Most Influential Moments in Sports

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Vote for Michael Johnson Breaks His Own World Record in the 200 m 1) Michael Johnson Breaks His Own World Record in the 200 m

“No one has ever run that fast! This record is almost eleven years old and no one has come close to beating it yet!”

Vote for 1980 USA Hockey Team Beats the USSR 2) 1980 USA Hockey Team Beats the USSR

“"The United States was emerging from a troubled decade. The 1970’s had been marked by an ugly end to the Vietnam War, a demoralizing Watergate spectacle, rampant inflation, unemployment, an energy crisis.
The Soviets had just invaded Afghanistan, rejuvenating the Cold War.

The Soviet hockey team had won 8 of the last 9 Olympic gold medals, including 4 in a row. The Soviets’ Olympic winning streak was now 21 straight games.
They had not lost an Olympic hockey game since 1968.
The Soviets were widely recognized as the best team in the world.

In the dressing room before the game, Coach Herb Brooks told his team, ’the moment is yours. ’
Team USA won the game 4-3.”

Malorian

“why is this not number 1?! This was more than sports!”

phigginskc

“You must think I’m crazy for not having this at number one... but as a sports fan I’m more influenced by the above... I wasnt alive for the cold war... idk maybe it’s just not as influential to me anymore.. but I do believe in miracles lol.”

AlexConley

visit 1980 USA Hockey Team Beats the USSR website

Vote for Jesse Owens Debunks the Aryan Myth 3) Jesse Owens Debunks the Aryan Myth

“One of the greatest moments in sport”

MatrixGuy

“This is another moment that wasn’t just crucial for America... it was crucial for the world. It was a slap to Germany... it was a slap to genocide and racism... but above all... it was a grand stand of athleticism by what is mostly now a forgotten warrior in the field of sports.”

AlexConley

“this was the biggest, hands down

"He’s a credit to his race, the HUMAN race."”

visit Jesse Owens Debunks the Aryan Myth website

Vote for Wilt Chamberlain’s 100 Point Game 4) Wilt Chamberlain’s 100 Point Game

“I just love this because this is the one record that I’m convinced will never get broken by anyone. Kobe got close... and that’s as close as anyone will ever touch.”

AlexConley

“A man who is 7’0 tall and plays like a man who is no more than 200 ibs. He was simply amazing that game. His record still holds today, which is a good example of the legend stars and the old timers. His record still holds strong and the closest person that I think to him is Kobe Bryant with 81 points.”

Undertaker15-0

visit Wilt Chamberlain’s 100 Point Game website

Vote for Hank Aaron Passes the Babe 5) Hank Aaron Passes the Babe

“This gives me chills to watch this footage. When the two white males pat him on the back... I honestly get emotional. It wasn’t just for Hank... it was for America.”

AlexConley

visit Hank Aaron Passes the Babe website

Vote for Jackie Robinson Breaks the Color Barrier in Baseball 6) Jackie Robinson Breaks the Color Barrier in Baseball

“This is the most influential moment if it wasn’t for jackie Robinson who would have broken the color barrier”

dmahn24

“Without Jackie Robinson the world would be way worse.”

Music

“That shaped all of sports forever”

Vote for Lou Gehrig’s "Luckiest Man" Farewell. 7) Lou Gehrig’s "Luckiest Man" Farewell.

“This isn’t just sports, this is life.”

mikeman317

“God... let’s forget sports for a minute... this didn’t just influence sports fans... this influenced everyone. He was the Iron Horse... never missed a game... then this speech. It was a dying man spreading appreciation to all of his fans. He gave it all for the game... and the game blessed him back, that is the beauty of sports my friends.”

AlexConley

visit Lou Gehrig’s "Luckiest Man" Farewell. website

Vote for Manchester United Triple Cups 8) Manchester United Triple Cups

“The only English side to win the Premier League, FA Cup & European Champions League all in the same year. Now that’s an awesome season! - I doubt this will ever be achieved again.”

plmilligan1968

Vote for Babe Ruth Sold to the Yankees 9) Babe Ruth Sold to the Yankees

“The king himself... sold for nothing to the Yankees. If it weren’t for this poor... poor decision by the Red Sox... who knows what baseball would be like today? Would Babe have been the king that he was? Would the Yankees have been such a dominant franchise? This laid the groundwork for baseball today... well... this and steriods lol.”

AlexConley

visit Babe Ruth Sold to the Yankees website

Vote for Cal vs. Stanford 10) Cal vs. Stanford

“I almost never believe that the play wasn’t over when I see this. I can’t hardly even follow where the ball is lol. But this is sports at it’s finest... mass hysteria and disbelief. Plus, I always crack up watching that band member gettin trounced on lol.”

AlexConley

visit Cal vs. Stanford website

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Vote for Joe Namath Guarantees Victory 11) Joe Namath Guarantees Victory

“What can I say that hasn’t been said? It’s Broadway Joe for the love of god. The man is an icon to this day... god love him, the goofy bastard lol.”

