In potentially the most iconic win of Tiger’s career, “final round red” has never been so fitting. As Woods walked off the 18th green moments after winning the 2019 Masters and capping one of the greatest comebacks in sports history, he flipped his putter to the ground. Seconds later, Woods lifted and hugged his son, Charlie, bringing back memories of the emotional embrace that a young Tiger and his father, Earl Woods, shared at Augusta after Tiger won his first Masters 22 years ago.
This past year was a major season, no pun intended, for Tiger Woods. Woods beat out Dustin Johnson, Xander Schauffele, and Brooks Koepka by one stroke to attain his fifth green jacket and card his 82nd PGA Tour win. Amidst Tiger’s final putt, an NBC Golf Channel announcer stated “A Return to Glory.” There is simply no other way to put it. In one of the most emotional finishes in tournament history, the 43-year-old Woods—playing like his young self in his 1997 win at Augusta National—came from behind to win the 83rd Masters Tournament by one stroke. Woods’ fifth Masters win moved him past Arnold Palmer, and puts him one behind Jack Nicklaus for the most green jackets in PGA history.
As a big Tiger Woods fan, this was without a doubt one of my favorite career highlights of him—one that I will never forget. Growing up in an era where I get to watch the greatest golfer to ever walk the greens win his fifth Master’s Tournament and get his 82nd win is an honor I will cherish forever. Every single PGA Tour player’s life has been, in some way, impacted for the better (or worse if you’re below Wood’s name on the leaderboard). From a young Rory McIlroy watching Tiger on his dad’s TV in Ireland to an accomplished Brooks Koepka praising Woods’ talented career, Tiger Woods will forever be an icon to the game of golf at every level.
THERE GOES DAVIS!!! DAVIS IS GOING TO RUN IT ALL THE WAY BACK!!! THEY’RE NOT GONNA KEEP THEM OFF THE FIELD TONIGHT!
Even just by reading, you can hear, in your head, these words being proclaimed loud and proud in an ecstatic deep southern accent by Auburn sportscaster, Rod Bramblett, that gives you goosebumps as you recall the moment when, in the 2013 Alabama- Auburn rivalry game, Alabama attempted the last second 57 yard field goal that would literally just fall short and would project Auburn into the last National Championship of the BCS era. It is one of those moments where people remember exactly where they were and what they were doing when it occurred.
The “Kick Six,” as it has become popularly known as, while an incredible play in it of itself, can not be fully appreciated without some background information to help people fully grasp the significance of that play. First off, Gus Malzahn was in his first year of his head coaching career at Auburn, and had managed to turn an Auburn team that went 0-8 in conference play, in the previous year, to being a national title contender in the next, all in one year. The manner he did so was incredible, squeaking out wins by a score or less against multiple division opponents (24- 20 Mississippi State, 30-22 Ole Miss #24, 45-41 at Texas A&M #7), and just the week before Alabama, Auburn kept their championship hopes alive as QB Nick Marshall, on 4th & 18, with 36 seconds left, from their own 27 yard line, lobbed up a pass that was deflected off a Georgia DB but then fell into the arms of Auburn receiver Ricardo Louis for the go ahead, winning score that would send Auburn into the Iron Bowl 10-1 against undefeated Alabama for a shot at the SEC Championship and a National Championship.
Never before had an end of season rivalry game, with its history and hate already embedded into it, have so much riding on it, on a national stage. Alabama had cruised into Jordan- Hare Stadium on an 11-0 record, crushing the competition with hopes of a 3rd national title as in as many years. Auburn, while hoping to keep its miraculous season going, was projected as the underdog, at home by 10 ½ points, with most of the country picking Alabama to go in and win and preserve their undefeated season. However, once the game began, point spreads and predictions fell to the wayside as two collegiate heavy weights started trading blows as there were multiple lead changes. The game remained tight and tied going into the 4th quarter before Crimson Tide senior quarterback, A.J. McCarron, threw a 99 yard TD pass, the longest play in Alabama history, to super star wide receiver, Amari Cooper, to go up 28-21.
