greatest sporting achievement of all time

[KaiserJ]

so what was it? how can such a thing be judged?

(before i delve in: i realize there are people here not too hot on RL sports. esports, in the nature of competition, are inherently similar and require a hell of a lot of training and focus. so they also apply here)

i'm not sure what i would pick for myself as a number one but i definitely have some favorites... here's a few that stuck (obviously i didn't watch rocky marciano and some others, but the are things i've studied and that left an impact on me)

- greece winning the 2004 euros as massive underdogs
- micheal phelps 8 gold at a single olympics
- rocky marciano retiring as champion with a 49-0 record
- philadelphia flyers defeat soviet red army team 1976

what events stick in YOUR mind as great achievement(s) in competition?

why do sporting achievements cause such an impact among viewers?

can you get emotionally involved in sports you're watching? (how about with movies too, as a comparison) i've defenitely had tears in my eyes watching some stuff before

i realize this is mostly OT for spring but it's always interesting to hear the viewpoints of people from around the world, as well as the viewpoint of people who don't necessarily enjoy or value sports.

oh and also : will you be watching pacquiao / mayweather next weekend (promises at least by the numbers to be the most important boxing match of all time)

[SwiftSpear]

You think Pac Mayweather will actually run?

I'm an MMA fan. A few highlights I think would be or Fedor beating Arlofski, Anderson Silva beating Vitor Belfort. There's alot of history yet to be made in MMA though.

[KaiserJ]

i think if the fight DOESNT run, it can only be because a) paquiao fails blood test (fat chance) or mayweather gets "injured" ... at this point mayweather has talked so much shit and fallen so far behind in the pound for pound discussion that it's going to be worse for his career if he doesnt fight than if he fights and loses (imo ofc)

i've some favourite MMA moments, thats for damned sure...

- my fedor moment was way back when he beat that 7' tall dude semmy shilt
- pedro rizzo knocking out arlovski is still discussed amongst my friends (strange how arlovski losses are memorable for both of us)
- GSP completely dominating koscheck after koscheck was all "canada sucks, montreal sucks, USA is the best, canada will lose at the olympics, sidney crosby sucks" etc etc and then getting folded like laundry

[SinbadEV]

I don't give a crap about boxing but I have to side with whoever is fighting against that Manny Pacquiao because as long as he remains in the news his name dominates search results whenever I'm looking up information about new "Pac Man" game.

[Panda]

I think that the most memorable gymnastics moment to me was when Mary Lou Retton made a perfect 10 on the vault after sticking a full-twisting layout Tsukahara.

I also thought it was neat how Gertrude Ederle was the first woman to swim the English Channel and read that people who are really into swimming and stuff like that will oil themselves up, shave, and swim in the nude.

On TV, as you know, I really like Ninja Warrior, but I've also always been impressed by Jackie Chan and how he does all of his own amazing stunts.

[Ares]

This isn't a sporting achievement, however, as you mentioned esports I present you with a specimen from that field.

This is Devour playing the last round of the CGS for his team, live in a crowded studio, winning $250,000 playing counter strike source. (If you object to fps games don't watch)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHDV2L9XNbw

Why is it good?
-last round before overtime (from drawing 15-15 rounds)
-he kills 4 of their 5 man team
-his last teammate dies from jumping out of a balcony on low hp, putting the pressure on him (imagine making a mistake like that after playing 60hrs a week for that moment)
-as last alive he clutches vs last two 2
-The final shot. Hitting a noscope in css with an awp is 1 in a million, (as distance increases chance of a shot landing on one specific point becomes exponentially less). Not only did he do that but he landed it through the frame of a truck (severe damage penalty so it had to be a headshot to kill him like that, in combination with the nade he threw earlier). On top of all that a flashbang went off behind him moments before, which would have made it very hard to see!

Illustrates how knowledge of a game really adds a whole new dimension to appreciating a situation like that unfolding! Can be applied to sports similarly, eg albatross in golf.

[KaiserJ]

little phillipino man who has consolidated seven WBC belts (meaning he is undisputedly the best in a weight class) from 112 lbs to 154 pounds ranges... makes him the best in 10 weight divisions. (there are only 18 divisions total.)

i hadn't seen that panda but i googled it (the gymnastics) and it was pretty awesome

i havent seen the 2011 ninja warrior yet but i know it's complete

ares thats just sick; thanks for sharing... to me esports is as much a "sport" as golfing is... mainly based on muscle memory but also strategy and skill (and teamwork of course in this instance) and its amazing to see someone pull off something like that in such a high pressure situation in ANY scenario

the idea of competitive FPS is still very new, it's only really been popular since quake (right?) and im sure we have yet to see the true extent of what somebodys skills can produce; not to mention technology driving us forward into more and more complicated games

[SinbadEV]

On TV, as you know, I really like Ninja Warrior,

OMG that is the best show EVAR!

[Wombat]

On TV, as you know, I really like Ninja Warrior,

OMG that is the best show EVAR!

this

and holy shit, i totally forgot about Pacman fight, thx for reminding ! i expect some memorable moments from this fight, and fight of klitchkos bros (how the fuk i spell that) against haye/adamek (gogo).

i think most memorable moment was when i first wachted ski jumping. dudes jump into the air at 100 km/h speed, fly 200 meters and land without any problems... PFFF.

cant think about anything more interesting atm... maybe trezeguet face after scoring golden goal against italy in one of the finals. DAMN what a match.

[SinbadEV]

Oh man, I remember I used to be really impressed by the best skateboard trick competitions at the X games...

[Wombat]

i remember times when only few were able to do backflip on the motorbike. jaw down

[SinbadEV]

i remember times when only few were able to do backflip on the motorbike. jaw down

Oh man... that thing where they take the motocross bikes off the like 50 foot jump... I am always awed that more of them don't end up dead...

[KaiserJ]

seems related; wheelchair double backflip http://youtu.be/iI_N5T3pmxQ

[Panda]

Fray Tormenta, the Mexican priest who supported an orphanage for 23 years using the money that he made as a lucha libre wrestler.

[SinbadEV]

Fray Tormenta, the Mexican priest who supported an orphanage for 23 years using the money that he made as a lucha libre wrestler.

Wasn't that made into a terrible Jack Black movie?

[Panda]

Fray Tormenta, the Mexican priest who supported an orphanage for 23 years using the money that he made as a lucha libre wrestler.

Wasn't that made into a terrible Jack Black movie?

It was made into a Jack Black movie, but I didn't see it.

[Ares]

In terms of context and historical value, Jesse Owens, four gold medals at Berlin 1936 Olympics. The medals spoke louder than words.

[bobthedinosaur]

star craft is a sport right? what about horse racing? nascar!?

[knorke]

Michael Jordan is/was pretty impressive.
some "top 10 dunkes" video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8M2NgjvicA

always been impressed by Jackie Chan and how he does all of his own amazing stunts.

that too.

well there is motorsport but dont know what to chose so just randoms:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=DE&hl=de&v=PwvIRuCLbyg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdbVshCCtrk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=GB&hl=e ... re=related

can you get emotionally involved in sports you're watching?

I'd say no, its more "wtf how do they do this?" But I am no fan of any specific athlete/team so maybe thats why. When I did judo watching a friends fight was more interessting/exciting then whole soccer world cup is now.

bobthedinosaur:
starcraft is more similiar to chess,poker etc: mental exercise, not sport.

[Wombat]

starcraft is more similiar to chess,poker etc: mental exercise, not sport.

DONT

GO

THERE