Tell us your favourite sporting moment and win a LG TV

Bec said  | October 20th 2008 @ 7:06am | Report comment

The most memorable Australian sporting moment has to be when Cathy Freeman won Olympic Gold in the Womens 400m race at the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000.

Earlier, she was the first athlete in Olympic history to light the Olympic Cauldron as a current competitor. This well kept secret was a wonderful symbol of a united Australian nation. However, it also amplified the pressure of a gold medal outcome on the track. She went into the race as favorite and had the expectations of a nation on her shoulders. Anything can happen in an Olympic final and the whole of Australia had their hearts in their mouths as the starters gun sounded. 49.11 seconds later relief as Cathy finished in first place at her “home” Olympics.

Cathy then celebrated by controversially carrying both the Australian and Aboriginal flags on her victory lap around the stadium. A very moving moment.

Alan Nicolea said  | October 20th 2008 @ 8:17am | Report comment

The most memorable australian sporting moment for me would have to be ‘that’ loss against the Kiwis at stadium australia in a test considered one of the greatest ever. The All Blacks scored three tries before you could say ‘waltz sing maltilda’ and then the Wallabies came back from the brink to lead. Then however Jonah Lomu scored the winner right on fulltime to give New Zealand victory. Although Australia lost, they did come back from the brink and it just shows the supreme character that Australian rugby sides have - more than other australian sporting side for me. It took one of Unions greatest ever players, let alone winger to seal the deal in front of more than 100,000 fans. The Wallabies did their nation pride despite the defeat.

Michael C said  | October 20th 2008 @ 8:25am | Report comment

a de facto ‘TV’ moment, given I was there - the Jason McCartney comeback game.

That was ’special’

Helped that we won, too.

’nuff said.

mtngry said  | October 20th 2008 @ 8:52am | Report comment

I would have to go for Australia 2. I was only in Primary school, but stayed up all night with Dad to watch our ship come in.
(My mother and sister cheated and only woke up for the ast 15 minutes.) How could I overlook being the first nation to beat the Yanks in 120 years, and the PM wearing that jacket and calling bosses Bums?

Midfielder said  | October 20th 2008 @ 9:15am | Report comment

John Aloisi goal in the 2005 world cup qualifier against Uruguay.

We had dinner at the Eastwood rugby club, caught the bus to Olympic stadium. Twelve of us who had been playing together as a football team for over 20 years. After the 1997 draw with Iran in Melbourne and all the things that had unfolded to stop Australia making other world cups including the crowd in 2001 and atmosphere in Uruguay. All this weighted heavy on our minds.

We all watches the first game at the Balmain leagues club and said we have a hope, can we win at home. The ghosts of the past made us very nervous …but we had Guss …… our best squad was available and on the park. Could we “Reverse the Curse” that had plagued Australian Football for years.

That night a tribute to Johnny Warren was played at the stadium, it had 80, 000 in tears, the atmosphere that night at the stadium as was like nothing I had never felt before and it was as if the crowd felt it was their duty to help Australia over the line. We cheered we booed we yelled….. passion was dripping off everyone.

The whole stadium was in gold, the crowd stood most of the night no one could sit down, we sang all the football anthems, when we scored to level the match the noise was such a cheer I have never heard the like of before.

Finally after 210 minutes, it came down to penalties, would fate again step in and rob us of our place. We all remembered in our minds 1997 and most of us did not sleep for days afterwards. After going one up and then Viduka missed, it was going to happen again, a glorious defeat.

Mark Schwarzer then made the save, up stepped John Aloisi ………. 32 years of heart ache, 32 years of near misses, 32 years of crap administration, my heart was pounding in my chest, we had booed all the Uruguay goals, silence for all the Aussie shot takers.

Aloisi steps up the goal goes in, the entire stadium felt a cheer that shock it to its foundations, streamers where exploded off the stadium roofs, we hugged we screamed we hugged strangers, we sang songs. Many had tears in their eyes hard men like builders, iron workers, and every occupation bankers, lawyers, accountants we all felt this is a moment of history.

Harry Kwell that night showed such touch that I have never seen ……… but we where through to the world cup, density 2006, the irony given Germany 1974.

But after 32 years we where going to the biggest sporting event in the world and maybe at last some respect ….. and as Johnny Warren told us ………… “I told you so”

We got back and spent the night reliving the match went to work all 12 still in our Socceroo shirts and proud that we had been there and had joined with the rest of the crowd to make the 12 man and maybe as I said before get some RESPECT at last.

For me nothing comes close to Aloisi’s goal, and to be there and be part of it,- is a treasured memory, and I believe a goal that has changed and redefined the sporting landscape in Australia.

sheek said  | October 20th 2008 @ 9:31am | Report comment

There are just so many, where do you start? However, as a rugby fan, I would have to go for the Wallabies quarter final “get out of jail” win against Ireland at the 1991 Rugby World Cup.

There I was in the early hours of the morning, watching the telecast via ABC, of the match being played at Lansdowne Road, Dublin. The Aussies were leading comfortably enough at one stage 15-6. The Irish then closed to 15-12, then with a few minutes of play remaining, & against the run of play, Ireland scored a converted try to lead 15-18.

As I sat alone in my lounge room, I was thunderstruck! As the Irish crowd went ballistic with unbridled joy, I was consumed by a sea of emotions from despair to rage - how could such a talented team as this Wallabies outfit allow themselves to be beaten??? Tryscoring hero turned villain David Campese had slipped off a tackle on Irish flanker Gordon Hamilton, who raced about 40 metres to the tryline with the cover defence beaten.

As I struggled to bring my emotions under control, stand-in captain Michael Lynagh (skipper Nick Farr-Jones had retired injured at the 3/4er mark of the match) calmly explained to his players how they were going to get back into the game.

The Wallabies kicked deep from the kickoff, forcing a hurried kick into touch from Ireland. From the lineout, & last play of the match, the Wallabies ran a planned backline move, but Campo, who had received the ball from the move used earlier in the match, was taken out without the ball. It didn’t matter, Lynagh backing up, received the final bounced pass from Jason Little, to score in the corner with only centimetres to spare, & time up on the clock.

Victory! We’ve escaped! Within 2 minutes my emotions had gone from deep despair & building rage to overflowing joy & profound relief. The Wallabies were now into the semi-final. After I calmed down I satisfied myself that after this “get out of jail” victory, the Wallabies were destined to win the world cup. The rest is history.

sheek said  | October 20th 2008 @ 9:41am | Report comment

Midfielder,

Yeah, Aloisi’s winning penalty goal, that was special, very, very special. I’m a once every 4 years or so football fan, but I couldn’t stand the tension. I walked out of the TV room into the back yard, & decided to let the crowd noise tell me the story.

When I heard the massive cheer I raced back inside to watch the reply & everyone going absolutely nuts. My wife, who isn’t into any sport, was watching on the TV in the bedroom. I also heard her scream with joy when Aloisi scored!

It was a wonderfully emotional night.

True Tah said  | October 20th 2008 @ 9:42am | Report comment

The best live sporting event Ive attended would have to have been when the Wallabies beat the All Blacks in 2001 in Sydney. I was lucky enough to be selling programmes that evening, and as such got free entry to the game, but alas there was no seats, so I parked myself in a convenient position to watch the game. It was Eales last game, and I was lucky to be there to farewell a legend.

Right towards the end, with the All Blacks holding a slender lead, they were absolutely battling to get it out of their half, but for whatever reason they just could not clear the ball, but the Wallabies could not get their hands on the ball, so we had territory, but they had possession.

Somehow Australia got possession, and Toutai Kefu, son of an ex-Tongan international who was in the team that beat the Wallabies back in 1973, headed for the line, but there was no way he could score, with three All Black defenders in front of him, surely? The big man was brought to the ground in a huddle of bodies and momentum was lost…then a big Polynesian hand, holding the football like a thimble reached out and planted the ball right next to the upright!!

