Only the most elite athletes win championships. But only the most elite of those elite athletes have the balls to proclaim that they will accomplish a particular feat, and subsequently deliver on that claim.
7.) Owen Nolan's Pointer Goal At '97 All-Star Game
Scoring a goal on an NHL goaltender is no easy task. Now try doing that against the best goaltender in the world, during the All-Star game, immediately after calling your shot...by pointing to the net...exactly where you plan on shooting it...and scoring. Owen Nolan accomplished that in the 1997 NHL All-Star game on Dominik Hasek, then the league's most dominant goaltender. Nolan picked up the puck in the neutral zone, skated towards the net, pointed to the upper corner, and fired a wrist shot over Hasek's shoulder. By the way, it was his third of the game, and in front of his hometown crowd in San Jose.
6.) Petr Sykora Proclaims Game Winner Will Be His
Calling your shot prior to a game is bad ass enough as it is, but calling your shot mid-game and also in overtime in a championship game is the stuff of legends (hint). Petr Sykora did exactly that in the 2008 Stanley Cup Finals against the Detroit Red Wings. Sykora, a winger for the Pittsburgh Penguins, had already played 5 periods of intense hockey when he leaned over to Pierre Maguire, a hockey analyst with the privelige of setting up shop between each teams benches. Maquire had made some comments regarding Sykora's play during the game, and how it had been sub-par. Off-air, Sykora told Maguire that he would score the game winner in the third overtime of the game, and he did. The Penguins would not go on to win the cup, however.
5.) Modest Cassius Clay Guarantees Win Over Sonny Liston
Sonny Liston was a bad-ass. The dude doesn't even have a birth certificate, a fact that puts him in line with bad asses like Genghis Khan, axes, lightning bolts, and Jason Bourne. Cassius Clay was definitely the underdog. Even so, he predicted that he would knock Liston out in the 8th round. Clay even went as far as taunting Liston to his face at Liston's own training sessions. Liston refused to fight in the 7th, guaranteeing Clay the win. The next day, Clay changed his name to Muhammad Ali.
4.) Plaxico Burress Apparently Makes Deal With Devil
The NFL's 2007 was dominated by the Patriots. Everything New England was top dog on every sports site, TV show, blog, newspaper, fantasy league, and so on. Going undefeated in the regular season and scoring over 500 points will do that. Tom Brady and Randy Moss broke records, their defense took a big dump on every teams face and their un-smiling coach never broke character. There was no question they would be considered the most dominant dynasty of all time. But Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress didn't buy it. As he entered the stadium for practice, reporters asked for his thoughts. He replied, "23-17," and walked in. It was a prediction that shocked everyone. Tom Brady smuggly laughed it off, saying "I wish he had given us more credit. Like 45-42 or something." He laughed and the reporters laughed, the taste of Brady's ball-sac still strong in their mouths. Burress went on to catch the game-winning touchdown. His prediction was incorrect though. The Giants scored 17 points, but the Patriots only scored 14. We doubt he cared.
3.) Joe Namath Guarantees Super Bowl III Victory
It hadn't even been named "The Superbowl" until that point, but football fans from across America went ape-shit over it, nonetheless, most likely due to the rivalry between the AFL and the NFL. The best of each league met for the championship to determine the best football team in the world. During the media frenzy that surrounded the upcoming game between the New York Jets and Baltimore Colts, emotions ran high. Jets quarterback Joe Namath had been the focus of much of the hatred from Colts fans. After dealing with constant heckling that spanned several days, he made a bold prediction. "We will win the game, I guarantee you," he said to a heckler. Reporters immediately printed the quote in newspapers across America. Namath backed up his promise with 206 passing yards. He did not throw a touchdown in the 16-7 victory, but won MVP.
We couldn't find a video of his guarantee, so we just thought we'd show how much of a maverick he is with the ladies.
2.) Mark Messier: "We'll Win Tonight"
If hockey was popular in the United States, (and it should be, dammit, it's an amazing sport) more people would know the name Mark Messier. With his accomplishments and skill, he should be considered one of the greatest leaders of all time. Hockey is a game of toughness, both mentally and physically. The coveted "C" on a players jersey commands more respect in hockey than any other sport. That rhetoric applies best during the playoffs, which take months to finish because each series is a best of 7. In the Eastern Conference Finals, Messier was Captain of the New York Rangers who found themselves trailing the New Jersey Devils 3 games to 2. In a statement prior to game 6, Messier did not predict a win. He guaranteed it. When trailing in a series and facing elimination, it takes gigantic balls to make that statement, especially in hockey. Players on the opposing team take that statement personally, and play angry, murder-themed hockey. Messier delivered the win personally by scoring a hat-trick in the third period. The Rangers went on to win the Stanley Cup.
1.) Babe Ruth's Famous Home-Run Point
When it comes to the most famous name in sports history, it only makes sense that he deserves the most famous called shot in sports history. Even to this day there's always one douchebag who attempts to re-enact the iconic moment during bar league softball games. Here's the story:
The Yankees were playing the Cubs in the 1932 World Series. It was game 3, and the Cubs were heckling Ruth at every opportunity. It was the only way they could stop the legend from continuing to dismantle their team. After watching two called strikes from pitcher Charlie Root, Ruth started to get hounded by the Cubs dugout. Being a fierce competitor, Ruth had no problem returning the heckles. After watching another called strike, it seemed like Ruth would shut his mouth and focus on the at-bat. What happened next has been disputed and debated by baseball historians for 75 years. Ruth pointed to what seemed like the center field bleachers. Root delivered a curveball that Ruth absolutely destroyed. We're talking Benny "The Jet" Rodriguez style ball-destruction here, people. The shot sailed around 440 feet. As Ruth rounded the bases, he taunted the Cubs dugout. Lou Gehrig followed Ruth with a home run of his own. The Yankees went on to win the series.
Unfortunately, footage of the game is rare, making it almost impossible to find. This is the best we could do:
There is debate over where he is actually pointing. Some claimed he pointed toward the dugout, some say he pointed to the bleachers. Either way, the moment has become a baseball legend.