John Isner v Nicolas Mahut Wimbledon Live Blog - Thursday @ 9:30 AM

Well, it would take a special series of circumstances for us to do a live blog of a 1st Round Wimbledon match between two guys that nobody had ever heard of 24 hours ago. However, this is kinda sorta a special series of circumstances. It's time for a Yoders' Live Blog of the finish (knock on wood) of this historic match as coverage picks up at 9:30 AM. It could go 1o minutes, 10 games, 10 hours, or 10 days... but we'll be there to cover the action... at least until I need a nap. Check with us as we pick up the most insane sporting event that any human being alive has ever seen at 59-59 in the 5th set! Refresh your page every few minutes for updates throughout the match!

11:59 - As if we couldn't have one more bizarre moment, the crowd is booing the photo op at the scoreboard. The grace and class of these two men is only outdone by their sheer will and determination on the court the past 3 days. 70-68 in the fifth set in perhaps the most remarkable sports event any of us have ever seen. Thanks for joining us for our live coverage of the Isner-Mahut live blog of the last 20 games of this epic. We'll see you further on up the road!

11:56 - Final match time is 11'5'' It looks like both are receiving some sort of gift bag. Only in England I suppose. Isner gives props to the crowd that soaks it up, Isner is all class here talking about the honor of playing in this match with Mahut. Mahut is speechless as the crowd gives him a deserved applause. Mahut talks about the moment being painful but the amazing feeling of playing in the match and calls Isner a champion. In his words it's the greatest match in the greatest tournament ever.

11:50 - The ovation continues to get louder for these two warriors. The final score reads 6-4, 3-6, 6-7, 7-6, 70-68. And just like that, an innocent first round match at Wimbledon will forever go down in the history books. Now the All England Club is presenting both players and the umpire with a memento. They better put a plaque there, rename the court, or at least have them buried at Court 18.

11:48 - AND IT'S OVER!!! ISNER WITH A BACKHAND WINNER DOWN THE LINE!!! 70-68 in the final set as both players embrace at the net. Isner has his hands on his head as he can't believe that it's finally over! Mahut is devastated sitting in his chair - what a shame that somebody had to lose this insane game of tennis.

11:47 - MY GOD! MATCH POINT FOR ISNER AT 69-68!!! What pressure! What a moment!!

11:46 - Mishit from Mahut and Isner is two points away from winning the most epic duel in tennis history. But, Mahut's great serve and volley knots us up at 30-30. Slovakia puts in a third against Italy that should say arivaderchi to the defending champs.

11:44 - 2-1 Slovakia as Italy has pulled a goal back, as of now they need 1 more goal to advance. Isner again just misses a shot along the line. 0-15.

11:41 - Can Isner's serve bail him out again? Service winner. 30-30. Service winner 40-30. Mahut's return goes into the net. Game Isner. 69-68. I think the 2014 World Cup might begin before this match ends. We're now at the 11 hour mark. 11 hours these two guys have been playing tennis against each other.

11:40 - Here we go. 0-30 Mahut on Isner's serve at 68-68. The biggest chance in about 16 hours to break serve. Ace Isner.

11:37 - Isner gets a point off the net. The crowd comes alive as it's 0-15 in the 136th game.

11:35 - Game Isner.

11:31 - 67-66 Isner. Here's the stats for that '39 Cricket Match which is the longest game in sports history. Thankfully, it was the last ever timeless test. You're guess is as good as mine as to what it means - by the way, Italy on its way out as they trail Slovakia 2-0, right now it's them and Paraguay going through but a 1-0 win from NZ sends them instead of the Slovaks. Oh, and Mahut holds at love for the 1,567th time. 67-67.

11:27 - 66-66. Gilbert's advice is to focus on your serve and to keep taking care of it and winning one point at a time. PMac argues that these guys just don't return well. After almost 100 games without a break of serve, I would call that expert analysis.

11:25 - Game Isner. I'm convinced that these guys are some sort of zombie robots. That makes the most logical sense at this point, right? Maybe this tennis match will keep going and distract the attention of the world to clear the way for the ultimate Martian invasion that is now sure to come.

11:23 - At least we're 33 hours short of the longest sporting event of all-time, a 1939 cricket match between England and South Africa that took 13 days and ended when the England team had a boat to catch. This is the territory we are entering folks.

11:20 - A real chance for Isner at 0-15 in the 130th game but his passing shot lands just wide. 15-15 on our way to 65-65. Should have been 0-30. And a jumping smash from Mahut makes it 40-15.

11:18 - Elsewhere Italy still trailing 1-0 and Par/NZ tied at love. Excuse me if I switch my soccer and tennis terminology, it's one of those days... 65-64 Isner. Highlights of the Queen's visit - who wants to bet that Prince Charles takes over before this game ends?

11:15 - Well. At least Isner got to 15 that game. 64-64. Gilbert talking about hating this ending quickly today. Quick for these two would be at 81-81. Neither player has been close to breaking serve besides the deuce in the first game today at 59-59. We've played almost an entire set already today people.

11:13 - PMac is feelign the break right here. That's like feeling a Cubs World Series victory.

11:11 - 64-63 Isner as Tsonga wins 10-8 in the 5th, what in God's name is he thinking?

11:09 - The 165th straight game in which serve has been held - and it's at love again. 63-63. Yes, these two men have played 165 straight games without a break of serve. What happens if this match never ends? Do they both get a Wimbledon title? Does tournament tennis just halt? Does the United Nations ban tennis for the sake of humanity?

11:07 - Game Isner, at this point we've nearly tripled the longest 5th set in history. Tsonga and Dolgopolov are currently at 9-8 in the 5th set. I wonder if they're going to try to break the record. Isner's coach talks about staying patiently aggressive. I think Job had less patience than these two guys. 63-62.

11:04 - Combine two great servers with two poor returners and you end up with this madness. There have been international wars that have been shorter than this tennis match.

11:02 - Seriously folks, we have had 2 breaks of serve in 168 games. Meanwhile, Mahut is up 30-0 on his serve. At this point, these guys are just serving aces and holding serve on muscle memory. 62-62. We've played 6 games today in just about 20 minutes. At this rate, we will be at 122-122 at the end of the day. My actual over under is 113-113, I mean, they can't keep up this pace, can they?

