Real
life just came up and smacked us all in the mouth, didn't it? I
was just about to finish this list yesterday when the news broke
about Andy Reid's son passing away. I'm not going to comment
that much on it, save for my condolences to the Reid family, but I
would like to say one thing. Philadelphia, for all of the
knocks and negative stories that come out, knows how to come together
and support someone who is going through a terrible moment in their
life. There is nothing that can even come close to losing your
first born son, and I don't know that feeling, but the words and
respect shown by Philadelphia fans to the Reid family has been
amazing. It's what makes this city and us as fans so great. We
may question calls by coaches and managers, we may boo you until we
can't talk any more, but when the chips are down, there's no one else
I would want to have on my side.
I'm
always proud to be a Philadelphia sports fan, and while the last 48
hours have been horrible for the Eagles and the Reid family, the
fans, myself included, will be there with our love and support for
our coach. He's been here 14 years, we've seen his kids grow up
here. To lose one of them, no matter the circumstances, is
horrible. Coach Reid, you and your family have my support and
condolences, and the support, condolences and prayers of every
Philadelphia fan around the country and the world, I'm sure.
With
that, let's move on to the final moments that have made being a
Philadelphia sports fan so great.
#10.
Roy Halladay's playoff no-hitter-October 6, 2010
The Phillies brought
in Roy Halladay after the 2009 season for the sole reason
of winning big games when it mattered the most. Throughout the
2010 season, Halladay did that more and more, finishing his
regular season with a complete game shutout against the Washington
Nationals that gave the Phillies their fourth straight
National League East championship. His next start wouldn't be until
Game 1 of the NLDS against the Cincinnati Reds, who won the
National League Central for the first time in over a decade and
boasted an offense that was one of the best in baseball. Halladay had
already thrown a perfect game during the regular season, so there was
no way that he could top that in the playoffs, right?
He sure came close. In his first ever playoff start, RoyHalladay pitched just the second no-hitter in playoff history. He struck out eight and walked just one batter on a full count in the fifth inning. Aside from that, the Reds couldn't figure out Halladay, and the Phillies scored four runs in the first two innings against Edinson Volquez. That would be all Halladay would need to get the win in his first playoff start. When you throw in the great play by Carlos Ruiz to finish the no-hitter, it makes this moment even better. Halladay and Ruiz had worked together to throw his perfect game earlier in the season, and to see them almost have another perfect game was amazing. The Reds were an offensive powerhouse in 2010, and boasted soon to be NL MVP Joey Votto, so to shut them out in the first game of the NLDS would have been something to write home about.
He sure came close. In his first ever playoff start, RoyHalladay pitched just the second no-hitter in playoff history. He struck out eight and walked just one batter on a full count in the fifth inning. Aside from that, the Reds couldn't figure out Halladay, and the Phillies scored four runs in the first two innings against Edinson Volquez. That would be all Halladay would need to get the win in his first playoff start. When you throw in the great play by Carlos Ruiz to finish the no-hitter, it makes this moment even better. Halladay and Ruiz had worked together to throw his perfect game earlier in the season, and to see them almost have another perfect game was amazing. The Reds were an offensive powerhouse in 2010, and boasted soon to be NL MVP Joey Votto, so to shut them out in the first game of the NLDS would have been something to write home about.
Halladay
was one walk away from being perfect against the Reds, and that was a
questionable call at best, but a playoff no-hitter is one of the
rarest feats in baseball, and it happened in Philadelphia. The
Reds never really recovered from the no-hitter as they were swept out
of the playoffs by the Phillies. Cincinnati only scored four
runs in the three game NLDS, and Cole Hamels finished them off with a
complete game shutout of his own that was covered quite some time ago
on this list. There's one more moment from Halladay on
this list. You all know what it is.
#9.
The 2007 Phillies finish their comeback, win the NL East-September
30, 2007
On
September 12, the Phillies lost to the Colorado Rockies, 12-0,
putting them seven games behind the National League East leading New
York Mets with just 17 games to play in the regular season. With a
three game series against the Mets starting on September 14, the 2007
season looked like it would go down the same path that almost all of
the Phillies' seasons had gone down during the decade. Aside from the
2000 season, the Phillies had always been close to making the
playoffs, but fell just short.
In 2007, something else happened. Behind the strength of Jimmy Rollins, who came out and said that the Phillies were the team to beat in the National League East in 2007, Ryan Howard and Chase Utley, the Phils began to climb out of the hole they were in. They beat the Rockies on September 13, then swept the Mets, putting them just three and a half games back. For the next two weeks, the Mets were able to keep the Phillies two and a half to a game and a half back, and going into the last week of the season, it still looked like the Mets were going to be able to win the division. Then, the Mets forgot how to win, while the Phillies couldn't lose. New York dropped five straight games, and the Phillies took three of their next four games to actually take a one game lead. The Mets were able to tie the division again with a win and a loss by the Phillies on Saturday, September 29, setting up the 162nd game of the season as the most important. If one team lost, all it would take for the other team to win the division would be one more win.
The Mets game against the Florida Marlins actually started a half an hour earlier than the Phillies game against the Washington Nationals, and I remember watching Tom Glavine get out on the mound for the Mets and get absolutely shelled. The Marlins sent 12 batters to the plate in the first inning, and after Glavine hit Florida pitcher Dontrelle Willis with a pitch with the bases loaded, he left the game. Florida scored seven times in that first inning, and with each run the Marlins scored, Citizens Bank Park grew louder and louder. The fans could see the scoreboard and knew that the Mets were done. Jamie Moyer started for the Phillies in their most important game of the decade up to that point.
The ageless Moyer did exactly what he had to do that day, pitching 5 and a third innings of five hit, one run baseball. He struck out six before giving way to the bullpen. Meanwhile, the offense wasn't going to wait around on this day. They started scoring runs early. Jimmy Rollins started out the game with a single, then stole second and third base before scoring on a Chase Utley sacrifice fly. Ryan Howard scored two runs on a bases loaded single in the third inning, and that would be all the Phillies would need. They would score three more runs in the later innings, but Moyer and the bullpen did their job. The Mets game against the Marlins came to a close with the Marlins winning 8-1, and with the Phillies leading 6-1 heading into the bottom of the ninth inning, everyone watching the game, whether they were at the stadium or watching at home, could feel what was about to happen.
Brett Myers, who started the season as the Opening Day pitcher before being moved to the bullpen, came out to close the game. He struck out Dmitri Young, then got Austin Kearns to fly out to Michael Bourn in left, putting the Phillies one out away from a division title. Wily Mo Pena stepped to the plate, and the crowd at Citizens Bank Park somehow got even louder. Myers quickly fired two strikes before Pena took a ball. Then, with over 44,000 people standing and cheering, Myers threw a curveball past Pena for strike three. The Philadelphia Phillies, who were seven games out of first place with just two and a half weeks of baseball left to play, had come all the way back and won the National League East for the first time since the 1993 season. Myers threw his glove into the air, and the team stormed onto the field around him. After years of coming up just short, this time, the Phillies really were the team to beat.
Looking back on that run in 2007, it's amazing to see how much of the 2008 season really started then. The Phils showed heart that I had never seen out of a Phillies team, and even though they were swept out of the playoffs by the Colorado Rockies, they had gotten that taste of the playoffs that would carry over into the next season. Jimmy Rollins ended up winning the MVP in 2007, largely on the strength of those last two and a half weeks of the season. While he had a career year in 2007, if the Phillies hadn't made good on his "team to beat" statement, I doubt he would have been named MVP.
You really can't appreciate how improbable the comeback the Phillies made was until you put it into comparison. Only two other teams in baseball history had ever made up a seven game deficit in the last month of the season, and no team had failed to make the playoffs after having a seven game lead that late into the season...until the 2007 Mets came along. The Phillies hadn't made the playoffs in 14 years, while the Mets finished a game away from the World Series in 2006. The Phillies allowed 821 runs, and had a team ERA of 4.76. No one thought that this team had enough pitching to carry them to the playoffs, and yet they made it. Hardly anyone thought that Charlie Manuel was smart enough to manage a Burger King, let alone a major league baseball team, but he did everything right down the stretch. The Phillies had possession of first place for just two days during the entire season, but one of them was on the day when it mattered the most. In the end, while people may argue that the Mets were the better team in 2007, the Phillies stood alone on top of the division.
