Unforgettable Sports Moments Beyond The Game You Need To See

It's just about time to really ramp back up for sports here on KEYZ, and we thought we would take a look at what are the coolest moments in sports that happen either before or after the whistle or outside the lines.

What makes the coolest list? It's a completely subjective list that evokes goosebumps, a lump in your throat, or reminds you of the joy of the game.

Here are the top 10:

10: Animals on the field.

There are several notable interactions with animals getting on fields during games, with one of the most notable being a recent college football game. Not only did the fans cheer on the little scamp as it made its way down the field toward the end zone, but the players for both teams, and even the broadcast team, got in on the fun.

9. Hockey Winter Classic

The idea of having NHL hockey in an outside venue seems to add so much more magic to the event. It dials up memories of skating on a pond as a kid, bundled up and waiting for your mom to bring you a thermos of hot cocoa at halftime.

8. Post Anthem Stand-offs

Another example of the players having a little bit of fun with each other before the game even starts. Players stand along their respective baselines, statuesque, to see who is going to blink first. What makes it more exciting is when the standoff draws the ire of the umpire, turning the standoff into both a game of chicken and an act of defiance.

7. Penn State White Out

College football may be the most electric sports atmosphere we have in the nation, and one of the best has to be the White Out games for Penn State. What sets them off is the student body singing Zombie Nation and chanting "We are, Penn State." While I'm not a particular fan of the Nitany Lions, the origin of the "We are, Penn State" slogan (seriously, look it up), along with the monochromatic fan base and jumping around while Zombie Nation plays, is something to behold.

6. Baseball Closer Walk-on Music

It's late in a close game, and your team needs to put the final nail in the coffin. The lights go out, and the entrance music hits; here comes that dude. Instead of watching a baseball game, the atmosphere suddently turns to that of wrestling, with fans full of anxiety suddently frothing at the mouth like they are watching Stone Cold Steve Austin is walking down the ramp, gearing up to "stomp a mud hole in someone and walk it dry."

5. Seafood on the ice

Most notably started by a pair of seafood-mongering brothers in Detroit in 1952 when they threw an octopus on the ice, several different species of seafood have made their way onto rinks throughout the decades and years. While some sports frowned on fan additions onto the playing surface. This tradition has been embraced by the hockey culture. Yes, hats on the ice for a hat trick do deserve an honorable mention, but having to sneak an octopus, salmon, or catfish into a hockey arena deserves special consideration.

4. Hawkeye Wave

A tradition at University of Iowa football games since 2017, The "Hawkeye Wave" where fans and players at Kinnick Stadium turn and wave to patients and families at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital, a gesture of support and hope. 

It's not just Iowa players and fans that get in on the eye-watering clip shown above, but bitter rivals in the Michigan Wolverines all stop the action to take part in the tradition.

3. Flyovers

A tradition that dates back to the First World War, military flyovers of sporting events are truly done a disservice by not being able to witness them in person. Even though watching them on TV is impressive, nothing compares to the experience of being in the stands or on the field when a squadron of jets flies overhead.

Also, the pilots who are manning the aircraft are logging important training hours to better be able to protect our nation.

2. I Believe That We Will Win

What started off as a tradition during BYU Basketball games, see above, has grown into a national rallying cry for the United States soccer teams during international play (see below).

It's a cry of hope, support, praise, and willing Team USA to prevail. A supreme confidence that our 11 is better than your 11 on any given day, and a uniting rallying cry for anyone who considers themself an American Outlaw (the official supporter name for Team USA soccer).

1. Māori Haka

The haka is a traditional Māori dance that has been brought to the global stage by the New Zealand national rugby team, the All Blacks. The Haka isn't just about a chant for sports; it has a deeply ingrained cultural significance in all of New Zealand, especially for those of Māori descent.

According to the New Zealand tourism website Te Pā Tū, in Māori culture, the haka was traditionally performed by men before going to war. The aggressive facial expressions were meant to scare the opponents, while the cry itself was to lift their own morale and call on God for help to win.

Just watching it speaks for itself.