Around the stadium the Aussies rejoiced, whilst NZer heads slumped. John Eales would go out a winner.

When the fulltime siren had sounded, Budda Handy asked All Black hooker Anton Oliver what it was like to come so close and still lose…I was half expecting “Hatcher” Oliver to put the microphone through handy’s skull.

Unfortunately maybe it has raised my expectations a little high since that day, and that knack for getting out of jail which Sheek refers to just doesn;t seem to have been in the pack since that day.

Terry Kidd said  | October 20th 2008 @ 10:05am | Report comment

At the risk of repetition my all time favourite sporting ‘moment’ stretched from near stumps on the previous day to near lunch on the following day and involved Alan Border and Jeff Thomson in a 10th wicket stand of 71 that fell 3 runs short of victory against England in the 4th Test at the MCG in the 82-83 test series.

England were leading 2-1 in the series. Border had been/was badly out of form. Australia were struggling and needed the draw to stay alive in the series. Thomson joined Border for the final wicket and a win looked a formality for the Poms.

The resolute defiance displayed by an obviously badly out of form Border and a cheeky but stubborn and responsible Thomson prior to stumps inspired a hardy few thousand to turn up at the MCG with free admission for the start of the final day’s play. The gritty resistance from Border and Thomson continued. The runs began to mount. The news of this unlikely partnership spread like wildfire around Melbourne and workplaces all over the country. More and more people trickled into the MCG hoping to see a miracle forged by Australia’s favourite son batsman and rascal fast bowler. TV sets around the nation were tuned to Channel 9’s cricket coverage. People gathered at shop windows in the streets to watch. Morning tea breaks were eked out for extra minutes of viewing time. Richie Benaud was in his element.

Meanwhile the run count inched slowly higher and higher, with Border edging and nudging singles, farming the strike and Thomson playing with a dead bat when ever needed. No Melbourne Cup ever stopped a nation as completely (except for maybe Phar Lap’s win) as did this test cricket partnership. Indomitable will and stubborn resistance allowed the glimmer of a miracle and the nation waited, hoped and held it’s breath. Alas, Thomson the larrikin, who had displayed absolute discipline allowed the thought of victory to break his concentration and he lashed out at a ball he thought he could hit to the boundary. A juggled catch then ended the resistance 3 runs shy of victory with Border unbeaten on 62.

In my humble opinion that sporting moment held an entire nation enthralled and is uppermost in my most memorable.

Kazama said  | October 20th 2008 @ 10:22am | Report comment

My favourite Australian sporting moment is the Socceroos’ come from behind 3-1 win at the World Cup. To me, this match more than any other showed that Australia was now a football nation, that we weren’t in Germany making up the numbers like everyone thought we were. We also showed in this match a combination of Dutch technical football and Aussie fighting spirit that has become the staple of our team since.

I watched the game in the dining room of a pub with friends and family. I remember being even more nervous than at the Uruguay game, and when the Japanese scored that dodgy goal everyone’s heads dropped. We were all moping around for the majority of the rest of the game, save for one friend who spent the match swearing at the TV. Then Cahill scored and the place went nuts. A bartender jumped the bar and ran around the pub shirtless ala John Aloisi. Cahill scored the second - I’ll never forget hearing Simon Hill scream “And Tim Cahill’s done it again!” - and we wall went mad. When John Aloisi put the third in we’d all knew that we’d seen something that would change Australian football forever - not only had we made a World Cup but we’d scored a goal and won a game, with a real chance of making the knockout phase, which we of course did.

chris said  | October 20th 2008 @ 10:49am | Report comment

I cannot narrow it down to 1 fave moment, I have 2.

1) World cup Qualifier vs Uruguay
1) Cahill scoring the two goals against Japan.

I was at the game in Homebush. That was the sort of night that is extremely hard to put into words. The crowd that night was unbelievable, Viduka himself said that the atmosphere that night was the best he has played in front of. Now Viduka has played in some of the most hostile environments in Europe. I think what set it off was when about an hour before kickoff the Johny Warren tribute came on the big screen to the tune of ‘You Will Never Walk Alone’. The stadium would have probably been 80% full at that stage when the crowd all of a sudden started belting out the words to the great tune. Definately put a tear in the eye. my second distinct memory was the booing of the Uruguay National Anthem. I know its unsporting etc etc, but the drowning out of their national anthem with booing and whistling was something which i think set the mood for that night. Sitting inside the stadium you could not hear any part of the Uruguay national anthem, when watching the replay on TV you could actaully hear some of it.

When Bresciano scored that goal the crowd when nuts, and i mean nuts. The bloke 2 rows down from me passed out from pure joy. His mates started pooring bear on his head to snap him out of it. The Aloisi penalty, no more needs to be said.

After the game not one sole left the stadium for an hour - hour and a half, this was eventhough you had the crowd announcer on PA urging people to start leaving or there will be no trains. Nobody cared. It was just one of those nights.

Also a lasting memory my mom calling me after the game and breaking down. This is a lady who was born overseas and migrated here 25 years ago yet the socceroos had provided her with so much joy.

The Japan game, i was at a mates place watching that game with 4 others. A couple socceroo supporters and a couple non-socceroo supporters (now definete supporters) at the time. What a night. Watching the first half and Australia going down 1-0 nil and failing to get an qualiser was like watching someone stand there and run their nails across a chalk board. It was extremely nerve recking and everything else.

Once the second half started we actually turned the TV off for the first 20 or so minutes due to nerves, anger i dont know what it was. Although we could not watch the game, we sat there in the dark swearing, complaining, whinging etc etc etc. Then we turned the TV on. The nerves were actually almost unbereable, really it was unbereable. With about fifteen to go we thought it was all over. Alhtough i remember one of my mates saying ‘boys stick in watch it will finish 3-1 to austrlalia’. We of course ignored what he said. Things were progressively getting worse and worse, it got to a stage where one of us had to prevent another bloke from chuckign the TV out the window. No really, no word of a lie. Then the 82nd-83rd or so minute arrives, BANG Cahill bags the equaliser. You really had to be there to see how we reacted. A bunch of mid 20’s guys jumping on each other with pure joy. At that stage we were pumped. We just came to realisation that we had saved our world cup campaign. We had settled for a draw until of course Cahill cracked his second goal from 25 yards out. What a moment, honestly what moment. We literally had tears coming out of our eyes.

So there you have it my two fave moments. For me personally nothing that I have seen comes close to these two moments. This is the only team (apart from americas cup - dont know enough about it to comment) that in australias modern history united the whole nation. No matter what color or race. It was a team which represented australia and its cultural diversity. No other national team can do that.

Michael C said  | October 20th 2008 @ 10:57am | Report comment

Terry Kidd -

actually, note that Australia was leading 2-0 after 3 tests - - - winning Ade and Bris, and Perth was drawn (that was the game of TAvare’s 89 in almost 8 hours).

As an Aussie, I was a little unpatriotic to be glad that England had ‘clawed’ back to 2-1 via the MCG victory, and that meant that the series remained ‘live’ - - to a degree, that an Eng win in Sydney would draw the series.

As it was, Eddie Hemmings batted his heart out as a night watchman, but alas (for the Poms and he), he lacked support from the real batsmen, and the match ended in a draw.

Mike said  | October 20th 2008 @ 11:18am | Report comment

In June 2006, Australia’s sporting landscape changed forever when Tim Cahill scored for the second time against Japan in Kaiserslautern. Never did a second half substitute walk such a fine line between triumph and disaster. A scrambled first goal was followed by a fortunate escape in Australia’s penalty box and a stunning strike to take the game away from Japan and send Australia into ecstasy.

