Happy post MLB All Star Game! It was nice seeing Papelbon and Chooch finishing things off for the National League this year, but it sucks to know that unless the Phillies play just about perfect in the second half of the season, it won't mean a thing. That's one of those moments that I wouldn't put on a list like this, because of the fact that the Phillies are having such a bad year. What moments did make this section? Read on and see.
80. Tommy Greene pitches a no-hitter-May 23, 1991
Much like Terry Mulholland, who pitched a no-hitter that was covered in the last section, Tommy Greene wasn't a top of the line starter. He was a guy that you could put into a rotation and have him contribute, or at least he was in the early 90s. In 1991, Greene was in just his second season in the majors and was on his way to a 13-7 record, but in his second start of the year, he made history.
This no-hitter wasn't as pretty as Mulholland's, with Greene striking out ten Montreal Expos and walking seven, but it was still a no-hitter. Ricky Jordan drove in the first run of the game, and it would be the only one the Phils would need against Oil Can Boyd in Olympic Stadium that day. Greene held the Expos scoreless around those seven walks, and the Phillies added a second run for insurance in the top of the ninth. Once Tim Wallach grounded back to Greene for the final out of the game, the no-hitter was finished. Greene became the first visiting pitcher to throw a no-hitter against the Expos, and was the last Phillies pitcher to do so until 2003. In retrospect, I think I should have put Mulholland's no-hitter above this one, but I liked Tommy Greene better growing up. Like I said before, my list, my rules.
79. For one moment, Mike Richards played like Bobby Clarke-May 24, 2010
Another moment of many from that magical 2010 Flyers Stanley Cup run saw the Flyers now in the Eastern Conference Finals with home ice advantage. Facing the eight seed Montreal Canadiens, who were on a miracle run of their own, the Flyers had taken three of the first four games in shutouts by Michael Leighton. Coming into Game 5 at the Wells Fargo Center, the Flyer fans were confident that they would see their team clinch a spot in the Stanley Cup Finals that night.
The Canadiens had other plans, scoring just a minute into the game. Shortly after, Kimo Timmonen was sent to the penalty box, leaving the Flyers shorthanded and in danger of going down 2-0 early. The Canadiens were near the end of their power play, and Claude Giroux had dumped the puck into the Montreal zone so the Flyers could get a change and have fresh legs on the ice. Richards saw the puck take a good bounce, and Montreal defenseman Roman Hamilik, goalie Jaroslav Halak and Richards all reached the puck at the same time. Hamrlik and Halak collided and somehow Richards missed them and ended up all alone with the puck, which he quickly put into the back of the Montreal net. The game was tied and momentum was with the Flyers. Richards would tally two more points that night, including an assist on the series winning goal and the Flyers were on their way to the Stanley Cup Finals. Flyers fans saw moments like this from Richards and had hope for the future, but it didn't work out here in Philadelphia. Just for one night though, Richards was everything we ever wanted him to be.
78. Ben Francisco becomes Mr. Clutch for a night-October 4, 2011
Hold on, I actually put something from the 2011 NLDS on this list? I made myself go back to this series? Wow, what was I thinking? Oh well, I'll do it, I guess.
The 2011 NLDS might have signaled the beginning of the end for the Phillies and their run at the top of the National League, but it did have a few moments in it. With the series tied at one game a piece, the focus switched back to St. Louis for Game 3. Cole Hamels and Jamie Garcia matched each other pitch for pitch through six shutout innings as they were each able to get through a few threats. In the top of the seventh inning, the Phillies mounted another threat when Shane Victorino singled to start the inning. However, John Mayberry Jr and Placido Polanco both recorded outs, and Garcia intentionally walked Carlos Ruiz to bring up the pitcher's spot and force Charlie Manuel's hand. He pulled Hamels and brought in Ben Francisco, who was best known as being the "other guy" in the Cliff Lee trade. Francisco had a grand total of no hits in the first two games of the NLDS, but against Jamie Garcia, he took a pitch and dropped it into the seats in left to give the Phillies a 3-0 lead. The bullpen would make the lead hold and Ryan Madson worked a two inning save to complete the 3-2 win. For a day and a half, Phillies fans thought they were going back to the NLCS and the World Series. The next two games would prove otherwise. Dammit, if only Cliff Lee could have held that lead in Game 2...
77. The Sixers refuse to roll over and die against Boston-May 18, 2012
We've already covered most of the basics on this past year for the Sixers, and this is one of the last moments from that season. If you remember this one like I do, it's a good one at least.
Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals was make or break for the Sixers and their season in 2012. They had played the Boston Celtics tough in two games in Boston, but the Celtics had blown the Sixers out in Game 3, and most people thought that Boston had turned the tide of the entire series with that win. There was little to combat that opinion early in Game 4 as the Celtics came out swinging for the fences and led 14-0 just three minutes into the game. The 14-0 lead would balloon to as much as 18-3, and Boston led by 12 after the first quarter. Everything seemed to be pointing to another easy Boston victory, but the Sixers, who had problems all season coming from behind and winning close games, refused to die on this night.
