It was a weekend unlike any other in the world of sports-fantastic finishes, heartbreaking losses and unbelievable comebacks. Records were set, dynasties were shattered and most importantly, a streak was broken. I decided to take you on a little journey through one of the greatest weekends in the history of sports. Let’s start with Saturday. Although the game featuring Mississippi State and Kentucky was for the SEC cellar, it was nevertheless a football game weekend in Starkville. Riding a five-game losing streak, the Dawgs were in desperate search of a win. Kentucky seemed to be the best candidate to give that up. Trailing 14-10 with around nine minutes left, Kevin Fant found Justin Jenkins for a 76-yard gain, which set up a 1-yard Dontae Walker touchdown to give the Bulldogs a 17-14 lead. After some late defensive heroics, State finally wrapped up their first win since Labor Day. Despite it being only the second win of the season, the students celebrated it like Kentucky was a ranked team. It was college football at its best. People didn’t care about the record. A win is a win. An hour later in East Lansing, Mich., a simple push of a button all but ended Michigan’s chances of a Bowl Championship Series bid. Trailing 24-20 with just seconds remaining, Michigan State quarterback Jeff Smoker had to rush his team to the line, spike the ball and stop the clock so they could run one more play. The clock continued to run, four seconds, three, two, one, zero. There was a little problem though. The clock never hit zero. The clock reached one second and stayed there. Brent Musburger, who was calling the game, called it “home-cooking,” and that was exactly what it was. Michigan State was GIVEN another play, and they made good on it. Smoker found T.J. Duckett wide open in the end zone giving the Spartans a 26-24 win. UCLA was pretty much assured they wouldn’t be playing their bowl game at home (the Rose Bowl), Stanford bowed out of the “run for the roses,” and Virginia Tech’s invitation to Pasadena was revoked.
Game six of the World Series was also played Saturday night in Arizona, and was over by the third inning. The Diamondbacks won 15-2 and sent the series to game seven Sunday night. While the DiamondBacks were clobbering the Yankees, Ole Miss and Arkansas were clobbering each other. Eli Manning led the Rebels on a touchdown drive late in the fourth quarter that tied the score at 17. Typical defensive SEC contest, right? Wrong. There are no more ties in college football, as you know, so the Rebs and the Hogs went into overtime, and then they went into double overtime, then triple overtime, then quadruple overtime and did not stop until the seventh overtime. That’s right, I said SEVEN overtimes. That defensive SEC game I was telling you about turned into a defenseless 58-56 final, in favor of Arkansas. Anyone up for another overtime?
Now we come to Sunday. Ah, Sunday, a day of rest. A day where all anyone has to worry about is what time to finally start on his or her homework assigned the previous week due on Monday. Watch a little football, take a little nap and do some homework. Sunday included some intriguing matchups in the NFL, not to mention the fact that the biggest baseball game of the year was played that night.
I think it’s a safe assumption to say that Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Tom Coughlin hates instant replay. The week before, his attempt to have a Baltimore touchdown called back failed. Baltimore won the game. On Sunday, Tennessee quarterback Steve McNair rushed one yard for the go-ahead touchdown. Or did he? Coughlin didn’t think so. The play eventually stood, and the Titans won. Baltimore beat Pittsburgh 13-10. What is so special about that, you ask? Well, Pittsburgh kicker Kris Brown missed four of five field goal attempts, the last of which would have tied that game. End of story, Ravens win. Last week, Chicago defensive back Mike Brown returned an interception for a touchdown in overtime to give the Bears a win over the 49ers. So the chances of that happening again are slim to none. Trailing 21-7 to Cleveland with around two minutes left, the Bears scored a quick touchdown to pull within seven. They recovered the onside kick with eight seconds left in the game, and threw a hail mary that ended up in the hands of Bears running back James Allen. Game tied. On Cleveland’s first possession of overtime, Tim Couch’s pass was deflected right into the hands of Mike Brown who promptly ran in for the game-winning touchdown. Slim to none, huh?
Mariano Rivera was unhittable in the postseason for the New York Yankees. Rivera had 24 saves in 25 opportunities, resulting in three consecutive World Series championships. His only blown save was in 1997 against Cleveland in the American League Championship Series. Cleveland won the game and lost to the Florida Marlins, who won their first World Series in only their fifth year of existence. Luis Gonzalez of the Arizona Diamondbacks changed all that. In game seven, with one out, bases loaded and the score tied at two, Gonzalez hit a bloop single to centerfield, giving the Diamondbacks their first world championship in only their fourth year of existence. Mariano Rivera has only blown two saves in his postseason career; both resulted in the Yankees NOT winning the World Series.
So, as you wipe the sweat off your hands, remember that weekends have a lot more to offer than parties, homework and trips to the house. Pay attention next time, you might experience a weekend you will never forget.