11:00 - Pam Shriver is trying to set a record for most times a broadcaster complains about her seat. Isner charges towards the net but misses a volley. 15-0 Isner. PMac is right that Isner needs to be more aggressive.

10:58 - Game Isner. 62-61. I need a bathroom break.

10:57 - Isner 61. Mahut 61. Storm: "These two have no quit in them." You think? Actually, I think Mahut is ready to throw in the towel - he's a Frenchman after all. Seriously though, it's like Isner saves energy on Mahut's serve just so he can rocket his own serve. Isner has to spend some energy on Mahut's serve or else he will never break. 15-15

10:54 - A mistake from Mahut and Isner smashes at the net to go up 0-15... 15-15 on a Mahut ace. 30-15 on, you guessed it, a Mahut ace! Hannah Storm: "We better settle in here." That's why they pay her the big bucks - although I guess I shouldn't say anything or else I'll be suspended by ESPN.

10:51 - And now Isner holds at love on another ace. 61-60. Anybody thinking that this is ending in like 10 or 15 minutes is completely out of their minds. I'm telling you - they played 119 games yesterday and there were 3 GAMES THAT HAD BREAK POINT CHANCES!! We've crossed over from sports to Stephen King land.

10:50 - By the way, we're tied at 220 winners a piece as Isner goes to 30-0 up in the 121st game.

10:48 - Mahut rips a forehand to take a 15-0 lead on his serve. By the way, we could have ran the last 3 Indy 500s in the time it has taken to play this game. I also have the lame joke count with Shriver taking the early lead with "that's the best backhand I've seen at 60-59" as Mahut holds at love. 60-60.

10:46 - Isner's 100th ace gets him out of jail as Mahut goes long on the next point's return. 60-59 Isner. I feel like I'm watching a World War I siege.

10:44 - Isner's inside-out forehand goes into the net. 40-30 in the 119th game. Next point sees the same thing happen and we're at Deuce.

10:43 - Isner's 99th ace gets him a 30-15 lead. He looks spent already. Maybe he's just trying to draw Mahut into a false sense of confidence.

10:42 - Here we go!! Finally!! 59 games all in the final set and Isner double faults to kick us off. Ruh roh.

10:41 - We're about ready to go. By the way, I love the enthusiasm that Brad Gilbert has for this match and the sport - he's a great balance with Patrick McEnroe. Pam Shriver is giving us the play by play of Mahut rubbing his stomach - that's investigative reporting at its best folks!

10:39 - Has anyone noticed that John Isner is 6'9''? He's like the Randy Johnson of tennis. I predict that he'll serve 348 aces today. Still 1-0 Slovakia over Italy and 0-0 between PAR and NZ.

10:37 - Great. This is just what we need. A Dick Enberg montage. Didn't he retire at the NCAA tournament? At least it's not Rick Reilly.

10:34 - A huge ovation for Isner and Mahut. These guys look refreshed... too refreshed. I'm thinking that these two are actually clones. They've gotta be, right? What if Federer is a robot and we've just been fooled this whole time. Would that be bigger than the steroids scandal?

10:32 - These guys are building suspense like a Springsteen concert. They seriously need entrance music - can you imagine these two coming out to Eye of the Tiger, or at least Ric Flair's music? That would be sick.

10:28 - Isner serves first as we're awaiting the players' entrance. Amazingly, Mahut has had to hold serve 55 times in a row with the match on the line. I pray that I'll be able to take a bathroom break within the first 6 hours today.

10:24 - GOOOOOOOOLLLLLL!!!! SLOVAKIA 1 Italy 0! Whoa! De Rossi gives it away and a great finish from Vittek puts the defending champs in huge trouble. If results hold Paraguay and Slovakia go through.

10:18 - By the way, I'm not sure what basis McEnroe and Gilbert are using to say this game will be over quick - they played 118 games yesterday and had a break point in 3 GAMES!!! 3 out of 118!!! That means we're due for another break chance at 79-79. I think the apocalypse will hit before this game ends.

10:16 - Why do I think we'll see Skip Bayless hanging on the railing at Court 18 today just desperate to get on TV? And why do I think Rob Parker will be right behind him? Maybe Skip Bayless would be better than having to put up with the snarkiness of Hannah Storm yesterday.

10:13 - No score in each World Cup game. New Zealand is dressed as the All Blacks today. I'm anticipating one of them spear tackling someone with the ball, picking it up, running and diving into the goal and grounding the ball for a dramatic try.

10:11 - Both analysts predict a quick end within 5 games to today's game. Please if there is a God just don't let it go another 118.

10:09 - Great, Pam Shriver has been let back into her seat in the stadium and at the same time smugly tells us about her doubles victories at Wimbledon, at least it's not "Australia-hot" today, thanks Pam.

10:07 - I love that this match is finishing on the quaint Court 18... if it finishes.

10:05 - 5 minutes later and we're still seeing footage of the Queen leaving Wimbledon. The ESPN crew is fawning over her like MSNBC fawns over President Obama. I think Hannah Storm has a thrill running up her leg. Conveniently she is leaving before Mahut and Isner start up... maybe she knows something?

9:59 - The Queen is at Wimbledon for the first time since 1977??? My God, someone make sure Reggie Jackson isn't in the crowd!

9:56 - While the anthems play in the WC games, we'll make sure to keep an eye what happens in the Group F encounters where any combo of the 4 teams can advance to the next round. I really hope Italy goes down - why is it so easy to hate Italian soccer? At least Mahut hasn't given up like the French soccer team.... yet.

9:50 - The entire Guardian live blog is a must read to see what happens when a sportswriter starts to lose his mind. Again, I'm really starting to question this. Elsewhere on the family of networks is Doug Gottlieb's NBA draft preview, Andy Murray about ready to advance, and World Cup Pregames. WAIT! MY GOD! NO SKIP BAYLESS!!! I wondered what made this week feel like a piece of heaven on earth, now I know.

