Ranking My Favorite Game Replays of Quarantine Programming
As a result of this devastating COVID-19 pandemic, the world has been flipped upside down on its head. Many of us have spent the better part of the last two months cooped up inside, taking our binging of netflix and other content to new heights.
For us sports nuts, we’ve been at a serious disadvantage. This pandemic put the whole world on pause, including the world of sports. And we’re expected to spend days-on-end inside, without the comfort of Yankees games and the NBA playoffs? ESPN 30 for 30 documentaries are great, but I need more!
Well, thankfully, the major sports networks (particularly ESPN and FS1) answered our cries for help. Both networks went deep into the sports vaults and began programming replays of our favorite games of all-time. We’re talking NBA Finals, Super Bowls, no-hitters, World Cup action, all of it. And, it’s been pretty awesome.
I went into my own sports vault and put together a ranking of my favorite game replays that ESPN and FS1 have aired throughout COVID-19. Enjoy the list. Side Note: Yes, this list is biased. Yes, you’ll have a better idea of my fandom by the end of it. Yes, it’s my blog, so I encourage disagreement. Yes, let’s have some fun with this.
[#11] 2019 Women’s World Cup QuarterFinal - USA v France
Network: FS1
Air Date: Saturday, March 28
MVP: Megan Rapinoe
Original Game: June 28, 2019
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fGwS1ylZt4
Heading into last summer’s Women’s World Cup, the USWNT eyed a second-straight World Cup title as heavy favorites. A team laden with stars like Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan and Tobin Heath. Experts predicted host-France as the one team that could potentially foil the USWNT’s plan to repeat.
The two best teams in the world met earlier than anticipated in the quarterfinals, a matchup that was dubbed “the final before the final.” Despite the box score showing a 2-1 victory for the USWNT, the women controlled the action from start to finish including a brilliant 2-goal performance by Rapinoe. France showed late-life, but was not able to overcome the dominant U.S. performance, catapulting the USWNT into the semifinals and well on their way to a second-straight world title.
[#10] Strikeout Saturday: Astros vs. Cubs
Network: ESPN
Air Date: Saturday, March 28
MVP: Kerry Wood
Original Game: May 6, 1998
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lehub-k5Apw
There is only one word to describe this pitching performance: dominant. This is, hands down, the most dominant pitching performance of my lifetime. In just the fifth start of his major league career, a 20-year-old Kerry Wood carved up every batter (including two future HOF’s) throughout an Astros lineup that went on to win 102 games.
Not only did Wood strike out 20 batters, but the young man did so on a very economical 122 pitches, allowing one hit and zero walks. Every single batter in that Astros lineup, besides HOF Craig Biggio, was fanned at least two times by Wood including an 0-9 and nine-strikeout performance by the middle of the order. The other fun part of this game was Astros’ SP Shane Reynolds throwing a complete game of his own, while striking out 10.
[#9] Sports Returns to NYC after 9/11: Braves vs. Mets
Network: ESPN
Air Date: Tuesday, March 31
MVP: Mike Piazza
Original Game: Sept. 21, 2001
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fLGzbGGEYQ
ESPN’s Ian O’Connor wrote a story dubbing this the night that Mike Piazza became a Hall of Famer… and I couldn’t agree more. On an unforgettable Friday night in September, Shea Stadium gave New Yorkers, and the entire nation, an opportunity to heal momentarily after 9/11. Just 10 days after the day the Twin Towers fell, Mike Piazza and his Mets took the field as the first sporting event (event of any kind, really) to return to New York City. Instead of Mets hats, the players wore New York police, fire and EMS hats while the entire stadium was outfitted with American Flags.
I’ve said this before, but sports offer us a sanctuary, a temporary escape or relief from whatever life is throwing our way. Piazza stepped into the batter’s box in the bottom of the 8th and crushed a go-ahead two-run homer far into the New York night. A magic moment for New Yorkers, a magic moment for the country, and a magic moment in the world of sports.
[#8] WCBB Upsets: Mississippi St. Shocks UCONN and the World
Network: ESPN2
Air Date: Friday, March 20
MVP: Morgan William
Original Game: March 31, 2017
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lzwQ-N-neg
Heading into the Final Four, the 2016-17 UCONN Huskies hadn’t lost in 865 days. The team had rattled off 111-straight wins, often by larger margins, and had their sights set on a fifth-straight national championship.