GIF by Bleacher Report
With 2:32, the Auburn defense made a critical stop on their own 27 yard line, as they blocked Cade Foster’s, senior Alabama kicker out of Southlake, TX, 3rd FG attempt that day, which would’ve put the Crimson Tide up by 2 possessions and made the game nigh impossible for Auburn to come back in. After six consecutive hand offs to Auburn RB Tre Mason, Nick Marshall finally pulled the ball back and sprinting to his left, drew the Alabama defenders in pursuit of him, and then tossed it to a wide open receiver Sammy Coates for a 39 yard touchdown pass, tying the game up at 28-28 with 32 seconds left. Auburn had executed the 2 minute drill to perfection and now looked poised to take the game into OT.
GIF by Bleacher Report
But then, Alabama running back, T.Y. Yelden, on 2 consecutive draw plays against Auburn in the prevent defense, ran all the way to the Auburn 38 yard line and stepped out of bounds when the clock showed 0:00, and it looked like Auburn would force the game into OT. However, Nick Saban fiercely argued that Yelden had been pushed out by Auburn cornerback, Chris Davis (recognize the name?), with a second remaining, and after further review, the clock was reset to 0:01, much to the angst of the Auburn crowd. To everyone’s surprise, Saban elected to go with a 57 yard FG attempt instead of a Hail Mary, and to everyone’s further surprise, sent in redshirt freshman kicker, Adam Griffith, instead of the starting senior, Foster, to conduct the kick. And here, the stage has now been set for the most dramatic and memorable sports moment of the decade.
Adam Griffith lined up for the kick and made a very decent kick, just falling short of the goal post into the waiting arms of deep return man Chris Davis, the same Chris Davis that had forced out T.Y. Yelden out with 1 second remaining that had set up this situation. Once Davis caught it, the rest is history as he returned the ball for 109 yards, sprinting past the Alabama players and tightroping the sideline, to send the Auburn Tigers into the SEC Championship, past the vaunted defending back-to-back nation champion Crimson Tide. The call made by Auburn sportscaster, Rod Bramblett, captured and immortalized the moment perfectly:
“ Chris Davis is going to drop back into the end zone in single safety. Well, I guess if this thing comes up short he can field it and run it out. Alright, here we go. 56-yarder, it’s got—no, it does not have the leg. And Chris Davis takes it in the back of the end zone. He’ll run it out to the 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 45—There goes Davis! (White shouts “Oh my God!”) Davis is going to run it all the way back! Auburn’s gonna win the football game! Auburn’s gonna win the football game! He ran the missed field goal back! He ran it back 109 yards! [fans streaming onto the field] They’re not gonna keep them off the field tonight! Holy Cow! Oh, my God! Auburn wins! Auburn has won the Iron Bowl! Auburn has won the Iron Bowl in the most unbelievable fashion you will ever see! I cannot believe it! 34–28! ”
Courtesy of Auburn Football
It was in that moment, when the world became Auburn fans; an improbable, unbelievable season, riddled with comebacks, tight scores, and answered prayers capped off by the most improbable of all victories. A season where being the underdog and rising to the challenge defined who they were and forged them to become who they would be. Too many, this moment and the call made was as iconic as Al Michaels “DO YOU BELIEVE IN MIRACLES” call when another massive underdog team, the 1988 United States’ Olympic hockey team took down the seemingly invincible Soviet hockey team, to put them in the gold medal round and win it all. For Auburn, and many college football fans, this might be the greatest collegiate sports moment of all time, if not in all sports. It was this game where I discovered my love for college football; as a 17 year old junior in high school, looking into the process of college applications for the first, this game set off my excitement for the sport, and while I did not end up going to Auburn (Gig Em baby), the “Kick Six” was burned into my memory for all of time. It is moments like these that makes sports so great. To see the improbable, the impossible being done. To see a collection of young people get together and work so hard, to give so much of themselves, all for just an opportunity, a chance at being great.
