ESPN Classic: The Worldwide Leader In Awesome Decade Celebrations

First of all, Happy Boxing Day!

To the point of the post, I know I am a little late on getting this up, but as it was early Boxing Day morning and I was surfing my television trying to find something appetizing to watch. Well, I turned on ESPN Classic, Game 6 of the 2000 Subway Series was on, bleh, but sometimes you take what you can get. Anyway, I look at the top of the screen and it says "Best of the Decade". I look at the guide through my DVR, and I am amazed at what I see. Non-stop classics in every sport from every network running from 2000 all the way to 2009! The only thing that is missing is the NFL, and yet for me, that is not that big of a deal as NFL Network runs classic games on a fairly regular basis that I watch with some occasional regularity. Sure ESPN Classic runs Classic games, but it always seems to be disjointed with no real schedule. This marathon has a schedule and I have it listed below. Now I am the farthest thing from an ESPN shill, but I must admit, that when I saw all of this and the games they have managed to air, it moved.

Some of the games include the 2000 Eastern Conference finals game between the Flyers and the Devils which was I game went to and it also was the last time Eric Lindros was seen in a Flyers uniform, Raymond Bourque finally winning a Stanley Cup, Ohio State-Miami controversial Fiesta Bowl, Penn State-Florida State Orange Bowl, Boise State-Oklahoma Fiesta Bowl (a.k.a. my personal choice for The Game Of The Decade), Tiger vs. Rocco, Federer vs. Nadal, the 6 OT game between UConn and Syracuse, George Mason's Elite 8 upset over UConn, Gonzaga's collapse against UCLA, the Phillies breaking Philly's 100-season and 25-year championship drought with a World Series championship by winning a game that ended 49 hours after it began, and so much more. How much more, you ask? Well, here is the full schedule courtesy of ESPN.com.

Saturday, Dec. 26

Midnight-2 a.m.: 2000 World Series, Game 5, Yankees versus Mets. Yankees win their third straight World Series title.

2 a.m.-4 a.m.: 2000 NHL regular season, Maple Leafs versus Penguins. After a 3½-year absence from hockey, Mario Lemieux returns to the ice for Pittsburgh with one goal and two assists in 5-0 win.

4 a.m.-6 a.m.: 2000 Eastern Conference finals, Game 7, Devils versus Flyers. Devils come back from a 3-1 series deficit to win Game 7, 2-1.

6 a.m.-8 a.m.: 2001 NBA regular season, Wizards versus Knicks. Michael Jordan returns to NBA with the Wizards in front of a sellout crowd at Madison Square Garden. He finishes with 19 points but the Wizards lose 93-91.

8 a.m.-11 a.m.: 2001 GMAC Bowl, Marshall versus East Carolina. Byron Leftwich throws for 576 yards and leads Marshall to a tremendous comeback and a 64-61 double-overtime victory.

11 a.m.-1 p.m.: 2001 NHL Stanley Cup finals, Game 7, Devils versus Avalanche. Colorado wins the Stanley Cup and Ray Bourque finally lifts the Cup.

1 p.m.-3 p.m.: 2001, Duke versus Maryland. Duke makes up 10-point deficit with under a minute left to tie the game and force overtime, where Shane Battier scores the last six points for a 98-96 win.

3 p.m.-5 p.m.: 2001 Wimbledon final, Goran Ivanisevic versus Patrick Rafter. Ivanisevic finally prevails at Wimbledon, beating Rafter 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 2-6, 9-7.

5 p.m.-7 p.m.: 2002 NBA Finals, Game 4, Lakers versus Nets. Lakers complete three-peat with sweep of the Nets.

7 p.m.-7:30 p.m.: 2001, Lennox Lewis versus Hasim Rahman. Rahman pulls off Ring Magazine's Upset of the Year and Knockout of the Year as he knocks out Lennox Lewis in the fifth round.

7:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m.: 2001 World Series, Game 7, Diamondbacks versus Yankees. Luis Gonzalez's broken-bat single off Mariano Rivera wins the series for Arizona.

