OT: Greatest Athletic feat you have witnessed - Printable Version
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OT: Greatest Athletic feat you have witnessed - lex24 - 12-30-2020
It can be a single event, a game or a long term (season etc) event. Only rule is you had to experience it.
Mine, as will surprise no one, is MadBum’s 2014 Post Season. 52 2/3. 28 hits 7 runs 6 walk 45 Ks.
Speaking of Mad Bum, I have to face the possibility that he’s done, Like Lincecum and Cain, way too early.
He will go down as the greatest post season pitcher of his era; and one of the greatest of all-time.
His WS numbers: 4-0 36 IP. 14 hits. 1 run ( Salvatore Perez HR. Bum had last laugh) 5 walks 31 Ks.
He pitched in 3 elimination games. CG shutout in ‘14 WC. CG shutout (1-0) in 2016. And the 5 inning save in game 7. 23 innings 0 runs.
Love to hear yours.
RE: OT: Greatest Athletic feat you have witnessed - Maple Leaf - 12-30-2020
Stanford 1971 Rose Bowl win over tOSU. Stanford never quit even though there were many times during that game they came up short from either forcing a punt, keeping a drive going or a fumble near the goal line while driving for a score. They fought and they fought and came away with not only a win, but established the fact that Stanford could compete with anybody.
RE: OT: Greatest Athletic feat you have witnessed - BobK - 12-30-2020
Bruce Jenner winning the Olympic decathlon
Stanford women’s track team almost so close to winning the NCAA Title 2 years ago
Moore running for the Roses 1999
Plunkett TD pass to clinch the trip to the Rose Bowl
Steve Dunning striking out 18
Tony Cloniger, the pitcher, hitting two grand slams and close to another
Yes I was there for all.
RE: OT: Greatest Athletic feat you have witnessed - BostonCard - 12-30-2020
Andrew Luck in the Spring Game his freshman year (before he became a starter). The guy was hitting receivers 50 yards away on the numbers and looked effortless doing it. That was the first time I knew he was as good as advertised.
McCaffrey against USC in the Pac-12 championship game.
Francis Owusu's catch against UCLA (pinned against the receiver's back!)
Kristin Folkl playing volleyball (pick a game).
The massacre at Maples against UCLA n 1997.
BC
RE: OT: Greatest Athletic feat you have witnessed - troyc - 12-30-2020
Five come to mind immediately for me:
Nolan Ryan's 6th no-hitter
Brett Favre's Monday night game in Oakland right after his father passed
Christian McCaffrey's 2015 season. Dude was Superman
Nick Robinson and "The Shot"
Joe Borchard hitting a home run over the batting eye at Sunken Diamond and THE BALL WAS STILL RISING on its way out
Troy C
RE: OT: Greatest Athletic feat you have witnessed - martyup - 12-30-2020
Jim Sharp making the whistle on his 10th bull at the 1988 National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, making him the first man to ride all 10 bulls at the NFR.
RE: OT: Greatest Athletic feat you have witnessed - Maple Leaf - 12-30-2020
I will add to the 1971 Rose Bowl the 1962 USA vs USSR track meet at Stanford...........never forget the USA's Steeple Chase Runner (just graduated from high school) who was running step for step next to the Russian down the back stretch and tripping over a hurdle, the kid pick him self up and finished not sure what place, but the Russian who won was very supportive of the kid's efforts. Fans next to us said the Russian was an Olympic medal winner. Then there was Wilma Rudolf...............
RE: OT: Greatest Athletic feat you have witnessed - cardcrimson - 12-30-2020
Amazing/historic play or Athletic feat?
Sea of Hands Catch
Montana to Taylor (the whole drive was pretty special)
Elway throwing a fat softball on a frozen rope from center field to home during a beer infused Friday afternoon softball game Freshman year.
McGuire blasting a ball well over the Monster at Fenway.
The sound Tiger's ball made as it flew past me on the par 5 6th at Pebble in 2000 (standing on the balcony above the 18th when he won didn't suck, either)
RE: OT: Greatest Athletic feat you have witnessed - burger - 12-30-2020
I was at Fenway for a Red Sox - Mariners game that featured a player hitting for the cycle and a triple play. This has happened exactly twice in major league history.
RE: OT: Greatest Athletic feat you have witnessed - Red80 - 12-30-2020
Darrin Nelson vs WSU in Pullman, 1978. I was there with my father. I saw many great runs made by Nelson during his Stanford career, but this effort had to be the best, and one of the best runs I've ever seen, period.
