Saturday, November 30, 2024

My Top 10 Favourite Sporting Moments Of All Time (Updated)



(Wrote this some years ago, but here's the updated version!)

It’s an argument that could go on and on, but here are my own personal favourite Top 10 sporting moments of all time…


10 My own layup vs Malaysia

It was 1995. International Islamic University vs the Malaysian National Team in a friendly match. I was playing like crap until that moment. Someone in defence grabbed a rebound and I quickly made a run for it to the other side of the court. I caught the ball beautifully and made the 1-2 step before laying up the ball for 2 points. Against Malaysia! You can just call me Awesome. Thank you.


9 Jonny Wilkinson’s drop-goal at the death

Even Hollywood couldn’t write the script any better. England and Australia were tied at 17 all in the 2003 Rugby World Cup final with only seconds to go in extra time. And when England won a penalty, everyone in the world knew what would happen in the next couple of passages, and Jonny was not to be denied. His kick was perfect. And England became world champions.


8 Kimi Raikkonen snatches the F1 world title

All season long it looked like the 2007 drivers’ title would go to McLaren’s rookie Lewis Hamilton. When it came down to the final race in Brazil, no one gave Raikkonen any chance of winning the crown, being seven points behind. The Iceman needed to win the race while hoping Hamilton would royally choke and finish 7th or worse. And what do you know, that’s exactly what happened! Raikkonen drove a perfect race and snatched the championship by a single point.


7 Alan Kennedy and the Kings of Europe

I was nine-years-old then but I remember waking up at 3am to watch this European Cup final between Liverpool and Real Madrid in 1981. It was goalless in the first half, but deep into the second, Kennedy crashed a beautiful angled shot into the Roma goal for a wonderful win. Ah, the good old days.


6 Mike Tyson brings down Spinks

Tyson was King of the World then, knocking out hapless opponents like they’re nothing. And Mr. Spinks was unfortunately, one of them. I remember sitting down expecting some sort of resistance from Tyson’s undefeated opponent. But the fight lasted a mere 91seconds when Tyson knocked Spinks out with a super right hand. I hadn’t even started on my kerepek when it ended.


5 Michael Johnson’s 200

The conditions were perfect for a world record at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. Johnson looked supremely confident. And when the gun was fired, it was evident that there can only be one winner in the 200m sprint. Johnson ran the race of his life and clocked an earth shattering 19.32. Usain Bolt has topped that time, but Johnson’s run is the one that sticks in my mind.


4 Tiger Woods wonder shot at the 2005 US Masters

It’s The Shot that’s been recognised as the best of the past decade. It was at the 16th Hole. Woods still had a long way to go to the flag. When the ball got there, it stalled at the cup for a couple of seconds (for a close-up on the Nike logo) before dropping in. The commentator asked: “In you life, have you seen anything like that?” Giler ke apa??? ...


3 The Thomas Cup finally comes home!

I bet most of you reading this were in front of the telly as history unfolded. Malaysia had not won the Thomas Cup for 25 years and we were up against Indonesia in the 1992 final at Stadium Negara. It came down to the pair of Cheah Soon Kit and Soo Beng Kiang, and they defeated the mighty duo of Rexy Mainaky and Ricky Subagja in 3 nerve-wracking sets. When Beng Kiang gloriously killed that final point, 20 million Malaysians screamed and cheered their hearts out. I probably cried a little too :(


2 Michael Jordan wins his 6th ring

With 20seconds on the clock in 1998's game 6 of the NBA Finals, Jordan stole the ball from Karl Malone and dribbled up the floor. Bryon Russell took up the job of manning Jordan. Futile it was. Jordan calmly dribbled, cross-overed, and sank the winning shot that gave Chicago their 6th title. Simple and expected, yet majestic in its execution. And with that, Jordan sealed his place as the greatest ever.


1 Klopp and co right before my eyes!

I always say that I've been a Liverpool fan since I was a dot on an ultrasound scan. And growing up, I never even imagined stepping foot at Anfield, let alone celebrating the triumph of winning a trophy along with hundreds of thousands of other Scousers. Which was what happened on 2nd June, 2019. It's a long story how we actually got there, but the fam and I were in fact a part of Liverpool history, welcoming home the team, along with the prestigious Champions League trophy (won the night before vs Spurs) in the heart of the city. YNWA!



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