This series is powered by EA Sports Active 2: The complete at-home digital trainer.
What are your five most heart-pumping moments in sports since 2000? Electronic Arts is running a promotion to coincide with the release of EA Sports Active 2, where they are giving away copies to sports fans who come up with the best list of five heart-pumping moments in the past 10 years.
Though I’m not eligible to win – insert unhappy emoticon – I’ve been asked to list my five most heart-pumping moments in the 2000s. There was only one problem with this: My memory sucks. Seriously, I can’t even remember what I ate for lunch 30 minutes ago. I constantly lose everything. And… wait… what article am I supposed to be writing again?
Fortunately, I have playoff and Super Bowl blogs saved on this site, so I was able to go back and relive those moments – and it was actually pretty fun.
So, here’s my list. At the end, I’ll have details about how you can win your copy of Active 2:
5. James Harrison’s Pick-Six in Super Bowl XLIII:
I was rooting for the Cardinals in this game for “monetary” reasons. It was 10-7 Pittsburgh, and Arizona had a chance to grab the lead before halftime. Instead, James Harrison took an interception back 100 yards for a touchdown.
As this happened, I wrote:
Wow. I’m speechless. This Pittsburgh touchdown better not stand. It feels like my heart just got ripped out. It should have been 10-10 at the very worst.
The following forum members shared my shock:
LOVEMYBILLS: what the flying **** was that
MCNULTY: oh em eff gee
JIMMYP: Badness. Razor blade time.
DRAZTEK: Cardinals just got debacled.
BLEEDGREEN: …and the Arizona population is cut in half due to self-inflicted wounds.
KOBE_NO_MEANS_NO: ****ing bull**** for sure… unbelievable crap.
AZCHARGERSFAN21: F*** F*** F*** F*** F*** F*** F***
FOX: That was the most amazing play I have ever seen. ****ing Steelers.
BKBEAS: Is it OK to cry?
4. Larry Fitzgerald’s Touchdown in Super Bowl XLIII:
I listed James Harrison’s pick-six, so I have to include Santonio Holmes’ touchdown, right?
Well, no. Everyone knew the Steelers were going to win. No one believed in the Cardinals. Larry Fitzgerald’s preceding touchdown put them up 23-20 in the fourth quarter, giving them a legitimate chance.
When Fitzgerald scored, I typed the following:
LLLLLLLLLAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRYYYYYYYYYY FIIIIIIIIIITTTTTTTTZZZZZZEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
I was so excited that I forgot the “G” in Fitzgerald.
I remember high-fiving everyone in the room, including my drunk cousin, my sister’s hot friend Abby, who knows nothing about football, and some shady dude who randomly walked into my house. I didn’t care who he was. Arizona was going to “win!”
3. Tracy Porter’s Pick-Six in Super Bowl XLIV:
Two things I’ll never forget about Super Bowl XLIV:
First, Tracy Porter’s pick-six clinching my Saints selection. As it happened, Abby (who couldn’t make it because of the snow) IMed me, “aesome he ran the whole thing with no1 chasing him.”
And second, all of the silly comments I read on NFL.com GameCenter that day. Here’s a list of five of them and my thoughts on each:
1. “COLTS PLEASE USED CRUSH BUG PLAY ON SAINTS”
Unleash CRUSH BUG PLAY!
2. “JERAMY SHOCKEY LOOKS LIKE A FEMAIL”
Do mailmen deliver femail in addition to mail? If not, are there femailmen? No, I’m not talking about transvestites.
3. “IF U LIK DA SAINTS SAY YEA”
YEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sorry, couldnt’ resist.
4. “Stief I hate you ”
Maybe Stief hates you too. Did you think about that?
5. “COLTS REALLY SUCK A** HAHA MY GRANDMOTHER PLAYS BETTER THEN THAT AND SHE AINT GOT NO ARMS OR LEGS LOL F*** THEM COLTS”
Your grandmom has no arms or legs? What?
2. David Tyree’s Helmet Catch:
The Patriots-Giants game was already one of the greatest Super Bowls ever. Throw in the insane helmet catch? How could this not be No. 1?
Checking out my Super Bowl XLII blog, here were my thoughts seven minutes prior to the Tyree catch:
Two minute warning. I’m on the edge of my seat. The game’s on the line. And… uhhh… Victoria Secret… uhhh… ummm… is there a game on?
And as the catch happened:
How did Eli do that!?!?! He was almost sacked twice, lobbed it up, and somehow David Tyree grabbed it!! Unbelievable!!
If something can get my mind off Victoria’s Secret, you know that it was super heart-pumping.
1. Tom Brady’s Game-Winning Drive in Super Bowl XXXVI:
The Tyree catch was my most heart-pumping moment. But it can’t be No. 1 – because getting my mind off of Victoria’s Secret is nothing compared to what happened in these 90 seconds.
This drive changed everything. Can you imagine if the Patriots would have taken John Madden’s advice and subsequently lost in overtime? Adam Vinatieri wouldn’t be known as the premier clutch kicker in the NFL. Bill Belichick wouldn’t be recognized as a genius. And poor Tom Brady would have to settle for dating normal girls instead of supermodels.
But that’s not why this is No. 1. In this 6-minute video, Madden didn’t mention Brett Favre or any sort of food a single time. That in itself is a miracle.
So, that’s my list. Feel free to submit your five most heart-pumping moments in the 2000s here for a chance to win a copy of EA Sports Active 2.
Make sure you read the rules first. Click here for terms and conditions.
NFL Picks - Nov. 20
2025 NFL Mock Draft - Nov. 20
NFL Power Rankings - Nov. 19
Fantasy Football Rankings - Sept. 4
