# Greatest sports play(s) you've ever seen **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [November 3, 2011, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-sports-play-s-youve-ever-seen/601739 "2011-11-03T13:59:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2011, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-sports-play-s-youve-ever-seen/601739/1 "2011-11-03T13:59:40Z")
Someone was going to do the companion to [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=629959) ( **Most embarassing sports play you’ve seen** ), I figured it may as well be me. I suppose it doesn’t necessarily have to be “the greatest. play. EVAR!” but just really great plays you’ve seen, or your personal favorite sports plays. Don’t be afraid to link to a lot of videos. Rampant homerism is encouraged. With that in mind for me it’s definitely the ending plays from the [Redskins-Cowboys game in 2007](http://www.nfl.com/videos/washington-redskins/09000d5d8005fc66/Redskins-14-Cowboys-13). Cowboys up 13-0, and Santana Moss beats the secondary twice to win the game in the final minutes. My favorite part is the looks on everyone’s faces when they scan the crowd after the 2nd touchdown. ---
**Author:** ![President\_Johnny\_Gentle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@President\_Johnny\_Gentle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/President_Johnny_Gentle)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2011, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-sports-play-s-youve-ever-seen/601739/2 "2011-11-03T14:32:57Z")
Oh wow, there are so many. Although the Vikings haven’t been the Super Bowl in my memory, they’ve still provided a number of moments. Here are my favorite ones that I’ve found on Youtube. The first came the first season that I really became aware of the NFL and the Vikings. I had “followed” the team for a couple years, but was to young to understand or to care about watching the game. I began sitting down with my dad and watching the games in the 1980 season. In Week 15, the Vikings could clinch the NFC Central ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2011, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-sports-play-s-youve-ever-seen/601739/3 "2011-11-03T14:57:58Z")
Back when I was a Redskins fan one of my favorites was seeing Darrell Green run down Tony Dorsett from behind on Monday Night Football. ---
**Author:** ![Cowboy8467](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b5e925/32.png) [@Cowboy8467](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cowboy8467)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2011, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-sports-play-s-youve-ever-seen/601739/4 "2011-11-03T15:03:09Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > Someone was going to do the companion to [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=629959) ( **Most embarassing sports play you’ve seen** ), I figured it may as well be me. > > I suppose it doesn’t necessarily have to be “the greatest. play. EVAR!” but just really great plays you’ve seen, or your personal favorite sports plays. Don’t be afraid to link to a lot of videos. Rampant homerism is encouraged. > > With that in mind for me it’s definitely the ending plays from the [Redskins-Cowboys game in 2007](http://www.nfl.com/videos/washington-redskins/09000d5d8005fc66/Redskins-14-Cowboys-13). Cowboys up 13-0, and Santana Moss beats the secondary twice to win the game in the final minutes. My favorite part is the looks on everyone’s faces when they scan the crowd after the 2nd touchdown. As a Cowboys fan I hate you for posting that. Also, it was in 2005. The Cowboys swept the skins during the 2007 season. My fondest Cowboys-Redskins memory was the very first game I went to in person, the opening day game of the 1999 season. I think most diehard fans will recall how it ended. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eezGFRZtW-8](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eezGFRZtW-8) ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2011, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-sports-play-s-youve-ever-seen/601739/5 "2011-11-03T15:11:51Z")
> [@Cowboy8467](#): > > As a Cowboys fan I hate you for posting that. Sorry. It was a priceless moment and a bright spot in an otherwise mostly dire 20 or so years for us 'Skins fans. Let us have our moment! 😉 This doesn’t have to be all about football, or even teams you like. For example I vividly remember Derek Fisher [dropping that three to sink the Spurs](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mav2iBA1cwo) a few years back (2004 maybe?). I really wanted the Spurs to beat the Lakers and that shot was damned crushing, but I’ll admit it was a fantastic, clutch play. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2011, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-sports-play-s-youve-ever-seen/601739/6 "2011-11-03T15:14:04Z")
Belmont Stakes 1973–Secretariet wins! Only horse race I ever attended and ever will. Nothing can top it. ---
**Author:** ![Cowboy8467](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b5e925/32.png) [@Cowboy8467](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cowboy8467)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2011, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-sports-play-s-youve-ever-seen/601739/7 "2011-11-03T15:18:05Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > **Sorry. It was a priceless moment and a bright spot in an otherwise mostly dire 20 or so years for us 'Skins fans. Let us have our moment! 😉** > > This doesn’t have to be all about football, or even teams you like. > > For example I vividly remember Derek Fisher [dropping that three to sink the Spurs](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mav2iBA1cwo) a few years back (2004 maybe?). I really wanted the Spurs to beat the Lakers and that shot was damned crushing, but I’ll admit it was a fantastic, clutch play. I know, I just remember the sick feeling in my stomach after Brunell completed that second long touchdown pass. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2011, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-sports-play-s-youve-ever-seen/601739/8 "2011-11-03T15:21:52Z")
Two far better horse races: Forgo in the [1976 Marlboro Cup.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMJjiWXCM3s#t=01m30s) Note his position at the top of the stretch. And the classic matchup between Jaipur and Ridan in the [1962 Travers](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rKCAhELwhc). (Bonus: Fred Capocella) Secretariat dominated, but both of these were far more exciting. ---