AlexConley

» visit Joe Namath Guarantees Victory website

Vote for Munster win the Heineken Cup 12) Munster win the Heineken Cup

“Denied twice before
But they would not let it happen again”

Grizleybear

Vote for Liverpool Wins 5th European Cup 13) Liverpool Wins 5th European Cup

“Legendary history. With 4 already to their name Liverpol reach the finals against all the odds taking out Leverkusan, Juventus and Chelsea on the way. Only to face AC Milan. Down 3-0 at half time captain fantastic Steven Gerrard rallies the trops and leads the fightback with a superb header followed by a long range shot from midfielder Vladimir Smicer. Gerrard then breaks through the defense and one on one with Dida is tripped from behind by Guttaso. Alonso’s penalty is saved by Dida but he scores the rebound. 3-3 and after heroics by Jerzy Dudek in extra time he is called upon again and is the hero in the Penalty Shot Out to give Liverpol their 5th European Title.”

Vote for Brett Favre 399 Yards 4 TD's the Day After Father's Death 14) Brett Favre 399 Yards 4 TD's the Day After Father's Death

“One of the defining moments of Favre’s career and arguably his greatest game ever took place on December 22, 2003, in a Monday Night Football game against the Oakland Raiders. The day before, on Sunday, December 21, 2003, Brett’s father Irvin Favre ran into a ditch near Kiln, Mississippi, where years earlier Brett Favre had nearly died in a car accident. Sergeant Joe Gazzo of the Mississippi Highway Patrol stated, "It didn’t appear that the accident was serious enough to cause him to be unconscious, so that leads us to believe that a medical condition was what caused him to go off the road. " Irvin Favre went off the road at 5:23 p. m. , according to eye-witness reports, and was pronounced dead at 6:15 p. m. An autopsy performed the following day showed that Irvin Favre died of a sudden heart attack. [28]

Favre elected to play the day after his father’s death, and passed for four touchdowns in the first half and 399 total yards in a 41-7 victory over the Raiders on international television (even receiving applause from "Raider Nation"). Afterwards, Favre said, "I knew that my dad would have wanted me to play. I love him so much and I love this game. It’s meant a great deal to me, to my dad, to my family, and I didn’t expect this kind of performance. But I know he was watching tonight. "[29] He was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week for his performance. [30] He then went to his father’s funeral in Pass Christian, Mississippi. Favre won an ESPY Award for his Monday Night Football performance. [31]

”

gotdamnnnn

Vote for Ali vs Frazier 1 15) Ali vs Frazier 1

“This cracks me up lol... because this is probably the only time that Ali in his prime... got straight up WHIPPED lol. That big left hook that Frazier laid on him towards the end... whoo... I wince everytime I see that haha.”

AlexConley

» visit Ali vs Frazier 1 website

Vote for Michael Jordan Dunks from the Foul Line 16) Michael Jordan Dunks from the Foul Line

Vote for Tony Dungy first African American coach to win the Superbowl 17) Tony Dungy first African American coach to win the Superbowl

Vote for Appalachian State defeated Michigan at Big House 18) Appalachian State defeated Michigan at Big House

“!-AA school beating a BCS college and storied program? Wake up call for all 1-A schools.”

Vote for Magic Johnson Contracts HIV 19) Magic Johnson Contracts HIV

Vote for Pele scores more than 1000 goals in 1990's 20) Pele scores more than 1000 goals in 1990's

Vote for Wilt Chamberlain vs. Muhammad Ali 21) Wilt Chamberlain vs. Muhammad Ali

“The fights that were hyped between the two guys were simply amazing, it was great.”

Undertaker15-0

Vote for Mark Messier's 1994 Stanley Cup Game 6 Guarantee 22) Mark Messier's 1994 Stanley Cup Game 6 Guarantee

“Greatest Leader in Sports history”

Vote for Franco Harris’ Immaculate Reception 23) Franco Harris’ Immaculate Reception

Vote for Tiger Wood's infamous "Hello World" press conference 1997 24) Tiger Wood's infamous "Hello World" press conference 1997

“This bold statement showed his confidence and dominance over the rest of the PGA tour...10 years later...still doin it”

Vote for Michael Jordan wins NBA Finals on Fathers Day for the first time since his dad died 25) Michael Jordan wins NBA Finals on Fathers Day for the first time since his dad died

Vote for Mark McGwire Hits 70 Home Runs in 1 Season 26) Mark McGwire Hits 70 Home Runs in 1 Season

“I remember it like it was yesterday. It was before steriods... before Bonds... when you could still be a hero to a little boy and he wouldn’t question you for your victory. This was one more of baseball’s glory moments.”

AlexConley

Vote for Billie Jean King Defeats Bobby Riggs 27) Billie Jean King Defeats Bobby Riggs

Vote for Joe Louis Beats Max Schmelling 28) Joe Louis Beats Max Schmelling

Vote for Mark Messier promises a win then scores the winning goal 29) Mark Messier promises a win then scores the winning goal

“does it really get better than that”

Vote for Maurice Richard makes new stepping stone in hockey history 50 goals 50 games 30) Maurice Richard makes new stepping stone in hockey history 50 goals 50 games