Generically what is the best single play in all of sports?

[Bluedawg]

I don't mean a play that has already happened, I mean generically, overall in sports, what is the best play? A 3-point shot, dunk, home run, slap shot, knockout, 2 cars bumping each other for a photo finish, 85 yard run up the middle, 85 yard pass, etc.

For me it's a throw from the outfield nailing a runner at the plate.

Regardless of the level it's great. We went to watch my [16 year old] daughter's boyfriend's team play last night and the game ended with his center fielder nailing a throw to home plate, square on target and positioned perfectly to allow the catcher to make a tag. We were all on our feet!

[Ben63]

I would have to say a buzzer beater from halfcourt or beyond. The kind where the buzzer goes off when the shot is in mid air and the ball seems to hang forever. And on the off chance it goes in, it is the most exilarating play.

Being the soccer fan I am, a thunderstrike from 40 yeards out is always good, especially free kicks.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=W5XpXU8TBoo&feature=related

[ugadevil]

I'd say the Hail Mary in football. It has to be for the win though.

[Indoor66]

I would throw in the unassisted triple play in baseball. It has happened, but rarely.

"The unassisted triple play (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unassisted_triple_play), a triple play in which only one fielder handles the ball, is the least common type of triple play, and is arguably the rarest occurrence in baseball: it has happened only 14 times in the Modern Era. Triple plays, even of the unassisted variety, are not extraordinarily difficult for major league fielders to achieve; their rarity is due to their dependence on specific circumstances arising in a game." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triple_play

[cspan37421]

I would throw in the unassisted triple play in baseball. It has happened, but rarely.



That's what came to my mind at first, but the problem with it is that it doesn't necessarily require extraordinary skill. It's mostly luck, plus the ability to be at least an average fielder and have decent awareness of the runners.

The Hail Mary is good but often it's just a 50-yard heave with some luck thrown in. If you add evading a sack, and another 15 years or so in the air, a la Doug Flutie vs. Miami, then you've really got something.

I remain in awe of soccer players who can bend their strikes around walls, and break them in either direction.

The bicycle kick can be pretty awesome too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYkdPxRwPVA

at :39

"As electrifying as a hair dryer thrown into a hot tub"

[BlueDevilJay]

Are we talking the most impressive to watch, or the hardest to accomplish? Hardest to accomplish I'd have to go with a baseball unassisted triple play. Best to watch for me are any buzzerbeaters to win a college basketball game, especially in March Madness (see the WKU shot this year in the first round)

[BlueDevilJay]

The Hail Mary is good but often it's just a 50-yard heave with some luck thrown in. If you add evading a sack, and another 15 years or so in the air, a la Doug Flutie vs. Miami, then you've really got something.

Doug Flutie vs Miami was a fluke, BC sucks, Flutie sucks, that play never happened!!! It was created by the same film crew that faked the moon landing :) (I try to drown that play out as much as possible, and yes I do believe we landed on the moon and it wasn't a fake)

[cspan37421]

Doug Flutie vs Miami was a fluke, BC sucks, Flutie sucks, that play never happened!!!

I knew it wouldn't last....

[ugadevil]

Are we listing best as in highest level of difficulty? Most exciting to watch? If it's skill, it might say getting a perfect 10 in a gymnastics routine. Those people are insane.

[DevilAlumna]

I have to vote for the last second buzzer-beater shot in Basketball. Whatever makes the likely winning team the definite losing team because of an incredible shot at the last instance. Doesn't matter if it's a bomb (Dockery) or a well-executed, heads-up layin (Duhon), because it's a dagger either way.

Now, it it weren't "best play," but most exciting event, I'd give my nod to some Olympic events -- 100m dash, 4x100m freestyle relay.

[BlueDevilJay]

I knew it wouldn't last....

Painful memories my friend, very painful. ;)

[2535Miles]

This is a lot like asking a music lover to name their favorite band or to ask a someone who loves food to name their favorite dish. I think it's just impossible. I love this thread though and here's my lame attempt to try and rank these:
1. The buzzer beater in basketball
2. Kick/punt returned for a touchdown
3. Bottom of the 9th home run to win it
4. Penalty kicks in soccer (Thanks for the video Ben63; great shot!)
5. 100 Yard Touch Down Run in Madden 2008 :D

[Bluedawg]

Are we talking the most impressive to watch, or the hardest to accomplish? Hardest to accomplish I'd have to go with a baseball unassisted triple play. Best to watch for me are any buzzerbeaters to win a college basketball game, especially in March Madness (see the WKU shot this year in the first round)

impressive to watch..the play that gets you on your feet yelling and screaming!

