30 Most Exciting Championship-Clinching Moments

The roar of the crowd, the explosion of fireworks and the glow of the game's best performers—the stage is annually set for breathtaking finishes, with defining careers becoming ingrained in history.

While sports leagues may differ in regards to craft, they have one commonality:

Riveting championship finishes.

From last-second shots in Game 7 of the NBA Finals to NHL thrillers that keep fans stomping in the stands for not a second less than 60 minutes of hockey, these games define franchises.

While certain players take the burden upon themselves to lead the team with a jaw-dropping play in the final moments, others can't handle the pressure and choke in the clutch.

We'll look at the former.

Here are the best championship-clinching moments in history.

Enjoy.

30. Bitten by a Viper

Known as the minor leagues of the NBA, the D-League features players who are hungry to make a name for themselves.

After Craig Winder received a pass in the final seconds from Antonio Anderson, he hit a buzzer-beating three-point bank shot.

The Vipers beat the Tulsa 66ers 94-91 to win the D-League Championship before a record crowd of over 6,000.

Safety wasn't really an issue.

29. Gene Larkin Pinches out a Win

Considering Game 7 of the 1991 World Series had experienced nine innings of shutout baseball, this one was destined to have an exciting finish.

In the eighth inning, both teams loaded the bases with one out, but both grounded into double plays to keep the game going.

After the Braves intentionally loaded the bases full of Twins in the bottom of the 10th, pinch hitter Gene Larkin won it with a walk-off single.

28. Rouse Gets the Vic-Tory

Silent films clearly present the ultimate finish. While we can't hear the obnoxious clichés being thrown around by the announcers, we can admire the thrilling finish.

After rallying from 15 points down in the second half, the Ramblers forced overtime with momentum on their side. 

The last-second rebound and shot by Vic Rouse won it for Loyola University of Chicago in this memorable 1963 matchup.

Loyola’s 60-59 victory prevented Cincinnati from achieving the first three-peat in NCAA history.

27. Cardiac Pack Attacks in 1983

It can be assumed that Dereck Whittenburg took Lorenzo Charles out to dinner for years following this memorable finish in 1983.

Whittenburg heaved up a shot with three seconds remaining, and it was immediately clear that it would fall short.

Charles then grabbed the air ball and turned it into a game-winning dunk that won the championship for NC State.

The team was referred to as the "Cardiac Pack" because of its consistently close games.

26. The Beginning of a Dynasty

Nauseous yet?

The most accurate kicker in history did it again two years later in Super Bowl XVIII.

It was the most watched Super Bowl ever at the time with 144.4 million viewers and featured another exciting finish by Adam Vinatieri.

While Tom Brady won his second Super Bowl MVP in three years after recording 354 passing yards, three touchdowns and one interception, Vinatieri ended this one with four seconds remaining on a 41-yard field goal.

The Carolina Panthers were praying for a kickoff return touchdown, but Rod Smart went nowhere on the return.

25. Mo Displays His Mortality

Considering video footage of just Luis Gonzalez's hit in Game 7 of the 2001 World Series is not available on YouTube, it has to be expected that angry Yankees fans corrupted the site and took down all the footage.

Luckily, this montage incorporates his miraculous hit.

This moment, which occurs at 3:51 of the video, ruined the night for Mariano Rivera, who had a postseason ERA of 0.70 to that point and was considered untouchable.

He was brought in for a two-inning save and, with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth, eventually allowed a bloop single to prolific slugger Luis Gonzalez.

The stadium went into a frenzy, and the team was euphoric.

Most people remember this series featuring dominant pitching, with Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling being named co-MVPs, combining for a 4-0 record, 1.40 ERA and 45 strikeouts.

24. Fourth Time's the Charm

Fourth time's the charm.

After losing three previous Super Bowls, John Elway finally brought the trophy to Denver in 1997.

His helicopter run was the defining play of the game to bring the Broncos to the 1-yard line.

Naturally, Terrell Davis, who had a migraine headache throughout the game, ran it in for the winning touchdown.

23. The Birth of a Legend

This was the first national title for head coaching legend Dean Smith.

As a freshman, Michael Jordan clearly had no qualms about taking the last shot, as he did so many times after reaching the NBA. 

North Carolina beat Georgetown to secure the national championship when, following Jordan's shot, James Worthy received a gift of a pass that was baffling but epic.