**Author:** ![Chicagojeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b19c9b/32.png) [@Chicagojeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chicagojeff)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2011, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-sports-play-s-youve-ever-seen/601739/9 "2011-11-03T15:22:30Z")
Jordan… stealin the ball from Karl Malone… and then droppin the game winner in Bryan Russell’s face… Push off smush off… loser talk… the silence… and sound of the hopes dying in Utah… AWESOME… ---
**Author:** ![Inthewater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Inthewater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inthewater)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2011, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-sports-play-s-youve-ever-seen/601739/10 "2011-11-03T15:24:04Z")
1st down catch by David Tyree in Super Bowl XLII. > **[Helmet Catch](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eli_Manning_pass_to_David_Tyree)** > > The Helmet Catch was an American football play involving New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning and wide receiver David Tyree in the final two minutes of Super Bowl XLII on February 3, 2008. It featured Manning escaping from the grasp of three New England Patriots defensive players and throwing a forward pass, followed by Tyree making a leaping catch by pressing the ball against his helmet. The play, a 32-yard gain during a drive on which the Giants scored the game-winning touchdown, was instr... The Helmet Catch. I am a huge Giants fan, but still. That was unbelieveable. I was ready to graciously accept defeat much to the enjoyment of all the recently converted Pats fans at my local pub, then that happened and the next 15-20 minutes were some of the best ever for a Jints fan. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![President\_Johnny\_Gentle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@President\_Johnny\_Gentle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/President_Johnny_Gentle)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2011, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-sports-play-s-youve-ever-seen/601739/11 "2011-11-03T15:24:49Z")
(Aargh! Two mess-ups with my browser before getting this right.) Oh wow, there are so many. Although the Vikings haven’t been the Super Bowl in my memory, they’ve still provided a number of moments. Here are my favorite ones that I’ve found on Youtube. The first came the first season that I really became aware of the NFL and the Vikings. I had “followed” the team for a couple years, but was to young to understand or to care about watching the game. I began sitting down with my dad and watching the games in the 1980 season. In Week 15, the Vikings could clinch the NFC Central with a victory, but they trailed at home (at the old Met) to Cleveland. The Browns scored their last touchdown early in the 4th to make the score 23-9. The Vikings came back with two TDs, but missed an extra point, so they trailed 23-22. The Vikings had the ball at their own 20 with 14 seconds remaining and no time outs. The [following two plays](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDUvyoJCrhM) are the earliest individual football plays that I remember. Runners-up for the Vikings moments: [Moss over the shoulder](http://www.nfl.com/videos/minnesota-vikings/09000d5d82085cb4/Moss-catch-and-lateral) against the Broncos and [Favre beating the 49ers](http://www.nfl.com/videos/minnesota-vikings/09000d5d82085c86/Favre-to-Lewis-game-winner), winning over skeptical Vikings fans. The obvious 1991 moment is Puckett’s HR at the end of Game 6 prompting Jack Buck’s immortal call, so I’ll skip this. My favorite play was a perfectly pedestrian the following night. A boring play with high importance. As is well-known, Jack Morris pitched 10 shutout innings, so the game is tied at 0 in the bottom of the 10th. The Twins load the bases with one out. Gene Larkin, injured leg and all, pinch hits for the Twins. The announcers wonder whether he’ll be able to run. I recall (I think it was Buck) declaring that if he hits it far enough, he doesn’t have to run. The Brave outfield is playing shallow hoping for the double play. Larkin’s at bat starts at 6:40 in the video at the [bottom of the blog post](http://www.twinkietown.com/2011/10/27/2518844/it-was-20-years-ago-today-twins-win-1991-world-series). Finally, two moments from the 2002 NCAA Men’s Hockey championship game. The Minnesota Gophers are playing the Maine Black Bears at the Xcel Center in St. Paul, about 10 minutes from the Minnesota campus. Despite being one of the most prominent college hockey teams ,the Gophers haven’t been to the championship game since losing 4-3 in OT to Harvard in 1989, and haven’t won since beating North Dakota, their biggest rivals, in 1979. As an analogy, Minnesota in hockey is similar to Duke in men’s basketball - a legendary program which people love to hate. There are about 4 times as many basketball teams total and in the tournament, so the Gopher’s absence is similar to the Blue Devils failing to make the Final Four for 23 years and not even advancing to the Elite Eight for 13. To set the scene, the Gophers trail 3-2 late in the third. With 58.3 seconds, a faceoff occurs in the Maine end, and Gopher’s goalie Adam Hauser is pulled for the extra attacker. Matt Koalska then [secures a place in Gopher history.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piavZtOeSps&feature=related) Late in the 1st OT, the Bears get called for tripping and the Gophers go on the power play. Grant Potulny was the first non-Minnesotan to play for the Gophers in over 15 years, hailing from Grand Forks, ND, home of the University of North Dakota, mentioned before. [Potulny ends the game](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRGlX49jvlA&feature=related), securing the first Gopher title in over 2 decades. ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2011, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-sports-play-s-youve-ever-seen/601739/12 "2011-11-03T15:26:37Z")
