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Sport is all about those experiences that make us jump out of our seats and make us look on in awe. It provides unique drama that not even the grandest Hollywood blockbusters can conjure.
Then, once in a while, it provides a moment in time that sends chills down the spine. Here are the six best sights and sounds when watching sport.
The sound of the football net when it is hit by a howitzer and stuns a home crowd
There is no sound in sport as universal and dramatic. We’ve all been there – either on the winning or losing side.
The long range Hail Mary, hit with such power and probably borne out of frustration from unfruitful attempts in the preceding 90 minutes. It beats the keeper, then you hear the sweet (if you’re on the winning team) sound of the net accepting the ball, and the ball negotiating gravity and trying to find its way back to earth.
It is amplified by the silence of thousands of stunned home fans, whose soundtrack of singing and boastful chants suddenly skips. And the small, strained cheers from the ecstatic away fans, usually on the other side of the ground, who have only just caught up with the news, due to the delay caused by distance.
The only sound as dramatic is when said shots hits the woodwork flush and ricochets back to whence it came. But it’s more fun when a goal is scored, isn’t it?
The cricket stumps getting snapped into pieces
A rare occurrence – which makes sight of this even more special. When a ball is delivered with such speed, and evades all of the defences of the batsman, and brings down the castle. Actually, not only brings down the castle, but destroys it.
The best thing about this is that it delivers a statement; the wicket falling is not the only benefit here. It gives the bowler and the rest of his teammates an amazing lift.
On the other side, it destroys the batsmans confidence; it delivers a message. And puts some worry into the next batter. And the rest of his team. And every other team that sees the footage. But most importantly, for the viewer, it is an unforgettable sight.
The sideline conversion
The scoring systems in rugby league and rugby union regularly lead to situations where a penalty kick or try conversion can snatch a win, given they are worth two or three points. When this kick is after the final siren and from the acutest of angles from the sideline, the drama is ramped up significantly.
The crowd hushes in anticipation, the cameraman always has the perfect angle (much better than shooting from directly behind the kicker when he is right in front of the sticks). The ball is kicked; the wind takes it, it changes trajectory numerous times before it finally finds its line and finds its way through the posts. Magnificent.
Or it hits the post and bounces back into the field of play. Devastating. Or it is completely scuffed by the kicker. Hilarious.
The NBA buzzer beater
Speaking of scoring systems that frequently provide entertaining finishes, the sport on top of that heap is basketball. With points being scored every few seconds, a thrilling finish is always on the cards. And with two and three points available per shot, wins can be snatched in just seconds. Or even less.
The most appealing aspect of the rules to a fan of thrilling sport is the fact that a ball which is shot before the clock expires is still live, even if the time runs out when the ball is in the air.
Sure it can get frustrating towards the end of games when teams tactically foul and fight for every centimetre by using timeout. But when a team, down by one with one second left, manages to get a shot away, the buzzer goes and the crowd is in awe, the shot is then in the hands of the Gods and whatever happens next is final and unchangeable… that is something only sport can offer.
The lengthy NFL play
Each snap in an NFL game generally only lasts for a few seconds – usually before the running back is engulfed by a mass of defensive humanity, the wide receiver takes a miraculous catch while tiptoeing the sideline or the quarterback is left face first on the floor after his offensive lineman fails him.
So any time a play lasts anything longer than Jacksonville’s hopes for the season after an opening game against Seattle (hint: not long at all), the audience is enthralled. Whether it be a kick return, a punt return or running back run, a play outlasting its life expectancy is truly something very exciting.
And with every additional second added to the play, and with every defender carried by the bison of a running back (I’m looking at you, AP), the play becomes exponentially legendary.
The baseball homer
I had the good fortune of watching my first live MLB match recently. And now I can see what all the fuss is about. After the frustration of exceptional pitching and the low amount of runs this brings, the excitement a cleanly hit ball brings is palpable.
But the best part is seeing the ball fly through the night sky. The crowd gushes. The ball is suspended in time. So many scenarios run through the players, the coaches and fans’ minds. Is this the moment that will win us the game? The championship? The World Series?
So many stories are written in the time it takes for the ball to find a home. There is no hang time close to this. There is no comparison to a ball with history being written on its very revolution and final resting spot.
The home run I saw was a run-of-the-mill shot that was hit early in the game – the first game of the season, incidentally. But seeing that ball fly through the air gave you the feeling that many others have seen the same ball throughout the many years baseball has been around, and have written stories and legends that are passed on through generations.
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