If the shuttle’s orbit happened to take it over Australia at that early hour, the astronauts would have seen an awful lot of lights on. Rugged up and bleary eyed in front of the television, a sleepy nation rejoiced in the drama. Neighbours in apartment blocks who had scarcely met each other stumbled into hallways to celebrate and soak up the atmosphere. Literally overnight, football became the sport of the water-cooler.

The John Aloisi penalty that delivered the 32nd and final World Cup spot to Australia was the first sign of football’s awakening in this country. With Cahill’s second goal an Australian team come of age on the world stage. None who was watching will forget.

Jason W said  | October 20th 2008 @ 11:34am | Report comment

Though I am a Kiwi probably the best sporting moment I can remember is of two parts. 1999 Cricket World Cup, my (Australian) wife and I got tickets to the Aus vs SA super 6 game at Edgebaston, where the cricket world cup was “dropped” and Steve Waugh saved the Aussie arses. That was an awesome game to watch, but second only to watching Allan Donald drop his bat in the semi and gift the Aussies the final. The final was pathetic, but man, that was the best buildup I have ever witnessed. Sheesh I even cheered for the Aussies, that has to say something!

Just to be greedy I’ll add “that try” of Jonah Lomu’s against England. Watch it again a few times on YouTube. Man, he lost us the ‘99 world cup, but he was a beast.

Millster said  | October 20th 2008 @ 11:54am | Report comment

Chris - wonderful rendition of the Socceroos 2005/06 moments. Thankyou for sharing. I can tell you also a story about the Aust v Japan game. I was in Kuala Lumpur with my girlfriend and we made it to the Hard Rock Cafe to watch the game. The balance was about 2/3 Japanese and 1/3 Aussies and it was a fun but rowdy crowd. The only reason it didnt get ugly after the first goal was that the Japanese were being generous and buying beer in return for singing with us all (us all not being an organised group; I didn’t know anyone there but it was like we were blood brothers). The last 15 minutes of that game were just unbelievable. We were standing on the tables and furniture, dancing, oblivious to the malaysian security guards trying to pull us down. Even the Japanese, knowing the importance of the match, were telling them to leave us alone. Once the second goal went in we all linked arms, shoulder to shoulder, standing as one green and gold wall of Aussie mankind to witness those last few minutes and the injury time sealer. And after 30 minutes of hugging and crying we did shout the Japanese guys back some beers, and in fact I’ll always admire the good nature of the night we had, which included them right to the wee hours.

sheek said  | October 20th 2008 @ 12:10pm | Report comment

You guys are kidding right?

I remember the Border-Thomson stand. I had just arrived in NSW south coast Eden to be godfather to my best mate’s new born son. I watched the few hours (less that that I think) final day’s play with Thomson falling to Miller off Botham, after the ball had popped out of Tavare’s hands. One more boundary would have done it!

Rivetting stuff, but I agree it was good to see England win, because the series was looking horribly one-sided to that point. England had banned their South African rebels - Gooch, Boycott, Larkins, Amiss, Woolmer, Willey, Knott, Old, Embury, Underwood, Lever, Hendrick & Les Taylor. Most were getting on, but Gooch, Emburey & the new paceman Taylor would have been handy additions to the England team.

That innings of 62 not out saved Border’s bacon too. He was horribly out of sorts before that innings. In the final test in Sydney he finished off the series with a pair of 80s.

But even in cricket there would have to be 5-6 more exciting moments, not to mention all the other great moments in Aussie sports. But each to their own I guess. Of course, what makes a particular moment special to us also involves our personal circumstances at the time - our age & times, who we were with, if everything was right in our lives at that time, etc.

True Tah said  | October 20th 2008 @ 12:25pm | Report comment

sheek,

my uncle always said the 81 ashes over in England were the best cricket matches he’d ever seen and the biggest upset ever….having said that he was a Pomm so maybe he was biased, but jesus Botham sounds like the sort of guy who only turned up to play the Aussies, or the Aussies s****d themselves when he was playing…cause his record agains the Windies was unremarkable (having said that he might have been tired after his nighttime antics on tour there!)

Terry Kidd said  | October 20th 2008 @ 12:40pm | Report comment

Millster and True Tah,

On that basis you can’t go past Oz II winning the America’s Cup …. that changed the nature of 10m sailing the world over. It is now truely international and after 130 odd years of US dominance where do they stand now?

Millster said  | October 20th 2008 @ 1:04pm | Report comment

True Tah and Terry - humbly (for after all I’m just a punter with one person’s views) thats more like it in terms of what I would think the biggest sporting moments are. How could I forget Australia II, or the various sports who tried to deal with the Apartheid issue in the 80’s.

Similarly, how about Romania’s non-adherence to the boycott of the ‘84 LA Olympics? How about Iraq’s win in the 2007 Asian Cup in the midst of all going on back home for them? I know we’re not talking Aussie moments here but these are the kinds of grand events that we should be looking for within our own nation’s sporting history.

Michael C said  | October 20th 2008 @ 1:23pm | Report comment

Millster -

yeah, but, gee, I was there thinking I was going againt the criteria set and was actually supporting your criteria……………which has left me stumped now!!

Okay - -

how about more the ‘moments’, i.e. just a moment in time more so than a definitive result:

such as the Terry Alderman shoulder popping tackle,
Trevor Chappells smelly underarm
DK Lilliee and his recyclable cricket bat,
Bruce Doull and that naked female fan,
Wayne Carey and Glenn Archer - - head to head at TD in the first metting post Carey and Mr. Stevens (a bit like the Ghost and Mrs.Muir - - they’ll be a movie in that one day!!!!)
Nicky Winmar proudly baring his ‘black’ chest to the crowd
Pat Cash gallumphing up into the Wimbledon stands
the first time we saw Azeem Hafeez taking a catch (he of the ‘ha(L)f..eez…hand missing’ from the 12th man.
hmm…ONe Australia sinking in ‘95

(….hmmm, a few more of the Toyota footy ads, the Jezza mark in ‘70 GF, Wayne Harmes in the forward pocket??)

And the winner - - The Sunami cricket one dayer organised at stuff all notice and the cheer that Murali got from the Australian crowd. (just slightly ahead of the bushfire match back in about ‘83).

Tomm BD said  | October 20th 2008 @ 2:46pm | Report comment

Let’s paint the picture…

It’s new years day 1996 and a barmy night at the SCG. Australia need 173 for victory against the West Indies after finding themselves at one stage at 6/38. A young Michael Bevan who has worked hard to get in the mix suddenly finds himself anchoring the side to an unlikely victory.
Australia are now 9/169 and need 4 runs off the last ball to take the match.
Bevan is facing up to Roger Harper, who comes in with his peculiar action putting the ball straight at the stumps. Calmly, Bevan takes a step backwards, makes himself some room, and hits straight through the ball. The ball sails over the bowlers head (nearly decapitating the umpire) and straight down down the ground into the fence.
The crowd goes nuts! Bill Lawry in the commentary box is euphoric! And Michael Bevan raises his bat and helmet to the crowd, with the biggest smile on his face you have ever seen.
Watch the video again (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KO1XL8_ezVM) and tell me it doesn’t give you goosebumps….

brad said  | October 20th 2008 @ 3:05pm | Report comment

1991 rugby world cup put Australia on the map as a sporting superpower. Beating the all blacks, get out out of Jail against Ireland and then the trophy.