9:45 - Here's a quote from Xan Brooks' live blog yesterday from the UK Guardian. This was from 4:05 - keep in mind that Mahut and Isner still had 5 hours of tennis to play!!

The Isner-Mahut battle is a bizarre mix of the gripping and the deadly dull. It's tennis's equivalent of Waiting For Godot, in which two lowly journeymen comedians are forced to remain on an outside court until hell freezes over and the sun falls from the sky. Isner and Mahut are dying a thousand deaths out there on Court 18 and yet nobody cares, because they're watching the football. So the players stand out on their baseline and belt aces past each-other in a fifth set that has already crawled past two hours. They are now tied at 18-games apiece.

On and on they go. Soon they will sprout beards and their hair will grow down their backs, and their tennis whites will yellow and then rot off their bodies. And still they will stand out there on Court 18, belting aces and listening as the umpire calls the score. Finally, I suppose, one of them will die.

Maybe this live blog wasn't a great decision.

9:39 - Josh Elliot just used the word apoplectic - somebody shoot me.

9:36 - Sage Steele tells us the match will resume "shortly" - I guess considering the length of this match that is an accurate description. Pam Shriver shown interviewing Nicolas Mahut - I wonder if James Blake is lurking in the crowd with a crowbar...

9:30 - The dulcet tones of Cliff DRYSdale welcome us to... Maria Sharapova? Apparently... Isner and Mahut take the court at 10:30 AM - not 9:30 AM! Fantastic. Thanks ESPN. Unreal. How do you promote the start of a match at 9:30 AM and then say surprise it starts at 10:30 AM - enjoy an hour of random tennis before the match you really want to see begins. Really a bad job by ESPN here - you have to make it clear what time the match you're promoting starts! Grrrr - I'm angry. Well, I could wait for an hour, or we could channel surf and try and make fun of people! I'm here and you're here, so we might as well roll with it!

9:27 - Nothing like building up to the conclusion (?) of this game by seeing a replay of the NBA Draft combine. Thank God, I can't believe I missed this the first time. Look at those wonderful sky blue ESPNU polos. Well, at least Billy King found some sort of employment.

9:25: Good morning and welcome to our live Wimbledon coverage of the most fascinating game of sports I can ever remember. Sure, it's not the greatest tennis match ever, but the sheer length and test of wills makes it beyond belief. Look at the records they have set:

Time: 10 Hours!! Previous: 6'33''

Games: 163 and going!! Previous: 112

193 Combined Aces - Isner 96 Mahut 95

881 points

435 winners

Oh, and they would have broken both of those records in just the 5th set alone which has lasted 118 games!!! It's not just that Mahut and Isner have broken the record, it's that they have demolished it so far beyond belief that we are now in some sort of Twilight Zone. These guys have gone 1.5 times longer than any previous tennis match in history. Translate that to other sports and you begin to realize just what is happening here...

NFL: 1972 AFC Playoffs Chiefs v Dolphins - 82 minutes 40 seconds, 2 OT -> IsnerMahut World would have this game at 123 minutes - over 4 overtimes!!

NHL: 1936 Detroit v Montreal - 176 minutes 30 seconds, 6 OT -> IsnerMahut World would have this game at 264 minutes - 10 overtimes!!

MLB: 1984 Chicago v Milwaukee - 25 innings -> IsnerMahut World would have this game at 37.5 innings!!

Oh, wait, and these guys aren't even done yet!!! This could go for another 118 games today!!! And, that's what makes this match so unbelievable - nobody alive has ever seen anything like this before, and we probably will never see anything like this again.

Top 10 Games of the Decade: Recap

For those of you that have missed our countdown of the Top 10 Games of the Decade, this recap is just for you! If you're new to the party here at Randall Simon's Sausages, our Decade Series is one of the building blocks of this blog. Over the past few months, we've composed various Top 10 lists that cover what has been the world of sports this past decade. For our Top 10 games we took the best game from 10 different sports to comprise our list. Now, we'll rank them 1-10! Click on the red link for a detailed look at each game, including Youtube highlights, and let us know what you think of our choices for the best game from each sport and our rankings down below! Also we just joined Twitter, follow us here.

#10 NHL: 2009 Stanley Cup Finals Game 7: Penguins v Red Wings

#9 Olympics: 2008 4x100m Swimming Relay

#8 Soccer: 2005 Champions League Final: AC Milan v Liverpool

#7 NBA: 2008 NBA Finals Game 4: Lakers v Celtics

#6 CBB: 2008 Big East QF: Syracuse v UConn

#5 MLB: 2003 ALCS Game 7: Red Sox v Yankees

#4 NFL: Super Bowl XLII: Giants v Patriots

#3 Golf: 2008 US Open

#2 Tennis: 2008 Wimbledon Final: Federer v Nadal

#1 CFB: 2006 Rose Bowl: Texas v USC

That's it for our countdown. Don't forget to check out the links if you want to relive one of these games in all their glory and leave a comment for us to tell us if we're right or wrong with our selections. Tune in next time as we'll draw the Decade Series to a close with our Top 10 D'Oh Moments of the Decade and the coup de grace: The Top 10 Stories of the Decade!

Top 10 Games of the Decade: CFB-2006 Rose Bowl

We've saved the best game for last. In truth, we really could do an entire Top 10 Games countdown with the sport of college football. There have been so many all-time great games this decade (see our list at the bottom) that it's excruciatingly hard to pick one for the top of the list. However, there is one game that we can pick for its significance, drama, and absolute quality of football on display. We're all about taking stands here at RSS, and simply put, this is the single greatest game that I have ever seen. Texas. USC. The national title on the line in the Rose Bowl.

Who: USC Trojans vs Texas Longhorns

What: Rose Bowl (AKA BCS National Title Game)

Where: Pasadena, CA

When: January 4, 2006

How It All Unfolded: If you'll remember, this was the year that ESPN ran that series comparing this USC team to the greatest teams of all-time. USC was on a 34 game winning streak (4th longest ever). USC had just tore Oklahoma to pieces in the previous year's national title game 55-19, a year after winning the AP national title. Yes, we still had split national champions this decade... They brought back perhaps the best set of talent in NCAA history. They featured the last 2 Heisman winners in Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush. USC was an unstoppable force. Leading up to the Rose Bowl, all of the focus was on this USC team that was on the Mount Rushmore of the all-time greatest college football teams.

