Re: Great discussion this AM on the radio: Greatest finish in any sporting event
Seriously 37 posts and no one mentions NC State-Houston? I guess everyone here is under 30 because it has all the intangibles.
1) Meaningful game- 1983 NCAA Basketball Championship game. It was for all the marbles, not a meaningless regular season game like others.
2) Storyline- The ultimate underdog, the Cardiac Pack, wouldn't have even gotten in to the Big Dance if not for a remarkable ACC tourney run over some all-time great teams (um, Jordan/Daugherty/Worthy UNC, and Sampson's UVA) vs. the juggernaut Phi Slamma Jamma, with two all-time greats Akeem the Dream and Clyde the Glide. No one was giving the Pack a chance in this game.
3) Outstanding cast- you had the always quotable Jimmy V, Guy Lewis and his intimidating cast of Cougars. One of the all-time greats in Akeem, Derek W. coming back from a broken foot and Big T, Thurl Bailey.
4) Historical context- Without this game there would have been no Jimmy V foundation, no "Don't give up, don't ever give up" speech, no ESPYs, a stretch but maybe no Villanova over G'town.
5) Perfect ending- clock winding down, State trying for the last shot, nearly thrown away for a steal and a Phi Slamma Jamma dunk to win it, desperation heave as time winds down, role player catches ball in mid-air over all-time great center and dunks it home as clock ticks zero. Chaos ensues, everyone in shock, Valvano run around like a chicken with his head cut off.
Simply, it was a real life movie script with a perfect ending. Everything else pales in comparison.
If you take things into context, the USA v. Russia Olympic game is the only thing that comes close. However, in this one the good guys (or the underdogs which Hollywood always portrays as the good guys) won.
