Where Would You Go if You Had a Sports Time Machine?

A quick hypothetical.  Say you inherit a time machine.  You have the chance to go back and see any sporting event ever.  What would you choose?  A great individual performance?  A great game? A funny event? Something that broke down barriers?  We have a little of everything in our chronological list.

1920– World Series Game 5

Brooklyn Dodgers vs. Cleveland Indians.  Early in the game, Cleveland’s Elmer Smith hit the first Grand Slam in the history of the World Series.  The fans thought they had witnessed history, and they were right.  But, later in the game, that “history” was amplified.  In the fifth inning, a feat occurred which has still never been seen again in World Series history.  With a man on first and second and no outs, Clarence Mitchell lined a ball straight into the glove of Bill Wambsganss who touched second base and tagged the runner from first.  The first ever unassisted triple play.  No team has done it in a World Series since.  Bill Wambsganss did it by himself.

1936– Summer Olympics

Whether it was in the USA or Germany, Jesse Owens had it rough in 1936.  All because he was black.  He stuck it to both FDR and Hitler with perhaps the most impressive Olympics individual performance ever.  Despite all the things he had to overcome, Jesse Owens left Berlin with four gold medals, and perhaps more impressively, the admiration of the German people.

1973– Belmont Stakes

With few competitors, Secretariat was a huge favorite in the 1973 Belmont Stakes in his quest for the Triple Crown.  However, what happened that day in Baltimore, will never be forgotten by horse racing fans.  Secretariat put up a time that has still never been beaten.  He beat his nearest competitor by 31 lengths, a mind boggling number.  Sure, they’re just horses.. but Secretariat’s performance may be the most dominant of all-time.

1974– Notre Dame vs. UCLA (Basketball)
Honorable mention: 1957– Notre Dame vs. Oklahoma (Football)

As much as it pains to me to admit Notre Dame success, they stopped two of the most impressive college team streaks ever.  UCLA had won 88 consecutive basketball games.  Oklahoma had won 47 consecutive football games.  Notre Dame beat them both.  To see the faces of teams on both sides would be something worth going back for.

Rockets vs. Lakers – December 9th, 1977 – 1:45 mark, you’ll see why.

1979– Magic vs. Bird

From Notre Dame to Michigan State, I feel like I need to take a shower.  To see two of the truly greats in college basketball play in a national championship would be awesome.  To know that it was only a sign of things to come… priceless.

1980– Miracle on Ice

Sure, you wouldn’t get to hear Al Michael’s famous call.  But, as great as the Oklahoma football and UCLA basketball streaks were, it’s hard to imagine anything ever matching the dominance of the Russian hockey team at the time.  On top of their team dominance, the Russians had some of the best players in the world.  Add in the political ramifications, and this has to be at the top of almost any American’s list.

February 11, 1990, Tokyo, Japan - The day the invincible became vincible:

1993– Jim Abbott No-Hitter

When you think about the great individual performances of all-time, this game probably doesn’t come to mind.  But, it should.  Jim Abbott was born without a left hand.  He accomplished some amazing things in his life, but nothing more impressive than this no-hitter.

Any fight invovling Riddick Bowe: But especially these two, because Bowe’s handlers beat the hell out of people in both of these videos:

(three minute mark) I will never forget the guy who comes in flailing the walkey talkey:

1993– AFC Wild Card Game (Bills vs. Oilers)

Simply known as “The Comeback,” this game is one of few good playoff memories Buffalo Bills have of the early 1990s.  The Oilers had a 35-3 lead in the third quarter… and lost.  Scoring 32 in the second half, the Bills forced overtime where they won on a Warren Moon interception that set up a short field goal.  The Oilers would get their revenge in the 21st century in the form of the Titans and the Music City Miracle.

1997– Anaheim Mighty Ducks game

It was a regular season game.  Why in the world is it on the list?  Lucy Lawless is why.

2003– First Round, NBA Playoffs (Mavericks vs. Trailblazers)

No one really remembers the final score.  But, they’ll always remember this.

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