5 ms·

Ask HN: What is the best sporting moment of all time?

7 points by Abhipray15 3y ago

EstesPark 3y ago
For me it's the miracle on ice but I grew up in hockey obsessed New England. I'd also throw Tiger winning his first Masters up there. The more accurate answer is probably something akin to Jackie Robinson but that was before my time.
sinee 3y ago
India winning World Cup of cricket
Mountain_Skies 3y ago
That's going to depend on what sports each individual is interested in. For university level football in the US, probably a tie between "The band is on the field" and the Kick Six. Even then, most fanbases have their own version of the best moment ever ("trouble with the snap"), even if not many outside of their fandom agrees.
dotcoma 3y ago
MJ’s last-second shot to win Chicago’s 6th NBA title against Utah.
- b_emery 3y ago
  Here it is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlbC8q4VkL4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlbC8q4VkL4 Tears of joy ...
aalbertson 3y ago
For me, it's Randy Johnson's bird hit. A bit morbid, but the just incredible timing and impact is just mind boggling. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ih_ovjbwQGk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ih_ovjbwQGk
- Abhipray15 3y ago
  A similar thing happened in Cricket as well https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrYVUirkluY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrYVUirkluY, not that dramatic considering the camera angles but still one in a million shot
andy99 3y ago
Donovan Bailey 100m meter olympic record. He was behind almost everybody and passed them all: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7_NCGWvOcI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7_NCGWvOcI
verve_rat 3y ago
That time Buck Shelford, in his first test match, got his nut sack ripped open. He got the physio to stitch it back up and kept playing (until he was concussed and taken off).
tom125 3y ago
Leicester City winning the English Premier League in 2016. 5000:1 odds. The season before they had been fighting relegation.
- Abhipray15 3y ago
  Yes, Jamie Vardy was unbelievable that season..
spsesk117 3y ago
I'm from South Africa, so I've always been captivated by the South African season/win at the 1995 Rugby World cup and the political context of it. Dramatized in the movie Invictus. I don't know if it's the best sporting moment of all time, but it's certainly an interesting one.
gadders 3y ago
Shane Warne's ball of the century is up there and I'm not even an Australia fan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3V-sYH0Sks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3V-sYH0Sks
- Abhipray15 3y ago
  Yes he and Murlidharan https://www.youtube.com/shorts/LJ_HcvXNxp4 https://www.youtube.com/shorts/LJ_HcvXNxp4
jwitchel 3y ago
The rumble in the jungle. Ali vs. George Foreman, 1974. https://youtu.be/9bRiFEvxlp8 https://youtu.be/9bRiFEvxlp8
lawgimenez 3y ago
Tyson biting off Holyfield’s ear. Not the best but memorable.
dasil003 3y ago
Not significant from a situation/narrative perspective, but Roberto Carlos’ impossible goal always comes to mind https://youtu.be/ZnXA0PoEE6Y https://youtu.be/ZnXA0PoEE6Y
- Abhipray15 3y ago
  I have been trying to replicate this on Fifa for a long time now :|
Abhipray15 3y ago
I still cannot get over Michael Phelps' 8 gold medals in 2008 Beijing Olympics
tnecniv 3y ago
Kirk Gibson’s walk-off homer in the ‘88 World Series. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=N4nwMDZYXTI https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=N4nwMDZYXTI For context, Gibson injured both legs (left hamstring and right knee) during the playoffs and it was unclear if he could even hit the ball. He wasn’t even planning on playing that day and was doing physical therapy during the game with the broadcast on in the background. Vin Scully (the commentator) remarked that he was “nowhere to be found” and that motivated him to suit up and tell the manager he was available to pinch hit. You can see during his at bat how weak his legs are — his legs shake visibly and he stumbles after his swings. Moreover, he’s facing a future hall of fame pitcher. Nobody expected he’d be able to hit a home run, the manager was just hoping he’d hit a long single to tie the game. However, Gibson knew, thanks to the coaching staff, that the pitcher had a favorite pitch when the count was 3-2 and he crushed the hell out of it.
nvusuvu 3y ago
Red Sox 2004 postseason comeback, Kick 6 Auburn vs Alabama college football.
3pac 3y ago
'92 Olympic Dream Team (US) in basketball. Asking anybody to play against them was pushing the boundaries of ethics.
b_emery 3y ago
I'm going to add Laird Hamilton towing in to Teahupoo 17 August 2000. While it has since been exceeded or replicated, at the time this was a big step above what anyone else had ever done. Most mere mortals (like myself) didn't even know a wave could do that, let alone be surfed. It was as if the entire ocean decided to shift 30 ft in the air before detonating on the reef. Here it is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8HCF2cef74 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8HCF2cef74 (The wave at 2:46) Surfer magazine ran it on the cover that month with the caption "Oh my God ..." https://northshorehawaii.wordpress.com/laird-hamilton/ https://northshorehawaii.wordpress.com/laird-hamilton/ The surfing world was forever changed.
- b_emery 3y ago
  Commentary here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKRh9U59zSk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKRh9U59zSk
mitchbob 3y ago
The Play https://youtu.be/AfIi0uBMNBI https://youtu.be/AfIi0uBMNBI
3000 3y ago
no doubt Jesse Owens at the 1936 Summer Olympics