Stanford was at WSU's 22 yard line when Nelson ran a short circle pattern out of backfield, he received a pass from Steve Dils at about the 15 yard line, shook a linebacker, and then took off on a full sprint to the right pylon. We had a great vantage point and could see Nelson burning straight toward us as two Cougar defenders, one on his right, the other to his left, were rapidly pinching in on him. It looked like Nelson was going to be blown up simultaneously by these two DBs when he made a wicked shoulder dip and head fake as he neared the sideline. Both defenders bit on the fake and launched themselves at Nelson...but he wasn't there. Nelson looked back over his shoulder as he harmlessly trotted into the end zone. Meanwhile, the two WSU players had collided so violently that they knocked each other out and were down on the field receiving medical attention for several minutes.
I saw the WSU Highlight show the next day. While watching the replay of Nelson's catch and run, then WSU HC, Jim Walden said, "Darrin Nelson is the only back in America who could have scored on that play." I agreed.
RE: OT: Greatest Athletic feat you have witnessed - Genuine Realist - 12-30-2020
(12-30-2020, 12:32 PM)troyc Wrote: Five come to mind immediately for me:He's not my favorite Stanford QB and not able to lead a team consistently in the manner of Plunket, Benjamin, or Luck.
Nolan Ryan's 6th no-hitter
Brett Favre's Monday night game in Oakland right after his father passed
Christian McCaffrey's 2015 season. Dude was Superman
Nick Robinson and "The Shot"
Joe Borchard hitting a home run over the batting eye at Sunken Diamond and THE BALL WAS STILL RISING on its way out
Troy C
But the best single athletic feat I have personally witnessed was John Elway escaping the USC rush and hitting Margerum at the goal line in the 1980 USC game.
RE: OT: Greatest Athletic feat you have witnessed - Durty Nelly - 12-30-2020
The outdoor track relays on the last night of the Sydney Olympics. My mate and I had front row seats on the back stretch and were dressed in convict outfits. A magic atmosphere with some great races in which we gave high 5's to several of the teams as they passed on their victory lap. (Why wouldn't you give high 5's to two guys in convict outfits with plenty of beer on board?)
RE: OT: Greatest Athletic feat you have witnessed - bl82 - 12-30-2020
In no particular order (iin person):
Orlando Pizzolato wins NYC Marathon despite stopping *eight* times on unusually hot day (10/29/84)
Elway to Margerum vs. USC (11/8/80)
Mario Lemieux scores five goals in a game (3/26/96)
Chris Solinsky becomes first American to break 27:00 in 10,000 meters (5/1/10, at Stanford)
Gordie Howe scoring an NHL goal at age 50 (March-April, 1978)
RE: OT: Greatest Athletic feat you have witnessed - teejers1 - 12-30-2020
(12-30-2020, 11:28 AM)lex24 Wrote: It can be a single event, a game or a long term (season etc) event. Only rule is you had to experience it.
Mine, as will surprise no one, is MadBum’s 2014 Post Season. 52 2/3. 28 hits 7 runs 6 walk 45 Ks.
Speaking of Mad Bum, I have to face the possibility that he’s done, Like Lincecum and Cain, way too early.
He will go down as the greatest post season pitcher of his era; and one of the greatest of all-time.
His WS numbers: 4-0 36 IP. 14 hits. 1 run ( Salvatore Perez HR. Bum had last laugh) 5 walks 31 Ks.
He pitched in 3 elimination games. CG shutout in ‘14 WC. CG shutout (1-0) in 2016. And the 5 inning save in game 7. 23 innings 0 runs.
Love to hear yours.
First, great topic.
Second, by "experience" - I take it that does NOT mean witness in-person. And btw, impressed with Bob's in-person list.
Third, great call by Red80. I have a vague memory of the play in question, and more generally, pre-injury Darrin Nelson was an athletic wonder. He had countless amazing plays in a Cardinal uniform, and remains the best player to wear a Cardinal uniform, imo. (Though Elway, Luck, and C-Mac are right there).
Fourth, any all time athletic achievement discussion should include Bo Jackson. Take your pick. Mine are (i) game with 2 90+ yard TD runs, and (ii) Royals game where he threw Harold Reynolds, a very fast runner (who was stealing second on the pitch) at home plate from the LF corner. The throw was an absolute seed from near the outfield corner to home plate. On the "Bo Knows" 30 for 30, the story goes that Reynolds asked who made the cutoff throw home, and was dumbfounded when the answer was "there wasn't one." Reynolds then apparently watched the tape of the play 5 times after the game, shaking his head the whole time. An incredible play, for sure.
Edit: Youtube is cool.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eB9wi_zvMdM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VbigO805EY
P.S. Agree that Elway to Margerum was incredible athletic feat to witness in person. On the downside of in-person viewing: Chuck Muncie running wild over Stanford; Damon Stoudemire dropping 50+ against Stanford; and the WSU RB who went wild at Stanford stadium in 2H to lead ridiculous comeback win.
