As America's 246th birthday has passed, it is key to look back onto how this nation has developed the sports world. America is home to four of the top five most popular sports leagues and associations: the MLB, NBA, NFL, and NHL. Each of which has had its fair share of amazing moments and stunning results. As gift to the United States on her birthday, we will look back on the biggest moment in each of the major sports hubs.
Image via TIME
Major League Baseball:
While researching this article I came across many great moments from the MLB's history. One that was often repeated was Jackie Robinson's signing with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Although this moment changed baseball forever, there is already a full article detailing this on the Sports POV homepage. So, if you want an in-depth story of the integration of baseball, make sure to check that out.
After wrapping up research, I decided to pave my own path. The craziest moment witnessed in the recent history of the MLB was the Cubs' winning the 2016 World Series. Now a World Series victory may not seem like anything unusually great, but the story behind this one makes it exceedingly so. During a game in 1945, a Cubs fan was not allowed into a Cubs game with his pet goat. The Cubs were already in a World Series drought of thirty-seven years, and they chose the wrong man to not let into their game. The man, William Sianis, declared that the Cubs would never win another World Series. Many took this with a chuckle because it was a ridiculous idea; nonetheless, it took a while for the Cubs to win again. Eventually the Curse of the Billy Goat was taken seriously, as the Cubs were having losing season after losing season. However, on November 2, 2016, the Cubs broke the curse. They won their third World Series and the organization was ecstatic. It had been 108 years and 19 days since the Cubs last World Series victory, the longest streak between two championships in sports history.
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National Basketball Association:
Possibly the greatest moment in the history of the NBA was Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game. It occurred on March 2, 1962, and changed the game of basketball forever. Since this game, the NBA has gravitated towards a slower style of play with very few fast break plays, making Wilt's record almost unrepeatable. During this record setting game, Wilt took a whopping 63 shots and 32 free throws and grabbed 25 rebounds. The Philadelphia Warriors, Wilt's team, defeated the New York Knicks by a score of 169-147. This is a crazy score and crazy record because it was set even before the three-point line was added. Wilt's record changed the pace of the game, how players defended, and was one event that pushed the NBA to create the three-point line. Overall, the infamous 100-point game is one of the greatest and most influential events in NBA history.
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National Football League:
For the NFL, I narrowed down to two, so I asked a professional, my dad. The play that came in second is the Minneapolis Miracle. However, the play that takes the cake is the Immaculate Reception. This catch occurred in a divisional playoff game between the Steelers and Raiders. Late in the 4th quarter, the Steelers were down 7-6. On a fourth down play crucial to winning the game, the Steelers made one of the most unbelievable plays of all time. Quarterback Terry Bradshaw was forced to flee the pocket and throw up a desperation heave. After bouncing off the helmet of a Raiders player, the ball landed in the hands of Steelers’ running back Franco Harris. Harris was not even the intended receiver, but with time running down he was the difference between a win and loss. He ran down the sideline and in for the touchdown! The Steelers won and Bradshaw and Harris marked their places in the history books with the greatest reception of all time.
Image via Steelers
National Hockey League:
The moment that stands out the most in the history of the NHL is Bobby Orr's flying goal. In the 1969-1970 Stanley Cup Finals, Bobby Orr was trying to lead the Bruins to a victory over the Blues. Orr's flying goal was during an overtime to clinch the cup for the first time in his life. Orr leaped and stuck out his stick to net the winning goal and put his name in the history books. This incredible goal was the icing on top of an already great season. This goal cemented him as the Conn Smythe Trophy winner of 1970. Bobby Orr's goal is still discussed today and is widely known as the greatest hockey goal of all time.
Image via Hockey Writers
Although these leagues are not uniquely American, the greatest moments are etched into the history of America herself. Sports are a center point of the American lifestyle, and it would be hard to imagine life without them. These moments and many more have brought joy to sports fans across the nation throughout the years, instilling in fans pride in their hometown teams and the players who represent them.
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