Top 10 Sporting Events without Cheering Interest

Ok, clearly this is also the most confusing top ten list ever. Basically, it is a simple idea. I am going to choose the top ten sporting events I have ever seen that didn't involve the following teams: Colts, Syracuse or Northwestern college sports, Canadiens or pre-94 Islanders (poor Billy Volek doesn't qualify), Biggio-era Astros and Royals, and I guess also the Grizzlies, but lets be honest, they wouldn't be anywhere near this list anyway (of course neither would the Royals). Basically, it is great games where I was relatively unbiased during. Thiell requested top ten championships not involving Colts, but that would eliminate some great games, so instead this. With that said, the importance of games did play a role, as the majority of these are games at the highest level, and not a single regular season game qualified. Also I did not include Courtney Lee's missed layup, at risk that it would break Thiell's heart once again.

10. France vs Italy World Cup Final (2006): Ok, part of this spot is given because of Zidane's stellar header in the final, where he literally headbutted a guy to the ground. Clearly it was shocking and memorable, and I couldn't believe when it happened. However, the rest of the game was exciting too, it did end in a shootout. Here is my shootout dilemma... Was it absolutely exciting to see forward go head to head with the goal keepers where every shot matters... absolutely, but it also doesn't represent the game of soccer very well, because shooting is a very small aspect of the game, as it is the defense and the passing that matters, and it just isn't part of the finale. That fact does take some away from this stellar championship, but when every goal matters, and seeing goalkeepers and defense really step up, this was a great game.

9. Marlins vs Indians Game 7 World Series (1997): This was a tough inclusion, because I had to debate whether to disqualify the Marlins, due to the fact that I did somewhat root for them (I even have the championship hat). With that said, the Astros and Royals were ahead of them, and its hard to have completely no rooting interest. This is also the oldest item on the list, from 1997, and I remember having to get special permission to watch the game on a school night (I feel so old right now). The Marlins went down 2-0 early, but Bobby Bonilla hit a solo shot in the 7th to give them a shot in the 9th inning to tie it up. Counsell sac fly wasn't the most exciting play in the world, but it allowed the game to make it to extra innings, and allowed the Indians to squander their first championship in a long time. I remember Renteria's hit to this day, in the 11th inning of a game 7 with two outs. This is clearly a game that doesn't get the credit it deserves because of the teams involved, but one of the best baseball games to date, no question, with everything on the line (and it had some absolutely great choking by the Indians)

8. Smarty Jones vs Birdstone Belmont Stakes (2004): I think a little known fact about me is that I love the horse racing triple crown. Typically I will watch all three races each year if I remember, as its only about a two minute commitment but a memorable experience. I was home alone when this happened, and I remember all day waiting excitedly to see if Smarty Jones could win the triple crown (after Funny Cide missed out the prior year). Smarty Jones was the favorite, an absolutely dominating horse. Birdstone on the other hand was a 36-1 underdog. What is memorable is the finish, however, as Smarty Jones started to pull away with the triple crown in grasp, and it looked like it would happen. The burst by Birdstone was something I have never seen to that extent in any other race, and suddenly you knew that Smarty started his final push a split second to early, and that was a enough for one of the biggest upsets in sport racing. I know this is an unexpected make on the last, but I truly loved those two minutes of my life, and it is the echelon of horse racing for me to this point.

7. USC vs Texas National Championship (2006): I hate USC... I hate Texas... So clearly I had absolutely no rooting interest, and quite frankly little desire to watch this train wreck of a game. I mean, I didn't want to hear all the love for Vince Young and Reggie Bush, as I despised both of them. Needless to say, I was pretty unbiased when it came to this game. The game was a back and forth affair, where no team pulled away, and USC had no way to combat Youngs speed on his feet. The fourth and five scramble with seconds left for the TD was something out of history, and because it happened with so little time left, it didn't allow Leinart the time to do the same in response. It was a game of back and forth offense, where defense never really showed up, so it wasn't entirely a football game of the highest level, but that doesn't mean it wasn't exciting.

6. Yankees vs Diamond Backs Game 7 World Series(2001): The second game 7 in baseball on the list, and this one even more deserving than the last. Most of the game was a typical baseball game, relatively interesting but nothing out of this world. I mean, you can't complain with Schilling vs Clemens, both of which pitched extremely well. Going into the 8th the yankees had a 1 run lead, and the greatest closer in baseball on the mound. In all intents and purposes this game should be over (although this series had a slew of blown saves prior, dominated by Kims 2). One can debate whether using Rivera for a two inning save in this game was the right decision, but that is all moot now. The fallout was something I'll never forget. An error throw to second, the beaning of counsell, and the slow bloop hit by Luis Gonzalez that no one saw coming. The excitement of seeing a juggernaut dethroned by a small ball hitting team was something I was glad to have watched unfold.

