This is a list of the ultimate, the best, the greatest...the 20 most incredible moments of my life as a Philadelphia sports fan.

 

These are the moments that make me smile every single time I think of them. These are the moments I'll never forget as long as I live.

 

I can tell you the date, who I was with, and where I was for all of these moments. They're that special.

 

My only regret is that I had to leave some highlights off this list. Chase Utley's walk-off single to complete a four-game sweep of the Mets in August 2007. Jimmy Rollins' 20th triple in the season finale of 2007. Chris Coste's walk-off bases-loaded 13th-inning single to beat the Mets and give the Phillies sole possession of first place in August 2008.

 

Lito Sheppard's season-saving interception against Carolina on Monday Night Football in 2006. 4th and 26.

 

The massacre against the eventual division champion Green Bay Packers in 2004. Hollis Thomas's hit on Michael Vick in the 2004 NFC championship game. Every single highlight from every beatdown on the Cowboys since 2000.

 

The 20 moments below are the moments that essentially have shaped me into the Philly fan that I am today.

 

 

 

Honorable Mention. Jan. 18, 2009: DeSean Jackson go-ahead touchdown in NFC championship game.

This is a play that had the potential to rank as high as second on my list.

 

Completing a comeback from 18 points down, Donovan McNabb hit rookie wide receiver DeSean Jackson on a 62-yard touchdown to give the Eagles a one-point lead with 11 minutes remaining in the NFC championship game.

 

Jackson's catch, which included three different bobbles, and a complete body turn, had the potential to rank as the single most memorable play in the history of the Philadelphia Eagles.

 

Unfortunately...

 

 

 

The "Highlight Film" Moments

 

20. Jan. 16, 2005: Freddie Mitchell catches LJ Smith's fumble in postseason.

 

There are some moments when you just know things are going your way. This was one of them.

 

When LJ Smith caught a McNabb pass and headed towards the end zone, he was flipped head over heels by a Vikings defender. The ball flew through the air, where it landed in the arms of wide receiver Freddie Mitchell for an Eagles touchdown.

 

I have been told that the crowd at the stadium was 100 percent silent while the ball flew through the air. I have also been told that the noise by the crowd after Freddie scored was one of the loudest in the history of the Linc.

 

It was over. We knew it. The Vikings knew it. It was time to start preparing for the Falcons, because this game was in the bag.

 

 

 

19. Nov. 15, 2004: McNabb's 14.1 second scramble.

 

This has the potential to go down as the signature play of Donovan McNabb's career.

 

In a game that I like to call the "Monday Night Massacre," the Eagles showed the rest of the football world just how dominant they really are, piling on 49 points vs. the Dallas Cowboys in Texas Stadium.

 

The signature play of the game (and the season) came late in the second quarter, with the Eagles already leading 28-14.

 

McNabb took the snap and dropped back. The protection broke down, and McNabb spun around to avoid a defensive tackle. He rolled to his right, dodging a diving tackler.

Following a furious sideways sprint with a defender hot on his heels, McNabb stutter stepped, stopped, and rolled back to his left.

 

On a full sprint, McNabb fired a deep ball to a streaking Freddie Mitchell. Without breaking stride, Mitchell caught the pass for a 50-yard gain.

 

McNabb's pass, given the fact that his body was turned almost sideways upon delivery, is probably the most impressive of his 10-year career.

 

 

 

18. Jan. 13, 2007: Sheldon Brown hits Reggie Bush.

 

The hardest hit in NFL history. Don't argue. It's a fact.

 

Bush was so shaken up by this hit that he literally crawled on his hands and knees for a few seconds after the play. Watching "The Crawl" was almost as good as "The Hit."

 

This was the first play of the game. This was supposed to set the stage for the Eagles to reach the NFC championship game.

 

Unfortunately, the magic of Jeff Garcia and Company came to a disappointing end.

 

 

 

17. May 11, 2006: Aaron Rowand catch.

 

Before the Phillies became an elite team, it was moments like these that we lived for as Phillies fans.

 

In the first inning, the Mets loaded the bases with two outs for Xavier Nady, who smashed a deep drive to center field. Rowand sprinted back and made a spectacular leaping catch, before smashing facefirst into the center field fence.

 

Rowand suffered a broken nose and severe lacerations to his face, and was placed on the 15-day disabled list.

 

The Phillies ended up winning the game 2-0. Nady's drive would have likely scored three runs for the Mets.

 

 

 

16. Oct. 23, 2005: Matt Ware returns blocked field goal for touchdown.

 

This remains the single highlight from the worst year I can remember as an Eagles fan (thankfully I don't remember 1998 too well).

