The greatest sports moment in the 20th century

[x-g.o.p.er]

With the Super Bowl coming up, and all the hype that goes with it, I've been wondering what you guys think the best sports moment was in the last century.

As for the 21st, I would say the Sox beating the curse of the Bambino would have to be the topper so far, but the century is young.

[bluestateguy]

1. There was nothing "great" about Kirk Gibson's home run

I was 12 years old, and when he hit that ball my heart didn't break. It stopped beating. When I recovered, I went outside into the backyard and cried. It was not a great moment. It was a disruption of the natural order of things: the A's were supposed to win the World Series; they were the better team.

I refuse to be objective about this issue and I will not argue with anyone about it.

[givemebackmycountry]

2. The shot heard round the world...

'nuff said.

[x-g.o.p.er]

4. Good one

I changed out Vinatieri and put that one in.

Both of his kicks were in 2001 and 2003...DOH!

[Archae]

3. None of those.

"The agony of defeat."

Every time I saw that I thought the guy had been killed.
Turns out he wasn't badly hurt.

[tuvor]

5. What, no great sports moments not involving the USA?

;)

[x-g.o.p.er]

6. LOL...

Sorry, but I have no other basis from which to make my picks. There was not 200 channels when I was a kid, so it is what it is.

Being that I'm from Minnesota, you're lucky these all aren't Minnesota based.

Although we've only had a few truly great sporting moments...sigh.

[H2O Man]

9. no boxing?

Greatest sport, with the most influence on culture and politics.

[yellowdogintexas]

11. er, the 1980 Olympic Hockey Victory.....is all about the USA

it was an incredible moment!

Best in my lifetime anyway and that includes being in the gym for two national championships at my own college.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

41. I'll give you one:

June 21, 1970. The longest-running sports competition ever made. It lasted 40 years. It was played by nearly all countries in the world. Whoever won the Cup 3 times would win it forever. And Brazil won it.

[gnofg]

7. Texas western beatibg Kentucky

For all who are old enough to remember that triumph, it truly changed America. Not on the list is Jackie breaking the color barrier but this is the second best. ESPN plays a show on this every once in a while. People were waving the confederate flag in the stands. I was from NY and most of Texas Western was from NY. We all cheered for Texas Western. It was so sweet.

[yellowdogintexas]

10. As a Kentuckian, I jumped up and down and cheered when

Texas Western (Now known as UTEP) won that game!!!!!! So it is a pretty good "best"!

Al Rupp was a racist bigot who said no N>>> would play for Kentucky ever. UK was the last SEC team to integrate (Vanderbilt being the first, I think). And sorry if I offend anyone from my beloved home state, but I have always thought UK had the most arrogant and rudest fans of all the SEC at least if not the whole NCAA Division I.

I grew up in the shadow of Western KY Univ, which had a rich program of its own and an illustrious legendary coach, and UK would never schedule WKU or Louisville as it was "beneath" them to play such lowly schools. Of course we used to say they were just chicken.

So my blood does NOT BLEED WILDCAT BLUE!!!!

Actually my heart bleeds Panther Purple for Kentucky Wesleyan which now has either 7 or 8 Division II championship trophies. Anyway the most in Division II whatever the exact number...and more REgional championship trophies than you can shake a stick at.

[rockymountaindem]

8. Gotta be Owens.

What a hero. Throwing the proverbial egg in Hitler's face... priceless.

[Sympleesmshn]

20. I say it was an example of how wrong Hitler was

Hey whatever happened to the Germans he ran against?

[rockymountaindem]

21. Lutz Lang

one of his competitors and someone he actually became friends with (in the Jesse Owens movie, Lutz is the one who helps Jesse overcome the racist biases of the judge in the long jump competition) was killed at Stalingrad. Or maybe that was Max Shmelling (the guy Joe Lewis beat down)? I don't remember. Kind of a sad end for a great athlete, either way.

[x-g.o.p.er]

26. Lutz Lang was killed in WWII

On the Russian Front, I believe.

[sportndandy]

12. Got a few to consider

All for different reasons of course

Roger Bannister breaking the 4 minute mile barrier.

Bob Beamon breaking the broad jump record by 2 feet at the mexico olympics in 68.

Babe Ruth calling his shot.

And do things like mountain climbing count as a sport? If so then Tenzing Norgay and Hillary Clinton being the first to scale Everest.

[JimmyJazz]

14. Bob Beamon's record breaking long jump was

awesome! Some say it was as a result of high altitude, but it was stunning nonetheless. I actually remember watching it on television even though I was just a little kid. That's how significant it was at the time.