#2. New England Patriots Super Bowl LI comeback win against the Atlanta Falcons, February 5, 2017.
Without a doubt, this was one of the most legendary games, and probably the best Super Bowl game in NFL History.
This game featured several records being set, including largest comeback in a Super Bowl (25 points) and the first game to be won in OT.
Video by NFL
Down 28-3 with a little more than two minutes left in the third quarter, the Pats finally scored their first TD of the game. They then went on to have a 19 point fourth quarter, all the while, holding a conservative Falcons offense to zero points.
Video by NFL
The comeback and game itself was so legendary that it is tough to put into words. There’s a number of plays that stick out though; Edelman’s absurd catch (see above), Amendola’s screen pass catch for the two point conversion, James White’s multiple TDs and game winning TD, Donta Hightower’s fumble forcing sack of Matt Ryan.
I remember not being able to sleep until about four in the morning after the game. I couldn’t get over what I had just witnessed and I just kept smiling at the ceiling thinking about Tom lifting the Lombardi Trophy in Goodell’s face.
If you’ve got a free 20 minutes, I highly encourage you to watch the video below.
The night was going better than expected. In a bullpen-driven pitching outing the Astros had held the Yankees to just 2 runs through 9 1/3 innings in Game 6 of the 2019 ALCS. However, with one swing, the unstoppable DJ LeMahieu silenced 43,000 fans by launching a sharp line drive just over the right field fence. I had only witnessed a group of people that large go silent once before: 9th Inning, Game 5 of the 2005 NLCS, Cardinals vs. Astros. A hanging slider from Brad Lidge coupled with the MVP-caliber swing of Albert Pujols sent a shockwave throughout the entire city of Houston. Pujols connected for a towering 455 ft blast that cleared the train tracks at Minute Maid Park and paved the way for a Cardinals victory. Although, the Astros would win the series in Game 6, the long term damage had be done.
14 years later when LeMahieu broke Astros’ spirits with his 9th inning shot, Houston fans experienced flashbacks to that fateful night against the Cards. However, if one man could turn the tides, it was the longest tenured Astro on the team, Jose Altuve. Debuting with the team 9 years ago, Altuve had since amassed 6 all star appearances, 3 AL batting titles, and a World Series victory. If the Astros wanted to put anyone up against the dominate Aroldis Chapman in the bottom of the 9th, I couldn’t think of anyone better than our 5 ft. 6 in. slugger. On Chapman’s 4th pitch of the at bat, Tuve turned on an 84 mph off speed pitch and launched it to left-center. I originally sank in my seat in disgust because it appeared to be a long fly out, but once I saw Brett Gardner turn toward the wall, I knew it was all over. The perennial savior of Houston had come through AGAIN.
Video by Dodgers Highlights
I’m unsure if it was luck or fate that allowed me to be present at both of these landmark games, but one thing’s for sure, the legacy of Joss Altuve will remain in Houstonians’ hearts forever.
Once every 4 years, Americans come together to partake in the viewership of the Women’s World Cup in which the U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT) attempts to bring home the gold medal. 2019 was no different. Filled with star talent such as Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe and Alyssa Naeher, the USWNT once again put on a show for the Red, White and Blue. The Americans brought home the Gold medal by winning games against other power-house teams such as Spain, France, England, and The Netherlands. With the 2-0 win over The Netherlands in the final, featuring goals from Megan Rapinoe and Rose Lavelle, the USWNT had won consecutive World Cups and captured their 4th overall win. With a swagger not seen since the days of “The U” and a confidence unrivaled by any in the tournament, the USWNT quickly captured the hearts of Americans. As the team currently holding the most World Cup titles, the USWNT have cemented themselves as the team to beat amongst the global elite.