The only problem was that the Celtics didn't want to cooperate in the first half and took a 46-31 lead into the half. Whatever was said in the locker room at halftime must have worked, because by the end of the third quarter, the Boston lead was down to just four points, and the Sixers had all the momentum. A minute and a half into the fourth quarter, the Sixers tied the game, and less than a minute later, Jodie Meeks drained a three that gave them their first lead. For the rest of the fourth quarter, the two teams traded shots, with neither team getting further than three points away until the last minute. Andre Iguodala drilled another three pointer that turned a two point lead into a five point cushion, and the defense held Boston scoreless for the last minute and a half as the Sixers tied the series with a 92-82 win. Philadelphia outscored Boston by 13 points in the fourth quarter and proved to the Celtics and everyone watching that their series win against Chicago was not a fluke. My favorite part about this moment was watching the game on ESPN and hearing the announcers, who were openly rooting for the Celtics, get awkwardly quiet when the Sixers took the lead. It was so much fun.
76. Lou Williams beats the Heat with a three-April 24, 2011
Unlike the 2012 Sixers, the 2011 team didn't have as much pressure on them. They finished the year with a .500 record and had the misfortune of being the first team to play the Miami Heat in the NBA playoffs. The Sixers had kept it close in two of the first three games, but LeBron, Wade and company were a win away from a sweep in what was supposed to be their first of many championship runs. Game 4 was the last stand for the Sixers in what was a decent, but unspectacular season.
The only problem was that no one told the Sixers this. They jumped out to an early 23-8 lead and were up 28-16 after the first quarter. Miami was able to quickly chip away at the lead, and by the time the game went to the half, it was the Heat that held a one point lead. The two teams would trade body blows back and forth during the second half until late in the fourth quarter. LeBron James and Dwayne Wade made back to back shots that turned a two point Heat lead into a six point Heat lead, but the Sixers weren't done quite yet. Rookie Evan Turner nailed a two pointer on the next possession, and Jrue Holiday followed it up with a three to pull the Sixers within a single point. Following a miss by Wade, the Sixers had a chance to take the lead. Turner took the ball outside the arc and passed it to Lou Williams with just over nine seconds to play. Williams launched a three that hit nothing but cotton and gave Philadelphia the lead. The Wells Fargo Center went absolutely insane, and after Elton Brand blocked LeBron James on the next Miami possession and Evan Turner nailed two free throws, the game was in hand for the Sixers. Miami would win Game 5 to finish the series, but for this Sixers team to actually bloody a tough Miami Heat team...it was something else.
75. Sheldon Brown destroys Reggie Bush-January 13, 2007
The 2006-07 Philadelphia Eagles were a bit of an enigma, to say the least. When Donovan McNabb blew out his knee, they were left for dead, but Jeff Garcia became a quick fan favorite, and by the time the dust had settled, the Eagles were sitting in first place with a 10-6 record and a playoff birth. After retiring Tiki Barber (something I covered in the last part of this list), the Eagles made their way to New Orleans, where the surprising NFC South winning Saints were waiting.
This moment actually happened very early in the game, and by that, I mean the second play of the game. The Saints won the coin toss and elected to receive. After Deuce McAllister ran for 12 yards on the first play, New Orleans had a first and ten at their own 40 yard line. On the next play, Reggie Bush, the second overall pick and (forfeited) Heisman trophy winner, swung out into the flat for a pass from Drew Brees. The only problem was the Brees let the pass go too soft, and Sheldon Brown had time to line Bush up for a hit. Brown built a reputation around being a solid tackler, and this hit may have been his best ever. As soon as the ball got to Bush, Brown ran through him with a perfect hit. Bush collapsed, the ball popped loose and the play was called an incomplete pass. As the Eagles argued about the play being a fumble, Bush was on all fours, trying to get his breath back. Brown later said that the hit for him was like "running through a cardboard box," and after seeing the play over and over again, I believe him. The hit seemed to send a message that the Eagles would be here to play, but the Saints took control late, Andy Reid made some odd time management choices, and the Eagles lost the game. We still can look back at that hit and smile, though.
74. Jeff Garcia gives Eagles fans a Christmas present-December 25, 2006
Just three weeks before the last moment on the list, Jeff Garcia and the Eagles were in Dallas for a Christmas showdown with the Dallas Cowboys. The Eagles had an 8-6 record, while the Cowboys were looking to clinch the division with a win to add to their 9-5 record. The Eagles had a prior win during the regular season against the Cowboys (more on that much, much later), and with a win of their own would clinch a playoff spot and be in the driver's seat for the NFC East crown that they had lost the year before.
