re: Most Overrated Moment in Sports History

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I think we can pretty much assume that any major sports triumph or catastrophe that happened to a New York or Boston team has been and will continue to be grossly overrated.

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Exactly.

I'll add Bartman to the mix. Turn the damn double play and it's not an issue.

For football, it's got to be the Catch. Yes, it was a good play, but Jesus, the way people talk about it, it's like Montana was throwing the ball over the field goal posts and Clark made a world record leap to catch it.

ETA: I think my Duke hating bona fides are indisputible, and even I wouldn't call the Laettner shot overrated. That was the best game I have ever seen.

Ill go with the darrow kid at tiger woods golf.

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For football, it's got to be the Catch

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The Catch is greatly remembered because it ushered in the 49ers dominance of the 1980's. It was there signature, we have arrived moment.


But as for the play, you're right. It is cool, however, that I have seen NFL films showing Bill Walsh in training camp talking to Montana about that situation, and Walsh said, "If you get in trouble, throw it up high in the back of the endzone where only your guy can catch it." That is some great NFL films footage, considering how that exact thing happened in the NFC championship game with less than 2 minutes left.

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The Cal v. Stanford play, easily

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WTF... Seriously? That was like once in a lifetime. It was pretty incredible enough they were able to score that touchdown, but the fact that the guy bodyslams a band geek just adds so much to the experience. Not really sure how can you find that to be THE MOST overrated moment in sports history over all else...

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Douge Flutie hail mary.

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One of the greatist games Ive ever watched and it ends on a huge throw by Flute to win it. How is this over-rated?

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Most Overrated Moment in Sports History
The Catch.

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I dont get this either.

In a game where the lead shifted back and forth repeatedly, the 49ers took over the ball at their own 11-yard line trailing 27-21. San Francisco marched down to the Dallas 6-yard line, where they faced third down and three with 58 seconds left on the clock. When Joe Montana took the snap, the play, known as Sprint Right Option, was intended to be a pass to wide receiver Freddie Solomon; earlier in the game, Solomon scored a touchdown on that play.[1] However, the Cowboys covered Solomon perfectly. Making matters worse, the pass rush of the Cowboys collapsed the 49ers offensive line. Two of the Cowboys defensive ends Ed "Too Tall" Jones and Larry Bethea, plus linebacker D. D. Lewis chased a backpedaling Montana toward the sideline, and seemed certain to either send him out of bounds or sack him. But at the last moment, and after pump-faking to get 6-foot 9-inch "Too Tall" Jones to jump, Montana threw a high pass to the back of the end zone that seemed destined to sail out of bounds until 49ers receiver Dwight Clark made a leaping grab with his fingertips for the go-ahead touchdown with 51 seconds left in the game. Clark finished the game with 8 catches for 120 yards and 2 touchdowns.

The play, remembered in 49er lore as "Red Right Tight - Sprint Right Option" had called for both the primary receiver, Solomon, and Clark to line up on the right. Montana was supposed to roll to his right and find Solomon. Clark's pattern called for him to cut left across the end zone, stop, and immediately reverse his path to the right. If Solomon were covered, it would be up to Montana to find Clark. Due to the pressure, Montana's pass was high, but Clark was in position to make his memorable grab.

NFC Championship game

Buckner ...

LINK

and the Willie Mays catch.

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Two of the Cowboys defensive ends Ed "Too Tall" Jones and Larry Bethea, plus linebacker D. D. Lewis chased a backpedaling Montana toward the sideline...

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Montana was at best 6'2" and was throwing over a 6'9" Ed "Too Tall" Jones ("Is Ed Too Tall Jones too tall?" -- hell, it's even a tv commercial), while backpedaling and Clark comes out of nowhere and makes a great catch to win the 49ers the NFC ship.

Great throw -- great catch -- great moment.

What else do you want?

Name a better throw AND catch and circumstance.

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I go with "the ball gets by Buckner"

Stanley/schiraldi had already blown that game

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that's a good call... he was made into the goat when there was plenty of blame to go around

the steve bartman cub fan interference falls into the same category... if the team and fans hadn't been so emotionally fragile that didn't have to end with a cubs loss

Miracle on Ice.

That's right, I said it. :ducks:

Sure it was important in a global and political context. But in a sporting context, meh. The call was more memorable than the game seeing as how most people think it was for the gold.