Greatest moment in boxing history

[Engine512]

I am not sure you can narrow all of boxing history down to just one great moment. There are many great chapters in boxing history, and they all deserve recognition. Saying Hagler Vs Hearns in 3, or 4 rounds was the great moment in boxing history kind takes a dump on a lot of great moments in boxing history.

[billeau2]

So much so, in my hometown little league baseball was separated into three divisions named: Minors (7-9), Majors (10-11), and Babe Ruth (12-13). The guys who made it to the Babe Ruth division strutted.

An interesting metric: There is an old saw around... Dependingm, the person in this tale can be Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, or Muhammed Ali. The setting changes as well, but is usually in England. So the story goes... The Queen was in a procession and her very determined, somewhat aggressive, Queen's guard was clearing the way, where-upon some Americans were encountered. Depending on the athlete cited, the setting can be either a post war parade, to simply a procession in modern times (For Ali). As the Americans are rudely jostled to "make way" one of the Muricans says "To H ell with your Queen!" Where upon a member of the Guard returns fire by uttering "Oh yeah, well to H ell with (insert one of the three names).

[billeau2]

So many huge moments, how do you choose? Not that I think it IS the biggest moment, but I figure I'd throw it in the mix for consideration: How about a 45-1 underdog winning the Heavyweight Championship with a dominant performance finished off with a brutal KO?

I believe there is an existential element to these great moments. We could assign them a value for sure... I mean, Joe Louis as having the weight of a nation on his shoulders when he fought Schmeling the second time, versus a home run at the most opportune time (Bobby Thompson the Giants, or the Babe predicting a shot for a kid in the hospital [allegedlly])... But there is something to be said for the sheer energy one experiences being part of such an event that seems uniform in its special quality.

I think back to my childhood when the Yankees were playing the Royals for the pennant and Chris Chamblis hit a series winning home run... you could hear New York scream!! Or when I decided to slack off on a paper for grad school and catch the Douglas Tyson fight at the sports bar... I just cannot imagine how much "more" (for lack of a better word) these events could be! I mean could we quantify some as more special than others? I kind of wonder... If The Most High grants one this experience, it almost is religious, spiritually so, in some respects... Regardless of the specifics.

It was the experience as a whole and certainly if one was lucky enough to be sitting when the USA olympic team beat the Canucks for the Gold. that sounds impressive compared to opening up a window, as Chamblis could not even get to home plate (the plate had to be brought to him lol), but the experience, I suspect was very similar.

I mean there has to be a threshhold. Even if one is a fan... A good win is not automatically the same as one of these events we are talking about. Though I wonder what that threshhold is lol.

[Willie Pep 229]

I believe there is an existential element to these great moments. We could assign them a value for sure... I mean, Joe Louis as having the weight of a nation on his shoulders when he fought Schmeling the second time, versus a home run at the most opportune time (Bobby Thompson the Giants, or the Babe predicting a shot for a kid in the hospital [allegedlly])... But there is something to be said for the sheer energy one experiences being part of such an event that seems uniform in its special quality.

I think back to my childhood when the Yankees were playing the Royals for the pennant and Chris Chamblis hit a series winning home run... you could hear New York scream!! Or when I decided to slack off on a paper for grad school and catch the Douglas Tyson fight at the sports bar... I just cannot imagine how much "more" (for lack of a better word) these events could be! I mean could we quantify some as more special than others? I kind of wonder... If The Most High grants one this experience, it almost is religious, spiritually so, in some respects... Regardless of the specifics.

It was the experience as a whole and certainly if one was lucky enough to be sitting when the USA olympic team beat the Canucks for the Gold. that sounds impressive compared to opening up a window, as Chamblis could not even get to home plate (the plate had to be brought to him lol), but the experience, I suspect was very similar.

I mean there has to be a threshhold. Even if one is a fan... A good win is not automatically the same as one of these events we are talking about. Though I wonder what that threshhold is lol.

I just want to suggest . . . The Bobby Thompson HR is more the history of Brooklyn and 'them bums' than it is about the Giants' come-back run.

If you take all the USUAL variables into account, Bill Mazeroski's walk-off homerun, in game seven of the 1960 World Series, should be baseball's most memorable moment.

1. First these are the Yankees who would go 9-3 in WS play from 1949-1962.
2. The Pirates were a second tier team, not having been in the Series for 33 years, since 1927. Where they then lost to the '27 Yankees in four straight.
3. The Yakees also outscored the Pirates 2-1 over the 1960 seven game series.
4. Then a slap-ball hitter, a second baseman, hits a walk-off HR.
5. The ONLY World Series walk-off, 7th game HR, in baseball history.

So why does no one remember that one?

Why do they remember Thompson's HR?

There is something odd about Bobby's Thompson's HR. Hell, it wasn't even a World Series game. And then the Giants lost the World Series to the Yankees in five games anyway.

It is today infamous, not famous, because of what it did to Brooklyn. And that was in 1951.

