Sporting events/achievements you remember most vividly.

[castletonsnob]

Some sporting events or achievements, much like historical events, just stick with you. You remember EXACTLY where you were when you saw or heard about it happening. You knew, as soon as you saw or heard about it, that history had just been made.



What was it for you?

[Cyno]

Giants winning Super Bowl XLII. I was watching with my dad and we were both in amazement at the helmet catch and Plaxico Buress' TD catch that put them ahead of the then-undefeated Pats.

When they actually won, my dad and I both screamed and were ecstatic that we just witnessed our team pulling off one of the greatest upsets in pro sports history.

[Marvelous1LUFC]

Leeds United winning the EFL Championship in 2020. I had a season ticket, but 2020 being 2020 no fans were allowed in the stadium. It was the final game of the season, we were already champions at this point so they had a bus outside the stadium, for when they lifted the trophy. I went with a friend at the time.

There were 2 guys from argentina, just because our manager at the time, Marcelo Bielsa is very popular in argentina. I was born 8 months after leeds had won the 1st division (now the premier league) and leeds had won nothing since. We were Champions League semi finalists in 2001, got relegated in 2004, lost in the championship play off finals in 2006, got relegated from the championship in 2007, lost in the league 1 play off finals in 2008. Got promoted in 2010 after being runners up. Hired bielsa in 2018, and won the championship in 2020.

TLDR: Being a Leeds United fan is very stressful

I smelled like alcohol (i dont drink) and flares during the celebrations

[DiBiase is Good]

Champions League Final 2005.
Sat in the pub at half-time 3-0 down to the best team in world football then (seriously, that 2005 Milan team is like a fantasy team) and saying we were second best is flattering to us. I didn’t want to leave because if we lost, I was in the perfect place to drown my sorrows but if by some miracle we won, it would be one of the greatest nights of my life. And then in a seven minute spell in the second half, we scored three goals. When Dudek made that double save in extra time, I had a feeling our name was on the trophy that year and sure enough, a penalty shoot-out later, we won the European Cup for the fifth time and therefore got to keep it forever. I watch the match again now and still find it hard to believe that a pretty average team somehow beat a team that contained Dida, Pirlo, Crespo, Shevchenko, Cafu, Seedorf, Nesta, Kaka and Maldini and about five other internationals too. Then I remember, luck, it was luck.

Goran Ivanisevic wins Wimbledon in 2001
Another of those fairytale stories. Although he had been runner-up three times, he’d dropped to 125th in the world and had to beg Wimbledon for a wild-card entry. He had some good fortune along the way as for once, the rain helped him as he was on the verge of losing to Henman in the semis until play was stopped and he dealt with it better than Henman did. It set up a final that was delayed by a day against Pat Rafter and as much as the crowd (and myself) loved Rafter, you could feel that the country wanted Goran to win. He did it the typical Ivanisevic way by threatening to implode but this time he knew it was now or never and after an epic fifth set, finally he won and collapsed to the floor in tears. He then got to fulfil his promise that when he won a major, he’d dedicate it to his friend, Drazen Petrovic, who was at the time possibly the best European player in the NBA but died in a car crash in the early 90s.

Usain Bolt wins 200m gold at the 2008 Summer Olympics.
We were gathered round a monitor at work watching the race as we knew it could be something special. 12 years earlier we’d seen Michael Johnson destroy the 200m world record in the Olympic final and it seemed like that record was untouchable. A few days before the 2008 200m started, Bolt had bettered his own world record in the 100m and won by a ridiculous margin. The 200m was Bolt’s speciality so he was expected to win comfortably, he did just that as he seemed to be in his own race as you could hardly see the other athletes. He got the world record and gold and would also break the world record and win gold in the 4x100m relay at the same Olympics (although this was eventually rescinded due to one of his teammates doping).

[smokinvokoun86]

When the Cubs won the NLCS, I was with friends. They kicked the Dodgers ass all game long but I was still tense the whole game. The top of the 9th I was clinched on the couch until Puig hit a grounder and I screamed at the top of my lungs “DOUBLE PLAY!!” And they won and it was the happiest day of my life.

