76 Great Moments in Sports

SI Staff | May 2, 2011

76 Great Moments in Sports /

76 Great Moments in Sports

Babe Ruth calls his shot

When Babe Ruth came to bat in the fifth inning of Game 3 of the 1932 World Series, Cubs fans and players taunted the slugger mercilessly. Then, the Sultan of Swat pointed. Over the centerfield fence? Or at the pitcher? Historical evidence is mixed, but legend holds that Ruth predicted a home run and delivered on the next pitch. The homer was his second of the game and led the Yankees to a 7-5 win. (Send comments to siwriters@simail.com)

Jesse Owens' four golds medals

Adolf Hitler wanted to use the 1936 Olympics in Berlin to showcase Nazi Germany and prove the racial inferiority of African-Americans among ethnic groups. Instead, American track and field star Jesse Owens stole the show, winning four gold medals on Hitler's home turf.

Johnny Vander Meer's consecutive no-hitters

Johnny Vander Meer's unmatched feat wasn't a lockdown effort. The wild lefty walked eight batters in the second no-hitter (on June 15, 1938) and nearly lost the shutout in the ninth inning, when he walked the bases full. But Leo Durocher caught a pop up to preserve the then rookie's streak. Vander Meer would finish with a career 119-121 record

Joe DiMaggio's 56-game hitting streak

There were good games and bad games, wins and losses, multi-hit outings and near misses, but starting May 15, 1941, one thing stayed constant for the next two months: Joltin' Joe hit. Joe DiMaggio topped the previous record of 41 straight games with a hit on June 29 and pushed his record to an unmatched 56 games before the streak ended on July 17 with an 0-for-3 night against Cleveland.

Shot Heard 'Round the World

At 3:58 p.m. EST on Oct. 3, 1951, Bobby Thomson swatted a walk-off home run off Dodgers pitcher Ralph Branca at the Polo Grounds to give the Giants the National League pennant. Thompson's shot came in Game 3 of the three-game playoff between the rivals, and it came with the Giants down two runs with two men on base. It's still considered one of the most iconic moments in baseball history.

Roger Bannister's runs a sub four-minute mile

The world record had been stuck at 4:01.4 for nine years when Roger Bannister finally broke through on May 6, 1954. Pacesetters led Bannister for three laps and he put together a 59-second final lap to finish in 3:59.4, knocking two seconds off the record and eclipsing the four-minute mark.

Willie Mays' catch

Running full speed, his back to home plate, Giants center fielder Willie Mays reached up and pulled the ball in over his shoulder. The catch is famous for its startling display of athleticism. But it was also a turning point in the 1954 World Series. The Indians were heavy favorites to win, but after Mays hauled in the deep fly ball during Game 1, Cleveland never looked the same. New York swept the series.

Jackie Robinson steals home

Film later showed Jackie Robinson should have been called out, but he was ruled safe on the field when he broke from third base in the eighth inning of the 1955 World Series opener. The steal was one of the most memorable moments in the Hall of Famer's career. Even though the Dodgers got a break on the play, they lost the game 6-5 to the Yankees. Still, Brooklyn took the series in seven games.

Rocky Marciano retires at 49-0

A relative latecomer to the sport, Rocky Marciano started boxing while in the service during WWII. His amateur career was solid -- an 8-4 record. But once he turned pro, he never lost again. Along the way, the Brockton Blockbuster beat Joe Louis and earned the heavyweight title with a 13th-round knockout of Jersey Joe Walcott. Marciano was only 32 when he retired.

Don Larsen's Perfect Game

Don Larsen was knocked out of his Game 2 start by Brooklyn after less than two innings, but he was back on the mound for Game 5. Larsen retired all 27 Dodgers batters for the first -- and still only -- perfect game in World Series history as the Yankees won 2-0. New York went on to win the 1956 Series in seven games.

The Greatest Game Ever Played

In a game with 15 future Hall of Famers, there were two unlikely heroes. First, Giants backup QB Charlie Conerly led his team back from a 14-3 deficit. Then, in the fourth quarter of a tie game, Colts defensive end Gino Marchetti snapped two bones in his leg -- but the Giants were the ones left feeling like they caught the bad break. In the confusion after Marchetti's injury, the referee may have cost the Giants a first down with a bad spot. The 1958 game ended up going to overtime where Johnny Unitas led the Colts to a game-winning score. Afterward, Marchetti got the game ball.