RE: OT: Greatest Athletic feat you have witnessed - cardcrimson - 12-30-2020
(12-30-2020, 04:35 PM)teejers1 Wrote: Second, by "experience" - I take it that does NOT mean witness in-person. And btw, impressed with Bob's in-person list.
I was going with witnessed in person. . . .Fortunate to be at 1980 USC game for Elway to Margerum (though something similar seemed to happen most games) and the 1999 Big Game as well. Loved the 1979 USC game at the Coliseum, too. Happened to be at the 1992 Indy when Little Al held off Scott Goodyear to win by .043 seconds (happened right in front of us, and we still had no idea who won).
RE: OT: Greatest Athletic feat you have witnessed - BobK - 12-30-2020
Mayes WSU Running Back. Yes that was a terrible one to be at
RE: OT: Greatest Athletic feat you have witnessed - Austroturf - 12-30-2020
Valeriy Brumel's world record in the high-jump (2.26m) and Hal Connolly's world record in the Hammer Throw (70.67m) at the USSR-USA Track and Field dual meet at Stanford Stadium in July of 1962. I was 5 years old. Brumel still used the straddle technique to achieve his world record. Fosbury would soon revolutionize the high-jump. Stanford legend, Payton Jordan, was instrumental in organizing the meet. He was my coach at Stanford before I realized I just wasn't that fast. Lofton was leaving me in the dust, and it didn't even look like he was trying. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1962_USA%E2%80%93USSR_Track_and_Field_Dual_Meet#:~:text=The%20fourth%20in%20a%20series,United%20States%20173%20to%20169.
I also witnessed the Magic Johnson/Larry Bird NCAA championship game in Salt Lake City in April of 1979. It was my senior year at Stanford, and I drove over to cheer on the Spartans. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1979_NCAA_Division_I_Basketball_Tournament
More recently, I got to see Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia win a double championship in Lausanne, Switzerland, at the IAAF Cross-Country championships in 2003. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003_IAAF_World_Cross_Country_Championships
RE: OT: Greatest Athletic feat you have witnessed - Phogge - 12-30-2020
As a spectator Cloniger's slams, Koufax striking out 18 Giants in the LA Coliseum 1959, Ed Cummings making about 25 tackles vs Michigan State 1962, Dave Chaney making about 35 tackles vs Stanford 1971, Don Bragg setting the PV world record at Stanford's Olympic trials in 1960 and his girlfriend rushing the pit to plant a big kiss on him (all arranged because he had an offer to play Tarzan), Jimmy Kauffman tackling the SC QB to save the biggest game ever in Stanford Stadium.
So many in my shooting career topped by McCovey's liner to Richardson, the only footage of Mays' 600 homer, The Catch, Steve Young's run through the entire Viking team, shooting the Disney commercial in the middle of Tampa Stadium with Otis Anderson while three seconds remained in the game, Stacy Williams in nothing but a couple of cowboy bandanas in the 1994 SI Swimsuit Video, Getting sprayed with two bottles of beer by Marty McSorley in the Oilers dressing room post Stanley Cup, shooting a Real Sports in the yard and Death Row at Q...................
RE: OT: Greatest Athletic feat you have witnessed - Spiny_Norman - 12-30-2020
Actually witnessed all of these.
Olympic swimming trials, July 12, 2004 - in the span of about 90 minutes, I saw Aaron Piersall and Amanda Beard set world records in event finals and Michael Phelps win another event
Many, many John Elway moments including his nearly single handed defeat of #3 Oklahoma in 1980. Stanford led OU at one point 31-0
Christian McCaffrey in the 2016 Rose Bowl
US women's Olympic soccer gold medal victory vs. China at Sanford Stadium in Athens, GA (first time women's soccer at the Olympics) - not only the match, but also the feeling of electricity across the sold-out crowd of 76,000 for a women's soccer game. No one could imagine that women's sports could be that big a deal. This feat was a great athletic and ground-breaking achievement.
The British Open at Troon in 1989. Greg Norman birdied the first 6 holes of the final round to get into contention. I remember the crowd running across the fairways to follow his group as the successive birdies were posted on the leaderboard. But Mark Calcavecchia pulled off some amazing shots including a 40 footer for par and a chip in for birdie on back-to-back holes on the final 9 and eventually would beat Norman and Wayne Grady in a playoff.
For all of the baseball games that I have attended, I have only seen one no-hitter so far - Jake Arrieta for the Cubs against the Dodgers, August 31, 2015.
As I review this list, there is a common element aside from memorable performances - the thrill of the crowd at what we were watching. That shared experience helps to etch the memories into my brain. It's what we will be missing until fans are allowed back at athletic events.
RE: OT: Greatest Athletic feat you have witnessed - BobK - 12-30-2020
I was at all of Phogge’s first paragraph except Koufax
Bobby Garrett beating UCLA 1953
Hit # 3,000 for Willie Mays
So many