Moment/Game #7

Stanley Cup Finals Game 7 Pittsburgh vs. Detroit June 12, 2009

There is one other Stanley Cup moment that was more memorable in my opinion than this one that I will reveal in the coming days. This Game 7 however has to be mentioned for not just the moment, but for the fact that both teams went head to head in back-to-back Stanley Cups. Detroit took the Cup in 2008 in six games celebrating in Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh were the underdogs going into 2009, but they weren’t going to let themselves go down to Detroit in their own building again.

All the Hockey world figured the Red Wings weren’t going to let the Penguins win in Joe Louis Arena in a Game 7. The Penguins were looking outside of the playoffs as late as February during the regular season. There was no way they were going to beat the Red Wings who had already beaten Columbus, Anaheim and Chicago to get to the Finals. Pittsburgh had barely skated by them in the previous game winning 2-1. They had to play perfect hockey to beat Detroit in their home arena.

The Penguins got out to a fast start out shooting the Red Wings 10-6 in the first period. No score going into the second period when forward Max Talbot scored the first goal to start the period. Talbot would add another half way through the period. The second one mind you was done when their captain Sidney Crosby wasn’t on the ice. He would return later in the third, but it seemed all was lost for Pittsburgh by everyone except the players for Pittsburgh.

Detroit did out shoot the Penguins in the second 11-7, but Pittsburgh had the lead 2-0 going into the third. Detroit scored a goal thirteen minutes into the third period to be within one of tying. Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury for the Penguins was phenomenal. Stopping 17 of 18 shots in the second and third periods combined. Pittsburgh only had one shot on goal in the third period, but Fleury wasn’t worried. In a Game 7, one player usually shines. Sometimes it’s the one you least expect or the one that you always knew would answer when called upon.

Detroit was as aggressive in the third period as in the entire playoffs. Fleury was repelling every attack they could muster. When soon to be Hall of Fame defensemen Niklas Lidstrom of Detroit shot one final attempt at a goal. Fleury had enough strength to do a Superman dive across the goal to stop the shot with his chest. The most iconic save he will ever have in his career. The NHL’s star player Sidney Crosby got his first of what will probably be many Stanley Cup titles. NHL fans were also treated to a very exciting series that showed when a team is cornered with what seems to be no way out, they will find a way through determination and teamwork. A game 7 for the ages in 2009.

Moment/Game #8

AFC Championship New England vs. Indianapolis January 21, 2007

The critics were all lined up ready to ask the obvious, “Peyton, what is Belichick doing to beat you guys year in and year out?” It seemed that New England was headed for its fourth Super Bowl in six years. The Patriots were winning in all facets of the game. Tom Brady was his usual calm self in the pocket. The defense was getting pressure on Peyton Manning. Even the special teams were outplaying the Colts. At this point you didn’t want to see another Patriots Super Bowl. Not because they didn’t make them exciting, but you wanted Peyton to finally get his chance at winning the Super Bowl. Everyone did. The story as it usually goes is you have to beat your rival to get to that game. Well, he did in dramatic fashion.

Everything went the way it was supposed to for the Patriots. Three touchdowns, including an interception by Asante Samuel of Peyton Manning seemed to seal the game at halftime if you can believe it. New England lead 21-6 and all seemed lost. Now I don’t think anyone else I knew were thinking that this game still could be won. Peyton has had great comebacks before, but none of this magnitude. Peyton drove down the field scoring a touchdown to start the second half. Down 13-21. The ball came back to Peyton and he lead another drive that resulted in a score plus a two point conversion. Game tied 21-21. All signs were in favor of the Colts.

Tom Brady answered with a touchdown pass to give New England the lead again, 28-21. All hope was nearly gone in the fourth quarter when a fumble in the endzone by Indianapolis resulted a stroke of luck when Jeff Saturday, the starting center recovered the fumble for the tying touchdown. The next three possessions resulted in field goals, two by New England and one by Indianapolis. Patriots lead 34-31.

Peyton’s moment came in the Colts final possession. During the drive, he jammed his thumb on a Patriots helmet. It appeared the comeback would not be complete. We knew that wouldn’t keep him out of perhaps the most important game of his career up to that point. He taped it and began to methodically drive down the field completing pass after pass. The final play was not won by his arm, but by running back Joseph Addai for the go ahead touchdown with one minute left. New England was stunned. The celebrating could last only for so long as the Colts had to stop the Patriots from scoring, which weren’t a problem as Tom Brady was intercepted to end the game.