Ted Williams homers in his last at-bat

The Splendid Splinter ended his career in the most spectacular way possible: by depositing a 1-1 fastball into the bullpen for a home run. Ted Williams' eighth-inning homer off Baltimore pitcher Jack Fisher in 1960 capped a career that included a .344 batting average and 521 home runs.

Bill Mazeroski's World Series-ending home run

A wild Game 7 was capped by the first World Series-winning home run in major league history. Pittsburgh's Bill Mazeroski hit a solo homer off the Yankees' Ralph Terry to lead off the bottom of the ninth, and although the Yankees outscored the Pirates 55-27 in the 1960 Series, they lost the decisive game 10-9.

Roger Maris hits No. 61

The 27-year-old outfielder connected with a waist-high fastball in the fourth inning of the final regular-season game of 1961 to break Babe Ruth's single-season home run record. The other big winner: A 19-year-old truck driver who caught Roger Maris' homer and received $5,000 and free trips to Sacramento and the World's Fair in Seattle. Maris' record stood until Mark McGwire hit 70 in 1998.

Wilt Chamberlain scores 100

Defining moments in the NBA usually come in the postseason, but Wilt the Stilt turned a 1962 regular-season matchup with the Philadelphia Warriors into one of the most famous games in league history. Chamberlain scored 41 first-half points -- and then picked up the pace from there. With eight minutes left in the fourth quarter, he broke his own single-game scoring record with his 79th point. Despite the Knicks' best efforts to avoid embarrassment, Wilt finished with 100 points, the single-greatest scoring performance in history.

Ali-Liston

Heavyweight champion Sonny Liston was a big favorite over the trash-talking, 22-year-old Olympic gold medalist, Cassius Clay. But the challenger dominated the 1964 fight, bloodying the champ in what many considered at the time to be the biggest upset in boxing history. But the boxer who later became Muhammad Ali changed that consensus by showing the pundits didn't realize how good Liston's competition was.

"Havlicek Stole the Ball"

In one of the most famous finishes in NBA history, Boston's all-time leading scorer came up big on defense. The Celtics were clinging to a one-point lead in Game 7 of the 1965 Finals, but Wilt Chamberlain and the 76ers threatened to end Boston's dynasty. In the waning seconds, John Havlicek snuck in front of Philadelphia's Chet Walker and intercepted the inbounds pass to seal the series win for the Celtics. Longtime Boston announcer Johnny Most's radio call -- "Havlicek Stole the Ball!" -- is one of the most well-known in basketball history.

Bob Beamon shatters record

In the 33 years before the 1968 Olympics, the world record in the long jump had moved 8.5 inches. With one leap, Bob Beamon tacked 21.75 inches onto the mark -- becoming the first man to break 29 feet when no one had ever before broken 28. His historic performance earned him the gold medal and a long-standing record of his own. Beamon's mark lasted until Mike Powell added two inches to it in 1991.

Joe Namath guarantees a win

After the AFL was blown out in the first two Super Bowls, experts were skeptical that the league was worthy of merging with the NFL. Then came Broadway Joe and the New York Jets. Namath guaranteed that his team would upset the Baltimore Colts, an 18-point favorite, and backed up his words in the best way possible -- on the field in the 1969 game. He went 17 for 28 passing and earned MVP honors in a 16-7 victory.

Willis Reed plays through pain

No one knew if Willis Reed would play in Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers after suffering a severe muscle tear in his thigh. But Reed was in the starting lineup, scored the first four points -- his only in the game -- and played a crucial 27 minutes of defense on Wilt Chamberlain to help lift the Knicks to their first title.

Bobby Orr scores game-winner in 1970 Stanley Cup Finals

Bobby Orr was virtually unstoppable in 1970, so it's fitting that the photo associated with his game-winning, Stanley Cup-clinching goal makes him appear to defy gravity. Orr became the first defenseman to lead the league in scoring during the season, won the league MVP award and, most importantly, led the Bruins to their first title since 1941.

The Immaculate Reception

Rookie Franco Harris was supposed to stay in the backfield to block on fourth-and-10 with 1:17 to play in the Steelers' 1972 playoff game with Oakland, but the fullback wound up in the right spot. When Terry Bradshaw's desperation pass to John Fuqua was deflected into the air, Harris made a shoestring catch and raced to the end zone for the winning score. The play remains controversial for whether the ball bounced off Fuqua -- which was prohibited at the time -- or a defender.