Until the next week and game 7 happened and I was thankfully at home because if I had to watch the whole game with friends I’d be a miserable person because that game was the most tense I’d ever been for a sporting event. But I was with my Dad when Bryant threw to Rizzo for the greatest final out in baseball history. THAT was the happiest day of my life.

[XIII]

Holly Holm beating the brakes off of Ronda Rousey. That was such a satisfying watch. Ronda had that ass whooping coming.

Mike Tyson biting Holyfield’s ear off. That circus was crazy.

[Captain Stud Muffin (BLM)]

Aaron Boone Game 7 HR

I was at a friends house in Harlem watching the game and just remember everyone going crazy and how crazy the City was. Of course it was hell getting home cause I live next to the Stadium

[karl100589]

I legit blew out my knee watching this fight. One of my favourite sporting moments ever. Given no chance by the media. Not as fast, powerful or technical as her opponent, but bit down and threw out everything she had to get it done.

Julie divides opinion, but you can't fault her grit.

[fg]

NY Giants winning the 2008 and 2012 Super Bowls by beating the Patriots. The 2012 one is notable for the Pats making an odd decision by letting the Giants score just so they can give the ball to Brady in the final seconds so he can score a touchdown. One of the Giants realized what the Pats were doing by trying to stop himself from getting a touchdown but by that time it was too late because his momentum caused him to get a touchdown. Anyway, the Pats decision backfired because in the last few seconds, the Pats tried to throw the ball from one end of the field to the end zone and the ball…just missed the players hands by inches and that caused the Giants to win. I can only imagine how upset the Giants and their fans would be if the Pats caught the ball because that obviously would mean the Pats would win.

[Push R Truth]

When Brock Purdy started his first NFL Game against Tom freakin' Brady and Brock got benched in the second half... because they were blowing out the Bucs to the point they switched games on the broadcast.


For a more historic answer: I've seen 1 boxing PPV in my life. It was when Tyson decided to visit the All You Can Eat Ear Buffet. The pizza at the party was from a local joint and it was all pepperoni or cheese. The beer was Busch Light. Mary made this 7 layer taco dip that was stupid good. I was drinking a vodka lemonade. We had a Mario Kart tournament before the fight started. I remember having a bagel bite for the first time. Mary's father had come downstairs to watch the fight with us and I remember him saying something like "The history was worth every penny" even thought we were all mad there wasn't hardly a fight.

[Sponsored by Groose Wipes]

UMBC upsetting Virginia in March Madness 2018.
Royals losing the World Series in 2014.
Chiefs moving up in the draft and drafting Patrick Mahomes.
Chiefs winning the Super Bowl.
Alabama VS Auburn: "The Kick Six".
Chris Weidman knocking out Anderson Silva.

[unc40]

I got to see Jim Palmer pitch a one hit shutout against the Twins in person.

[Toilet Paper Roll]

I can remember what I was eating/drinking/ doing and everything when the Patriots beat the Rams the first time to win the Super Bowl. I started watching sports in 1988 and Boston was essentially loserville until that time. To think a team I cheered for actually won a championship is something I don’t think I could ever replicate even though the Patriots had a few absolutely great Super Bowl wins

[The_Don_Mecha]

I was at the first (and so far only) 300 yard passing, 300 yard rushing game from the same team. SF vs BUF on October 7, 2012. www.espn.com/nfl/recap/_/gameId/321007025 I was there in attendance. It was definitely overshadowed later that evening with Drew Brees breaking the consecutive games with a throwing TD record on SNF, which is also an amazing accomplishment. We got home from the game in time to watch SNF in full. Those were the days, watching football full time.

It was also the first game I ever took my child to.

[Triangle Lancer]

Hank Aaron 715. My mom says "You saw that! You had a womb with a view." (She was pregnant with me. I was born in September.)

Jack Morris' No-hitter, 1984. Was the NBC Game of the Week. Bittersweet, he no-hit my White Sox, but this Tigers team had something special behind it, starting 35-5. (They'd win the Series that year.)

