Moment/Game #2

Super Bowl XLII NY Giants vs. New England February 3, 2008

Even though no one wanted to admit (I did) that they wanted to see the Patriots go undefeated. You had wanted to see someone other than the ’72 Dolphins be the only team to finish a season undefeated. Popping champagne every time the last undefeated team loses and not that they all did it, but Mercury Morris in particular acted like if someone did it now, it wouldn’t be as special as theirs. Oh really Merc. Last I checked 19-0 was better than 17-0. How could you rationalize that your undefeated season was better than another if it happened?

You got a pre-cursor to this Super Bowl in the last week of the regular season. Both the Giants and Patriots were asked if they would be resting their starters. The Giants had nothing to play for. Their spot in the playoffs was already etched in stone. The Patriots were not hiding the fact that they were going for the perfect season. Both went after each other for the best game of the regular season that went in favor of the Patriots 38-35. A perfect 16-0 regular season. They still needed to win three more games to be considered the best team of all time. 19-0 was the goal for the Patriots.

The Giants went through the playoffs winning all three of their games on the road. At Tampa Bay, Dallas & Green Bay. Pretty formidable venues when it’s playoff time. They were underdogs in every single game mind you. No one even gave them a fighters chance when they got to Phoenix to play the Patriots in the Super Bowl. When wide receiver Plaxico Burress predicted victory and the score of 23-17 in favor of the Giants. The sports world was shocked. Normally predictions before a Super Bowl by a player is a sign of a blowout. Or that player who made the prediction will have his worst game ever. Well, not really.

Defense was the name, not offense for this matchup. When they first met, it was a race to the finish line with both offenses scoring 35 or more points. Your halftime score was 7-3 in favor of the Patriots. A lone rushing TD by Laurence Maroney of the Patriots was the only scoring in sight. Tom Brady was getting pressure from the Giants defensive line, which the Giants hardly blitzed the entire game. Four man front was all they needed to get pressure on the quarterback. David Tyree caught the Giants first TD pass from Eli Manning to start the fourth quarter. Brady and the Pats would answer with a TD pass to his favorite or one of his favorite targets wide receiver Randy Moss for a 6 yard connection that took up over five minutes in the fourth.

Just over two and a half minutes left for Eli to get the Giants the victory. Down 14-10, Manning was connecting to anyone and everyone that was wearing a Giants uniform. The moment came when it seemed Eli was going to be sacked, but wiggled his way out of the pocket and threw a prayer that was answered by David Tyree (pictured above). Safety Rodney Harrison who will soon be in the Hall of Fame normally makes plays on the ball, but failed to get away from Tyree’s head. Soon after Eli found Plaxico who made true on his prediction of victory catching the winning touchdown. 17-14 Giants pull off the greatest upset in Super Bowl history. Yes, bigger than Super Bowl 3 Jets vs. Colts. Perfection no more as the Patriots finish short of it. The Giants came close in Week 17, but perfected their game plan when it mattered.

Moment/Game #3

2006 Rose Bowl Texas vs. USC January 4, 2006

The Heisman race that year was between three of the players from this game. Quarterbacks Matt Leinart of USC, Vince Young of Texas and running back Reggie Bush of USC. Bush ultimately won the Heisman, but Young got many votes. Quite a bit more than Leinart who had won the Heisman the year before. Both teams had identical records at 12-0 coming into the Rose Bowl which happened to be the national title game as well. For once the BCS actually got it right, but only because there weren’t any other undefeated teams to stake a claim at the title.

Almost 94,000 people attended the best college football game of the decade. Texas were the underdogs going into the game. No one could have expected this game to be a shoot out that started in favor of Texas. Running back LenDale White of USC scored the first TD in the first quarter. Texas would answer in a big way when running backs Selvin Young and Ramonce Taylor both ran for touchdowns in the second quarter. Texas also added a field goal. USC would kick a field goal to end the first half down to Texas 10-16.

The fireworks began in the second half where Vince Young who was kept quiet for the first half, exploded in the third quarter. Young ran for his first touchdown, but USC answered with two rushing touchdowns from LenDale White. USC would have a 24-23 lead to end the third quarter. The game quickly became a one sided affair to start the fourth quarter. Reggie Bush capped off a 86 yard drive with a 26 yard run to extend the Trojans lead 31-23. Texas would answer with a field goal, but USC added another touchdown by Matt Leinart who found wide receiver Dwayne Jarrett for a 22 yard strike.

