Now that our world is engulfed by a vicious pandemic that is claiming thousands of lives and threatening our economy, sports are surely the furthest thing from our minds currently. Although, there are many sports’ fans who are still itching for the return of their favorite sport, so they can find something to fill their time with while quarantined. While the return of sports any time soon is in question some teams, leagues and broadcasters are attempting to satisfy this craving by playing highlights from noteworthy games. 

Pittsburgh Penguins:

The year is 2009, and the quest for the Stanley Cup is in full swing as the Detroit Red Wings are pitted against the Pittsburgh Penguins. This was a familiar sight for both teams; in the prior year, the same two teams battled it out for the Stanley Cup, and there is surely bad blood boiling over as the series takes shape. 

https://youtube.com/watch?v=0OOPMtKA7vc 

The fans of the Pittsburgh Penguins also had a grudge for Marian Hossa of the Red Wings that year. Hossa played for the Penguins in 2008 when they lost the Stanley Cup at the hands of the Wings. During the off-season, Hossa signed a contract with the Red Wings, as he believed he would have a better chance to win the cup with them as compared to the Penguins. 

If that’s not enough reason to spark your interest in tuning into this classic, you can watch rising star Evgeni Malkin set a career high in total playoff points, and this accomplishment has yet to be eclipsed by the now experienced veteran. 

USC vs Texas Rosebowl:

The year is 2006, and the top two ranked teams in all of college football, Texas Longhorns and USC Trojans, battled it out for the granddaddy of them all… The Rose Bowl. 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MvDYCPoD3HQ

The Longhorns brought the second-longest active streak, having won nineteen straight games and entered as the defending Rose Bowl champion, after defeating Michigan in the 2005 Rose Bowl. The teams’ combined 53-game win streak was an NCAA record for teams playing each other. 

Leading up to the game, USC’s running back, Reggie Bush, was the unanimous victor of the Heisman Memorial Trophy, as Bush had the second-highest number of first place votes in Heisman history (behind O.J. Simpson) and the highest percentage of first-place votes. Texas star quarterback, Vince Young, came in second in the voting. 

This game was surely one for the ages, and ESPN brought it back to life during this difficult time. 

Washington Nationals vs Los Angeles Dodgers:

The year is 2019, and it is the NLDS (National League Divisional Series) which will determine whether the Dodgers or Nationals will punch their ticket to the 2019 World Series. 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MvVqbPJBqcQ

The Dodgers are coming into the series heavily favored since the team has won 106 total games in the 2019 season, which is the most wins by any Major League Baseball team in the past century. 

Even more to the Nationals’ chagrin, the Dodgers both scored the most runs and allowed the fewest in the NL that season, producing a run differential — plus-273 — that is the third best of any team this century, behind only the 2001 Seattle Mariners (plus-300) and the 2019 Houston Astros (plus-280). 

Although the Dodgers are all around an elite team, they are far from perfect, as their bullpen was a source of concern. Nationals pitcher Patrick Corbin has absolutely owned the Dodgers over the past two seasons, going a combined 2-0 with a 0.59 ERA and 39 strikeouts in 30⅓ innings, spanning five starts. 

Tune into these rewind games to see if the Nationals can possibly stun the Dodgers, or if the Dodgers will find themselves competing for another World Series title. 

Everton vs Leicester City 2016:

The year is 2016, and after a tightly contested regular season within the Premier League, the top level of the English football league system, only the best two teams remain, Everton and Leicester City. 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=AtBZDWaEIYI

In 2016 Leicester City had themselves a remarkable year, as they compiled a record of twenty three wins, twelve draws, and only three loses. 

Their rival was no different, for the 2016–17 season was Everton’s 63rd consecutive season in the top flight of English football, and their 139th year in existence. While their record was slightly less impressive as compared to Leicester City, for as Everton recorded only seventeen wins, ten draws, and eleven loses, they rallied together, and ended up finding themselves pitted against Leicester City. 

This was truly a matchup for the ages, and maybe we will see if Leicester can capture the championship to complete its miraculous year, or whether Everton can defy the odds one more time and pull off a shocking upset. 

Mo Farrah 10,000m in London Olympics:

The year is 2016, and all the best summer athletes around the world have gathered to compete in their certain sport for their respective countries in the 2012 Olympics. In the track and field events a crowd favorite truly wins the stadium’s favor, as he is racing for their very country, and his name is Mo Farrah. 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=heD2duUCUpQ

Farrah who was a previous silver medalist at the 2011 World Championships has nothing but gold on his mind, as he could claim a gold medal with an outstanding race. In fact Britain has never won the 10,000 meter event, as they’ve been good before but never great in distance. 

The citizens of Britain really do enjoy track and field, and in 2012 they truly believed that Farrah could be the first British Distance Champion. 

As a result of all the pressure Farrah spent months training over the off-season in Portland, Oregon. While training in Portland, Oregon, Farrah met up with an athlete who was running that same event as well, GalenRupp. Those two would eventually train together for the same event. 

Pat Smith vs Tom Ryan:

The year is 1991, and any college wrestler’s dream is to win a NCAA championship, but for Pat Smith who was the current defending champion at the time for Oklahoma State University had his sights on his fourth NCAA championship, for this was a feat neither of his brothers were able to accomplish. 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Xx2-VsrpZko

Pat’s brother, John Smith, who won two NCAA championships, three World Championships, and to top it all off he won one Olympic gold medal in 1988. 

Pat’s oldest brother Leroy coaches on the U.S national team, and John is an assistant wrestling coach at Oklahoma State where he kept a close eye on Pat. 

Smith squared off in a quest for his second consecutive NCAA championship against Iowa Hawkeyes junior, Tom Ryan. Ryan has just won the Big Ten Championship, and hopes to claim an NCAA title as well for the first ever time.