Brooklyn still had three more seasons of disappointment ahead, to add to their previous five 'almost' seasons, before they finally got the monkey off their back in 1955. I.e. Each subsequent year Thompson's HR grew even more imfamous.

A grueling nine year run for Brooklyn. Then the Dodgers moved west (LOL)

What Thompson's walk-off is, is just the definitive highlight of a eight year Brooklyn tragedy.

You could call this "existential," it fits, but sport wise we just say Brooklyn was 'snake bit.'

I guess that makes it the greatest moment. But I think it should be Bill Mazeroski's HR.

[Biledriver]

I just want to suggest . . . The Bobby Thompson HR is more the history of Brooklyn and 'em bums' than it is about the Giants' come-back run.

If you take all the USUAL variables into account, Bill Mazeroski's walk-off homerun in game seven of the 1960 World Series should be the most memorable moment in baseball history.

• These are the Yankees who would go 9-3 in WS play from 1949-1962.
• The Pirates were a second tier team, not having been in the Series since 1927. (Where they lost to the '27 Yankees in four straight.)
• The Yakees also outscored the Pirates 2-1 over the 1960 seven game series.
• Then a slap-ball hitter, a second baseman hits a walk-off HR.
• The ONLY World Series walk-off, 7th game, HR in baseball history.

So why does no one remember that one?

There is something odd about Bobby's Thompson's HR. Hell, it wasn't even a World Series game. And then the Giants lost the series to the Yankees in five games.

It is today IMHO infamous, not famous, because of what it did to Brooklyn. And that was in 1951. Brooklyn still had three more seasons of disappointment, to add to their previous five 'almosts' before they finally got the monkey off their back in 1955. I.e. Each subsequent year Thompson's HR grew even more imfamous.

A grueling nine year run for Brooklyn. Then they moved west (LOL)

What Thompson's walk-off is, is just the definitive highlight of a eight year Brooklyn tragedy.

You could call this "existential," it fits, but sport wise we just say Brooklyn was 'snake bit.'

I guess that makes it the greatest moment. But I think it should be Bill Mazeroski.

I think really what made Thompson's homer "special" was the hysterical call of the radio announcer permanently carving the moment into the collective psyche. "THE GIANTS WIN THE PENNANT!!!!!" "THE GIANTS WIN THE PENNANT!!!!!" "THE GIANTS WIN THE PENNANT!!!!!"

[DeeMoney]

Yeah you see it in cities. I have my own theories but there was a real advantage to growing up in California because of the weather, kids could play all year. hence, high school was often a real scouting opportunity. In the East, High school baseball was Meh... But you had divisions of teams for high school aged kids, teams that even travelled. I was actually on one in the Gil Hodges league in Brooklyn. But Ruth popularized the sport! He is a reason for this development, and it was needed in the East... Just look throughout the 50's to the 80's... California had a lot of players in the major leagues, compared to most other states. even beyond the population per capita, as a factor...

As someone who has worked with various professional athletes, and lived in California most of his life, I have studied this a lot and agree with the weather theory as being a contributing factor. It plays a role in football as well.

I would cite that having heavily populated regions that are basically suburban in their layout helps too, there are lots of open parks and fields to play ball at even in the larges cities, moreso than urban centers back east. Also, high levels of competition grow top level athletes exponentially compared to population per capita. You get a lot of top teams out here competing with each other, that iron sharpens iron and makes them even better.

I would also add culture plays a big part. I know I have written this before, but China has far more people than France, despite this France's national men's soccer team is far superior to China's. Its because their culture supports this. California, especially So-Cal (Orange & SD County) has some baseball crazy pockets.

[billeau2]

I just want to suggest . . . The Bobby Thompson HR is more the history of Brooklyn and 'em bums' than it is about the Giants' come-back run.

If you take all the USUAL variables into account, Bill Mazeroski's walk-off homerun in game seven of the 1960 World Series should be the most memorable moment in baseball history.

• These are the Yankees who would go 9-3 in WS play from 1949-1962.
• The Pirates were a second tier team, not having been in the Series since 1927. (Where they lost to the '27 Yankees in four straight.)
• The Yakees also outscored the Pirates 2-1 over the 1960 seven game series.
• Then a slap-ball hitter, a second baseman hits a walk-off HR.
• The ONLY World Series walk-off, 7th game, HR in baseball history.

So why does no one remember that one?

There is something odd about Bobby's Thompson's HR. Hell, it wasn't even a World Series game. And then the Giants lost the series to the Yankees in five games.

It is today IMHO infamous, not famous, because of what it did to Brooklyn. And that was in 1951. Brooklyn still had three more seasons of disappointment, to add to their previous five 'almosts' before they finally got the monkey off their back in 1955. I.e. Each subsequent year Thompson's HR grew even more imfamous.

A grueling nine year run for Brooklyn. Then they moved west (LOL)

What Thompson's walk-off is, is just the definitive highlight of a eight year Brooklyn tragedy.

You could call this "existential," it fits, but sport wise we just say Brooklyn was 'snake bit.'

I guess that makes it the greatest moment. But I think it should be Bill Mazeroski.