USC lead 38-26 with six and a half minutes to go in the game. It appeared the Trojans were about to add another national title to their trophy case. Vince Young missed out on the Heisman, but he wasn’t going to miss out on a national title. Young led the Longhorns on a 69 yard two and a half minute drive to be within five points of USC. The Trojans went for it on fourth down on their own 44 yard line. The did not succeed and the result gave Young and the Longhorns the break they needed with just over two minutes to go and a chance to win it on the final drive.

Vince Young kept the drive alive on every play either finding the open man down the field or running out of bounds past the first down marker. It was too much for the USC defense who seemed to forget that Texas was going to let Young win the game for them on that final gallop into the endzone to clinch Texas the national title. They have and will always be replaying this game every year on ESPN Classic or any other channel that has the authorization to replay it. It had future stars showing their skills to the entire country. Two power house football programs that would not give in for one second until the game was over. Looking back at it now, Vince Young wasn’t just going for the title, but wanted to take the Heisman as well.

Moment/Game #4

2002 World Series Game 6 San Francisco vs. Anaheim October 26, 2002

No one, I repeat, no one talks about this series as much as they should. All but two games of this series were decided by 3 runs or less. Both teams were the Wild Card representatives from their respective leagues. After being up 2 games to 1, the Angels lost games 4 & 5 in San Francisco to go down 3 to 2. Game 4 was won by the Giants by a score of 4-3 and game 5 by a score of 16-4 in favor of San Francisco. The Big A was rockin at the start of game 6, but it quickly went quiet to where all you heard was the yelling coming from the Giants dugout.

Each team went scoreless through the first four innings. Kevin Appier was the starter for the Angels and Russ Ortiz for the Giants. Not great pitchers by any stretch, but dependable starters for their clubs. Appier began to get into trouble in the fifth inning when Giants DH Shawon Dunston hit a two run HR just clearing the inside part of the foul pole in left field. Later that inning, 2B Jeff Kent drove in another run off reliever Francisco Rodriguez to give the Giants a 3-0 lead after five. In the sixth, the Giants added another with LF Barry Bonds’ 4th HR of the series. 4-0 Giants after six. CF Kenny Lofton would score in the seventh on a wild pitch from Rodriguez. 5-0 Giants going into the bottom of the seventh. I can’t tell you how much it sucked to be watching that game and how it was turning out. However when the seventh inning stretch was over, things began to look better for the Halos.

LF Garrett Anderson was the first out in the seventh for Anaheim. 3B Troy Glaus then singled to left. DH Brad Fullmer followed with another bloop single to right center. Giants starter Russ Ortiz was then taken out of the ball game, but before he was sent back to the dugout. I kid you not, manager Dusty Baker gave Ortiz the ball as if the game was essentially over. A ridiculous move by Dusty who should have known better. Reliever Felix Rodriguez came in for the Giants and had to deal with 1B Scott Spiezio with two on and one out. Spiezio fought off what seemed like a dozen pitches before he swung at a ball down and in. The ball just seemed to not want to listen to gravity as it continued to fly towards the stands in right.

RF Reggie Sanders of the Giants had no chance at robbing it as a few fans began to yell and point at him, probably saying, “It’s not over Reggie. It’s not over!!!” Or something to that effect. The Giants were still up 5-3 after that momentum changing home run. San Francisco was shut out after the top of the eighth. The Angels started off their half of the eighth with a solo HR from CF Darin Erstad off reliever Tim Worrell. 5-4 Giants with no outs. RF Tim Salmon singled and was pinch run for by Chone Figgins. Anderson then singled and advanced to second thanks to Bonds error in left. Runners on second and third with no outs down by a run. Dusty then had no choice but to bring in his closer Rob Nen for a six out save. Glaus was up and was even in the count with Nen 1-1 when Glaus crushed a fastball (pictured above) to deep left center off the warning track for a bases clearing double. Angels lead 6-5.

