Sport's shackles and chains
broken by magical moments

Muhammad Ali - the sports star of the century

Funny thing. My grandfather grew up in the first decades of this century and the heroes of his youth are as remote now as the places he lived and played in. Jones' Road was what he called Croke Park and he remembered running on it when cinder track surrounded the scutch grass, writes Tom Humphries.

Football hits new heights

1903: All-Ireland football final: They are commonly referred to as "the games which made the GAA". The All-Ireland home final of 1903 between Kerry and Kildare went to two replays and, along the way, established football as a mass-spectator sport.

Four-timers from Leeside still unique

1944: All-Ireland hurling final: Cork between 1941-44 became the only county to win four successive All-Irelands and, in the current cut-throat environment, it's hard to imagine the achievement being emulated for the foreseeable future.

A day and a team etched in the annals

1948: Ireland's Grand Slam: When the 20th century dawned Ireland entered it as Triple Crown and International champions. Irish rugby was in a healthy state, the game was expanding in both the rural and urban areas and, crucially, in the schools.

Hogan captivates at Carnoustie

Ben Hogan

1953: British Open: In fascinating, reflective moments, Jack Nicklaus has talked of the dramatic changes in his craft: of the reformed image of the professional golfer over the years, from the overweight, cigarette-smoking artisan with the whiff of whiskey on his breath, to the clean-cut, modern athlete with sharp business instincts. And he has talked of Ben Hogan.

Defining moment of magic in the Australian sun

1956: Melbourne Olympics: Close your eyes and it's still real. This race footage we have all seen, this black and white film, to the athlete it's still sweat and footfalls and breathing. 1956. A lot of water under the bridge.

Thoroughbred through and through

1964: Cheltenham Gold Cup: Nationalism, money, conceit: often the ingredients for disaster, but on Saturday, March 7th, 1964, this was the background to two racehorses who were each considered unbeatable.

Brilliance and beauty earn Brazil their just deserts

1970: World Cup final Brazil v Italy: After the victory scored by Alf Ramsey's workmanlike English team four years earlier, 1970's World Cup tournament, and particularly the meeting in the final of Brazil and Italy, belonged to the game's dreamers.

Northern Hemisphere flair proves point to All Blacks

1973: Barbarians v New Zealand: There are happenings in sport that remain imperishable in memory, those very special occasions when the exceptional expression of talent and brilliance are revealed.

The greatest fight of all time

1975: Thrilla in Manilla: Lie down Joe. Take the weight off your loafers and lie down once more and tell it like it was. This is old ground for us, but it's core stuff. We've got time.

Changing the game for women

Martina Navratilova

1978: Wimbledon final: Trailing 4-2 and 5-4 in the deciding set of the women's singles final at Wimbledon in 1978, Martina Navratilova courted another gallant defeat, set once again to be thwarted by the game's golden girl, Chris Evert.

Hurricane sweeps all before him

1982: World snooker final: Two years ago Ken Doherty, the then world snooker champion, assisted Alex Higgins in playing a testimonial match in the Waterfront Arena, Belfast, The Hurricane's home town.

Jewel in the crown of a true track king

1984: Los Angeles Olympics: Carl Lewis had at least one compelling reason to assail history when he travelled the relatively short distance from his home for the 23rd Olympic Games in the Los Angeles Coliseum in 1984.

Climbing to glory in the Alps

Stephen Roche

1987: Tour de France: He remembers it like it was yesterday. The date was July 22nd, 1987, and to millions of television viewers the sight of a comatose Stephen Roche on a stretcher, wrapped in a silver blanket with an oxygen mask hiding his face was frightening and deeply disturbing.

Golden moment has silver lining

1992: Barcelona Olympics: It had come to dawn on us unexpectedly. We were hopeful but afraid to hope too fervently. The balmy morning of Saturday, August 8th, 1992, in Barcelona had arrived and so had one of the most exciting days in Irish sporting history.

Who put the ball in the Italian net?

1994: World Cup finals: There are times in sport when even the longest roads appear to have no turning, occasions when the heavy hand of history seems to drain it of the essential element of surprise.

A tragedy that truly shaped the circuit

Ayrton Senna

1994: San Marino Grand Prix: Sifting through the moments that turn a sport around, the episodes that not only define a time but resonate to affect the whole conduct of the game, is an almost futile endeavour or at least one bound to spark endless, unwinnable arguments.

Playing with their lives

A Century of Stadium Disasters: On Saturday, March 6th, 1993, at Anfield football ground, a minute's silence was held for Tony Bland. The 22-year-old Liverpudlian had lain comatose in a vegetative state since the Hillsborough stadium disaster in April 1989. When he finally passed away, Liverpool football club wanted to pay respects.