Dave said  | October 20th 2008 @ 4:03pm | Report comment

Fav Oz Sporting Moment

There are a few but being a football fan narrows it and being present at the venue is a must IMO so;

thinking Feb 2007 on a balmy, stifling Melbourne Summer day
Telstra Dome the venue, for a sold out game of…domestic football! No not the AFL version nor the Rugbys.
Record crowd of over 55,000 with combatants Melbourne Victory and Adelaide United.
Victory had narrowly squeezed past United in the semi 2-1 over two legs with James Robinson scoring the winner in extra time of the 2nd leg (one AFL journo had come to the game and wrote an article inthe Herald Sun the next day claiming the game was boring and he’d left before the end of it (missed 48,000 people jumping and roaring as one as the ball hit the net in the 93rd minute)
To sit in the crowd and view the sea of blue and white with a strip of 4,000 United fans at one end was amazing…yes a domestic football match l kept saying to myself, someone who had grown up in the days of the game being referred to as one for ’sheilas,wogs or poofters’
So as we know Victory smashed United 6-0 with Archie Thompson putting in a world record 5 goals to better any other cup final performance around the world
At last football in Oz had arrived and to see the newspapers the next day covered in tributes and photos front and back page was sensational
l left the TD that day thinking that now there would be the opportunity for many more such occassions, which is really all that one can ask of their sporting code.
Never did l expect to see such a sight in Melbourne or any other city in Oz

Nikki said  | October 20th 2008 @ 4:16pm | Report comment

My favourite moment would have to be Steven Bradbury winning GOLD after everyone else fell over!!!

Tim said  | October 20th 2008 @ 4:34pm | Report comment

It is difficult to list my favourite sporting moment as everytime I see a bit of green and gold I get an overwhelming feeling of patriotism that can leave me with newfound interest in sports i’ve never watched before (e.g. World Cup Soccer) I remember finding myself waking in the early hours to watch a game I knew nothing about but purely because Australia were playing and I felt another set of screaming lungs couldn’t hurt.

I’I sit and watch Don Bradman replays until my eyes bleed…anything and everything he did was magic and he is a true legend of the game, that being said, I wasn’t around to watch him play live, but I was to watch Mark Taylor retire on 334* ….Taylor was pushed by the media, the public and his teammates to have a go at breaking Lara’s 375, However, Taylor declared and decided to share the record with Bradman - I think this is a true sign of respect and Aussie sportsmanship (not to mention the determination it took to get the runs!)

Slippery Jim said  | October 20th 2008 @ 5:36pm | Report comment

True Tah, I suppose your comment about the Scouser’s lucky comeback qualifies as an Australian Sporting Moment, as Harry Kewell played 23 mins before limping off…you make a good point as well about Bresciano (whose goal was provided by Kewell) who probably deserves way more kudos than Aloisi for his part in Australia qualifying for Germany.

Slippery Jim said  | October 20th 2008 @ 6:16pm | Report comment

My favourite Aussie sporting moment is Mark Occhilupo’s world title win. He had quit the world tour in the early 90’s, after making his mark with his style of instantly identifiable, powerful, aggressive surfing. He didn’t try to just turn on a wave, he attacked the face of each wave like he was on a one-man demolition mission.

Occy basically went through a kind of pre-midlife crisis, spiralling into depression and all that comes with it, spending literally months at a time vegging out on his couch at Kirra, the world class point break cranking unheard in the middle distance, all the while drinking, smoking and eating potato chips until he bacame a 110 kilo behemoth.

That’s where it could all have ended. Luckily for fans of surfing, it did not.

So begins the most incredible comeback tale in the history of sport. With his first wife Beatrice and filmaker Jack McCoy the catalysts in reinventing his motivation and self-belief, he undergoes an intense training regime, drops 35 kilos off his weight, regaining his form and returning to professional surfing.

Occy’s comeback culminated in 1999, with stunning performances showing he was better then ever, using his goofyfooted prowess to win at Tahiti, Fiji and Mundaka, and clinching the title with an event to spare. Mark Occhilupo became a World Champion at the ripe old age of thirty three - an unheard of achievement in surfing, even without taking into account his Herculean effort in pulling himself out of the pit of depression and burnout.

Occy’s comeback is a legend, and one that gives inspiration not only to all those battling their personal demons, but to those who care for them and see in them the potential for greatness.

GOOOOOOAAAALLLL!!!!! said  | October 20th 2008 @ 7:34pm | Report comment

GOOOOOOAAAALLLLL!!!
The whole world cup experience was not only the greatest sporting moment in Australian history, but it was the greatest moment in Australian television history.
That penalty - I will never forget it. My newborn baby was asleep in her cot at the other end of the house. Not for long. I screamed my lungs out. Australia were into the Wolrd Cup Finals. Im a man who is not afraid to show his emotions. I cried my eyes out. I made a million calls, making sure everyon knew that we were in.
The Cup - With Brazil in our group, we had to get results v Japan and Croatia. 1 nil down against apan and not very long to go, the dream is over and the socceroos are out of the world cup. No! Wait. GOOOOOOAAAALLLLL!!! Cahill scores and its level at 1 all. A draw is a great result. I will take that. Unbelievable, GOOOOOOAAAALLLLL!!! GOOOOOOAAAALLLLL!!! . We won 3 - 1. Yes, I woke the baby again.
Match 3 v Croatia - After a loss to Brazil, we still needed a result against Croatia. A win or a draw would do it. Down again and again nearing fulltime. After a poor match, Harry Kewell became a hero again, scoring a goal and getting us “fill ins” through to the next round. How can you not love the World Cup.
Then came Italy - We all know what happened there but we put up a great fight. Unfortunately a mistimed tackle ended our campaign. I saw it in slow motion as it happened. Even before The player went down, I knew. I could see exactly what was going to happen. Tears down my face again, but this time because we are out of the tournament. No time to come back from this one. Everyone talked about what happened, even those who were never soccer fans in the past. It devastated the nation. We were all there in spirit.
Well done Socceroos. You made us all proud and you taught Australia that this is the real game of Football. No doubt that this IS the GREATEST SPORTING MOMENT EVER for Australia, and THE GREATEST THING EVER SEEN ON MY TV SET.

Midfielder said  | October 20th 2008 @ 8:07pm | Report comment

Das

I did not sleep for about three days after that loss ……. still find it hard to watch highlights and their second goal was off side.

dasilva said  | October 20th 2008 @ 8:34pm | Report comment

Midfielder

I’m absolutely certain that Australia will completely exorcise that demon (we only partially lifted it by qualifying for 2006) and knock out Iran from the World Cup eventually. It may not be this World Cup Qualifiers (we will have to play poorly for us to need the 3rd place playoff with Iran) but one day Australia will do it and it will feel so sweet.

Pippinu said  | October 20th 2008 @ 9:29pm | Report comment

Midfielder
the question must still remain - being 2-0 up, with 9 toes in the WC, how is it possible that we could have left ourselves so open, not once, but twice!!

dasilva said  | October 20th 2008 @ 10:09pm | Report comment

Other note worthy moments

Football
Australia -uruguay then World Cup
Australia reaching final of confederation cup

Tennis
Pat Rafter vs ivanisevic final. My most memorable non-football moment

Cricket
Australia vs South Africa tie. I feel sorry for South African cricket fans. I believe they would have felt the same experiences as Australian football fans had felt in 1997.
Michael Bevan four of the last ball
Australia victory over West Indies in 1995 to become number 1 in the world with Steve Waugh making 200.

AFL
Brisbane Lions - 3 in a row
Adelaide - 2 in a wow

Cathy Freemans gold medal

Cadel evans finish second at tour de france

Historical significant event that I have read about but took place before I was born
Australia with amatuers qualify to the world cup 1974. Our version of Jamaican Bobsled team. The soccerroos contains players who were milk man and coal miners and who had to get unpaid work leave to represent Australia in their national team. For a team like that to play in the world cup against full professional is a great achievement. Also Harry Williams the first indigenous Australian to represent a national team of any sport played for Australia at the biggest sporting event.

