Whats the Single Greatest Sports Play You Have Ever Seen Live?

wilheim · Mar 28, 2004

I mean at the actual event. For me it was during the NBA Finals of 1974. Game 6 at Boston Garden between the Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks. The Celtics were up 3 games to 2. The play was a skyhook by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar The game went into double overtime, in the second overtime, John Havlicek scored nine of Boston's 11 points, including a rainbow jumper over Abdul-Jabbar with seven seconds left for a 101-100 Boston lead. With the champagne about to be uncorked, Milwaukee called a timeout and set up one last play--not for Abdul-Jabbar, but for swingman Jon McGlocklin. However, the play broke down when McGlocklin couldn't shake himself free as Abdul-Jabbar stood to the right of the lane with the ball. Abdul-Jabbar looked for someone else to pass to but could find no one, so he dribbled to the baseline, turned and put up his graceful sky-hook. It nestled through the net for a 102-101 Bucks win that tied the series at 3-3. The shot was somewhere between 15 and 18 feet from the hoop. I was lucky to have had really great seats for that game, a high school basketball coach friend of mine got them, he took me to the game. We were actually sitting in front of Red Auerbach, behind the scorers table. I found this photo which made me think back on the shot. I am somewhere in the mass of fans in the background.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar goes up for his game-winning sky hook in the 1974 Finals

The shot looks kind of close in the photo, but live you could see how far out it was. A great clutch shot in a very hostile arena. btw. The Celts won game 7 and the title in Milwaukee two days later.

wil.

RobFunk · Mar 28, 2004

you are right it looks like a lay up in that pic. i guess they only had 2 megapixel cameras back then. lol

Journeyman · Mar 28, 2004

My first thought was it looks rather close, must be the angle....The skyhook is such a hard shot, thats why hardly anyone else uses it...

Journeyman · Mar 28, 2004

Looks like Havlicek is waving to someone in the crowd, while Cowens just admires the shot..

SubZaero · Mar 28, 2004

I know many of you won't see this as a big deal, but it was, for any soccer fan.
Mexico, 1986, Azteca Stadium.
Argentina playing England. Maradona scores a goal with "The hand of God", and minutes later, he scored the best goal in World Cup history. I couldn't believe it...

wilheim · Mar 28, 2004

Jman that is actually Don Nelson not Hondo. No biggie, the Celts were very white back then. The size of Kareem makes the shot look close, believe me he was outside when he released the shot. A total hush came over the Garden after it went down.

wil.

1BigCajun · Mar 28, 2004

Saturday, November 9th, 2002 .....

Eight of us (Four Couples) had traveled to Lexington, KY to see L.S.U. play Kentucky. We had a great time FRIDAY night and were ready to see LSU destroy Kentucky. However, we were completely "Deflated" when Kentucky had scored twice in the Final 3 Minutes to take a 30 - 27 Lead. 29-YD Field Goal had given Kentucky the lead with 11 Seconds left in the game.

** AFTER THE GAME, I would ask why Kentucky did not let the Clock run down to the Final Play before calling TO.

L.S.U. got the Ball back & was able to convert one play to get the ball to it's own 25-yard Line to set up the last play.
RANDALL, who had not thrown a TD Pass before this one on the year, dropped back ... avoided an on-rush to bye some time .... and heaved up the "Miracle Pass" from our own 20-yard line to around the Kentucky 18 - 17 yard line. It was tipped twice by KY Defenders & SOMEHOW Landed in the arms of Devery Henderson who ran into the Endzone for the WINNING TD !!

I believe I must have thrown my "J.D./Coke" ONE MILE in the air & I really can't describe the emotion because it was TOTAL SHOCK!! Probably the craziest play I will ever see live in Football!

** SIDEBAR --- E.S.P.N. Play of the Year for that one! ESPY

1BigCajun

wilheim · Mar 28, 2004

1BIG CAJUN - wow, you were at that game. I will never forget seeing the play on TV never mind live. Some great play (unfortunately for Wildcat fans).

wil.

Journeyman · Mar 28, 2004

Havlicek was 17 Wil? I took a stab at that one...Funny, Don Nelson trying to reject Kareem...thinking of Nellie now ....I saw some old footage of Don Nelson when he was playing, he was taking some strange looking shots...running one handers from like 18 ft away, really bizarre looking shots.

Fishhead · Mar 28, 2004

Don Nelson, one of the greatest Hawkeyes ever!

Wil-
Great story...remember watching that game as a young Celtic fan.

Heartbreaking!

PatPatriot · Mar 28, 2004

Adam Viniteris 45 yard field goal through 4 inches of snow on the ground in a snowstorm against Oakland with seconds left to tie the game with 13 seconds left..it was almost white out conditions in the stands....greatest kick of alltime IMO.

wilheim · Mar 28, 2004

GOOOOOOD

What a moment is Pats history. I would have loved to have been at this game. Patriot, I think I mentioned this in the past, my nephew was at that game, and the last SB as well. Big Pats fan.

wil.

wilheim · Mar 28, 2004

How sweet it is

Railbird · Mar 28, 2004

Tom Petranoff setting the World Javelin record at Ducky Drake Stadium in May of 1983.

JudgeWapner · Mar 28, 2004

Gives me goose bumps just thinking about it.

wilheim · Mar 28, 2004

Judge - lmao. I defy anyone to come up with a pic of the record javelin heave by Tom Petranoff at Ducky Drake Stadium in May of 1983.

wil.

Journeyman · Mar 28, 2004

Are you serious, you saw it live?

What a moment Rail, consider yourself very fortunate!

PatPatriot · Mar 28, 2004

Wil, there are plays that change franchises forever..Like Dwight Clarks catch for SF....I think that game and those kicks have put the Pats as one of the elite teams in the NFL.
That nite was incredible nobody sat down the whole game..it had one of those Bruins /Canadians 7th game atmosphere about it.In the parking lots were bon fires at nite with the snow coming down and people were delerious.

theres another good topic games or plays that turned franchises around for good or bad.

-Slim- · Mar 28, 2004

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Railbird:
Tom Petranoff setting the World Javelin record at Ducky Drake Stadium in May of 1983.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Im surprised he hasnt said he had Petranoff to win the event at +1800.........yet...

WildBill · Mar 28, 2004

Tough one to say. I think plays are overrated because I have seen many spectacular plays by players on losing teams.

Most memorable one, because it caused years of heartbreak for me was seeing Jim Paxson bury the three in Game 6 of the Finals at America West Arena. Suns played an incredible 4th quarter facing elimination. They started down by 10 points, but shut down the Bulls for 11 minutes of the quarter. The place was absolutely electric with everyone on their feet for the last 5 minutes of the game and AWA shaking with the chants of defense everytime the Bulls got the ball, the Suns eventually building a 4 point lead with about 50 seconds to go. Then they got sloppy and let Jordan just waltz down the court for a layup. They got the ball back and it went down to Sir Charles and he held the ball until MJ came over and forced a turnover. Then everyone knows what happens next, the pass out to Paxson wide open behind the arc. It seemed like an eternity that ball was in the air, but I had a near perfect view as I was almost exactly on the half-court line upstairs and could just see the whole way it was dead perfect. The silence in the building was stunning, you just knew that was the end of the Suns greatest season...