I apologize for not posting on Monday.  I was travelling or did not have my computer for much of the holiday, but I will be back next Monday with a Super Bowl Preview.  Today’s 4^th and 10 will cover my top 10 plays of 2013.

10. Florida Gulf Coast Alley Oop on Georgetown

Florida Gulf Coast won the Atlantic Sun Conference gaining an automatic bid to the 2013 NCAA tournament.  As a #15 seed, they upset both Georgetown and San Diego State before losing to Florida in the Sweet Sixteen.  They also brought the world the phenomenon of “Dunk City”.  This is the most impressive of their NCAA tournament dunks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlIBRkr4Ar4

9. Ben Revere catch against the Reds 4/15/13

On Jackie Robinson Day, Ben Revere made the MLB catch of the year.  To put the cherry on top of his full extension catch, he also got up and threw the ball in to double up Jay Bruce at first.  I’m sure Jackie would have been proud.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QLJpEb_N94

8. Zlatan Ibrahimovic Puskas Award Goal

The Puskas Award is given for the best FIFA goal of the year.  This goal by Zlatan Ibrahimovic won the award in 2013.  I don’t know much about soccer, but I do know that 99.9% of the world population could attempt this 10 million times and not make one of them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDsxKXa0PbA

7. DeAndre Jordan dunks on Brandon Knight

I’m not so sure you would call this an alley-oop, so much as you would call it annihilation.  Brandon Knight is a good player, but he was on the wrong end of this “Lob City” oop.  If you see Jordan’s face after the play, it’s apparent that even he felt bad for Knight.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_rKW3HL9GE

6. Johnny Manziel vs. Duke in the Chik-fil-a Bowl

The chronologically latest play on this list is the one Johnny Football play I decided to include.  There were so many possibilities with him, but none made my jaw drop quite like this one.  He hurdles, gets caught in mid-air, lands on his feet, backtracks, rolls left out of pressure, and then finds a wide-open receiver for an easy score at that point.  One can hardly blame the corner for leaving his man there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CS9HvIlIi_I

5. A.J. Green Hail Mary against Ravens

This is the first of two plays to make the list partially because of poor defensive back play.  However, give A.J. Green credit.  He does a remarkable job of keeping his focus on the ball and making the play off of not one, but two, tips of the ball.  This play sent the game into overtime.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjElnph4Q4w

4. Second Worst Play in Football History

Being at this game was the second worst experience of my life.  After being thoroughly manhandled for much of the game, the Georgia Bulldogs stormed back to take a 38-37 lead with just over a minute left.  Then a few good defensive plays later, Georgia has Auburn in a 4^th and very long and surely thinks they will win the game.  But another terrible defensive back play and an inexplicable perfect spiral tip later, Ricardo Louis is sprinting into the endzone for an Auburn game-winning touchdown.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jiu7pYUV7Jk

3. Aaron Rodgers to Randall Cobb to beat Chicago

In the waning moments of the 4^th quarter, Aaron Rodgers evades pressure and rolls to his left then heaves a deep pass to a wide open Randall Cobb to give the Packers a 33-28 win over their division rivals, the Chicago Bears.  This play was also significant, because it clinched the division for the Packers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1ma-YXnT1w

2. Ray Allen 3-pointer in Game 6 of the NBA Finals

Ray Allen came up with the biggest play of 2013 in the NBA.  With 5.2 seconds left, he nailed a game tying three from the corner after an offensive rebound.  This play kept the Heat season alive, and a few days later they won their second consecutive championship in game 7.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tr6XsZVb-ZE

1. Worst Play in Football History

Once again, I attended a game at Jordan-Hare Stadium this season only to have my heart ripped out for a second time.  I will take credit for calling this play happening as Alabama lined up to attempt the field goal.  (For a witness, call Jackson Fendley).  You’ve all seen this I’m sure, but Griffith leaves it short and Chris Davis catches it and runs up the sideline to end the game.  I felt like that scene in The Matrix where the white-haired girl dies and she says, “Not like this! Not like this!”

Side note: I refuse to ever watch this play again as long as I live.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GKmkD1pUG0