Source: Daily_Mail
THE LIST: Sporting moments of the year - Nos 50-41
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] 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 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 hadit's infamous revelations - such as with Tiger Woods and Andre Agassi -while we have also said goodbye 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 week, and we'll reveal the winner on Christmas Day.[LNB] Purple No 4: Favre celebrates at the Metrodome on October 5[LNB]Mother's pride: Catriona Matthew celebrates with 11-week-old daughter Sophie[LNB]50 - Brett Favre tastes victory against the Green Bay Packers A Green Bay legend, Favre spent 16 years at Lambeau Field, steering the Packers to Super Bowl glory in 1997. But an acrimonious split saw the 40-year-old joining the Minnesota Vikings - the Packers' storied rivals - via an injury-hit season with the New York Jets. [LNB]Favre duly became the first quarterback to defeat all 32 NFL teams, inspiring the Vikings to a 30-23 victory against the Green and Gold in front of the largest American cable audience in history.[LNB]49 - New mum Catriona Matthew wins the British OpenMatthewwas five months pregnant when she won the HSBC LPGA Brasil Cup at thestart of the year and in early August she celebrated the arrival of hersecond daughter Sophie by winning the British Open at Royal Lytham andSt Annes - just 11 weeks after giving birth. The 40-year-old became thefirst Scot to win a women's Major.[LNB] High spirits: Bolivia players celebrate stunning Argentina at altitude[LNB] [LNB]48 - Bolivia thump Diego Maradona's Argentina 6-1Diego Maradona was made to look a fool on April 1 when his side were crushed in a World Cup qualifier. [LNB]The coach (left) refused to blame the altitude of La Paz, which lies 3,600 metres above sea level, and gave credit to his opponents, saying every Bolivia goal felt like a stab in the heart.[LNB]It was to be just one of a number of occasions when Maradona's suitability as a coach was questioned in 2009, but he defied the critics to qualify for South Africa 2010. Just.[LNB] 47 - England's women rule the world at cricket It wasn't a bad year for Andrew Strauss and Co, but for the sheer amount of success, the men were outdone by England's women. [LNB]With stunning batting performances from Claire Taylor, coupled with the leadership of Charlotte Edwards, England won the lot: World Cup at 50 overs and the World Twenty20, topped off with retention of The Ashes.[LNB] Enlarge Pride of England: The women's cricket team celebrate Ashes victory[LNB]46 - Maynor Figueroa scores from own half against StokeQuick-thinking Wigan defender Figueroa provided the highlight of an entertaining 2-2 draw at the Britannia Stadium earlier this month by having a pop with a quick free-kick from just inside his own half. [LNB]The ball sailed over Thomas Sorensen and into the back of the net and the defender was still celebrating when the usual 'contender for goal of the season' lines were being poured out in pubs and television studios up and down the country.[LNB] Trailblazers: Maynor Figueroa (left) and Robin Soderling[LNB]45 - Robin Soderling beats Rafael Nadal at French OpenNadal had never been beaten at Roland Garros and was much-fancied to claim a fifth straight title. Soderling had never beaten the Spaniard so Nadal had every reason to be confident. But he had no answer to the Swede and crashed 2-6, 7-6, 4-6, 6-7 in one of the biggest shocks the game has ever seen.[LNB]44 - England women's star Kelly Smith scores from 45 yardsEngland women's football team reached their first major final for 15 years before being beaten 6-2 by the peerless Germany at the European Championship in September. [LNB]It was a fine achievement, but they could have been going home early had it not been for a stunning goal by star player Kelly Smith in the second group match against Russia. [LNB]England had lost the opening match against Italy and were two-down against the unfancied east Europeans. [LNB]Defeat would have been curtains, but Hope Powell's side fought back from two-down before Smith (left) scored the winner with an instinctive lob of the opposition goalkeeper from close to the halfway line.[LNB]43 - Jimmy Bullard sends up Phil Brown with celebrationHull City boss Phil Brown had courted controversy by holding his half-time teamtalk on the pitch at Manchester City last season. It had been hailed by some as the moment when the Tigers started to slide inexorably.[LNB]However, a season later, and with Brown under great pressure, cheeky chappy Bullard turned the moment on its head by mimicking his finger-wagging boss after scoring from the penalty spot. Genius.[LNB] Joker: Jimmy Bullard mimics Hull boss Phil Brown with his finger-wagging[LNB]42 - Andre Agassi admitting crystal methHe always looked like a rock star (when he had hair anyway) and it turns out the 1992 Wimbledon champion enjoyed acting like one from time to time.[LNB] Agassi (right) stunned the sporting world by revealing in his autobiography that he had used the drug crystal meth during his playing days in the Nineties.[LNB]41 - Sea The Stars wins L'Arc, Derby and the restThe three-year-old colt was retired to stud towards the end of 2009 after winning six major races and being widely hailed as the greatest horse seen in flat racing. Mick Kinane, who also retired this year, was on board the John Oxx trained horse for the unforgettable treble of the 2,000 Guineas, Epsom Derby and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.[LNB] Enlarge Top prize: Mick Kinane rides Sea the Stars to glory in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamps[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