In 2007, something else happened. Behind the strength of Jimmy Rollins, who came out and said that the Phillies were the team to beat in the National League East in 2007, Ryan Howard and Chase Utley, the Phils began to climb out of the hole they were in. They beat the Rockies on September 13, then swept the Mets, putting them just three and a half games back. For the next two weeks, the Mets were able to keep the Phillies two and a half to a game and a half back, and going into the last week of the season, it still looked like the Mets were going to be able to win the division. Then, the Mets forgot how to win, while the Phillies couldn't lose. New York dropped five straight games, and the Phillies took three of their next four games to actually take a one game lead. The Mets were able to tie the division again with a win and a loss by the Phillies on Saturday, September 29, setting up the 162nd game of the season as the most important. If one team lost, all it would take for the other team to win the division would be one more win.
The Mets game against the Florida Marlins actually started a half an hour earlier than the Phillies game against the Washington Nationals, and I remember watching Tom Glavine get out on the mound for the Mets and get absolutely shelled. The Marlins sent 12 batters to the plate in the first inning, and after Glavine hit Florida pitcher Dontrelle Willis with a pitch with the bases loaded, he left the game. Florida scored seven times in that first inning, and with each run the Marlins scored, Citizens Bank Park grew louder and louder. The fans could see the scoreboard and knew that the Mets were done. Jamie Moyer started for the Phillies in their most important game of the decade up to that point.
The ageless Moyer did exactly what he had to do that day, pitching 5 and a third innings of five hit, one run baseball. He struck out six before giving way to the bullpen. Meanwhile, the offense wasn't going to wait around on this day. They started scoring runs early. Jimmy Rollins started out the game with a single, then stole second and third base before scoring on a Chase Utley sacrifice fly. Ryan Howard scored two runs on a bases loaded single in the third inning, and that would be all the Phillies would need. They would score three more runs in the later innings, but Moyer and the bullpen did their job. The Mets game against the Marlins came to a close with the Marlins winning 8-1, and with the Phillies leading 6-1 heading into the bottom of the ninth inning, everyone watching the game, whether they were at the stadium or watching at home, could feel what was about to happen.
Brett Myers, who started the season as the Opening Day pitcher before being moved to the bullpen, came out to close the game. He struck out Dmitri Young, then got Austin Kearns to fly out to Michael Bourn in left, putting the Phillies one out away from a division title. Wily Mo Pena stepped to the plate, and the crowd at Citizens Bank Park somehow got even louder. Myers quickly fired two strikes before Pena took a ball. Then, with over 44,000 people standing and cheering, Myers threw a curveball past Pena for strike three. The Philadelphia Phillies, who were seven games out of first place with just two and a half weeks of baseball left to play, had come all the way back and won the National League East for the first time since the 1993 season. Myers threw his glove into the air, and the team stormed onto the field around him. After years of coming up just short, this time, the Phillies really were the team to beat.
Looking back on that run in 2007, it's amazing to see how much of the 2008 season really started then. The Phils showed heart that I had never seen out of a Phillies team, and even though they were swept out of the playoffs by the Colorado Rockies, they had gotten that taste of the playoffs that would carry over into the next season. Jimmy Rollins ended up winning the MVP in 2007, largely on the strength of those last two and a half weeks of the season. While he had a career year in 2007, if the Phillies hadn't made good on his "team to beat" statement, I doubt he would have been named MVP.
You really can't appreciate how improbable the comeback the Phillies made was until you put it into comparison. Only two other teams in baseball history had ever made up a seven game deficit in the last month of the season, and no team had failed to make the playoffs after having a seven game lead that late into the season...until the 2007 Mets came along. The Phillies hadn't made the playoffs in 14 years, while the Mets finished a game away from the World Series in 2006. The Phillies allowed 821 runs, and had a team ERA of 4.76. No one thought that this team had enough pitching to carry them to the playoffs, and yet they made it. Hardly anyone thought that Charlie Manuel was smart enough to manage a Burger King, let alone a major league baseball team, but he did everything right down the stretch. The Phillies had possession of first place for just two days during the entire season, but one of them was on the day when it mattered the most. In the end, while people may argue that the Mets were the better team in 2007, the Phillies stood alone on top of the division.
That's
what really makes this moment stand out for me and any other
Philadelphia sports fan. The Phillies were always that team that was
knocking on the door, but could never get through. The window had
finally closed on the Braves, and the Mets were expected to be the
next dominant team in the division. Instead, the Phillies, thanks to
Jimmy Rollins and his guarantee, not only stopped the Mets from
emerging as that new team to beat, but also started them down a path
that they haven't come back from yet. Considering that it happened
to the Mets, I couldn't be happier.
#8.
Fourth and 26-January 11, 2004
Heading
into the NFC Divisional Playoffs in 2004, the Philadelphia Eagles
were one of the hottest teams in the NFL. They had taken the momentum
from Brian Westbrook's punt return against the Giants, and turned it
into wins in ten of their last 11 games. Donovan McNabb hadn't had
his best statistical season, throwing for only 16 touchdowns, but the
Eagles had finished the regular season with a 12-4 record and home
field advantage in the NFC for the second year in a row. The only
team that may have been hotter than them was the Green Bay Packers,
and that was who they were going to be playing in the second round of
the playoffs.
After a loss to the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving, the Packers turned their season around, winning their last four games to get into the playoffs, then defeating the Seattle Seahawks on an Al Harris interception return in overtime. Brett Favre had lost his father four days before Christmas, and responded by leading his team to blowout victories over the Oakland Raiders and Denver Broncos to close out the season. The game against Seattle was close, but with the two hottest teams in the NFC facing off, people were expecting a close, well played game.
The Packers came out on defense and made their first statement midway through the first quarter. Donovan McNabb was sacked, and fumbled the football at the Philadelphia 40 yard line. It took Brett Favre one play to hit Robert Ferguson for a touchdown and a Green Bay lead. The next Packer drive went just as well, with Ahman Green and Najeh Davenport pounding the Eagles on the ground. Favre hit Ferguson again, and just like that, the Eagles were down by two touchdowns. McNabb would lead the Eagles on a scoring drive midway through the second quarter, hitting Duce Staley on a seven yard touchdown pass, but that would end the scoring until the fourth quarter.
The game remained 14-7 in favor of the Packers as the fourth quarter began, but it only took one play to change that. Todd Pinkston brought in a 12 yard touchdown pass from McNabb, and the game was tied. After the defense stopped the Packers on their next drive, it looked like the Eagles would have all the momentum, but back to back sacks of Donovan McNabb and a poor punt by Dirk Johnson put the Packers right back in the driver's seat. Brett Favre hit Javon Walker for 44 yards on the first play of Green Bay's drive, and Ryan Longwell kicked a 21 yard field goal with just ten minutes to play. Once again, the Philadelphia offense was quiet, with McNabb being taken down on third down and three to end the drive. The Packers then embarked on a 10 play drive that ate six and a half minutes off the clock. By the time they finally punted the ball, there was just 2:21 left in the game.
The Eagles started their drive quickly, with a 22 yard run by Duce Staley to move them out to their 42 yard line. From there, things went backwards in a hurry. Donovan McNabb was sacked on second down for a 16 yard loss, and after an incomplete pass on third down, the Eagles faced a fourth and 26, with their season on the line. McNabb took the snap, and an offensive line that had been dominated all day managed to give him time to look down the field. The Packers played a soft zone on the play, which allowed Freddie Mitchell to run, almost uncovered, down the middle of the field. As he reached the Green Bay 48 yard line, he turned and caught the pass from McNabb. From the first look, it seemed like Mitchell was right at the first down marker, but the officials marked his forward progress to the Green Bay 46 yard line, giving him a 28 yard catch and an improbable first down.
Of course, the Eagles still weren't even in field goal range. Donovan McNabb hit Freddie Mitchell for nine yards after an offsides penalty against the Packers, then followed that up with a three yard run for another first down. A ten yard completion to Todd Pinkston put the Eagles well into range for David Akers, and he nailed a 37 yard field goal with just five seconds to play in regulation. The Eagles won the coin toss to start overtime, but could do nothing with the ball again, and Dirk Johnson's punt only made it to the Green Bay 42 yard line, putting them in great field position. Then, the second amazing moment of this game happened. Brett Favre dropped back to pass and unleashed a floating, wounded duck of a pass that looked more like a punt. Brian Dawkins made the interception and returned it to the Green Bay 34 yard line. Six plays and 21 yards later, David Akers nailed a 31 yard field goal to win the game for the Eagles and send them to their third straight NFC Championship.