Derek Jeter. The MLB icon who enjoyed a storybook career playing for his childhood team, the New York Yankees, decided 2014 would be his final season as a baseball player. Thus, the whole season was dedicated to Jeter’s farewell tour in which he received numerous gifts from each opposing ballpark he visited. As Jeter’s career drew to a close, his legacy as a player was discussed by analysts and fans alike. Pretty much everyone other than Keith Olbermann, marveled at the illustrious career Jeter had in Pinstripes. As Jeter’s Yankee career drew to a close in his final game at Yankee Stadium on September 25, 2014, baseball fans of all ages gathered around their T.V.’s to witness greatness one last time. And similar to the rest of his storied career, he would not disappoint.
Video by Wall Street Journal
In his 1st at-bat of the game facing Orioles pitcher Kevin Gausman, Jeter ripped a 3-1 fastball that nearly cleared the left-center field fence. The ball hit off the very top of the wall and Jeter coasted into second base with a double in front of 48,000 screaming fans. The the next 2 at-bats were less successful and Jeter stepped to the plate in the 7th inning, many fans expecting this to be his last home at-bat. With the game tied 2-2 and the bases loaded, he grounded to shortstop J.J. Hardy who, in an attempt to turn a double play, threw the ball into the outfield. 2 runs scored and Jeter arrived safely at first.
Heading into the 9th inning, the Yankees were up 5-2 with star closer David Robertson in the game. The crowd broke into “Thank you, Derek” chants expecting Robertson to end the game. However, 3 runs later and the game now tied, the Yankees came to the plate hoping to give Mr. Jeter one last at-bat in the Bronx. With a runner at second base and 2 outs, Jeter stepped up to the plate. Bob Shepherd’s legendary voice echoed through the stadium with the words “Now batting for the Yankees, No. 2, Derek Jeter, No. 2.” Yankees fans around the country did what they had done for the last 20 years: expect Derek Jeter to come up clutch. And that he did. He jumped on the first pitch from Orioles pitcher Evan Meek and hit it, in typical Jeter fashion, between the first and second baseman into the outfield for a base hit. Runner Antoan Richardson raced around third and slid in safely at home and pandemonium broke out in the stadium. Jeter leaped into the air with his smile beaming from ear to ear. A Yankee legend had once again left his mark.
Video by MLB
With Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” echoing throughout the stadium, Jeter was met by Yankee legends and former teammates Bernie Williams, Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettitte, Jorge Posada, Tino Martinez and former manager Joe Torre. A memorable exit for a truly remarkable baseball player. Derek Jeter was a figure that was larger than life whose consistent play and flare for the dramatic made him an all-time great and a crowd favorite. As a Yankees fan growing up, it was always his dream to suit up in the Pinstripes. Thus, Michael Kay’s words “Derek Jeter: Where fantasy becomes reality” rang true, especially in that final at-bat. Jeter’s last home game at Yankee Stadium will go down as one of the most iconic moments in MLB history.
4. Rams vs. Saints blown call by officials in NFC Championship game.
Where were you when the referees didn’t throw their flags on one of the most blatant pass interference calls in NFL history during the 2019 NFC Championship game between the Saints and Rams? I, for one, was on my couch in College Station, TX watching Drew Brees lead the Saints offense down the field, and about ready to cash my Saints -3 and Saints NFC Champion tickets. Then, in a flash, a blown pass interference call forced the Saints to settle for a FG on the drive, leaving just enough time for Jared Goff to lead the Rams down the field to kick a FG of their own to force the game into overtime. 10 minutes later, Greg Zuerlein kicked a 57 yard FG in OT and the Rams were headed to Super Bowl 53.
Just how bad was the call? Well, just see for yourself.
Video by Fox
Analysts and fans around the country were up in arms over the ruling on the field. Saints head coach Sean Payton looked about ready to commit first-degree murder. And the Saints fans in the Super Dome looked like they were ready to storm the field in French Revolution style. In fact, there were several lawsuits that were filed against the NFL after the game. It was a call that would live in infamy.
