SI's Greatest Shots of '08

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Dec 19, 2008

SI's Greatest Shots of '08

Michael Phelps

"For pictures to be effective they have to be affective," says SI photography editor James Colton. "They have to invoke a reaction -- make you laugh, make you cry, make you cringe, make you linger just a little big longer to absorb all they have to offer." Here, then, are SI's best shots of 2008, beginning with Michael Phelps' split-second victory at the Beijing Olympics.

David Tyree

David Tyree hangs on to a clutch reception against Rodney Harrison in the Giants upset win in the Super Bowl.

Dustin Carter and Calin Dubay

Dustin Carter of Hillsboro, Ohio, (left) earned national attention by competing in the 103-pound class of the high school wrestling association. He lost 1-0 to Dubay in this first-round match.

Sam Bradford

Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford got flipped upside down after going airborne and fell short of the goal line in the third quarter against Oklahoma State. Oklahoma went on to win 61-41.

Men's Synchronised 10m Platform Final

Rocco Baldelli

Thanks to a remote camera attached to the catwalk of Tropicana Field, photographer Gary Bogdon was able to get this shot of Baldelli being tagged out at home.

Usain Bolt

Jamaica's Usain Bolt set the world record in the 100 with a time of 9.69 at the Beijing Games.

Ana Ivanovic

Ana Ivanovic of Serbia celebrates her victory over Dinara Safina of Russia in the women's final.

Valtteri Filppula

Detroit's Valtteri Filppula (51) falls towards the ice as he scores against Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

Aaron Maybin and Brandon Minor

Penn State's Aaron Maybin landed in an awkward positiion after tackling Wolverine running back Brandon Minor.

Grand Sumo Tournament

Li Na and Britta Heidemann

Britta Heidemann of Germany scores against Li Na of China during an individual epee semifinal.

Tiger Woods

Wincing in pain while playing on his surgically repaired left knee, Tiger Woods made a 12-foot putt on 18 to force a Monday playoff with Rocco Mediate at the 108th U.S. Open at Torrey Pines.

Marquis Maze and Chris Hawkins

Alabama wide receiver Marquis Maze (4) went on the defensive by trying to keep LSU cornerback Chris Hawkins from catching a pass.

Nastia Liukin

Nastia Liukin on the uneven bars on her way to winning the gold medal in the individual all-around.

Brad Lidge and Carlos Ruiz

Lidge and catcher Ruiz celebrate the World Series-clinching victory in Philadelphia, the team's first title since 1980.

Michael Crabtree

Texas Tech wide receiver Michael Crabtree, having broken free of a tackle attempt by Curtis Brown (3), scores the winning touchdown with a second left as Texas Tech knocked off No. 1 Texas.

Mario Chalmers

Mario Chalmers goes up for a game-tying three-pointer with time running out in regular against Memphis. Kansas would go on to win in overtime.

Serena Williams

Serena Williams couldn't contain her jubilation after defeating Jelena Jankovic 6-4, 7-5 to win the U.S. Open for a third time.

Dominique Johnson and Sharrod Davis

UCLA wideout Dominique Johnson tries in vain to make a one-handed catch over Sharrod Davis of Fresno State.

Michael Phelps

Michael Phelps celebrates winning the gold medal in an Olympic-record time of 50.58 and by 0.01. It was his seventh gold medal at the Beijing Games.

National Stadium

Fireworks let up the sky at the opening of the Beijing Games.

Big Brown

Big Brown pulls away from Eight Belles (right) and the other 19 horses to become the first horse to win from the 20th post position since Clyde Van Dusen in 1929. Eight Belles (inset and right) collapsed with two broken ankles moments after finishing second.

Big Brown

Triple Crown hopeful Big Brown raced with a loose shoe on his right hind hoof, but some experts say it had nothing to do with the horse's loss at Belmont.

Charles Scott, LSU

Florida's Ahmad Black (35) and Justin Trattou (94) deliver a helmet-jarring blow to Charles Scott of LSU.

Christian Donohue

Hawaii shortstop Christian Donohue reacts to the last out of the Little League World Series against Mexico in Williamsport, Pa. Hawaii won 12-3.

Ice Speedway Motocycle Racing

Balance and nerves were on display at the Ice Speedway World Championships in Inzell, Germany.

