Historic Sporting Events to See with a Time Machine

When:February 22, 1980

Where:Lake Placid, NY

The Event:When Russia invaded Afghanistan in 1979, Cold War tensions peaked. America boycotted the 1980 Summer Games in Moscow. We could not fire nukes, but we beat them at their favorite sport on the world's biggest stage.Sports Illustrated They named this the most memorable sports moment of the 20th century., and since you own your own time machine, you already "believe in miracles."

When:March 8, 1971

Where:New York, NY

The Event:Also called Frazier vs. Ali 1, the Fight of the Century was the first heavyweight championship match between two undefeated boxers. Neither boxer reached their athletic peak, but this means you see two smart boxers, not just brawlers. Frazier won by unanimous decision after 15 rounds. Catch the first politically charged go-round between these two titans.

When:March 2, 1962

Where:Hershey, PA

The Event:This game is ridiculous, but you must see it. Almost no one saw it. There was no TV, no video, just about 4,000 spectators. A radio account wasn't found until 1988.wasn't even unearthed until 1988.

Warriors manipulated the game with fouls to gain more possessions. Still, a 100-point game in the NBA seems absurd.

When:May 7th, 1989

Where:Richfield, OH

The Event:No one around you will know the Bulls' championships. Few expect the upset win when Michael Jordan hits a buzzer-beater and claims NBA immortality. Get your seats behind the opposite basket to see the full celebration; Jordan faces away from you for the shot.

When:October 1, 1932

Where:Chicago, IL

The Event:This moment is controversial in sports history. Did Babe Ruth point to center field to say he would hit a home run in Game 3 of the World Series, or is the story folklore? Film exists, but it stays unclear. Find a seat near the third base line to see faces and know for sure. FDR will attend; try to shake his hand.

When:April 15, 1947

Where:Brooklyn, NY

The Event:This is obvious. Imagine the buzz, tension, elation, fear, and real danger before baseball broke its color barrier. Your time machine removes that need. You see a moment of baseball, civil rights, and American history at once. Jackie will walk and score a run; that meant everything.walk and score a run, and that meant everything.

When:August 9, 1936

Where:Berlin, Germany

The Event:Jessie Owens achieved his greatest track and field day in 1935 at a Big Ten meet. He set three world records and tied a fourth in 45 minutes. For more, visit the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, where he won four gold medals: 100m, 200m, long jump, and the 4x100m relay. This showed Adolf Hitler the opposite of Aryan supremacy.

Solve the mystery: did Owens and Hitler shake hands? This moment remains controversial.Whether Owens and Hitler shook hands remains uncertain..

When:December 23rd, 1972

Where:Pittsburgh, PA

The Event:No one knows if the pass Franco Harris scooped up and ran for a game-winning touchdown touched the ground. Neither referees nor the camera captured the chaotic play. The score stood, and the Steelers won their first playoff game and first Super Bowl. The Raiders wondered, "What if?"1972 AFC Divisional PlayoffThe game touched the ground or not remains unclear. Referees and cameras failed to capture the chaotic play. The score stood; the Steelers won their first playoff game and first Super Bowl. The Raiders questioned, "What if?"

Bring more than just a time machine to this game. Bring a slow-motion camera, record the play, then erase the footage once you know what truly happened. Why ruin the mystery for others?

When:November 20, 1982

Where:Berkeley, CA

The Event:Stanford led 20-19. Cal used five laterals to score a game-winning kickoff return touchdown. The Stanford sideline, with its 144-member marching band, ran onto the field early to celebrate. Cal's Kevin Men dodged tubas and trumpets over the final twenty yards. He finished the touchdown with a two-handed over-hand punch that wiped out. You cannot make this up.. You cannot make this up.

Scholars and drunkards still argue if all five laterals were legal. Use your time machine to join the Stanford band and participate in their fateful March for the optimal viewing angle.