Ray Baartz and the karaate chop vs Uruguay - Got chop in the neck. Won the match for Australia and then nearly died. He went in the coma and stayed there for a week. The karate chop ended his career. Unbelievable

Bodyline - Bradman becomes just a human being. England causing a diplomatic incident. Jardine brilliant captaincy

The first tied test - Australia vs West indies - the series that save test cricket. Ticket tape parade for the opposition side who lost the series. The idea of that is quite unbelievable in these modern times.

Second tied test - Australia vs India and the bravery of Dean Jones who almost died of dehydration

Rod Laver winning the grand slam in 1962 and 1969
Margaret Court winning the grand slam in 1970.

Americas cup 1983

Collingwood winning 4 Grand finals in a row

Phar Lap - winning 32 out of 35 races in Australia. Including Melbourne Cup 1960

Pippinu said  | October 20th 2008 @ 10:33pm | Report comment

Midfielder
I’d go along with that.

TV took us on an amazing journey, clocking up big win after big win againts decent opposition in Europe etc, but when it mattered most, he left his brain in the dressing room.

DJ Blommas said  | October 20th 2008 @ 11:23pm | Report comment

A lot of Great Memories there, no question about it.

For me the most memorable Australian sporting moment that i can actually always remember is Kieren Perkins win in the 1500m at the 96 olympics. After only just qualifying to lane 8 in the final he managed to beat 2nd place by a whole 6 seconds. To me that shows the digger spirit of not giving up until the deed is done. I was only 7 years old when i watched this on TV, and the fact that i can still remember the patriotic feeling i got that day, means to me that it is one of the greatest sporting moments in Australian History.

James Mortimer said  | October 20th 2008 @ 11:41pm | Report comment

The most amazing Australian sporting moment I ever witnessed was completed by the most powerful and graceful lady ever to stride this fair planet.

It was a moment I would never have seen had I not moved to this amazing country in the year 1999 - ironically the same year that this most special lady was born.

This amazing looking lady was responsible for me winning every bet in a sport I knew nothing about.

She was so remarkable that I swear she was not human.

In fact, she was not.

She was a horse.

A magnifcant mare by the name of Makybe Diva.

In a tremendous combination of coincidences I first had a punt on this magnifcant racing speciman on the Melbourne Cup in 2003 - as I was with a friend at the time whose girlfriend was named Tugela (the name of Maykbe’s mummy) and only in a rare sober moment did we discover this before the race and decided to take a punt on the race.

She was paying about $8 (if I remember correctly) as second or third favourite, and I duly put a massive (by my standards) punt of $100 on this amazing horse.

I cursed my luck when for the entire race Diva raced calmly at the back of the field, at it was at this time (I must admit with no pride whatsoever) that I turned away from the screens to a bunch of scantily clad diva’s at the bar we were watching.

It was about an hour later that while getting a drink on the bar I saw the screens which were talking about the incredible ride of Diva to come from the back of the field to claim victory.

EIGHT HUNDRED DOLLARS!!!!!!

And that became the catalyst of arguably my messiest and most expensive night of drinking in my life.

One year later, when I had just recovered from 12 month alcohol poisoning, I watched the 2004 Melbourne Cup in far more stoic and austere surroundings - and remember vividly the competition lining up in what many regarded as the most quality Cup field ever assembled, including 2002 winner Media puzzle and champion Irish stayer Vinnie Roe. Still, non plussed, I put $50 of my hard earn’t cash on Diva. I am pretty sure it was pissing down with rain at the time, but the great Diva bet an incredible field to win her second cup.

In doing this she became only the fifth horse to win the cup at least twice. Ominously, no horse had won it three times.

She also that year became only the fourth horse and first mare to win the Sydney/Melbourne Cup double. Another tidy pocket of money collected as I was fast becoming the nemesis of the TAB.

A year past, and naturally, for the purposes of my tale, I was kept in deep freeze to be released for the 2005 Melbourne Cup, for surely at this point, I had surmised that my life had no other purpose but to watch this incredible horse.

In 2005 the great horse was seeking to enter the book of horsing immortals - if such a tome exists - and the one feather missing from her mighty cap was a victory in the Cox plate - arguably the most important race in Australian racing along with the Melbourne Cup.

Some considered the two greatest racers in Australian racing history to be Phar Lap and Might and Power.

But Diva’s victory in the 2005 cox plate elevated to the podium of which these two godlike horses stood. A thumping victory set the genesis for a third consecutive Melbourne Cup - joining the above mentioned horses and the only racers to win a Cox/Melbourne Cup double.

Watching the race at the Normanby pub in Brisbane was quite possible the most awe inspiring, goosebump riddling, ectasy inducing moments I had ever seen.

It was magic.

It was as if all of Australia leapt up and was united by a common event.

Rugby, Soccer, Cricket, AFL, NRL have all had their magical moments, but even great moments in those codes have not captured the imagination of every single person.

She became the only horse to win the Melbourne Cup three times and retired as the highest race earner is Australasian racing history with nearly 15 million dollars.

Despite her wealth, she is a modest lass, who has long since retired and has sired two lovely young foals - already honoured with two bronze statues.

Socceroo’s, Wallabies, Shane Warne, John Eales, John Aloisi, and all those names are familiar to us in the sporting fraternity - but all Australians know the name of the Diva - who proudly let me witness the greatest moment in Australian Sport.

karina said  | October 21st 2008 @ 11:25am | Report comment

Sydney winning the Olympic games. This has got be the one of the biggest events EVER, something truly rare and amazing! How often does one get to see the Olympics on their own home turf?

Courtney said  | October 21st 2008 @ 11:46am | Report comment

When Grant Hackett, swam for his 4 Gold Medal in the 1500m freestyle race in the Beijing Olympics.
He showed us strength and courage, and no, he didnt win, but what a fantastic swimming career he has had.
Congratulations Grant

Helen said  | October 21st 2008 @ 11:53am | Report comment

It has to be Cathy Freeman’s win at the Sydney Olympics. I was home alone but felt like I was part of the crowd as I ROARED along with them to get her home. To see a stadium of people united in cheering an Indigenous Australian home showed just how far our nation has come since the last Olympics held here in 1956.

It’s a sporting moment you just cannot beat

Oh, and her bodysuit was just ‘SPECIAL’

Jodi Pearce said  | October 21st 2008 @ 12:44pm | Report comment

Now, I wasn’t much into cricket,
but, I saw this guy take wicket after wicket.
He’d bowl the ball down the pitch,
and every time the direction did switch!
There was a buzz, and everyone asked,
“Have you seen this guy called Warne?”
seems a new Aussie legend had been born.
There’s many things that Warnie’s done,
except make that elusive ton,
and it’s hard to pick just one,
but 700 wickets, i can’t go past,
a record I’m sure will last and last.
This moment is permanently etched into my mind
a greater Aussie sporting moment would be hard to find.
So needless to say I’m now hooked on this game,
all because of one person, thank-you Shane!!!

Midfielder said  | October 21st 2008 @ 1:05pm | Report comment

James

Most years I watch the Cup not as a sports event ……..more as a cultrual event …… I fully understand why people who are into racing see it as their day ….. but for me and many I know MC is a cultrual event buy a ticket in the sweep…… even get a prise if the nag comes last.