After a loss to the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving, the Packers turned their season around, winning their last four games to get into the playoffs, then defeating the Seattle Seahawks on an Al Harris interception return in overtime. Brett Favre had lost his father four days before Christmas, and responded by leading his team to blowout victories over the Oakland Raiders and Denver Broncos to close out the season. The game against Seattle was close, but with the two hottest teams in the NFC facing off, people were expecting a close, well played game.
The Packers came out on defense and made their first statement midway through the first quarter. Donovan McNabb was sacked, and fumbled the football at the Philadelphia 40 yard line. It took Brett Favre one play to hit Robert Ferguson for a touchdown and a Green Bay lead. The next Packer drive went just as well, with Ahman Green and Najeh Davenport pounding the Eagles on the ground. Favre hit Ferguson again, and just like that, the Eagles were down by two touchdowns. McNabb would lead the Eagles on a scoring drive midway through the second quarter, hitting Duce Staley on a seven yard touchdown pass, but that would end the scoring until the fourth quarter.
The game remained 14-7 in favor of the Packers as the fourth quarter began, but it only took one play to change that. Todd Pinkston brought in a 12 yard touchdown pass from McNabb, and the game was tied. After the defense stopped the Packers on their next drive, it looked like the Eagles would have all the momentum, but back to back sacks of Donovan McNabb and a poor punt by Dirk Johnson put the Packers right back in the driver's seat. Brett Favre hit Javon Walker for 44 yards on the first play of Green Bay's drive, and Ryan Longwell kicked a 21 yard field goal with just ten minutes to play. Once again, the Philadelphia offense was quiet, with McNabb being taken down on third down and three to end the drive. The Packers then embarked on a 10 play drive that ate six and a half minutes off the clock. By the time they finally punted the ball, there was just 2:21 left in the game.
The Eagles started their drive quickly, with a 22 yard run by Duce Staley to move them out to their 42 yard line. From there, things went backwards in a hurry. Donovan McNabb was sacked on second down for a 16 yard loss, and after an incomplete pass on third down, the Eagles faced a fourth and 26, with their season on the line. McNabb took the snap, and an offensive line that had been dominated all day managed to give him time to look down the field. The Packers played a soft zone on the play, which allowed Freddie Mitchell to run, almost uncovered, down the middle of the field. As he reached the Green Bay 48 yard line, he turned and caught the pass from McNabb. From the first look, it seemed like Mitchell was right at the first down marker, but the officials marked his forward progress to the Green Bay 46 yard line, giving him a 28 yard catch and an improbable first down.
Of course, the Eagles still weren't even in field goal range. Donovan McNabb hit Freddie Mitchell for nine yards after an offsides penalty against the Packers, then followed that up with a three yard run for another first down. A ten yard completion to Todd Pinkston put the Eagles well into range for David Akers, and he nailed a 37 yard field goal with just five seconds to play in regulation. The Eagles won the coin toss to start overtime, but could do nothing with the ball again, and Dirk Johnson's punt only made it to the Green Bay 42 yard line, putting them in great field position. Then, the second amazing moment of this game happened. Brett Favre dropped back to pass and unleashed a floating, wounded duck of a pass that looked more like a punt. Brian Dawkins made the interception and returned it to the Green Bay 34 yard line. Six plays and 21 yards later, David Akers nailed a 31 yard field goal to win the game for the Eagles and send them to their third straight NFC Championship.
The
NFC Championship game ended the same way that the two before it had,
but that's not the point with this moment. The odds of converting a
fourth down and 26 are slim to none, and when you add in the pressure
of having that moment in a playoff game, it makes things even more
stressful. People get on Donovan McNabb for his perceived lack of
clutch plays, but a moment like this is all you need to show people
when they bring up that conversation.
#7.
Roy Halladay pitches a perfect game-May 29, 2010
Coming
into their game against the Marlins on May 29, the Phillies were
having an average 2010 season. Despite a win the night before, the
Phils were coming off of a series against the New York Mets where
they were not only swept, but shutout in all three games. The
addition of Roy Halladay had improved the pitching staff, but there
was still concern about which way the season was going to go. With
the Phillies just a game and a half up on the Atlanta Braves for
first place in the NL East, a statement had to be made by someone,
and Roy Halladay ended up answering the challenge.
Halladay
faced off against Josh Johnson from the Marlins that night, and with
most people in Philadelphia watching Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals
between the Flyers and the Blackhawks, a pitcher's duel of epic
proportions broke out down in Miami. The Phillies scored a single
run in the third inning when Wilson Valdez came home on an error by
center fielder Cameron Maybin. Maybin's misread of a Chase Utley
line drive was the only mistake by either team, and Halladay made the
Marlins pay. After eight innings, 24 Marlin batters had come to the
plate, and all 24 of them had been sent back to the dugout without
reaching base. Roy Halladay was just three outs away from a perfect
game. He'd been in a situation like this before, during his rookie
season, Halladay took a no-hitter into the ninth inning, but lost it.
With a second chance, he wasn't going to waste this opportunity.
Mike
Lamb batted first for the Marlins and drilled a shot into center that
would have been a home run in Philadelphia. Instead, the ball landed
safely into the glove of Shane Victorino for the first out. Wes
Helms followed that at-bat with a strikeout, giving Halladay just one
more out to get for a perfect game. Ronny Paulino stepped to the
plate as a pinch hitter and on a 1-2 pitch grounded a weak dribbler
to third baseman Juan Castro. Luckily, Paulino was one of the
slowest players on the Marlins, because Castro's throw beat him to
first base, and Roy Halladay had his perfect game.
Aside
from Jim Bunning on Father's Day in 1964, no other Phillies pitcher
has thrown a perfect game. Roy Halladay isn't the type of pitcher
you expect to throw a perfect game, but he did it. Halladay would
carry his success through the season, finishing with a record of
21-10 and winning the National League Cy Young Award. The Phillies
would still slump through the summer, but came on strong in late
August and September, eventually passing the Braves for first place
in the division and holding on for their fourth straight NL East
title. The Phillies didn't get their World Series title in 2010, but
it wasn't Halladay's fault, that's for sure.
#6.
Keith Primeau finishes Pittsburgh in five overtimes-May 4, 2000
My
love affair and frustration with the Flyers has been well documented
on this list, but there were times when I couldn't have been happier
to be a Flyers fan, and this game was one of them. The 1999-2000
Flyers had gone through a solid regular season, finishing with 105
points, but had run into trouble in the second round of the Stanley
Cup Playoffs. After taking out the Buffalo Sabres in five games, the
Flyers faced off against a familiar foe in the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Penguins promptly took the first two games of the series in
Philadelphia by a combined 6-1 score, leaving the Flyers with very
little room for error heading to Pittsburgh.
The Flyers came back with a 4-3 overtime win in Game 3, and then took the ice for Game 4 knowing that the fate of their season likely rested on the outcome of the game. With a win, the series would be tied, and the Flyers would have home ice advantage once again. If they lost, the Penguins would have a three games to one stranglehold on the series, and it seemed likely that they would be able to finish off the Flyers. The game certainly started out in Pittsburgh's favor, as Alexei Kovalev drilled a slap shot past rookie Brian Boucher less than three minutes into the game to give the Penguins a 1-0 lead. The score would remain the same until the third period, when John LeClair redirected a shot by Eric Desjardins past Ron Tugnutt that would tie the game and send it into overtime.
The beauty of overtime playoff hockey is that there is always a chance that the game can go into multiple extra periods. The chance of seeing two, and in rare chances, three overtimes is always there, but in most cases, the first overtime is all that is needed. That wasn't the case in Game 4 between the Flyers and Penguins. Philadelphia dominated the first overtime, but couldn't get anything past Tugnutt. The Penguins returned the favor in the second and third overtimes, benefiting from two power plays in the third extra period, but they too couldn't figure out a way to get past Brian Boucher. As the fourth overtime began, those left in attendance and watching on television had watched two full NHL games, and they wouldn't be done yet. The fourth overtime gave way to a fifth, and the game was almost seven hours old as it began.
