Upon Further Review: Sports make for great memories
As most of you may know Mr. Nunley is out of the office this week on something called a vacation. I’m not sure what that is since it’s been so long since I’ve had any time off. It seems like yesterday when Rob was gone for a week, while on his honeymoon.
When Rob is out of the office I usually like to take a few cheap shots at his golf game. But this year we have been so busy, especially Rob getting married and taking vacation, that we have had little time to get in any rounds of golf.
The other night as I was working late into the wee hours of the morning. I came across a few old sports classics on TV and it got me thinking. I know that’s a shock to most of you, but as I looked back over the years I tried to come up with a list of some of my favorite sports moments.
One of my favorite memories of all time was when Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth’s homerun record in 1974. Aaron tied the record on April 4 hitting one off of Cincinnati’s Jack Billingham.
I guess this record has special meaning to me as I was at Fulton County Stadium when “Hammerin” Hank hit his 700th round-tripper. I got to see a lot of Braves baseball back in the 70’s and it brings back great memories.
I remember sitting around the radio listening with my dad to the first Frazier-Ali fight in 1971. It was some time before we got to watch it on TV but it was one of the most memorable sporting events I can remember. It was the first time in history two undefeated champions fought for the same title and Frazier sealed the win with a knock-down in the 15th round.
The 1974 rematch, Ali won and then came the greatest fight in history at least I think so. The 1975 Thrilla in Minila, which Ali won when Frazier couldn’t answer the bell to start the 15th round.
In 1982 one of the greatest tennis matches between two great players happen at Wimbledon. Jimmy Connors defeated John McEnroe in five sets, with the championship being determined by a tie-breaker. The match lasted all most four-hours as Connors won Wimbledon that year.
Hale Irwin won the 1990 U.S. Open at the age of 45 in an 18 hole play-off. Now this was a great moment for any golfing fan.
I have to go back to the 70’s for just a moment. Ted Turner’s raised a few eye brows in 1977 when he took over duties as manager of the Braves. Turner who owned the team decided after the Braves went on a 17 game losing streak he would take over as manager. But baseball commissioner Bowie Kuhn sent Turner right back up stairs to the his luxury box after one game.
When Kirk Gibson launched his game-winning home run in the 1988 World Series he stepped into history. If you recall Gibson was injured and could barley walk. But he stepped to the plate and off of Dennis Eckersly slapped one over the fence. What a site as he hobbled around the bases, pumping his fist.
Now I could go on and on and maybe someday I’ll try to make a list of my top 20 favorite moments in sports. Hopefully some of these great moments I just mentioned will bring back a few of your special moments in sports.
Just take a few moments each day, while your at work and think of some of your favorite sporting memories, it will put a little smile on your face.