Meanwhile, the Texas Longhorns, led by Vince Young, were the unquestioned 2nd best team in college football. They had won 19 straight games including a dramatic win in the Rose Bowl the year before when VY ran for 4 TDs and had 372 total yards. Here's those highlights...

Young would need even more heroics to down the almighty Trojans. The first quarter featured both defenses standing tall, USC had the 7-0 lead off of a 4 yard Lendale White run. The second quarter was the story of two laterals: Reggie Bush's one that didn't work and created a turnover... and Vince Young's that did and led to a Selmon Young TD (even though VY's knee was down, replay didn't catch it). After another Texas TD it was 16-10 Longhorns going into the break. Lendale White had 2 more rushing TDs (including one on 4th down) sandwiched around a Vince Young score to give USC the lead 24-23 going into the 4th quarter in what was shaping up to be a classic.

But, it's the 4th quarter that makes this the greatest game I've ever seen. Yes, I just described the first 3 quarters in a paragraph, but there were so many great plays all over the field that it was hard to keep track. 18 players on the field were drafted the next year including 4 Top 10 picks. Unquestionably, this game featured the greatest collection of college football talent we've ever seen, and it was all on display in the final 15 minutes.

First, Reggie Bush took the spotlight (305 total yards) with an iconic dive into the endzone for his only TD to extend the USC lead to 8. A Leinart strike (folks forget he was 29/40 for 365 yards) to Dwayne Jarrett with 6:42 left gave the Trojans a 12 point lead. Now, it was up to VY to make another dramatic Rose Bowl comeback.

Young first led an 8 play, 69 yard drive that was capped off with a dramatic 17 yard run, then Texas' D had to shine. When they stopped White on 4th down at the Texas 45 with just over 2 minutes left, Young stepped on to the field to etch his name into the history books. Think back to that moment, when the Texas D ran jubilantly off the field to give VY the ball back, I dare you to tell me that you weren't as captivated as you have ever been watching a sporting event. You knew what would happen next...

I was getting goosebumps on Texas' final drive, and I'm no Texas fan, but the moment was so grand that you had to be on the edge of your couch, barstool, or whatever. VY drove Texas to the 8, and on 4th Down Young raced to the corner of the endzone to give Texas the national championship, complete the greatest single championship performance in history, and cap off perhaps the greatest game ever played. Here's the streamlined version from after the fact, but if you have extra time, you really should check out the extended 3 part highlights below because they feature the legendary Keith Jackson's commentary in his final game, Part 3 features the last 8 minutes and Young's comeback.

Keith Jackson's call and extended highlights...

Why We'll Remember It: There's not much else you can say except that it is the greatest game of the decade, and in all of college football history. Not only that it was a national championship game, but that it featured absolutely everything you can ask for in an all-time classic: great players, great plays, classic moments, and drama till the end.

In some aspect, the numbers tell the story: 79 combined points and 1130 total yards of offense, and not 1, but 2 Heisman winners being thwarted by Texas' #10. Vince Young, in the best title game performance in sports history, had these numbers:

30/40 267 yards passing, 19 carries 200 yards 3 TDs

Think about that, against the already coronated Trojans, Vince Young put up 467 yards of offense, and led Texas on 2 TD drives in the last 6:42. With Leinart on the bench in Arizona, Bush in a supporting role for the 11-0 Saints, and Young only now looking like a successful NFL QB, it's easy to forget just how great they were in college. These are all legends of the college game.

In this here and now society, the Twittering age, it's easy to get caught up in the latest Tiger Woods drama or this year's BCS and forget the unforgettable moments in sports. That's why RSS is celebrating these classic moments in our Decade Series, to remember what why we love sports so much. If you watched the game, you know the legendary status of what happened that night in Pasadena, whether you were on USC's side, Texas's side, or just a plain old fan. We wait for nights like the 2006 Rose Bowl, because each game has the ability to give us something that we'll remember throughout the generations.

We watch sports for nights like January 4, 2006.

Other Games Considered

-2003 Fiesta Bowl - #2 OSU 31 #1 Miami (FL) 24 F/2OT

-2005 Rose Bowl - #6 Texas 38 #13 Michigan 37

-2005 - USC 34 Notre Dame 31

-2006 - #1 Ohio State 42 #2 Michigan 39

-2007 Fiesta Bowl - #9 Boise State 43 #8 Oklahoma 42 F/OT

-2007 - Appalachain State 34 Michigan 32

-2007 - LSU 28 Florida 24

Top 10 Games of the Decade: MLB-2003 ALCS Game 7

Our MLB Game of the Decade might have been the toughest choice of all the sports. What do you pick, a playoff series that happened in New York in the wake of 9/11, extra inning drama, World Series walkoffs, dramatic comebacks, pitcher's duels, or back and forth shootouts? There were so many games and series to choose from it was tough to pick just one. But, looking back at the 2000's, there was one singular game that stood out above the rest for its significance, controversy, and drama.

Who: Boston Red Sox @ New York Yankees

What: ALCS Game 7

Where: Yankee Stadium

When: October 16, 2003

How It All Unfolded: Let's go back to a different time. It's 2003. The Yankee Dynasty, though suffering defeat in 2001, is still firmly entrenched at the top of baseball. Furthermore, the Curse of the Bambino has never felt stronger. However, The Red Sox were getting closer and closer to finally breaking the hex. They had won 93 games in 2002 and made the playoffs in 2003 for the first time since the 1999 ALCS loss to the Yankees. Red Sox mainstays like Damon and Garciaparra were bolstered by the arrival of free agent signing David Ortiz, who added some pop to the middle of the lineup. The Yankees were in transition with new signings like Matsui and Giambi joining dynasty members like Williams, Jeter, and Posada.

The ALCS was set up for a classic. Could the Sox finally do it? Would the Yankee Dynasty reboot? These two teams didn't disappoint as the rivalry was taken up a couple notches in Game 3 after splitting the first two in New York. You may remember this...