Through most of the fifth overtime, the action had slowed, as both teams were struggling with fatigue. This was, at the time, only the third NHL game to need a fifth overtime, and it was the first since 1936 to go as long as it had, so it was understandable to see most of the players slowing down and struggling to clear the puck out of their own zone. Finally, with the game looking like it would never end, the Flyers managed to put together a bit of an offensive attack midway through the fifth overtime, but the Penguins were able to squash it and clear the puck into Philadelphia's zone. However, the Flyers got back to the puck quickly, and Keith Primeau eventually ended up with the puck along the right wing boards. He carried it into the Pittsburgh zone, made a move past two defenders, and fired a shot.
After seven hours, and an hour and a half of overtime, the third longest game in NHL history had finally come to an end. Primeau's shot got past Ron Tugnutt and the Flyers had tied the series at two games a piece. Tugnutt had stopped an incredible 70 shots by the Flyers, but he needed to stop at least one more. Brian Boucher stopped 57 shots in net for Philadelphia. The game was the longest in the NHL since the expansion era began, and it hasn't been reached since. Only one other game, Anaheim and Dallas in 2003, has reached five overtimes, and that game ended early in the fifth overtime. For the Flyers, it was the shot in the arm that they needed. The Penguins were clearly discouraged after losing Game 4, and Philadelphia turned the tables by winning Game 5 by a 6-3 score and then closed out the series with another 2-1 win in Pittsburgh. Their run to the Stanley Cup seemed clear, as they built a 3-1 lead against the New Jersey Devils in the Eastern Conference Finals, but we all know how that story ended. Despite the frustrating end to a good season, being able to say that your team won one of the longest games in NHL history is nothing to sneeze at. I watched every moment of this game, and I know a lot of you reading this list did as well.
The Flyers came back with a 4-3 overtime win in Game 3, and then took the ice for Game 4 knowing that the fate of their season likely rested on the outcome of the game. With a win, the series would be tied, and the Flyers would have home ice advantage once again. If they lost, the Penguins would have a three games to one stranglehold on the series, and it seemed likely that they would be able to finish off the Flyers. The game certainly started out in Pittsburgh's favor, as Alexei Kovalev drilled a slap shot past rookie Brian Boucher less than three minutes into the game to give the Penguins a 1-0 lead. The score would remain the same until the third period, when John LeClair redirected a shot by Eric Desjardins past Ron Tugnutt that would tie the game and send it into overtime.
The beauty of overtime playoff hockey is that there is always a chance that the game can go into multiple extra periods. The chance of seeing two, and in rare chances, three overtimes is always there, but in most cases, the first overtime is all that is needed. That wasn't the case in Game 4 between the Flyers and Penguins. Philadelphia dominated the first overtime, but couldn't get anything past Tugnutt. The Penguins returned the favor in the second and third overtimes, benefiting from two power plays in the third extra period, but they too couldn't figure out a way to get past Brian Boucher. As the fourth overtime began, those left in attendance and watching on television had watched two full NHL games, and they wouldn't be done yet. The fourth overtime gave way to a fifth, and the game was almost seven hours old as it began.
Through most of the fifth overtime, the action had slowed, as both teams were struggling with fatigue. This was, at the time, only the third NHL game to need a fifth overtime, and it was the first since 1936 to go as long as it had, so it was understandable to see most of the players slowing down and struggling to clear the puck out of their own zone. Finally, with the game looking like it would never end, the Flyers managed to put together a bit of an offensive attack midway through the fifth overtime, but the Penguins were able to squash it and clear the puck into Philadelphia's zone. However, the Flyers got back to the puck quickly, and Keith Primeau eventually ended up with the puck along the right wing boards. He carried it into the Pittsburgh zone, made a move past two defenders, and fired a shot.
After seven hours, and an hour and a half of overtime, the third longest game in NHL history had finally come to an end. Primeau's shot got past Ron Tugnutt and the Flyers had tied the series at two games a piece. Tugnutt had stopped an incredible 70 shots by the Flyers, but he needed to stop at least one more. Brian Boucher stopped 57 shots in net for Philadelphia. The game was the longest in the NHL since the expansion era began, and it hasn't been reached since. Only one other game, Anaheim and Dallas in 2003, has reached five overtimes, and that game ended early in the fifth overtime. For the Flyers, it was the shot in the arm that they needed. The Penguins were clearly discouraged after losing Game 4, and Philadelphia turned the tables by winning Game 5 by a 6-3 score and then closed out the series with another 2-1 win in Pittsburgh. Their run to the Stanley Cup seemed clear, as they built a 3-1 lead against the New Jersey Devils in the Eastern Conference Finals, but we all know how that story ended. Despite the frustrating end to a good season, being able to say that your team won one of the longest games in NHL history is nothing to sneeze at. I watched every moment of this game, and I know a lot of you reading this list did as well.
#5.
Villanova wins the NCAA Tournament-April 1, 1985
Surprise!
A moment from college basketball makes the list, and cracks the top
5 to boot! When you talk about college sports in Philadelphia, the
discussion usually begins and ends with college basketball, and
that's to be expected. Temple, St. Joseph's, La Salle, Drexel, Penn
and Villanova have rich basketball traditions, but in the modern era,
only one has played for, and won, the NCAA Tournament.
The
1985 NCAA Tournament was the first to expand to 64 teams, and
Villanova was fortunate for that to happen. With a 19-10 regular
season record and a second round loss in the Big East tournament,
they likely would not have been chosen if the expansion did not
happen. As it stood, the Wildcats snuck into the tournament as an
eight seed. For those of you that are college fans, you know what to
expect out of an eight seed in the tournament. They get a tough
matchup in the first round, and usually bow out to the top seed in
the second round without much of a problem. Villanova seemed to fit
the mold perfectly, but then the tournament started, and things
changed.
A
two point win over Dayton was par for the course, but then the
Wildcats flipped the script and defeated top seeded Michigan by four
points and third seed Maryland by three to reach the regional finals
against two seed North Carolina. North Carolina didn't have Michael
Jordan or James Worthy, but was still expected to end the run that
the plucky Wildcats were on. Villanova instead had their largest
margin of victory, winning by 12 points, 56-44. A Final Four matchup
against Memphis was next, and Villanova used their same ball control
offense to perfection, beating Memphis by a 52-45 score. Up next was
the Georgetown Hoyas, who lost just two games on the season and were
led by a center by the name of Patrick Ewing. No one gave Villanova
a chance, and for good reason. Georgetown had taken both games
against the Wildcats during the regular season and had dominated the
tournament field, with their closest win being by six points over
Georgia Tech.
Villanova
came into the championship with a simple plan. They needed to keep
the ball in their own hands and away from Patrick Ewing for as long
as possible. On top of that, they had to take smart shots and make
the ones that they attempted. The plan worked through the first
half, as the Wildcats had a one point lead going into the locker
room. Through the second half, it was more of the same story.
Villanova took care of the ball and shot the lights out, missing just
six shots on the game. Villanova shot 78% for the game from the
field and 81% from the free throw line. Georgetown was no slouch
from the field, either, as they shot 55%, but it wasn't enough. Ed
Pinckney finished his Most Outstanding Player performance with a 16
point, five assist and six rebound game as Villanova won the most
unpredictable NCAA title ever with a 66-64 victory.
When
people talk about Cinderella runs in the NCAA Tournament, the name at
the top of the list should be Villanova. No seed lower than
Villanova has ever won the NCAA Tournament, so to have the most
unlikely basketball champion ever come out of Philadelphia means more
than almost anything else in sports. In my entire lifetime, only two
teams have won titles in the city of Philadelphia. One is the 2008
Phillies, who I'll be getting to shortly. The other is the 1984-85
Villanova Wildcats. That's why this is on the list.
#4.