9:30 p.m.-midnight: 2001 U.S. Open quarterfinal, Andre Agassi versus Pete Sampras. Sampras outlasts Agassi 6-7 (7-9), 7-6 (7-2), 7-6 (7-2), 7-6 (7-5) in this epic battle between the two rivals.

Sunday, Dec. 27

12:30 a.m.-2:30 a.m.: 2001, Dodgers versus Giants. Barry Bonds hits home run No. 73 to finish the season with a new single-season record.

2:30 a.m.-3 a.m.: 2001, Lennox Lewis versus Hasim Rahman. Rahman pulls off Ring Magazine's Upset of the Year and Knockout of the Year as he knocks out Lennox Lewis in the fifth round.

3 a.m.-4 a.m.: 2001, Micky Ward versus Emanuel Burton. Ward wins a 10-round decision in the 2001 Ring Magazine Fight of Year.

4 a.m.-6 a.m.: 2002 Big East Tournament championship, Connecticut versus Pittsburgh. The Huskies win a classic Big East title game in double overtime, 74-65.

6 a.m.-8 a.m.: 2002 NBA Eastern Conference finals, Game 3, Nets versus Celtics. The Celtics overcome a 21-point deficit in the fourth quarter to win 94-90 in one of largest comebacks in playoff history.

8 a.m.-10 a.m.: 2002 Australian Open final, Jennifer Capriati versus Martina Hingis. Capriati saves four match points in the second set and defeats Hingis.

10 a.m.-1 p.m.: 2002 Little League World Series semifinal. Louisville defeats Fort Worth 2-1 in a game that features nine innings of no-hit ball and a record 49 strikeouts by five different pitchers.

1 p.m.-6 p.m.: 2003 Australian Open quarterfinal, Andy Roddick versus Younes El Aynaoui. Roddick prevails 4-6, 7-6 (5), 4-6, 6-4, 21-19 in this classic marathon match that lasts four hours, 59 minutes.

6 p.m.-9 p.m.: 2003 Fiesta Bowl, Ohio State versus Miami. In one of the greatest bowl games of all time, Ohio State upsets Miami 31-24 in two overtimes to become national champ.

9 p.m.-11 p.m.: 2003 ALCS, Game 7, Red Sox versus Yankees. Aaron Boone becomes an instant hero in New York as his 11th-inning home run off of Tim Wakefield sends the Yankees to the World Series.

11 p.m.-1 a.m.: 2003 Heritage Classic, Canadiens versus Oilers. The first regular-season outdoor NHL game is played in Edmonton, with the Canadiens winning 4-3 thanks to two goals by Richard Zednik.

Monday, Dec. 28

1 a.m.-2 a.m.: 2003 Rocky Juarez versus Antonio Diaz. Juarez beats Diaz in the 10th round in Ring Magazine's Knockout of the Year for 2003.

2 a.m.-4 a.m.: 2003 NCAA championship, Syracuse versus Kansas. Hakim Warrick and freshman Carmelo Anthony lead Syracuse to an 81-78 win over Kansas.

4 a.m.-5 a.m.: 2003 World Series of Poker final table. Chris Moneymaker wins the $2.5 million first prize.

5 a.m.-6 a.m.: 2003 PBA Earl Anthony Classic. Norm Duke bowls a 300 game in the semifinals, the 15th televised perfect game in PBA history.

6 a.m.-7 a.m.: 2003 PBA Cambridge Credit Classic. Mika Koivuniemi tosses the 16th televised 300 game in PBA history.

7 a.m.-9 a.m.: 2004, Diamondbacks versus Braves. Randy Johnson tosses a perfect game at age 40.

9 a.m.-11 a.m.: 2004 women's NCAA championship, Connecticut versus Tennessee. The UConn women win 70-61 over rival Tennessee, giving the Huskies' men and women national titles in the same year.

11 a.m.-1 p.m.: 2004 NCAA semifinal, Connecticut versus Duke. Emeka Okafor helps the Huskies beat Duke 79-78 to advance to the national championship.

1 p.m.-3 p.m.: 2005 NCAA regional final, Arizona versus Illinois. Illinois trails by 15 with four minutes to play, but Deron Williams leads the comeback and 90-89 overtime victory.

