We all have our favorite memories of certain games and times throughout sports history that we remember vividly. I can recall many favorite sports moments in Chicago, but I thought I would share my top five Chicago sports moments of all time.
1. Chicago Blackhawks win the Stanley cup. This is probably my favorite memory in Chicago sports because I remember it so clearly. When Patrick Kane scored the winning goal against the Philadelphia Flyers in game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals, it was an epic moment. The series consisted of many gut wrenching shots and an intense overtime. When Kane scored the goal, no one even recognized the Blackhawks had won until minutes later. The 2010 season was the first season that the Hawks really came together as a team and had strong team chemistry on the ice. They were an amazing team that season, and definitely deserved to win the Stanley Cup.
2. Chicago Bulls win the 1998 NBA Finals. Although I was only eight at the time of this game, I have watched Jordan’s performance in this game on repeat many times. In my opinion, he still remains the best basketball player in the history of the NBA. Many people would agree that Jordan’s love for the game made him a successful player and fun to watch on the court. Jordan’s game winning jumper in this memorable game against the Utah Jazz allowed Chicago to have its sixth NBA title. Jordan was unstoppable and still remains my all time favorite NBA player.
3. The Chicago Bulls draft Derrick Rose. Derrick Rose was, and is, the turning point in Chicago basketball. This season the Bulls made it to the semi-finals, which exceeds anything the organization has accomplished in the past ten years. Derrick Rose was also named the MVP this year, making him the youngest player ever to receive the MVP at the age of 22. With a ppg (points per game) of 25 this past season, he is sure to impress next season as well.
4. Carlos Zambrono’s 2008 no hitter against the Houston Astros. You may be asking why this was a big moment for the Chicago Cubs, but this was the first no hitter for the team in over 36 years. The no hitter was a small reminder that the Cubs may not be the best team in the series, but the Cubs have some of the greatest fans in the league and a great team spirit.
5. Chicago White Sox win the World Series. I know what you are thinking; how can the White Sox and the Cubs be mentioned in the same post? However, this was an amazing series. One special moment was when Scott Posednik hit a homerun in game 2, after he hadn’t hit a homerun all season. The White Sox hadn’t won the World Series since 1917, but in 2005 they made it happen. Chicago baseball hasn’t been at its best since then, but this was a defining moment for Chicago sports.
Recent Sports News:
NFL: The NFL lockout should be ending soon. Both the players and the organizations are planning on closing a deal within the next seven to 10 days, or by July 21st. After a long lockout, both players and coaches are anxious to get on the playing fields.
NBA: While the NFL lockout may be ending soon, the NBA lockout is just beginning. The dispute between the league and the players union threatens to terminate this coming season. Many players, such as Joakim Noah, have considered playing abroad for the time being. With this lockout just starting, it doesn’t look like the players and the league will be finding a deal in the near future.
MLB: The All Star game was last Tuesday night. The National League took away the win 5-1. Prince Fielder hit a homerun for the National League, while Adrian Gonzalez scored a homer for the American League. Although it wasn’t a close game, it drew a huge crowd, as it does every year.
Soccer: The USA women’s soccer team played an amazing game last Wednesday night. They beat France 3-1, which advanced them to the finals of the FIFA Women’s World Cup. The team is taking the nation by storm, and hopefully they will continue to dominate the playing field. They will play Japan for the cup on Sunday night. [Unfortunately, the US women’s team lost the World Cup Final to Japan in overtime Sunday.]