Would be interesting to hear other Roar views on the MC (Melbourne Cup not the Roars famed MC)

Millster said  | October 21st 2008 @ 1:10pm | Report comment

Middie - my views on the Melbourne cup are well known. It is an absolute parody, a metaphor for the perverse way in which we run many of our domestic comps (salary caps and draft picks anyone?). Get the very best and then weigh them down enough that the nags become competitive. Then turn that into the biggest race of the year. Not saying I don’t absolutely love the circus and ’stopping of the nation’ each November, but why the hell when you get the best horses in the land (and the world) together you wouldn’t just want them to run fast and free and unfettered to the best of their abilities is beyond me.

mummyfishy said  | October 21st 2008 @ 1:42pm | Report comment

I recon you can’t go past the Steven Bradbury gold medal at the Winter Olympics. I know it was not the great finishing moment we are all use to but it shows that you gotta be in it to win it and not to give up fighting until the race or game is over because anything can happen.Hey but my 2 little Aussies give me my best sporting moments each week if they are scoring hoops in Basket ball or kicking goals in soccer the joy on their faces is as good as any sporting moment on TV

Millster said  | October 21st 2008 @ 2:34pm | Report comment

Andrew P - don’t leave us hanging…. did she say YES ??????????????????????

kevin m said  | October 21st 2008 @ 3:32pm | Report comment

Ted Whitton’s final lap of the MCG.

Sandy Horsfall said  | October 21st 2008 @ 5:00pm | Report comment

I was standing on the train station waiting to go to work on the morning of 26th September 1983. Over the station loud speakers, the final few moments of the final America’s Cup Race were being broadcast. I stood transfixed to the wonderful news I was hearing of our unbelievable victory over America. My train arrived and departed without myself aboard as I simply couldn’t move. I have never felt such pride at being an Aussie as that moment and can visualise everything about that day clearly in my mind. Eventually I travelled to work in the city and by that time, it seemed as if the whole world had turned green and gold as everyone and everything was proudly adorned in those colours. Little work was done by anyone that day, but many celebrattions occurred. For me, it is my undoubtedly my favourite sporting moment to date.

Jamie Mcdougall said  | October 21st 2008 @ 7:48pm | Report comment

NRL

The cattle dog incident when jamie goddard smacked joey johns around then joey tried to sneak around the ref for a second go only to be belted and slapped around like a shelia thats Queensland Spirit !!!

Andrew P said  | October 21st 2008 @ 8:48pm | Report comment

Millster, she texted me back a smiley face, which I later found out meant yes. We’ll sort it out eventually. Just another memory to take from the World Cup.

One of the things I didn’t mention was the amazing atmosphere in each of the cities the Australian fans went to. It was a melting pot of cultures, with fans from all over the world, and everyone got on (except for 500 idiots in Stuttgart who called themselves England fans).

DaSilva, no-one booed the Iranian anthem at the MCG in 1997. The infamous booing of the Uruguayan anthem in 2005 was a perceived “payback” from a similar reaction to the Australian anthem in Montevideo, and was whipped up by a Sydney tabloid newspaper. To be honest, I wasn’t aware of the campaign and was stunned when the booing occurred. But as a mate of mine, who is an ex-Socceroo put it, “If it hadn’t have happened, the Uruguayan players would have been more surprised than when it did, and would have questioned the crowd’s passion.” Still have mixed feelings about it. No foreign anthems were disrespected at any of the World Cup games I attended. But I’ll be interested to see what happens next time the Socceroos play Italy.

LYNDA said  | October 22nd 2008 @ 7:23am | Report comment

Truly my ultimate favorite sporting moment is to watch my heroes perform their dream sports,since the introduction to join the Olympic teams ,the PARALYMPIC teams are a inspiration to us all ,their courage,performance,magical sportsmanship,exuberant strength,incredible talent,amazing abilities to over come their own diverse disabilities,against all odds they totally shine with golden medals,Australians do us proud celebrate and support us more ,you truly have inspired us all, to never give up ,despite of our disability this is my moment to roar and cheer forever as you are all remarkable Aussie teams.

Wayne Arbon said  | October 22nd 2008 @ 7:58am | Report comment

Steve Waugh’s 200 against the West Indies in Jamaica in 1995. We were trying to win the Frank Worrell Trophy for the first time in a million years and were playing against a fired-up Curtly Ambrose at his meanest. At the beginning of the tour the West Indies had not lost a Test series since 1980 and had not lost a Test series to Australia at home since 1973. In the decider, Waugh came to the wicket with the score at 3/73 and was the last man to go, out for 200 after nine hours of batting. We went on to win the Test and the series. I remember watching every ball as if it was a hand-grenade, and Waugh was hit on the body many times - sometimes he even raised his bat and let the ball hit him, rather than risk getting out. That was how highly he prized his wicket. Steve Waugh and his red hanky should be remembered forever.

El Capitan said  | October 22nd 2008 @ 10:16am | Report comment

Not being a “Football” supporter, I can’t go pass the 2003 Friendly between England and Australia at Upton Park. English Manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, had no clue into the “Friendly” between England and Australia. He half expected that the Aussie would not put up a fight, but before long England were down 2-0 at half time with Tony Popovic and Harry Kewell scoring in the 15th and 41st minute respectivly. Sven then changed the whole team practically and managed to get the score back to 2-1 after Francis Jeffers scored in the 69th minute, but then the nail in the coffin came when Brett Emerton scored in the 85th minute to take the game away from England for the final score of 3-1.

Sven had no idea about how tough the Aussies would be playing this Friendly, nor the tradition between the two nations. From that point on England had offically sucked at Cricket, Tennis, Rugby, RL and now Football. I’m sure it was a moment that the England team will remember as they were booed off the field by their supporters.

Rebecca C said  | October 22nd 2008 @ 11:34am | Report comment

THIS IS MY RESPONSE MINUS NAUGHTY WORDS.

My boyfriend, for all of his qualities, is a kiwi, and there is nothing Iove quite as much as seeing the Wallabies get one up on the All Blacks.

In 1991, our Wallabies World cup victory was awesome, but we were coming into our own with special players and other top teams in the world were in transitional phases.

In 1999 - we were entering a golden era, and the World Cup win was the foundations of a glorious time of Australian rugby, followed by Tri Nations wins, British Lions triumphs and of course, the greatest player of all time, Johnnie be good Eales.

But I remember 2003 very well to build towards the greatest moment in Australia sport.

I remember hearing about England, there strong buildup, beating the kiwis and then us in a buildup to the World Cup.

But I remember those ******** kiwi’s, who came down to Sydney and smashed us and put 50 points on us. 50 POINTS. I was not happy. In fact, I was cranky.

They then went and did the same thing to those South Africans - not that I minded that very much.

So then the World Cup started, and I was lucky enough to go to a couple of World Cup games in Brisbane. I saw the men V boys match “England V Uruguay” with my partners mum, and I remember him coming home from the All Blacks V Tonga game after the kiwi’s had nearly put a 100 points on the islanders.

He forced me to watch the All Blacks V South Africa quarter final, and as much as I hated to admit it, his team of fancy clad black pretty boys did look pretty flash.

We then were lucky enough to get quarter final tickets to the Wallabies V Scotland, where I watched are boys scrap past a very average plaid kilted highland residing scot’s team.

At this point I knew that we were up against those “we’re so amazing” ******** All Blacks, and that we were definately up against it.

You should have heard my boyfriend - as wonderful as he is - ********* on about how we were going to get smashed. Even the media was against the Wallabies, in OUR OWN COUNTRY FOR GOODNESS SAKE. It was a horrible week, and I prayed that we would at least not get beaten by a big score.

Even despite Eddie Jones saying he had a plan, he was such a ******* that I did not believe him.

But then it happened.

The best moment in Australian sport.

22-10

22-10

22-10

22-10

Ah, it was magic. I did appear to console my boyfriend, but you should have seen his face. A true “priceless” mastercard moment (sorry honey, I do love you if you read this).

For the first 5 minutes the All Blacks couldn’t even get their hands on the ball, and the cockiness and confidence of our Golden clad warriors was incredible.

Because the funniest thing in the world (sorry honey, I do love you if you read this) is a clueless looking team dressed up to look all menacing in their black clothes.