When:July 22, 1992

Where:Monte Carlo, Monaco

The Event:The USA's 1992 Men's Basketball team won every game by over 31 points. Their march to gold showed no real competition. The better event to visit was practice. Chuck Daly set Team MJ against Team Magic, letting the sparks fly in an irresponsible scrimmage. We make a rare exception leaving the continent because nothing else compares.an irresponsible scrimmage. We make a rare exception leaving the continent because nothing else compares.

When:April 8th, 1974

Where:Atlanta, GA

The Event:Barry Bonds may have broken Hank Aaron's career home run record. Nobody ran to congratulate him at third base. Vin Scully did not call it a key moment for civil rights. The nation did not wait a whole season for two home runs. Hank Aaron is the home run king in most hearts, hopefully including yours.

When:October 15, 1988

Where:Los Angeles, CA

Kirk Gibson's Pinch Hit Homer:See Bill Madero Mazeroski's championship-clinching home run for the Pirates in 1960. This is baseball’s last iconic moment before the 'roids took over and damaged the next 20 years of American pastime. Gibson used grit and moxie to beat an injury instead of chemicals.underscores that point.

When:October 3, 1951

Where:New York City, NY

The Event:Baseball did not always have many playoff games. Teams with the best records in either league met in the World Series, and that ended it. You go back to a special time when the Dodgers and Giants had tied records, forcing a three-game playoff. Bobby Thompson’s bottom-of-the-ninth, come-from-behind, game-winning home run is theultimate in walkoffs. Smuggle your modern portable radio into the (now demolished Polo Grounds) to hear the iconic cries: "The Giants win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant!"

When:June 9, 1987

Where:Boston, MA

The Event:The rivalry between Larry Bird and Magic Johnson saved the NBA. They played in the NBA Finals three times. Game 4 of the '87 finals is the game you must see.

1987 was the last finals matchup between them. Game 4 featured Magic’s game-winning hook shot and Bird’s near-miss. Does this show the back-and-forth rivalry that began in the 1979 NCAA Championship game?

When:May 13, 1993

Where:Los Angeles, CA

The Event:The Great One's greatest game is a must-see stop. In a win-or-go-home game, he scored a goal in every period to lead the Kings to victory. Spend the time to watch the NHL all-time leading scorer (Gretzky) lose to the NHL’s (future temporary) all-time winningest goalie (Patrick Roy) in the Stanley Cup finals.

When:January 4, 2006

Where:Pasadena, CA

The Event:The 2006 Rose Bowl had everything. Three of the most decorated college players of all time (Vince Young, Reggie Bush, Matt Leinart) played. Two NCAA powerhouses (Texas and USC) competed. A BCS championship hung in the balance, and fortunes flipped at the last minute. Do not let the short time frame stop your excitement—many people consider thisthe greatest college football game of all time.

When:April 4, 1983

Where:Albuquerque, NM

The Event:This 1983 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament edged out the 1979 championship game that sparked the Larry Bird and Magic Johnson rivalry. You still get to see twoNBA Hall of Famerson the losing team (Houston’s Clyde Drexler and Hakeem Olajuwon), a buzzer-beating dunk (by Lorenzo Charles), and NC state coach Jim Valvano’s epic dash for victory ten years before his battle with bone cancer.

When:December 12, 1965

Where:Chicago, IL

The Event:Old-timers call a modern running back 'no Gale Sayers' after he rips off ankle-breaking moves. You must see Sayers’ dominant game. He scored four rushing touchdowns, one receiving touchdown, and a kick return touchdown. If you haven't visited Wrigley Field, that is where this game happened.

When:December 31, 1967

Where:Green Bay, WI

The Event: Visit the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field.at its most frozenThis game is the most iconic of the pre-merger NFL. The game time temperature hit -15 degrees Fahrenheit. The stadium's heat system failed, but Bart Starr's late touchdown dive helped the Packers reach Super Bowl II. Seven members of the marching band needed hypothermia treatment, and one fan died from the cold. Dress appropriately.

