Thursday, March 8, 2007

Best in Sport?

I have always wondered what the pinnacle moment in sports is, and what sport that moment comes from. I am not talking about actual events that have taken place, there are certainly many moments that cannot be compared. Here I am focusing on a specific play that occurs in a particular sport (i.e Touchdown from a Hail Mary, Bottom-of-the-ninth scenario, soccer goal late in the second half to tie the game etc.). Buzzerbeaters form perhaps there own category, as some sports are controlled by the clock and once that clock hits zero there is no more play. Basketball, soccer and hockey, among others, are in this category. Other sports have time restrictions but play is not dead when the official clock hits 0:00. Time is suspended at 0:00 when the game clock runs out and the play is allowed to be concluded before the game is over. This leaves the characteristic "last play" where there is a definitive conclusion to a game on the field. The game does not finish in the middle of an action. With sports that are not run by a clock, but controlled by game criteria, the result is that there is always a last play. In fact, the game cannot end without the last play. Baseball is the best example of this type of contest and unless there is a pre-mature conclusion due to inclement weather, the game must end with two-outs in the ninth inning with either the away team behind in the top of the inning or the home team losing in the bottom. Can there be a better ending than in a sport where the game's outcome is decided by the last play? Is there anything better than the prototype game-winning-homerun-in-the-bottom-of-the-ninth? Perhaps, but it would be hard to out-do it.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

What about the most anti-climatic moment in sports? I nominate shootouts in soccer where a brilliant 90+ minute performance can be overshadowed by someones crooked foot or poor reflects

Anonymous said...

How about a walk off golf shot? Down by a stroke chipping in for eagle and winning a 4 day major tournament against hundreds of competitors and winning millions of dollars. Take Daytona too, what a finish that was, passing the leader for the victory in the very last turn. However I have to finally agree with you BG, the walk off homerun trumps them all, for the simple fact that you as an individual get to slowly trot around the bases while tens of thousands of people are jumping up and down cheering for you, and you can slowly trot around the bases and take in the moment. How many sports can you actually stop and take it all in while you are still on the field trotting along? Your work in done and all you need to do is touch the plate and jump up and down with your teammates. Must be an unbelievable feeling. BTW great pic.

Anonymous said...

A winning Golf shot would be exhilarating for sure, Nikko. Play a real sport next time, wimp.

A big surprise that a Maria would want to dwell on that sissy sport soccer.

Folks, I would have to say that a winning beirut shot against the champs for cash victory trumps all! Wait...that's not even a sport. Carry on

Jaquins Lyre said...

Nikko.org isn't a real website. What's going on here?

Anonymous said...

This is a crappy blog Jaques

Anonymous said...

not as big of a surprise as having an anonymous endorse a drinking game