Allen Iverson steps over Tyronn Lue-June 6, 2001
I've covered the
2000-01 Sixers from top to bottom on this list, but here's a quick
rundown for those of you that didn't pay attention. The team won its
first ten games and proceeded to finish with the best record in the
Eastern Conference. A midseason trade for Dikembe Mutombo helped
solidify the defense, and the team raked in the awards for the
season. Allen Iverson was named the MVP, Mutombo won
Defensive Player of the Year, Aaron McKie was named the
Sixth Man of the Year, and Larry Brown won Coach of the Year. Things
didn't go as smoothly in the playoffs, as the Sixers faced
seven game series against both the Toronto Raptors and Milwaukee
Bucks that could have gone either way with just a few key plays. In
the end, the Sixers stood atop the Eastern Conference for
the first time since the 1983 season, but the team they would face in
the NBA Finals was on a roll that no other team had ever been
on.
The Los Angeles Lakers finished the 2001 season with the second best record in the Western Conference, but that didn't matter. In all three rounds of the playoffs, the Lakers swept their opponents. First, Portland was beaten in three games, and then Los Angeles took out both Sacramento and San Antonio in four games to earn an 11-0 record heading into the Finals. Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant were still in pre-breakup mode and playing at an otherwordly level, while Derek Fisher, Rick Fox, Robert Horry and Horace Grant helped build around the foundation that head coach Phil Jackson had to work with.
To say that the odds were against the Sixers heading into Game 1 would be like suggesting the Pope is Catholic. The Sixers had just been through the ringer in the Eastern Conference, playing 18 games in their three series, while the Lakers were well rested and undefeated in the playoffs. The Finals were set to open in Los Angeles, and just about everyone assumed that the Sixers would just be another speed bump on Los Angeles' way to a second straight title.
For most of the first quarter, those people were right. The Lakers had a 16-0 run in the first quarter on their way to building a 21-9 early lead. After that, Allen Iverson took over. The MVP brought the Sixers back to within a point by the end of the first quarter, and dropped 30 points in the first half to give the Sixers a 56-50 lead at the break. The Philadelphia lead would grow to as many as 15 points in the second half, and it looked like the Sixers were not only for real, but were going to stun the Lakers at home in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. It wasn't the ideal situation for the Lakers, and they responded by unleashing their secret weapon.
Tyronn Lue played in only 38 games during the 2001 regular season, but the second year player from the University of Nebraska was Los Angeles' answer to Allen Iverson. Phil Jackson used him in the time leading up to the NBA Finals to mirror Iverson's moves in practice, and now he was going to be used to guard Iverson during a key stretch of Game 1. The plan worked perfectly. Iverson was held to just three points during the fourth quarter, while Lue was able to produce three assists and two steals to help the Lakers get back into the game. The Sixers as a team only scored 15 points in the fourth quarter, and after Dikembe Mutombo missed two free throws near the end of the quarter, the game headed into overtime tied at 94.
As the overtime started, it looked the Lakers would be too much for Philadelphia. Los Angeles scored five points to build a quick lead, and the Sixers looked lost. Finally, as it was during the regular season, Allen Iverson put the team on his back again for one last run. The NBA MVP showed why he won that award during the overtime, scoring seven straight points, including the shot that is the fourth best moment of the decade. With about a minute to play in the overtime, Iverson got the ball down in the corner, with Tyronn Lue guarding him again. This time, Iverson worked over Lue, and eventually crossed him up to gain space for a three point shot. The shot hit nothing but cotton, Lue hit the floor, and in a moment that will be remembered forever,Iverson looked down at Lue, then stepped over him on his way back on defense. The basket put the Sixers ahead for good, and they would eventually shock theLakers with a 107-101 victory in Game 1. The hope of an undefeated Los Angeles postseason run was over, thanks to a six foot guard from Georgetown.
Unfortunately, the rest of the series didn't turn out so well. The Lakers would take Game 2 to even the series, and then won the next three games in Philadelphia to claim their second straight title. Allen Iverson averaged over 35 points a game, but even he couldn't get the Sixers another win. Even with the outcome, the fact that he scored 48 points in the first game of series that most people didn't think his team even belonged in is impressive even now. The shot he made over Tyronn Lue remains one of the iconic moments of his entire career, and will be seen in every highlight reel of moments until the end of time.
The Los Angeles Lakers finished the 2001 season with the second best record in the Western Conference, but that didn't matter. In all three rounds of the playoffs, the Lakers swept their opponents. First, Portland was beaten in three games, and then Los Angeles took out both Sacramento and San Antonio in four games to earn an 11-0 record heading into the Finals. Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant were still in pre-breakup mode and playing at an otherwordly level, while Derek Fisher, Rick Fox, Robert Horry and Horace Grant helped build around the foundation that head coach Phil Jackson had to work with.
To say that the odds were against the Sixers heading into Game 1 would be like suggesting the Pope is Catholic. The Sixers had just been through the ringer in the Eastern Conference, playing 18 games in their three series, while the Lakers were well rested and undefeated in the playoffs. The Finals were set to open in Los Angeles, and just about everyone assumed that the Sixers would just be another speed bump on Los Angeles' way to a second straight title.
For most of the first quarter, those people were right. The Lakers had a 16-0 run in the first quarter on their way to building a 21-9 early lead. After that, Allen Iverson took over. The MVP brought the Sixers back to within a point by the end of the first quarter, and dropped 30 points in the first half to give the Sixers a 56-50 lead at the break. The Philadelphia lead would grow to as many as 15 points in the second half, and it looked like the Sixers were not only for real, but were going to stun the Lakers at home in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. It wasn't the ideal situation for the Lakers, and they responded by unleashing their secret weapon.
Tyronn Lue played in only 38 games during the 2001 regular season, but the second year player from the University of Nebraska was Los Angeles' answer to Allen Iverson. Phil Jackson used him in the time leading up to the NBA Finals to mirror Iverson's moves in practice, and now he was going to be used to guard Iverson during a key stretch of Game 1. The plan worked perfectly. Iverson was held to just three points during the fourth quarter, while Lue was able to produce three assists and two steals to help the Lakers get back into the game. The Sixers as a team only scored 15 points in the fourth quarter, and after Dikembe Mutombo missed two free throws near the end of the quarter, the game headed into overtime tied at 94.
As the overtime started, it looked the Lakers would be too much for Philadelphia. Los Angeles scored five points to build a quick lead, and the Sixers looked lost. Finally, as it was during the regular season, Allen Iverson put the team on his back again for one last run. The NBA MVP showed why he won that award during the overtime, scoring seven straight points, including the shot that is the fourth best moment of the decade. With about a minute to play in the overtime, Iverson got the ball down in the corner, with Tyronn Lue guarding him again. This time, Iverson worked over Lue, and eventually crossed him up to gain space for a three point shot. The shot hit nothing but cotton, Lue hit the floor, and in a moment that will be remembered forever,Iverson looked down at Lue, then stepped over him on his way back on defense. The basket put the Sixers ahead for good, and they would eventually shock theLakers with a 107-101 victory in Game 1. The hope of an undefeated Los Angeles postseason run was over, thanks to a six foot guard from Georgetown.
Unfortunately, the rest of the series didn't turn out so well. The Lakers would take Game 2 to even the series, and then won the next three games in Philadelphia to claim their second straight title. Allen Iverson averaged over 35 points a game, but even he couldn't get the Sixers another win. Even with the outcome, the fact that he scored 48 points in the first game of series that most people didn't think his team even belonged in is impressive even now. The shot he made over Tyronn Lue remains one of the iconic moments of his entire career, and will be seen in every highlight reel of moments until the end of time.
#3.
The Flyers come back from down 0-3 to beat the Bruins-May 14, 2010
Being
down three games to none in a best of seven series is the worst
feeling for any team. Not only does your opponent only have to win
one more game to knock you out, but for you to win, you have to do
something that's only been done a handful of times in sports history.
You have to win four straight games, with at least one or two of them
coming on the road. Not only is is next to impossible, it's damn near
improbable. Only twice in the NHL before last season had teams come
back from an 0-3 hole to win the series, and it hadn't happened in
over 30 years. That was the task in front of the Philadelphia Flyers
after they lost Game 3 of the 2010 Eastern Conference second round at
home to the Boston Bruins by a 4-1 score.
Going into Game 4, they had two things going for them. First, they were still playing at home, and the fans were behind them every step of the way. Second, Simon Gagne was able to return from injury. Gagne's return proved to have the biggest impact in the series, as he scored the game winner in overtime to force a Game 5 back in Boston. The Flyers had a tiny flicker of hope still there. Game 5 went even better for the Flyers as they won 4-0, but lost Brian Boucher to injury, meaning that Michael Leighton would find himself back in goal for the Flyers almost two months after his injury. Leighton made the most of his chance, stopping 30 shots in Game 6 as the Flyers won 2-1 to force a Game 7 back in Boston with the chance of an historic comeback.
