In the spirit of my recent 28th birthday, this is the second of four installments of a piece that I am dedicating to listing my 28 favorite moments as a sports fan from Boston. Check out Part 1 here if you missed it, so that you can really build up the nostalgia.
So without further ado, here are seven more of the greatest sports moments in the life of this young and spoiled sports fan.
So without further ado, here are seven more of the greatest sports moments in the life of this young and spoiled sports fan.
Aly Raisman Gold Medal Floor Routine in 2012 olympics
I very vividly remember watching the "Magnificent Seven" compete in the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta and being in awe of their athleticism and talent. I was hooked, and ever since then I have been an avid follower of women's gymnastics. So you can imagine my excitement when local Boston girl Aly Raisman made the Olympic team in 2012.
Aly was raised in Needham, MA and trained just a few miles from where I worked in Burlington, MA, so she made many appearances in our studios prior to her trip to London; making me even more emotionally attached. Aly was the third and final girl to take the floor for the Americans as the women were poised to win team gold for the first time since my beloved Magnificent Seven. All they needed was a solid performance from their star tumbler.
She delivered all that and then some, in what I believe is the greatest floor routine in the history of women's Olympic gymnastics. (Aly's routine starts at 4:00 in the video!) I always get chills. Holy Hava Nagila.
Aly was raised in Needham, MA and trained just a few miles from where I worked in Burlington, MA, so she made many appearances in our studios prior to her trip to London; making me even more emotionally attached. Aly was the third and final girl to take the floor for the Americans as the women were poised to win team gold for the first time since my beloved Magnificent Seven. All they needed was a solid performance from their star tumbler.
She delivered all that and then some, in what I believe is the greatest floor routine in the history of women's Olympic gymnastics. (Aly's routine starts at 4:00 in the video!) I always get chills. Holy Hava Nagila.
The Bloody Sock Game
It had to be on this list, if only for the fact that it still makes Yankees fans want to pull their hair out. (#itwasnotketchup) It all started when Curt Schilling injured his ankle while pitching in the 2004 ALDS against the Angels. The torn tendon sheath in his ankle became an even bigger problem when his expected pitcher's duel with the Yankees' Mike Mussina in Game 1 of the ALCS turned into a disaster for the injured Schilling. The Red Sox went down 3-0 in that series but battled back to win Games 4 and 5.
So in a critical Game 6 in Yankee Stadium, Schilling was forced to return to the mound. In what was an unprecedented procedure, the Red Sox team doctors sutured the skin on the ankle to the ligament and connective tissue underneath, effectively stabilizing it enough for Schilling to pitch on it; albeit with limited mobility and significant pain.
The procedure caused the spot to bleed through his sock while on the mound, resulting in the iconic images most of you now know. Schilling pitched 7 innings and allowed only one run. He was also only forced to field the ball once; a fact that lead many to question Yankees manager Joe Torre's decision not to bunt against a clearly incapacitated pitcher. The Red Sox went on to win 11-6 to force a Game 7. The rest, as they say, is history.
So in a critical Game 6 in Yankee Stadium, Schilling was forced to return to the mound. In what was an unprecedented procedure, the Red Sox team doctors sutured the skin on the ankle to the ligament and connective tissue underneath, effectively stabilizing it enough for Schilling to pitch on it; albeit with limited mobility and significant pain.
The procedure caused the spot to bleed through his sock while on the mound, resulting in the iconic images most of you now know. Schilling pitched 7 innings and allowed only one run. He was also only forced to field the ball once; a fact that lead many to question Yankees manager Joe Torre's decision not to bunt against a clearly incapacitated pitcher. The Red Sox went on to win 11-6 to force a Game 7. The rest, as they say, is history.
nathan horton tribute in 2011 stanley cup finals
The 2011 Stanley Cup Finals was one of the most contentious in recent memory, as it featured the despised front-running Vancouver Canucks pitting their stylized, high-powered offense against the gritty, grind-it-out physicality of the Boston Bruins. The tension came to a head in Game 2 when a blindside hit by Aaron Rome to the head of Nathan Horton led to Horton being carted motionless off the ice on a stretcher. The footage is still nothing less than stomach-churning..
When the B's returned back home to the TD Garden for Game 6, they were down 3-2 in the series for yet another must-win situation. Nathan Horton was at the game to support his team, in the same arena in which his season had been ended just a week earlier. At the first timeout of the game with the Bruins already leading 2-0, the Jumbotron paid tribute to Horton in the form of a montage featuring his many significant contributions across the season and through the postseason. When the video was over, Horton was shown waving his gold towels and thanking the crowd while they stood on their feet for him.