[Highlander]

A sudden death overtime goal in ice hockey would be my vote.

It's just amazing to sit there and watch the game knowing that literally, at any SECOND, the game could be over.

[Lord Ash]

An incredible glove save in hockey, where the goalie snaps a surefire goal right out of mid air, is fanastic. The full split toe save is a good one too.

[SlimSlowSlider]

hole in one

[bdh21]

98 yard punt.

[ohioguy2]

Two out,two strike walk off home run. If it is in a play off game, even better.

[Jarhead]

Two out,two strike walk off home run. If it is in a play off game, even better.
Then there is the corollary to that, sort of. Top of the ninth, one out, bases loaded, home team ahead by one run, a hard grounder to 3rd, a throw home, a throw to first, walk off double play.

[Turk]

My favorites:

1. Basketball buzzer-beater
2. Golf hole-in-one
3. Baseball no-hitter
4. Hockey penalty shot
5. Baseball game-winning homer
....
24. Flying suplex off the top turnbuckle
25. Any soccer play (sorry, folks)

[cato]

Beckham et al make an argument for goals from the halfway line (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_tn4VcEkfc).

[YmoBeThere]

The walk off home run is my personal favorite. For me a fast 100 meters is the most exciting.

[Jim3k]

I'm in the unassisted triple play camp for much of this, but any last second-heroic game winner in a playoff is fairly congruent.

I've seen one walk off home run this year with 2 outs (and missed another). And saw one one last year. As a fan it is delicious. Especially sweet when it is against the Yankees, Red Sox or Angels.

The buzzer beater in basketball occurs much more frequently. During the season, I'll bet there is at least one a week. That kind of takes the edge off its being special. Still fun and a great pump for the shooter and winning team, but as a fan it's a bit of old hat.

[Ben63]

Beckham et al make an argument for goals from the halfway line (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_tn4VcEkfc).

Half line goals are not just skill, but the keeper must be off his line to convert, I am more into fancy footwork and touches like Matt Le Tissier's goal v Newcastle.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=93Wjx8L8-Go&feature=related

[rockymtn devil]

1. Punt return for a TD in football

2. Penalty shot in hockey playoff OT (I know, very rare and specific, but great for atmosphere and tension)

3. Remarkable save of any kind in a soccer match

[Ben63]

My favorites:

4. Hockey penalty shot


I think it used to be, but with shootouts after overtime we see them all the time and some of the greatness has worn off because they were so rare, but are now commonplace. Thanks Gary Bettman, I hate you.

[wilson]

The outfielder throwing a guy out at home is definitely mine. I was at a game a few weeks after Jeff Francoeur came up to the Braves a few summers back where he absolutely gunned Luis Gonzalez at the plate...twice. The second time, Gonzo listlessly shuffled back to the visitor's dugout, shaking his head and dejectedly muttering expletives. It remains among my favorite Braves moments I've ever witnessed live.

[xenic]

I don't mean a play that has already happened, I mean generically, overall in sports, what is the best play? A 3-point shot, dunk, home run, slap shot, knockout, 2 cars bumping each other for a photo finish, 85 yard run up the middle, 85 yard pass, etc.

For me it's a throw from the outfield nailing a runner at the plate.

Regardless of the level it's great. We went to watch my [16 year old] daughter's boyfriend's team play last night and the game ended with his center fielder nailing a throw to home plate, square on target and positioned perfectly to allow the catcher to make a tag. We were all on our feet!

Sport: Ultimate.
Play: Greatest.
There's a reason it is called a "Greatest".

[Dukiedevil]

impressive to watch..the play that gets you on your feet yelling and screaming!

