March 28, 2024

Games we remember

On March 12, 2009, college basketball fans were treated to a pre-March Madness thriller when Syracuse University took on the University of Connecticut. For those of you who missed this game, it went into six overtimes, with Syracuse finally winning in the sixth OT. This game was one of the best games I’ve seen, and I started to think about other great games, so let’s look back at some unforgettable games.

This archived article was written by: Nathan Davis

On March 12, 2009, college basketball fans were treated to a pre-March Madness thriller when Syracuse University took on the University of Connecticut. For those of you who missed this game, it went into six overtimes, with Syracuse finally winning in the sixth OT. This game was one of the best games I’ve seen, and I started to think about other great games, so let’s look back at some unforgettable games.
The Ice Bowl In 1967 the Dallas Cowboys, and the Green Bay Packers faced off in one of the most memorable NFL playoff games. It was the Championship Game with the winner going to the Super Bowl, it’s remembered in history as the “Ice Bowl.”
The Game took place on Dec. 31, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisc. Thanks in part to this game, Lambeau earned its nickname, the Frozen Tundra. At kickoff it was -13 degrees, factoring in the wind chill, it hit -36 degrees. It was so cold, that the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse marching band’s instruments froze when they tried putting on a pre-game show.
The fourth quarter started with the Cowboys leading 17-14. The Packers then drove down the field, thanks to quarterback and future hall-of-famer Bart Starr. Green Bay wound up on the three-yard line and twice handed the ball off to Donny Anderson, but was unable to score.
With 16 seconds left in the game Starr called a time-out. Legendary coach Vince Lombardi told Starr to “run it and let’s get the hell out of here.” Either way Lombardi wanted the game to be finished. The play Lombardi called was a handoff to running back Chuck Mercein, but Starr was afraid of a possible fumble. When the ball was snapped, Starr decided to take the ball himself, and dove over the goal line, for the game-winning touchdown.
Game 6 ’75 World Series
The 1975 World Series had the Boston Red Sox taking on the Cincinnati Reds, while the Reds went on to win the Series in seven games, the Red Sox win in game six goes down in history as one of the greatest moments in baseball history.
The game was tied in the 11th inning and Joe Morgan was at bat for the Reds. Morgan hit ball to deep right field and was robbed of a home run by Boston’s Dwight Evans.
In the bottom of the 12th, Carlton Fisk came up for the Red Sox. Fisk was facing the Red’s eighth pitcher of the game, Pat Darcy. Fisk hit the second pitch Darcy threw. It was a long fly ball to left field, as the ball flirted with the foul pole Fisk jumped waving his arms, willing the ball fair. The ball bounced off the foul pole for a home run. As Fisk rounded the bases, fans poured out of the stands filling the field. Forcing Fisk to push fans out of the way as he headed for home plate.
The list of great games could go on and on, but in the words of Robert Frost “I have promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep.” Those promises would be my deadline, and the miles I have to go would be two more articles that need writing, which means a short list.