Memorable Moments In Sports History
Sports bring people together, friends and foes put their differences aside during a game, and they all revel in the moment. For the staunch fans, they take in every detail, from how their teams are playing, to whether they need a change in management, while also buying their favorite teams' jerseys and merchandise.
Once in a while, the players on the pitch give the fans some memorable moments that will forever be etched in their memories. It could be a player's creative play or a team producing a remarkable comeback. Some are heartwarming, others are pretty heartbreaking, and these are some of the most iconic moments in sports.
Unexpected Super Bowl Resurgence
Super Bowl LI pitted two of the greatest teams in the country, the New England Patriots led by legendary NFL star Tom Brady against the Atlanta Falcons. The Patriots were speculated to easily run away with the championship, but Atlanta had other ideas. At the end of the first half, the Falcons led the tie 28-3.
Brady had been in the game long enough to know not to give up, and in the second half, he rallied his troops and took the game to the Falcons. In the end, the Patriots emerged 34-28 winners after a phenomenal second period, marking one of the greatest comebacks ever witnessed in the sport.
Unity Against The Odds
The 1960s were a turning point for civil rights in the USA, and some of the people who led from the front were athletes. During the 1968 Olympic Games held in Mexico, Tommie Smith and John Carlos won gold and bronze, respectively, for the American track and field team.
Considering that they were both black, they chose to use the platform to shed light on their communities, and during the national anthem, the two lads put their fists in the air as a sign of black power. The picture remains to be one of the most iconic snaps from the games, and to date, the symbol is still poignant.
Unforgettable Mike Jones' Tackle
While Super Bowl XXXIV will go down in history as one of the sport's most dramatic season finale games for numerous reasons, the moment right at the end of the match takes the crown. St. Louis Rams and the Tennessee Titans were battling out for the top prize, and Mike Jones popped up in an aggressive game that needed some personal brilliance.
With six seconds left on the clock, the Titans needed a touchdown to tie the game, and they were helped by the fact that they were 10 yards away. Yet, while Kevin Dyson caught the ball after a brilliant throw by his teammate, he was stopped in his tracks by Jones two-and-a-half yards from the goal line. That moment sealed the championship for the Rams.
Jordan Takes To The Air
Over the years, the NBA Slam Dunk competition has seen many stars get their minutes of fame in the game, but the 1988 edition was quite different. The legendary Michael Jordan was about to take on Dominique Wilkins on the basketball court, and his phenomenal dunk changed his life and the sport.
Launching himself from the free-throw line, Jordan hurled himself over a distance of 15 feet while maintaining the height that enabled him to dunk into the 10-foot hoop. After that incredible feat, a legend was born, and so did "Air Jordan."