THE LIST: Sporting moments of the year - Nos 30-21

24 December 2009 18:45
      HAVE YOUR SAY...     What is your sporting moment of 2009? Sportsmail looks back on the most memorable moments of the year for the latest edition of The List. What will you remember most? A piece of sublime skill or incredible achievement? A notorious revelation such as those of Tiger Woods or Andre Agassi? Or a poignant episode such as the celebration of Sir Bobby Robson's life? TELL US WHAT YOU THINK It's only when you come to the end of a year that you realise just how many sporting treats we have enjoyed over the past 12 months.[LNB]From the glory of Ireland's Grand Slam in the early days of spring, to the summer's dramatic Ashes series and wonderful athletics World Championships.[LNB]The glorious triumphs of Jenson Button, David Haye and Beth Tweddle in the autumn - the action and drama has been relentless. [LNB]And it is not just the sublime that has defined 2009. Sport has had it's infamous revelations - such as with Tiger Woods and Andre Agassi - while we have also said goodbye to legends such as Sir Bobby Robson.[LNB]We've been sitting ourselves in a darkened room to come up with what we consider to be our top 50 moments of 2009.[LNB]And as ever, we know that you will want to have your say. [LNB]Enjoy the rest of the week, and we'll reveal the winner on Christmas Day.[LNB] THE LIST: Sporting moments of the yearRead Nos 50-41Read Nos 40-31[LNB] 30 - Kaka rejecting Manchester CityManchester City stunned the footballing world in January with an audacious £100m bid for AC Milan midfielder Kaka, an offer that confirmed their they had the money to match their lofty ambitions.[LNB]However the Brazilian declined the reported £500,000-a week wages and the chance to link-up with compatriot Robinho in favour of remaining at the San Siro. [LNB] Window watch: Kaka put an abrupt end to Manchester City's ambitious hopes to sign him after the Brazilian rejected the Eastlands riches in favour of AC Milan[LNB]Hundreds of Rossoneri fans gathered outside the 2007 FIFA Player of the Year's house and were delighted when news filtered through that he had knocked back City's riches offer to stay in Serie A. [LNB]Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi rejoiced: 'Kaka is a great champion and a great man. He has refused the offer from Manchester City, giving privilege to Milan, his companions and his fans.' [LNB]The playmaker eventually moved to Real Madrid in June. [LNB]29 Manchester United's hat-trick of titlesSir Alex Ferguson's ambition to 'knock Liverpool off of their perch' took a huge leap forward when Manchester United won their 18th league crown in May - holding off Rafa Benitez's sides sustained challenge and equalled the Merseyside club's title haul in the process. [LNB] Threesy does it: Champions Manchester United celebrate their third successive Barclays Premier League title[LNB]United's 11th championship in 17 years was completed after an uncharacteristic 0-0 draw at home to Arsenal but once again the difference had been Fergie's side's ability to maintain the challenge over the whole of the season, winning the title by six points. [LNB]28 Roger Federer finally winning French OpenRoger Federer joined Pete Sampras on a record 14 grand-slam titles after victory over Robin Soderling in the French Open in June and finally getting the Roland Garros-shaped monkey off of his back. [LNB]VIDEO: French Open king Federer completes his slam...Federer had never won the French Grand Slam, which was compounded by losing the previous three finals to Rafael Nadal but his straight sets 6-1, 7-6, 6-4 victory over the unfancied Swede ended the wait.[LNB]'It might be the greatest victory of my career.' Said the 27-year-old.  'Nobody will never tell me again that I have not won Roland Garros. It's nice to be up here on the podium as a winner this time.' [LNB]27 Tony McCoy rides to his 3,000th winThe 13-times champion jockey has been repeatedly denied his 3,000th winner by poor weather since moving on to 2,998 winners  but 10 days without victory finally came to an end after winning rides on Hello Moscow and Restless D'Artaix at Plumpton in February.[LNB] Winning feeling: Jockey Tony McCoy beams with joy after a flawless ride from Restless d'Artaix earns him a landmark 3,000th winner[LNB]On becoming the first rider to achieve 3,000 winners over jumps in Britain and Ireland, McCoy said: 'I feel privileged to ride 3,000 winners but I don't intend to stop now.[LNB]'It has taken a lot of falls and a lot of hard work. It is not something I would ever play down.'[LNB]26 Andres Iniesta stuns Chelsea and Drogba and Ballack explode at referee Tom Henning OvreboChelsea hosted Barcelona at Stamford Bridge in May, fully confident of making it to their second Champions League Final in a row after a battling 0-0 draw in the first leg of the semi-final with the Catalan giants.[LNB]Michael Essien's stunning volley in the tenth minute seemed likely to secure their place in the final in Rome until...[LNB]VIDEO: Last minute Iniesta strike breaks Chelsea hearts...