1. The Final Shot
With under 20 seconds to go in Game 6 of the 1989 Championship, the Bulls trailed the Jazz 86-85. Michael Jordan took the ball from Karl Malone under the net and brought it down court. Seven seconds, or one basket, would make the difference between a Game 7 or a sixth championship for the Chicago Bulls. His Airness put a move on Bryon Russell, stepped back and let fly. . . swish. It turned out to be the winning shot and what would have been MJ’s final shot of his career. (But he came back from retirement.)
2. Don Larsen’s 1956 Perfect Game
In baseball, there are many records available to break. Arguably one of the hardest is for a pitcher to throw a perfect game in which no batter reaches first base. One can only tie the record. That’s what Don Larsen said after he reached the nearly impossible peak. But Larsen’s achievement is even more impressive: He hurled it in Game 5 of the 1956 World Series. That’s like pitching on a gallon of adrenaline and 10 shots of espresso. Yet he repeatedly shut down premier Brooklyn Dodgers’ batters, famous for their own outstanding abilities, and playing at their best. 27 up. 27 down. For perspective, just 23 perfect games have been thrown in Major League Baseball’s history since 1904. Only Larsen’s was tossed in postseason play. Showing characteristic humility, the 27 year-old hurler jogged off the field after the final strike, slowed only by catcher, Yogi Berra, jumping into his arms to celebrate.