Throughout this historical run, the Huskies usually saw the best and closest level of competition in the later rounds of the tournament. Still, this year’s team was supposed to be unbeatable. They were supposed to glide to a fifth-straight title and extend the winning streak into next season.
Enter the #2-seed Mississippi State Bulldogs. The 33-win team was talented, but many had already penciled the Huskies into the next round. The teams battled, throughout four quarters, throughout an overtime period, up until the last 20 seconds of action. Tied at 64, Morgan William took on that heroic role, taking a charge to give the Bulldogs the last possession, and then draining an incredible game-winner at the other end, absolutely shocking the world.
[#7] Super Bowl LI: Pats’ Impossible Comeback Against Falcons
Network: Fox
Air Date: Sunday, March 29
MVP: Tom Brady
Original Game: Feb. 5, 2017
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=016LXFHpFCk
Walking into the locker room at halftime, the narrative that the Patriots dynasty was coming to an end was undoubtedly true. Right? In the last two decades, “Terrific Tom” and his partner-in-crime Bill Belichick, had dominated the NFL. At the time of this game, we’re talking about eight Super Bowl appearances, five Lombardi Trophies with a chance at six. Just pure domination.
But at halftime, Brady was 39 years of age. New England trailed 21-3 and the greatest QB ever was showing every second of his age after a feeble first half. The second half began and Atlanta scored again, 28-3. The dynasty was ending and not in graceful fashion.
We all know how this story goes. The Patriots still had that magic in them. Tom was still the GOAT. Brady and the Patriots went on five-straight scoring drives, for 31 points, including a circus catch by Julian Edelman in the fourth quarter game-tying drive, that danced in our memories like David Tyree’s helmet catch nine years prior.
As the game went to overtime, it was already over. The Patriots scored and capped off the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history, which will surely hold a prominent place in the Hall of Fame display of this dynasty.
[#6] MNF Chiefs vs. Rams: 2018’s Game of the Year
Network: ESPN
Air Date: Monday, March 30
MVP: Jared Goff
Original Game: Nov. 19, 2018
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybq17rDf2_I
This game was dubbed the 2018 Game of the Year, and for good reason. Originally scheduled to be played in Mexico City, the game was moved to Los Angeles just six days before kickoff amid concerns about playing conditions. In a heavily anticipated matchup of two of the best teams in the NFL that year, this Monday Night Football game had a special hype around it.
Well, football fans were not disappointed. A back-and-forth matchup of offenses firing on all cylinders, the game saw 14 touchdowns, including three by the defenses, 105 total points, six lead changes with four in the final quarter, and more than 1,000 total yards gained.
It was the third-highest scoring NFL game of all time, including the first time that both teams topped 50 points. Ultimately Jared Goff and the Rams prevailed, connecting on a 40-yard TD pass to Gerald Everett after the two-minute warning. An instant classic - truly.
[#5] 2013 NBA Finals Game 6: Miami Heat vs. San Antonio Spurs
Network: ESPN
Air Date: Wednesday, April 8
MVP: Ray Allen
Original Game: June 18, 2013
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8WOmDo_CfU
San Antonio controlled the 2013 Finals with a 3-2 lead before Game Six. On the brink of elimination, this game marked a pivotal moment for King James’ all-time basketball legacy. He couldn’t lose to the Spurs again. He couldn’t move his finals record to 1-3. It was time to even the score and the King did what he knows best: finished with a triple-double (32 points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists).
Although LeBron scored the go-ahead jumper with 1:43 left in OT, it was Ray Allen’s heroics from the fourth quarter that’s etched in our basketball memories forever. Down three points with less than 10 seconds in regulation, LeBron hoisted a potential game-tying triple from the corner. Chris Bosh secured the rebound over two Spurs defenders and shoveled a pass to Allen in the corner. He shuffled his feet behind the three-point line and drained one of the most clutch shots in NBA Finals history. BANG! (Thanks, Mike Breen)
[#4] 2017 NFC Divisional Round: Minneapolis Miracle
Network: FS1
Air Date: Thursday, April 2
MVP: Stefon Diggs
Original Game: Jan. 14, 2018
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7g9v0BSsvA
Disclaimer: I’m a huge Green Bay Packers fan, so for me to put this game in my top-five, that’s evidence of how good it actually was.