7 points by Abhipray15 3y ago

For me it's the miracle on ice but I grew up in hockey obsessed New England. I'd also throw Tiger winning his first Masters up there. The more accurate answer is probably something akin to Jackie Robinson but that was before my time.

sinee 3y ago

India winning World Cup of cricket

Mountain_Skies 3y ago

That's going to depend on what sports each individual is interested in. For university level football in the US, probably a tie between "The band is on the field" and the Kick Six. Even then, most fanbases have their own version of the best moment ever ("trouble with the snap"), even if not many outside of their fandom agrees.

dotcoma 3y ago

MJ’s last-second shot to win Chicago’s 6th NBA title against Utah.

b_emery 3y ago
Here it is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlbC8q4VkL4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlbC8q4VkL4 Tears of joy ...

aalbertson 3y ago

For me, it's Randy Johnson's bird hit. A bit morbid, but the just incredible timing and impact is just mind boggling. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ih_ovjbwQGk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ih_ovjbwQGk

Abhipray15 3y ago
A similar thing happened in Cricket as well https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrYVUirkluY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrYVUirkluY, not that dramatic considering the camera angles but still one in a million shot

andy99 3y ago

Donovan Bailey 100m meter olympic record. He was behind almost everybody and passed them all: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7_NCGWvOcI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7_NCGWvOcI

verve_rat 3y ago

That time Buck Shelford, in his first test match, got his nut sack ripped open. He got the physio to stitch it back up and kept playing (until he was concussed and taken off).

tom125 3y ago

Leicester City winning the English Premier League in 2016. 5000:1 odds. The season before they had been fighting relegation.

Abhipray15 3y ago
Yes, Jamie Vardy was unbelievable that season..

spsesk117 3y ago

I'm from South Africa, so I've always been captivated by the South African season/win at the 1995 Rugby World cup and the political context of it. Dramatized in the movie Invictus. I don't know if it's the best sporting moment of all time, but it's certainly an interesting one.

gadders 3y ago

Shane Warne's ball of the century is up there and I'm not even an Australia fan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3V-sYH0Sks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3V-sYH0Sks

Abhipray15 3y ago
Yes he and Murlidharan https://www.youtube.com/shorts/LJ_HcvXNxp4 https://www.youtube.com/shorts/LJ_HcvXNxp4

jwitchel 3y ago

The rumble in the jungle. Ali vs. George Foreman, 1974. https://youtu.be/9bRiFEvxlp8 https://youtu.be/9bRiFEvxlp8

lawgimenez 3y ago

Tyson biting off Holyfield’s ear. Not the best but memorable.

dasil003 3y ago

Not significant from a situation/narrative perspective, but Roberto Carlos’ impossible goal always comes to mind https://youtu.be/ZnXA0PoEE6Y https://youtu.be/ZnXA0PoEE6Y

Abhipray15 3y ago
I have been trying to replicate this on Fifa for a long time now :|

Abhipray15 3y ago

I still cannot get over Michael Phelps' 8 gold medals in 2008 Beijing Olympics

tnecniv 3y ago

Kirk Gibson’s walk-off homer in the ‘88 World Series. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=N4nwMDZYXTI https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=N4nwMDZYXTI For context, Gibson injured both legs (left hamstring and right knee) during the playoffs and it was unclear if he could even hit the ball. He wasn’t even planning on playing that day and was doing physical therapy during the game with the broadcast on in the background. Vin Scully (the commentator) remarked that he was “nowhere to be found” and that motivated him to suit up and tell the manager he was available to pinch hit. You can see during his at bat how weak his legs are — his legs shake visibly and he stumbles after his swings. Moreover, he’s facing a future hall of fame pitcher. Nobody expected he’d be able to hit a home run, the manager was just hoping he’d hit a long single to tie the game. However, Gibson knew, thanks to the coaching staff, that the pitcher had a favorite pitch when the count was 3-2 and he crushed the hell out of it.

nvusuvu 3y ago

Red Sox 2004 postseason comeback, Kick 6 Auburn vs Alabama college football.

3pac 3y ago

'92 Olympic Dream Team (US) in basketball. Asking anybody to play against them was pushing the boundaries of ethics.

b_emery 3y ago

I'm going to add Laird Hamilton towing in to Teahupoo 17 August 2000. While it has since been exceeded or replicated, at the time this was a big step above what anyone else had ever done. Most mere mortals (like myself) didn't even know a wave could do that, let alone be surfed. It was as if the entire ocean decided to shift 30 ft in the air before detonating on the reef. Here it is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8HCF2cef74 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8HCF2cef74 (The wave at 2:46) Surfer magazine ran it on the cover that month with the caption "Oh my God ..." https://northshorehawaii.wordpress.com/laird-hamilton/ https://northshorehawaii.wordpress.com/laird-hamilton/ The surfing world was forever changed.

b_emery 3y ago
Commentary here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKRh9U59zSk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKRh9U59zSk

mitchbob 3y ago

The Play https://youtu.be/AfIi0uBMNBI https://youtu.be/AfIi0uBMNBI

3000 3y ago

no doubt Jesse Owens at the 1936 Summer Olympics