Comments on: Some close races in the history of sports.

Some close races in the history of sports.

SpacemanStix — Tue, 12 Nov 2013 19:13:46 -0800

Just a few close races.

Bonus 1. Bonus 2. Bonus 3. (via)

By: Sokka shot first

Sokka shot first — Tue, 12 Nov 2013 19:34:13 -0800

Oh man that Valentino Rossi/Jorge Lorenzo race, oh man. Shivers up my spine. Every time I think of old Vale, I can't help but remember a passage about him in Doctorcosta, the memoir of the head doctor of the MotoGP circuit.

Valentino is light years ahead of that flat unconsciousness which defines a dull existence. Instead, his awareness extends infinitely into a world where nothing is unknown. His response to the uncertainties of that world is the almost acrobatic, theatrical harmony displayed on his bike. Valentino, rather than being self-aware, is awareness itself. During the race, his crystal-clear fluidity raises him to a state of grace, exonerating him from crises and disruptions in a way that ensures his next move is as smooth as the last.

The guy never seems to get nervous, or flustered, or panicked, or psyched out. When he's on the bike, it's all just fun and games to him, like's he's a kid on a bicycle zooming through the neighborhood. Like nothing's at stake. He's got the perfect setup—a total dedication to victory, but an ability to put how badly he wants to win aside when it gets in the way of actually winning. It's astonishing to see.

By: 256

256 — Tue, 12 Nov 2013 19:50:18 -0800

This is an example of a multilink post that should have been a single link post. Valentino Rossi best Rossi.

By: N-stoff

N-stoff — Tue, 12 Nov 2013 20:07:25 -0800

Rossi came out on the wrong end of the closest finish he was involved in but his fans don't seem to recall that race for some reason. Any talk of last lap battles on bikes has to start and finish with Wayne Rainey, Mick Doohan and Kevin Schwantz at Suzuka in 1991. I miss the old 500's.

By: zsazsa

zsazsa — Tue, 12 Nov 2013 20:12:51 -0800

Dangit, about a year ago I saw an amazing final lap video from what I think was V8 Supercars in Australia. Now I can't find it.

By: oneswellfoop

oneswellfoop — Tue, 12 Nov 2013 20:18:19 -0800

No, this is the greatest race finish ever as a totally unexpected contender moves in from the outside and passes them all in the final yards...

By: cenoxo

cenoxo — Tue, 12 Nov 2013 20:26:53 -0800

Fortunately, even the careful analysis of Apolo Ohno Physics and The Physics Of Ice Skating — Short Track Speed Skating Analysis cannot exclude a Surprise! ending. (Best Winter Olympics sport ever.)

By: Chutzler

Chutzler — Tue, 12 Nov 2013 20:40:39 -0800

Love these. Northwest 200 (motorbike road racing in N. Ireland) ALMS GT2 finish at Laguna Seca 2009 V8 Supercars Gold Coast 2010 AUUUUGH

By: alex_skazat

alex_skazat — Tue, 12 Nov 2013 20:41:45 -0800

Also remember Steven Bradbury was coming back from breaking his neck.

By: alex_skazat

alex_skazat — Tue, 12 Nov 2013 20:43:11 -0800

The 1989 Tour de France, anybody? This is after Lemond was involved in a hunting accident.

By: Relay

Relay — Tue, 12 Nov 2013 20:52:47 -0800

I'm more of a car, and car racing guy, than a bike, and bike racing guy (because I'm really uncoordinated and dump bikes whenever I ride them), but Rossi has always fascinated me. He's almost childlike in his demeanor and actions, especially off a bike. He has a very high goof factor, yet at the same time, he's so very very quick. He sort of stands in direct opposition to every other quick racer. They all seem to be hyper serious, and, at a certain level, joyless assholes (especially in the last couple of decades). But not Rossi. He's always smiling and joking and goofing with TV cameras and such. And he's had a very very good run at the top. Better than anyone except for Agostini. And all but untouchable until Lorenzo and Pedrosa and now, Marc Marquez came along. In a lot of ways, Rossi is sort of like Gilles Villenueve with half the wheels; always enjoying himself and his life and always blindingly quick.

By: calamari kid

calamari kid — Tue, 12 Nov 2013 21:12:02 -0800

Faster and Fastest are a couple of good documentaries that capture the excitement of MotoGP, and the energy that Rossi brought when he was at the top of his game. Both are available on Netflix streaming service.

By: Mei's lost sandal

Mei's lost sandal — Tue, 12 Nov 2013 21:55:47 -0800

Here's a recent one: AC34 Race 19.

By: Punkey

Punkey — Tue, 12 Nov 2013 22:07:40 -0800

2007 12 Hours of Sebring, GT2 class At the very end of one of the most brutal - and some maintain the most punishing - races in motorsport, less than a second separates Jörg Bergmeister in the Flying Lizard Porsche 911 and Jamie Melo in the Risi Competitzione Ferrari F430 as Bergmeister chases him down for the GT2 lead. The car leading the overall race fails to pass them before hitting the checkered flag, giving Bergmeister one more lap to catch Melo. One of the best final laps I've ever seen in racing.

