Top 10 Championship Matchups since 1990
Introduction
What do we play sports for? Is it for the women that will be all over you when it's all done? Is it for the fame that you'll receive for your great play? Is it for the fun and enjoyment that you receive doing these activities? If it's yes to any of these, then fine, but for most, it's all about the one thing that they wanna do - Win. While it may not be right to sum up sports in a matter of winning and losing, there's no doubt in my mind that watching two evenly matched opponents go at it for the entire duration to prove who is better is the greatest form of entertainment that there is. Better then movies, better then television, better then music. Why? Because it's real. You can't script this. Sure, Rocky may have gotten Adrian's heart in Hollywood, but not everything ends in happy endings. Sports are the one thing on this planet where you can feel the highest of highs after a championship victory and the lowest of lows after a loss, and not even directly affect the result.
Speaking of winning, as you know, each year in every sport we are given a championship matchup featuring the teams that have survived the toll of a playoff run. While sometimes they may not be the 'best' (at least according to some) they've done what they've needed to to get where there at. Now all that's left is to beat one more team, a team that's done the same thing as them, just on the other side of the bracket.
Alas, while there can only be one true winner, this thread is a dedication to both parties involved. You know the saying 'It takes two to tango.'? Well, this thread is a definite example of that where one team doesn't make a great championship matchup. These 10 games/series had it all. Drama. Clutch plays. Defining moments. Maybe even a lil' controversey here and there. Before I begin, as with my last series, sort of my criteria for this list, so to speak:
~More games do not neccessarily mean they will be higher on this list. There is a pretty decent amount of 7 game series' to one game playoffs (in fact it's 7-3 in terms of one game playoffs to 7 game series')
~However, if there are multiple great games it will trump one great game, unless that one great game is a once of a lifetime game.
~Entertainment to myself is very high on my list, but I tried to use it from an objective perspective. In fact, there's only one game on this list that the team that won I cheer for. In fact, more of these teams on the list I hate then like.
~It has to be for a championship. So no 2004 ALCS or 2006 AFC Championship Game. Fought for titles, only.
~It's my list. Don't like it? Let me know why and make your own list.
Now enough of my rambling since this will be posted 9 more times anyways
suspic. Time to get down to the list of the 10 Best Championship Matchups since 1990. And, like always, we'll start with #10 on my list:
Introduction
What do we play sports for? Is it for the women that will be all over you when it's all done? Is it for the fame that you'll receive for your great play? Is it for the fun and enjoyment that you receive doing these activities? If it's yes to any of these, then fine, but for most, it's all about the one thing that they wanna do - Win. While it may not be right to sum up sports in a matter of winning and losing, there's no doubt in my mind that watching two evenly matched opponents go at it for the entire duration to prove who is better is the greatest form of entertainment that there is. Better then movies, better then television, better then music. Why? Because it's real. You can't script this. Sure, Rocky may have gotten Adrian's heart in Hollywood, but not everything ends in happy endings. Sports are the one thing on this planet where you can feel the highest of highs after a championship victory and the lowest of lows after a loss, and not even directly affect the result.
Speaking of winning, as you know, each year in every sport we are given a championship matchup featuring the teams that have survived the toll of a playoff run. While sometimes they may not be the 'best' (at least according to some) they've done what they've needed to to get where there at. Now all that's left is to beat one more team, a team that's done the same thing as them, just on the other side of the bracket.
Alas, while there can only be one true winner, this thread is a dedication to both parties involved. You know the saying 'It takes two to tango.'? Well, this thread is a definite example of that where one team doesn't make a great championship matchup. These 10 games/series had it all. Drama. Clutch plays. Defining moments. Maybe even a lil' controversey here and there. Before I begin, as with my last series, sort of my criteria for this list, so to speak:
~More games do not neccessarily mean they will be higher on this list. There is a pretty decent amount of 7 game series' to one game playoffs (in fact it's 7-3 in terms of one game playoffs to 7 game series')
~However, if there are multiple great games it will trump one great game, unless that one great game is a once of a lifetime game.
~Entertainment to myself is very high on my list, but I tried to use it from an objective perspective. In fact, there's only one game on this list that the team that won I cheer for. In fact, more of these teams on the list I hate then like.
~It has to be for a championship. So no 2004 ALCS or 2006 AFC Championship Game. Fought for titles, only.
~It's my list. Don't like it? Let me know why and make your own list.
Now enough of my rambling since this will be posted 9 more times anyways
suspic. Time to get down to the list of the 10 Best Championship Matchups since 1990. And, like always, we'll start with #10 on my list:#10 Best Championship Matchups since 1990
St. Louis Rams vs. Tennessee Titans
Super Bowl XXXIV
"He came up one yard short. The Rams win by a yard!"
While this game, coming in, was all about the Rams greatest show on turf, it was the defense of both teams that shined throughout. Hell, at the end of the first half we were treated to exactly 3 FGs. However, the game contained one of the most wild endings to a Super Bowl in history. After the Titans tied it up at 16 late in the 4th, the Rams, led by league MVP Kurt Warner (who'd also end up being the Super Bowl MVP) landed a quick-strike, 73 yard TD pass to give the Rams a touchdown lead with only 1:48 left. Steve McNair would do his best to try and lead a great two minute drive and send this game into overtime, and 9 plays and 78 yards later, we would be given the biggest tackle in Rams history, and the claim to fame of Mike Jones' (MIKE JONES!) career:
[YOUTUBE]5SBU8nOiMz0[/YOUTUBE]
While this game wasn't the offensive explosion that people were accustomed to with the 'Greatest Show on Turf', it was nevertheless a competitive game and clearly in doubt until the final tick of the clock went off. The tackle has become one of the most recognizable plays in NFL history and gives it that extra character of sorts that earns its spot on this list at #10. Plus, it helped Warner's story get out there, and I've always liked him.
St. Louis Rams vs. Tennessee Titans
Super Bowl XXXIV
"He came up one yard short. The Rams win by a yard!"
While this game, coming in, was all about the Rams greatest show on turf, it was the defense of both teams that shined throughout. Hell, at the end of the first half we were treated to exactly 3 FGs. However, the game contained one of the most wild endings to a Super Bowl in history. After the Titans tied it up at 16 late in the 4th, the Rams, led by league MVP Kurt Warner (who'd also end up being the Super Bowl MVP) landed a quick-strike, 73 yard TD pass to give the Rams a touchdown lead with only 1:48 left. Steve McNair would do his best to try and lead a great two minute drive and send this game into overtime, and 9 plays and 78 yards later, we would be given the biggest tackle in Rams history, and the claim to fame of Mike Jones' (MIKE JONES!) career:
[YOUTUBE]5SBU8nOiMz0[/YOUTUBE]
While this game wasn't the offensive explosion that people were accustomed to with the 'Greatest Show on Turf', it was nevertheless a competitive game and clearly in doubt until the final tick of the clock went off. The tackle has become one of the most recognizable plays in NFL history and gives it that extra character of sorts that earns its spot on this list at #10. Plus, it helped Warner's story get out there, and I've always liked him.
