1) Aaron Boone HR, Game 7 2003 ALCS vs Red Sox
After falling behind 5-2 in the eight inning following a homer from David Ortiz, panic spread across the Bronx thinking that the Curse of the Bambino could be over (and it ended in an even crazier fashion the following season). However, Grady Little made a decision that will be questioned until the end of time, when he brought Pedro Martinez out to pitch the bottom of the eight. With only 5 outs left until their season ended, the Yankees rallied to tie the game following a Jeter double, a Bernie RBI single, a Matsui double, and finally a 2 RBI double by Posada to tie the game. That was just the beginning of the magic, as the game went into the bottom of the 11th inning still tied at 5-5. Aaron Boone became Aaron "F-ing" Boone as he hammered the first pitch he saw from the knuckler Tim Wakefield over the left-field wall and into history. That moment was as sweet as any of the five World Series wins I was lucky to be alive for. It was also the last time the old Yankee Stadium saw an ALCS win.
2) Shonn Greene's TD, 2011 AFC Divisional Playoff vs Patriots
Unlike the Yankees, the best Jets moment I can come up with is winning a second round playoff game. Ever since 2001 the Patriots have humiliated the Jets while collecting three Super Bowl wins, and two more appearances in the big game. In 2010 the Jets brought in a new coach, Rex Ryan, who brought with him a different attitude. He called out Bill Belichick from his opening press conference, and now less than two years later he had a chance to knock the Pats out of the playoffs and to schedule a date with the Steelers for the Jets. The heavy underdogs took a 14-3 lead at halftime, but no Jets fan was feeling comfortable. Both teams traded TD's in the second half, and the Jets led 21-14 with under 2 minutes left in the game. Instead of running out the clock, Shonn Greene hit the hole hard and scored on a 16-yard TD romp. The lasting images of Rex Ryan running down the sidelines with him celebrating the whole way, and Shonn Greene sleeping on the football will always stick with me.
3) Del Piero scores a goal in his final game at Juventus
This is the most recent moment on the list, but it means a lot to me. Being a fan of the Bianconeri is in my blood, and on May 13th it was time for a party. The week before Juventus clinched their 30th Scudetto for being the best Italian club team on the road, but they had a final game against Atalanta, in their brand new stadium, to celebrate with Juve fans. The day was also a celebration because it would be the last time that Alessandro Del Piero would don the black and white. Del Piero, Il Capitaino, was a fan favorite throughout his 19 year career (sticking with the team along with GiGi Buffon after getting relegated to Serie B following a match fixing scandal in 2006) but his contract was up at the end of the season, and management was ready to let him play elsewhere. It was only fitting that ADP hit a 25-yard shot into the bottom left corner of the net just before the 30 minute mark. The rest of the game served as a farewell party to the iconic footballer, as he finished his Italian career off with a championship for the Turin fans.
4) Frankie Edgar's KO of Gray Maynard, Edgar v Maynard III
Following a grueling draw against Gray Maynard in January of 2011, where Frankie Edgar was almost finished multiple times in the first round before fighting back, the October rematch had plenty of hype. Nobody could have predicted what actually happened during their third fight, and it will be a fight that I will never forget. The first round started the way their second fight did, with Gray coming close to stopping Edgar. However, the Champ from Toms River, New Jersey wouldn't let a little blood stop him. Frankie took over the fight and showed his famous heart and grit over the next three rounds. Edgar didn't want this fight to go into the judges hands like the January fight did, so he knocked Maynard out cold with a barrage of punches 3:54 into the fourth round, officially bringing the belt back to the Garden State, and proving that he belonged as a champion in the lightweight division.
5) Hideki Matsui's 6 RBI Game, 2009 World Series vs Phillies
Going into the 2009 season, the Yankees were going through a little slump (they hadn't won a playoff series since blowing a 3-0 series lead to the Red Sox in the 2004 ALCS) but this season would be different. The team had a season to be remembered, no lead was safe with the modern era Bronx Bombers. They brought that attitude all the way through the playoffs, dismissing the Twins and Angels. After jumping out to a 3-1 series lead, they lost game 5 in Philly, and brought the series back to the Bronx. Some Yankees fans still had nightmares from the '04 ALCS, and panic spread as they thought of losing Game 6 and forcing a Game 7. Hideki Matsui calmed the nerves by going 3-4 with 6 RBI as the Yankees went on to win the game and the World Series 7-3.
