The 4th quarterfinal of the 2011 Women's World Cup had a little bit of everything: sloppy defending, missed chances, spectacular saves, officiating controversy, and a finish for the ages. Just a truly incredible match. Here are some of the highlights:
The United States took a quick 1-0 lead 74 seconds into the match, after a Brazil own goal by their sweeper Dianae. The USA held that lead at halftime, with help from a Hope Solo save in the 38th minute.
Then, in the 65th minute, controversy erupted after a breathtaking run into the box, by Marta. This video shows both the red card, the distputed PK, and then at 9:35 the incredible goal by Marta at the start of extra time.
I agree with Darke's call in the moment. I do think Marta should have been awarded a PK after her incredible move with the ball. But, a red card was totally unnecessary and harsh judgment from Australian referee Jacqui Melksham. As to the save and re-kick, there have been far worse instances of encroachment not called.
After 55 minutes of only playing with 10 on the field, with only a couple of minutes left in the match (following some spectacular injury milking by the Brazilians, especially from the defender Erika), Megan Rapinoe delivers a perfect ball onto the head of Abby Wambach, who delivered a thunderous header into the net, to force the match into a PK shootout:
For my money, a more stunning goal than the one Landon Donovan scored against Algeria in last summer's World Cup in South Africa.
Wambach's equalizer led to the PK shootout, which was eventually won by the United States 5-3.
The United States advances to the semifinals. They play France at 11:30 AM ET on Wednesday.
An NFL Films highlight package that takes a look at the game that started a dynasty.
The original broadcast from the Immaculate Reception which was replayed during halftime the 1997 AFC Championship. How something this old and seemingly this obscure (we're not exactly talking Zapruder Film here, although I'm pretty sure the video and replays of this play have been analyzed as much as the Zapruder Film) was uploaded on to YouTube in January of this year is beyond me. And I'm obviously calling a 1997 halftime show, obscure, not the play itself.
I did not originally intend for the Raiders to be in every video here, but that seems to Raiders, I guess. Here's Holy Roller!
See Raiders fans, you do occasionally get the lucky breaks! ;-)
Transitioning from the Raiders, though, it's my perhaps my favorite controversial play in all of sports. This is the one play that I have watched over and over again for hours on end. It has been debated so much that it is utterly forgotten that Rob Johnson was the starting quarterback in this game. And to top it off, we've got Mike Patrick, Joe Theismann, and Paul Maguire on the call! I've said enough. Cue The Music City Miracle!
I have seen the video and replay of this play so many times and from every angle that is out there that I have come to the unequivocal conclusion that that was 100% a lateral and for those that say it was not, that is something I am willing to debate with anyone at anytime. Look at the replay at 3 minute mark and don't watch Wychek and Dyson, just follow the ball. Follow the trajectory of the ball. It is on a backwards trajectory! Bills fans will never tell you so. They will never admit it. And frankly, seeing as they have not been in a playoff game since, their eyes have been trained to see a forward pass on that play. They can't see the lateral. But it is there. On an unrelated note, I think that JC is glad that I have a video that features The Greatness That Is Mike Patrick, Joe Theismann, And Paul Maguire In A Booth Together.
And unrelated to football and sports, but seeing as I posted an MXC video in my first GMIS post and as howI'm live blogging I Survived A Japanese Game Show over at The O Files tonight at 9 PM ET, I figured why not put up a video of the final challenge from last season.
This year's Stanley Cup Playoffs certainly saw their share of great and unforgettable moments. Below are just a mere few of the great moments that we saw this year.
A rare hockey buzzer-beater to win the game!
The thrilling last 2 minutes of the Canes-Devils Game 7.
Ovechkin gets a hat trick in Game 2 of the conference semifinals.
Sidney Crosby gets a hat trick later on in the SAME GAME!
The Ducks win in Game 2 against the Wings in triple overtime
Scott Walker "sucker punches" Aaron Ward.
Scott Walker wins that series for the Canes. (sorry for the wishy-washy quality)
After the Soft Goal Of The Century is let in by Ward, Daryl Reaugh lectures Joe Beninati in txt speech.
Great stuff! And while we have not had too many great stand-out moments in this year's Stanley Cup finals, Game 7 is tonight and we will crown a cup champion tonight. With that being said, here is a look at the last few seconds right before the Detroit Red Wings clinched the Stanley Cup last year in Pittsburgh.
As I said above, Game 7 is tonight! We will have a cup raising in The Joe tonight. Do join me for the live blog tonight, starting hopefully a little before 8 ET. Should be some great stuff and there's nothing like mixing the funneh of the live blog with the dramatics of the hockey game!