I love Wendell and Lote, and they were awesome. And the All Blacks were useless (sorry honey, I do love you if you read this).

That, mr roar sports site, is the most amazing australian sporting moment ever.

We almost then beat fancy pommies england, and only a lucky drop goal could beat us.

22-10.

That win against the All Blacks was our World Cup success.

22-10.

The Roar said  | October 22nd 2008 @ 11:47am | Report comment

Hi guys - there have been some great sporting moments posted so far which is great to see.

A reminder that this is one special TV and we’re delighted to be able to give it away to our readers thanks to LG. The picture quality is amazing and will make watching sport seem like you’re at the match (probably better if the match in question is at ANZ Stadium!

Winners announced on Friday 31st October 2008.

Keep your greatest moments coming and please tell your friends about The Roar.

dasilva said  | October 22nd 2008 @ 2:09pm | Report comment

Andrew P

Yeah I didn’t remember any booing either so was surprise to read an article that present Australia in such a negative light. I think the journalist of the article perhaps have an anti-AUstralian/western prejudice or had the misfortune of meeting one arsehole in Australia.

Carmel said  | October 22nd 2008 @ 4:15pm | Report comment

Stephen Bradbury’s unusual gold medal winning performance at the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics ,because even though it’s not the “conventional” story of victory, it reminds me that success and reward can come out of the most obsure circumstances ! It’s endurance and heart that counts and it confirms that extraorinary things are in reach - even if sometimes we don’t always believe them possible ourselves. For someone who had such major set backs in his career with serious physical injury - it was fantastic to see his passion, determination and sheer bloody grit pay off !

Mark said  | October 22nd 2008 @ 9:32pm | Report comment

My most memorable sporting moment would be Cathy Freeman’s win in the 400m at the Sydney Olympics.I’d just driven
two hours down south thinking I would’nt make it in time.Got to my destination,cracked a beer and watched on in awe with my family.Being the host nation,I just thought the win gave all australian’s a reason to be proud .It just felt as if for a brief
moment in time our nation was united and willing her on.Well done Cathy!

onside said  | October 23rd 2008 @ 12:02am | Report comment

The year was 1963,when Lionel Rose a fifteen year old aboriginal lad from the back blocks of Drouin fifty miles from Melbourne,won the National amateur flyweight title.It was his first big title made all the more special because Lionels father died the previous day.

In 1964 lionel Rose now 16 won his first professional bout. And by 1966,Rose aged 18 won the Australian Bantam weight Title.

In 1967,boxing fans glimpsed a hint at what the future held when Rose defended his heavy weight title against Rocky Gatellari in front of a parochial Sydney crowd who expected their favourite son to win. Rose knocked Gatellari out in the thirteenth winning over the crowd and immediately emerging as a folk hero. After beating Gatellari, Rose expressed regret for hurting him.

My favourite moment insport came in 1968 when Lionel Rose ,aged 20,defeated Masahiko’Fighting’ Harada for the World Batamweight Championship

Harada,a seasoned campaigner had already successfully defended his title five times ,and though Rose was willing to fight him,Jack Rennie his trainer was anything but confident. Rose went to Tokyo six weeks before the bout to assimilate and step up the intensity of his training.

Right up to the moment Rose stepped into the ring, nobody gave him any real chance of winning and he was a long outsider with the bookmakers.

I listened to Ron Casey call the fight on an old Bakelite radio at Lindrums Billiard and Snooker Hall in Flinders Lane Melbourne. There’s something about radio that engages the mind and amplifies the imaginationn that television can never do.

Ron Caseys call of round one left listeners a little apprehensive,even though Rose eventually won the round. The surprise tactics used by Rose confused everybody including Harada who, like Casey, expected him to attack. But instead of attacking in his usual manner he sat back and drew Harada to him.Rose got a few punches to land on Haradas head , ripped a vicious left hook to the jaw, and ended up putting Harada on the ropes.

Round three was a definitive round because by the end Harada was a bit wobbly and came close to falling when
the bell went.According to Casey,Harada face face was already puffy and bloodshot. It was later reported Rose
told Jack Rennie,’dont worry about me,this bloke cant punch’.It wasn’t arrogance but rather his dry sence of humour
in the face of adversity.

Ron Casey gave round six to Harada after landing a heavy right to Roses head. Rose told a reporter after the match
that he saw Jack Rennies wife Shirley and winked, ‘Shirl looked a bit worried so I thought I had better cheer her up
so I gave her a big wink’

The middle stages of the fight was heavy going and Rose continually battered Harada .Rround seven was even but
Rose won round eight after opening Haradas eye.

Round nine was pivotal for Rose. Harada went for him but Rose held him off with precise straightb lefts and then
danced out of reach.Harada rushed Rose, but a brutal exchange of punches saw Harada go down for an eight count

By the end of the eleventh the commentary told us Harada was bleeding freely from the nose and Rose was by
comparison unscathed. Rose copped a solid right hook to the jaw in the twelfth but came back to level the score.

Expectations reached new heights when Ron Casey said Harada seemed frustrated in round thirteen as his
punches and timing were off the mark.Listening to the call,Rose seemed to get in twice the punches as the
champion,whose his eye bled again.

Harada threw everything at Rose in an all out attack in round fourteen, but Rose with superior footwork
weathered the storm and counter attacked hitting Harada on the jaw with a stunning right and left combination.
Rose then cornered Harada on the ropes and pummelled his body,his left hand doing enormous damage.
Casey said he had never seen so much blood in a long while ,and it was all Haradas.

Harada mounted a last frezied assualt in the final round,looking for a long shot knockout to retain the title,but Rose
was equall to Haradas desperation,throwing his left and dancing away.At the end of the round Casey said Roses
boxing trunks were covered in blood from Haradas cuts.

As the decision was announced Lindrums was deathly quiet.It was a unanimous points decision,72/71,72/70,72/69
The unpretentious aboriginal kid with a truly distinctive style from the backblocks of Drouin was the World Champion .

Lindrums was in pademonium.Men were laughing,embracing each other and a couple of old blokes had tears in their
eyes.

Ron Casey in the dressing rooms after the fight said Lionel Rose was relatively unmarked and couldnt stop grinning
when surrounded by a clutch of sports journalists trying to interview an emerging hero.

This was the first fifteen round fight of three minutes rounds Rose had fought.He was calm and methodical in his
approach to the bout and outboxed Harada with his trademark brilliant left hand a a bruising right. It was an outstanding victory.

A very proud Jack Rennie was later quoted as saying,’he was a boy doing a mans work,and he did it well’
Apparently Rose fought from round three with a damaged right hand but did not tell his trainer.

Lionel Rose was only the second Australian to win a world boxing title.He was the first Aboriginal to win a world title

On his return to Melbourne he was greeted by a reported 250.000 people in the streets.Later in 1968 he was awarded
the honour of Australian of the Year.

Lionel Rose gave me my finest sporting memory when he won the World Batamweight Championship in 1968.

Suze said  | October 23rd 2008 @ 8:26am | Report comment

Love or hate his aggressive behaviour you can’t overlook his contribution to Australian Tennis. Lleyton Hewitt not only won the 2001 US Open, he became the youngest male ever to be ranked number 1 in the world that same year. As sporting moments go he was on a high and when he then achieved the ultimate tennis crown at Wimbledon in 2002 I almost burst with patriotism.

jules said  | October 23rd 2008 @ 12:08pm | Report comment

Despite not always betting on The Cup, watching Makybe Diva win her third Melbourne Cup in 2005 was surprisingly moving for me - the race callers and the occasion made for some stiring moments and thinking of the marvellous creature she was then and all her connections gave me goosebumps.

