I don’t think you have snooker over there (it’s a version of pool, played on a larger table). A ‘frame’ of snooker (worth 1 point) takes from 10 minutes to an hour.
Anyway Steve Davis won several world championships in the 80’s (sly dig at Americans - a ‘world’ event really ought to involve at least three countries!). One year Davis, the hot favourite, was facing a cheerful Irishman, Dennis Taylor.
After leading most of the way, Davis was caught by Taylor and the last frame would decide the championship. It came down to potting the last ball to win. The tension was incredible. Both players missed shots they would normally make, before Taylor won.
This made a big impression on me, because it was man to man, and the players had plenty of time for each shot. It was just a battle of nerves…
Well, for me it has to be the 1981 Ashes series between England and Australia…
The recent (1998-99) cricket series between Australia and West Indies is probably a close second, especially the third match in which Lara’s 153* saved WI from certain defeat.
I’d agree that the greatest Canadian sporting event was Henderson’s goal against the Russians in 1972. Non-Canadians, though, wouldn’t usually see it as great.
Most exciting (Canadian Football League) Grey Cup ever? Though I like the green 'Riders, I’d say the 1976 game. (Ottawa beats Saskatchewan 23-20, on Tony Gabriel’s late touchdown catch.) I was at the 1994 Grey Cup, and loved it…but non-B.C. Lions fans wouldn’t see it as a fabulous best-ever kind of game.
Most interesting Grey Cup? The 1962 “Fog Bowl”, when Exhibition Stadium in Toronto was fogged in. I taped the CBC rebroadcast of it several years ago, and it’s quite funny to watch the fog roll in. Cameras kept losing the players. Sideline cameras couldn’t see the other end of the field. Johnny Esau, doing the play-by-play, was reduced to guessing what was happening. They cancelled the last few minutes of the fourth quarter and played them the next day.
Soccer fans…I also like the recent Bayern Munich-Man United clash. But, I wonder if the 1953 English FA Cup final should be getting some votes too. Is that ever talked about any more on your side of the pond?
Most dramatic sports moment, IMHO? Bobby Thompson’s pennant winning home run for the N.Y. Giants.
The Matthews Final? Is it ever! Most UK commentators would agree that that match was the best domestic match of the century. Of course, I wasn’t alive to see it, but from what commentary I’ve read of it, Sir Stanley’s hat-trick to bring Blackpool back from nowhere was really something to remember.
Of course, there was a lot more mention of it when Matthews passed away earlier this year.
“Big Red” aka Secretariat winning the 1973 Belmont by 31 lengths and pulling away. The other damn horses were so far back that they couldn’t get them in the same camera shot. An incredible, beautiful running machine. There will never be another one like him.
A brief list of some of the unforgettable moments in the magical world of sports:
Football
Bills AWESOME COMEBACK against the Oilers in the 1993 playoffs. They were down 35-3 and ended up winning 41-38, IIRC. Got me hooked on football since then…
Last year’ s SUPERBOWL. Biggest game of the year being decided on the last play. Unforgettable.
Barry Sanders reaching 2000 yards. He is GOD to me, so the joy that moment provided can not be adequately described with words.
Baseball
1986 World Series: Bill Buckner aside, a magical series and a miracle win by the Mets.
Babe Ruths “called” homer in the 1932 World Series–if it did indeed take place.
How soon do we forget? Big Mac’s and Sammy’s Home Run Chase.
Soccer
How can you forget " The Maracanazo." Brazil losing against Uruguay at their very own Maracana back in the 1950 World Cup and being relegated to second place to everyone’s astonishment. Definitely belongs in the pantheon of great sports moments.
From a sentimental standpoint:
Costa Rica’s performance in the 1990 World Cup: beyond description.
Germany winning the 1990 World Cup: as above.
Dude, don’t remind me, I am still grieving over that one. But I must say that van Basten was one of the greatest players ever. Do you recall the goal he scored against the Soviet Union in the Euro 1988 Finals? One of the best goals EVER, IMHO. Too bad injuries shortened his career….
NBA
Game 5, 1989 playoffs first round, Bulls-Cavs: Jordan’s last second game winning shot over Craig Ehlo.
Michael Jordan’s winning shot in the 1998 Finals. A sublime moment and a most appropriate finale to his spectacular career.
Olympics
Jesse Owens 4-medal performance in the 1936 Olympics.
Michael Johnson’s 19:32 in Atlanta.
Tennis
1980 Wimbledon Final: Mc Enroe vs Borg. Too bad I was just a 4-year-old kid back then. Would have REALLY loved to watch that one.
Boxing
Mike Tyson giving Holyfield an earful. That is what I call biting yourself out of a world heavyweight title. Definitely gets some originality points in my book.
Game 5, 1989 playoffs first round, Bulls-Cavs: Jordan’s last second game winning shot over Craig Ehlo.
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Nope, Nope, Nope. I was there. It sucked. Why don’t you name Elway’s (expletive deleted) drive, or the 7th game of the 1997 World Series while you’re at it?