Have to go with some football plays and buzzer beaters

In no particular order:

-Watching Devin Hester return a kick for a touchdown.
-Scrambling QB escapes certain disaster and completes a game changing play (see Manning, Eli)
-Buzzer beater by an underdog in the NCAA tournament
-Watching Jordan, Kobe, or LeBron get ready for a game winner at the end of a game when they are down one and the clock is getting ready to run out.
-Watching LeBron or Jordan (and others) dunk on people
-I love good defensive plays in baseball as well... Diving catches, double plays with one guy throwing with his glove and the other guy catching and throwing bear-handed.
-Used to love it when Rickey Henderson got on base and the whole world knew he was stealing two bases

[YmoBeThere]

Wow, I can't believe all the wrong answers I am reading! :D :)

[BlueDevilJay]

If we are talking soccer, you could pull a highlight reel from YouTube of Thierry Henry goals (I cant access YouTube here at work) while at Arsenal and any number of them could be considered the best ever. One in particular he received a pass with his back to goal just outside the 18 yd box, rolled the ball up his leg and into the air, then turned on it and volleyed it (shot before the ball ever touched the ground) and placed it in the upper 90 on the right side of the goal, keeper had no chance. It's one of the prettiest goals I've ever witnessed live (on TV of course) and I nearly fell out of my chair when he hit it. He could turn absolutely nothing, into a goal at almost any time.

[Ben63]

BDJ- This is the one. Link (http://youtube.com/watch?v=wxSILJRd9Kc)

Here is a nice compilation of his top goals, they are fantastic.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=ooBNhVjcR3M

[Exiled_Devil]

Sport: Ultimate.
Play: Greatest.
There's a reason it is called a "Greatest".

I saw a double greatest when I played in college. Which is cool if you're the second guy, but the first guy got ridiculed for not keeping the thing inbounds.

EDIT: For those wondering, here is a good Youtube example of the greatest
http://youtube.com/watch?v=yFFFmbTC9oo&feature=related

Better one: http://youtube.com/watch?v=UFJjWW8MkoA&feature=related

[billybreen]

Triple lending.

[throatybeard]

"Shake & Bake."

I would say:

Baseball: the run-up-the-outfield-wall catch and the unassisted triple play, or hell, any sort of triple play

Basketball: nothing. The > halfcourt shot is basically just luck.

Hockey: any sort of breakaway

Football: the punt or KR for TD, and yes, the QB escape and pass completion

[SupaDave]

You guys are forgetting the play given to Jackie Moon by his momma!!! NO PLAY (and I emphasize 'play') gets the party started like the "alley-oop"!

It is VERY difficult and only those of higher skill AND athletic ability can be counted on to pull this off in the most intense of games.

It can be THE play or PART of the play...

It WINS games - just ask N.C. State - so it can also be a buzzer beater...

When done with grace it can demoralize a whole team (or country if your name is Vince Carter).

It can change the momentum of the game.

It gets the crowd on their feet.

It can make you say "holy sh...!!"

Yes - 'the alley-oop' has got to be the greatest...

(oh and for some - the half-court shot is NOT luck - there are many NBA level players that can hit that shot consecutively)...

[greybeard]

Watching a great game in which one of the above is possible and would be meaningful while in para delecti with a great partner who is as into both as much as you are. Oh, did I say you're both eating warm pizza. Ah, to be young again. :o

[EarlJam]

Single best play in all of sports?

Simple:

THE IRON LOTUS!

-EarlJam

[cspan37421]

LOL at Iron Lotus.

Cringe at Abe Lincoln joke.

[xenic]

I saw a double greatest when I played in college. Which is cool if you're the second guy, but the first guy got ridiculed for not keeping the thing inbounds.

EDIT: For those wondering, here is a good Youtube example of the greatest
http://youtube.com/watch?v=yFFFmbTC9oo&feature=related

Better one: http://youtube.com/watch?v=UFJjWW8MkoA&feature=related


Do you play in the Triangle?
That second link is pretty sweet... off a hammer no less.
I attempted a layout greatest October 2006... I got to the disc, and I got the throw off, but I didn't have a trailer to catch it... unfortunately, the throwing motion rotated my body and I landed on my head resulting in a concussion, an ambulance ride, and headaches that lasted for nearly 6 months.

[devildeac]

A 3/4 length of the court pass, a catch, a dribble or two and a fake and then a soft 15 (or 16) foot jumper for the win...:D Can there be any other "best play" in sports?