6) 2006 World Cup Final Italy vs France
In 2006, Italy made a magical run to the World Cup. After getting out of group stage fairly easy, they needed a Francesco Totti penalty kick in added time to get out of the next round. The Azzuri proved that the Ukraine is weak and feeble (Ukraine is game to you?), beating them 3-0 to move into the semifinals. The game against Germany was another nailbiter, with Italy scoring two goals a minute apart in the 119th minute narrowly avoiding penalty kicks. That was all childs play compared to the World Cup Final against the French. Zinedine Zidane scored off a penalty kick 7 minutes into the game, but Marco Materazzi answered back in the 19th minute. The former Juventus star Zidane, was involved in more controversy, getting red carded for headbutting Materazzi in extra time. The game went into penalty kicks, with Italy hitting all 5 shots (Pirlo, Materazzi, De Rossi, Del Piero, Grosso), and David Trezeguet being only the French player to miss.
7) Jeter's 3,000th career hit
Derek Jeter has always been my favorite Yankee, and on July 9, 2011, he solidified his Hall of Fame career by hitting his 3,000th career hit. In typical Jeter fashion, it wasn't any hit, instead he deposited a David Price pitch into left field. The Captain also went on to record hits number 3,001, 3,002, and 3,003 as he went 5-5 against the Rays that day.
8) 2000 World Series
From the opening pitch until Bernie Williams caught the final out off of the bat of Mike Piazza, this was one of the most hyped, and fun World Series. This was the Yankees third straight World Series win, and beating the team out of Queens made it my favorite in that era. In the first game, the good guys needed a Chuck Knoblauch sac fly to tie the game in the ninth, and finally Jose Vizcaino got a walk-off single off of Turk Wendell in the 12th inning. The second game will always be remembered for Roger Clemens throwing Mike Piazza's bat at him, but a Mets 9th inning rally was cut short by Mariano the Great. Derek Jeter shut up Mr. Met and millions of Mets fans by taking the opening pitch of Game 4 into the seats in the first World Series Game at Shea Stadium since 1986. The Yanks won the Series in Game 5 after a Louis Sojo 2 RBI single.
9) 1998 Jets
After going 1-15 in 1996, the 1998 Jets were on a miracle run led by Vinny Testaverde and Bill Parcells. After starting the season 0-2, Glenn Foley was replaced by the veteran Vinny Testaverde. The Jets finished the season on a 12-2 run, winning the AFC East by a 2 game deficit, and earning a first round bye. In a divisional round matchup against the Jaguars, Gang Green jumped out to a 31-14 lead in the 3rd quarter before winning the game 34-24. The only thing between the Jets and a Super Bowl was John Elway and the Broncos. Despite jumping out to a 10-0 lead early in the 3rd, they couldn't hold on and lost their second of what will become a four-game AFC Championship losing streak. This season turned me into a Jets fan, and despite all the pain I've endured, I would never change. When they eventually win it will be that much sweeter.
10) Brock Lesnar vs Shane Carwin
Brock Lesnar coming from WWE to the UFC is what turned me eventually into a big fan of MMA. After beating Frank Mir at UFC 100 to retain the UFC Heavyweight Championship, it was discovered that Brock suffers from the disease diverticulitis. At the time it was feared that Lesnar may never fight again. Over a year passed though, and "The Next Big Thing" was ready for competition. After almost being stopped in the first round, Brock flashed a smile going into the second round. It was there that Lesnar locked on a arm triangle choke forcing Carwin to tap. Lesnar would eventually lose his title to Cain Velasquez, and return to the WWE after another bout with diverticulitis.
Runner-Ups
Jets Monday Night Miracle vs Dolphins
Derek Jeter Flip Play vs A's
Jets beat Patriots, Week 2 2009 Season
Don Mattingly Playoff HR vs Mariner 1995
Life hasn't been all roses as a Jets and Yankee fan. Here are the 5 worst moments I've had as a fan
Bottom 5
5) Doug Brien misses two field goals in 2004 AFC Divisional Round Playoff vs Steelers
4) Luis Gonzalez Series clinching hit, 2001 World Series
3) Vinny Testaverde tears Achilles, Season Opener 1999
2) William Gay fumble recovery vs Jets, 2011 AFC Championship Game
1) 2004 ALCS
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