There have been numerous great moments in sports. Michael Jordan made many big shots in his career. The one he hit against Utah in 1998 seemed like it would be a career ending splash. Bill Buckner’s 1986 error was an example of every athlete’s worst nightmare. The 2015 Super Bowl interception will be talked about as one of the worst play calls in history. Here is a look at three memorable moments in sports brought to you by My Bookie, your number one source for sportsbooking.
Michael Jordon’s 1998 Championship Winning Shot
The Chicago Bulls went into the 1997-98 season having won five NBA championships in seven years. But a cloud would hang over that fateful year. The relationship between Bull’s general manager Jerry Krause and coach Phil Jackson had reached critical mass. Early on in the year, Krause announced that the season would be Jackson’s last. Jordan stated he would not play another season if Jackson was not the Bull’s coach. Despite the conflict, the Bulls had another quality season and advanced to the NBA finals against the Utah Jazz, a team they had defeated in the finals a year earlier. By game six of the series, the Bulls led 3-2 in victories. Yet they would have to play the possible last two games in Utah.
As the game wound down, Utah led by one point. With the ball in the hands of their superstar forward, Karl Malone, Jordan looped around Malone’s blind side and stole the ball. In middle of the court, Jordan faked Utah’s Byron Russell, and then swished the championship winning shot. As it turned out, Jackson left as coach of the Bulls, and Jordan retired. It would have been a story book ending to Jordan’s career had he not come out of retirement to play for the Washington Wizards. Still, the Utah shot remains a great moment in sports history.
Bill Buckner’s 1986 Error
Bill Buckner had a very good 22 year major league career. He amassed 2,715 hits, 1,208 RBIs, and a .289 career batting average. He will always be known for the error that turned the tide in the 1986 World Series.
The Boston Red Soxs entered the 1986 World Series against the New York Mets with “the curse of the Bambino” hanging over their heads, referring to the Red Sox World Series winning drought that coincided with them trading the great Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees in 1918. By game six of the World Series it looked as though the Red Sox’s championship drought was coming to an end. The Sox were up 3-2 in games. In the 10th inning, the Red Sox lead 5-3. The Red Sox bull pen just had to seal the deal, but this never happened. A wild pitch made set the score to 5-4. The Mets Mookie Wilson’s ground ball skipped under Buckner’s glove, allowing the winning run to score. When the Mets won game seven, the Red Sox heartache continued.
Buckner returned to the Red Soxs in 1990, greeted with a standing ovation. The “curse” finally ended for the Red Sox with World Series championships coming in 2004, 2007, and 2013.
The Goal Line Interception in the 2015 Super Bowl
Although it only happened a few months ago, the goal line interception in the 2015 Super Bowl qualifies as a great moment in sports history.
The New England Patriots came in the game having won three of the five Super Bowls in which the coach-quarterback combo of Bill Belichick and Tom Brady had participated. They won the first three, and then lost the last two to the New York Giants in 2008 and 2012. The Seattle Seahawks reached the 2015 Super Bowl as defending champions after a dominating victory over the Denver Broncos the previous year.
New England dominated the game early. Seattle fought back, and the game was tied 14-14 at the half. Coming into the third quarter Seattle jumped to a 10 point lead. New England rallied back with two touchdowns, giving them a 28-24 advantage. After a deflected pass, and spectacular catch by Jermaine Kearse put the ball inside the New England ten yard line, the Seahawks seemed poised for victory. A run to the New England one yard line enchanced the Seahawk’s chances. A slant pass on the next play by Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson resulted in the game saving interception by New England corner Malcolm Butler. Why the Seahawks didn’t give the ball to great running back Marshawn Lynch will forever be a question, and the result of them doing it will never be known.