Video by NFL
Video by WWLTV
The significance of the no call? First, obviously it cost the Saints the chance to play in Super Bowl 53. Secondly, NFL fans were stripped of the opportunity to see a Brady v. Brees Super Bowl and instead were forced to sit in agony and watch one of the most boring Super Bowls in recent memory. Third and maybe most important to gamblers, the call cost bettors millions of dollars. Many had the Saints -3.5 and also had the Saints winning the NFC. It was a multi-million dollar blown call. One would think that after such an incredible mishap on one of the biggest stages in sports, the NFL would have found a substitute for officials. However, the 2019 NFL regular season has seen missed call after missed call from the men in stripes. Maybe a few more lawsuits from the fans down in New Orleans will help change that. A horrific blown call which cost the New Orleans Saints and Drew Brees a potential Super Bowl Ring is our 4th best sports moment of the year.
The 2013 baseball season in Boston was led by one mantra, “Boston Strong”. That April, two terrorists carried out a deadly attack during the Boston Marathon. They set off bombs, killing and wounding many innocent Americans.
Because the attacks happened at the beginning of the baseball season, the team took it upon themselves to take on the city’s sorrows and be a source of healing. In the first home game after the bombing, World Series MVP, David Ortiz, took the mic and spoke the now famous phrase “This is our f****** city”. His speech was the beginning point of healing for a city that was knocked down hard, but would come back stronger than ever that October.
When I think about the 2013 World Series and the 2013 playoffs in general, I think about a charismatic team that really gelled together and loved each other.
The pitching staff was led by Jon Lester, John Lackey, Clay Buchholz, Ryan Dempster and Jake Peavy. All five are true veterans and simply knew how to get outs. None of these guys, Lester excluded, were really in the prime of their careers, but all of them battled just like the rest of Boston did. Lackey’s performance in game six in particular stands out to me. He went 6 2/3, and gave up one run while scattering nine hits.
I also think about guys like David Ross, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Jonny Gomes, Shane Victorino, Mike Napoli, Daniel Nava, and Stephen Drew. All didn’t have long tenures in Boston, all were relatively low level free agent signings and mostly on the tail end of their careers. However, all of them found ways to come up clutch and make huge impacts during the 2013 season. Gomes in particular really had no business starting in left field for a MLB team in the World Series. He’s average at best in every metric except for the most important one, heart. Gomes and Napoli led the way with growing beards throughout the season. The beards became a rallying point for everyone associated with the Red Sox. Besides Big Papi, I’m not sure if there was anyone more clutch than Shane Victorino. In game six, Victorino hit the bases clearing three run triple to start the scoring, and he also had another hit to extend the lead. I think the most excited I’ve ever been watching a baseball game was his grand slam in the ALCS that year.
I’d be remiss to not mention the contributions of David Ortiz and Koji Uehara as well. Ortiz hit an absurd .688 in the World Series after having an abysmal ALCS in which he hit .091.
Koji led the way in the bullpen, carving people up with his patented arm side run 81 MPH splitter. He was untouchable. His last pitch in game six to Matt Carpenter will forever be etched in my mind.
In short, all World Series wins are special and mean a lot to the city and the fan base that wins it. But this one just meant more. Boston had been through so much in 2013. This Red Sox team took on all the sorrows of the city and did a damn good job erasing them with winning baseball. Stories like this one is what makes sports so special and I am thankful to have been alive for it.
Zion Williamson. No player has captivated NCAA basketball quite like Zion in some time. From the marvelous dunks to the breathtaking athleticism that left even world-class announcers in shock, Zion Williamson took the collegiate basketball world by storm last year. From the very first tipoff to the season-ending loss against Michigan State, all eyes were on Zion. And luckily for the fans, he did not disappoint.
The legend of Zion began when he was in high school as his highlight reel dunks went viral in a series of YouTube videos. While he was the 3rd highest recruit in his class at Duke, he was the center of attention the minute he stepped foot on campus. In his first game against perennial power Kentucky, Zion scored 28 points with a few memorable dunks. In the following game against Army, he scored 27 points, grabbed 16 rebounds and also blocked 6 shots. He became only the 2nd player in Duke history to record at least 25 points, 15 rebounds and 5 blocks in a game. He posted other memorable games against Wake Forest and Syracuse where he dropped 30 and 35 points respectively. Every night on the floor, Zion would make some remarkable play which would end up on SportsCenter the next morning. While his legend was growing, analysts were predicting he would be the 1st pick in the 2019 NBA draft.