[YmoBeThere]

A 3/4 length of the court pass, a catch, a dribble or two and a fake and then a soft 15 (or 16) foot jumper for the win... Can there be any other "best play" in sports?

Yes, apparently you didn't read my post...:rolleyes::D:):eek:

I keed, I keed...just trying to increase my emoticons per post stats.

[Exiled_Devil]

Do you play in the Triangle?
That second link is pretty sweet... off a hammer no less.
I attempted a layout greatest October 2006... I got to the disc, and I got the throw off, but I didn't have a trailer to catch it... unfortunately, the throwing motion rotated my body and I landed on my head resulting in a concussion, an ambulance ride, and headaches that lasted for nearly 6 months.

I am in the triangle, but rarely play. I am more in the 'game time forgot' league around here. I played with them a long time ago, on the field by the field hockey field on east campus. I tried winter league one year, but I travel too much to be around for a regular series of games. I miss the ultimate, but I I also realize that I have permanently damaged my wrists from far too many lay-outs.

[camion]

I'd say the best play is hitting a three point shot just as Billy Packer is opining that you shouldn't take one. Or more generically, ANY play that shuts Packer up.

[xenic]

I am in the triangle, but rarely play. I am more in the 'game time forgot' league around here. I played with them a long time ago, on the field by the field hockey field on east campus. I tried winter league one year, but I travel too much to be around for a regular series of games. I miss the ultimate, but I I also realize that I have permanently damaged my wrists from far too many lay-outs.


Hmmmm. I bet we've played together. It's been many years since I played TGTTF, but I used to be out there pretty regularly.

[CLT Devil]

Either a quadruple-double in basketball (points, blocks, steals, boards)

or a hole-in-one just because it's so hard to get that little ball in that hole

[xenic]

Either a quadruple-double in basketball (points, blocks, steals, boards)


What about assists

[Indoor66]

What about assists

No time for them! :D

[CLT Devil]

make that a quintuple double (??)

[Bluedog]

Either a quadruple-double in basketball (points, blocks, steals, boards)

or a hole-in-one just because it's so hard to get that little ball in that hole

According to wikipedia, (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quadruple-double) there have been only four quadruple-doubles in the history of the NBA:

* Nate Thurmond, October 18, 1974, Chicago vs. Atlanta; 22 points, 14 rebounds, 13 assists, 12 blocks.[1]
* Alvin Robertson, February 18, 1986, San Antonio vs. Phoenix; 20 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists, 10 steals.[2]
* Hakeem Olajuwon, March 29, 1990, Houston vs. Milwaukee; 18 points, 16 rebounds, 10 assists, 11 blocks.[3]
* David Robinson, February 17, 1994, San Antonio vs. Detroit; 34 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, 10 blocks.[4]

I wouldn't call getting a quadruple double a "single play" though, so I don't think it qualifies :p

[throatybeard]

Hole in ones are pretty flukey. The difference between that and a 10-15 putt is basically luck.

[ForeverBlowingBubbles]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CUA21ZIxZI

Make sure you watch until you get to the second replay...

[Tom B.]

For me it's a throw from the outfield nailing a runner at the plate.


How about a throw from the outfield nailing a runner at the plate to win a game -- or in the case of the 2003 Florida Marlins, to win a playoff series? That was pretty awesome.

[rthomas]

A great iron shot onto the green to within 2-3 feet is frigging awesome (which I did yesterday from 150 yards with a 7 for a birdie putt) Almost as good as making a 40 ft putt for a birdie (which I did two days ago although it was luck - but I'll take it!).

It doesn't get any better than that.

[cato]

A great iron shot onto the green to within 2-3 feet is frigging awesome (which I did yesterday from 150 yards with a 7 for a birdie putt) Almost as good as making a 40 ft putt for a birdie (which I did two days ago although it was luck - but I'll take it!).

It doesn't get any better than that.

I dunno, man. You're supposed to knock a 7 pretty close, and a certain percentage will get in the vicinity. I'm not saying it isn't an accomplishment, but in my book, it doesn't compare with draining a 40ft birdie putt. That will make an otherwise attrocious round of golf worthwhile for me.