I was thinking today about sports in general and what moments really stood out to me. Then, with me being a huge fan of sports photography, started to think about the greatest sports photos of all time.

What photos captured the moment so perfectly that you need no description for it. The photo stands by itself.

There are so many photos out there but I decided to see if I could come up with my Top 5. I came up with these five and if you want to debate it, please go ahead and do so!

5 – Jordan’s “final” shot

Michael Jordan summed up in one photo: 6.6 seconds on the clock as Jordan wins his sixth title.

This photo at the time was the perfect ending to Michael Jordan’s career. The game-winner. The sixth title. All of his greatness captured in one photo. And if Jordan had stayed retired, this would have been an image for the ages. But it wasn’t his final shot. But to me, I’d like to remember that it was.

4 – Tommie Smith and John Carlos fight for equality

Both are from my alma mater San Jose State.

At a time where racism and inequality was still going on in the 1960s, this national display of calling for help brought the issue to the world. It was a moment that showed a lot of guts but also a desire for a better future.

Both Smith and Carlos knew that their lives would be changed afterward and they would be ridiculed, but they also knew that they had this opportunity to use sport as a platform to do a lot of good. They did just that.

3 – The Catch

Dwight Clark had never jumped so high in his life.

Do I need to explain? This one moment changed the 49ers and the Bay Area forever. The catch that looked impossible happened.

2 – Miracle on Ice

These college kids had only been together for half a year and they beat the best team in the world.

The upset of the century didn’t need words to explain. The Americans upset the Soviets in the Olympics during the backdrop of the Cold War. The moment was captured so perfectly that Sports Illustrated ran this as the cover without any words.

The greatest upset in the history of sports.

1 – Ali

The greatest sports photo ever taken.

Sonny Liston had no chance. Muhammad Ali in this photo  showed us all of what he was about. Not only was he the greatest in boxing, but his tenacity and emotion was captured perfectly.

He was also the voice of a generation, an icon of the sport and a leader to the people. And one minute into the first round, Ali’s greatness was captured. I still look at this photo and get shivers. What it would have been like to be there and witnessing this live. Simply amazing!

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What do you think of this list? Would you change it? Let me know!