In the 2017 NFC Divisional Round, Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints stormed back from a 17-0 first-half deficit and took control of the game 24-23 with 25 seconds left in regulation. The Vikings burned their final timeout with 18 seconds left before staring down a 3rd and 10 at the MIN 39 yard line. What ensued was truly a miracle.
Stefon Diggs ran a 27-yard route towards the sideline before a leaping catch with just five seconds remaining. Saints Safety Marcus Williams lowered his shoulder for the game-ending hit, but whiffs! Diggs gathered and ran for the 61-yard touchdown as the clock hit zero. Joe Buck had the incredible play-by-play call of this action. “DIGGS, SIDELINE, TOUCHDOWN, UNBELIEVABLE!”
[#3] 2006 Rose Bowl - No. 2 Texas vs. No. 1 USC: Game of the Century
Network: ESPN
Air Date: Thursday, April 2
MVP: Vince Young
Original Game: Jan. 4, 2006
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvDYCPoD3HQ
The 2006 Rose Bowl was the greatest college football game ever played. We saw college football royalty on the field that night with the likes of Reggie Bush, Vince Young, Matt Leinart, Pete Carroll and Mack Brown. We saw two unbeaten powerhouse teams square off down to the final seconds of action, and we saw the end of USC’s hope for a three-peat title run.
Vince Young and the Longhorns came out on top thanks to his 467 total yards of offense, which included 200 yards and three touchdowns on the ground. His last eight yards were the most important. On a fourth-and-five from the eight-yard line, Young took off once again and glided past the pylon into the endzone to secure Texas’ 41-38 national championship victory.
[#2] 2003 ALCS - Red Sox vs. Yankees: Boone Cements Yankees Legacy
Network: ESPN
Air Date: Tuesday, April 28
MVP: Aaron Boone
Original Game: Oct. 16, 2003
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=St3WF3_xaWk
As a lifelong Yankees fan, I grew up watching Yankee games with my dad since I can remember. Of the thousands of games we watched together, this one stuck out. At the time, at age 10, I was aware of two things about this game: (1) this game was winner-take-all to head to the World Series, and (2) I knew I hated the Red Sox more than anything.
In the top of the 8th inning, the Red Sox scored to go up 5-2 with the entirety of momentum on their side. I was sent to bed (in tears I might add, because this season was over), as it was a school night. I wasn’t happy about it. After laying in my bed for what felt like hours, I couldn’t sleep. Restless and in need of closure from this 2003 season, I raced back into my parents bedroom to see it was the 11th.
Unfortunately, I missed Pedro Martinez’s implosion in the 8th and the Yankees’ three-run comeback to tie the game at five. More importantly, however, I was just-in-time to witness an October classic. Aaron Boone walked from the dugout in the bottom of the 11th and hammered Tim Wakefield’s first-pitch knuckleball into the October night. That home run sent the Yankees to a 6-5 victory and trip to the Fall Classic. Despite playing less than 60 games in Pinstripes, this moment cemented Boone’s Yankees legacy... 15 years later, he’s at the helm as the Yankees manager.
[#1] 2016 NBA Finals Game 7 - Cavaliers vs. Warriors: “The Block”
Network: ESPN
Air Date: Wednesday, April 1
MVP: LeBron James
Original Game: June 19, 2016
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgVOgGLtPtc
For me, currently, this is the defining moment of LeBron James’ epic career. This was his “Jordan” moment. This is why he’s my favorite basketball player of all time. This is why he’s truly the GOAT.
The King had come back home with one mission: deliver a title to his home state of Ohio. The year prior, his Cavaliers came up short against the Warriors but it was time for revenge. Oh, and he was supposed to do this down 3 games to 1 against a 73-win Golden State team, the most regular season wins in NBA history.
Kyrie Irving missed a layup with two minutes in regulation and the game tied at 89. The ensuing rebound led to an easy fastbreak layup for Andre Iguodala. Until the King came back into the frame. LeBron chased down the fastbreak and made the most epic chase down block. Kyrie put the finishing touches a minute later with his stepback three, and the title came home to Cleveland.
And yes, LeBron was named Finals MVP, averaging 29.7 points, 11.3 rebounds, 8.9 assists and 2.3 blocks.