As tensions rose, the teams traded wins. An epic Game 7 was set for Yankee Stadium. The two Game 3 protagonists, and future hall of famers, Roger Clemens and Pedro Martinez started. But, it was Clemens that was knocked out early by 4 quick Boston runs in three innings. The Sox led the Yanks 5-2 going into the bottom of the 8th. A nation held its breath, this was the time that the Curse would finally be broken. (Except we had just watch the Cubs blow a 3-2 NLCS lead thanks to Steve Bartman and a Game 7 loss the previous 2 days). But, this was a new age for the Red Sox, the same fate wouldn't befall them... right?

With 1 out, Jeter doubled and Williams brought him in. 5-3. A Matsui double to put the tying run in scoring position brought out Grady Little to get his ace and go to the bullpen. Wait a second, he left Pedro in??? To the surprise of the universe, Little let Pedro finish the job instead of going to a talented and rested bullpen. The next batter, Jorge Posada, doubled to tie the game at 5. It was controversial, it was puzzling, it was dramatic, it was thrilling.

The Sox bullpen got out of the jam and the game went to extras. That's where a hero was needed. And, in the Bottom of the 11th inning, that hero was Aaron Boone. Cue the clip!

Why We'll Remember It: We'll remember Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS as the end of an era. After this game, the Sox and Yanks would trade places for the next 5 years. It was the last time the Red Sox would have to end a season hearing about the Curse of the Bambino. Grady Little was canned for leaving Pedro in too long, and Terry Francona was brought in. Curt Schilling was also acquired to vanquish the Yankees like he did for Arizona. Although the 2004 ALCS looked like another Yankeeography in the making, the Sox did the impossible and came back from 3-0 down to win the series and the title. Boston won another this decade and have exercised the demons of the past. This game can be seen as the end of the Curse years, or the beginning of a golden era for Boston.

For the Yankees, they again went on to lose the World Series to the upstart Diamondbacks. Their 2nd WS defeat in 3 years. After players like O'Neill, Tino, and others left, George threw money at the team to keep the titles coming. But, there was lacking that special quality that was the true reason the Yankees won those titles. Aaron Boone brought the magic on that October night, but the Yankees would span almost the entire decade before winning again in 2009. Much like Boston, this game was a turning point. The Yankees would have to find themselves over the course of the next several years.

The 2004 ALCS was more significant, the 2001 World Series more dramatic, but for a single October night, this game had everything. The best rivalry in baseball, the looming curse, a dramatic comeback, and an unlikely hero hitting a walkoff home run in Yankee Stadium to send the Bronx Bombers to the World Series. It's easy to get nostalgic about this game, because so many factors have changed in baseball since then. It was 2 months before we knew what the clear and the cream were. Papi and Manny weren't on roids, Clemens was merely crazy and not a cheat, the Red Sox were still lovable losers instead of just another evil empire, and baseball was just baseball, without the Senate hearings, Mitchell Reports, confessions, denials, asterisks, and what ifs. Those were the days...

Other Games Considered

-2004 ALCS Game 5 - Boston 5 New York 4 F/14

-2001 World Series Games 4, 5, and 7

-2003 NLCS Game 6 - Bartman

-2007 NL Play-In Game - Rockies 9 Padres 8 F/13

Only one more game in the countdown and it'll be college football! Dont' forget to check out our NCAA basketball broadcast of D3 hoops tonight at 7:30 at stream.owu.edu. Ohio Wesleyan hosts #25 Wooster in what should be a good one. Yes, we're not only moonlight bloggers, but moonlight small college announcers too, bye for now!

Top 10 Games of the Decade: NFL-Super Bowl XLII

Our NFL Game of the Decade was a tough call. In the past ten years we've been blessed with countless Super Bowls that could be counted among the best ever. But, for the best of the decade we travel back to 2008 and Super Bowl XLII (and yes, I am contractually obligated to use Roman numerals for the entire article). The Patriots were looking to put the icing on the cake of their dynasty, while the Giants were supposed to just show up to the party. Instead, what unfolded was perhaps the greatest upset in Super Bowl History.

Who: New England Patriots vs. New York Giants

What: Super Bowl XLII

Where: Glendale, AZ

When: February 3, 2008

How It All Unfolded: Over the course of the decade, the New England Patriots had clearly established themselves as the team of the decade in the NFL. Once a franchise mired in mediocrity, the Patriots rose to the top of the league behind HC Bill Belichick and QB Tom Brady. Winning three Super Bowls already, the 2007 Patriots were looking to write an even greater chapter in the history of their dynasty by going undefeated for an entire season, 16-0. In 2007, the Patriots had assembled the most unstoppable force football had seen in years. Tom Brady threw for a record 50 TDs and won his first MVP trophy. Randy Moss (who also set a record with 23 TDs) and Wes Welker rounded out the highest scoring offense in league history while Belichick's defense was as effective and intimidating as ever. Nothing, not Mercury Morris and the '72 Dolphins performing voodoo curses, or the constant skepticism of the Spygate scandal could derail what many saw as the best team in NFL history.

Meanwhile, their Super Bowl opponents, the New York Giants, were the polar opposites of their powerful counterparts. Heading in to the 2007 season, nobody felt the Giants were Super Bowl contenders, especially losing their star RB Tiki Barber to the Today show. However, led by a stout defense and the improving, but still inconsistent play of Eli Manning, the Giants clinched the 5th seed in the playoffs going in to the final week of the season.

Ironically, these two teams would meet in the last regular season game. The Pats were playing for history, while the Giants had nothing to play for, risking injury by playing banged up starters in the season finale. But, Giants HC Tom Coughlin, recognizing the importance of the moment decided to go out and win the game. What ensued was the most dramatic regular season game seen in years, and the Patriots eeking out a 38-35 win. But, in losing, the Giants seemed to find their inspiration. In the NFC playoffs, the Giants would win 3 straight road games to make the Super Bowl to meet the still undefeated Patriots in the Super Bowl.

