We called it the Greatest Sports Year of All-Time back in the summer, and even though Sports Illustrated did the same thing this month, we’re still sticking to our guns. Here are the LBPostSports.com Top 10 Moments of 2008:
10. Usain Bolt’s Finish
The 22-year-old Jamaican sprinter not only sets the 100 meter world record in Beijing, but he does it, as the kids say: “stunting” across the finish line. Every time an announcer says someone is “flying” down the field, he or she is now referencing Bolt.
9. LBSU Women’s Soccer Curtain Call
Four years ago, coach Mauricio Ingrassia brought with him the best recruiting class in Long Beach State history, and together, they delivered the first ever NCAA Tournament berth. After a hard fought first round loss to UCLA, 1-0, the Long Beach crowd called the team over for one last well-deserved bow.
8. Poly & Millikan in the ‘Myd
The Rams beat the ‘Rabbits in early January before the he ‘Rabbits beat the Rams in late January. Then on the last day of February, the two best high school girls’ basketball teams in the CIFSS, Long Beach Millikan and Long Beach Poly, played in the Championship game on the campus of Long Beach State. One word: beautiful.
7. Softball Sportsmanship
Western Oregon senior Sara Tucholsky hit what looked like her first career homer, but rounding first her knee gave out and she collapsed. The rule says the runner must cross the plate for the home run to count, so her opponents from Central Washington carried her around the bases. Pure sportsmanship in one act.
6. Philadelphia Championship Delay
The tortured City of Brotherly Love got their first “major sports championship” since 1983, but they had to wait, and wait, and wait. After games 3 and 5 were delayed by rain, and a season after the franchise collected its 10,000th loss, the Fightin’ Phills are World “F-in” Champs.
5. Lakewood & Poly Semifinal
One team was looking for a National Championship, and the other was living from week to week. Both overcame adversity, and both represented the Moore League in the 2008 CIFSS Semifinal. As Lakewood kicked it off for the start of the second half, almost 12,000 fans cheered, and all was right with the world.
4. Super Bowl Helmet Catch
Eli Manning escapes, David Tyree pins the ball against his helmet, the Giants score, and the biggest upset in NFL history really did just happen. Really.
3. Phelps By A Fingertip
Milorad Cavic lead the 100m butterfly in Beijing, and even though we had seen Michael Phelps do the impossible all week, we can all agree there was a second of doubt. Of course, that doubt was immediately followed by disbelief that Phelps had in fact come back and won his seventh gold by a fingernail. A fingernail being .01 seconds.
2. Tiger Rolls It In On Sunday
He had limped around Torrey Pines for four days. He refused to answer questions about his leg that, we would find our later, was broken. And on the 18th green with a Monday playoff in the balance, Tiger Woods rolled in the 13-footer that shook Southern California and the golfing world. All on one leg.
Come back tomorrow to find out what our number one moment is….