every single facet of the game, and it was beautiful torture for my buddy.

9 – November 3rd, 2001. Arkansas vs. Mississippi. Arkansas beats Ole Miss 58-56 in 7, yes 7 overtimes. This game was unbelievable. Each team did exactly what it needed to do. When Arkansas missed a FG, so did Ole Miss. When Ole Miss missed a 2 point conv., so did Ark. It was awesome to watch.

10 – Lastly I’d have to go with that Indy game in 2005. The game was gut-wrenching at the end, but man it was a sweet victory.

Wish I could remember more Steelers great games, these are the ones that come to mind. As you can prolly tell, I love hockey as much as football.

by steelerark on Jun 15, 2008 12:23 PM EDT 0 recs

Hmm. Honestly...

...I’d have to put Super Bowl XXV on my list (the Giants-Bills game with that missed field goal at the end), definitely well above the Super Bowls XL and XLII you mentioned. Not only was it the first Super Bowl I remember watching, but it was one hell of a game.

by HinesField on Jun 15, 2008 4:00 PM EDT 0 recs