With Rock-a-Thon fast approaching, WLTL is taking you back to the 80s. The 80s were an incredible decade for sports and saw several ridiculous and iconic moments that have stood the test of time, with iconic radio calls to boot. There were so many great options to pull from, the 1985 Chicago Bears, the Catholics Vs Convicts rivalry, the Showtime Lakers, the Day the Series Stopped, Pete Rose’s Record and Suspension, Bill Elliott hitting 212.81, Johncock beating Mears, Duran besting Lenard, when Gretzky traded the great north for the shores of LA, and the Bad Boy Detroit Pistons among so many other legendary sports moments. I’m AJ Connelly, and are the Top 10 most iconic American sports moments of the 1980s
10) Petty’s 200
At number 10, we have one of the most iconic records in all of sports, when King Richard set his record with 200 career NASCAR Cup Series wins. The record still stands and will likely never be surpassed by any future driver. So we’ll take you back to 1984, when Richard Petty beat Cale Yarborough back to the line by half a car length in the Firecracker 400 at Daytona.
9) Johnson over Bird
At number 9, we bring you to the prime of the Lakers - Celtics rivalry. Here in the 1987 NBA finals, there was bad blood brewing between both sides. In yet another match of Bird VS Johnson, little did anyone know that this would be the last time we saw this matchup for the title of NBA champions, as the upstart Pistons nearly got the better of the Celtics in the conference finals, and would the next year. Despite the storied history of this rivalry, this was a championship firmly in the hands of the Lakers. This was the rivalry that defined the 80s, so we’ll bring you back to one of its most iconic moments. Here is Game 4 of the 1987 NBA Finals, and the iconic Johnson “baby hook”
8) Gretzky’s 77
With number 8, we have the great. Wayne Gretzky set record after record during his tenure in the NHL, but his passing of Blackhawks legend Phil Esposito’s mark during the 1982 season will forever be a legendary moment for The Great One. We welcome you back to Feb 24, 1982, when The Great One took his place amongst legends with a hat trick against the Buffalo Sabres.
7) The Catch
At number 7, we head out to the west coast. The 49ers dynasty of the 1980s led by Joe Montana and Jerry Rice were special to witness. Up against their longtime rivals, the Dallas Cowboys, there was a trip to the Super Bowl on the line. With the 49ers trailing, and only a few seconds left in the red zone, the 49ers would make magic happen and found the team of the 80s. It’s the 1981 NFC Championship Game, and this is “The Catch” by Dwight Clark.
6) Phi Slamma Jammed
With number 6, we have a clash of titans. The underdog Jimmy V and NC State beating Phi Slamma Jamma with an incredible last second dunk from Lorenzo Charles. There’s a good reason the ending is used in promotional material for March Madness to this day, with a finish as amazing as this, it's easy to see why. Welcome back to Albuquerque, New Mexico for the 1983 NCAA National Championship, and one of the greatest March Madness Cinderella stories of all time.
5) Flutie’s Hail Mary
At number 5, we have the game that secured Doug Flutie the Heisman. In a game held the day after Thanksgiving, two powerhouse schools in Boston College and the University of Miami faced off in the Orange Bowl. Jimmy Johnson’s Miami squad seemed to have the game sealed away with 6 seconds to go, but then Boston College would complete one of the most improbable plays in college football history, and a moment which eventually snowballed into the iconic Catholics VS Convicts rivalry. This is the Miracle in Miami on November 23, 1984.
4) Kirk Gibson rips off Dennis Eckersley
Number 4 is one of the single greatest moments in Dodger history. Game 1 of the 1988 World Series was set to be a thriller, the cross state rivalry between the Oakland Athletics and Los Angeles Dodgers promoted to the big stage. Kirk Gibson was originally ruled out of the lineup for the game with injuries, but nonetheless the Dodgers came to play and were trailing 5-4 to a talented Athletics team in the bottom of the 9th. With the tying run on 1st, Kirk Gibson, who miraculously made his way into the starting lineup, stepped up to the plate. This is Game 1 of the 1988 World Series, and this is when Kirk Gibson became legend.
3) The Ball goes through Buckner
Red Sox fans, maybe skip over number 3. Just when the city of Boston thought they were going to beat the curse, it was the startup New York Mets that got the better of them and themselves became one of the most iconic baseball teams of the 1980s. In Game 6, the Red Sox, having choked away the win in the 10th, got caught in a jam and hoped to end the inning at a tied ball game, when the unthinkable would happen. Welcome back to Game 6 of the 1986 World Series, and welcome back to Bill Buckner’s nightmare.
2) “The Band is out on the Field!”
At number 2 is the most infamous play in college football history. The walk off touchdown scored on a lateral by the University of California. The single greatest play in the history of The Big Game, and one that neither side of the Stanford and Cal rivalry will ever forget. In a duel of Gilbert and Elway, the game was decided by a 5 lateral miracle. Let’s rewind back to 1982, when the band was too quick to determine the winner.
1) Miracle on Ice
Number 1 shouldn’t have been a question. It’s the story everyone’s heard, the ultimate story of David besting Goliath. When the young USA hockey team managed an upset victory against the dominant Soviet Union squad. The final seconds of the game were pure serendipity, and the game did wonders for the popularity of hockey in the United States. So let’s go back to the 1980 Winter Olympics at Lake Placid, when the world of hockey was changed forever
These were our picks for the Top 10 greatest sports moments of the 1980s. I’m sure we missed a few of your favorites, so keep in mind that this is only our opinion, and many may adjust the placement of some of these moments or even eliminate some entirely in favor of others. The 1980s were one of the greatest decades for sports of all time, and it isn’t hard to see why. Tune into Rock-a-thon from February 14th to February 16th for more great 80s content from us at the studio, and for more sports, make sure to tune into Tuesday Night Power Hour and Thursday Night Throwdown.
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