Dolphins' perfect season

History's most famous champagne-poppers almost didn't get through Week 3 of the 1972 season unblemished. Trailing 14-6 with four-and-a-half minutes remaining against the Vikings, the Dolphins needed two late scores to escape with a narrow 16-14 victory. Despite the unbeaten run, they didn't inspire a lot of respect -- they were still two-point underdogs in Super Bowl VII. Now, whenever the final undefeated team loses for the first time, Mercury Morris & Co. pop the cork to celebrate their place in history.

Battle of the Sexes

In a tennis match billed as "The Battle of the Sexes," Billie Jean King faced off against Bobby Riggs, an ex-No. 1 player and star of men's tennis. Riggs claimed that women's tennis was inferior to men's, and that even well past his prime (at age 55), he could beat any woman willing to play him. King won the 1973 match 6-4, 6-3, 6-3, making a statement for all female athletes.

Secretariat wins Triple Crown

Secretariat didn't just win the 1973 Belmont to cap the first Triple Crown in 25 years. Big Red redefined greatness in horse racing. Another colt, Sham, was still close as they headed toward the backstretch, but Secretariat broke free and continued to pull farther and farther ahead. The 31-length victory and track-record time of 2:24 marked Secretariat as the greatest horse of his generation.

Hank Aaron hits No. 715

After tying Babe Ruth's career home run record just days earlier in Cincinnati, Hank Aaron returned to Atlanta, where he blasted his record-setting home run in front of the home crowd. On April 8, 1974, Aaron sent a pitch off Los Angeles' Al Downing into the home bullpen at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. His record has since been passed by Barry Bonds.

Thrilla in Manila

Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier split a pair of earlier bouts, but neither of those fights matched the intensity or brutality of fight No. 3, the Thrilla in Manila, in 1975. After 10 even rounds, Frazier unleashed an aggressive attack on Ali, hitting him with "punches that'd bring down the walls of a city," he'd say later. But Ali found one last surge, and pummeled Frazier so badly that the veteran threw in the towel after the 14th round.

Wooden retires after 10th title

The Wizard of Westwood announced on the eve of the 1975 title game that he would retire at the end of the season. And the Bruins provided a fitting ending to his storied career. UCLA defeated Kentucky 92-85 to give John Wooden his 10th title. Wooden, who died in June 2010 at 99, led the Bruins to 88 straight wins during one four-year stretch.

Carlton Fisk waves it fair

Both teams had missed opportunities to end Game 6 of the 1975 World Series, and as Carlton Fisk's deep fly ball toward the Green Monster began drifting foul, it appeared to be another of those near misses. But Fisk, hopping up and down along the first-base line while waving his arms toward fair territory, didn't give up. And the ball stayed fair, striking the foul pole for a game-winning home run.

Bruce Jenner sets world record

A former college football player, Bruce Jenner had to give up his gridiron aspirations because of a knee injury. But his backup plan turned out pretty well, after his football coach encouraged him to switch to the decathlon. Jenner worked his way to the 1976 Olympics in Montreal, where he won the gold medal and set a world record of 8,634 points.

Nadia Comaneci's Perfect 10

The 4-11, 86-pound Romanian gymnast did something no competitor had ever done. And then she did it again and again. Nadia Comaneci earned the first perfect score in Olympic competition with a flawless performance on the uneven bars at the 1976 Olympics. She then received six more at the competition en route to three gold medals.

Magic and Bird in NCAA Final

Before they battled in one of the NBA's most storied rivalries, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird met for the 1979 national title. Bird had led Indiana State to an undefeated regular season, but Johnson and the Spartans topped the Sycamores in the title game. Michigan State's matchup zone defense forced Bird into a bad shooting night, ending Indiana State's hopes.

Miracle on Ice

Facing a team that had destroyed it 10-3 before the 1980 Olympics, the United States had no reason to believe it could compete. But U.S. coach Herb Brooks had been preparing his players for this moment, and they responded. Mark Johnson scored to tie the Soviets at two after the first period and again to tie the score at three in the third. That set the stage for Mike Eruzione's shot that gave the U.S. a 4-3 upset victory.