[GregW]

30. Bob Beamon's long jump in the '68 Games hands-down

Nothing even comes close.

In the 50 years prior to the 1968 Olympics, the long jump record had increased only 8.5 inches. On the first legal jump of the competition, Beamon crushes the previous record by 21.75 inches.

[Twillig]

17. Lots of people get all confused and think that Hillary said:

"Because It's there."

When it was actually Malloy.

:-)

[JimmyJazz]

13. Jesse Owens was great - but I've got to give the nod to

Nadia Comeneci and her perfect tens at the Montreal Olympics in 1976 - the scoreboard couldn't even accomodate her, the score was so previously unattainable. As a result, her scores were posted as 1.0 not 10.0.

[Twillig]

15. The 1980 Olympic Hockey win.

Fuck That Shit.

That is the goddam moment that gave rise to that fucking USA! USA! chant.

Well screw that chumps! Like the philosopher 'Leon' says, "there ain't no 'we' either..."

You are not on Team USA, you are not on Team Jesus, and you are not on Team Neocon!

Celebrate the greatness of the individual.

[sasquatch]

16. I voted for Ohio State 2OT victory over Miami

:)
But Jesse Owens was my second choice.

[realisticphish]

39. me too

even though TECHNICALLY that was in the 21st century

:hippie: The Incorrigible Democrat

[Flaxbee]

18. Secretariat winning the Belmont by 31 lenghts

Jessie Owens too, and as another poster said, Nadia Comaneci was pretty damn good as well.

But, I've gotta go with the horse. I wish I could see a replay of the race one of these days.

[yellowdogintexas]

24. oh my favorite horse (sniff) he sure was something

they said that day that he could have gone twice around the track and still beat everybody else.

They usually show a replay of it during the Belmont Stakes broadcast

God what a horse

[Flaxbee]

27. I've seen some of the footage where he's waayyy in front,

but I'd love to see the whole thing, from the gates, as he just sorta lopes along until he powers by every other horse in the field. Wow.

[yellowdogintexas]

42. I actually saw the race live...it was breathtaking.

[sasquatch]

28. A horse isn't an athlete though

[anti_shrub]

19. How about this one?

"Bradshaw back and looking, looking for someone to throw too....
fires it down field... it's caught out the air!!!"


I still get chills.....

[Allenberg]

29. me too brother, me too.

:D

[Osamasux]

22. '69 Miracle Mets

Or the '86 Mets comebacks against Houston and Boston

[DaveinMD]

23. What about Don Larsen's perfect game

in the world series. I'd put that at the top of the list, although I voted for the miracle on ice.

[x-g.o.p.er]

25. It was good,

but not the best of the 20th century

[DaveinMD]

31. its right up there in my book

the other is the Yanks coming back from 14 back to beat Boston in 78

[ProfessorGAC]

36. That's What I Picked

I went with other after i saw your post. Perfection is pretty good, huh?
The Professor

[LiberallyInclined]

32. "the shot" by Michael Jordan...against ...let's say cleveland.

there are a number of buzzer-beating game winners to choose from- but cleveland always seemed the sweetest.

Chicagoans don't have a lot of memorable moments in living memory, so let them have this one.

[ProfessorGAC]

35. We Don't Need Your Pity!

That's pretty funny, though! MJ did provide us with quite a few, but i don't think they rank up there with some of the other things in this thread. Besides, it seems he did it so often, that they now have the "Oh, what else is new?" quality to them.

But, thanks for thinking of us Chicago fans.
The Professor

[x-g.o.p.er]

40. What about Super Bowl XX?

[LiberallyInclined]

43. That Bears team coulda shoulda woulda been a DYNASTY...

were it located in any city but chicago, with any owners but the McCaskeys.(except maybe bill wirtz)

[underpants]

33. Definitely your QBing to that TIE!!!

That is hard to do.

[x-g.o.p.er]

37. It was quite an achievement, if I do say so myself

And believe it or not, the score was 0-0.

I was the epitome of bad.

[ProfessorGAC]

34. I'll Say Don Larsen's Perfect Game

I almost voted for the 1980 hockey game, but something about perfection made me go this way.
The Professor

[Blue-Jay]

38. 1980 Hockey Team, BUT....

The 1990 World Series sweep of the Reds over the heavily-favored A's is a definite highlight in my book.

[ScreamingMeemie]

44. Hello??? No Ice Bowl???? Come on!

Humor me. ;)

[jaysunb]

45. The Thrilla in Manila !!

Ali vs. Frazier 1975