Greatest Single-Game Performance of All Time (any Sport) (1 Viewer)

[Keith R]

Came in to post the Wilt 100. Will stick with that.

Runner-up - Mike Tyson beating the "real" World Heavyweight Champion to unify the title... in 91 seconds. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T02RhdpGWgw

To be fair, Spinks really had no business fighting as a heavyweight. His tenure to that point as a heavyweight consisted of two (impressive!) wins over Holmes, and then two fairly easy wins. He got a massive payday for that fight ($13mm, which more than doubled his career earnings), and heavyweight was obviously where the action and money are (were), but he didn't really "belong" there.

That said, that was probably Tyson's pinnacle as a fighter. Douglas was 3 fights later, I think.

True enough but the flip side was

* Spinks was an Olympic gold medalist. (Tyson did not make the Olympic team. There is a huge backstory to that but this is not the place for that discussion.)

* Spinks was undefeated.

* He had unified the light heavyweight division and established himself as an all-time Top 5 light-heavyweight with his power, technique, and quality of opposition.

* He went up in weight and became only the second boxer to win both the heavyweight and light heavyweight titles. This was in an era where the cruiserweight division did not exist.

* In winning the heavyweight title, he defeated the great and criminally underrated Larry Holmes. Had Holmes won, Holmes would have equalled Rocky Marciano's legendary 49-0 mark. As mentioned, he also prevailed in a rematch against the much larger Holmes.

* He kayoed Gerry Cooney despite the size difference at a time when that still meant a lot,

No doubt, the dynamo that was 1988 Tyson was a strong favorite going into the fight but plenty of experts picked Spinks and very few saw a 1st round KO as a realistic possibility.

 

[MikeIke]

Sorry, I'm out of likes. The prevailing thought at the time was that this would finally be a good test of Tyson's abilities. The way he just destroyed Spinks was a real eye opener.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

All true. I've made the case in the boxing thread that Spinks -- while never a wildly entertaining fighter -- is fairly underrated. Obviously a lot of what he did has been overshadowed by his last fight.

Interesting preview in the Times from back in those days, even if the author's prediction was way off: http://www.nytimes.com/1988/06/27/sports/sports-of-the-times-spinks-will-foil-tyson.html

It should be noted that "cutie" is not a derogatory term in re: boxing.

 

[MikeIke]

That said, that was probably Tyson's pinnacle as a fighter. Douglas was 3 fights later, I think.

When I read this I thought to myself "Self, that can't be right, can it? Tyson lost to Buster just 3 fights after Spinks? To the Google!" You are correct. Tyson had 2 successful defenses after Spinks, then he got KTFO. I tip my hat to you, sir.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

I'm not short-changing Tyson, I think he was leaps and bounds ahead of anyone else alive at that point. It's too bad that that fight was pretty much his peak, as it didn't have to be.

 

[El Floppo]

5 world records in one day.

pretty amazing story.

100 year old. 5 world records in a day.

but yeah. spinks.

 

[SWC]

5 world records in one day.

pretty amazing story.

established in milwaukee damn straight bromigos we make em strong round these here parts take that to the bank

 

[PlasmaDogPlasma]

Lisa Sparks world gangbang record of 919 men

 

[Sand]

Since I was actually at this game, I am kinda partial to Orel Hershiser pitching a 3 hit shutout in Game 2 of the World Series. He also had 3 hits of his own, including two doubles and an RBI.

Was that during his 59 1/2 inning scoreless streak? I always think of that record when he gets mentioned. One of those records I don't think will ever get beaten.

 

[TenTimes]

12th man's performance, '11 Seahawks v. Saints. Literally shook the planet that day, redefined a century of NFL fandom.

 

[gianmarco]

At least worth a mention is Vick's MNF performance against the Redskins with 6 TDs. He looked like he was using a cheat code all game.

 

[Mr. Pickles]

Dave Spehar's pure first period hat trick versus Bloomington Jefferson (22-1-2) in the 1995 Minnesota State Hockey Tournament AA championship game.

That is a name I have not heard in a long time.

 

[larch]

Since I was actually at this game, I am kinda partial to Orel Hershiser pitching a 3 hit shutout in Game 2 of the World Series. He also had 3 hits of his own, including two doubles and an RBI.