3 p.m.-5 p.m.: 2006 NCAA regional final, George Mason versus Connecticut. No. 11 seed George Mason upsets Connecticut 86-84.

5 p.m.-7 p.m.: 2004 ALCS, Game 4, Yankees versus Red Sox. Down 3-0 in the ALCS, the Red Sox avoid the sweep after Dave Roberts steals second and Bill Mueller singles off Mariano Rivera to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth. In the 12th inning, David Ortiz cracks a two-run home run to allow the Sox to live another day.

7 p.m.-8 p.m.: 2005 PBA Banquet Open. Liz Johnson becomes first woman to reach final of PBA event by beating Wes Malott 235-228.

8 p.m.-9 p.m.: 2005, Jose Luis Castillo versus Diego Corrales. Named the 2005 ESPN.com and Ring Magazine Fight of Year; Corrales rallies in the 10th round to score the TKO win and retain the WBO lightweight title.

9 p.m.-midnight: 2006 Rose Bowl, Texas versus USC. Vince Young and Texas pull off the memorable 41-38 upset over USC to win the national title.

Tuesday, Dec. 29

Midnight-3 a.m.: 2005 EA Sports Maui Invitational semifinal, Gonzaga versus Michigan State. This three-overtime thriller features Gonzaga taking down Michigan State 109-107 as Adam Morrison pours in 43 points.

3 a.m.-5 a.m.: 2005 NLDS, Game 4, Braves versus Astros. Rookie Chris Burke hits a walk-off home run in the 18th inning to beat the Braves while 43-year-old Roger Clemens pitches three innings in relief to get the win.

5 a.m.-10 a.m.: 2005 Australian Open semifinal, Roger Federer versus Marat Safin. After 4½ hours, Safin emerges victorious over the seemingly invincible Federer, 5-7, 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (8-6), 9-7.

10 a.m.-1 p.m.: 2005, USC versus Fresno State. Reggie Bush runs for 294 yards and scores twice while leading the Trojans to a wild 50-42 win.

1 p.m.-3 p.m.: 2006 Orange Bowl, Penn State versus Florida State. Joe Paterno and Bobby Bowden face off in a three-overtime thriller that Penn State wins 26-23.

3 p.m.-5 p.m.: 2006, Ohio State versus Michigan. No. 1 versus No. 2 for the first time in the history of this rivalry. Troy Smith leads Ohio State to a 42-39 win.

5 p.m.-8 p.m.: 2007 Fiesta Bowl, Boise State versus Oklahoma. Boise State wins 43-42 in overtime, helped by an earlier 50-yard hook-and-ladder touchdown.

8 p.m.-9 p.m.: 2006 NCAA regional semifinal, Gonzaga versus UCLA. Gonzaga blows a 17-point lead as UCLA wins 73-71.

9 p.m.-9:30 p.m.: 2007, Vic Darchinyan versus Nonito Donaire. Donaire rocks Darchinyan with a big left hook that Ring Magazine named the Knockout of Year.

9:30 p.m.-10 p.m.: 2008, Edison Miranda versus David Banks. The 2008 ESPN.com and Ring Magazine Knockout of the Year comes from the right hand of Miranda.

10 p.m.-11 p.m.: 2007, Rafael Marquez versus Israel Vazquez I & II. The first bout in this trilogy sees Marquez breaking Vazquez's nose and capturing the WBC super bantamweight belt. The second bout is the 2007 ESPN.com and Ring Magazine Fight of the Year, with Vazquez reclaiming the belt with a bloody sixth-round TKO.

11 p.m.-midnight: 2008, Rafael Marquez versus Israel Vazquez III. In the 2008 Ring Magazine Fight of the Year, Vazquez wins the brutal third match of the trilogy with a split decision.

Wednesday, Dec. 30
Midnight-1 a.m.: 2006 PBA Dydo Japan Cup. Walter Ray Williams tops Pete Weber to pass Earl Anthony for most PBA titles of all time.

1 a.m.-2 a.m.: 2006 PBA Motor City Classic. Tony Reyes rolls a 300.

