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  1. In Memory of LAJ_FETT: Please share your remembrances and condolences HERE

What sporting event in history would you attend if you could?

Discussion in 'Archive: The Arena' started by KnightWriter, Jun 23, 2009.

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  1. KnightWriter

    KnightWriter Administrator Emeritus star 9 VIP - Former Mod/RSA

    Registered:
    Nov 6, 2001
    If given a trip back in time to any sporting event, what would you choose to see? I mean to see in person, not on a screen.

    The Federer-Nadal Wimbedon final in 2008 is my pick.
     
  2. Zaz

    Zaz Jedi Knight star 9

    Registered:
    Oct 11, 1998
    Detroit 1 at Toronto 3 (1942)

    "The Maple Leafs completed one of the most remarkable comebacks in sports history. After dropping the first three games to the Red Wings, Toronto looked all but eliminated from the final. However, the resilient Leafs outscored Detroit 16-6 in the next three contests to set up a dramatic final matchup. Trailing 1-0 in the third, Toronto rallied once again with three goals en route to a Stanley Cup celebration at Maple Leafs Gardens. To this day, the Leafs remain the only NHL team to bounce back from a 3-0 deficit in the final to claim hockey's ultimate prize. The New York Islanders managed to equal the Leafs' magical feat in 1975, but their series win over the Pittsburgh Penguins occurred in the second round."
     
  3. heels1785

    heels1785 Skywalker Saga + JCC Manager / Finally Won A Draft star 10 Staff Member Manager

    Registered:
    Dec 10, 2003
    1986 Masters, final round.

    Jack Nicklaus enters the day down four strokes. Norman and Ballesteros falter after the front nine, and Jack finishes eagle-birdie-birdie-par to win at Augusta..at age 46.
     
  4. timmoishere

    timmoishere Force Ghost star 6

    Registered:
    Jun 2, 2007
    2004 American League championship, Red Sox vs Yankees. Game 7. (Or really, games 4-7).
     
  5. Boba_Fett_2001

    Boba_Fett_2001 Chosen One star 8

    Registered:
    Dec 11, 2000
    -1972 Summit Series
    -1993 MLB World Series Game 6 in Toronto (I do remember watching it on TV though)
    -2002 Olympics: Men's Hockey Gold Medal Game
    -2003 Masters
     
  6. Darth-Lando

    Darth-Lando Jedi Grand Master star 6

    Registered:
    Aug 12, 2002
    Miracle on Ice
     
  7. big_boss_nass

    big_boss_nass Tucson FF Founding Member star 4

    Registered:
    Nov 12, 2001
    New York Mets @ Pittsburgh Pirates on September 30, 1972 (Sept. 30th being my birthday)

    It was Roberto Clemente's last game before he died in a plane crash on his way to Nicaragua, to help people affected by an earthquake. He doubled off of John Matlack in the game to give him 3,000 hits for his career.

    United States vs. Russia February 22, 1980

    I think this is an obvious choice for most Americans. This game is a monument in American Sports history. I don't think that I have to explain any more. Also, this was a bronze medal match with the winner (USA) advancing to play Finland for the Gold, which the United States also won.

    Honorable Mentions:

    Muhammad Ali vs. Cleveland Williams November 14 1966

    All of Pittsburgh's Superbowl's, World Series, or Stanley Cups

     
  8. Zaz

    Zaz Jedi Knight star 9

    Registered:
    Oct 11, 1998
    The Summit Series, Game 8, Canada v. USSR (1972)

    Heading into Game Eight, each team had three wins and three losses, with one tie. Only a win in Game Eight would deliver victory in the series. In Canada, the entire country just about shut down for the game, with many watching it at work or school. Team Canada took a number of questionable early penalties (which wasn't surprising to Canadians, as one referee was the same Josef Kompalla who was accused of being biased in Game 6[citation needed]) The game was delayed after a marginal call against J. P. Parise,[citation needed] and emotions boiled over. Parise nearly swung his stick at Josef Kompalla and got a match penalty. Sinden threw a chair on the ice. Despite the penalties, the score was 2-2 after the first period, but the Soviets pulled ahead 5-3 after two. Things looked grim for Team Canada. During the second intermission, goalie Ken Dryden was reported to have thought, "If we lose this one, I'll be the most hated man in Canada."[citation needed]

