Top 15 Sports Matches of 2007

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Boise State 43 – Oklahoma 42, in Overtime

Imagine if football was always this fun? On New Year’s Day Boise State, a school many fans felt didn’t deserve a Fiesta Bowl invite, used the old hook and ladder play to tie mighty Oklahoma, 35 all, at the end of regulation. Oklahoma took a 42-35 overtime lead, but then a Boise wide receiver tossed a touchdown pass. On the two-point conversion, Boise State called a third trick — the Statue of Liberty play, in which the quarterback hands the ball off to a runner behind his back — that fooled the Sooners and capped Boise’s 13-0 season. Oh yeah, Boise State tailback Ian Johnson proposed to his cheerleader girlfriend on national television right after the win.

Indianapolis 38 — New England 24

In the final moments of the AFC championship game, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning sat on the sideline, head down, unable to watch what was unfolding. Who could blame him? After all, New England quarterback Tom Brady had broken his heart so often. This time, however, Manning’s prayers were answered, as Brady threw an interception that preserved Indy’s dramatic 38-34 win. The Colts had come back from an 18-point deficit, and went on to win the Super Bowl.

Colorado 9 – San Diego 8, 13 Innings

Down two runs in the bottom of the 13th inning and facing baseball’s all-time saves leader, Trevor Hoffman of the San Diego Padres, the Colorado Rockies looked like they had reached the end of a dream season. But the resurgent Rocks, who had won 13 of their final 14 games to force a one-game playoff for the National League Wild Card, strung together a stirring rally. Matt Holliday scored the winning run on a sacrifice fly; though replays showed he never really touched home plate, bedlam erupted in Coors Field, and the Rockies roared into the World Series.

Cleveland 109 – Detroit 107, Double Overtime

LeBron James’ Cleveland Cavalier teammates knew exactly what do to: Get him the ball, and get out of the way. James scored Cleveland’s last 25 points in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals, giving him 48 for the game, as the Cavs upset the Detroit Pistons, 109-107, in double overtime. (The Cavs clinched the series two nights later.) James showcased a variety of shots — step-back jumpers, fadeaways, ferocious dunks — and announcer Marv Albert called it "one of the greatest performances of all time."

Roger Federer beats Rafael Nadal 7-6 (7), 4-6, 7-6 (3), 2-6, 6-2 at Wimbledon

They had met in three previous Grand Slam finals, each one a bit one-sided. But at Wimbledon, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal finally gave tennis fans a classic. Federer grew uncharacteristically frustrated throughout the match, even arguing with the umpire about the instant replay system. He took two of the first three sets, but needed a tie-breaker to triumph in each. After Nadal easily won the fourth set, 6-2, an upset looked likely. But Federer rallied for a five-set victory, giving him a record-tying fifth straight Wimbledon title.

Stanford 24 – (2) USC 23

College football pundits were calling #2 ranked USC one of the most talented teams of all-time, and the Trojans entered their October tilt against Stanford a staggering 41-point favorite. But playing on USC’s home field, Stanford overcame a nine-point fourth-quarter deficit and scored the winning touchdown on a leaping catch from receiver Mark Bradford, whose father had died two weeks before. "I’m beside myself right now," says Stanford quarterback Tavita Pritchard after the game. "I don’t really know what to do."

Kimi Raikkonen Wins the Brazilian Grand Prix and F1 Title

The final race of the Formula 1 season, the Brazilian Grand Prix, had more twists than a winding road course. Lewis Hamilton, a 22-year-old phenom from Great Britain, led in points throughout the season and seemed on track to become the first rookie ever to win the F1 title. Early in the race, a gearbox failure forced Hamilton into 18th place, but he charged back into seventh before falling just short of the title, as Kimi Raikkonen’s win allowed him to finish one point ahead of Hamilton and his McLaren racing teammate, Fernando Alonso, in the final standings.

Rutgers 53 – Duke 52

Duke dominated women’s college basketball, compiling a 32-1 record entering a Sweet 16 game against a young Rutgers team. With her team trailing 53-52 with 5.6 seconds left, Duke’s Lindsey Harding, the ACC Player of the Year, stole a pass, drove to the basket and was fouled with .1 second left. Two foul shots followed: She needed to make one to tie, two to win. Harding missed them both, and lay distraught on the floor. Rutgers went all the way to the national championship game and was dragged into a national scandal after Don Imus made racist and sexists remarks about the team’s players.

France 20 – New Zealand 18

In New Zealand, rugby is the national sport. And the country’s team, the beloved All Blacks, were the favorite at this year’s World Cup. But the haka — the ritual dance the All Blacks perform before matches — didn’t frighten the French, as Les Bleus came back from a 13-0 deficit to upset the Kiwis, 20-18, in the quarterfinals. The rally set up a French showdown with England in the semifinals in Paris; the French fell 14-9, and South Africa beat England in the finals.

Barton College 77 – Winona State 75

It was all over. Winona State of Minnesota, winner of 57 consecutive games, was beating Barton College of North Carolina, 74-67, with 45 seconds left in the NCAA Division II men’s basketball championship game. Then Anthony Atkinson scored eight straight points for Barton, including a reverse layup to tie the game at 75, with 7.6 seconds remaining. Winona raced down the court for a game-winning shot, but a Barton player stole the ball and threw it ahead to Atkinson, whose layup at the buzzer gave Barton an incredible national title.

 

Author: Time.com