Of course, the Patriots were heavily favored to make history and go undefeated. But, through three quarters, the game was an epic defensive struggle. The Giants had set the tone early with a nearly 10-minute drive to kick a field goal for the game's first points. The Patriots answered with a TD drive of their own, and the teams held serve until the 4th quarter. Of course, I could keep going, but I think the dramatic 4th quarter highlights speak for themselves.

Somehow, some way, the Giants found a way to defeat the Patriots in arguably the biggest game in NFL history. And don't think for a second the Patriots gave this game away (although Asante Samuel will certainly be remembered for his missed interception on the Giants final drive). The Giants won this game behind...Eli Manning? Yes, Eli led the team on the game-winning drive. But even more, it was Justin Tuck, Michael Strahan, and Osi Umenyiora and the rest of the Giants defense who derailed the highest scoring offense in league history.

Why We'll Remember It: While the game may not have been a classic from start to finish, it was the iconic 4th quarter that sets this game apart. Don't tell me you didn't think it was over when Randy Moss put the Pats ahead in the 4th quarter. Don't tell me you thought Eli was going to lead a game-winning drive in the Super Bowl. Don't tell me you knew David Tyree would come up with the most harrowing catch in Super Bowl history.

But, the Giants overcame all of these obstacles and won the game. Super Bowl XLII reminded us of the most powerful motif in sports, the scrappy underdog who overcomes all odds and defeats mighty Goliath. In Super Bowl XLII, there was no mightier Goliath than the record-setting Patriots. But, the Giants showed the heart of a champion can overcome any and all statistics. The legacy of Eli Manning has forever been changed to a champion. Even though he may never equal his brother Peyton, Eli finally found his own place in NFL history, outside of his brother's shadow. HC Tom Coughlin, a man who had always been seen as the epitome of a crusty old coach, who was disliked by fans, media, players...heck, maybe even his own family became a hero for standing up to Darth Vader himself, Bill Belichick.

If these two teams played 100 times following the Super Bowl, the Patriots might win 99 times. But, that 1 in 100 chance is why the games are played, and why we love them. That night in Arizona reminded us why hope is never lost, and why the game is always worth watching.

Other Games Considered

-Super Bowl XLIII-Steelers beat Cards in another dramatic Super Bowl finish.

-2007 AFC Championship-Colts finally overcome Pats to make Super Bowl

-2002 AFC Divisional Playoff-The Tuck Rule Game, enough said

-Super Bowl XXXVI-Pats upset Rams to win their 1st Super Bowl

Only two more games to go in the countdown as we'll look at our MLB Game of the Decade next. Also tune in tomorrow as Brother Yohey joins us for a roundtable discussion of TigerGate. Also, shameless plug time as the Yoders will be at Branch Rickey Arena in Delaware, OH for #25 Wooster @ Ohio Wesleyan. If you want to hear the men behind the madness, tipoff is Wednesday night at 7:30 at stream.owu.edu

Top 10 Games of the Decade-Hockey-2009 Pens v Wings: Game 7

Our Games of the Decade Series continues with our next game coming exactly three months after the epic 6 OT game between UConn and Syracuse. This time, we go from the hardwood to the ice with our hockey game of the decade. Hockey suffered through a tumultuous decade, becoming the first American sports league to lose an entire season due to a work stoppage. The '04-'05 lockout, and subsequent drop from ESPN has left hockey in a distant 4th place amongst the 4 major pro sports in popularity. However, epic games like this one can slowly bring hockey back to the mainstream.

Who: Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Detroit Red Wings

What: Stanley Cup Finals Game 7

Where: Joe Louis Arena, Detroit

When: June 12, 2009

How It All Unfolded: The 2009 Stanley Cup Finals was a rematch of the previous season's championship round. The veteran Red Wings had held off the upstart Penguins in 6 games in 2008 to win their 2nd Stanley Cup of the Decade. All of hockey was rooting for a rematch when 2009, and the Penguins made a remarkable run back to the Cup Finals from the #4 seed. The Wings had a veteran roster with plenty of All-Star performers like Datsyuk, Franzen, and Holmstrom, along with veterans Osgood, Chelios, and Draper. The Penguins were led by hockey's next big thing Sidney Crosby, the league's youngest ever MVP in 2007, and Evgeni Malkin, winer of the Art Ross trophy. The series was set to be a classic.

The teams traded home wins all the way up until Game 7. Going into the game, Detroit's veteran leadership and championship experience had them the slight favorites. However, stars like Crosby and Malkin were capable of winning the Cup on the road for Pittsburgh's first title since the days of Super Mario. The first period was played like you would expect in a Game 7 with physical play and neither side giving an inch. As the 2nd Period began, the Penguins got the breakthrough with Max Talbot converting a turnover. As the Pens took the lead though, they lost their star Crosby to a big hit on the boards. But, it was Talbot who was leading Pittsburgh as the unlikely hero (12 G in '08-'09) as he got his 2nd of the period on a 2 on 1 breakaway. The Pens were 20 minutes away from the Cup.

With 6 minutes left, Detroit got one back, setting up one of the most dramatic finishes in hockey history. Niklas Kronwall drilled the crossbar with over 2 minutes to go, and as time expired Pens G Marc-Andre Fleury came up with one of the most famous saves of all-time as he dived across his goal to stop Wings Captain Nick Lidstrom as time expired and the Penguins won the Cup. It was everything the NHL could have hoped for as its star phenom Crosby celebrated with owner Mario Lemieux and lifted the Stanley Cup, here's the highlights!

Why We'll Remember It: This game wasn't just important for the Red Wings and the Penguins, but for the sport of hockey. The lockout of 2004 did untold damage to the sport. Love or hate ESPN, but they control the sports landscape. The NHL being off ESPN is a huge hill to climb for the league. Yes, you can point to attendance numbers all you want, but TV money and viewers rule the day. And, compared to the NFL, hockey is a gnat flying around on the Versus network. However, the game is more entertaining than ever, and stars like Crosby can bring back viewers and networks. 2009's Game 7 on NBC was the most watched hockey game in the US since 1973 drawing 8 Million viewers. In other words, hockey was once again relevant on the national sports landscape.