    But the Canadians came out roaring in the third period, and Phil Esposito and Yvan Cournoyer scored to even it up. After Cournoyer's goal, Alan Eagleson (seated across the ice from the Team Canada bench) caused a ruckus in the crowd because the goal light had not come on. As he was being subdued by the Soviet police, the Canadian players headed over, Peter Mahovlich actually going over the boards to confront police with his stick. Eagleson was freed, and the coaches escorted him across the ice to the bench. In anger, he shoved his fist to the Soviet crowd, as a few other Canadian supporters also gave the finger to the Soviets.[citation needed]

    At that point, with the score tied 5-5 and the series tied 3-3-1, a member of the Soviet delegation unexpectedly[citation needed] informed Canada that, if the score and the series remained tied, the Soviets would claim victory on goal differential.[citation needed]

    In the final minute of play, with Phil Esposito, Yvan Cournoyer and Peter Mahovlich out on the ice, Paul Henderson stood up at the bench and called Mahovlich off the ice as he was skating by. Then, with just 34 seconds remaining in the game, Henderson, in perhaps the most famous moment in Canadian sports history, scored for Canada, jamming in a rebound behind Soviet goaltender Vladislav Tretiak. "I jumped on the ice and rushed straight for their net. I had this strange feeling that I could score the winning goal", recalls Henderson.[4] This play is widely known as "the goal heard around the world" and was captured on film by cameraman Frank Lennon. The picture became one of Canada's most famous photographs.[5] Canada held on for the win in the game and thus the series.

    This truly memorable moment for Canada was not viewed as a fair win in the Soviet Union. Many Soviet citizens believed that their country would have won had Bobby Clarke not fractured the ankle of their best player, and if Anatoli Firsov and Vitaly Davydov had not sat out the series to protest a coaching change.[6] In response, some offer that Canada was without Bobby Orr due to injury as well as Bobby Hull (due to his departure from the NHL to the newly-formed WHA) These were arguably the best Canadian players at the time (besides Phil Esposito), so neither team had its greatest talent on the ice."

    Four games were played in Canada, and the Russians won 2 and tied one. Canada lost the first game in Moscow and took the last 3 games.
     
  9. tom

    tom Chosen One star 8

    Registered:
    Mar 14, 2004
    the january 10, 1982 nfc championship game.
     
  10. rechedelphar

    rechedelphar Jedi Master star 6

    Registered:
    Mar 29, 2004
    I would also go with Nadal/Federer from last year.

    as well as:

    1982 Orange Bowl (Clemson wins national title)
    1994: Plano East vs John Tyler (Texas HS football)
    2006 UEFA Champions League Final: Liverpool down 3-0 at half to AC Milan and comes back to win in penalties.
     
  11. DarthTunick

    DarthTunick SFTC VII + Deadpool BOFF star 10 VIP - Game Host

    Registered:
    Nov 26, 2000
    I've got three in mind:

    [image=http://www.toptenz.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/kirk-gibson.jpg]


    October 15th, 1988: Gibson's improbable pinch hit home run off the best closer in the game at the time to win game 1 of the '88 World Series............................................did I mention that this happened on my (2nd) birthday?


    [image=http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2007/06/10/sports/10horry.1.600.jpg]


    May 26, 2002: Game 4 of the 2002 Western Conference Finals, the 2-time defending champion Lakers at home against a great Kings team.............................down by as many as 23 points earlier in the game, the Lakers crawled back & clinched the win with Horry's buzzer three. A friend of mine was actually at this game..........................lucky bastard!



    [image=http://assets.espn.go.com/photo/2008/0531/nba_g_jabbar_400.jpg]


    June 9th, 1985: Though the Showtime era was already underway (2 previous titles coming in during the '79-'80 & '81-'82 seasons), this was perhaps the most triumphant of any of the 80's titles: beating the Celtics for the first time ever in The Finals (8 previous losses), and doing it in Boston, the first & only time so far a visiting team as won a title on Boston's home court. Of course, this came a year after Magic Johnson & company had lost to those Celtics in The Finals.


    Bonus: Any regular season Laker game at The Forum during the 1971-1972 season.
     