(PatrickM the Cleveland fan pours himself a really big beer with which to drown his sorrows.)
OK. The Greatest sporting event ever was:
January 1, 1984: Orange Bowl.
Miami Hurricanes wins college football national championship by one point over the heavily favored Nebraska Cornhuskers. Nebraska’s last second two point conversion try fails.
Runner up:
December 31, 1973: Sugar Bowl.
Notre Dame beats Alabama by one point to win the national championship. A clash of two great coaches: Ara v. Bear.
Man, you’re a mass of contradictions, dude. I don’t even know if you’re serious! You’re Irish, but you reckon England’s World Cup win was a highlight? You’re an Arsenal fan but two of your favourite four games of all time include Man Utd (your main non-Derby rivals) winning, once at the expense of Arsenal? Holy s***!! No mention of Arsenal’s 2-0 win at Liverpool to win the 1989 Championship? Not that that would get in mine, cos I’m a Liverpool fan. I prefer to recall beating Everton 3-2 in the FA Cup Final the same year. Rush scoring twice in extra-time to win the most emotional FA Cup final of all time (coming just weeks after Hillsborough). Also, the best ever international team, Brazil 1970 winning the World Cup, hammering Italy 4-1, with Pele running the show. None of your Ryan Giggs best goal ever rubbish
Mike Hailwood’s comeback ride on the Isle of Man Motorcycle TT.
He was 38 at the time and had originally retired because of serious leg injuries.
He couldn’t stand the quiet life so he contacted Honda who were his old team.Honda denied him access to their race machines which were reckoned to be the best at the time so he took what he could get, which was Ducati.
He won the formula 1 event in a record time beating the supposedly superior Honda’s.
When you think that 30 is considered well past it in bike racing, if you make it that long without serious injury and that in '78 Mike was considered to be one of the all time past greats, no-one could have seriously expected to beat the very best of the day.
Hope you will indulge me again but there is another great moment you might like to share.
This is close to my heart, being a cyclist myself and having known Beryl Burton from a distance.
I used to see her out on training rides and time-trials and her daughter Denise used to do her winter conditioning training with our club.
Beryl was a genuine person and deserved to be better known for her achievements in cycling, some have not been equalled by any woman since.
but the sporting moment I want to nominate from an incredible career was when she rode in the Otley Cyle club 12hour time-trial event in 1967.
She was the only woman to beat a mens world record, and she was racing against some of the best men on that day.She caught the favourite, Mike Macnamara I think, and did 277 miles to win the event.(Mike even broke the mens world record that day IIRC and was eclipsed by BB)
Grown men were in tears screaming encouragement as it became clear that she had a real chance of catching Mac and I’m sure it lifted her.
These events are usually fairly quiet affairs as Yorkshire cyclists are not given to displays of emotion but to be there on that day when she rolled in absolutely smashed following 12 hours of total effort and to hear the cheers, you really couldn’t keep the tears in.
The Olympics just cannot compare, all that commercialism and flag-waving
Her record for women set 33 years ago has not been bettered and it may never be.
How about Miguel Indurain winning 5 Tours in a row? That is most impressive and unlikely to be repeated anytime soon. Unless a dude with 3 lungs comes along…
How about Greg LeMond beating Laurent Fignon by EIGHT SECONDS in that final contre-le-montre on the Champs Elysees?
1989, right? Dammit, that was exciting.
Indurain winning 5 times in a row is a superb feat, but winning the Tour after having knocked on Deaths Door firmly is even better - I salute you, Lance Armstrong.
This is hardly the best of all time, but the most exciting sporting event I’ve seen in a long time just took place, namely the US Women’s Soccer team going up 1-0 against Norway for the gold medal, Norway tying it off a corner kick right before halftime, Norway (despite having far fewer shots and generally seeming outplayed) going ahead with about half an hour left, the US desparately trying to catch up, Mia Hamm centering it to Tiffany Milbret NINETY SECONDS INTO STOPPAGE TIME for a header into the net, and then, just when you think that the US can’t possibly lose after that kind of thrill, Norway winning in overtime when one Norwegian somehow got the longball away from 4 US defenders. Wow. I was falling off of my chair. (Not that I wouldn’t have preferred the US to win, but the tying goal in stoppage time was just phenomenal… and the US has won enough big games that I can’t feel too bad about it…)
QUOTE] Originally posted by Coldfire/i]
** Winning the Tour after having knocked on Deaths Door firmly is even better - I salute you, Lance Armstrong.*
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You got me there Coldfire. Armstrong’s feat resides at the top of the list of greatest individual achievements of all time. What is ironic is that the weight loss caused by the cancer treatment made him lighter and a MUCH better climber than he used to be.
Also, Greg Lemond survived a hunting accident, IIRC he was accidentally shot by his friend. He came back and won back to back Tours. Another worthy achievement. Without a doubt.
Not to be picky, but wasn’t the difference between Lemond and Fignon 7 seconds?
