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Where does today's Landon Donovan goal rank in ALL-TIME U.S. Sports moments?

  • DeyDurkie5
    hoops23;398752 wrote:#?

    i mean....
  • Mulva
    I would put the U.S. men's 2008 Olympic relay swimming gold up there somewhere. It was one of Phelps 8 gold medals and a pretty epic comeback. I don't find swimming to be very entertaining, but I got chills watching that one.
  • Strapping Young Lad
    Ranks at #14.
  • sleeper
    It really depends on how well the US does. If we win the world cup, it'll be huge.

    Then again, would this kick rank above the US winning the world cup? Probs not.
  • lhslep134
    Okay if meaning is one of the biggest qualifiers for this argument, then Jesse Owens HAS to be #1. Black man going up against Hitler? I mean I know Miracle on Ice was important, and that's why it's my #2, but think of the racial connotations of Jesse Owens, not only in Germany but domestically as well when African Americans were still treated like shit.

    So I guess I would rank Donovan's goal at #3 under the condition we advance far in this tournament. I think there have certainly been better US global sports moments, but that also came from teams such as the Dream Team that were simply unbeatable.

    It has been stated on here before, and I'll re-iterate now, but that goal was HUGEEEEEE for American soccer. Not only for the people who play and the fans, but for the younger kids who see the excitement and glory that came with the goal and tell their parents they want to play soccer.
  • Commander of Awesome
    It doesn't rank at all. Its soccer, its Landon Donovan, and it happened at 9:30 am when no one could see it, in a sport that no one likes/cares about.
  • WebFire
  • BigAppleBuckeye
    Commander of Awesome;399632 wrote:It doesn't rank at all. Its soccer, its Landon Donovan, and it happened at 9:30 am when no one could see it, in a sport that no one likes/cares about.

    Would have made a better point if it wasn't the 56th post on the 4th soccer thread on the 1st page. Fail.
  • like_that
    I agree FAIL. Commander of Awesome just went up the Ohiochatter douche rankings.
  • dat dude
    I can't believe its even being compared to the Miracle on Ice. I mean, Algeria didn't even win a game in group play. The US is over 10x bigger than Algeria. The US was a big favorite on the books. We should have won. Frankly, it would have been an embarrassment not to win.

    It was a great moment, no doubt. But nowhere near a top US sports moment for me.
  • BigAppleBuckeye
    dat dude;399672 wrote:I can't believe its even being compared to the Miracle on Ice. I mean, Algeria didn't even win a game in group play. The US is over 10x bigger than Algeria. The US was a big favorite on the books. We should have won. Frankly, it would have been an embarrassment not to win.

    It was a great moment, no doubt. But nowhere near a top US sports moment for me.

    In my original post, I acknowledged that this was BELOW the Miracle on Ice. But I see your bet, and I raise you: name 5 bigger US Sports Moments than yesterday's goal (something with an International impact)
  • SportsAndLady
    dat dude;399672 wrote:I can't believe its even being compared to the Miracle on Ice. I mean, Algeria didn't even win a game in group play. The US is over 10x bigger than Algeria. The US was a big favorite on the books. We should have won. Frankly, it would have been an embarrassment not to win.

    It was a great moment, no doubt. But nowhere near a top US sports moment for me.

    That goal was much more than just a goal to beat an inferior team.

    Just a few examples...this gives the USMNT a chance to be a "top 8 seed" for future world cups, because they reached the round of 16 in 2 of the last 3 world cups. That is huge, becuase it eliminates the possibility of being placed in a group of death. Also, the USMNT usually disappoints in the World Cup then the country goes into "who cares about soccer for 4 more years" mentality, and rightfully so. I wouldn't care much for USA hockey, but since they've been successful, I keep track of them and get pretty excited about their bigger games. Same thing will happen for the US soccer team. They start going far in these tourneys, and the popularity will build. Also, that goal meant a win; a win meant first place in the group; first place in the group means a VERY favorable next 2 games. Being one of the final 4 teams left in the world is exponentially huge for this team, the US, and the world.
  • pinstriper
    Eric Kasilious just put it perfectly..he said that 90% of sports fans jumped out of their seat when that ball went in, and Saturday is must watch tv; the goal pulled soccer out of a grave and put it on the same level as Olympic events - people will tune in with excitement when the Wordl Cup comes around, but they aren't going to watch the English Premier League or anything.
    I think he is exactly right. It was a huge moment because it took soccer to the next level in this country, it made it must watch tv (the world cup) from now on for the average sports fan.
  • dat dude
    BigAppleBuckeye;399676 wrote:In my original post, I acknowledged that this was BELOW the Miracle on Ice. But I see your bet, and I raise you: name 5 bigger US Sports Moments than yesterday's goal (something with an International impact)