Things didn't start out that well in Game 7 for the Flyers. By the time most fans were getting comfortable to watch the game, Boston had already built a three goal lead. Flyers fans had seen this before and figured that their nice little run was about to end, but not with this team. James van Riemsdyk scored his first playoff goal late in the first period to give the Flyers life again, and then came the second period. Scott Hartnell scored two and a half minutes in, and Danny Briere scored on a wraparound goal six minutes later. Just like that, the game was tied heading into the third, where Simon Gagne would strike one more time. Boston was called for having too many men on the ice, and on the ensuing power play, Gagne managed to fire a shot into the back of the net. The Flyers had a 4-3 lead that they would hold onto, making them just the third NHL team to come back from being down three games to none and win the series, and they were the first team to ever complete the feat after being down 3-0 in Game 7.
These type of moments don't normally happen to Philadelphia sports teams, but it did in 2010. No one, most Philadelphia fans included, thought that the Flyers had a chance after going down 0-3 in this series. Instead, they defied the odds, shocked the hockey world, and most importantly, shut Boston up for at least one NHL season. It's sports history, but it's not one of the top two moments on this list. You already know why, but let me show you anyway.
Going into Game 4, they had two things going for them. First, they were still playing at home, and the fans were behind them every step of the way. Second, Simon Gagne was able to return from injury. Gagne's return proved to have the biggest impact in the series, as he scored the game winner in overtime to force a Game 5 back in Boston. The Flyers had a tiny flicker of hope still there. Game 5 went even better for the Flyers as they won 4-0, but lost Brian Boucher to injury, meaning that Michael Leighton would find himself back in goal for the Flyers almost two months after his injury. Leighton made the most of his chance, stopping 30 shots in Game 6 as the Flyers won 2-1 to force a Game 7 back in Boston with the chance of an historic comeback.
Things didn't start out that well in Game 7 for the Flyers. By the time most fans were getting comfortable to watch the game, Boston had already built a three goal lead. Flyers fans had seen this before and figured that their nice little run was about to end, but not with this team. James van Riemsdyk scored his first playoff goal late in the first period to give the Flyers life again, and then came the second period. Scott Hartnell scored two and a half minutes in, and Danny Briere scored on a wraparound goal six minutes later. Just like that, the game was tied heading into the third, where Simon Gagne would strike one more time. Boston was called for having too many men on the ice, and on the ensuing power play, Gagne managed to fire a shot into the back of the net. The Flyers had a 4-3 lead that they would hold onto, making them just the third NHL team to come back from being down three games to none and win the series, and they were the first team to ever complete the feat after being down 3-0 in Game 7.
These type of moments don't normally happen to Philadelphia sports teams, but it did in 2010. No one, most Philadelphia fans included, thought that the Flyers had a chance after going down 0-3 in this series. Instead, they defied the odds, shocked the hockey world, and most importantly, shut Boston up for at least one NHL season. It's sports history, but it's not one of the top two moments on this list. You already know why, but let me show you anyway.
#2.
The Eagles finally win the NFC Championship-January 23, 2005
Coming
into the 2004 NFL season, the Eagles had made it to the playoffs four
years in a row, but had never been able to make it over the hump. In
2000, they lost to the New York Giants in the Divisional Round, then
followed that up with three straight trips to the NFC Championship
Game. In 2001, they were the underdogs to the powerhouse St. Louis
Rams, and they lost, 29-24. The next two season, the Eagles
had homefield advantage throughout the playoffs, but they
failed to take advantage of it. The 2002 season ended with a horrible
27-10 defeat at the hands of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, while 2003
ended with a 14-3 loss to the Carolina Panthers. Three straight trips
to the NFC Championship had resulted in three straight losses, and
things were getting rough.
It was like rooting for the Buffalo Bills of the early 1990s, without the satisfaction of actually getting to a Super Bowl. That's what it was like as an Eagles fan during the early part of this decade. The teams were good enough to get to a certain point, then fell apart when it mattered the most. In 2004, that changed. Jevon Kearse and Terrell Owens were brought in during the offseason, and the mood around the city became "Super Bowl or bust." There was no other option. The season started out the way many expected it, with seven straight wins. A loss to Pittsburgh was followed up with six more wins before the starters were rested for the playoffs.
It wasn't like the Eagles were winning the games by close scores, either. The team outscored their opponents by 126 points in 2004, and Donovan McNabb had his best season ever, throwing for 31 touchdown passes compared to only eight interceptions. The Eagles suffered a huge loss, however, when Terrell Owens was lost with a broken leg in a late season game against the Dallas Cowboys. The starters wouldn't play a full game again for almost a month, and when they did, they beat the Minnesota Vikings, 27-16, in the NFC Divisional Playoffs, setting up a matchup with the most dynamic player in the NFL.
The Atlanta Falcons weren't one of the best teams in the NFC on paper in 2004. In fact, they were downright average. What made them a special team was the man at quarterback. Michael Vick had come back from a lost 2003 season and put up the best numbers of his career. While he only threw for 14 touchdowns, he rushed for over 900 yards, and Warrick Dunn and TJ Duckett helped lead the top rushing attack in the NFL. That was why, even though the Falcons had lost a game during the season by 46 points, people were picking Atlanta to send the Eagles home in the NFC Championship Game for the fourth straight season. The thought of Michael Vick, along with the loss of Terrell Owens, was just supposed to be too much for the Eagles to handle.
Someone forgot to tell the Philadelphia Eagles about that, though. After a snowstorm dropped over a foot and a half of snow on Philadelphia on Saturday, the Eagles and Falcons took the field under clear, but very cold skies for the NFC Championship. Philadelphia made sure everyone knew that this year, they were going for broke. On their first possession of the game, they drove down into field goal range, but Andy Reid decided to call a fake kick. The Falcons snuffed it out and drove into Philadelphia territory, making people nervous early in the game. Luckily, the defense stomped out the Falcons, and the offense responded with a drive that was capped by a four yard Dorsey Levens touchdown run. Atlanta answered back with a 17 play drive that made it to the Philadelphia three yard line, but Michael Vick was sacked on third down, and Atlanta had to settle for a field goal. The Eagles trumped that on their next drive, as Donovan McNabb hit Greg Lewis for a 45 yard bomb that set up a three yard pass from McNabb to Chad Lewis. The Eagles led, 14-3, but they weren't out of the woods yet.
The Falcons answered again on their next drive, but it came at a big price. The biggest play of the drive was a 31 yard pass from Michael Vick to Alge Crumpler that put Atlanta at the Philadelphia ten yard line. The only problem was, Crumpler was laid out on the play by Brian Dawkins and was totally ineffective for the rest of the game. Before the hit,Crumpler had caught three passes in the first half. After the hit, he had just one for the rest of the game. It didn't matter on this drive, as Warrick Dunn took it in from ten yards out to make the score 14-10 in favor of the Eagles at the half.
In the second half, Philadelphia came out and put all of their NFC Championship demons to bed. Their first drive ended with a David Akers field goal, and then the defense took over. The Falcons were forced to punt on every drive in the second half, save for two. The first time they didn't punt, Brian Dawkins intercepted Michael Vick and returned the ball to the Atlanta 11 yard line, setting up another field goal byAkers. As for the second time? Well, I'll get to that in a minute. First, the Eagles were busy sealing Atlanta's coffin. With ten minutes to play in the fourth quarter, Philadelphia embarked on an 11 play, 65 yard drive that took almost seven minutes off the clock. When Donovan McNabb found Chad Lewis for the second time on the day on a two yard touchdown pass, everyone knew that the game was over.
It had taken four tries, but the Eagles were finally headed to the Super Bowl. Oh, the second time the Falcons didn't have to punt? That was on their next drive, when they turned the ball over on downs. After McNabb took three knees, the game was over, and dark cloud seemed to be lifted from Lincoln Financial Field. After 24 years, the Eagles were headed back to the Super Bowl, and had done so against the most dynamic player in the NFL and without their top offensive weapon in Terrell Owens. I have seen a lot of wins by the Eagles during this decade, but there is none that made me feel so satisfied as that one did.