Was that during his 59 1/2 inning scoreless streak? I always think of that record when he gets mentioned. One of those records I don't think will ever get beaten.

How can a pitcher get half an inning?

 

[ClownCausedChaos2]

Since I was actually at this game, I am kinda partial to Orel Hershiser pitching a 3 hit shutout in Game 2 of the World Series. He also had 3 hits of his own, including two doubles and an RBI.

Was that during his 59 1/2 inning scoreless streak? I always think of that record when he gets mentioned. One of those records I don't think will ever get beaten.

How can a pitcher get half an inning?

He got one and a half outs.

 

[the moops]

Since I was actually at this game, I am kinda partial to Orel Hershiser pitching a 3 hit shutout in Game 2 of the World Series. He also had 3 hits of his own, including two doubles and an RBI.

Was that during his 59 1/2 inning scoreless streak? I always think of that record when he gets mentioned. One of those records I don't think will ever get beaten.

That 8 innings was on top of his 59 scoreless. So his scoreless streak was actually 67.2 innings (2/3 inning the following year).

 

[Hooper31]

One of the greatest for me has to be Reggie Miller scoring 8 points in 9 seconds against the Knicks in the 1995 playoffs. Just and epic game with Miller and Spike Lee chirping at each other the entire contest.

Love the story Reggie tells about his best varsity high school game. Gets picked up by his family after the game and gets in the back of the car. He's super excited to tell the family about how many points he scored.

DAD: How many you score Reggie?

REGGIE: Over 40!

Of course his sister is sitting in the front seat. She kind of giggles after hearing about Reggie "big" game.

REGGIE: Cheryl, what you laughing at?

DAD: Cheryl scored 105 tonight.

silence...

 

[SWC]

probably the usa beating the stinking ruskies in the olympics in hockey do you believe in miracles hell yes i do take that to the bank almigos

 

[Underachievers]

Al Bundy threw four touchdowns in a single game.

Ummm dude, he ran for 4 TDs.

8 Touchdowns? Time to lock this thread....we have a winner.

 

[The Z Machine]

Doc Ellis no-no on acid.

 

[matuski]

Kaepernick today.

 

[Gianni Verscotchie]

Donovan McNabb playing the second half of a playoff game on a broken leg, his insanely strong muscles acting as a splint holding him together.

Gatti vs. Ward III, Arturo Gatti broke his hand early on a punch to Ward's midsection that hit the hip bone instead. Fingers crushed inside the glove, he stopped using the hand completely for the next three rounds, not even using it to block, preferring to take unobstructed punches to the face rather than an impact to the hand. Then, once the numbness set in, used the bashed hand like a club to batter Ward for the rest of the fight, breaking more bones in the process but forcing the fight to go the distance for a decision in his favor for the win.

not a playoff game.

and wasnt it his ankle?

Wasn't it Terrell Owens?

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Doc Ellis no-no on acid.

Oh man forgot about this. I think this is my vote.

 

[parasaurolophus]

Since I was actually at this game, I am kinda partial to Orel Hershiser pitching a 3 hit shutout in Game 2 of the World Series. He also had 3 hits of his own, including two doubles and an RBI.

Was that during his 59 1/2 inning scoreless streak? I always think of that record when he gets mentioned. One of those records I don't think will ever get beaten.

That 8 innings was on top of his 59 scoreless. So his scoreless streak was actually 67.2 innings (2/3 inning the following year).

The 59 innings ended the regular season. He pitched 8 scoreless in the first game of the NLDS. Then he pitched again in game 3 and gave up 3 runs(one earned which ended the streak at 70 I believe if you add post+reg season). He actually got the save in game 4 and then threw a complete game shutout in game 7 of the NLDS. Game 2 of the World series was another CG shutout as mentioned above. Game 5 of the world series he pitched yet another CG giving up only two runs to close out the series.

It was an amazing season and I have incredibly fond memories of that season. Probably went to 10 games that year including Game 2 of the World Series. I actually had my choice to go to game 1 or game 2 of the series. I picked game 2 and have never regretted it even though game one had the gibson homer. Hershiser was my favorite player at the time and I doubt that season will ever be touched again with the combination of regular season dominance and postseason dominance.