And, in truth, the NHL couldn't have asked for a better game to bring back the masses to the ice. You had two of the hallmark franchises of the league going toe-to-toe, you had stars all over the ice, an unlikely hero, and a thrilling finale. Of course, the NHL has a long way to go before it can come back to national prominence and compete with the other 3 major pro sports. Violence and injuries in the game have to be addressed before someone gets seriously injured as we've seen a high number of high impact injuries this season.

But, for one magical night in June, Lord Stanley's Cup drew the attention of a nation, and they were captivated from beginning to end. Let's hope that for the sake of hockey, and for sports in general, we can look back on Game 7 of the 2009 Stanley Cup Finals as the night that hockey was back.

Also Considered:

-2000: Eastern Conference Semis - Flyers 2 Penguins 1 5 OT

-2000: Stanley Cup Finals Game 5 - Stars 1 Devils 0 3 OT

-2002: Stanley Cup Finals Game 3 - Red Wings 3 Hurricanes 2 3 OT

-2006: Stanley Cup Finals Game 1 - Hurricanes 5 Oilers 4

We'll be back on Monday with all of the news from this weekend, including Tiger Woods and Bud Selig. See you then!

Top 10 Games of the Decade-College BBall-2008 Big East Quarterfinal UConn vs. Syracuse

Our Games of the Decade Series continues with our look at the most dramatic college basketball game of the last 10 years. There's certainly a lot of worthy choices, but our vote goes to the longest game of the last ten years. It began as a normal Big East tournament game between old rivals UConn and Syracuse, but it ended the next morning after a battle of attrition the likes of which we've never seen.

Who: #20 Syracuse (24-8) vs. #4 UConn (27-3)

What: Big East Tournament Quarterfinal

Where: Madison Square Garden, NYC

When: March 12, 2009

How It All Unfolded: The 2009 Big East Tournament was supposed to be a showdown of 3 of the top 5 teams in college basketball. UConn, Pitt, and Louisville had all held the top spot in the rankings at some point during the season and had clearly established themselves as the class of the Big East. As usual, UConn boasted the most amount of talent, with Hasheem Thabeet and Jeff Adrien on the inside, and a talented backcourt featuring A.J. Price on the outside.

Meanwhile, Syracuse had had a typically uneven season since the brief days of Carmelo Anthony and Gerry McNamara. In the 2008-2009 season they suffered an embarrassing early season defeat at home to Cleveland St. and were unable to get by any of the three best Big East teams during the regular season.

Syracuse finished sixth in the conference and earned a bye into the 2nd round of the Big East tournament, where they were matched up with Seton Hall. After getting through a brief dustup caused by mercurial guard Eric Devendorf, the Orange advanced with a 89-74 victory. In the next round they would meet the Huskies, who earned a bye into the quarterfinals with their third place finish in conference play. UConn would be playing for another Big East Tournament and a #1 seed in the Big Dance while Syracuse was playing to ensure a trip to March Madness.

Of course, I could sit here and painstakingly go through the ups and downs of this roller coaster ride, but I'm sure you'd enjoy this handy YouTube recap much more. Here's a hint about the game, it went so long, the highlight is 10 minutes long! Trust me, it's worth it!

And with that, Syracuse had won the second-longest game in Division I history 127-117. Remember, Syracuse hadn't led in the first 5 OT periods! The Orange truly showed the heart of a champion to hang in and defeat a more talented UConn team. But there's so much to this game we'll remember.

Why We'll Remember It: Obviously, the pictures speak 1000 words for this struggle. In our lead picture, you can see the agony and fatigue in Harris, Devendorf, and Flynn from Syracuse. Of course, this classic may not have unfolded if Eric Devendorf's last second shot at the end of regulation would have been a tenth of a second sooner.

When it was all over, players like Kemba Walker had given all they possibly could have. These players weren't playing their guts out for 6 OTs to draw a paycheck, they played for each other, for their university, and for the Big East Tournament Championship.

All you have to do is look at the box score and some of the amazing individual statistics.

UConn

A.J. Price: 61 minutes, 33 points, 10 assists

Jeff Adrien: 56 minutes, 12 points, 14 rebounds, 7 assists

4 other players over 45 minutes (Thabeet, Walker, Austrie, Robinson)

Syracuse

Jonny Flynn: 67 minutes, 34 points, 11 assists, 16-16 FT

Eric Devendorf: 61 minutes, 22 points

Paul Harris: 56 minutes, 29 points, 22 rebounds

Flynn especially would play an unfathomable number of minutes in the tournament. As if 6 OTs weren't enough in the quarterfinal, Syracuse would need OT to win their semifinal game versus West Virginia. In the semifinal, Flynn would play all 45 minutes. Unfortunately for the Orange, they would finally succumb to the grind in the tournament final against Louisville 76-66, although Flynn would take home the crown of Tournament MVP. In the NCAA tournament, the Orange would fall in the Sweet 16 to Oklahoma. Meanwhile UConn made the Final Four, before they were upset by Michigan St.

But, the one thing every fan will remember from the 2008-2009 season will be this game. The odds are, we'll never see another one like it, where fans all across the country can simultaneously update their Facebook or MySpace status to show they are watching the greatest college game of their lifetime. The setting made it all the more special, in the World's Most Famous Arena, in the best of the Conference Tournaments (sorry Dukie V, it's true, it's true). Although neither team was able to reach their ultimate goal for the season, they were able to claim their own unique place in history, and maybe that's just as valuable for the warriors of the 6OT game.

Also Considered

-2001: Iowa St. vs. Mizzou - Mizzou outlasts in a paltry 4 OTs

-2001: Duke vs. Maryland - Duke comes back from 10 down in the final minute

-2004: Oklahoma St. vs. St. Joseph's - John Lucas sends the Cowboys to the Final Four

-2005: Michigan St. vs. Kentucky - The underdog Spartans go to the Final Four in 2 OTs

-2005: Illinois vs. Arizona - The Illini make it to the Final Four in OT

-2008: Kansas vs. Memphis - Jayhawks come back to win it all

-2009: Villanova vs. Pittsburgh - Scottie Reynolds leads 'Nova to the Final Four

Join us back here at RSS later today for a second round of our football preview that's Hot off the Grill. Also keep track of our continuation of the world-renowned Decade Series. Hope all the turkey's staying down. Happy Black Friday. Gobble Gobble!

