Sport has evolved over the years and players have come and gone, but it’s consistently given fans some of the most incredible adrenalin-fuelled moments. These are some of the greatest US sporting moments to date that have continued to delight fans, years or even decades later.
The Closest Game in NFL History
The Super Bowl XXV was one of the most memorable moments in the history of the NFL as it was one of the closest games ever as no game before or after this has been decided by simply one, single point.
The game ended with the New York Giants beating the Buffalo Bills 20-19, the game hung in the balance in the final seconds, but was won when Scott Norwood scored a field goal, winning his team the game and leaving the stadium on their feet.
This game is a prime example of how amazing the Super Bowl can be to watch and to bet on, if you are a newbie to betting there are NFL consensus picks to help you make smart bets.
Jesse Owens in the 1936 Olympic Games
For Jesse Owens and his country, the 1936 Olympics was a proud moment. He won gold in the 100 metres, long jump, 200 metres, 4 x 100 relay and he even set a few world records along the way. He provided a truly spectacular performance in every event and he did so during a time where the world was hostile to those who didn’t fit the mould. Owens’ performance has lived on in the history books and will continue to do so long into the future.
Michael Phelps’ 8 Gold Medals
The Olympics is a popular betting event for sports enthusiasts, but even the biggest fans may not have seen Phelps’ success coming. After six gold medals in the 2004 Olympics, Phelps set out to beat the existing record set by Mark Spitz of seven gold medals. The incredibly talented swimmer lived up to the hype around his skills, winning gold in the 200m freestyle, 100m and 200m butterfly, 200m and 400m medley, 4 x 100m freestyle, 4 x 200m freestyle and the 4 x 100m medley. He’s renowned for being one of the most skilled athletes in history, not least because of his achievements in the Olympics.
USWNT 1999 World Cup Events
The United States Women’s National Soccer Team was absolutely packed with talented players in 1999, allowing them to advance to the finals held in the Rose Bowl. At the time, it was history’s most attended women’s sporting event, with 90,000 fans showing up to show their support. And fans were not disappointed. The game went to penalty kicks and goalkeeper Brianna Scurry made an incredible save, with the final moments left to Brandi Chastain to serve the final game-winning kick.
A Miracle on Ice
One of the top sporting moments in US history is the Men’s 1980 Olympic Hockey final when the team defied the odds to take home gold in Lake Placid. The team was composed exclusively of college-aged players and it wasn’t expected that the team would perform particularly well against international professionals. In the semi-final game against Soviet Union, they gained their first lead of the game with only 10 minutes remaining. From there, it was a countdown to success, and they defeated Finland for the win just two days later. It was one of the most unexpected turnouts of any sport, and certainly one that hockey fans love to talk about to this day.
Defeating Mexico in the 2002 World Cup
One of the few times the US has reached the quarter-final stage was back in the 2002 World Cup in Korea. They made it past the Group Play and were faced with Mexico in Round 16. During the Cup, which included Landon Donovan as the Best Young Player, the US team beat Mexico 2-0 and advanced to the quarterfinals for the first time.