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The List: Best nickname for a sports moment
Page 2 staff

June is Nickname Month on Page 2 as we continue our search for the best monikers in all of sports.


	Franco Harris came out of nowhere to make the "Immaculate Reception."

Today, we're out to find the best nickname for a sports moment -- either a single play or an entire game.

Take a look at the top 10 as voted by Page 2's editorial staff, then check out our readers' picks and vote for the best all-time nickname for a sports moment.

1. "The Immaculate Reception"
Terry Bradshaw's desperation pass deflected off Raiders safety Jack Tatum and then hit Steelers receiver Frenchy Fuqua (although Oakland fans swear it hit Fuqua first, making the play illegal) before Franco Harris plucked it above the turf and headed for the winning touchdown as time expired in Pittsburgh's 1972 AFC divisional playoff victory. Yep, sounds like a miracle to us.

2. "The Thrilla in Manila"
This Ali-Frazier classic gets a slight nod over our second-favorite nickname for a bout, "The Rumble in the Jungle."


	The 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team made everyone believe in miracles.

3. "The Miracle on Ice"
Al Michaels' call said it all: "Do you believe in miracles? Yes!"

4. "The Catch"
Maybe Joe Montana really was trying to throw the ball away. Doesn't really matter. Dwight Clark's incredible leaping catch in the NFC Championship Game in 1982 not only sent San Francisco to its first Super Bowl, it gave birth to a dynasty.

5. "Hail Mary"
Roger Staubach's prayer of a pass found Drew Pearson's arms and helped the Cowboys stun the Vikings 17-14 in a 1975 NFC playoff game. "It was a Hail Mary pass," said Staubach, a description by which the play would be known forever.

6. "The Shot Heard 'Round the World"
Bobby Thomson homered off the Dodgers' Ralph Branca in the decisive third game of a 1951 NL playoff, and "The Giants win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant" echoed throughout the land.


	"The Catch" lifted Dwight Clark and the Niners to the first of their five Super Bowls.

7. "Wide Right"
Maybe you know it as Scott Norwood's missed field goal against the Giants in Super Bowl XXV. Or maybe you know it as one of Florida State's three missed kicks during its string of losses to rival Miami. Either way, it's synonymous with a painful kick.

8. "The Long Count"
How did Gene Tunney beat Jack Dempsey in their 1926 heavyweight title fight? With the help of a generous count from the referee.

9. "The Ice Bowl"
We still get cold watching highlights of the Packers' dramatic victory over the Cowboys in the 1967 NFL Championship. The thermometer said 13-below, and Bart Starr's dramatic QB sneak behind Jerry Kramer is frozen in time.


	"The Drive" made John Elway a legendary comeback artist.

10. "The Drive"
Down by a touchdown, 98 yards from the end zone, less than six minutes remaining. It was no problem for John Elway in 1987 as he led Denver past Cleveland in the AFC Championship.

Honorable mention: "The Play" (Cal stuns Stanford on multiple-lateral kickoff return in 1982), "The Music City Miracle" (Titans stun Bills on kickoff return in 2000 NFL playoffs), "The Fumble" (Earnest Byner drops ball as Cleveland loses at Denver in AFC Championship in 1988), "Fumblerooski" (Nebraska's trickery vs. Miami in 1984 Orange Bowl), "The Holy Roller" (Raiders stun Chargers by pushing fumble into the end zone), "The Ghost to the Post" (Raiders beat Colts on Dave Casper's TD in second overtime of 1977 AFC playoff), "The Shot" (Duke beats Kentucky on Christian Laettner's turnaround shot in 1992 NCAA East Regional finals), "The Phantom Spike" (Dan Marino fools Jets by pretending to kill the clock), "The Phantom Punch" (Ali beats Liston for heavyweight title), "The Called Shot" (Babe Ruth predicts homer), "The Fog Bowl" (Bears beat Eagles in 1988 NFC divisional playoff), "Merkle's Boner" (Fred Merkle costs Giants pennant in 1908 by failing to touch second base on what should have been a game-winning hit), "The Game of the Century" (Nebraska beats Oklahoma in 1972), "Catholics vs. Convicts" (Notre Dame-Miami series in late 1980s).

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	ALSO SEE: The List: Best sports unit nickname in history The List: Best nicknames in boxing history The List: Best nicknames in football history The List: Best nicknames in baseball history The List: Best nicknames in hockey history The List: Best nicknames in basketball history The List: Coolest athletes The List: Biggest upsets The List: Best coaches The List: Best feuds The List: Worst baseball stadiums The List: Best baseball stadiums The List: The groupiest Page 2 readers pick best baseball flicks

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