Several months ago Sports Illustrated came up with their list of 100 Greatest Moments in Sports History. I went through the entire list. All one hundred. It took me a while, because I fell asleep a couple times. So, I made a pot of coffee and finished. While it’s hard to argue with their top five, the rest of the list is a mish mosh. Example. Both Secretariat’s Triple Crown win and the U.S. women’s soccer 1999 World Cup win are on the list above the Immaculate Reception and Kirk Gibson’s home run in the 1988 World Series. To add to the outrage. They included the 1992 U.S. men’s Olympic basketball “Dream Team” on the list. That is arguably the most overrated sports story ever. C’mon Sports Illustrated, you’re better than this.
I could argue this list all day, but that would be boring. So, what I’ve done is put together a list of my own. This list has nothing to do with sporting greatness. It’s all about entertainment value. I give you.
Marc’s Top Five Most Ridiculously Entertaining Moments In Sports History
5. Reporter vs. Brett Myers. After a 2007 loss to the Padres, a reporter approached Phillies pitcher Brett Myers (an alleged wife beater and all around bad guy) about two home runs he had given up. Myers ended up getting mad and called the reporter “retarded”. The smirking reporter proceeded to ask Myers if he could spell retarded. Hilarity and a lot of swearing ensued. It still makes me laugh. I also still don’t think Brett Myers can spell retarded.
4. Dennis Green On The Bears. Nothing is better than a coach freaking out to the media. I could watch that every single week. In 2006 the Arizona Cardinals lost a game to the Chicago Bears. The Bears had no business being in that game, but after two fumble returns and a punt return, the Cardinals twenty point lead was gone and they went on to lose. In the post-game, Dennis Green, the frustrated head coach of the Cardinals, delivered a great coaching rant.
3. Randy Johnson Kills A Bird. In a 2001 spring training game, Randy Johnson, whose fastballs reached into the triple digit miles per hour zone consistently, beaned a bird with a fastball. At full speed, all you saw was an explosion of feathers about halfway between the pitcher’s mound and home plate. This was funny to everyone but the bird, may he rest in peace. Mr. Johnson, who has since retired, has now opened a photography company. The logo of his company,,,,,,,,,, a dead bird.
2. Bobby Knight Throws Chair. In a 1985 game against Perdue, Indiana head coach Bobby Knight got upset about a foul called on one of his players. He let the refs have it verbally and got called for a technical foul. Coach Knight, who was never one to be shy, then decided that his indignation required further expression, so he picked up his chair and threw it across the court. Awesome, just awesome.
1. Phillip Wellman, My Hero. In a 2007 minor league baseball game the manager of the Mississippi Braves got a little upset about the umpire throwing his pitcher out of the game. He threw an epic tantrum that included throwing the pitcher’s rosin bag like a grenade. It is my all time favorite sports meltdown. In fact. When I pass on from this world, I fully intend to write my own eulogy. The last few lines will go something like this. “Marc would like to let everyone know that he is not happy about the whole dying thing. He finds it hard to express this unhappiness through words alone, so he wished us to play this video on a loop for the remaining duration of the services.” This two minutes and seventeen seconds of video will then be played on multiple flat screens until everyone goes home.
BONUS
Rick Monday Saves The Flag. On April 25 forty years ago, Rick Monday, center fielder for the Chicago Cubs, played the hero. Two protesters, you know the kind, the ones who are always mistaking their right to free speech for a right to interrupt everyone else’s good time, decided that they would light an American flag on fire in left-center field. Rick Monday, who had served in the Marine Corps, decided that this was unnacceptable and swooped in to grab it before the morons could get it ignited. Tommy Lasorda threw in some colorful language from the third base area. A great moment which was commemorated in an iconic photo.
Those definitely some entertaining and memorable sports moments. Nice read!
Thanks so much for dropping by.
I do remember the one with Bobby Knight. Sometimes it seems he’s known more for his shenanigans than his coaching.
It is kind of a shame that when people think of him, they remember chair throwing and player choking instead of 902 career wins. Thanks for taking the time to drop by.