5. Patriots vs Giants SuperBowl (2008): Before we discuss the game, lets just take a moment and worship Shaun King for the epic projection of a Giants upset. The man is a sports genius, and I give him credit where credit is due. I hated the Patriots more than anything, and yet they were huge favorites in this game. Many expected them to overpower the Giants, and while that never seemed to happen, they did seem to have the game in hand before the unthinkable happened... yes, Eli Manning broke a tackle. Never thought that would happen... Then he threw a pass to practically no one, that 99% of the time becomes a memorable Eli pick... Somehow, however, the ball got stuck on Syracuse alum David Tyree's head, and became an immortalized moment. That play alone pushes the Giants to this list, but the atmosphere is what puts it so high. This was an underdog team, using an underdog player to take down 18-0 Goliath, and I am glad to have seen it happen.

4. Cavaliers vs Pistons Game 5 Eastern Finals (2007): I was not an NBA fan when this happened. I actually just threw the game on to pass the time. I also wasn't a huge fan of Lebron until this moment (clearly the moment my man crush began). But I had nothing better to do, and I am glad that was the case looking back. Lebron scored 29 of the last 30 points, and the last 25 to beat the Pistons on the road. It was stellar to watch one player realize that he doesn't have any help (only Ilgauskas was remotely good on this team), so he just took it to the hole every single play, and there was nothing the pistons could do (seeing that they refused to effectively use double teams). This was one player dismantling a heavy favorite, and just playing out of his mind. I have never see anything like the way James just kept doing it over and over, and everytime you thought the streak would end, it wouldn't. As Charles Barkley said afterwards... it was one of the greatest individual performances he has ever seen, and I have to agree.

3. Rams vs Titans Superbowl (2000): Thiell knows how fond I am of this superbowl, as I will still debate that it is the greatest nfl game of my lifetime. As much as I love to watch Tyree's miracle catch, the open field tackle at the one yard line by Mike Jones on Dyson is something we always underestimate. Defense can be absolutely spectacular to watch, and to see how quickly he closes the distance and wraps up Dyson is something as a Syracuse and Colts fan is a rarity. He didn't need a second or third guy to help Dyson go down, but instead Jones did it himself. For a super bowl in which I didn't care who won (I switched who I was cheering for at half time) I couldn't have asked for a better final play.

2. Nadal vs Federer Wimbledon (2008): The rain delays of this game could've put a damper on the match, but it instead increased the excitement. I remember Paul showing up at around 5 pm that day, with this game still going in the 5th set, every single point intense. Nadal vs Federer was a true rarity were both athletes were playing at their peaks. By the fifth set no one wanted to lose, and the delays were behind us for good. The thing about Nadal that makes his matches exciting, is that he creates long relays, were some points may take over half a minute, and as a tennis fan, the suspense builds on every single returned shot. This on court match time was nearly five hours, the longest wimbledon final ever, and when finally Nadal broke, you knew that history could be made. It's impossible to explain the excitement of this match unless you are a tennis fan who watched it, but if you come across it on espnclassic do yourself a favor and give it a look, as it is the echelon of a sport, where two of the best put up their peak performances for a title.

1. Boise State vs Oklahoma Fiesta Bowl (2007): This was not a championship game, but rather a BCS game that in some eyes means very little. However, for Boise State this meant everything, being a big underdog from a no name conference. I remember that I turned the game on in the fourth quarter to pass the time, and saw the Zabransky interception that likely would end the game. Instead, I saw potentially the greatest non-Colts sporting event of my life. The hook and ladder was played to perfection, as was the runningback throw to the TE on fourth down... however what really stands out was the statue of liberty followed by Ian Johnson's proposal after getting in. Just watching it unfold brings tears to your eyes, because this meant so much to Boise State. They never had a chance to win the national title, even though they never lost a game, but that doesn't change a single thing in my mind, as it is clearly the greatest college football game of my lifetime, and an experience I revisit at least once every three months on youtube.

~What intrigues me is not a single game from last year, or any from 2010 yet... heres hoping we have another run like 2006-2008 filled with classics coming up soon.