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!

My Top 10 Favourite Sporting Moments Of All Time

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 Owen takes on Argentina
Yes, England suck at the big tournaments, but in the 1998 World Cup, its newest starlet, Liverpool’s Michael Owen provided one simply magical highlight. Collecting the ball close to the middle of the field, Owen got into higher gear and went past two Argentinean players before slotting it past the keeper. It didn’t matter that England eventually lost the game.

9 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.

8 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.

7 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.

6 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.

5 The Michael Jordan “switch”
B-Ball fans would surely remember this one. It was Game 2 of the 1991 NBA Finals (the first time Jordan’s Chicago Bulls were in the Finals) vs the LA Lakers. Jordan went to the hoop with his right hand like he was going to dunk the ball. But instead, in mid-air, he switches to his left hand and laid up the ball. Poetry in freakin’ motion.

4 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.

3 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.

2 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??? ...

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1 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.

10 Films I Watch Over And Over

Inspired by a piece on ew.com recently, here’s my list of the 10 films I can watch over an over and over again...

Return Of The Jedi
Not the best, but Jedi is in fact my favourite Star Wars film. I even liked the ewoks, ok?

School Of Rock
Rock 'n' roll and comedy. And Jack Black! How can it get any better than this? Fave bit? Every time Jack Black launches into a song… His facial expressions are priceless. And for the record, I have the VCD, DVD and soundtrack to boot.

Nacho Libre
Another Jack Black flick. Hugely underrated, but loaded with awesome and awkward dialogue, like: “Chancho, sometimes when you’re an adult, you wear stretchy pants in your room. It’s for fun”. Haha!

Jerry Maguire
Yeah, yeah… I’m also quite the romantic. There, I said it. And with a sports setting, I’d watch this 12 times in 24 hours, no prob. It completes me.

Cocktail
Tom Cruise makes great dude movies, and this one made me want to go to New York and work at a bar more than anything else in life at that time. The waterfall scene is not too shabby either.

...

Ali Setan
So many great lines, and funny till today. It was 1Malaysia before the concept existed. And yes, I had a crush on Ogy. A huge one.

Notting Hill
A quiet romantic flick that gets better with every viewing. A fantasy every guy can relate to, no?
...
Back To The Future 2
The cool “futuristic” gadgets, the slightly-confusing plot, memang best lah. There’s no better Time Machine movie out there till today.

Braveheart
When I first saw it, I couldn’t stop thinking about it for days. It raises your spirits and makes barbaric seems romantic. The true power of a film.

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Superman 2
So yeah, he gets all lovey-dovey and loses all his powers. But the 3 equally-powerful baddies was a great idea, and I simply love the opening Eiffel Tower scene. Altho I do despise Lois Lane.

My Top 10 Favourite Hard Rock Songs Of The 80s

About a month ago I came up with a similar list for Pop songs, and till today there are still those who feel very tak puas hati. Hey, personal lists are supposed to subjective ok? And the fun is always in the debate! So peeps, feel free to agree or disagree with me again…

10. Rock You Like A Hurricane by Scorpions
It was probably the first rockin’ riff I ever truly appreciated. And who didn’t love Scorpions back then in Malaysia? Just too bad they’re worshipped more for the sappy ballads over here.

9. Why Can’t This Be Love? by Van Halen
‘Jump’ was their biggest hit, but this was the Van Halen tune that got me reaching for the “repeat” button non-stop. Love the keyboards, the understated yet mesmerizing solo and Sammy Hagar brings “heavy tenderness” like no one else. Fact.

8. Dr Feelgood by Motley Crue
Fuh, what a song this is. From the awesome drums by Tommy Lee to the riff to Vince Neil’s vocals, this is the perfect Crue song. The guys had gone clean by that point in time but the music’s as dirty as ever. What a classic.

7. Heavy Chains by Loudness
Oh how I loved this Japanese outfit back then. Bought the T-Shirt as well, and here’s a riff that I practiced day and night to get it right. Didn’t really understand what he was singing about, but it rocked my socks off nonetheless.

6. Every Rose Has Its Thorn by Poison
Yeah, yeah, it’s such a simple power ballad. Yet, I still have it on good rotation on my iPod. And I bet you do too. Don’t bluff lah…

5. Nobody’s Fool by Cinderella
Oh yeah, I was a big Cinderella fan. Bought the T-shirt, bracelet and whatnot. Vocalist Tom Keifer had one of the most unique voices and ‘Nobody’s Fool’, taken from their classic debut album, ‘Night Songs’, demonstrates best the band’s dark and bluesy qualities.

4. Pour Some Sugar On Me by Def Leppard
How can this list not have Def Leppard? So many good songs, cacat drummer and all. But of course this one tops it all. It’s pure fun rock n roll that you could sing along to. Everybody now: “Pour some sugar on me, oooo, in the name of love…”

3. Sweet Child O Mine by Guns N Roses
Overplayed to death a good number of years, but come on, that guitar lick by Slash will forever give you that special sensation to simply rock out. Although, I know you’re still wondering what the answer to “where do we go now?” is, right?

2. Master of Puppets by Metallica
I remember hearing the tune for the first time and was completely blown away by the speed and heaviness of it all. “People can really play like this, ah?” I thought. Duh, they're Metallica, of course can lah! It’s a piece of metal classic. Full stop.

1. Living On A Prayer by Bon Jovi
It had to be a Bon Jovi song, didn’t it? I mean, this was what 80s glam rock was all about: Band members in boots and bandanas, a big sing-along chorus and the video with Bon Jovi himself flying about took the tune a few notches up. God bless Tommy and Gina…

My Top 10 Favourite Pop Songs Of The 80s

So I’ve had this list on my mind for, well, since the 80s, but have never really made the effort to write it down. Which is kinda weird, since I LOVE lists… Anyway, here it is then. Feel free to agree with me.

10. Every Breath You Take by The Police
Best stalker anthem of all time. And with one of the most memorable bass lines ever. See, you’re already playing it in your mind.

9. Don’t Be Cruel by Bobby Brown
Picad was never the same again after this tune came out. Too bad Bobby’s FUBAR-ed (look it up). Hey, life is cruel, after all.
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8. With Or Without You by U2
Funny that I appreciated this song more these past 15 years then when it first came out, but it’s a classic no less.

7. Careless Whisper by George Michael
George Michael on his own and he nailed it with this awesome ballad. And I’ve got some pretty private memories attached to this masterpiece. Ahem.

6. In A Big Country by Big Country
Best. (Fake) Bagpipe. Song. Ever.

5. Wake Me Up Before You Go Go by Wham!
Yeah, yeah, the dudes wore totally gay hot pants in the video, but only George Michael can write this kind of super catchy stuff. Altogether now, “You put the boom boom into my heart…”

4. The Reflex by Duran Duran
“The Reflex” represents all the best stuff about a typical Duran Duran tune – it’s catchy, danceable, and lyrically perplexing. Flex flex flex flex flex…

3. Beat It by Michael Jackson
Most people prefer “Billie Jean” but “Beat It” is the better song for me. MJ actually looks and acts like a man here, and oh yeah, there’s that bit of awesome solo-ing by Eddie Van Halen to boot.

2. Take On Me by A-Ha
The keyboard lick is genius, and Morten Harket could hit notes that exist only on Mars. And don’t even get me started on the revolutionary music video.
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1. When Doves Cry by Prince
Yes, I’m probably the biggest Prince fan this side of purple. And “Doves” is my totally favourite Prince tune of all time. It’s catchy, it’s dirty and it’s a damn good song. Period.

Next: My Top 10 Favourite Rock Songs Of The 80s