It was only the start of an illustrious career for arguably the best player ever to step on the hardwood.

22. Jorge Burruchaga Becomes the Pride of Argentina

Whether you like soccer or not, you must appreciate the passion in the celebrations and the volume at which the announcers release their vocals.

This Argentinian midfielder and striker scored a memorable goal to get the victory for Argentina over Germany in the 1986 World Cup.

The ultimate victory.

21. Sixth Man Becomes a Hero

Immediately fast-forward to 6:45.

Vinnie Johnson was seen as the key sixth man on the Pistons during their championships in 1989 and 1990.

Known as "The Microwave" for his ability to score a lot in short spurts, Johnson would play one more season in the NBA, for the Spurs, and then retire in 1992.

20. Bailing Out His Team

While John Paxson had a subtle yet honorable career, this shot may have defined him.

With 3.9 seconds left in Game 6 of the 1993 NBA Finals, Paxson was open for a three-pointer and caught the pass.

With the Bulls down by two, it's clear what happens next.

The Bulls won 99-98 and got their third consecutive NBA title.

19. A Cool Brees

Drew Brees hit Jeremy Shockey from two yards out for the game-winning touchdown with 5:42 remaining to bring a much-needed victory to a city in dire need of something positive after Hurricane Katrina.

Peyton Manning countered by leading his team on seven successful plays to the Saints' 31-yard line.

On 3rd-and-5, Manning went to reliable wide receiver Reggie Wayne on a slant, but cornerback Tracy Porter read it like a book, picked it off and took it 74 yards for the game-clinching score.

An emotional moment.

18. Steve Kerries the Bulls in 1997

Steve Kerr refers to this as his most memorable moment.

Known for his three-point prowess, Kerr was ready to take over yet again for this Bulls team.

If this was Game 7, Michael Jordan would've been taking this shot, so it's a good thing Kerr ended it when he did.

Well done.

17. The Shot Is Smart

This was the ultimate match of wits, as Syracuse's Jim Boeheim squared off against his counterpart, Indiana head coach Bob Knight, in the 1987 NCAA championship.

A shot by Keith Smart in the final seconds won the national title for Indiana with a 74-73 victory.

Smart was named the Most Outstanding Player and helped build Knight's legacy as one of the most successful coaches of all time.

While he had a cup of coffee with San Antonio Spurs, Smart is known more for coaching the Golden State Warriors.

These arbitrary heroes always end up as leaders.

16. An Immortal Pest

The 1954 Stanley Cup Final was naturally played by the two powerhouses of that time, Montreal and Detroit.

Game 7 went into overtime with the game tied in regulation. This is where heroes were born and careers defined.

Tony Leswick, a pest in his day, decided that it was his time. 

He was credited with the overtime game-winning goal after knocking the puck deep into the Montreal zone to get rid of it.

Doug Harvey tried to get control of the puck but instead watched it bounce off him.

Goaltender Gerry McNeil was a space cadet and didn't see the puck bounce past him and into the net.

Detroit won 2-1.

15. One Yard Short

On the final play of Super Bowl XXXIV, in one of the greatest games in history, the Titans were trailing 23-16 and needed seven points to tie it up. 

With 16 seconds left for Steve McNair to make magic happen, he passed over the middle to Kevin Dyson, who then tried to reach for the end zone.

Mike Jones brought him down slightly before the goal line, and the Rams won the game by inches.

As close as it gets.

14. Merging Defeat

This was the defining moment of kicker Jim O'Brien's career.

Also a wide receiver, O'Brien brought a championship to the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl V on a successful field goal with nine seconds remaining.

The Colts won the game 16-13.

This was the first Super Bowl played after the NFL-AFL merger.

13. Auburn Tigers Roar Loud

According to head coach Gene Chizik, this was just another walk in the park for Wes Byrum, who faced this pressure on a daily basis in practice.

With two seconds on the clock and the Oregon Ducks clinging to a 19-19 tie, the Auburn Tigers, led by Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton, kicked the game-winning field goal to win their second title (1957).

A truly memorable experience for this Tigers team.

12. Bringing the Lombardi Holmes

Speaking of a defining moment in a career, Holmes has been referred to as arguably the most clutch receiver in the game because of this catch, despite his numerous easy drops in recent years.