Magic starts at center in series-clinching win at 1980 Finals

With Kareem Abdul-Jabbar out with an ankle injury, the 6-9 rookie point guard Magic Johnson moved to center (eventually playing every position on the floor) and delivered a 42-point, 15-rebound performance as the Lakers clinched the 1980 championship with a 123-107 victory in Game 6. Johnson's versatility was never more evident than in this game.

The Catch

Did Joe Montana mean to throw the ball away? With 51 seconds remaining in the 1982 NFC Championship Game, the 49ers were down 27-21. Montana took the snap, scrambled and launched a pass toward the stands. But Dwight Dwight Clark leapt and hauled in the pass with his fingertips. The Catch sent San Francisco to the Super Bowl (which it won 26-21 over Cincinnati).

Wayne Gretzky's record 92nd goal

The Great One was primarily a playmaker, but he shocked the hockey world with his 92 goals in 1981-82, crushing Phil Esposito's previous record of 76. Wayne Gretzky got off to a hot start, scoring 50 goals in only 39 games, and notched the record-breaker on Feb. 24, as part of a hat trick against the Sabres.

The Play

After Stanford kicked a field goal to go ahead 20-19 with four seconds left, Cal reached into its bag of tricks. On the ensuing kickoff, the Golden Bears lateraled the ball five times -- four laterals and an illegal forward pass if you ask Stanford fans -- and tight end Kevin Moen thundered into the end zone past the Stanford band, which had entered the field thinking the 1982 game was over, to give Cal the win.

N.C. State upsets Houston

Houston's highly ranked juggernaut earned a nickname -- Phi Slamma Jamma -- for its dunking ability, but N.C. State used a slam of its own to finish an unlikely upset in 1983. The Wolfpack lengthened the game with fouls and tied the score. A 35-foot airball with three seconds left landed in the arms of an air-born Lorenzo Charles, who dunked N.C. State and coach Jim Valvano to the title.

Doug Flutie's Hail Mary

Late in a back-and-forth 1984 battle with Miami, Boston College trailed 45-41. Near midfield with six seconds left, Eagles' quarterback Doug Flutie took the game's final snap, scrambled to the right with his eyes on the end zone and launched the ball 63 yards down the field. The football flew through the arms of two defenders and into the waiting hands of Gerard Phelan to win the game. The iconic moment also helped seal Flutie's Heisman Trophy win.

Jack Nicklaus wins Masters

Six years removed from his last major victory, four strokes back on Sunday and 46 years old, Jack Nicklaus rediscovered just enough of his greatness for one last run in 1986. As other contenders self-destructed all around him, Nicklaus hit clutch putts to shoot a record-tying 30 on the back nine and earn his sixth green jacket.

Diego Maradona scores Goal of the Century

Argentina's star scored two goals -- one infamous and one famous -- late in his team's 2-1 win over England at the 1986 World Cup. While the "Hand of God" goal is remembered for all the wrong reasons, Diego Maradona's dash through the England defense highlighted the beauty of the world's game. Maradona eluded four defenders on a 60-yard scoring run to lead Argentina to the quarterfinal victory.

The Drive

Broncos quarterback John Elway led many clutch late-game drives, but none as famous as his game-tying trek against Cleveland in the 1987 AFC Championship Game. Denver trailed 20-13 when Elway took over at his own two-yard line with five minutes left. He marched the Broncos down the field with a mix of passing and running and capped the drive with a touchdown pass to Mark Jackson with 37 seconds left. Denver won on a field goal in overtime to advance to Super Bowl XXI, where it lost to the New York Giants.

Kirk Gibson's pinch-hit homer

A hobbling Kirk Gibson shocked the A's -- and the baseball world -- with his pinch-hit, game-winning home run in the bottom of the ninth off Dennis Eckersley in Game 1 of the '88 World Series. Gibson didn't play for the rest of the Series, but the inspired Dodgers crushed the heavily-favored A's in five games.

Jordan hits The Shot

The Bulls star had to work to get the inbounds pass, and as he drove left and rose from the foul line, Cleveland's Craig Ehlo was with him. But Michael Jordan hung in the air an extra second and drained the series winner in the first round of the 1989 playoffs. Chicago went on to beat New York in the second round but lost to Detroit in the conference finals.

Buster Douglas KO's Tyson

The 1990 bout in Tokyo was supposed to be merely a tuneup fight for Tyson, who was widely considered the best boxer in the world. But in the 10th round, Douglas used an uppercut and a series of combinations to knock down the champ for the first time. Tyson struggled to regain his footing and failed to beat the ref's count.

