Here are five overlooked sports moments throughout history that have made more of a difference than we think.
John Stockton’s Game Winning Shot to send the Jazz to the Finals
Everyone knows Michael Jordan’s big win against the Jazz in the years 1997-98, but who recalls John Stockton’s game winning buzzer shot to send the Jazz to their first NBA final? It was between the Jazz and the Rockets in Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals, Stockton racked up 25 points, 13 assist, 2 steals and 2 rebounds, and helped take over the game in the fourth quarter after a 13 point deficit (Cody Taylor, therookiewire.usatoday.com). To win it all he made a 3-pointer at the buzzer of the last quarter sending the Jazz to the finals with an end score of 103-100 in Game 6 of the Western Conference. Even though Stockton never won a title with the Jazz during his playing years, he was still one of the best players to play the sport.
Glyn Milburn’s 4 Purposes in an NFL Game
Glyn Milburn was the backbone for the Denver Broncos in the year 1995. He was one of the most valuable running backs in the NFL at that time. He has been one of the only players to achieve all four purposes of the game, which included kick returns, rushing yards, punt returns, and receiving yards. In his most memorable game that year he reached 133 kick returns, 131 rushing yards, 95 punt return yards, and 45 receiving yards (Ross Kelly stadiumtalk.com). He accomplished all of that in a single game, while other players in that same year didn’t meet all four of those stats within the whole season. In 2018 specifically, the NFL evaluated all the players’ stats and no one in that year completed all four of those components.
Michelle Akers World Cup Finish
The U.S. women’s soccer team won their first world title in 1991 with the help of Michelle Aker. At that time the women’s soccer team didn’t win “World Cups”, they won the FIFA Women’s World Championships for the M&Ms Cup, because at the time Mars candy was their biggest sponsor. There was a lot of discrimnation with the sport at the time, too. The women were restricted on how much jewelry they could wear, the amount of time they could play, and the amount of money they got paid. When they won their first title people started to take the women’s soccer team more seriously. That year they played against Norway, their toughest opponents. Aker had made the first and last shot of that game. In the 78th minute of 2nd half she had scored with her weaker left foot at a tough angle to win it all. (Alexander Abnos, sports illustrated)
Willie Mays Baseball Catch of the Century
In the first game of the 1954 World Series, Willie May made one of the most iconic catches in the game of baseball. It was Giants versus Indians when this great catch happened, and it was in the 8th inning where May caught a 450-foot fly ball (menshealth.com). With two runners on base, he caught the ball in mid air, then threw it infield. It was so fast that his hat flew off as his body spinned and he dropped flat on his stomach. He ended up saving two home runs in helping the Giants move forward to winning the World Series for the first time in 20 years.
Teresa Weatherspoon’s Half-Court Heave
Teresa Weatherspoon played as a Guard for the New York Libertys in the 90’s. In 1999 during Game 2 against the Houston Comets, Weatherspoon had one of the best finishes in the game that year. It was the fourth quarter with only two seconds of the game remaining and the Libertys were down by 2 points. After inbounding the ball back in, Weatherspoon took two steps and shot before the half-court line making it in. They were now up by 1 point and it was considered one of the best shots in professional basketball since. (Justin Meyer, 24 moments from 24 WNBA season)
