The 10 Most Memorable Moments of the Decade

Sports fanatics thrive on the production of franchise players and unbelievable plays, leaving us always hungry for more.

Some moments can force grown men to tears, while others can leave them screaming like Octomom at a Chuck E. Cheese’s.

In the '90s we saw Michael Jordan stun the Jazz in the NBA finals, Cal Ripken Jr. cap 13 consecutive years of absence-free play, and Mark McGwire top a 37-year-old batting record.

However, the turn of the 21st century has had its own set of unfathomable moments.

Though many amazing plays have occurred over the past decade, I have compiled 10 of the most memorable moments that changed the world of sports.

10. Lakers vs. Raptors: Jan. 22, 2006

No one believed basketball legend Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point single-game scoring record could ever be broken.

Though this ethereal milestone still holds true today, Kobe Bryant came close with an 81-point total against the Toronto Raptors in 2006.

After trailing by as much as 18 in the third quarter, Bryant angrily fired back with 51 points in only the second half, pushing the Lakers to a win over Toronto with a 122-104 margin.

Bryant’s performance is regarded as one of the best performances by a single player since Chamberlain’s in 1962.

9. Packers vs. Raiders: Dec. 22, 2003

The death of a loved one can leave many crippled in mourning and unable to move on.

For Brett Favre, the loss of his father came on the eve of a pivotal Monday Night Football game against the Oakland Raiders in week 16.

Favre threw for 399 yards and four touchdowns while completing 22 passes without a single interception.

8. 2003 ALCS Yankees vs. Red Sox: Oct. 16, 2003

No rivalry in sports is more publicized and anticipated than Yankees-Red Sox. In the 2003 American League Championship, the hatred was once again rekindled.

The series was sent back to New York for Game Seven, and it proved to be an electrifying matchup. Pedro Martinez tore down the Yankees through the first four innings, allowing the Red Sox to jump out to a 4-0 start.

After three innings of cleanup by Mike Mussina, the Yankees took the game to extra innings and were presented with an unlikely hero in the 11th.

After only one pitch, Aaron Boone launched a home run into the left field seats off notorious knuckleballer Tim Wakefield to send the Bronx Bombers to the World Series.

The Yankees' win once again thwarted Boston’s hope of capturing the lucrative World Series title, and they had to postpone their celebration until the next year.

7. Syracuse vs. Connecticut: Mar. 12, 2009

The University of Connecticut has, in the past 10 years, been a symbol of greatness and success in college basketball.

When the Huskies faced the Orange of Syracuse however, fourth-ranked Connecticut was rattled through the majority of the game and its six overtime periods that followed.

Syracuse went on to win in the sixth overtime with a stunning performance in Madison Square Garden.

6. Texas vs. USC: Jan. 4, 2006

The 2006 Rose Bowl was one of the most influential games in the modern state of college football. It initiated the decline of the Trojan dynasty and the appearance that Pete Carroll is also human and can lose.

The heavily favored Trojans, who sported superstars like Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart, were coming off a National Championship season in 2004 and looked to repeat against the Longhorns.

The game was back and forth until Vince Young rushed for the final touchdown with fewer than 10 seconds left on the clock, giving Texas their 800th victory in school history. Young finished with 267 yards through the air and 200 rushing yards.

5. Super Bowl XLII: Feb. 3, 2008

Since the turn of the 21st century, the New England Patriots have been as dependable in the NFL as diapers on the elderly.

The Patriots looked to earn their fourth Super Bowl victory in six years and were heavily favored after a regular season record of 16-0.

The game was defensively dominated with only 10 combined points through the first three quarters. In the fourth quarter the Patriots scored with only 2:42 remaining in the game, putting them ahead of the Giants 14-10.

The Giants were faced with a third down and five yards to go when Eli Manning threw one of the most memorable passes in Super Bowl history to David Tyree.

His helmet catch put New York on the Patriots’ 24-yard-line, setting up a touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress to win the game.

On this day the New England dynasty was overthrown, and the Giants went home with their third Super Bowl title.

4. Boise State vs. Oklahoma: Jan. 1, 2007

Jan. 1 is a date that will be remembered and relived not only by Idahoans, but college football fans alike.

The underappreciated Broncos from Boise, Idaho, were mocked by the world of college football but granted a BCS bowl berth against the Oklahoma Sooners after completing an undefeated season.

After trailing the entire game, Oklahoma took a 35-28 lead with 1:07 remaining in the fourth quarter. The Broncos scored in stunning fashion with a hook and ladder trick play designed by first-year head coach Chris Petersen, sending the game into overtime.

Oklahoma began the overtime with an amazing 25-yard touchdown run by Adrian Peterson, but the Broncos followed with a pass from Vinny Perretta and the famous Statue of Liberty two-point conversion by Ian Johnson.

Boise State's memorable win gave credibility to Cinderella teams throughout sports, not only in college football.

3. Daytona Motor Speedway: Feb. 18, 2001

The Daytona 500 is the most illustrious competition in stock car racing. In front of 200,000 people, America’s homegrown legend, Dale Earnhardt, looked to capture his second victory at Daytona.

Earnhardt took to every course like a teenager searching for independence. He was invincible and unstoppable when behind the wheel of his 200 mph Monte Carlo.

After leading the majority of the race, tragedy struck in the last lap for Earnhardt. With a third place finish within his grasp and his son gunning for his first win at Daytona, Earnhardt was slightly bumped, causing his stock car to barrel into the concrete barrier at 150 mph.

As the entire sports world looked on, stunned, Earnhardt didn’t jump out of the rubble as he had in past incidents. The sports world lost a legend and pioneer in the world of NASCAR that day.

The death of Dale Earnhardt sparked safety reforms by NASCAR to secure the well-being of their drivers.

2. U.S. Open Championship: Jun. 16, 2008

In 2008, the U.S. Open Championship was held at Torrey Pines for the first time, and America’s favorite golfer, Tiger Woods, was battling a left knee injury.

Expectations were low for Woods, but like we’ve seen in the past, no event in which he competes is safe.

While in excruciating pain, Woods managed to survive until the final round and forced a sudden death hole, in which he defeated Rocco Mediate, capturing his 14th major title and his third U.S. Open Championship.

He became the second golfer to win each of the majors three times.

1. Beijing Olympics: Summer 2008

Michael Phelps has become one of the most decorated athletes to ever wear the glorified colors of red, white, and blue in competition.

Last summer, the Baltimore Bullet expanded his total to 16 Olympic medals by winning a record eight golds.

His most memorable medal came in the form of the 4x100 meter medley relay, in which his team set the world record while beating second-place Australia by only 0.7 seconds.

Phelps put the United States back on the map in Olympic sports and remains one of the best athletes in history.