The Jason Salas Experience

Since I've covered sports professionally as a TV anchor, columnist, radio talkshow host and blogger, a common icebreaker conversation topic is probing what I hold as most memorable moments in sports history. Here's what I think:

Most inspiring moment:

• Kerri Strug completing a vault with a bum ankle at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta
• Michael Jordan scores 55 against the Knicks in his return to Madison Square Garden after coming out of retirement (his jump-pass to Bill Wennington faked out everyone in the free world)
  
• Andre Agassi defeats Goran Ivanisevic in 5 sets at the 106th Wimbledon championship, surviving 37 blistering aces from the 6'4" Croat
  

Most improbable moment:

• Tino Martinez and Scott Brosius hitting HRs off B.K. Kim on back-to-back nights in NYC during the 2001 World Series (right after 9/11)

Most impressive moment:

• Tiger Woods winning 4 major tournaments in 10 calendar months

Most unbelievable moment:

• The Stanford Marching Band getting on the field against Cal in 1982 as the Bears' Kevin Moen ran back a kickoff for a TD; Cal beats the John Elway-led Cardinal 25-20 (Joe Starkey with the classic call: "Oh, the band is out on the field!")

Most nail-biting moment:

• Joe Montana hitting John Taylor in the end zone on a 10-yard strike with 1:34 left in the game in Super Bowl XXIII in Miami in 1989

Most shocking moment:

• Cincinnati Bengals DT Tim Krumrie breaking his ankle in Super Bowl XXIII (broke is an understatement)
  

Proudest moment:

• "The Miracle on Ice" - The 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey team upsets the USSR 4-3 in the semis
• 1988 U.S. Olympic Volleyball team beats the USSR in 4 sets to win gold
  

Bravest moment:

• Tommie Smith and John Carlos lower their heads and raise clenched fists donned with black gloves at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City
• 1992 U.S. Men's Olympic Volleyball Team shaves their heads in support of teammate Bob Samuelson
  

Most amazing defensive play:

• Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle vs. Detroit (Labor Day Weekend, 1961): Maris runs down a shallow blooper to right-center field with runners on 1st and 2nd, then flips the ball to Mantle, who throws a rocket to Home and prevents two Tigers from scoring, holding them a 2nd and 3rd. New York went on to win.

Most amazing offensive play:

• Pittsburgh's "Immaculate Reception" against Oakland in the 1972 NFL playoffs. The Steelers' Franco Harris saves the day on the final play of the game by making a shoestring grab from an errant pass from Terry Bradshaw that bounced off the Raiders' Jack Tatum.

Most disappointing moment:

• Michigan's "Fab 5" losing to North Carolina in the 1993 Final Four
• Greg Norman's monumental collapse in the final round of the 1996 Master's. With a 6-stroke lead over Nick Faldo and having just shot a course record-tying 63, "The Shark" fell to pieces, shooting a horrendous 78 and losing by 5 shots.
  

The stupidest, most brain-dead sports moment I've ever witnessed:

• The fight between Detroit Pistons and a few of their unruly fans and the Indiana Pacers on November 19, 2004. I saw this live via satellite and my jaw was - literally - on the floor.