It was just one of those moments you never forget watching. When game play resumed, the Bruins scored another two goals; Andrew Ference putting one in at 8:35 and Michael Ryder scoring again just 70 seconds later. Those first four goals were scored in a total of 4 minutes and 14 seconds; the fastest four goals in the history of the Stanley Cup. And all that the suspended Aaron Rome could do was sit on his couch and watch.
When the B's returned back home to the TD Garden for Game 6, they were down 3-2 in the series for yet another must-win situation. Nathan Horton was at the game to support his team, in the same arena in which his season had been ended just a week earlier. At the first timeout of the game with the Bruins already leading 2-0, the Jumbotron paid tribute to Horton in the form of a montage featuring his many significant contributions across the season and through the postseason. When the video was over, Horton was shown waving his gold towels and thanking the crowd while they stood on their feet for him.
It was just one of those moments you never forget watching. When game play resumed, the Bruins scored another two goals; Andrew Ference putting one in at 8:35 and Michael Ryder scoring again just 70 seconds later. Those first four goals were scored in a total of 4 minutes and 14 seconds; the fastest four goals in the history of the Stanley Cup. And all that the suspended Aaron Rome could do was sit on his couch and watch.
kg in game 6 of 2010 Eastern Conference semifinals
Before Lebron James took his talents to South Beach only to return four years later to Cleveland, he had to play his first last game as a Cavalier. That game took place against the Boston Celtics in the 2010 Eastern Conference semifinals. This game holds a special place in my heart because I was there, and it was fantastic to watch the old dudes of the Big Three lay it down on young King James.
No one laid it down harder though than Kevin Garnett, who would turn 34 years old just six days later. Paul Pierce did a pretty good job defending King James, who was held to a meager 3 of 14 shooting from the field; but Pierce himself shot just 4 of 13. Ray Allen was 0-5 from the 3-point line. It was KG that was the difference maker. He lead the team in scoring with 22 points and in rebounds with 12, adding 3 assists as well.
Garnett's maniacal yells and signature banging of his head off the basketball post only added to the excitement of the game for a rowdy crowd at the Garden that night. It was a night so many never believed would happen the way it did, as the collective NBA culture had spent the year proclaiming the Celtics to be past their prime and too old to make another run. I guess they forgot to tell Kevin Garnett.
No one laid it down harder though than Kevin Garnett, who would turn 34 years old just six days later. Paul Pierce did a pretty good job defending King James, who was held to a meager 3 of 14 shooting from the field; but Pierce himself shot just 4 of 13. Ray Allen was 0-5 from the 3-point line. It was KG that was the difference maker. He lead the team in scoring with 22 points and in rebounds with 12, adding 3 assists as well.
Garnett's maniacal yells and signature banging of his head off the basketball post only added to the excitement of the game for a rowdy crowd at the Garden that night. It was a night so many never believed would happen the way it did, as the collective NBA culture had spent the year proclaiming the Celtics to be past their prime and too old to make another run. I guess they forgot to tell Kevin Garnett.
the tuck rule game
Photo by: Jim Mahoney (Boston Herald)
Oh tuck rule, how you have tortured the NFL so. There are many things you can say to get yourself physically maimed just walking down the street in Oakland; and one of the top five is "tuck rule". It all began with the AFC divisional round game between the Patriots and the Raiders. It was a classic mid-January day in New England, and so the game took place in snow so heavy that you could hardly tell at times what was happening.
Losing 13-10 with 2:06 left in the game, Tom Brady and the Patriots were at their own 46 yard line. While pumping the football to attempt a pass, Charles Woodson knocked it free; originally causing the refs to call the play a fumble which would have awarded the Raiders a recovery and possession. While reviewing the play, they referred to a rule instituted in 1999 that read as follows:
NFL Rule 3, Section 22, Article 2, Note 2. When [an offensive] player is holding the ball to pass it forward, any intentional forward movement of his arm starts a forward pass, even if the player loses possession of the ball as he is attempting to tuck it back toward his body. Also, if the player has tucked the ball into his body and then loses possession, it is a fumble.
In accordance with the way the rule was written, the call was reversed and ruled an incomplete pass. This gave possession back to the Patriots and allowed them to drive far enough for Adam Vinatieri to kick a game-tying field goal. The Patriots won the coin toss and earned the first possession in overtime. Brady went 8-8 for 45 yards, including a conversion on 4th and 4 on a completion to David Patten. They then ran it five times in a row to advance to the Raiders 5-yard line, and Vinatieri made a 23-yard field goal to win the game. Many fans at the time were unaware of the tuck rule and had never seen its implications in such an important game. It continued to cause controversy among fans and teams across the country for another decade before being abolished after a vote by team owners following the 2012 NFL season.