Michael Harth said  | October 23rd 2008 @ 9:28pm | Report comment

I will always remember those immortal words from race caller Greg Miles, ‘And A Champion Becomes A Legend’ when Makybe Diva strolled home for her third Melbourne Cup in 2005. And trainer Lee Freedman who so rightfully cliamed to reporters, ‘Go and find the youngest child in the crowd, for they will be the only one on this course who will witness something like this again. The Melbourne Cup is always special but Makybe Diva’s three in a row is something that every Australian will remember even those once a year punters. The call of the race that year and the feat achieved by the great mare made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up and is something I will remember for the rest of my life.

Michael C said  | October 24th 2008 @ 5:18am | Report comment

I’ll go seriously here:

A moment that I believe has inspired a movie production, by the Americans,

2002, Melbourne Cup, Damian Oliver wins the big one and stands in his stirrups, raising his whip to the sky in silent tribute to his late brother Jason who had died from a race fall just days earlier.

The Flemington crowd rode with Oliver who had promised to win for his brother. And remembering that his father had died the same way back in ‘75 made it all the more compelling. And so, so many people backed the fairy tale…..rather than Vinnie Roe

nirvanagirl said  | October 24th 2008 @ 11:01am | Report comment

I was 11 , watching the football (afl) and when Gary Ablett got his hundred goals that year , I was screamin the house down. Wishin I was there on the field with them congratulating him on his efforts but wasn’t my week to go.

ThelmaWrites said  | October 24th 2008 @ 8:34pm | Report comment

It gives me a warm glow to know that I share many great Australian sporting moments with others.

I have my very own special, great sporting moment, shared with a very special person: DaniE, who posts here in the Roar frequently, and who was interviewed on the Roar after she met Spiro Zavos in France during the Rugby World Cup.

This was a much earlier Rugby World Cup, in 1991. DaniE was eleven years old at that time. She asked me if she could stay up to watch the Semi-Final between the Wallabies and the All Blacks. I had wondered why this eleven-year-old girl knew so much about rugby league and rugby union. So I said yes.

We sat there in the early morning, in front of our small Sony TV. The match was very tight, to say the least, and when my nerves couldn’t stand it any longer, I fled to my bedroom and flung myself under the blanket. Not long afterward, this little girl came running down the hallway: “Mommy, Mommy, we’re winning, we’re winning!”

We had a nice cuddle. She went to sleep after the game, and I stayed up to watch the replay.

From that moment on, DaniE and I have shared many great Australian sporting moments, not only in rugby, but also in cricket, hockey, soccer, the Olympics, and others.

DaniE now lives in Kuala Lumpur with her husband, who also has taken to rugby. They are expecting a son in December, and I hope that she too, along with Mark, will share many great Australian sporting moments with their son.

lily gray said  | October 25th 2008 @ 11:37am | Report comment

My favourite aust sporting moment would have to be Manly’s ABSOLUTE FLOGGING of melb storm in this years rugby league grand final.

To keep storm scoreless was alsolute bliss. (Writing this still brings a giggle out of me!)

Axeman said  | October 26th 2008 @ 3:08pm | Report comment

Siohban Paton’s six gold medal haul,
In the 2000 Sydney Paralympic pool,
Setting nine world records along the way,
In my memory that will stay!

Gerbs said  | October 26th 2008 @ 7:22pm | Report comment

The 1991 Rugby World Cup would have to be one of the greatest sporting memories for most Australian Rugby supporters. I was at boarding school in a house of about 80 blokes, most of whom were fairly mad about Rugby. The final play by the Aussies in the Quarter-Final was something else. The anguish following the Irish try (and the jubilation of the crowd at Lansdowne Road) was incredible. Yet I am sure most Wallaby supporters could feel something special was about to happen, hoping Campo would provide something special and sure enough that simple wrap by Michael Lynagh allowed him to score in the corner. The boarding house errupted (unlike Lansdowne Road) and the next 2 weeks brought much more joy!
Go the Wallabies!

Kristen Slaven said  | October 27th 2008 @ 1:03am | Report comment

I would have to say Makybe Diva making history by winning her 3rd Melbourne Cup. She is a beautiful horse and is just as good as Pharlap (though nothing will ever replace Pharlap) I feel privileged to have witnessed Makybes great feat!

David said  | October 27th 2008 @ 9:13pm | Report comment

Cathy Freeman won Olympic Gold in the Womens 400m race at the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000.

Steven P said  | October 27th 2008 @ 10:16pm | Report comment

The best sporting moment in my mind was when an olympic swimmer for his country was miles behind everybody else but he kept on going and everybody cheered him on to the very end. Its moments like these, where sport gets recognised for mateship, and we forget all about the competition, because that person gave it their all. Sport is doing your very best. How well you go is not important.

Robin L said  | October 28th 2008 @ 2:53pm | Report comment

I never thought in my lifetime I would see such an amazing feat as The legend - Makybe Diva winning her third Melbourne Cup on that historic first Tues in November 2005. Flemington was awash with her colours of red, white and blue. With a weight of 58kg and ridden by Glen Boss she was favourite - and she was the peoples favourite and boy, she did not disapoint us with her mighty performance. We will never see another horse like her or a Melbourne Cup like that one. As her owner said after the race just before annoucing her retirement ” To win one cup is amazing, to win two is a dream. Three is more than history” This has got to be right up there with the greatest sporting moments ever.

Cathy said  | October 29th 2008 @ 10:36am | Report comment

It was that Jamacian man who ran the 100 meters at the olympics this year. I have never seen anything like it - he really just danced his way home to the finish line and looked like he could just keep on running. And when you heard his background story it is just an amazing story from start to finish line.

Benjamin said  | October 30th 2008 @ 8:43am | Report comment

The proudest moment for me as an Aussie sports fan would have to be when little Lleyton Hewitt absolutely squashed David Nalbandian 6-1, 6-3, 6-2 to win the 2002 Wimbeldon grand slam. His unflinching tenacity and killer court speed helped him to seal the deal despite rain delays and even a male streaker, little Lleyton could handle all the balls in the world that day! So for becoming the youngest Wimbeldon mens champion since Boris Becker in 1986, Lleyton is the man for me! Aussie! Aussie! Aussie!

monica scurlock said  | October 30th 2008 @ 10:32am | Report comment

Whats the best way to ’stick it up them’? Come from lane eight and win gold! You legend Keiran Perkins!

Michael C said  | October 30th 2008 @ 2:38pm | Report comment

Okay - Syndal Tally Ho - - 2001, set the scene, round 1, a fine start to the season, seniors and reserves both manage a win. Anzac Day falls early the week following. The phone calls come early in the morning, the club rooms are guttered by fire (seemingly set by local hoons/druggies).
Already, we’d entered the season with a club stalwart taking on the unenviable role of coaching BOTH seniors and reserves.
Suddenly, no clubrooms - we needed a new ground for the season.

As it turned out - - the potential of suddenly having no club - - we found a venue, and we found strength in unity - and we won BOTH seniors and reserves premierships, and our end of season trip went off despite the Ansett collapse………

and the shirts told the story,
1 club
2 teams
1 coach
1 fire
2 flags
&
no planes

becstar1 said  | October 31st 2008 @ 1:53am | Report comment

My favourite sporting moment would have to be AUSTRALIA Beating the Loud mouth ‘Yanks’ in the 25th America’s Cup?
The was year of 1983. It was famous year for AUSTRALIA and Alan Bond, for we won the America’s Cup! USA Challenger. .One that they can never live down!! AUSSIE AUSSIE OI OI

michelle said  | October 31st 2008 @ 7:24am | Report comment

When Darren Albert crossed the line,
Newcastle partied like it was 1999.
After 11 years it still gives me chills,
So it’s my favourite sporting thrill.