Arizona prominent in SI's greatest 100 sports moments

Arizona at times feels like Forrest Gump when its comes to an association, even if after the fact, to sports history.

Consider Sports Illustrated's new ranking of what it deems as the 100 greatest moments in sports history. No less than a tenth of those have some connection to Arizona, including No. 28, when the Pittsburgh Steelers scored in the final minute to beat the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII.

Three of the top 100 are games played at University of Phoenix Stadium: No. 19, David Tyree's helmet catch helping the New York Giants to win Super Bowl XLII over New England; No. 25, Malcolm Butler's interception at the goal line in the closing seconds of Super Bowl XLIX as New England blocked Seattle from a second consecutive championship; and No. 100, Boise State's trick plays propelling a 43-42 overtime upset of Oklahoma in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl.

Gymnast Kerri Strug, who grew up in Tucson, made the cut at No. 92 with her vault on an injured ankle to clinch a U.S. women's team gold medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

RELATED: Track hero Jesse Owens lived his latter years in Phoenix

Boxer Muhammad Ali, who has lived in Paradise Valley since 2005, is not surprisingly on the list multiple times: No. 5 (Thrilla in Manila vs. Joe Frazier); No. 14 (Rumble in the Jungle vs. George Foreman); and No. 21 (win over world champion Sonny Liston in 1964).

Swimmer Michael Phelps, who moved to Arizona last fall to train with longtime coach Bob Bowman for the 2016 Rio Olympics, is at No. 6 for his haul of eight gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Games.

And Jesse Owens ranks No. 3 for his four track gold medals 80 years ago at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, a repudiation of Adolph Hitler and his Aryan superiority theories. Owens lived in Phoenix from 1972-80 near the end of his life.

Here are SI's top 10 greatest moments:

1. Miracle on Ice (1980 U.S. Olympic hockey win over Soviet Union)
2. Jackie Robinson breaks major league baseball color barrier
3. Jesse Owens' four gold medals at the 1936 Olympics
4. Giants-Colts 1958 NFL title game
5. Thrilla in Manila (Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier III)
6. Michael Phelps' eight gold medal at 2008 Olympics
7. Rise of Tiger Woods at 1997 Masters
8. Bill Mazeroski walk-off home run in the 1960 World Series
9. Joe Namath guarantee, win in Super Bowl III
10. Hank Aaron's 715th home run

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