Semi-OT: Most dominating sports performances

Submitted by JeepinBen on

So, recently we've seen a lot of domination in sports. The NBA had 3 second round sweeps with the Magic obliterating the Hawks, the Cavs got owned by Boston last night, the Blackhawks completely out-played the Canucks in game 6, there was a perfect game in baseball, Halak has owned the NHL playoffs recently, etc.

Got me thinking, what's the most dominating sports performance you remember? Can be series long, game, inning, whatever, scoreboard, style of play, etc. Something that gave me a "He's playing like a man among boys" feeling. A couple off the top of my head:

 

Michigan vs ND 2006 47-21

U of M's defense vs. Penn State 2006. Even though we weren't scoring, i remember thinking, no way we lose this game, this is a crushing D

.

An Ali fight i saw on ESPNClassic a while ago - he used his right hand twice in the 7 round fight. got a 10 second knockdown in the 4th, and a KO in the 7th

The '85 Bears defense. Scores in the playoffs? 21-0, 24-0, 41-10. They gave up 10 points in 3 games on their way to the Superbowl. Anyone know a scarier man in glasses than Mike Singletary?

Your favorites?

(Semi-OT because some of these might be michigan sports)

Maize and Blue in OH

May 12th, 2010 at 10:57 AM ^

2005 Rose Bowl was full of dominating performances.  Vince Young could do anything he pleased against our defense. Steve Breaston was unstoppable on special teams.  Chad Henne threw 4 touchdown passes as a true freshman.  Braylon Edwards had 3 touchdown catches.  This was the best game I have ever attended.

jg2112

May 12th, 2010 at 10:28 AM ^

Here's a couple:

(1) Leo Messi v. Arsenal last month - 4 goals.

(2) Barcelona 6 - Real Madrid 2 at the Bernebeu, 2009.

(3) The Netherlands 6 - Yugoslavia 0 (Euro 2000);

(4) Michigan 29 - Minnesota 6 (2008).

Jensencoach

May 12th, 2010 at 11:06 AM ^

I remember watching that and I was very impressed even though I was rooting against him.  Detroit's defense was still one of the best in the league at that time and they couldn't even slow him down.  I think that was a very pivitol game in his development as a superstar player and leader.

BiSB

May 12th, 2010 at 10:32 AM ^

Dude was an absolute force. He just mauled people.

I'd also throw Tiger Woods at Pebble Beach in 2000 (where he won by 15 strokes) and, of course, the Mule against San Jose last week (4 goals, 6 points, total domination). 

MGoHail

May 12th, 2010 at 11:01 AM ^

I agree with the Tiger Woods part, but for a longer time frame. In 2000 he entered 20 tournaments and finished in the top 3 14 times with 9 wins and three majors. He broke his own earnings record, was AP male athlete of the year (he joined Michael Jordan as the only 3 time winner), the only repeat SI sportsman of the year winner, and had a scoring average of 68.17 (the lowest ever).  His win at Pebble was by 15, and his win at the British was by 10.  In 2001 he won the Masters again and became the only golfer to ever have all the major titles at one time.  There were news articles about how he was ruining the game of golf because everyone was basically only playing for second. He was absolutely dominant.

Hemlock Philosopher

May 12th, 2010 at 10:44 AM ^

There are a lot I can think of (Wilt Chamberlin 100-pt game, for example), but of the games I've been to:

  1. Charles Woodson 1997 versus OSU
  2. Michigan 49-3 over State 2002.  State gets clocked after clock-gate.
  3. Michigan D 2006 at Penn State at night
  4. Michigan 38-0 over ND after the Horror and Oregon games
  5. That sounds nice, lets do it again: Michigan 38-0 over ND 2003

Blue In NC

May 12th, 2010 at 10:57 AM ^

From a team perspective (and UM related) it was 1997 UM vs. PSU.  Completely dominated PSU at Beaver Stadium on "judgment day."  It was a physical domination that propelled UM to the national title.

Blue In NC

May 12th, 2010 at 12:13 PM ^

It certainly was the signature play but that game was also total domination from the M offense, the M defense, the M coaching....etc.  It was one of the most one-sides games from two top-5 teams (late in the season) I have ever seen.  And the score didn't even reflect the level of play as UM never tried to rub it in.

Blue Ninja

May 12th, 2010 at 11:05 AM ^

I am shocked this guy has not been mentioned.

 

Michael Jordan

 

Anytime he stepped on the court was usually the most dominant performance ever.

FreetheFabFive

May 12th, 2010 at 11:11 AM ^

Johan Franzen vs Colorado Avalanche in 2008.  9 goals in 4 games.  2 hat tricks.  I've never seen someone completely take over a playoff hockey series like Franzen did.

DoubleMs

May 12th, 2010 at 11:14 AM ^

Nobody's mentioned Lance Armstrong and the way he dominated the most prestigious race in international cycling for 7 years? His performance in the 2004 L'Alpe D'Huez time trial was definitely one of the most dominant athletic performances I've seen. 

Bolt jogging away with 100M Gold in the 08 Olympics is a close second for me... shoe untied at the end, slowed down to celebrate, STILL crushed the second place in the race.

bluewave720

May 12th, 2010 at 11:37 AM ^

3 rushing TDs, 2 passing TDs, 4 extra points, 3 interceptions on defense and 3 punts with an average of 50 yards per kick. 

He received a standing ovation from the OSU fans after the game.

oldcityblue

May 12th, 2010 at 11:50 AM ^

I was going to put ol' 98 up as well but had a hard time finding exactly which game. Maybe we should just assume his whole career?

When an opposing fan is fed up with your dominating performance enough to come down on the field to try and stop you personally, you know you've done something special.