Video by ESPN
On February 20, 2019, Duke was set to host the University of North Carolina in what is one of the biggest rivalries in all of sports. On average, a ticket to that game would be around a couple hundred bucks. However, on this occasion the average ticket sold on StubHub prior to the game was $4,670. The cheapest ticket was listed at $2,927. The Super Bowl is widely regarded as the most prestigious championship in all of sports and is often one of the most expensive games to attend. However, the “Get In” price for Super Bowl 53, played 2 weeks prior, was $2,900. The reason for the outrageous prices? Two words: Zion Williamson. Fans from all over the nation were chomping at the bit to watch this athletic specimen. Even former President Barack Obama was in attendance. While there was plenty of buzz before the game, all the energy was zapped from the building within 36 seconds of tipoff. Zion was forced to leave the game after his foot ripped through his Nike shoe. Duke would go on to lose the game 88-72. Nike also felt the loss of Zion as their stock dropped by $1.1 billion the next day. The legend of Zion continued.
Video by ESPN
Zion was a pivotal part of Duke’s success and the team missed his presence while he was rehabbing the knee sprain he suffered in the UNC game. When Zion was on the court, the Blue Devils were 29-3 as opposed to 3-3 when he was hurt. He made his return to the team during the ACC tournament and promptly led the team to 3 straight wins and the conference championship, one of which was against UNC where he scored 31 points. The performance earned him ACC tournament MVP. Zion was such a wonder that when the NCAA tournament began, CBS devoted a camera called the “Zion Cam” specifically to follow him throughout the tournament. Although Duke entered the tournament with championship hopes, they were eliminated by Michigan State in the Elite 8. However, Zion continued to be a man among boys on the court as he averaged 27 points and 11.6 rebounds in the tournament.
Video by Duke Basketball
I am not sure we will ever see a player take over college basketball quite like the way Zion did in 2018-2019. There were countless times during the season that I would watch a Zion highlight and think to myself “how is that humanly possible?” An athletic specimen never before seen in college basketball, the legend of Zion Williamson was certainly a memorable moment in 2019.
5. Chicago Cubs win World Series after 108 year drought
Photo by MLB
My Cubs roots run deep. From the moment I was born, I was immersed in the culture and fandom of the Chicago Cubs baseball team. I grew up imitating the Moisės Alou’s cockeyed stance, shaking my head to Carlos Zambrano’s temper tantrums, and living for Sammy Sosa’s homerun leaps. I still remember the gut wrenching 2003 NLCS series. Having a World Series seem like a sure thing with a Cubs game six 3-0 lead in the late innings, only to watch it slip through our fingers with the Florida Marlins eight run eighth inning. And then the absolute devastation of a game seven loss at home. I remember going to sleep in my parent’s bed that night in my Sammy Sosa jersey, crying myself to sleep with my mom. Being a Cubs fan was full of heartbreaks; that was until the 2016 World Series game 7.
I watched game 7 as a sophomore at the College of Wooster, a small college just north of Columbus. Because of the location, I watched that game in a room full of Cleveland Indians fans wanting nothing more than for the Cubs to break my heart once again. But an extra inning Ben Zobrist double and a final out from Kris Bryant to Anthony Rizzo brought me one of the best moments of my life. The room of Indians fans quickly cleared out and there I sat, long after the game was over, wrapped in my W flag, soaking in every moment of the celebration. I took that time to call all my family and friends who had faithfully stood by this team through all the tough times. I remember specifically calling my Grandpa, an 80 year old man who had dedicated his life to the Cubs franchise. He even bought a house in Arizona where he had owned season tickets to Cubs spring training for the past 25 years. He was in tears when I called him, and I couldn’t help from tearing up myself with overwhelming joy. Our lovable losers and finally become champions, a moment that will live on forever.
Grad School Sports™ 