Nolan Ryan tosses seventh no-hitter at 44

In what the fireballer later called the most overpowering performance of his career, Nolan Ryan struck out 16 Blue Jays in 1991 and topped his own record for oldest pitcher to threw a no-hitter, which he had set the year before against Oakland. He mixed his curveball and changeup with his fastball to keep Toronto hitters off balance, and he received help from centerfielder Gary Pettis' shoestring catch in the sixth.

Christian Laettner's game-winner stuns Kentucky

Duke star Christian Laettner had only 2.1 seconds, but he never looked rushed. Not when breaking to the free-throw line to catch Grant Hill's heave from the far baseline. Not as he dribbled once. Not as he faked right to clear some space. And not as he spun left and released his game-winner in the 1992 Elite Eight in one of the most stunning endings in NCAA tournament history.

Joe Carter's walk-off homer

Philadelphia was on the brink of forcing a Game 7 against the favored Blue Jays in the 1993 World Series. Toronto had led 5-1 early in Game 6, but by the time slugger Joe Carter stepped to the plate in the bottom of the ninth, his team trailed by a run. Carter worked the count and swatted an inside fastball over the left-field fence to lock up the Blue Jays' second straight world championship. It was only the second time a World Series ended on a walk-off home run.

Mark Messier leads Rangers to first Stanley Cup in 54 years

If anyone could vanquish the Curse, it was the captain. After winning five Stanley Cups with Edmonton, Mark Messier arrived in New York charged with ending the title-drought. In Game 7 of the 1994 finals, he scored the decisive goal as the Rangers beat the Canucks 3-2.

Reggie Miller scores eight points in 8.9 seconds to beat Knicks

At the height of the Knicks-Pacers rivalry of the 1990s, Reggie Miller delivered the dagger to New York and his nemesis, No. 1 Knicks' fan Spike Lee. The Knicks held a 105-99 lead with less than 20 seconds left before Miller stunned the crowd at Madison Square Garden by pouring in eight points (including back-to-back threes) in a span of 8.9 seconds to bury New York in Game 1 of a 1995 playoff series. Miller scored 31 points in all, earning him the nickname "The Knick Killer."

Cal Ripken starts his 2,131st consecutive game

For more than 13 straight years, Cal Ripken Jr. proved his love of baseball each day. On Sept. 6, 1995, Ripken broke one of the most hallowed records in sports -- Lou Gehrig's consecutive game streak. The record-breaker was a 4-2 win over the Angels in which Ripken received a 22-minute standing ovation.

Keri Strug secures gold for U.S.

Ignoring the pain of an ankle injury suffered on her first vault, Kerri Strug approached her second attempt knowing the United States' hopes for a gold medal rested on her. She jumped the vault again and landed, instantly shifting to her good foot. Two feet or not, her heroics were enough to net the U.S. a gold at the 1996 Olympics.

Tiger Woods becomes youngest Masters champ

Former Stanford star Tiger Woods became the youngest Masters winner ever when he destroyed the field with a record score of 18-under par to win by 12 strokes in 1997. Woods was also the first African-American to win the tournament. He has since added three more green jackets.

Earnhardt wins Daytona 500

Dale Earnhardt endured two decades of frustrations and tribulations in the Daytona 500, despite dominating nearly every other form of racing at the speedway. When the veteran finally claimed his only Daytona 500 win in 1998, colleagues and competitors lined pit road to congratulate him.

Jordan's game-winner vs. Utah

The greatest player of all-time had the ball, his team down a point and his sixth championship one basket away in 1998. Michael Jordan shook defender Byron Russell (with a slight push) and got a clean look from near the free-throw line. With that, Jordan had his perfect ending -- at least in a Bulls jersey. Although he came back later to play for the Wizards, MJ's shot against Utah is the lasting image of his career.

The Putt Heard 'Round the World

The United States started Sunday four points back of the Europeans at the 1999 Ryder Cup. But, after a historic comeback, the U.S. held a 14-11 lead when Justin Leonard lined up his 45-foot putt on the 17th hole. The U.S. team exploded as Leonard's putt fell, golf etiquette aside. Europe's Jose Maria Olazabel missed his 20-footer that could have prolonged the match.