I remember watching the game with my friends in college. Because of the snow, they had actually allowed us to come back from winter break a day early, which meant that we could stock up on beer and all the other essentials for the game the next day. We somehow found a place that was open and delivering food, and promptly ordered 100 wings. As the game went on, it even felt different than the last three NFC Championships. After Chad Lewis scored that second touchdown, we knew. We just knew. I'd never seen a group of college kids that happy about a football game. We popped open a bottle of cheap champagne and drank it out of plastic cups. The rest of the night is hazy, but I remember waking up the next morning with the biggest smile on my face. I knew what had happened the day before, and it was worth it. All the struggles, the constant criticism of Donovan McNabb and Andy Reid, bringing in Terrell Owens...it all was worth it. The Eagles were headed to the Super Bowl.
It was like rooting for the Buffalo Bills of the early 1990s, without the satisfaction of actually getting to a Super Bowl. That's what it was like as an Eagles fan during the early part of this decade. The teams were good enough to get to a certain point, then fell apart when it mattered the most. In 2004, that changed. Jevon Kearse and Terrell Owens were brought in during the offseason, and the mood around the city became "Super Bowl or bust." There was no other option. The season started out the way many expected it, with seven straight wins. A loss to Pittsburgh was followed up with six more wins before the starters were rested for the playoffs.
It wasn't like the Eagles were winning the games by close scores, either. The team outscored their opponents by 126 points in 2004, and Donovan McNabb had his best season ever, throwing for 31 touchdown passes compared to only eight interceptions. The Eagles suffered a huge loss, however, when Terrell Owens was lost with a broken leg in a late season game against the Dallas Cowboys. The starters wouldn't play a full game again for almost a month, and when they did, they beat the Minnesota Vikings, 27-16, in the NFC Divisional Playoffs, setting up a matchup with the most dynamic player in the NFL.
The Atlanta Falcons weren't one of the best teams in the NFC on paper in 2004. In fact, they were downright average. What made them a special team was the man at quarterback. Michael Vick had come back from a lost 2003 season and put up the best numbers of his career. While he only threw for 14 touchdowns, he rushed for over 900 yards, and Warrick Dunn and TJ Duckett helped lead the top rushing attack in the NFL. That was why, even though the Falcons had lost a game during the season by 46 points, people were picking Atlanta to send the Eagles home in the NFC Championship Game for the fourth straight season. The thought of Michael Vick, along with the loss of Terrell Owens, was just supposed to be too much for the Eagles to handle.
Someone forgot to tell the Philadelphia Eagles about that, though. After a snowstorm dropped over a foot and a half of snow on Philadelphia on Saturday, the Eagles and Falcons took the field under clear, but very cold skies for the NFC Championship. Philadelphia made sure everyone knew that this year, they were going for broke. On their first possession of the game, they drove down into field goal range, but Andy Reid decided to call a fake kick. The Falcons snuffed it out and drove into Philadelphia territory, making people nervous early in the game. Luckily, the defense stomped out the Falcons, and the offense responded with a drive that was capped by a four yard Dorsey Levens touchdown run. Atlanta answered back with a 17 play drive that made it to the Philadelphia three yard line, but Michael Vick was sacked on third down, and Atlanta had to settle for a field goal. The Eagles trumped that on their next drive, as Donovan McNabb hit Greg Lewis for a 45 yard bomb that set up a three yard pass from McNabb to Chad Lewis. The Eagles led, 14-3, but they weren't out of the woods yet.
The Falcons answered again on their next drive, but it came at a big price. The biggest play of the drive was a 31 yard pass from Michael Vick to Alge Crumpler that put Atlanta at the Philadelphia ten yard line. The only problem was, Crumpler was laid out on the play by Brian Dawkins and was totally ineffective for the rest of the game. Before the hit,Crumpler had caught three passes in the first half. After the hit, he had just one for the rest of the game. It didn't matter on this drive, as Warrick Dunn took it in from ten yards out to make the score 14-10 in favor of the Eagles at the half.
In the second half, Philadelphia came out and put all of their NFC Championship demons to bed. Their first drive ended with a David Akers field goal, and then the defense took over. The Falcons were forced to punt on every drive in the second half, save for two. The first time they didn't punt, Brian Dawkins intercepted Michael Vick and returned the ball to the Atlanta 11 yard line, setting up another field goal byAkers. As for the second time? Well, I'll get to that in a minute. First, the Eagles were busy sealing Atlanta's coffin. With ten minutes to play in the fourth quarter, Philadelphia embarked on an 11 play, 65 yard drive that took almost seven minutes off the clock. When Donovan McNabb found Chad Lewis for the second time on the day on a two yard touchdown pass, everyone knew that the game was over.
It had taken four tries, but the Eagles were finally headed to the Super Bowl. Oh, the second time the Falcons didn't have to punt? That was on their next drive, when they turned the ball over on downs. After McNabb took three knees, the game was over, and dark cloud seemed to be lifted from Lincoln Financial Field. After 24 years, the Eagles were headed back to the Super Bowl, and had done so against the most dynamic player in the NFL and without their top offensive weapon in Terrell Owens. I have seen a lot of wins by the Eagles during this decade, but there is none that made me feel so satisfied as that one did.
I remember watching the game with my friends in college. Because of the snow, they had actually allowed us to come back from winter break a day early, which meant that we could stock up on beer and all the other essentials for the game the next day. We somehow found a place that was open and delivering food, and promptly ordered 100 wings. As the game went on, it even felt different than the last three NFC Championships. After Chad Lewis scored that second touchdown, we knew. We just knew. I'd never seen a group of college kids that happy about a football game. We popped open a bottle of cheap champagne and drank it out of plastic cups. The rest of the night is hazy, but I remember waking up the next morning with the biggest smile on my face. I knew what had happened the day before, and it was worth it. All the struggles, the constant criticism of Donovan McNabb and Andy Reid, bringing in Terrell Owens...it all was worth it. The Eagles were headed to the Super Bowl.
The
Super Bowl didn't go the way that any Philadelphia fan wanted it to.
If it had, this moment would be a little further down the list, and a
Super Bowl win would be number 1. Instead, there's another
championship that is the top moment of the past 28 years.
So,
without further delay...
#1.
The Phillies win the 2008 World Series-October 27 & 29, 2008
For
25 years, the city of Philadelphia had been waiting for a
championship. All four teams had come close, but none had been able
to duplicate what the 1983 Sixers had done. Each and every
time, something had gotten in the way and stopped them from reaching
their ultimate goal, leaving Philadelphia fans high and dry, and even
more bitter than before. Throughout the 25 year drought, each team
had a chance to pick up their banner and run to the front of
the fanbase. The Eagles under Buddy Ryan were always just a
player or two away, and Donovan McNabb and Andy Reid
actually got to the Super Bowl. The Sixers had
Allen Iverson and Charles Barkley in the primes of their
careers. The Flyers had Eric Lindros in the 90s,
Peter Forsberg and Keith Primeau this decade and a
cast of characters in the 80s. Meanwhile, the Phillies had
the 1993 team, which, if history and the Mitchell Report is any
indication, was even more dirty than a lot of people thought they
were.
Realistically, if you were to ask anyone which team they expected to win a championship before 2007, you would have more than likely heard the Eagles, then the Flyers, then the Sixers and then the Phillies. The Phillies had gone 14 years without making it to the playoffs, and each time they got close, they found a way to miss out on the postseason. Then, something happened. In 2007, the Phillies put everything together and made the playoffs. Even though they were swept by Colorado, the seed had been planted. Brad Lidge, who had worn out his welcome and his mental state of mind in Houston, was brought in to be the closer. No one expected him to have a perfect season in saves, but he did. The Phillies made a living in 2008 out of picking up scraps. J.C. Romero was let go by the Red Sox, Scott Eyre was brought in from Chicago and Chad Durbin was a free agent pickup from Detroit. All of these players helped form a bullpen that was the missing piece to the puzzle in 2008.
