THE GREATEST SPORTING MOMENTS
Greatest Sporting Moments of the last 100 years
The world of sport has conjured up some memorable moments that have gone down in history.Be if for an amazing individual achievement, a world first or for a triumph against all odds, there have been events which even the most imaginative of sports betting followers could not have predicted.
We take a look at ten events over the past centuries that each stunned the world of sports betting.
Rumble in the Jungle – Ali v Foreman, 1974
Muhammad Ali fought George Foreman in Zaire on 30th October 1974 in a fight that many believe was the greatest in history. The event took place in the May 20 Stadium in Kinshasa and was Don King’s first venture as a boxing promoter. George Foreman was the then Heavyweight champion of the World and was considered as heavy odds-on by the boxing betting community to retain his title (1/3).
Ali on the other hand appeared to be on the decline in his career. He had been suspended from 1967 to 1970 for refusing to enter the army and he had been beaten by Joe Frazier in 1971. The form book said that there could only be one winner and that was Foreman. The current champion had demolished Ken Norton (who had broken Ali’s jaw) and then had gone on to knock out Frazier comprehensively.
The fight started at 5am local time to accommodate American TV. It was a stunning fight with Ali allowing Foreman to punch him with no counter attack except from the occasional taunt. Ali lent on the ropes as Foreman burnt up all his energy in what Ali later described a ‘rope-a-dope’ tactic.
Foreman began to tire and against all odds Ali produced an amazing combination to floor the champion in the eighth round. Ali regained his title in a clash that and stunned the sports betting world. The ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ will never be forgotten and many believe to be one of the greatest sporting moments in history.
Botham’s Ashes, 1981
The 1981 and 59th Ashes series in England started very badly for Ian Botham and his England team. After the first two tests of the series, England were already 1-0 down and looked down and out. Botham had been dismissed in both 2nd test innings without troubling the scorers and was forced to resign as captain. Mike Brearley took over the reigns for the 3rd Test at Headingley and even at that point, the cricket betting community were predicting an England defeat.
Australia won the toss and chose to bat. They went onto declare at 401/9 and Botham took 6 for 95. England’s batting line up then collapsed and they were all out for 174 (Botham top scoring with 50). England were forced to follow on and they finished the day on 6 for 1 (still 221 behind Australia’s first innings score). England were rated as 500/1 shots that evening, enough to put off even the most optimistic cricket betting fanatics as an Australian triumph seemed inevitable.
The next day things got even worse as the hosts were reduced to 105 for 5 and Botham walked out to bat. As his partners fell away, Botham was left with England 135/7 with the end in sight. He then went on to produce one of the greatest innings of all time to end on 149 not out to give England a lead of 124. Australia batted and after Botham took the first wicket cheaply, Bob Willis skittled the Aussies finishing with 8-43 as England won sensationally by 18 runs.
Botham was the star of the remaining matches of the series as England won the Ashes. However, it was the third test that will always be remembered.
Roger Bannister’s 4 minute mile, 1954
On 6th May 1954, Roger Bannister entered the record books. After failing at the previous Olympics in 1952, he was trying to defy the odds and break the 4 minute record for the mile. The event took place a meeting between the British AAA and Oxford University at the Iffley Road Track in Oxford.
Bannister looked set to withdraw from the event as the winds were gusting and he wanted to conserve his energy. Just before the race, the winds dropped and Banister decided to compete and ran a mile in 3 minutes 59.4 seconds to become the first man in history to break the four minute mile mark. Today, the one mile record stands at 3.43.13, who would bet on that being broken?
England winning the World Cup in 1966
Little has to be said about the only successful English football team in history. On July 30th 1966, almost 100,000 people packed Wembley Stadium to see the greatest moment in English football. England, managed by Alf Ramsey and captained by Bobby Moore went onto win the 1966 World Cup. The game itself was a thriller with the German’s snatching a last gasp equaliser to send the game into extra-time.
After 11 minutes of extra-time, Geoff Hurst scored one of the most controversial goals of all time when the Russian linesman, Gottfried Dienst, concluded the ball had crossed the line. The Germans threw everything forward in the last few minutes desperately trying for an equaliser. In the last minute, Kenneth Wolstenholme of the BBC commentated on the most famous goal in English football… ”and here comes Hurst he’s got…. Some people are on the pitch, they think it’s all over, it is now!” The rest as they say is history.