Kim Sookyung

Kim Sookyung of Korea had a hair-raising experience while competing in the weightlifting competition in Beijing.

Kyle Taber and Drew Naymick

Drew Naymick throws down two while Kyle Taber is left to wonder who's landing where.

Oscar De La Hoya vs. Manny Pacquiao

Manny Pacquiao (right), the WBC lightweight champion, destroyed Oscar De La Hoya in a fight many expected the Golden Boy to win. The eighth-round TKO victory bumped Pacquiao's record to a jaw-dropping 48-3-2 with 36 knockouts, while De La Hoya dropped to 39-6.

Kerri Walsh

For the second consecutive Olympics, Kerri Walsh (pictured) and Misty May-Treanor found gold in the sand as the duo teamed to win the women's beach volleyball.

Kevin Love

UCLA's Kevin Love goes up for a rebound.

Humberto Quintero and Pat Burrell

Houston catcher Humberto Quintero has his eyes on Phillies' left fielder Pat Burrell and not on the ball during the first inning of their early season game.

Kevin Garnett

Kevin Garnett beats the Lakers to a rebound in Game 4 of the NBA Finals.

Rafael Nadal

Rafael Nadal won his fourth consecutive French Open, defeating Roger Federer 6-1, 6-3, 6-0.

Marian Hossa

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Marian Hossa (18) tries in vain to score against Detroit Red Wings goalie Chris Osgood. Detroit held off Pittsburgh to win the Stanley Cup in six games.

Natasha Kai and Heather O'Reilly

Natasha Kai (left) and Heather O'Reilly helped the U.S. get past Brazil 1-0 in the championship match at the Beijing Games.

Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor

Kerri Walsh (left) and Misty May-Treanor found gold in the sand as the duo teamed to win the women's beach volleyball gold medal.

Huo Liang

Huo Liang of China finished fourth in the platform final at the 2008 Olympics.

Shawn Johnson

Shawn Johnson, 16, won the gold medal in the balance beam in Beijing.

Lionel Messi and Chibuzor Okonkwo

Lionel Messi of Argentina and Chibuzor Okonkwo of Nigeria compete for the ball during the Argentines' gold-medal winning match in Beijing.

Matteo Tagliariol and Jose Luis Abajo

Matteo Tagliariol of Italy (left) takes on Jose Luis Abajo of Spain in the bronze medal match.

Felix Michel and Sebastian Piersig

Germany's Felix Michel and Sebastian Piersig at the Beijing Olympics.

Nastia Liukin

Nastia Liukin exhibits her grace and skill while edging teammate and reigning world champion Shawn Johnson for the gold medal in women's all-around gymnastics.

Ahmed Belgasem

Ahmed Belgasem of Libya finished last in his event but helped make a good photograph.

Dara Torres

Dara Torres helped the U.S. women to a silver medal in the 4x100 freestyle relay.

Usain Bolt

Usain Bolt after setting the world record in the 200 with a time of 19.30.

Roger Federer

In a season in which he struggled at times, Roger Federer easily defeated Andy Murray to win his 13th career Grand Slam title and fifth straight U.S. Open.

Lamar Odom and LaMarcus Aldridge

Lamar Odom and LaMarcus Aldridge anticipate their next move while waiting to see if a shot is good or not.

Quan Cosby

Quan Cosby had nine catches for 122 yards in the Longhorns 45-35 win over No. 1 Oklahoma in Dallas.

Joe Haden

Florida's Joe Haden soaks up the confetti shower following the No. 2 Gators' victory over No. 1 Alabama.

BASE jumping

The largest BASE-jumping and extreme-sports event in the world took place in Fayetteville, W.Va., and attracted over 300 jumpers and 100,000 spectators. BASE is an acronym for the four categories of fixed objects from which one can jump -- Building, Antenna (tower), Span (bridge) and Earth (cliff).

Rafael Nadal

In a riveting, five-set marathon, Rafael Nadal outlasted Roger Federer 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-7 (8), 9-7 to become the first man to win Wimbledon and the French Open since Bjorn Borg in 1980.

Danica Patrick

A month after the first IRL victory of her career, Danica Patrick qualified fifth for the Indianapolis 500. She finished 29th after her car was clipped by another driver on pit road.

Marilou Dozios-Prevost

Canada's Marilou Dozios-Prevost finished 10th in the women's flyweight division.