The Colts had finally gotten over the hump and into a Super Bowl with their franchise quarterback. They went on to beat the Bears in Super Bowl XLI 29-17. Peyton’s moment though was and will always be this decade the game before the Super Bowl. Bill Belichick had no answer for Peyton in the second half. The Patriots did not just fall over by any means, but the Colts had more determination to win it. The greatest quarterback of my generation got his big ticket on this day and will probably get another one or two before you know it.

Moment/Game #9

Super Bowl XLIII Pittsburgh vs. Arizona February 1, 2009

We’ve all seen a great football game in our lives. They were either an offensive explosion or a defensive stalemate. It’s very rare that you get both in one game. You had the offense in Arizona and the defense in Pittsburgh going head to head. To top it off it was in the Super Bowl. What more could you ask for in a title game than to have it be both entertaining and dramatic. This game was truly one of a kind.

Pittsburgh came in with one of the league’s best defenses. Arizona had one of the league’s most explosive offenses. You figured it was going to be good from start to finish. Well, not so much in the beginning. Arizona couldn’t get anything going to start the game. Kurt Warner was playing in his third Super Bowl, first for Arizona and was on pace for his worst performance. Ben Roethlisberger was after his second ring in four seasons with Pittsburgh. Warner could only get Arizona seven points going into halftime. It could have been more had it not been for the interception to James Harrison that was returned for a TD in favor of Pittsburgh to end the half. With that Pittsburgh had a comfortable 17-7 lead.

The third quarter started with almost no scoring. Pittsburgh added another field goal to go up 20-7 heading into the fourth quarter. The fireworks started up when Arizona got a quick TD from Warner to wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald. Down 20-14, Arizona’s defense made key stops to keep Pittsburgh’s lead by only a touchdown. With less than 4 minutes in the game, Arizona caused a safety which then gave them the ball down by only four. A slant route by Fitzgerald resulted in a 64 yard TD to give the underdog Cardinals a 23-20 lead with less than 2 minutes left in the Super Bowl.

Now the moment of this game came right after that play if you can believe it. Roethlisberger did not have a great game in his last Super Bowl, but the win is what counts. This was his time to shine. A drive of over 70 yards to win the game. It was that simple. Ben completed pass after pass, most to wide receiver Santonio Holmes. Holmes almost broke it when he was tackled just outside Arizona’s 5 yard line to set up one of the best play/catches in Super Bowl history. Ben threw his first pass to the left side of the endzone, but it went right through Holmes’ hands. No worries, his next pass went to the right side and this time right in Holmes’ hands.

Pictured above is the moment of one of the best Super Bowl’s of all time. Yes it did have it all. A great offense against a great defense. It all came down to each team’s so called weaknesses in the end. One thing you can take out of this game is the fact that you saw great plays (Holmes & Harrison TD’s) and great players (Roethlisberger & Warner). If Arizona won, Fitzgerald no doubt would’ve been the MVP, but Holmes got the game and moment. This game would make the average football fan into a die hard by the time it’s over.

Moment/Game #10

Game 7 Western Conference Finals Blazers vs. Lakers June 4, 2000

If you are a fan of Portland or of LA, you would know these two don’t like each other. You can go as far back as 1977 when Portland swept the Lakers out of the Western Conference Finals en route to their only championship. But I digress. I’m here to talk about the year 2000. This was already a heated rivalry before this playoff matchup. The Lakers had Shaq & Kobe to go along with names like Horry, Green, Rice, Harper and Fisher to name a few. Adding Phil Jackson to coach was a stroke of genius as we all know. Portland had assembled a roster of All-Stars. Pippen, Wallace, Stoudamire were part of the starting lineup with Sabonis (you remember him) and Smith. Wells and Schrempf came off the bench. This was a great series that was all Lakers in the first four games. Final scores starting with game 1: 109-94, 77-106, 93-91, 103-91. Game two was won by Portland. The Lakers had home court, but when game five started, Portland was motivated to push the Lakers to seven games with victories in games five and six. Game five’s final 96-88 came in LA and game six 103-93 came in Portland. Would this supposed dynasty in LA start or would it crumble before our eyes after being up 3 games to 1?