Are you suggesting? Ahem!!! I tremble to even insinuate it... But do you dare imply that New York City is not the center of the Universe?!!

Actually I used the Thompson shot "heard "round the world" precisely because of the logic you just employed. Why was this such a moment? Certainly there were more statistically meaningful events in the game. Alas, It represented a colorful area, a real tragic curse of a sort (The Brooklyn Bums)... It broke more hearts than Marilyn Monroe. The real point here is the difference between capturing the hearts of a large group, and what "should" be more captivating.

Thompson's home run did become an international event... people like to show pictures of different women who were screaming when ***** beat Hillary... But photos capturing the faces (on both sides) of this event had incredible gravitas by comparison. Quiet dignity, a look of utter despair, versus utter jubilation.

I cannot decide if this existential allegiance is wonderful, or pathetic. My dad was one of those heart broken lol. I like to think of this as a final reminder that the West Coast and all it portended at the time, would never match the colorful rivalries that took place when there were three teams in New York. Ohhh there were later efforts... The Mets, the 69 Miracle season... My wife's favorite from when she went to school in Chicago "The lovable losers known as the 'Cubbies.'" All these teams never met a baseball they could not drop, or use to alter the course of reality to guarantee they would never "win." The Dodgers were a team that had a bit of boxing to them... They were innovative (Branch Rickey and the signing of jackie Robinson), and the way a typical Brooklynite could identify with them. The Giants had some of that also, but Brooklyn and Ebbets field seemed to really speak to people.

At least the New Orleans Saints had an excuse! It was said that a voo doo spell was placed upon them! When Saints Quarter Back Bobby Herbert (The Cajun Rifle) threatened to take a poke at a reporter? he was summerily told, "Do not bother, as it will probably be intercepted."

[billeau2]

As someone who has worked with various professional athletes, and lived in California most of his life, I have studied this a lot and agree with the weather theory as being a contributing factor. It plays a role in football as well.

I would cite that having heavily populated regions that are basically suburban in their layout helps too, there are lots of open parks and fields to play ball at even in the larges cities, moreso than urban centers back east. Also, high levels of competition grow top level athletes exponentially compared to population per capita. You get a lot of top teams out here competing with each other, that iron sharpens iron and makes them even better.

I would also add culture plays a big part. I know I have written this before, but China has far more people than France, despite this France's national men's soccer team is far superior to China's. Its because their culture supports this. California, especially So-Cal (Orange & SD County) has some baseball crazy pockets.

Amen! I doubt there is an East Coast high school that could come close to matching a Los Angeles public school like Crenshaw High, which gave us so many professional athletes... basketball is the exception and why? Well one reason could be that it can be played both inside and out. So, great high school programs like "Dunbar" in Baltimore could develop talent all year round. The Rutgers (sp?) league in Harlem is so well represented that off season even some professional ball players were said to play in the league.

[billeau2]

I think really what made Thompson's homer "special" was the hysterical call of the radio announcer permanently carving the moment into the collective psyche. "THE GIANTS WIN THE PENNANT!!!!!" "THE GIANTS WIN THE PENNANT!!!!!" "THE GIANTS WIN THE PENNANT!!!!!"

It is said that even the "Frenchest Frenchman," the greenest Martian... could relate to the utter despair of the Brooklyn Bums fans, and the utter jubilation of the Giants.

[QueensburyRules]

I believe there is an existential element to these great moments. We could assign them a value for sure... I mean, Joe Louis as having the weight of a nation on his shoulders when he fought Schmeling the second time, versus a home run at the most opportune time (Bobby Thompson the Giants, or the Babe predicting a shot for a kid in the hospital [allegedlly])... But there is something to be said for the sheer energy one experiences being part of such an event that seems uniform in its special quality.

I think back to my childhood when the Yankees were playing the Royals for the pennant and Chris Chamblis hit a series winning home run... you could hear New York scream!! Or when I decided to slack off on a paper for grad school and catch the Douglas Tyson fight at the sports bar... I just cannot imagine how much "more" (for lack of a better word) these events could be! I mean could we quantify some as more special than others? I kind of wonder... If The Most High grants one this experience, it almost is religious, spiritually so, in some respects... Regardless of the specifics.

It was the experience as a whole and certainly if one was lucky enough to be sitting when the USA olympic team beat the Canucks for the Gold. that sounds impressive compared to opening up a window, as Chamblis could not even get to home plate (the plate had to be brought to him lol), but the experience, I suspect was very similar.

I mean there has to be a threshhold. Even if one is a fan... A good win is not automatically the same as one of these events we are talking about. Though I wonder what that threshhold is lol.

- - While a fantastic moment for Bobby Thompson who was born a Scotchman, it was done with the worst cheating of the notorious Leo Durocher who was so low that he used to organize poker games to cheat his teammates.

He installed a telescope in center field that allowed him to read the catcher signals to the pitcher with an electronic buzzer to his dugout coding out the expected pitch.

That was also the breakout season of Willie Mays who had been previously sent back to the minors.