Beamon’s World Record Jump, 1968
Bob Beamon was born in New York in 1946 and will be remembered for his feats in the Summer Olympics in Mexico City in 1968. His long jump was one of the greatest individual sporting performances ever as his record stood for 23 years. Prior to his jump, the record for the long jump had been broken 13 times since 1901 and by small increments each time. Bob Beamon’s jump of 8.90m smashed the record by an incredible 0.55 metres as he became the first man to reach both 28 and 29 feet.
Manchester United’s European Cup, 1999
The 1999 European Cup Final was played at the Nou Camp in Barcelona and featured probably the most dramatic finish to a major football final ever. Two injury-time goals gave Manchester United an unprecedented ‘Treble’ in amazing circumstances.
As injury time approached, United were 1-0 down and those who’d backed German opponents Bayern Munich were looking forward to cashing in their winning football bet. Just 3 minutes later, United were Champions of Europe with the two substitutes (Solskjaer and Sheringham) winning the Cup in extraordinary circumstances. The match commentator Clive Tyldesley summed it up at the end of the game when he said, ‘History is made, Manchester United are the Champions of Europe again and nobody will ever win a European Cup final more dramatically than this.
Champions of Europe, Champions of England, the FA Cup holders, everything their hearts desire. United fans will ask where did you watch the 1999 European Final? Where did you see Ole Solskjaer win it with virtually the last kick of the final?’
Aldaniti’s Grand National, 1981
The 1981 Grand National proved to have a fairytale ending and was immortalised by the film ‘Champions’. Bob Champion was diagnosed with cancer and given a prognosis of only a 40% chance of survival. He lost his strength and hair as a result of chemotherapy, but managed to get his fitness back to ride Aldaniti in the most gruelling race of the year – the Grand National.
Aldaniti himself was coming back from serious injuries and had only two races under his belt in 17 months. The pair got round the Aintree course and Champion steered Aldaniti home four lengths clear of the favourite Spartan Missile. It was a magical result that truly earns its place in the greatest sporting moments of the century.
Jack Nicklaus’s 6th Masters at the age of 46, 1986
Jack Nicklaus was nicknamed ‘The Golden Bear’ and became the greatest golfer of all time. He claimed a record 18 majors in a career spanning 25 years. Nicklaus' career record is unparalleled. His collection of winner’s trophies is staggering with 3 Open titles, 4 US Open titles, 5 PGA Championships and the Masters a record 6 times.
It was Augusta that he truly made his home. He won more green jackets than any other player and appeared a staggering 43 times there. He first landed the Masters in 1963 but he will be remembered for the moment he reclaimed the title some 23 years later at the age of 46. He started the final day four shots adrift of the overnight leader – Greg Norman. He fell further behind over the front nine but a staggering 30 over the back nine saw him clinch an unbelievable sixth title by one shot.
It has been said that nobody will replicate the achievements of arguably the greatest ever golfer although there are a growing number of golf bets backing a certain Tiger Woods to beat the Golden Bear’s records.
Red Rum’s third Grand National, 1977
Red Rum entered himself into the Racing history books when winning his third Grand National in 1977. His record at Aintree was staggering having won the race in 1973, 1974 and 1977. Let’s not also forget that he was a gallant runner up in both 1975 and 1976. Before the race there had been a lot of controversy as to whether the twelve-year old should take part.
Many felt that he was too old to take part in such a dangerous race. The horse came home well clear of second-placed Churchtown Boy to record a remarkable victory. ‘Rummy’ not only became a favourite amongst the racing betting community but also became a national celebrity and often was seen at the opening of supermarkets and other events such as leading the National Parade. Fittingly, Rummy is buried beside the winning post at Aintree.
Jesse Owens wins 4 golds at Berlin Olympics, 1936
James Cleveland Owens was born in Alabama in September 1913. He is seen as the greatest Athlete of all time and will be remembered for his four gold medals in the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin. Adolf Hitler was using the games to show the rest of the world a resurgent Nazi Germany.
Nazi propaganda had depicted ethnic Africans as inferior. Owens answered them in emphatic style with four gold medals in the 100m, 200m, long jump and 4 x 100m relay. When the black American won his fourth gold medal he became a sporting legend for all time – certainly not what Adolf Hitler had envisaged.
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