This next one comes in 2 videos. The 2002 wildcard game between the Giants and the 49ers. The Giants were up by 24, 38-14, at one point in this game. What followed was the 2nd biggest comeback in Playoff history and arguably one of the most controversial finishes in playoff history. First off, here is the 49ers final drive of that game.
And now, the final drive of the Giants with 1 minute left. (if you want to skip the drive and get to the moment of controversy, skip to the 7:30 mark)
The fact that the Giants had 3 men illegally downfield made offsets with the pass interference, and thus the end of the game. But that has not stopped debates and anger from Giants fans.
And lastly, we will end on a high note. Literally.
Tommy Salo feels Cam Ward's pain as we witness one of the greatest upsets in hockey history.
Touchdown USC!!!! Oh wait......(thanks to RJBO for reminding me of this).
Hat tip to anyone who can remind me just who that idiot announcer was. I've seen the Versus college football rosters through the years and I'm not familiar with all of them and I don't recognize the voice here so it is not the ones I am familiar with (Beninati and Papa). I used to know this but I forget (the analyst I can tell you is Kelly Stouffer, though).
Meet Mike Gundy. He's a man.
Just because I'm having problems finding some of the videos that I would like, I am narrowing the amount of vids in this section from 5 to 3. Sorry, but I'll be running out of videos at the pace I am at and the fact that it appears more and more old sports videos on YouTube disappear by the second...
Time for more great moments! Hey, monkeys in the truck, roll the clips! (Chris Jericho'd).
First up, and I think we all remember this play from last year, it's Trinity University, 14 laterals, and Johnny Weiner on the mic!
I still watch that video in awe....Next up, it's our very own Pat Pam Ward being lost.
Spike the ball on 4th down! GENIUS!!! Aspeaking of genius, how about Boise State in the 2007 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl? Just incredible. And so I don't have to torture you with Thom Brennaman (although his calls were great here; I just could not find them) here's Paul J, radio announcer for Boise State!
OMFG, IT'S TIM TEBOW!!! HE MAKES A GUARANTEE!!! AND HE CAME THROUGH WITH IT!! AAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! OMGWTF!!!!!!!
And lastly, because I am a huge Penn State college football fan and I basically despise the Michigan Wolverines (sorry, RJBO, it's nothing personal).....
And again.....
And again.....
And here are the Penn Staters watching this after beating FIU....
Believe me, in the minds of pretty much everyone in the Big 10 outside of Ann Arbor, that day will forever be remembered as College Football Christmas!
This idea came to me all of a sudden as I was looking at some older sports videos today in YouTube. I figured hey, why not start a twice weekly feature on great moments in sports that will consist of 5 videos per post featuring actual great moments in sports, to well, more trite moments of ridiculousness and absurdity and in some cases even downright horridness in sports. Basically, it's any sports moment worth remembering that it has a video on YouTube! ;-)
First up, and you know I have to start with Philadelphia, it's one of the best moments in Eagles history made by hero turned football laughing stock Freddie Mitchell. Yep, you guessed it, it's 4th and 26. Believe.
I actually used to have a "4th & 26" shirt that said "4th and 26" on it with a picture of the chains and on the back it simply said "Believe". Actually, although very doubtful that it fits, I might still have it somewhere.....
Next up, because I am anxiously anticipation its return in August, one of the most amazing plays I can ever remember from the Little League World Series (and because I am such a fan, and I am proud to admit that, I might add, you can expect wall to wall coverage on this blog when the time comes).
Sticking with the Little League World Series, how about a walk off to win the world championship>
And now, perhaps one of the most embarrassing and pathetic moments in sports. The Malice in the Palace as it has come to be known, starring none other than Ron Artest. And just to clarify so I don't get bashed in the comments section, when I say "great" moments, it's all encompassing of both the truly great and the ones we would rather forget. This obviously being the latter and the worst of the latter to say the least. But not to be hypocritical, it most certainly is memorable, so it gets a spot on this new feature. (it's in 3 parts, mainly because of the breakdown that Steve Levy gives afterwards that shows more of what actually happened as opposed to the live video, which is in part 1 and the 2nd half of part 2).
The fifth and final great moment of the day will head over to MXC and a Tiny Trike race that consists of one of the most thrilling finishes in the history of professional triking.
I don't know about you, but I honestly think that Vic Romano would make a great play by play announcer for pretty much any sport.
So ends the 1st column of Great Moments in Sports. I hope you enjoyed it! If you have any thoughts, suggestions, or ideas as to what may constitute a great moment in sports, please email me (FYI, when I finally stop being lazy and turn my thoughts into action, I plan on creating a GMail account for this blog for you to email me compliments, criticisms, compliments, ideas, compliments, stories, compliments, thoughts for the next Song of the Day or a Great Moment in Sports, and compliments). And I'll let you know both via email and blog post when I have finally done such.
