13 Days | A 10.0

what makes a sports game, perfect

24

Is the total number of Perfect Games that have been thrown in the MLB. There should be an asterisk next to that number, thanks to Jim Joyce on that fateful day in early June, now nearly 14 years ago, (If you know, you know) but there isn’t. There have been over 240,000 baseball games played in the History of the Sport, and only 24 times has a pitcher gone 27 up, and 27 down. No pitcher has done it more than once. It is universally recognized in the Sports World as one of the hardest things a single athlete can ever do. Up there with Golf’s hole-in-one, Horse Racing’s Triple Crown, and Bowling’s 300, a Perfect Game is worthy of it’s nomenclature. If you should ever happen to watch one unfold in front of you, be it on TV or in the stadium, consider yourself extremely lucky.

But what about all the other Sports Games that don’t come with the apropos title? Surely there’s been perfection galore, what with all the games and all the seasons? Show me the perfect game within a given Sport, and tell me why. If you’re a Sports Fan, you could do this at least once. Most of us can rattle off several. A select few can go into the double digits. They are probably Fans of teams in the New England Sports market. As a New Yorker, I write these words through clenched jaw as my disdain for their success forever burdens me.

But even I’ve seen a handful! I’ve witnessed lighting in a bottle or five. Though I’ve never attended a ticker tape parade in the Canyon of Heroes for a team of my own (Knicks, Jets, Mets), I’ve found my pieces of perfection in other arenas (special thanks to UGA Football). On the grandest of stages, I’ve seen the players make the plays that are forever hardwired in my Sports watching database.

And what’s perfect to me, is not perfect to you. And that, is what makes Sports and their Games, well, perfect.

My Lifetime 10.0s

With new found Sports Fans in tow (shoutout out T3 and his loyalist followers!), I’ve decided to drop this post earlier than originally planned. I was going to wait until we were 10 days out, but since I’ve got your attention, I might as well try and keep it.

In keeping with the 140 character limit of Rate Game’s (optional) text box review, here’s a look at all the perfect games these eyes have ever seen:

2016 NCAA Championship Game: Villanova 77 vs UNC 74

OG Philly Special. Paige w/ the double clutch prayer. MJ in the building. Jenkins with the buzzer beater. J Wright’s (non)reaction. ONIONS!!!

the look of a man who simply cannot believe it.

2016 Game 7 NBA Finals: Cavs 93 vs Warriors 89

Blocked. By. James. Kyrie’s 3. 2 min scoring draught felt like 2 years. Love’s baseline bear hug. C L E V E L A N D, this one’s for you!

Here comes the Love bear!

2021 CFP National Championship: Georgia 33 vs Alabama 19

Defenses throwing haymakers. UGA 1st TD with 1 minute left in 3rd Q. Young answers in 4th Q. Ringo’s Pick Six to Sink Saban. Pure Euphoria.

Kirby!!

2022 CFP Semifinal: Georgia 42 vs Ohio State 41

Nearly lost my gf due to timing of game winning kick. NYE kiss delayed. Watched on my phone at venue somewhere deep in Brooklyn. Dawgs win!!

the stroke of midnight!

2022 FIFA World Cup Final: Argentina 3 over France 3 in Penalties

Best Sports Game of all time. Not even close. Messi’s Magic. Killian’s double dip. The pageantry & drama of the World Stage. Chill inducing.

Leo, the LEGEND.

Maybe

One day I’ll have a Jets Super Bowl up there, or god willing, a New York Knicks, Championship sealing, NBA Finals Game. But that seems to be wishful thinking at present time. For now I’ll just keep at it, doing what I do best; watching the games. And then, in 13 days time, Rating them too.

Until Tomorrow!