Ray Allen in Game 2 of 2010 NBA Finals
Photo by: Matthew West (Boston Herald)
After continuing to defy the odds after the aforementioned series against the Cavaliers, the Celtics returned to the NBA Finals for the second time in three years. Of course once again, they were met by the Lakers. Yet their fairy tale run through the playoffs was no match for their LA rivals in Game 1, as they got blown out 102-89.
Ray Allen was especially disappointed in himself, having only scored 12 points in the game, hitting zero 3-pointers and getting himself into foul trouble fairly early on. So when the Celtics hit the court for Game 2, no one was more ready to redeem themselves than Ray. He hit an astounding NBA Finals record seven 3-pointers in the first half and accumulated eight of eleven 3-pointers total in the game; also an NBA Finals record for most 3-pointers made in a game. Allen finished the night with a game-high 32 points and a grueling 43 minutes and 30 seconds spent on the court.
It was that performance that spurred the Celtics on to make the series seven games, and give Boston Celtics nation just a few more games to relish when they look back on the glory days of the Big Three.
Ray Allen was especially disappointed in himself, having only scored 12 points in the game, hitting zero 3-pointers and getting himself into foul trouble fairly early on. So when the Celtics hit the court for Game 2, no one was more ready to redeem themselves than Ray. He hit an astounding NBA Finals record seven 3-pointers in the first half and accumulated eight of eleven 3-pointers total in the game; also an NBA Finals record for most 3-pointers made in a game. Allen finished the night with a game-high 32 points and a grueling 43 minutes and 30 seconds spent on the court.
It was that performance that spurred the Celtics on to make the series seven games, and give Boston Celtics nation just a few more games to relish when they look back on the glory days of the Big Three.
bruins sweep penguins in 2013 conference finals
There are upsets and then there is whatever this was. It was such a pathetic showing by the Penguins that many Bruins fans, while ecstatic to be returning to the Stanley Cup Finals for the second time in three years, actually felt disappointed by the lack of drama. I wasn't one of those fans.
The Bruins vs. the Penguins actually started earlier in the season as the trade deadline approached and word on the street was that longtime Calgary Flames captain Jarome Iginla would be dealt. Iginla had stated he would accept a trade to four teams; the Chicago Blackhawks, Los Angeles Kings, Boston Bruins and the Pittsburgh Penguins. It was widely reported that a trade with the Bruins had gone through, but within the hour it was revealed that Iginla had decided to play for the Penguins instead. For a fan base full of people just looking for a reason to get fired up, it left an impression.
By the time the playoffs rolled around, the Penguins looked to be an unstoppable machine. They were the number one seed in the Eastern conference, had led the NHL with 3.38 goals per game and had the league's second-best power play. Fifteen players in the NHL had 20 or more goals that season, and three of them were in Pittsburgh. Evgeni MalkIn was the reigning Hart Trophy winner, Sidney Crosby was the leading candidate for the trophy that year, and Kris Letang led the league in assists by a defenseman.
Then they ran into the Bruins in the conference final and had a full-on meltdown. They scored just two goals in the entire series, went 0-15 on the power play, averaged 0.50 goals per game and never once held the lead in the series. It was domination in every way, and for me it was glorious to watch a series that didn't have to go seven games and take years off my life. Oh and by the way, Jarome Iginla joined the Bruins the season after. #win
The Bruins vs. the Penguins actually started earlier in the season as the trade deadline approached and word on the street was that longtime Calgary Flames captain Jarome Iginla would be dealt. Iginla had stated he would accept a trade to four teams; the Chicago Blackhawks, Los Angeles Kings, Boston Bruins and the Pittsburgh Penguins. It was widely reported that a trade with the Bruins had gone through, but within the hour it was revealed that Iginla had decided to play for the Penguins instead. For a fan base full of people just looking for a reason to get fired up, it left an impression.
By the time the playoffs rolled around, the Penguins looked to be an unstoppable machine. They were the number one seed in the Eastern conference, had led the NHL with 3.38 goals per game and had the league's second-best power play. Fifteen players in the NHL had 20 or more goals that season, and three of them were in Pittsburgh. Evgeni MalkIn was the reigning Hart Trophy winner, Sidney Crosby was the leading candidate for the trophy that year, and Kris Letang led the league in assists by a defenseman.
Then they ran into the Bruins in the conference final and had a full-on meltdown. They scored just two goals in the entire series, went 0-15 on the power play, averaged 0.50 goals per game and never once held the lead in the series. It was domination in every way, and for me it was glorious to watch a series that didn't have to go seven games and take years off my life. Oh and by the way, Jarome Iginla joined the Bruins the season after. #win
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