The Sheila Variations

No, actually, I don't think there are, and I'm surprised that you would.

hee hee. Especially after this past winter when I could NOT SHUT UP about the Miracle!!

I think it might be the greatest. Gives me chills to even think about.

1991 World Series, Twins Vs.Braves, Game Nine at the Metrodome. Tied 0-0 to the end of regulation, the Twinks won with a Gene Larkin driving in Dan Gladden on a one-out single in the bottom of the tenth. Jack Morris earned his Cy Young by pitching the whole ten-inning distance. Most amazing game I've ever seen.

Has to be the Miracle on Ice.

First of all, the fact that it's HOCKEY and everyone puts it up there is an indication. AMATEUR hockey, no less.

Fifth of all, any individual moment can't be tops. The Miracle wasn't just a team moment, but a NATIONAL team moment. And not just against Norway, but building through the hated Russkies.

You honestly could think up any of the other great moments, but this is a script that could not be written.

I'm inclined to agree with myself.

Two of my favorites, Miracle on Ice and '91 World Series. That's a tough call. The set-up to the 7th game was Kirby Pucket hitting a game winning home run in the 11th inning of the 6th game. In the clubhouse that night, Morris said "Let's get it on" The next game he did.

I'll still go with Miracle on Ice though. No knock on teams winning for their fans in great games, but '79-80 was a tough time. The nation needed a win, what with hostages in Iran and "The Bear" growling.

Yep, Miracle on Ice.

I didn't know I needed to pick just one! Because I remember the Miracle VERY distinctly; the "Malaise" speech was the event that started my voyage from liberalism to conservatism.

Yeah, the Miracle was amazing. So was the '91 Game Nine. I also loved the '86 Super Bowl, the 1964 Olympic Table Tennis final, the 1956 Olympic water polo final, the 1972 Olympic marathon...

All sorts of choices!

i can't believe i'm not saying a red sox memory, b/c many are crazily unbelievale, but i also have to be a dweeb and add the kerri strugg moment. that gymnast, wholike busted her ankle but still did that landing? that was so crazy.

I know some might not consider this a "sports" moment, but I will never forget the wave of emotion that hit me when Secretariat won the Belmont Stakes by 31 lengths. It was an astonishing moment when you realized you were witnessing "greatness." Just for the record, Secretariat still has the official time records in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont. There was a timing malfunction at the Preakness, but most racing experts believe he set the record that day, too.

Siobhan -

Kerri Strugg! God, member her in her huge Bulgarian (or was he Romanian?) coach's arms? Crazy!! I still wince when I see that clip though, knowing the agony she must have been. All 42 pounds of her body must have been in agony.

i still get goosebumps thinking about secretariat

I have to agree, Miracle on Ice. Since then,I can't think of any sporting event that united the country and got everyone so excited.

Granted, I was a 4 year old at the time, so my memory of it doesn't exist, but this is based on what I've read, and of course that awesome movie (which DVD I hope to own very, very soon).

Horse racing is about love, and not having seen Secretariat in the flesh, I'd have to say East Goer blasting by Sunday Silence in the 1989 Belmont Stakes. I literally cried when that horse lost the Derby, and I will never forgive Pat Day.

"The Miracle on Ice..."

Because the broadcast of the game was tape-delayed, my brothers and I had assiduously avoided the news all day so as not to ruin the suspense. At one point Dad comes in and asks if we wanted to know who won. Of COURSE we didn't! But he was so deadpan and casual about it, it seemed to us the Soviets must have--as expected--prevailed.

And, of course, our assuming so made the ending all the sweeter.

Game seven, ALCS, 2003, Aaron Boone...

Love ya, red.