2 a.m.-4 a.m.: 2007 National League wild-card playoff, Padres versus Rockies. The Rockies won 14 of their final 15 games, including this come-from-behind, 13-inning, 9-8 win over the Padres.

4 a.m.-6 a.m.: 2006, Oregon versus Oklahoma. Oregon scores 14 points in the final five minutes and then blocks a field goal on the final play of the game to seal the improbable 34-33 win.

6 a.m.-8 a.m.: 2007, Appalachian State versus Michigan. Appalachian State stuns No. 5 Michigan 34-32 in one of biggest upsets in college football history.

8 a.m.-9 a.m.: 2007 PBA Pepsi Championship. Ryan Shafer bowls a 300.

9 a.m.-11 a.m.: 2008, Texas Tech versus Texas. Graham Harrell finds Michael Crabtree in double coverage with the final seconds ticking down as Tech stuns No. 1 Texas 39-33.

11 a.m.-1 p.m.: 2006, Raptors versus Lakers. Kobe Bryant scores 81 points in a 122-104 rout.

1 p.m.-4 p.m.: 2007 Eastern Conference finals, Game 5, Cavaliers versus Pistons. LeBron James scores 48 points in this double-overtime thriller that Cleveland wins 109-107.

4 p.m.-6 p.m.: 2008 NBA Finals, Game 4, Celtics versus Lakers. The Celtics overcome a 24-point deficit to take a commanding 3-1 series lead.

6 p.m.-9 p.m.: 2009 Eastern Conference first round, Game 4, Celtics versus Bulls. Ben Gordon scores 22 points, including a game-tying 3-pointer late in the first overtime, as the Bulls beat the Celtics 121-118 in double OT.

9 p.m.-11 p.m.: 2008 Winter Classic, Penguins versus Sabres. Before the largest crowd in NHL history, the Penguins beat the Sabres 2-1 in a shootout at Ralph Wilson Stadium.

11 p.m.-1 a.m.: 2008 Firestone Indy Car 300 at Japan. Danica Patrick becomes the first woman to win a major open-wheel race as she passes Helio Castroneves with three laps remaining.

Thursday, Dec. 31

1 a.m.-3 a.m.: 2008 women's NCAA championship, Stanford versus Tennessee. Pat Summitt wins her eighth national championship as the Lady Vols take down Stanford 64-48.

3 a.m.-5 a.m.: 2008, Texas A&M versus Texas Tech. Bob Knight reaches 900 career victories with Texas Tech's 68-53 rout.

5 a.m.-7 a.m.: 2008, Tennessee versus Memphis. No. 2 Tennessee knocks off No. 1 Memphis 66-62, ending the Tigers' 47-game home winning streak.

7 a.m.-9 a.m.: 2008, Texas versus Oklahoma. Colt McCoy leads Texas over Sam Bradford and Oklahoma in this 45-35 Red River Rivalry shootout.

9 a.m.-11 a.m.: 2008 NCAA championship, Kansas versus Memphis. Kansas overcomes a nine-point deficit in the final 2:12 to force overtime and win the national title.

11 a.m.-4 p.m.: 2008 Wimbledon final, Roger Federer versus Rafael Nadal. In the match of the decade, Rafael Nadal ends Roger Federer's five-year run at Wimbledon with an epic 6-4, 6-4, 6-7, 6-7, 9-7 win.

4 p.m.-6 p.m.: 2008 U.S. Open playoff, Rocco Mediate versus Tiger Woods, Part 1. The first nine holes of the 18-hole playoff.

6 p.m.-8 p.m.: 2008 U.S. Open playoff, Part 2. It goes 19 holes as Tiger wins despite obvious pain from an ailing knee.

8 p.m.-10 p.m.: 2009 NHL Eastern Conference semifinals, Game 2, Penguins versus Capitals. Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby trade hat tricks, but Ovechkin's goals in the third period give the Caps the 4-3 win.

10 p.m.-midnight: 2009 NHL Stanley Cup final, Game 7, Penguins versus Red Wings.The Penguins upend the Red Wings on the road in a memorable 2-1 victory.