    Why would I need an "international impact?" This is regarding "U.S. Sport's Moments," is it not? I really don't care if someone was dancing on the streets in Russia.
  • BigAppleBuckeye
    dat dude;399696 wrote:Why would I need an "international impact?" This is regarding "U.S. Sport's Moments," is it not? I really don't care if someone was dancing on the streets in Russia.

    fair enough ... so name 5 bigger moments! Can't be a Super Bowl, because really only the fans of the winning team are THAT excited when one team wins, even in nailbiters. What else?
  • dat dude
    To be honest, I would name so many right now that would do nothing but piss off the soccer hooligans on here (for example, I would rank "Laettner's shot" higher). Therefore, I think its fair to wait and see how the US does in the next round before giving it a ranking.
  • SportsAndLady
    An Elite 8 last second shot more important than a national teams' last second goal on the biggest stage in the world? GTFO
  • BigAppleBuckeye
    dat dude;399719 wrote:To be honest, I would name so many right now that would do nothing but piss off the soccer hooligans on here (for example, I would rank "Laettner's shot" higher). Therefore, I think its fair to wait and see how the US does in the next round before giving it a ranking.

    So people in New York, Alabama, California, Alaska and Ohio packed bars and celebrated in the streets after that Laettner shot?
  • WebFire
    BigAppleBuckeye;399699 wrote:fair enough ... so name 5 bigger moments! Can't be a Super Bowl, because really only the fans of the winning team are THAT excited when one team wins, even in nailbiters. What else?

    Wouldn't that be true of any non-international U.S. sports moment?
  • WebFire
    SportsAndLady;399727 wrote:An Elite 8 last second shot more important than a national teams' last second goal on the biggest stage in the world? GTFO

    So, you don't think for the majority of Americans, NCAA basketball tournament > World Cup Soccer?
  • dat dude
    BigAppleBuckeye;399728 wrote:So people in New York, Alabama, California, Alaska and Ohio packed bars and celebrated in the streets after that Laettner shot?

    Where did you get that inference?
  • dat dude
    SportsAndLady;399727 wrote:An Elite 8 last second shot more important than a national teams' last second goal on the biggest stage in the world? GTFO

    If Landon Donavan is doing commercials 18 years later about that goal, then it'll be close.

    And, like i predicted, the soccer hooligans will be pissed.
  • Al Bundy
    BigAppleBuckeye;399699 wrote:fair enough ... so name 5 bigger moments! Can't be a Super Bowl, because really only the fans of the winning team are THAT excited when one team wins, even in nailbiters. What else?

    If you want 5 international sporting events that were bigger for the US, here are 5 in no particular order.

    1980 Olympic hockey
    1960 Olympic hockey
    Joe Lewis beating Max Schmeling
    Jesse Owens 1936 Olympics
    Michael Phelps winning 8 gold medals

    Both hockey teams pulled off huge upsets against pro teams from the USSR during the Cold War. Lewis and Owens disproved many of the Nazi beliefs about race. Phelps accomplished something no one has ever done in the modern Olympics. All of these involve world champions.
  • Con_Alma
    Carl Lewis' effort in the "84 Olympics was pretty special also.

    The Summer Games being in the US alone created a buzz around the country. Carl Lewis put his name on the map world wide with his performance as a sprinter.

    His lifetime accomplishments have led to numerous accolades, including being voted "Sportsman of the Century" by the International Olympic Committee and being named "Olympian of the Century" by Sports Illustrated. He also helped transform track and field from its nominal amateur status to its current professional status, thus enabling athletes to have more lucrative and longer-lasting careers.

    At the time he was internationally recognized as one of if not the greatest athlete in the world.
  • BigAppleBuckeye
    Al Bundy;399743 wrote:If you want 5 international sporting events that were bigger for the US, here are 5 in no particular order.

    1980 Olympic hockey
    1960 Olympic hockey
    Joe Lewis beating Max Schmeling
    Jesse Owens 1936 Olympics
    Michael Phelps winning 8 gold medals

    Both hockey teams pulled off huge upsets against pro teams from the USSR during the Cold War. Lewis and Owens disproved many of the Nazi beliefs about race. Phelps accomplished something no one has ever done in the modern Olympics. All of these involve world champions.

    Now THAT was a clear, intelligent answer. And while I disagree with the Joe Lewis and Michael Phelps selections, I respect your opinion. People: take notes, intelligent debate CAN happen ...