Brandi Chastain scores World Cup winner

For a moment -- in the middle of baseball season, no less -- the American sports world turned to women's soccer. And the 1999 World Cup final didn't disappoint. Playing in the Rose Bowl, the U.S. battled China to a scoreless tie through extra time. After Briana Scurry made a crucial save in the penalty shootout, Brandi Chastain found the back of the net to secure the title.

Serena wins U.S. Open at 17

At 17 and in only her second professional season, Serena Williams defeated Martina Hingis, the world's top-ranked player, to become the first African-American woman to win a Grand Slam title since Althea Gibson in 1958. In capturing the 1999 title, Williams beat three of the top four women in the world -- Hingis, Lindsay Davenport (2) and Monica Seles (4). She has since won 12 more Grand Slam titles.

Music City Miracle

Down 16-15 to the Buffalo Bills in the AFC wild card game in 2000, Tennessee needed something special on its kickoff return with 16 seconds left. And that's what it got. The Titans' Frank Wycheck fielded the squib kick, ran right, planted and threw a lateral across the field to Kevin Dyson, who followed a convoy of blockers down the sideline to score the game-winning touchdown.

Rulon Gardner takes gold at Sydney Olympics

Russian Alexander Karelin hadn't lost in 13 years and had three Olympic gold medals to his name. But Rulon Gardner, the youngest of nine children of a dairy farmer, took the superheavyweight title 1-0 at the 2000 Summer Games. The win shocked a crowd that included IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch, who came to deliver a fourth gold medal to the man widely considered the greatest wrestler ever.

Luis Gonzalez hits World Series-winning single

After watching the Yankees rally for improbable wins in Games 4 and 5, it was Arizona's turn in the decisive Game 7 of the 2001 World Series. The Diamondbacks trailed 2-1 entering the bottom of the ninth and had to face New York's closer extraordinaire, Mariano Rivera. They tied the game and then loaded the bases for slugger Luis Gonzalez, who had hit 57 home runs during the regular season. All the D-backs needed was a single, and that's what Gonzalez gave them, blooping a base hit over the drawn-in infield to score the Series-winning run.

Ray Bourque finally wins his Stanley Cup after 22 seasons

The Bruins icon requested a trade from Boston so he would have a chance to win the Stanley Cup that had eluded him during his 21-year NHL career. Bourque shined after a trade to Colorado, and when the Avalanche won the championship in June 2001, Joe Sakic skipped the NHL tradition of the captain raising the Cup first, instead letting Bourque have the first shot.

Lisa Leslie becomes first woman to dunk in the WNBA

Considered a pioneer of the WNBA, Lisa Leslie became the first woman to dunk in a professional basketball game when she threw down an open-court jam for the Los Angeles Sparks in 2003. The 6-5 USC product won three WNBA MVP awards and four Olympic gold medals, but she might be best remembered for being the first female player to throw one down on a fast break.

Red Sox break the Curse

After the Boston Red Sox came back from a 3-0 deficit to stun the Yankees in the American League Championship Series, experts wondered if they had enough left in the tank to lift the Curse of the Bambino. They left no doubt in a sweep of the Cardinals. Manny Ramirez hit .412 during the World Series to earn MVP honors, and three of Boston's four starters didn't give up an earned run.

Lance Armstrong wins seventh straight Tour de France

Lance Armstrong competed in the Tour four times in the early-to-mid 1990s, completing it just once (1995 -- 36th). After beating cancer, Armstrong started beating cyclists, too. He won seven straight Tours, two more total than anybody else, with his closest win coming in his fifth consecutive in 2003, when he beat rival Jan Ullrich by 1 minute, 1 second.

Boise State empties playbook in 43-42 Fiesta Bowl win

Boise State led Big 12 champion Oklahoma by 18 in the third quarter of the 2007 Fiesta Bowl, but the Sooners roared back, taking a 35-28 lead with 1:02 left. Facing fourth-and-18 from the 50, Boise opened up the playbook. Jared Zabransky hit Drisan James at the 35, and James pitched to Jerad Rabb, who crossed the goal line with seven seconds to go. After Adrian Peterson scored to give Oklahoma the lead in overtime, the Broncos answered on a halfback pass. Not content to play a second OT, coach Chris Peterson called the Broncos' version of the Statue of Liberty. Ian Johnson scored the two-point conversion to shock the Sooners and then proposed to his girlfriend, cheerleader Chrissy Popadics. She said yes.