Both teams to start Game 7 were going back and forth. Portland had an early 23-16 lead after the first quarter. As with all game seven’s, the stars were not going to rest for very long. Portland was going to count on Scottie Pippen, Rasheed Wallace and Steve Smith to win it for them. The Lakers were counting on Shaq and Kobe, but Glen Rice, Robert Horry and another person which I will reveal shortly were instrumental in helping LA pull it off. Portland continued with a good second quarter, but LA was only down by three. 39-42 Portland at halftime.

The third quarter could not have gone any better for Portland. They got out to a great start building at what point was a 15 point lead. 29 points were scored in the quarter by Portland to the 19 scored by LA. 58-71 Portland going into the fourth quarter. I remember thinking that I must be dreaming. This is a nightmare. They were up 3 games to 1 just a few days ago. Now they are about to let the Portland Jail…I mean Trail Blazers advance to the Finals. Of course I wasn’t the only one thinking that. Staples Center was silent like much of LA. There was no worries though. When you have great players, they will shine at the right moment in a game.

Now the player that I have not mentioned yet that was instrumental in the Lakers comeback was…give up. Brian Shaw. I know, who would’ve thought that. Shaw dropped almost all of his 11 points in the fourth quarter including 9 from the three point line. That got the crowd back in it and more importantly Shaq and Kobe. Rice was hitting big shots, as was Horry aka Big Shot Bob. Now Portland had no idea what was going on because before they knew it, they were only up by 5, 4, 3, 2…see where this is going. The play that gave the Lakers the lead for good will be etched in Lakers fans memories forever. “Kobe drives down the lane. Here comes the double team, Kobe lobs it up in the air. There’s Shaq SLAM DUNK!!! Lakers take the lead.” That was my best attempt at imitating what the call might have been from Chick Hearn. Final 89-84 Lakers to the Finals. LA scored 31 in the fourth quarter to Portland’s 13. A collapse by the Blazers, but a championship performance by the Lakers.

Now why is this game a bigger moment than any of the Lakers finals games this decade you ask. Well, for one, most of the Lakers finals games were blowouts. There were a few exceptions. 2000 Game 5 at Indiana, 2001 Game 1 against Philadelphia. That’s pretty much it. The main reason is that this was the start of what would be the dynasty everyone expected out of these Lakers teams with Shaq and Kobe. They had to earn it of course and what better way to earn it than beating an arch rival to get to that championship. This was the start of something every Lakers fan wanted to see. An excuse to take a day off from work to celebrate in the Lakers championship parade.

Top Sports Teams of the Decade – MLB, NFL, NHL, NBA

MLB – New York Yankees

It does pain me to say it, but this is the team of the decade for baseball. Why you ask. Well it’s simple, sort of. From the year 2000-09 they have made the playoffs all but one year. In the ten World Series this decade, the Yankees have been apart of four of them. Two wins and two losses. One thing you always have to admit about them is that they hate losing. They always put out winners. Granted they are buying wins, but what fan doesn’t want their team to win every single year? Exactly. I could pick the Boston Red Sox, St. Louis Cardinals or the Angels of Anaheim, but I can’t overlook the consistent winning atmosphere in New York. Whether you like them or not, they are a sports fans dream come true.

NFL – New England Patriots

It is starting to look like an east coast bias here, but who else is even close to these guys. They might have cheated their way to the top (allegedly), but the results are etched in NFL history forever. They’ve appeared in four Super Bowls this decade and won three by a combined nine points. That gives you an idea of how exciting those games were. The level of consistency in the free agent era is astounding. They’ve been able to replace pro bowlers left and right year in and year out. If they had beaten the New York Giants two Super Bowls ago they would be the greatest team ever and perhaps in any decade.

NHL – New Jersey Devils

If you thought the first two were the examples of consistency. This team blew right past them. They made the playoffs the entire decade and appeared in three Stanley Cup Finals, winning two. They like the Yankees and Patriots have been able to replace certain pieces, but kept the core together for so many years. Names like Brodeur, Stevens & Niedermayer have been staples for a great franchise that is still a force in the NHL heading into the new decade.

NBA – Los Angeles Lakers

I could make the case for the San Antonio Spurs, but I will go with a well known here. From 2000-09 they made the playoffs all but one season. Appeared in the NBA Finals six times, winning four championships. The coach through most of it is probably the best of all time in Phil Jackson. Shaq was part of the resurgence, then it was past to Kobe, who is scary to say still in his prime. This team has gotten even better going into the new decade with perhaps its best roster since the early ’00s.