When trying to decipher things like NFL stats highlights, it’s fascinating to see how the greatest sporting moments don’t always have the closest stats. In contrast, it is not uncommon for the underdog to defeat the reigning champion against all odds. Sometimes the winners did something that moved the audience to tears, even if it was simply their dedication.
Wildcats Win the championship at the buzzer.
The 2016 NCAA men’s basketball championship game was one of the finest. After trailing by ten points with less than five minutes remaining, UNC tied Villanova at 74-74 with five seconds remaining. Instead of settling for extra, Villanova junior Kris Jenkins made a three-pointer as the buzzer rang to give the Wildcats their first championship since 1985.
The Eagles win with the Philly Special.
Facing the greatest dynasty in NFL history with a backup quarterback, the Philadelphia Eagles needed to employ every play in the playbook to defeat the Patriots in Super Bowl LII.
With only seconds remaining in the first half and fourth-and-goal from the two-yard line, the Eagles could have scored a field goal to take an 18-12 lead into halftime. However, knowing they’d need every score they could get to overcome the Patriots, head coach Doug Pederson chose to keep the offense on the field, calling up a trick play that would go down in Super Bowl history.
The Eagles won 41-33, bringing the Lombardi Trophy to Philadelphia, while the Philly Special would spread throughout the football world.
Tiger Woods beats the Master.
Once the most dominant athlete globally, Tiger Woods had several starts and stops during the decade. With continuing back problems and his incarceration in 2017, it was uncertain if Woods would ever be able to compete with the best in the world again.
But Woods finished the 2018 golf season well and once more sealed his status at Augusta National with a magnificent four-day performance in April.
Sergio Aguero Saved the title.
On the last day of the Premier Championship season in 2012, Manchester City needed to beat a poor QPR team to win the league. But tragedy came in the 66th minute when QPR scored to grab a 2-1 lead and throw City fans into a frenzy. The city was granted a lifeline at the opening of stoppage time courtesy of a goal from Edin Dzeko, but they still needed one more goal to win the title.
That’s when Sergio Aguero came into his own, hitting a stunning goal in the final seconds to secure the championship. It’s as dramatic a conclusion as you’ll find in sporting moments.
Ray Allen’s final Hail Mary
Ray Allen made almost 3,000 three-pointers in his legendary career, but none were more important than his buzzer-beating trifecta in Game 6 of the 2013 NBA Finals. Allen’s shot spared the Heat from elimination, forcing overtime, which they went on to win. In Game 7, Miami won their second consecutive NBA Championship, a title that would not have existed without Allen’s game-changing shot.
Malcolm Butler’s interception
Trailing 28-24 with two minutes remaining in Super Bowl XLIX, the Seattle Seahawks needed to drive the field for a score to win their second consecutive championship. The score seemed inevitable after a beautiful connection between Russell Wilson and Jermaine Kearse gave the Seahawks first-and-goal.
Instead of allowing Marshawn Lynch to bulldoze his way into the end zone, the Seahawks threw on second-and-goal from the one-yard line, and Malcolm Butler jumped the route, grabbing victory from the jaws of defeat and adding another title to the Patriots dynasty.
There’s an excellent case that Malcolm Butler’s interception after Super Bowl XLIX was the most outstanding play in NFL history – has any player ever redeemed a title in such final moves.
The Chicago Cubs finally win the championship.
After more than a century of waiting and too many imagined curses to count, the Chicago Cubs exorcised their demons and won the World Series in 2016. It took seven exciting games, including an extra-inning victory in the pivotal Game 7, but the Cubs were eventually victors.
Lebron James seals the 3-1 comeback in game seven of the NBA.
What made the occasion memorable: If you built a highlight reel of LeBron’s top plays of the decade, it would last hours, if not days. However, his most delicate play of the decade was also perhaps his most important. With barely two minutes remaining in Game 7 of the NBA Finals, James chased down what seemed to be an easy basket for the Warriors and smacked a backboard block. It was a performance that had to be seen to be believed.
Faced with a Warriors team that had gone 73-9 in the regular season, had the first unanimous MVP, and once held a 3-1 lead in the Finals, James won his third championship and finally brought a trophy home to Cleveland.
When watching some of the greatest sporting moments never give up despite how discouraging their current situation is can play on our heartstrings. Whether our team got the rug pulled out from under them, or they just managed to grasp the win in the final sporting moments. These tight games are an emotional rollercoaster that we often tend to remember.
Featured Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash
