The top 5 most watched key moments in the history of sports
The present-day sports scenario has evolved at an unprecedented rate with different types of sports distributed all across the world with unique cultural tastes.
It would be redundant to say that our world is changing rapidly. The same is true about our interests and habits. Research shows that our engagement levels are shorter but deeper with any content we come across. We may see a video of a particular moment and feel deeply connected to it even if for a few minutes. Thereafter, we want to move on to the next picture, news, or event. But that one unique moment that we connected with leaves an impression in the recesses of our mind and flashes back whenever we see a reference, however vague, to that moment.
Our inner passion for sport also works in the same way. We all have our “Heartbeat” moments of that one goal or boundary that sticks with us and becomes the landmark event against which we measure all other achievements.
Let us, deep dive, into the Top 5 moments in the history of sports that deserve to be remembered, praised and recognized.
Michael Jordan’s “The Shot”, 1989
It’s no surprise that Michael Jordan is a very competitive person. His legendary shot pulled the team to victory in the Chicago Bulls vs. Cleveland Cavaliers playoffs with perhaps the most famous shot in the basketball history. The changing moment in his career was “The Shot” that he played to eliminate the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 5 of the 1989 first- round NBA playoffs series. The timeliness of the shot, not the expertise involved in it, is what made it famous. Cavaliers guard Craig Ehlo gave his squad the lead 100–99 with three seconds left. That was just enough time for Jordan to keep possession of the ball and hit a 3-pointer to seal the win with a final score of 101–100 giving Bulls the ultimate victory and a remarkable moment in the history of basketball.
Liverpool wins the European Cup for the fifth time, 2005
No European final has ever come close to beating the 2005 Champions League final in Istanbul in terms of undeniable football theatre. As AC Milan were singing in the dressing room at halftime, 3–0 up and confident of victory. Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, on the other hand, had other ideas. Liverpool responded with three goals in six minutes after being pushed forward by their captain, and eventually won the match in a nail-biting penalty shoot-out. Simply one of the biggest comebacks ever seen in a championship game.
The Fight of the Century,1971
The “Fight of the Century,” perhaps the most famous moment in boxing history, refers to the first encounter between Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali. The fight took place at MSG in New York on March 7, 1971. After Ali was banned from the sport for refusing to enter the military, Frazier rose to prominence. They were both unbeaten powerful champions when they met on this day, but something had to give. Frazier won the fight by a unanimous decision after a strenuous 15-round fight. The match between the two boxers was later repeated twice with Ali winning both times. This being an incredible moment in the history of boxing.
The Miracle on Ice, 1980
Under the backdrop of Cold War political tensions, the US and USSR hockey teams competed in the 1980 Winter Olympics. After winning five of the previous six gold medals, the latter was considered the overwhelming favourite to take home the gold. However, this was not to be. With the inexperienced US national team trailing 3–2 going into the third quarter, the “miracle” happened, as they scored twice in the final frame to defeat the Soviets by 4–3.
An unexpected win totally!
Jesse Owens’ four golds, 1936
The Nazis had carefully scripted the 1936 Games to promote their theory of an Aryan race, but they hadn’t bargained on Jesse Owens’ participation. The American swept everyone before him, winning four titles: the 100m, the 200m, the long jump, and the 4x100m relay. Owens defeated German Luz Long in the long jump, and after the award ceremony, the pair hugged and paraded around the stadium arm-in-arm — not exactly the showpiece Hitler had envisioned!
Conclusion
There have been hundreds of unforgettable sporting moments over the years, from almost impossible wins to shows of unrivalled excellence in the history of sports. Every game has a moment that distinguishes and makes it special in the minds of its fans creating a lasting experience for generations to come.
Passion entails in capturing these moments in real time and sharing them with the biggest audience to make it historic. This is where Toch.ai excels. Our technology captures and shares these moments in real time across a range of platforms thereby adding them to the annals of sports history and making them unforgettable.
