Badgers had a magical run in 1973
UW’s hockey title heads this class
With the sports world on hold, we gave you the 50 greatest moments in Wisconsin sports history over the past 50 years (plus 10 more). Let’s take the list all the way to 100. Here
71. UW hockey wins title
March 16, 1973
In the process of securing its first NCAA men’s hockey title, Wisconsin won in unreal circumstances in Boston in the NCAA national semifinal, with a 6-5 victory in overtime against Cornell.
Dean Talafous, a sixth skater on the ice after Wisconsin pulled its goalie, tied the game with 5 seconds left to force overtime. He won the game with 30 seconds left in the 10minute sudden-death overtime.
Cornell establish what looked like an insurmountable lead when it jumped out to a 4-0 edge in the second period. The Badgers scored three times in the final period, including the equalizier set up by Dennis Olmstead to Talafous.
One night later, Wisconsin defeated Denver, 4-2, for the title, and Badger fans chanted “Hawk” in honor of Wisconsin coach Bob Johnson.
It was the first championship for a Badgers men's program that added national titles in 1977, 1981, 1983, 1990 and 2006 – the latter achieved in the Frozen Four at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee.
72. ‘Major League’ premieres
April 7, 1989
The events of the classic sports comedy were set in Cleveland, but everyone in Milwaukee knows the filming took place juuuuuust a bit outside of Ohio.
With footage gathered from around the city and numerous shots inside Milwaukee County Stadium, not to mention some legendary work from Brewers radio voice Bob Uecker, “Major League” became ingrained in the Milwaukee consciousness.
73. Packers down 49ers in the mud
Jan. 11, 1998
Expectations were sky high during the 1997 season after Green Bay had won the preceding Super Bowl, but the Packers still had to win on the road in the NFC Championship Game to earn a return trip to Super Bowl XXXII.
Playing in a muddy mess at 3Com Park, Green Bay got the job done with a 23-10 victory.
Jerry Rice was unavailable for San Francisco, having sustained two serious knee injuries that season.
Packers running back and Dorsey Levens ran for 114 yards against the NFL's No. 2-ranked rush defense.
74. No more Sixers jinx
May 11, 1986
It was a rare moment when Milwaukee got the best of Philadelphia in the playoffs, in Game 7 of the 1986 Eastern Conference semifinals no less. Terry Cummings scored 27 points, Craig Hodges added 24 and Sidney Moncrief 23 as Milwaukee edged the Sixers, 113112, and earned a date with the mighty Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference finals.
The Celtics swept the Bucks and went on to win the title, but just getting there required some dramatics. Milwaukee had been eliminated by the 76ers in four of the previous five postseasons, and the Bucks were firmly in “jinx” territory.
“Right after the clock went off, I haven't felt that good in my entire career,” Moncrief said. “That gave me a lot of satisfaction.”
75. Packers steamroll Atlanta
Jan. 15, 2011
We've already highlighted two games from the Super Bowl run after the 2010 season, but Green Bay was at its absolute best in downing the No. 1 seed in the NFC during a 48-21 win in the divisional round over the Atlanta Falcons.
Aaron Rodgers completed 31 of 36 passes for 366 yards and three touchdowns in the Georgia Dome for what might be his best performance. He also ran for a score.
76. Kohl sells the Bucks
April 17, 2014
A new era of Milwaukee Bucks basketball dawned when longtime owner Herb Kohl announced he was selling the team to hedge-fund investors Marc Lasry and Wesley Edens.
The move also included both buyer and seller committing $100 million to
77. The Marcol Game
Sept. 7, 1980
The Packers-Bears rivalry has seen several memorable installments over the years, and few were more bizarre than the 12-6 Packers win in overtime.
There had been no touchdowns in the game when Chester Marcol lined up for a 35-yard field goal in overtime. The kick was blocked off the helmet of Alan Page and sent right back to Marcol, who picked it up and ran 25 yards for the winning points.
“The Bears were overloaded coming in the middle,” Marcol said. “I saw it get blocked and all of a sudden, there it was, right in my hands. The left was wide open, so I took off.
78. Sheets strikes out 18
May 16, 2004
In the early part of a big season for the Brewers right-hander, Ben Sheets struck out a franchise-record 18 batters against the Atlanta Braves, flirting with the MLB record of 20.
Andruw Jones hit a home run for the only Atlanta run in the seventh, but Sheets struck out the last five men he faced and recorded eight of the final nine outs via strikeout. He allowed three hits with one walk in his completegame performance, with 15 straight retired after a leadoff double in the first.
“It was kind of a blur,” Sheets said of his 116-pitch gem. “But it was a fun blur.”
79. Bucks go buzzer beating
April 22, 2018
The Bucks were still on the rise in
80. Villanova stunned twice
Jan. 24, 2017 and March 18, 2017
It feels like cheating to put these two together, but they were both memorable moments in the same season against the same team, Villanova, and the Wildcats were ranked No. 1 both times.
In January, Marquette took down No. 1 Villanova, 74-72, behind 19 points from Katin Reinhardt – 18 in the second half – and before an electrified Bradley Center crowd.
It was the first time MU had beaten a No. 1-ranked team in the AP poll, and the Golden Eagles did it despite trailing by 17 points.
“Oh my gosh, I don't even know what to say,” Reinhardt said. “You dream of these types of moments.“
Reinhardt made two free throws with 11.2 seconds left to account for the winning points, and Jalen Brunson missed a runner to tie. Fans stormed the court.
Nova still garnered a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and faced off with Wisconsin in the second round, where the Badgers prevailed with a 65-62 upset. Nigel Hayes went baseline for a drive with 11.4 seconds left to account for the winning basket.
Vitto Brown then registered a steal on Villanova star Josh Hart on the other end of the floor.