[LNB]Two minutes into time added on Lionel Messi found Iniesta unmarked outside the Chelsea box and his shot flew past Petr Cech to send the Blues crashing out with just moments of the tie left. [LNB] Bad Drog: Didier Drogba landed himself in hot water with UEFA's disciplinary chiefs after his angry tirade against referee Tom Henning Ovrebo[LNB]Chelsea had been denied a few penalties during the game and then five minutes into time added on, Michael Ballack's shot cannoned off the back of Samuel Eto'o's arm but official Tom Henning Ovrebo said no spot kick. Cue pandemonium. [LNB]Ballack chased the Norwegian official the length of the pitch screaming in his face and, on the final whistle, Didier Drogba made his feelings clear with a four-letter rant at the referee and in the direction of the watching Sky cameras. [LNB]25 Newly-promoted Burnley beat champions UnitedBurnley marked the return of top-flight football to Turf Moor after 33 years in August with a memorable win against Premier League champions and North-West rivals United.[LNB] Vintage claret: Robbie Blake celebrates his superb strike to help newly-promoted Burnley beat champions Manchester United at Turf Moor[LNB]The Clarets had started their campaign with a chastening defeat away at Stoke City but Robbie Blake's stunning volley in the 19th minute sealed their first home win over United since 1968.[LNB]24 Unlikely lads Panesar and Anderson hang on in Cardiff to deny Aussies first Ashes Test winThe England pair pulled of a remarkable last-wicket stand to deny Australia victory  in the first Test of the Ashes in July.[LNB] Double act: Tail-end duo James Anderson and Monty Panesar embrace after drawing the first Ashes Test in Cardiff against Australia[LNB]Anderson and Panesar defied Australia for 69 balls and 40 minutes at the death on day five with every ball blocked, clipped or padded away cheered wildly by the 16,000 crowd at Sophia Gardens who saw the nail-biting draw as a victory. [LNB]The true value of the tenth-wicket stand was only fully realised later in the summer as England regained the famous urn at The Oval in the epic 2-1 series win.[LNB]23 Sven Goran Eriksson joins... Notts County!The world's oldest profesional football club brought us some very modern drama after appointing ex-England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson as their director of football in July. [LNB]Eriksson was in charge of the national side for five years before a year as manager of Manchester City before Munto Finance's buy-out of the Midlands club heralded his return from a stint in charge of Mexico.[LNB] Swede dreams: Sven Goran Eriksson stunned English football to join Notts County as the League Two club's director of football[LNB]His return to English football wasn't a surprise, that it was to League two outfit County certainly was but only time will tell if his decision to take on the 'project' at Meadow Lane was the right one - he's already looking for manager number three this season.[LNB]22 Carl Froch's 12th-round KO against Jermain Taylor'Oh. My. Goodness.' Screamed the American commentator who had just watched Carl 'the Cobra' Froch place the heavily-favoured Jermain 'Bad Intentions' Taylor on to the canvas - seconds before the end of the most dramatic fight of the year in late April.[LNB]Nottingham-born Froch was struggling badly in defending his WBC super middleweight belt against the respected Taylor, the champion had been on the end of some big shots and, in round four, he had been knocked down.[LNB]VIDEO: The Cobra strikes Taylor in 12th round stunner[LNB]Going into round 12, Froch was believed to be behind on at least two, if not all three of the judges scorecards until a stirring comeback led to referee stopping the fight with just 15 seconds remaining after a flurry of punches left the American unable to continue.[LNB]21 Rafa Benitez's charge sheet against old foe Fergie Benitez liked to think he was 'stating facts' as he read out his charge sheet of the perceived injustices he saw in the game that favoured the Manchester United boss - what everyone else saw was yet another Premier League manager trying (and failing) to match the United boss at mind games. [LNB]It was in early January that the Spaniard read out his list of 'facts,' which included how Sir Alex escapes punishment when other bosses don't,  how the fixtures favoured the Old Trafford club and Fergie's players getting away with heaping pressure on referees. [LNB]VIDEO: Rafa rings the charges...[LNB]He might as well have gone the whole hog and blamed global warming on the United team bus. [LNB]Liverpool were seven points clear at top of the league at the time but finished the season in second place, so that's: Fergie 1 Rafa 0. [LNB] The best of the rest of The ListSportsmail's top 50 Premier League players of the decadeSportsmail's top 50 last-gasp goals in British footballSportsmail's top 50 footballers never to play at the World CupSportsmail's top 50 Merseyside derby heroesSportsmail's top 50 players from Tottenham or ArsenalSportsmail's top 50 football kits of all time Sportsmail's top 50 sporting feuds of all timeSportsmail's 50 great sports photographsSportsmail's worst 50 strikers in the Premier LeagueSportsmail's top 50 stars who failed to play fairSportsmail's top 50 midfield maestrosSportsmail's top 50 commentators of all timeSportsmail's top 50 sporting venuesSportsmail's top 50 free-kick kingsSportsmail's top 50 England heroesSportsmail's top 50 performers of the season so farSportsmail's top 50 all-time managers in BritainSportsmail's top 50 goal poachersSportsmail's top 50 footballing traitorsSportsmail's top 50 FA Cup heroesSportsmail's top 50 signings of the season Sportsmail's greatest Wembley finals in historySportsmail's top 50 biggest hitters in cricketSportsmail's top 50 British & Irish LionsSportsmail's top 50 Ashes heroesSportsmail's top 50 partnerships [LNB]  

Source: Daily_Mail