David Tyree's helmet catch helps beat undefeated Patriots

Eli Manning escaped a sure-fire sack to keep the third-down play alive late in the fourth quarter and bought enough time to heave a pass to David Tyree, who had cut short his route to help out his QB. Tyree pinned the ball against his helmet with his right hand and held on as Patriots safety Rodney Harrison tried to break up the play. The Giants scored on the drive to take the lead and beat the previously undefeated Patriots in Super Bowl XLII in 2008.

Jason Lezak keeps Phelps' record hopes alive

The 32-year-old Jason Lezak was half a body length behind trash-talking world-record holder Alain Bernard of France with 50 meters to go in the last leg of the 400-meter freestyle relay at the 2008 Olympics. Michael Phelps' quest for eight gold medals should have ended there. But Lezak completed his superhuman effort by closing the gap with a world-record split and out-touching Bernard in perhaps the greatest comeback in swimming history.

Usain Bolt's Olympic records

Showboating Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt blazed onto the scene during the Beijing Games in 2008, setting world records in the 100 meters (9.69 seconds), 200 meters (19.30 seconds) and the 4x100 meter relay (37.10 seconds). Bolt became the first man to win gold in all three events since Carl Lewis accomplished the feat in 1984. In the 100, Bolt started his celebration 20 meters early, leaving experts to speculate how fast he could have finished if he had run hard through the finish line.

Michael Phelps out-touches Cavic for 100-meter butterfly win

The dream of beating Mark Spitz's record of seven gold medals in one Olympics came down to a fingertip in 2008. Michael Phelps made what many thought was a tactical error when he took one last half-stroke as he came to the finish, but it enabled him to pass Milorad Cavic and hit the wall one-hundredth of a second ahead of the Serbian, who was desperately stretching for the touchpad.

Santonio Holmes' tip-toe catch

The Steelers led 20-7 early in Super Bowl XLIII, but it looked like Pittsburgh's top-ranked defense would allow the biggest comeback in league history. Arizona scored 16 straight points to take a 23-20 lead late in the fourth quarter. Then, Ben Roethlisberger found some late-game magic and Santonio Holmes got both feet in bounds on his six-yard touchdown catch with 35 seconds left to give the Steelers their sixth Super Bowl title.

Roger Federer wins record-breaking 15th Grand Slam title

The tennis great needed a marathon final set to top Andy Roddick, but he was dressed the part as he accepted his record 15th Grand Slam title in 2009. Roger Federer moved ahead of Pete Sampras after serving 50 aces in a 5-7, 7-6 (6), 7-6 (5), 3-6, 16-14 win over Roddick. Immediately after the match, Federer put on a white track jacket with a golden 15 on it -- showing that the usually reserved player was ready for his moment in the spotlight.

The Longest Match Ever

The 2010 first-round Wimbledon match between John Isner and Nicolas Mahut lasted 11 hours, five minutes. The final set, which was suspended twice because of darkness, lasted eight hours, 11 minutes alone. The record-breaking battle -- which Isner finally won 6-4, 3-6, 6-7 (7), 7-6 (3), 70-68 -- also led Isner (112) and Mahut (103) to eclipse the sport's previous high of 78 aces in one match.

Lindsey Vonn wins downhill gold

Fighting a shin injury that threatened to keep her from competing and a treacherous course that led to several high-speed crashes, Lindsey Vonn did what was expected: win. Her downhill gold backed up -- to some extent -- the advance billing she received. Although she won only one of the three races she set out to take, her downhill victory showed perseverance and guts.

Roy Halladay throws no-hitter in playoff debut

Phillies ace Roy Halladay pitched 12 seasons without making the playoffs, but he made the most of his opportunity by dominating the Reds for the second no-hitter in postseason history. Halladay, who had already thrown a perfect game earlier in the season, walked only one batter in the 2010 contest. He became the first player to record regular and postseason no-hitters during the same year.

UConn wins 89th straight game

With a 93-62 rout of Florida State on Dec. 21, 2010, the Huskies surpassed the UCLA men's basketball team's record of 88 straight wins. The blowout was typical of UConn's streak: The Huskies won by an average of 33.3 points per game and only four victories were by fewer than 10 points. The streak stretched to 90 games before a loss to Stanford on Dec. 30. (Send comments to siwriters@simail.com)

Published May 2, 2011

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