The Eagles set the tone early, scoring on their first possession on a 25 yard touchdown pass from Garcia to Matt Schobel and they took a 13-7 lead into the half. The Cowboys had closed the lead to as close as 10-7, but Garcia guided the Eagles on a terrific two minute drive at the end of the first half that led to the 13-7 lead. From there, the Philadelphia defense would hold Dallas to their lowest yard output and points of the season. The Cowboys couldn't score in the second half, Tony Romo went 14-29 with two interceptions and the Eagles scored another tean points to finish a dominating 23-7 lead. The win got the Eagles a playoff spot, and their win the following week against the Atlanta Falcons clinch the division for them. Even better were the comments that Terrell Owens made after the game about being more involved with the Dallas offense. After listening to him complain in Philadelphia, it was nice to see him planting the same seeds in Dallas, and we all know how it ended there, too.
73. Mike Knuble sends Washington home in two OTs-April 17, 2008
We return to the Flyers, but this moment isn't from that 2010 season, nor is it the Legion of Doom or Ron Hextall. The 2007-08 Flyers team was another typical Flyers team. They had potential, but ended up short of their intended goal. In this case, their road ended in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Pittsburgh Penguins, but to get there, they had a few good moments. Their first round series against league MVP Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals had a few of those moments.
With Ovechkin leading Washington, not many people gave the Flyers a chance in their series, even though the Flyers had more points in the regular season. With home ice going to the division winning Capitals, Philadelphia would need a few lucky breaks, and they got them. After dropping the first game of the series, the Flyers took the next two games and had momentum in Game 4, scoring just 42 seconds into the game. Washington refused to go quietly, however, and scored twice in the first period and again in the second to give the Capitals a 3-2 lead heading into the third period. The Flyers tied the game on a Danny Briere power play goal and the game headed to one overtime and then a second. The series was on a tipping point; if Washington won, they could take the momentum back with them for Game 5 and finish the Flyers off possibly in six games. If the Flyers won, they would have a 3-1 series lead, something that no team has come back from against the Flyers. With about six minutes gone in the second overtime, the Flyers had the puck behind the Washington net. Scottie Upshall passed the puck in front of goalie Cristobal Huet, and Jeff Carter deflected the puck to Mike Knuble who was able to find a spot to put the puck past Huet and give the Flyers a 4-3 win in two overtimes. The Capitals fought back and took the next two games, but the Flyers would win the series thanks to another overtime goal further up on this list. Without Knuble and his goal, that other moment doesn't happen though.
72. The Sixers draft Charles Barkley-June 19, 1984
OK, this moment breaks the rules of my list by three days, since I was born on June 22 of 1984, but I'm not going to go back and fix everything because of three days. I was on the way at that point, so get used to it.
The 1984 NBA Draft is known for just a few things: the Houston Rockets tanking to draft Hakeem Olajuwon first overall, Portland drafting Sam Bowie second and the Chicago Bulls taking some guy named Michael Jordan third. Seriously though, four first round picks in this draft ended up being Hall of Fame players, including the player that the Sixers picked with the fifth overall selection: Charles Barkley.
The Sixers had followed their championship season in 1982-83 with a first round exit the next year, and were looking for that bridge between Dr. J and Moses Malone to the next generation. With the fifth overall pick in the 1984 draft, they had to make the right choice, and they picked Charles Barkley, a forward out of Auburn. Not only did they make the right choice, but they had picked one of the best players in franchise history. Barkley became the player to span the Dr. J era and his own, and created his own era in Philadelphia. In his eight seasons with the Sixers, Barkley made the All Star team five times, was named first team All-NBA four times, second team All-NBA twice and guided the Sixers to the playoffs every year but one. When he was traded to the Suns, he was fourth in team history in points, third in rebounds and eighth in assists. Not too bad for a pick that the Sixers got from the Clippers for World B. Free.
71. The Eagles draft Donovan McNabb-April 17, 1999
Going into the 1999 NFL Draft, there were two camps concerning the Philadelphia Eagles. One camp wanted to draft running back Ricky Williams, the Heisman trophy winner out of Texas and build around him and Bobby Hoying. The other group was thinking about drafting a quarterback out of Syracuse named Donovan McNabb, who didn't win as much as some people during his college career, but seemed to have the skills to win in the pros.
In the end, we all know which camp won out. Donovan McNabb was drafted second overall, behind just Tim Couch, and all anyone remembers is 30 Eagles idiots booing the pick. McNabb ended up being the most successful of the five quarterbacks picked in the first round, and when you consider that the New Orleans Saints traded their entire draft to get Ricky Williams, only to give up on him a few years later, it was certainly the right pick. McNabb got the Eagles to five NFC Championships and one Super Bowl and is the franchise leader in passing yards and touchdowns. Despite his failures at certain times, McNabb helped turn the Eagles from a joke into a contender again, and without him, nothing that has happened with the Eagles from 1999 until now would be possible. Love him or hate him, Donovan McNabb is one of the best players that the Eagles have ever had, and drafting him was one of the best moves that this team ever made.
That marks the end of the list for tonight. Tomorrow, we've got a few Phillies pitching moments from the playoffs, a moment of self sacrifice from a fan favorite, one of the longest plays in NFL history and a trade that I remember every moment about. It'll be fun.
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