Alex Holowczak's Top Ten Sporting Moments
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by user Alex Holowczak
I followed other people and put together my top 10 sporting moments. Mine are different from you in a couple of ways. Mine are obviously much more British biased. Secondly, since none of you probably have any idea what I'm talking about, I found videos to show you! So each moment has a video attached to it, which amazingly was possible, given the array of sporting variety, and the age of some of the videos.
This is quite controversial, many would put my picks in different orders entirely. But that's for others to decide.
Again, feel free to rate any player with blue links - sadly there aren't that many, but there are a couple in the list.
10. 1966 FIFA World Cup Final
A great game of football. Sir Alf Ramsay had changed the entire England setup, and revolutionised the way England plays the game. England were once considered the Masters of the world. They didn't bother to enter the World Cup until 1950. They then lost to Hungary in 1953 6-3, a result which shocked the whole English psyche. Suddenly, England were not the best in the World in their opinions.
But come 1966, England finally had the chance to get back to where many felt they belonged.
9. 1987 British Grand Prix
Nigel Mansell was a minute behind Nelson Piquet after a problem with his car. He was always second it seemed, in the World Championship, and the British public took to him. Here again, he seemed to be destined to be runner up at Silverstone. Yet armed with new tyres, and with the help of the crowd, Mansell closed the minute gap on Piquet.
8. 2005 Ashes Series
From July to September 2005, England played Australia over 5 Test Matches. England had not beaten Australia since 1989 in this series, and Australia were again the favourites this time. It is rated as the best series of cricket ever played. Not only that, but cricket became the sport of the England summer. When the football season started in August, nobody cared.
7. 1935 German Grand Prix
At the height of Hitler Germany, the Mercedes and Auto Union became the dominant European cars. They were driven by the likes of Rudolf Caracciola, and were dominant. Yet, nobody banked on Tazio Nuvolari in an outdated Alfa Romeo. This is the best video you'll get of it. The first couple of minutes are the only relevant bits.
6. 1994 San Marino Grand Prix
The worst race weekend in motor sport history.
5. Ronnie O'Sullivan's Fastest 147
In the 1997 World Snooker Championships, Ronnie O'Sullivan made a 147 break in 5 minutes and 20 seconds. That's like clearing a 9-ball pool table in 30 seconds, 10 times in a row.
4. 2003 Rugby World Cup Final
Australia v England. England were World Number 1. England had never won the tournament however, and the Australians were at home. After England led 14-5, Australia fought back to level it at 14-14 after normal time, and 17-17 after the first period of extra time.
3. 1969 Italian Grand Prix
One of the greatest finishes to a race ever. Particularly considering the winner deliberately decided to set his car up so he didn't need to change into fifth gear until after the finish line, so was able to keep accelerating.
2. Brian Lara v England in 2004
Lara was the best batsman in the world in the 1990s. He scored 375 against England in 1994 to make the highest Test match innings score by a batsman, arguably cricket's most treasured record. He then broke the next most treasured that summer by making 501 not out for Warwickshire v Durham, that being the highest ever score by an individual in a first-class match. Lara then went into decline apart from one series against Australia. He was still considered past it by 2004, by which time Matthew Hayden of Australia had made 380 to beat his Test record. But Lara wanted it back.
1. 1985 World Snooker Championship Final
The greatest game of snooker ever. Steve Davis was a triple World Champion. Dennis Taylor was a fan favourite that never quite made it. Taylor trailed 8-0 and 9-2 before levelling at 12-12. But he trailed again 14-12 and 15-13, before levelling again at 15-15. Taylor then went 17-15 down, but still came back to level at 17-17. The final frame took an hour, and saw a lot of tension. The match finished at 23 minutes past midnight, yet 18.3 million people stayed up to watch it - about half of the TVs in Britain were watching it.