This was a phenomenal catch at a pivotal moment, but those moments must be followed up with consistency.

He's been a statistically stellar receiver, but not to the degree that people expected after this game.

This 27-23 victory gave the Steelers their sixth Super Bowl.

11. As Sweet as Sugar Kane

With the longest active championship drought at the time, the Chicago Blackhawks were hungry for the Cup.

With 30 goals and 58 assists that year, 21-year-old Patrick Kane was ready to lift the trophy.

He led his team with this championship-winning chuck to the net.

It's safe to say the goaltender didn't even see the 5'10" winger coming.

10. Jordan Pushes Off for a Title

If we forget about his mundane comebacks with the Wizards and his failure to guide the Bobcats to stardom, this was the perfect top-off to Jordan's illustrious career.

His jump shot with 5.2 seconds remaining sealed the deal and gave the Bulls their sixth championship in eight years.

Some believe Jordan pushed off Bryon Russell, one of the Jazz's best perimeter defenders, but that will forever be argued.

9. The Young and the Restless

With the national championship on the line in the 2006 Rose Bowl, Vince Young grabbed the bull by the horns.

Down 38-33 and facing 4th-and-5 at the Trojans' 8-yard line, Young ran the ball to the corner of the end zone with 19 seconds left.

After adding a two-point conversion for insurance, the Longhorns won the game 41-38 for their first championship in 35 years.

8. Madden's Ideal Game

John Madden believes, "That's the way you should win a Super Bowl."

This was the beginning of a dynasty, as the Patriots won their first Lombardi Trophy and a youthful Tom Brady won the Super Bowl MVP after completing 16 of 27 passes for 145 yards with a touchdown.

He led his team down the field to put Adam Vinatieri in position for this 48-yard field goal.

7. Andre-Fleury Saves the Day

With Max Talbot putting in two goals in Game 7 of the 2009 Stanley Cup Final, the Penguins seemed destined to win this one.

A hungry Red Wings attack stifled the celebrations and had fans on the edge of the couch waiting anxiously.

With essentially an open net, the Red Wings couldn't close the deal as Marc Andre-Fleury closed the door on their hopes.

Might be the best save ever in a Game 7.

6. John Is the Man-Tana on This Night

After the Bengals took a 16-13 lead with over three minutes remaining in Super Bowl XXIII, Joe Montana knew what was at stake.

Starting on the 49ers' 8-yard line, the Hall of Fame quarterback led his unit down the field with fury.

A perfect pass to wide receiver John Taylor was the big play for this cohesive and prolific unit.

Another career defined by heroics.

5. A Hull Lot of Controversy with This Crease Shot

Buffalo fans have been ripping their hair out ever since Brett Hull beat them in the 1999 Stanley Cup Final.

While there has been controversy regarding the goal itself and whether it was legal, refs refused to go to replay at the time, despite the Cup being at stake.

The league did, however, change the "skate in the crease" rule before the following season.

Hinting at something perhaps.

4. Youth in Revolt

With Craig Counsell on third and the World Series on the line, Edgar Renteria came up to the plate.

It was only the Marlins' fifth season in the league, and they were a hungry collection of youngsters.

Renteria's game-winning single established the Marlins as the first wild card team ever to win the World Series.

They made miracles happen again in 2003.

3. Canadian Pride

The 1993 World Series was the only one ever to be concluded outside of the United States, with no Canadian team making the MLB postseason since.

Carter became one of two players (Bill Mazeroski) to win a World Series with a home run in the bottom of the ninth inning of a deciding game.

Truly memorable.

2. Greatest Home Run Ever

There was a time when the Pirates were a good team, despite ubiquitous doubt, featuring the likes of Roberto Clemente and Dick Groat.

But a different man was the hero on this day.

The only other player aside from Joe Carter to hit a home run in the bottom of the ninth in the deciding game of the World Series, Bill Mazeroski led the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 10-9 victory over the New York Yankees.

It gave the Pirates their third championship and first since 1925.

1. One Giant Win

While most fans remember the miracle helmet catch by David Tyree moments earlier, this was the icing on the cake.

After reaching the Super Bowl with an 18-0 record, the Patriots were clearly Goliath in this matchup.

Nobody saw this coming, as the New York Giants pulled off possibly the biggest upset ever.

18-1.