 

With 2:25 remaining in the fourth quarter, Matt Ware returned a blocked field goal 65 yards for a game-winning touchdown.

 

Nobody even remembers that future Pro Bowl safety Quintin Mikell was the real hero of the play, blocking Kaeding's 40-yard field goal attempt.

 

Forgotten about this game is the performance of LaDainian Tomlinson, who rushed for 7 yards on 17 carries. That's right. Seven yards.

 

His first four carries netted -10 yards. LT also failed to score a touchdown, ending a record-tying streak of 18 consecutive games with a touchdown.

 

The Eagles improved to 4-2 after their miraculous win...if only the season could have ended then.

 

 

 

The "Goosebumps" Moments

 

15. Dec. 25, 2006: Christmas Day goal line stop of Marion Barber.

 

This was when I knew the Eagles were going to win the division. We all did. It was over, after this single play.

 

The Eagles entered their Christmas Day battle with the Dallas Cowboys on a three-game winning streak, at the helm of their quarterback, Jeff Garcia.

 

The Cowboys were supposed to win this game, thanks to their hotshot rookie Tony Romo and his future Hall of Fame wide receiver, Terrell Owens.

 

The Eagles were leading 7-0, with 13 minutes left in the second quarter, when Quintin Mikell stuffed Marion Barber for a three-yard loss on fourth-and-goal from the one.

 

43 minutes remained in the game. It didn't matter. We knew it was over.

 

 

 

14. January 6, 2007: Tony Romo's fumble in the playoffs.

 

This was by far my greatest moment as a Cowboys hater.

 

The Cowboys trailed the Seahawks by one point with 1:19 remaining in the game. The Cowboys lined up for a 19-yard field goal attempt (essentially an extra point) to win the game.

 

Then something incredible happened.

 

Tony Romo fumbled the snap. He dropped the ball. When he picked it up and ran with it, he was caught from behind and tackled by Jordan Babineaux at the one-yard line.

 

Seattle ended up winning the game 21-20 and the Cowboys lost their fifth consecutive playoff game.

 

 

 

13. Jan. 23, 2005: Brian Dawkins' speech.

 

I believe Brian Dawkins is the most motivational player in NFL history. Nobody can get more from his teammates than Dawkins.

 

That being said, I will never forget his reaction to the Eagles winning the NFC championship game. I still get chills every time I hear any of Dawkins' memorable lines from this speech:

 

"I give all the credit to Michael Vick, we gave him the most respect. But nobody respected us as a defense! Give me some respect right now!"

 

"I'll tell you what. I wanted to set a tone. We wanted to set a tone as a defense. It's not just me, it's the defense, it's my line, it's Burgess, it's Kearse, all them boys, Trot, we came and we brought it, every doggone play!"

 

May the Weapon X video live on forever.

 

 

 

12. Sept. 27, 2008: Jimmy Rollins division-clinching double play.

 

I had no doubt that the Phillies were going to win the division. Even if they lost this game, they had Sunday. Then things got a little scary with a two-run lead entering the ninth inning.

 

Brad Lidge hadn't blown a save all season. 40-for-40. And against the Nationals? This should have been three up and three down.

 

The inning went like this: Swinging strikeout. Single to right. Walk. RBI single to right center. Single to center.

 

With the bases loaded and one out, the Phillies led 4-3. The Phillies' division title, as well as Brad Lidge's perfect season, were on the line against the Nationals' best hitter, Ryan Zimmerman.

 

Zimmerman smacked a hard ground ball up the middle and my heart stopped.

 

Enter Jimmy Rollins.

 

The reigning National League MVP made a sliding stop of Zim's ground ball. He tossed to Utley, who fired a bullet to Howard to complete the double play and ensure that the Philadelphia Phillies were division champions for the second consecutive season.

 

 

The "I Can't Believe This is Actually Happening" Moments

 

11. Oct. 29, 2008: Utley's throw at home plate in Game 5.

 

This might be the most underrated play of all time, any sport, any time, ever.

 

I would argue that this play was better than Derek Jeter's flip toss to home plate in Game 3 of the 2001 ALDS.

 

In the top of the seventh inning of Game 5 of the World Series, the Rays and Phillies were tied 3-3. With two outs, Jason Bartlett of the Rays stood on second base. Akinori Iwamura bounced a ground ball up the middle.

 

I'll never forget Utley fielding the grounder, faking a throw to first base, pivoting, and firing a strike to home. The ball arrived just a second before Barlett. Ruiz caught the bouncer and dove to his left, tagging Bartlett for the final out of the inning, and preventing a potentially Series-altering play.

 

When Chase Utley is elected to the Hall of Fame in 17 or 18 years, this will be the signature play that defined his career.

 

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