The place was crazy. The Giants couldn’t get a base runner on in the ninth as closer Troy Percival saved another game for the Halos. The Angels were down by five and were eight outs away from losing the World Series. They promptly came out the next night and took any hopes of a championship from the Giants winning 4-1 to clinch their first world series title. Two things come to my mind with this moment/game. One, it is the greatest come from behind victory in World Series history. HISTORY. And two, it showed that even a team that most fans have no idea who the players are, can give you one of the most exciting games/series you will ever see.

Moment/Game #5

2001 Stanley Cup Finals Game 7 New Jersey vs. Colorado June 9, 2001

This was the other Game 7 I was referring to that has perhaps the best compilation of Hall of Famers to ever participate in a championship clinching game. For New Jersey names like; Brodeur, Niedermayer, Stevens, Elias. For Colorado names like; Roy, Sakic, Forsberg, Bourque. This was no doubt a game for the ages. New Jersey was up 3 games to 2, but couldn’t finish it in their home rink losing game 6 4-0. Colorado was determined to win one not only as a team, but for defensemen Ray Bourque who was participating in his only Stanley Cup of his career.

With Patrick Roy in net for the Avalanche and Martin Brodeur for New Jersey, it looked as if the storyline was going to be who would outshine who in the net. Both are considered one of the best of all time. Brodeur was tested early and often by the Avalanche who scored quickly in the first period thanks to forward Alex Tanguay. Tanguay would add another goal in the second off a rebound from a Joe Sakic break away. Sakic scored the game winner with a wicked wrister on the power play over the shoulder of Brodeur.

New Jersey would score a goal by Petr Sykora on a power play, but Roy was fantastic in net for the Avs. It was great to see two great goaltenders go at it, but even better to see a great defensemen win his first Stanley Cup in his only appearance in the Finals. Raymond Bourque went out on top to finish his career. Boston Bruins fans were watching his every move in Colorado when he was dealt in the middle of the 2000 season. You will probably never see that happen where an opposing team will root for another to win so that one of their all time greats gets his first Cup. It was truly a sight to see as we saw a great matchup in net with a great storyline to wrap it all up.

Moment/Game #6

Fiesta Bowl Boise State vs. Oklahoma January 1, 2007

The dictionary definition of underdog is described as the following; a person who is expected to lose in a contest or conflict. The key word is “expected.” The Broncos of Boise State were expected to lose to the mighty Sooners of Oklahoma. Oklahoma has had a storied football history that includes Heisman trophy winners, National titles and Hall of Famers. Boise State is located in Boise, Idaho. It was as lopsided as you could get, but Boise was beginning to build a good program that could stand next to the big time programs of College Football.

Oklahoma came into this game with a record of 11-2. Boise had an undefeated record of 12-0. No one at the time thought they should be on the same field as Oklahoma. The rumbles of wanting a playoff system were beginning going into this game. All eyes were watching to see if the small school could beat a power house football program.

The Broncos quickly turned it into a shootout when QB Jared Zabransky threw touchdown passes of 49 & 32 yards to wide receiver Drisan James. Running back Ian Johnson ran for a touchdown to give them a 21-10 halftime lead over the Sooners. All the football world was stunned that they could get out to such a lead against the Sooners who had a respectable defense.

The celebrating wouldn’t last long as the Sooners came roaring back. Boise would extend the lead 28-10 to start the third quarter, but Oklahoma would score 25 unanswered points in the third and fourth quarters to go up 35-28. With Boise down by a touchdown on the final drive, they went for it on fourth and long. Zabransky converted a pass to a wide open Jarard Rabb for the game tying 35 yard touchdown with 7 seconds to go.

What more could you ask for than to have them go at it in overtime. Oklahoma received first and scored on one play as Adrian Peterson ran for a 25 yard touchdown, his second of the game. Boise took their time using seven plays to score their touchdown. Rather than go for double overtime however, Boise coach Chris Peterson decided to go for it all. The two point conversion. A risky move, because if they fail to convert, Oklahoma wins and the discussion of playoff system in the future ends as well.

Boise goes for it. Zabransky takes two steps back to pass. He looks right then subtly hands the ball behind his back to running back Ian Johnson who could have just walked in the endzone for the game winning two point conversion. A very important moment and game in the history of College Football. The small schools could not be over looked anymore for BCS bowl games. The discussion grew quickly to eventually have a playoff system in place. If it does happen, they will point to this game as the reason why it happened.