Top 10 Games of the Decade-NBA: Game 4 2008 NBA Finals

Ironically, the next installment of our Top 10 Games of the Decade took place on the same day of the first round of the 2008 U.S. Open. While Tiger Woods and Rocco Mediate were about to embark on the most dramatic golfing battle of the decade, the Celtics and Lakers were renewing the most storied rivalry in the NBA. What was to unfold that night would make Finals history, and cement the legacy of a new chapter in the Celtics/Lakers rivalry.

Who: Boston Celtics at Los Angeles Lakers

What: Game 4 of the 2008 NBA Finals

Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California

When: June 12, 2008

How It All Unfolded: The 2008 NBA Finals was the culmination of a revival of one the NBA's two most storied franchises. At the beginning of the decade, the Lakers had won three titles behind the championship trio of Phil Jackson, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal. However, the two couldn't coexist and eventually Shaq was traded to Miami in 2004. After some bumps in the road with Kobe Bryant the unquestioned star of L.A., the Lakers were finally making the right moves in 2007. They'd drafted a promising young center in Andrew Bynum, acquired key cogs Derek Fisher and Lamar Odom, and fleeced the Memphis Grizzlies for All-Star Pau Gasol. They ran away with the Western Conference and cruised to the Finals for a record 29th time.

Another more dramatic revival was happening on the other side of the country in Boston. The Celtics had languished since the days of Bird, McHale, and Parish. Even worse, former Celtic Danny Ainge seemed to be making all the wrong moves as the team's GM. Temperamental star Paul Pierce seemed to be on his way out to a contender. But then, a wave of events took the Celtics from cellar-dwellar to contender. Trades for future Hall of Famers Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett gave Boston the most formidable Big 3 in the league. Even under the most intense pressure of their careers, the new look Celtics fought through two 7 game series (including an epic duel between Pierce and LeBron James in Game 7 of the 2nd round) and the Detroit Pistons to make the Finals for the first time since 1987.

Fans, media, everyone associated with the NBA was salivating at the revival of the league's greatest rivalry renewed. Magic and Bird saved the NBA in the 80's and the 2008 meeting between the two would be the first meeting of the two teams in the Finals since the glory years. Overall, it would be the 11th time the Celtics and Lakers would be meeting to crown a champion.

The drama started early in Game 1. The Lakers got off to an early lead, but behind Garnett and captain Paul Pierce, the Celtics hung close. Then, the unthinkable, Pierce went down with what looked to be a serious knee injury. Cue the heroic music!

That comeback by Pierce is either one of the inspiring moments in NBA history, or one of the most poorly-acted hoaxes, depending on where you live and who you were rooting for at the time. Nevertheless, on the heels of Pierce's outstanding all-around play, the Celtics took the first two games at home. Kobe Bryant responded in Game 3 back in L.A. to dominate down the stretch and bring the Lakers back to down 2-1. Game 4 would certainly be the game to shape the rest of the series. At home, the Lakers came out like gangbusters, opening a 21 point 1st quarter lead. The deficit for the Celtics would balloon to 24 points by the 3rd quarter. As play-by-play man Mike Breen said at the time, the Staples Center crowd was getting tired from all the standing ovations the crowd was giving the Lakers!

But, the Celtics would begin to chip away in the 3rd quarter. Sparked by their trademark tough defense, especially the stifling play of Paul Pierce on Kobe Bryant, the Celtics began to rally. After an emphatic dunk by P.J. Brown at the end of the 3rd, the Celtics were miraculously back to within 2 points. What followed was the most dramatic 4th quarter of the decade in the NBA. The Lakers did their best to keep the Celtics at bay, but the determination of Garnett and Pierce and clutch shots by Eddie House and James Posey gave the Celtics the lead. Ray Allen's acrobatic lay-in sealed the victory for the Celtics, and a 3-1 series lead. Boston would go on to win their 17th championship in six games over the Lakers. I'll let the highlights of this amazing game speak for itself (except for the insufferable Rick Kamla who unfortunately hosts this video).

Why We'll Remember It:

There are many reasons we'll remember this as the greatest NBA game of the 2000's. First, there isn't really a lot of competition. One contender might be Game 4 of the 2002 Western Conference Finals between the Kings and the Lakers. But, that entire series has since been shrouded in controversy by disgraced former ref Tim Donaghy. The other contender, Game 1 of the 2001 NBA Finals featured a great individual performance by Allen Iverson, but lacks the same importance in a larger sense as the Lakers easily won the next 4 games.

More importantly, Game 4 of the 2008 NBA Finals had history on its side. The two most important franchises in NBA history were meeting to decide the championship. The Celtics and the Lakers, a rivalry responsible for the growth of the NBA in the 50's and 60's and the saving of the NBA in the 80's, would cement the complete revival of the NBA's post-Jordan era. With the emergence of stars like Bryant, Pierce, KG, James, Wade, Duncan, and teams like the Celtics and Lakers, the future of the NBA finally seemed stable.

Above all else though, Game 4 provided the biggest comeback in Finals history. No team had ever been down 21 points after the 1st quarter of a Finals game and won. Without the comeback, the Celtics may have gone on to lose the series and any chance at reclaiming Celtic Pride (no, not the ridiculous movie with Dan Akroyd and the guy from Home Alone). The raising of banner 17 officially brought back back arguably the league's most important franchise to the top of the NBA for the first time over 20 years.

Further, the legacies of Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, and especially Finals MVP Paul Pierce were firmly established with the all-time Celtics greats and the all-time greats of the game. Of course, things didn't turn out all bad for the Lakers, who would win the title in 2009. Still, no one looking back years from now will remember the Lakers losing Game 4 of the 2008 NBA Finals, they'll remember the Celtics winning it. This game, more than any other of the decade, exemplified what can make amazing happen in the NBA.

Others Considered -

2001 Finals Game 1: Philly 107 Lakers 101

2002 West Finals Game 4: Lakers 100 Kings 99

2007 East Finals Game 5: Cavs 109 Pistons 107 2 OTw