After getting a taste in 2007, things were different in the playoffs in 2008. The Phillies took out the Brewers, with C.C. Sabathia getting to know ShaneVictorino. Then, the Dodgers came in with Manny Ramirez. Matt Stairs quieted those fans with a single moonshot, and Cole Hamels shut the door with a dominating Game 5 showing. After that, the Phillies were set to take on the Tampa Bay Rays, who had become baseball's Cinderella in 2008. The Rays had never had a winning season, and now, all of their young talent had come together at once. Most people in the national media picked the Rays to win the World Series, but the Phillies would have none of it.
Game 1 belonged to Cole Hamels, and after losing Game 2, Jamie Moyer and Carlos Ruiz had their moments in Game 3. Joe Blanton and Ryan Howard showed their muscle at the plate in Game 4, and suddenly, you could feel something in the air. ThePhillies were just a single win away from the World Series, and Cole Hamels was going to be on the mound. Finally, the 25 years of misery were going to end. Then, Game 5 started, and the rain came with it. For five innings, Hamels battled the rain and the Rays as the Phillies somehow managed to take a 2-1 lead in the sloppiest conditions anyone had ever seen for a baseball game. In the sixth inning, the Rays managed to tie the game when B.J. Upton found enough footing to steal second base after reaching on an infield single. Suddenly, Bud Selig decided to suspend the game indefinitely. All the work that the Phillies had put in, all the effort, the come from behind wins, the great pitching, all of it was about to go down the drain, all because of some rain.
Two days later, Game 5 finally started again, with the Phillies at bat. Geoff Jenkins did the one good thing he ever did in a Phillies uniform by rocking a double into right field that missed being a home run by about 15 feet. He scored on a bloop hit by Jayson Werth, and just like that, the Phillies were back in business. Ryan Madson would pitch two innings, and Brad Lidge would shut the door, it would be that simple.
Again, when has it ever been that simple in Philadelphia? The second batter that Madson faced hit a home run into left field, tying the game once again. After Jason Bartlett singled, Madson was done, and J.C. Romero came in. Akinori Iwamura hit a groundball to Chase Utley, who made the play of the series by faking a throw to first, and then turning and gunning down Bartlett at home plate. Somehow, the Phillies still had life. Then, the back of the order got things done. Pat Burrell's last at bat as a Phillie was his first hit of the World Series; a double into left-center. Eric Bruntlett pinch hit, and Pedro Feliz drove him home. Romero retired the side in order in the eighth, and again, you could feel it. Unless you've been three outs, or two minutes away from a championship, you don't know what I mean, but for those that have experienced the feeling, it's like nothing else. Brad Lidge, who was 47 for 47 in saves on the season, was coming in. There was no way this could go wrong.
It started out just fine, as Evan Longoria, who had been hounded by Phillies fans during all three games, popped out. Then, Dioner Navarro singled and was pinch run for. The Rays had life again, and their pulse got even stronger when Fernando Perez, the pinch runner that came in for Navarro, stole second. Everyone's heart stopped for a second when Ben Zobrist made solid contact with a pitch and drove it into right field. In any other season, the ball finds a gap, Lidge blows his first save of the year, and the game is tied. Not in 2008. Jayson Werth played it perfectly, the ball stayed up just long enough, and there were two men out. Up to the plate stepped Eric Hinske. He swung at the first pitch and dribbled a ball down the first base line. That was too easy for Philadelphia, so it went foul. A check swing on the next pitch was called a strike, and there was just one strike left. Brad Lidge got the sign, rocked back and threw.
Realistically, if you were to ask anyone which team they expected to win a championship before 2007, you would have more than likely heard the Eagles, then the Flyers, then the Sixers and then the Phillies. The Phillies had gone 14 years without making it to the playoffs, and each time they got close, they found a way to miss out on the postseason. Then, something happened. In 2007, the Phillies put everything together and made the playoffs. Even though they were swept by Colorado, the seed had been planted. Brad Lidge, who had worn out his welcome and his mental state of mind in Houston, was brought in to be the closer. No one expected him to have a perfect season in saves, but he did. The Phillies made a living in 2008 out of picking up scraps. J.C. Romero was let go by the Red Sox, Scott Eyre was brought in from Chicago and Chad Durbin was a free agent pickup from Detroit. All of these players helped form a bullpen that was the missing piece to the puzzle in 2008.
After getting a taste in 2007, things were different in the playoffs in 2008. The Phillies took out the Brewers, with C.C. Sabathia getting to know ShaneVictorino. Then, the Dodgers came in with Manny Ramirez. Matt Stairs quieted those fans with a single moonshot, and Cole Hamels shut the door with a dominating Game 5 showing. After that, the Phillies were set to take on the Tampa Bay Rays, who had become baseball's Cinderella in 2008. The Rays had never had a winning season, and now, all of their young talent had come together at once. Most people in the national media picked the Rays to win the World Series, but the Phillies would have none of it.
Game 1 belonged to Cole Hamels, and after losing Game 2, Jamie Moyer and Carlos Ruiz had their moments in Game 3. Joe Blanton and Ryan Howard showed their muscle at the plate in Game 4, and suddenly, you could feel something in the air. ThePhillies were just a single win away from the World Series, and Cole Hamels was going to be on the mound. Finally, the 25 years of misery were going to end. Then, Game 5 started, and the rain came with it. For five innings, Hamels battled the rain and the Rays as the Phillies somehow managed to take a 2-1 lead in the sloppiest conditions anyone had ever seen for a baseball game. In the sixth inning, the Rays managed to tie the game when B.J. Upton found enough footing to steal second base after reaching on an infield single. Suddenly, Bud Selig decided to suspend the game indefinitely. All the work that the Phillies had put in, all the effort, the come from behind wins, the great pitching, all of it was about to go down the drain, all because of some rain.
Two days later, Game 5 finally started again, with the Phillies at bat. Geoff Jenkins did the one good thing he ever did in a Phillies uniform by rocking a double into right field that missed being a home run by about 15 feet. He scored on a bloop hit by Jayson Werth, and just like that, the Phillies were back in business. Ryan Madson would pitch two innings, and Brad Lidge would shut the door, it would be that simple.
Again, when has it ever been that simple in Philadelphia? The second batter that Madson faced hit a home run into left field, tying the game once again. After Jason Bartlett singled, Madson was done, and J.C. Romero came in. Akinori Iwamura hit a groundball to Chase Utley, who made the play of the series by faking a throw to first, and then turning and gunning down Bartlett at home plate. Somehow, the Phillies still had life. Then, the back of the order got things done. Pat Burrell's last at bat as a Phillie was his first hit of the World Series; a double into left-center. Eric Bruntlett pinch hit, and Pedro Feliz drove him home. Romero retired the side in order in the eighth, and again, you could feel it. Unless you've been three outs, or two minutes away from a championship, you don't know what I mean, but for those that have experienced the feeling, it's like nothing else. Brad Lidge, who was 47 for 47 in saves on the season, was coming in. There was no way this could go wrong.
It started out just fine, as Evan Longoria, who had been hounded by Phillies fans during all three games, popped out. Then, Dioner Navarro singled and was pinch run for. The Rays had life again, and their pulse got even stronger when Fernando Perez, the pinch runner that came in for Navarro, stole second. Everyone's heart stopped for a second when Ben Zobrist made solid contact with a pitch and drove it into right field. In any other season, the ball finds a gap, Lidge blows his first save of the year, and the game is tied. Not in 2008. Jayson Werth played it perfectly, the ball stayed up just long enough, and there were two men out. Up to the plate stepped Eric Hinske. He swung at the first pitch and dribbled a ball down the first base line. That was too easy for Philadelphia, so it went foul. A check swing on the next pitch was called a strike, and there was just one strike left. Brad Lidge got the sign, rocked back and threw.
Hinske
swung and missed at the 0-2 pitch. All the heartache, the
frustration, the missed chances and everything in between was gone in
one swing and miss. The Phillies had won the World Series.
In
28 years of me being on this planet, I have only seen one
championship. If you even have to ask why this moment is the top one
on this list, then you need to get your head checked, or you're not a
Philadelphia sports fan. What else is there to say? The 2008
Phillies are, and will be forever, my favorite sports team for
showing me, and my entire generation, what it's like to be a
champion.
So,
that's it. That's my Top 100 moments. Take it for what it is. I
loved looking back on all of these, and I hope you did too. I've
still got a lot planned for this blog, but now that I'm through the
first big hump, I hope you'll stick around.
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