This list consists of games that were played involving a Chicago professional team or a Chicagoland College game. I have probably missed a lot of great games. These games I have on my list were games I have been to or games that I have watched and never have forgotten how good they were. I am probably missing lots of games that were equally great or even better than the ones Ive mention. These are teams I have been a fan of as well. This list is my opinion on some of the greatest Chicago moments in sports throughout my life time so far.

#15. 2006 BEARS VERSUS CARDINALS

The Bears won this game 24-23. This was the game of Dennis Green’s famous rant after his team lost a game the Cardinals should of won.

In 2006 the Bears quarterback play had good Rex or bad Rex. On this night they had bad Rex Grossman. The Bears won this game without scoring a offensive touchdown. Devin Hester ran a punt return back. Charles Tillman and Mike Brown had defensive scores to win this game.

 

#14. 1985 NFL PLAYOFFS BEARS VERSUS RAMS

This was the first game on the road to the Superbowl for the Chicago Bears. It was a snowy day in Chicago and Bears defense rose to the occasion as they put on clinic against the LA RAMS. My favorite highlight is Wilbur Marshall taking the ball on defense and running it back for a score in the snow.

Bears won 24-0

#13. 5-1-90 BULLS VERSUS BUCKS IN MILWAUKEE FIRST ROUND OF PLAYOFFS GAME THREE.

I was in high school and I went to Milwaukee with my good friend Phil Zack and his dad to see this game at the Bradley center. Bulls lost this game 119-112 but this was the only game I went to where I saw Michael Jordan play live and he scored 48 points in this loss.

#12. University of Illinois versus Indiana in Hoosier country in 1989.

I loved the 1989 Illinois squad which called themselves the Flying Illini. This game they were on the road in regular season on 3-5-89 and Nick Anderson hit a three to win the game 70-67 against a tough Bobby Knight team.

#11. 7-23-2009 White Sox versus the Tampa Rays. This was Mark Buehrle’s perfect game as the White sox won 5-0. Dewayne Wise made that awesome catch at the wall to keep the perfect game perfect.

#10. THE 1998 IHL TURNER CUP CHAMPIONSHIP BETWEEN THE CHICAGO WOLVES AND THE DETROIT VIPERS

6-15-98 IT CAME DOWN TO GAME SEVEN. I had never gone to game seven in sports at the time. I remember getting these tickets from Carson Pirie Scott the day of at their ticket master outlet. I managed to get like seven tickets and we were in our early twenties. Every ticket was used as we went up to the Rosemont Horizon, now known as All-state Arena. It was a packed house and it was a time the Black hawks were horrible. Nothing but crickets at their games. This game had it all. Wolves ended up winning 3-0 to capture their first ever Turner cup. They even ended the contest with the Vipers with a brawl like in the movie slap shot.

#9.White Sox versus Houston Astros in the World Series in 2005 game three.

This game was one of the longest World Series games in history as it went 14 innings. The White Sox were up 2-0 as this was the first game in Houston. The game went on for a lifetime. I remember hanging out and drinking at my buddy Dan Murray’s brother’s house. I had to work the next day so had to go home in the wee hours of the morning to finally see Geoff Blum’s home run to take the lead. It eventually was the game winner and gave the sox the 3-0 advantage.

#8.Also in 2005 it was the very first White Sox playoff game in that historical run they made. It was the first round White Sox against the Boston Red Sox. Before this game I was happy I just got tickets to go to my first ever baseball playoff game. It was Greg Spatz Senior, Dan Murray and myself and we did some tail gating before the game. The thoughts were we hoped the White Sox would win the game. We didn’t know it was the beginning of something really special. The White Sox destroyed the Red Sox 14-2. Jose Contreras pitched a whale of a ball game as Scotty Podsednik went yard in this contest.

#7 in 2005 University of Illinois versus Arizona in the elite 8.

Illinois was down 14 with only 4 minutes to go. I was at a family Easter party at the Bohemian Garden which recently closed. I remembering watching this contest with the family and the extended family. Kids were doing their eater egg hunt while most of the party hovered around the bar to watch Deron Williams, Luther Head and others make a comeback. They eventually won the game to then move on to the final four. I remember learning my Aunt Dory was a big time basketball fan. PRICELESS.

#6.DA BEARS

1-27-86 SUPER BOWL XX THE BEARS STEAM ROLLED THE PATRIOTS.

If I was an adult during this game I probably would of appreciated this a lot more. But I watched it and I was very excited to see the fridge rumble and tumble in the end zone. To see them carry off Ditka and Buddy Ryan… it was a team with two coaches that hated each other but found a way to win it all. I remember collecting all the Bears posters from the newspapers. Collecting all of the McDonald cards of the players. The city had Bear fever for months. It was a team that should of won many more. When your team wins the big game it is something special when they just demolish their opponent. Would of been cool if Tom Brady was the quarter back.

#5.Jordan’s final shot in Bulls uniform.

1998 June 14,1998 Michael Jordan took a fade away shot to win game six in the finals against the Utah Jazz. He could of had the best walking away in the sunset of all time. But he came back and played for Washington a few years before he retired from the game. He won six championships out of six appearances. Lebron King James is something like 2 or three of eight.

#4.Jordan plays with the flu.

Michael Jordan was sick as a dog on 6-11-97 in game five against the Jazz. Both teams tied 2-2 and game five is always huge in a series, best out of seven. Michael, who looked like he was going to keel over at some point during this game, managed to score 38 points to help the Bulls take the series lead and eventually they went on to win their fifth title.

#3. BLACKHAWKS VERSUS THE FLYERS IN GAME SIX IN THE FINALS IN 2010.

This was very special as this was the first Blackhawk title I have seen. Patrick Kane shooting a walk off goal that nobody but him knew it went in to give the Blackhawks their first title since the 1960s. I remember watching and being like, “what just happened?” Even the announcers were confused. The only player celebrating was Patrick Kane as his shot snuck in the net but got stuck in back of the net. After a few minutes the Philadelphia crowd was as stunned as the Blackhawk fans at home when they found the puck inside the net as that was the game winner.

#2. My first game with my dad.

1983 IN THE OLD COMISKEY.

The first game I ever went to was September 9,1983 – White Sox versus the California Angels.  Going to Pacific Sub before the game for something to eat when they had a neighborhood surrounding the ballpark. Then walking in for the first time was MAGICAL. Then to see the fireworks go off after the first home run, then the second, then the third in a row was like I must of died and gone to heaven. Carlton Fisk, Tom Paciorek, then the Bull Greg Luzinski lit up the scoreboard that night. The Windy City saw colors blasting through the air like it was the Fourth of July. Then to see Britt Burns end up throwing a one hitter. Plus to see hall of famer Rod Carew on the Angels play.

#1. EVERYONE MUST KNOW.. When the White Sox captured the World Series in 2005 breaking a 88 year old drought. I was at Deja Brew for this game when this history unfolded.  It was the red man Dan Murray and Phil Zack as we watched Jermaine Dye drive in the only run of the game. Then we saw Juan Uribe make one hell of a catch diving into the seats for a foul ball. It was a very special night as the song from Journey played, Don’t Stop Believing.