  12. Drac39

    Drac39 Force Ghost star 6

    Registered:
    Jul 9, 2002
    1945 World Series to take Billy Sianis' goat and dispose of it in a grisly manner thus allowing a Cubs dynasty
     
  13. Grimby

    Grimby Technical Consultant & Former Head Admin star 7 Staff Member Administrator

    Registered:
    Apr 22, 2000
    Super Bowl 32: Packers vs. Broncos
    1980 USA vs. Russia
    1994 NBA Playoffs: Sonics vs. Nuggets, Game 5
     
  14. KnightWriter

    KnightWriter Administrator Emeritus star 9 VIP - Former Mod/RSA

    Registered:
    Nov 6, 2001
    The 1980 Miracle on Ice would have been number one for me before last year. It was certainly the greatest American sporting moment of the 20th century, and one of the best ever for anyone at any time.
     
  15. DT421

    DT421 Jedi Grand Master star 5

    Registered:
    Nov 6, 2003
    This. I was more happy about this than the World Series title. The World Series was almost anti-climactic after the ALCS.
     
  16. DarthTunick

    DarthTunick SFTC VII + Deadpool BOFF star 10 VIP - Game Host

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    Nov 26, 2000
    Pffffffffffffffffffffft. No matter the circumstances, winning a title is always more important than clinching a pennant.
     
  17. DT421

    DT421 Jedi Grand Master star 5

    Registered:
    Nov 6, 2003
    Not that year, my friend. Not that year.
     
  18. DarthTunick

    DarthTunick SFTC VII + Deadpool BOFF star 10 VIP - Game Host

    Registered:
    Nov 26, 2000
    Meh, I still respectfully disagree. For example, if the Dodgers were to win a pennant by going through the Giants in similar fashion, I wouldn't rank that ahead of a title (and if the Dodgers were to lose a possible World Series in that scenario, beating the Giants in the NLCS wouldn't mean squat).
     
  19. SLR

    SLR Jedi Knight star 5

    Registered:
    Oct 20, 2002
    Game 5 of the 2008 World Series: I would have loved to be there in person to watch the eruption of the crowd after Philly won its first title in 28 years (for the Phillies) and the city's first major pro-sport title in 25 years.

    Game 6 of the 1980 World Series: The Phillies first world championship for a team that has been in existance since 1882.

    Game 4 of the 1983 NBA Finals

    Game 7 of the 1974 NHL Finals

    Game 6 of the 1975 NHL Finals

    1960 NFL Championship Game (the Eagles last NFL title)

     
  20. Tommy_Docherty

    Tommy_Docherty Jedi Youngling star 2

    Registered:
    Jun 17, 2009
    1953 F.A. Cup Final
     
  21. Spike2002

    Spike2002 Former FF-UK RSA and Arena Manager star 6 VIP - Former Mod/RSA

    Registered:
    Feb 4, 2002
    1966 World Cup Final
    1999 Champions League Final
    2008 Champions League Final

    The Rumble in the Jungle
    The Thriller in Manila
    Calzaghe - Kessler
    Calzaghe - Jones Jr
    Hatton - Mayweather
     
  22. KnightWriter

    KnightWriter Administrator Emeritus star 9 VIP - Former Mod/RSA

    Registered:
    Nov 6, 2001
    That just isn't so, Tunick, and I wish you would listen to actual Red Sox fans instead of projecting what's true for you onto them. Just as the 2003 World Series was an afterthought to a lot of Yankees fans, the 2004 World Series was almost unnecessary after vanquishing the Yankees to get there. The championship was very important, but the real fun for a lot of Sox fans was in seeing the Yankees collapse.
     
  23. DarthTunick

    DarthTunick SFTC VII + Deadpool BOFF star 10 VIP - Game Host

    Registered:
    Nov 26, 2000
    I understand that. I just think it's a little odd to almost place that title as an afterthought, though. That's all.
     
  24. SLR

    SLR Jedi Knight star 5

    Registered:
    Oct 20, 2002
    Especially given that it was the team's first title since 1918.
     
  25. Armenian_Jedi

    Armenian_Jedi Force Ghost star 7

    Registered:
    Mar 14, 2003
    Game 7 of the 2001 World Series

    Ice Bowl

    Superbowl I

    Superbowl II

     
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