When:January 11, 1987

Where:Cleveland, OH

The Event:This how-to guide for NFL comebacks is essential. The 15 plays covered 98 yards. A John-Elway-to-Mark-Jackson touchdown pass kept Denver's Super Bowl hopes alive. This cemented the idea that any NFL game is reachable. Besides the unlikely result, this game is unique due to the perfect storm of bad conditions, mainly a muffled kickoff, that set up The Drive. Like Michael Jordan's 'The Shot,' this was not Elway's peak, but it was his most iconic moment.

When:January 22, 1989

Where:Miami, FL

The Event:Use your time machine for a Super Bowl ticket discount. Which should you choose first? Lodge one vote for Joe Montana's comeback win against the Bengals in Super Bowl XXIII. It featured many Hall of Famers and ended with a thrilling touchdown.

Check out game footage on the NFL YouTube channel.

When:November 22, 1986

Where:Las Vegas, NV

The Event:Pinpointing the best time to watch Mike Tyson's career is hard. His losses are more famous than his wins, and many of his notable victories were very short. Visit the fight where Tyson became the youngest heavyweight champion. It lasted two rounds; Tyson's left put the Austin champ down. Berbick got up but fell again without being hit, twice.

When:November 1, 1938

Where:Baltimore, MD

The Event:You could watch the 1937 Kentucky Derby, where War Admiral won the Thoroughbred Triple Crown. Tobey Maguire made the Match Race of the Century War Admiral's most famous race. He lost the horse race to Seabiscuit, even though he was a heavy favorite. It is fun to be in the crowd, watching the massive sea of people move across the track.

When:January 2, 1982

Where:Miami, FL

The Event:Dolphins coach Don Shula called the 41-38 overtime playoff loss to the Chargers, "A great game… maybe the greatest ever." This game was special, despite his Super Bowl III loss. Teams battled nearly 74 minutes in hot Miami weather, causing exhaustion and dehydration.

If your schedule allows, go to Cincinnati. That is where the Chargers play next.The Freezer Bowl., the coldest NFL game ever (based on wind-chill).

When:October 19, 1987

Where:Dallas, TX

The Event:The 1987 NFL player strike was messy. Owners hired scabs, so original players broke solidarity and walked off the picket line. By week 4, the Redskins only had replacements and played a Monday Night Football game against the star-filled Dallas Cowboys. How did this group of semi-pros upset America's Team? Find out in person. And yes,The Redskins reached the Super Bowl that season.

When:June 12, 1971

Where:San Diego, CA

The Event:Doc Ellis had a decent, but not legendary, career as aMajor League pitcher. He threw a no-hitter for the Pirates. This one was unique and likely unrepeatable. Ellis was completely blitzed on LSD, making it remarkable.

Afterward, Ellis reported not seeing the catcher. He mistook a batter for Jimi Hendrix and thought the home plate umpire was Richard Nixon. He walked eight batters. His erratic control must have confused the Padres. You will know what happened; you will be out of your mind.

When:September 30, 1973

Where:Houston, TX

The Event:After defeating Margaret Court in the first male vs. female tennis match, huckster Bobby Riggs repeated his claim. Riggs said he could beat any female player. Billie Jean King accepted the challenge and beat him in three sets. This event proved women belong on the national sports stage.

When:April 18-19 and June 23, 1981

Where:Pawtucket, RI

The Event:Your time machine lets you catch nine innings of baseball anytime. You can catch 33 games only in one spot. The Pawtucket Red Sox and Rochester Red Wings took two months to finish this minor league game. You can jump between dates or stay in 1981 for the full experience. You also seefuture Hall of Famers Cal Ripken, Jr. and Wade Boggs before they became stars.

When:February 25, 1985

Where:Los Angeles, CA

The Event:Visit the defunct USFL for its most infamous, unrecorded games. Jim Kelly, a future NFL Hall of Famer, and the Houston Gamblers returned from a 31-8 deficit with under eight minutes left to beat Steve Young's Los Angeles Express. Your time machine lets people see a live USFL game again.

Whether this game beats the greatest basketball game no one saw is up to you.