"The Shot", 1998 version. Bryce Drew launches a half-court buzzer beater as Valparaiso University upsets Ole Miss in Round 1.
Funny thing, I had just started working at a plant in Mississippi, moved from formerly 45 minutes from VU. So I've seen the kid grow up. Saw him on TV cry his eyes out when his HS lost in the State Final.
Loved when people at work would ask "Who TF is Valparaiso?" And I can proudly say, "my school".

[sfvega]

The 2001 World Series. Best 1-2 punch of the modern era vs. The Yankees dynasty in the backdrop of 9/11. Amazing series. History seems to have let it fall through the cracks a bit to a merely great series in the pantheon of great series, but it felt like so much more at the time.

The 2006 Rose Bowl: USC was ready to be crowned the greatest CFB team of all time, but was only favored over Texas by 7. It was supposed to be a good game that annointed USC to the top of these silly debates. Instead we got a wild back and forth game the entire way through that ended on a nailbiter 4th and 5 ins8de the 10. I have still never seen a football game that good at any level given everything that was on the line and what transpired. And the Patriots alone have had 4 amazing SB games, but none of them hold a candle to this. I wish I could watch it again for the first time. It was like the Wrestlemania X-7 of sports.

[Toilet Paper Roll]

First positive sports event I remember was watching Buster Douglas beat Mike Tyson with my dad. It was just cool to enjoy a sporting event together even though 10 year old me loved Tyson

[salz4life]

Cubs winning the World Series.... I screamed, not because the Cubs won, at first.... but because I thought Bryant sailed the throw to first. I still get a nervous feeling in my stomach whenever I see it because I truly thought the ball was going to the stands as it travelled. It took me for a second before I celebrated.

[Rolent Tex]

The Minnesota Miracle

I’m a Saints fan and I was bartending during the game with a full bar. Everyone was standing for that last play while I just stared at the tv and shook my head.

[thehottag]

England winning the cricket World Cup, 2019. My dad played for the county, & so I grew up with cricket trophies in the cabinet, pictures on the walls, & tales of past matches & characters my dad had played in/with.

I never made it to the same level, but I always enjoyed the sport. I remember our high school cricket pitch was totally abandoned & forgotten, so my friends & I would go onto the grounds in the Summer holidays, fix it up, & then play from morning 'til dusk. I remember huddling round an old CRT in High School between exams to watch the 2005 Ashes series. I remember going round my best friend's house on a weekend to play Brian Lara Cricket on the PlayStation, complete with our own custom players.

So the 2019 World Cup was being held in England, & I happened to have tickets for a few games. I watched England lose to Pakistan, & also got to see the mercurial Kane Williamson live as New Zealand beat South Africa. I also got to go to the semi-final & watch England trounce Australia, which was almost as nice as the hug my 4 year-old gave me when I got home.

But nothing compares to the final. I had to work that day, but I asked my boss if it was ok to watch the game. I pushed my luck a bit when I turned up in a replica shirt - "no apologies" I said, which drew a chuckle. My best friend (same one as earlier), who now lives in Dubai, sent me a video message recounting tales past (we once hitch-hiked 300 miles to watch our team in a cup semi-final) & wishing England luck.

The match itself was a rollercoaster, as all good finals are. It was ridiculously close, ludocrously close. I actually feel bad for New Zealand, as they were (and still are) a phenomenal team, & there were so many tiny 'what if' moments which could've easily gone the other way. It actually ended as a tie, & so we went to sudden death. My colleague asked me who I thought should bowl, & I replied "Joffra" (Archer). Didn't even hesitate.

For Ian Smith, the New Zealand commentator, to call that final moment, must've been so hard. But I will never forget it as long as I live:

Smith: "This is the moment: it’s Archer to Guptill. Two to win. Guptill’s going to push for two. They’ve got to go. It’s… the throw’s got to go to the keeper’s end! HE’S GOT IT! England have won the World Cup by the barest of margins! By the BAREST OF ALL MARGINS. Absolute ecstasy for England, agony, agony for New Zealand…