By: Anitanola

Anitanola — Tue, 12 Nov 2013 22:52:14 -0800

The only one of these first six examples that is not about driving motorized vehicles is the 2002 Winter Olympics fast-track race where Bradbury won gold and Apolo Anton Ohno got caught in the pile-up but got up and tumbled, crawling across the line for silver. I remember smiling about the Aussie win but being very disappointed that it was snatched away from Apolo. He was such an American-boy-makes-good story that year. Wonder where he is now. He must be in his thirties.

By: Lucinda

Lucinda — Tue, 12 Nov 2013 23:06:14 -0800

This is my second-favorite racing clip. (Steven Bradbury is #1)

By: dirigibleman

dirigibleman — Tue, 12 Nov 2013 23:13:04 -0800

[Apolo Ohno] was such an American-boy-makes-good story that year. Wonder where he is now. He must be in his thirties. Hosting a game show.

By: CrowGoat

CrowGoat — Tue, 12 Nov 2013 23:38:09 -0800

Agree with the takes on Rossi. World Champion...how many times? Yet he has such a fun, cheerful personality and projects it well. I really like that in sports or any competition; it's a joy to see and be around. (Had enough of the stern face, dead serious, win at all costs demeanors...)

By: ShutterBun

ShutterBun — Tue, 12 Nov 2013 23:46:32 -0800

I'm guessing Secretatiat's 1973 Belmont Stakes didn't make the list.

By: nat

nat — Wed, 13 Nov 2013 00:01:27 -0800

And two more winter sports: I don't believe there's video, but I always liked this story. The best bit here is from about 1:38 until 1:41; the last minute is especially intense.

By: alona

alona — Wed, 13 Nov 2013 01:24:08 -0800

My favourite race.

By: zanni

zanni — Wed, 13 Nov 2013 02:08:58 -0800

The race alona posted is amazing. Here's another video of the same event--I think the crowd noise and announcers add a great deal to an incredible finish.

By: wjzeng

wjzeng — Wed, 13 Nov 2013 02:34:51 -0800

I humbly submit the Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race of 2003: finishing video. There were two pairs of brothers, each with had one member in each crew coming to a dramatic finish at the end of 6.8km and 17 minutes of flat our side by side rowing.

By: thomas j wise

thomas j wise — Wed, 13 Nov 2013 02:50:14 -0800

I'm guessing Secretatiat's 1973 Belmont Stakes didn't make the list. By contrast (complete with the network calling the wrong horse).

By: From Bklyn

From Bklyn — Wed, 13 Nov 2013 03:42:11 -0800

2002 World Super Bike end of the season, Imola, Italy. Colin Edwards and Troy Bayliss. Bayliss was the World Champion, and Edwards was the challenger. They swap leads for the length of the race - because the winner of the race will win the championship. At the beginning of the last lap, it was still not clear who would win.

By: From Bklyn

From Bklyn — Wed, 13 Nov 2013 03:54:59 -0800

sorry - last lap starts at 5:15. Also, Rossi is playful and fun loving like any of your average apex predators. Watching him break apart Casey Stoner (at Laguna Seca) or Lorenzo (in the above (incomprehensible - watch the bonus to help put it in perspective) link) or Gibernau or Biaggi. Sure, he's playful. Granted, Stoner and Lorenzo did get some measure of revenge, the way Rossi took apart their race plans is/was a thing to see.

By: Brockles

Brockles — Wed, 13 Nov 2013 04:22:25 -0800

This is one of my favourites - mainly because my driver started from the back of the field and only missed passing the entire field and winning by 0.004 seconds (the orange car)..... The race: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gl9xn-tjCho Finish: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=gl9xn-tjCho#t=246 Terrible footage, awful commentator but a really great race.

By: hepta

hepta — Wed, 13 Nov 2013 05:08:01 -0800

Holy shit oneswellfoop, that was an amazing race! i got all tense just watching it - the look of pure joy on the winner's face after the finish line! Must have been the race of their lives.

By: hepta

hepta — Wed, 13 Nov 2013 05:09:46 -0800

And my own contribution to the thread: Billy Mills comes from behind at the 1964 Olympics

By: lollymccatburglar

lollymccatburglar — Wed, 13 Nov 2013 07:51:55 -0800

This is an example of a multilink post that should have been a single link post. Basically ballet on two wheels.

By: chavenet

chavenet — Wed, 13 Nov 2013 08:58:25 -0800

oneswellfoop: "No, this is the greatest race finish ever as a totally unexpected contender moves in from the outside and passes them all in the final yards..." Feedlebaum....

By: mark242

mark242 — Wed, 13 Nov 2013 09:53:59 -0800

One of the greatest, if not the greatest, F1 finishes (and victories) of all time. F1 fans already know which one I'm talking about. 2011, Montreal GP. Jenson Button is dead last with 25 laps to go, after having been in not one but two rain-caused collisions with other cars. He's been in the pits an unprecedented five times, and has also taken a drive-through penalty, causing further time to slip away. Then something unbelievable happens.

By: dame

dame — Wed, 13 Nov 2013 16:20:34 -0800

This is mine. (Mens 2008 400 Freestlye Relay) I remember how loud we all shouted.