The one play that I saw live that just had me agog in awe was the Bears’ [decoy punt return](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6R5FhFgsD2M). Amazingly creative play that worked to a T, except for the holding of course. It was the Bears after all. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2011, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-sports-play-s-youve-ever-seen/601739/13 "2011-11-03T15:31:37Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > With that in mind for me it’s definitely the ending plays from the [Redskins-Cowboys game in 2007](http://www.nfl.com/videos/washington-redskins/09000d5d8005fc66/Redskins-14-Cowboys-13). Cowboys up 13-0, and Santana Moss beats the secondary twice to win the game in the final minutes. My favorite part is the looks on everyone’s faces when they scan the crowd after the 2nd touchdown. I remember that game too. As a Cowboy fan it was almost heartwarming to see some life in the Redskins because the Cowboys had won 14 of the 15 previous games. When you’re winning 93% of the games against your ‘rival’, you actually start hoping at some point they’ll figure out how to be competitive. One of the most improbable wins I remember was against the Giants in 2003 on MNF. Bill Parcells’ first return to Giants Stadium as head coach of the Cowboys. The Cowboys led most of the game but were down 32–29 with 11 seconds to play. All the Giants had to do was kick off and play prevent for one play, but the kickoff went out of bounds. Cowboys got the ball at their own 40 still with 11 secs and completed a deep pass to Antonio Bryant, who went out of bounds at the New York 34 to stop the clock with 4 seconds left. The Boys kicked a 52-yard field goal as time expired to send the game to overtime, and then kicked another in OT to win. I was watching with my FIL and near the end, disgusted, had almost turned it off, then witnessed the most unlikely comeback I think I’ll ever see. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2011, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-sports-play-s-youve-ever-seen/601739/14 "2011-11-03T15:38:28Z")
These are mostly due to the fact that they occurred in crucial playoff situations: Jeter flip play: (starts at 0:55) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/poNyniQ5eCY/hqdefault.jpg "Greatest Moments In New York Yankees History") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=poNyniQ5eCY) Endy Chavez running catch and double play: [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrQiOsdRlAY) ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2011, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-sports-play-s-youve-ever-seen/601739/15 "2011-11-03T15:41:22Z")
Pittsburgh Steelers - [Franco Harris Immaculate Reception.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xMDIcsUMmA) ---
**Author:** ![azraiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@azraiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/azraiel)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2011, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-sports-play-s-youve-ever-seen/601739/16 "2011-11-03T15:48:46Z")
Two, as a wheat state boy: Terence Newman returns a blocked extra point for a two point conversion [Kansas State v. USC 2002 - YouTube](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvHPStnnBpE) (starts at 1:30, but the whole thing is worth watching for Newman [4] and Sproles [43] highlights). And Mario’s shot [Kansas vs. Memphis - 2008 NCAA Title Game Highlights (HD) - YouTube](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3sy0oHP3LI) (1:50) for a single play, but the whole last two minutes of regulation in that game was amazing. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2011, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-sports-play-s-youve-ever-seen/601739/17 "2011-11-03T15:49:15Z")
Probably the greatest single play I’ve witnessed was the Series back in '88 when an injured Kirk Gibson limped to the place and pinch hit that Home Run. Spectacular. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2011, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-sports-play-s-youve-ever-seen/601739/18 "2011-11-03T16:00:47Z")
My alltime favorite, [the Saints onside kick in the Super Bowl](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiHoSp_5P-Y&feature=related). And I’m sure all the Pirates fans will remember this one… [Braves Win! Braves Win! Braves Win!](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5I-MAUn4mA&feature=related) The actual play is at the end of the clip. ---
**Author:** ![Busy\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@Busy\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Busy_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2011, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-sports-play-s-youve-ever-seen/601739/19 "2011-11-03T16:11:41Z")
In the legendary category, [Marvin Hagler v Tommy Hearns](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VI-M9Yw-28) middleweight championship fight. Talk about a war - check out the punches Marvin weathers early on in the first round, and Hearns was a brutally heavy-handed fighter. That, my friends, is chin. In a more niche category - [Danny Hart slays the field](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqYgAX6D43Q)in this year’s downhill mountain bike world champs in atrocious conditions (sorry about the two beauts commentating). Someone posted that snowboarder show-boating on their final run and falling on their arse in the other thread - check out 2.17 in Hart’s vid for how it should be done. ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2011, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-sports-play-s-youve-ever-seen/601739/20 "2011-11-03T17:23:59Z")
I love sharing [this video](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5BFaykcxGg) because it’s so crazy as to be awesome. Relevant facts: in the CFL, a rouge (“touchback”) is worth a point, and you can always kick! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-sports-play-s-youve-ever-seen/601739.md?page=2)