Rank 'Em: Games Of The Decade

Created: November 30, 2009, 8:24 AM

Was the Giants' upset of the Patriots the best game of the decade?

The 2000s featured a bevy of close games, overtime thrillers and last-second finishes, but not all barn burners are created equal.

We've narrowed down the list to the top 25 games of the decade and need your vote to sort them out. Do you think Aaron Boone's winner trumped David Ortiz's walkoff? Did Michael Phelps' seventh gold medal interest you more than Lance Armstrong's fifth straight Tour de France? Submit your rankings now!

You must rank at least FIVE for your vote to count.


 
 
  • Tiger Woods beats Bob May in a three-hole playoff. (Woods shoots final-day 67, May 66, both birdie 18, Woods wins on final playoff hole for third straight major.)
  • Philadelphia 2, Pittsburgh 1. This 152-minute affair saw Ron Tugnutt make 70 out of 72 saves, still not enough to prevent a Flyers victory.
  • Diamondbacks 3, Yankees 2. Luis Gonzalez's walkoff single gave the Diamondbacks their first World Series win.
  • Patriots 20, Rams 17. Adam Vinatieri's field goal with time expiring sealed the decade's biggest Cinderella story.
  • Lakers 112, Kings 106 (OT). All Lakers starters scored in double figures as they prevailed in this tense game, with 19 lead changes overall.
  • Yankees 6, Red Sox 5. Grady Little's infamous decision eventually resulted in the Red Sox losing a lead, then the game, as Aaron Boone's walkoff home run off Tim Wakefield sent the Yankees to the World Series.
  • Lance Armstrong won his fifth consecutive Tour de France in 2003, holding off a field of hungry competitors.
  • Ohio State 31, Miami 24. Maurice Clarett's touchdown in the second overtime forced the Hurricanes to try for a last-second score, which fell short along with Ken Dorsey's desperation pass.
  • Red Sox 6, Yankees 4. Redemption for 2003 came in the form of Dave Roberts, whose ninth-inning steal set the stage for David Ortiz's 12th-inning walkoff home run.
  • Liverpool 3, Milan 3 (Liverpool wins shootout 3-2). Liverpool came back from a 3-1 deficit to beat Milan on penalties, as a result of the efforts of Man of the Match Steven Gerrard.
  • Spurs 96, Pistons 95. "Big Shot Rob" earned his moniker in this game, as Robert Horry scored 21 points off the bench, including the winner in overtime.
  • Astros 7, Braves 6. This 18-inning monstrosity ended when Chris Burke, of all people, hit a walkoff home run off Joey Devine.
  • Texas 41, USC 38. The legend of Vince Young started here, as his touchdown scamper at the end of regulation gave Texas the win.
  • George Mason 86, Connecticut 84 (OT). George Mason trailed by 12 late in first half but hit six straight 3-pointers in second half to upset Connecticut.
  • Colts 38, Patriots 34. The Colts broke with tradition and overcame a 21-3 deficit to finally defeat the Patriots in the playoffs.
  • Giants 17, Patriots 14. David Tyree's helmet catch saved Eli Manning's winning drive, ruining the Patriots' perfect season.
  • Boise State 43, Oklahoma 42 (OT). Boise State's bevy of trick plays finally overcame Adrian Peterson and the Sooners. Fullback Ian Johnson proposed to his cheerleader girlfriend after scoring the winning two-point conversion on the Statue of Liberty play.
  • Texas Tech 39, Texas 33. Texas Tech's 500th all-time win was a doozy, with Graham Harrell throwing the winning pass to Michael Crabtree with time expiring.
  • Celtics 97, Lakers 91. Boston rallied from a 24-point deficit in third quarter to take a 3-1 series lead.
  • Nadal over Federer, 6-4, 6-4, 6-7, 6-7, 9-7. The longest match in Wimbledon history ended with Nadal outlasting the Swiss legend.
  • Tiger Woods, playing on an injured knee, defeated Rocco Mediate on the first hole of sudden death after an 18-hole playoff.
  • Kansas 75, Memphis 68 (OT). Mario Chalmers' 3-pointer at the end of regulation sent the game into overtime, when Kansas finally prevailed over Memphis.
  • Michael Phelps somehow out-touched Milorad Cavic by one-hundredth of a second to win the seventh of his record eight gold medals.
  • Steelers 27, Cardinals 23. Ben Roethlisberger's pass to Santonio Holmes resulted in the winning touchdown, ruining the Cardinals' Cinderella story.
  • Syracuse 127, Connecticut 117 (6 OT). This seemingly endless game featured dozens of lead changes, a potential winning 3 called off and, finally, a Syracuse victory.