Tony Ronaldson's 4-point play in the 96 olympics to win against a highly favoured Croatian team is right up the top of Australian all time great moments.

It allowed us to play off for bronze even though we came up short on that...

Remember that one. I was travelling in the car and listening to ABC Radio. Peter Walsh was doing the commentary and I was screaming at him to actually explain what was happening. As is normal for him he is short on detail and long on excitement.

Tony Ronaldson's amazing 4-point play to beat a talent-laden Croatia in '96! Still gives me goosebumps when I see it...

Top 5 Boomers Olympic Moments

1) Drewy 2000 makes it 5 Olympics in a row as a Boomer

2) Bear in 96 vs Croatia

3) Slambage

4) Snell miracle for OT

5) Patty 3 - 4 the win

Lauren Jackson ripping off Leslie's hair extensions in 2000

Not quite sticking to the topic but ...

I reckon it was pretty bl..dy good for us to finish 4th in 3 of the last 7 Olympics ('88, '96, '00).

From a Boomers perspective, the three quarter final wins were huge, and the wins over Spain in 00, Russia in 08 and GB this year with our backs to the wall were very enjoyable. For the Opals obviously the first medal and the silver medal.

In terms of moments:

1 Ronaldson's four point play v Croatia

2 Daylight then Snell's shot

3 Opals OT win over Russia in the 96 QFs

4 Andrew Gaze's 27 points at 70% to carry us past Italy in the 00 QFs

5 Bogut's dunk +1 v Russia in the do-or-die game in 2008 as we beat the Euro champs by 15

Palubinskas's shooting at Montreal '76 ( 31.3ppg )
Later , a 3 point line was introduced ( '84)

Tony Ronaldson 4 point play here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbcrLRHmcAg

Booomers: Ronaldson in '96. Excellent as Patty's 3 pointer against Russia was, Ronaldson's shot meant more (took us into the Bronze medal game) and was a 4 point play (so extra credit for rarity factor).

For the Opals, Slambage has to rate very highly. This is no comment on whether there have been bigger overall *games*, but how many things can Australia say it has done first in Olympic basketball (men or women)?

Of course, if the Opals win gold this year that immediately becomes number 1 of all time, and someone will need to wheel Bob Hawke out to remark that "any boss who sacks anyone for not turning up to work today is a bum".

I have a few that come to mind.....

1. Beating Puerto Rico by 40 points in Barcelona in our opening game.

2. Sam MacKinnon's Alley Oop over Dream team in a pre olympic game in 1996.

3. Andrew Vlahov and Karl Malone chesting up during the 1996 Olympic Semis.

4. Spiteful moment in pre olympic warmup vs USA in 2000, where Vince Carter stood over and berated a prone Andrew Gaze.

and yes I know a couple weren't in the Olympics.

Another vote for Eddie Palubinskas in Montreal. 48 points vs Mexico in OT (pre 3-pt line). Highest points total in any Olympics prior to Oscar Schmidt (post 3-pt addition). Ian Davies also led Olympics in scoring. Andrew is the GOAT, but those two are the points GOATs.

Pre-Atlanta Olympics, Shane Heal against the Dream Team was pretty amazing too. One the greatest long-distance shooting exhibitions ever. 8-12 from long range, some just crazy-far, against hard defence.