Friday, Jan. 1

Midnight-3 a.m.: 2009 Frozen Four championship, Boston University versus Miami (Ohio). BU scores twice in the final minute to tie the game, then wins in overtime on fluke bounce.

3 a.m.-5 a.m.: 2009 women's NCAA championship, Connecticut versus Louisville. Led by Maya Moore, Renee Montgomery and Tina Charles, the Huskies complete a 39-0 season by beating Louisville 76-54.

5 a.m.-7 a.m.: 2009 World Series of Poker final table. At 21, Joe Cada becomes the youngest world champion.

7 a.m.-10 a.m.: 2008, Baylor versus Texas A&M. This five-overtime contest ends with Baylor's 116-110 victory.

10 a.m.-3 p.m.: 2009 Wimbledon final, Roger Federer versus Andy Roddick. Roddick battles Federer to the bitter end, but Federer prevails in the epic match, 5-7, 7-6 (6), 7-6 (5), 3-6, 16-14.

3 p.m.-5 p.m.: 2008 NCAA tournament second round, Georgetown versus Davidson. Stephen Curry scores 25 of his 30 points in the second half as the Wildcats upset No. 2-seeded Georgetown 74-70.

5 p.m.-9 p.m.: 2009 Big East tournament, Syracuse versus Connecticut. Six overtimes later, Syracuse wins 127-117.

9 p.m.-midnight: 2009 Ford 400 at Homestead Miami. Denny Hamlin wins the race but Jimmie Johnson enters the NASCAR history books with his fourth consecutive Sprint Cup Championship.

Saturday, Jan. 2
Midnight-2:30 a.m.: 2001, Indians versus Mariners. The Indians mount the greatest comeback in 76 years, winning 15-14 in 11 innings after trailing by 12 runs.

2:30 a.m.-4:30 a.m.: 2001 World Series, Game 4, Diamondbacks versus Yankees. With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Tino Martinez launches a two-run homer off Byung-Hyun Kim to tie the game and then Derek Jeter homers in the 10th to win it.

4:30 a.m.-6:30 a.m.: 2003 World Series, Game 6, Marlins versus Yankees. 23-year-old Josh Beckett, pitching on three days' rest, throws a shutout to give the Marlins the title.

6:30 a.m.-8:30 a.m.: 2003 NLCS, Game 6, Marlins versus Cubs. With five outs to go for a trip to the World Series, the Cubs fall apart.

8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m.: 2004 ALCS, Game 6, Red Sox versus Yankees. With Boston on the verge of elimination, Curt Schilling pitches with a torn tendon sheath in his right ankle in the "bloody sock" game.

10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: 2004 ALCS, Game 7, Red Sox versus Yankees. Johnny Damon cracks a grand slam and a two-run homer to help Boston complete the historic comeback.

12:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m.: 2004 World Series, Game 4, Red Sox versus Cardinals. The Red Sox complete sweep of Cardinals with a 3-0 win for their first World Series title in 86 years.

2:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.: 2005 World Series, Game 4, White Sox versus Astros. After 88 agonizing years, the White Sox sweep the Astros with a 1-0 victory.

4:30 p.m.-7 p.m.: 2006, Padres versus Dodgers. The Dodgers hit four consecutive home runs in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game and then Nomar Garciaparra hits a two-run homer in the 10th to give the Dodgers an improbable victory.

7 p.m.-9 p.m.: 2007, Nationals versus Giants. Barry Bonds hits home run No. 756 to pass Hank Aaron as the all-time home run king. The historic blast comes off Nationals hurler Mike Bacsik.

9 p.m.-midnight: 2008 World Series, Game 5, Rays versus Phillies. The teams play the final three innings after the game was postponed two days earlier, and the Phillies pull out a 3-2 win for the city of Philadelphia's first major title in 25 years.

Yeah, it's official, I found my programming for the next week. Sure I'll tune in to the Winter Classic, some bowl games (keyword: some), and obviously all of Week 16 of the NFL, but aside from that, it's time to indulge myself in some nostalgia, relive games that I forget, and see games that I never got a chance to see, but look like they were something special and I want to see them anyway.