Greatest sports call ever: "Do you believe in Miracles? Yes!" or "The Giants win the pennant!"

[fishwax]

Earlier this week Bob Costas and Al Michaels were talking about the Miracle on Ice, and Bob Costas mentioned that some guy in an airport had told him that the three greatest sports announcer calls of the 20th century were Michaels's "miracle" call, Hodges's "Giants win the pennant" freakout, and Jack Buck's "I don't believe what I just saw" after Kirk Gibson's home run in the '88 Series. Bob Costas agreed that the fan had the right three and in the right order.

So I thought I'd see what the sports forum folk had to say about the subject.

Of course some folks are bound to have personal favorites based on their favorite memories, their favorite teams, and so on. But looking at it from the perspective of American sports iconography, I think that Michaels's and Hodges's calls are pretty clearly the top two. (I would probably reverse the order, personally, but I agree with those being the top two.)

I think the third spot is up for grabs, though. I'd go with Skip Caray's "Braves Win!" freakout, not because it was the most eloquent or vivid, but because, given how bad the Braves had been for years, such a meltdown was really the only rational response to seeing them win the pennant :rofl:.

So what are your picks?

[El Supremo]

1. Anytime that Harry Carey said "Cubs win! Cubs win!"

And screw Buck & Gibson.

[MadBadger]

2. How bout, "The Band is out on The Field!!!"

[fishwax]

11. lol

Yeah, that's a good one too for sure :)

[Captain Hilts]

33. No, that's THE most amazing play, along with Flutie's Hail Mary. nt

[charlie and algernon]

3. "The Chicago Cubs WIN the SERIES! The CUBS. WIN. THE SERIES!!"

I just returned from my time travels to 2034, that was a seriously epic series. Chicago comes back from a 5 run hole in the 8th inning of game seven to defeat the Royals.

[El Supremo]

4. The Royals????

No, they beat the Rangers.

[charlie and algernon]

5. it was the Texas Royals

they moved out of Kansas City in 2018 to Austin.

[El Supremo]

6. Sure, And The Yankees moved to KC in 2018. n/m

[Condem]

7. Costas' 'miracle' call.

Not even close.

[fishwax]

10. No, Costas's most memorable call is: "You're excited?! Feel these nipples!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KEvS-t-MDg

But I figure you meant Michaels's miracle call :toast:

[Captain Hilts]

24. It was Al Michaels. nt

[cherokeeprogressive]

8. Down goes Fraziah! Down goes Fraziah! Down goes Fraziah! n/t

[fishwax]

9. Oh yeah, that's a good one

:thumbsup:

[DaveinMD]

17. This

I miss Cosell. He was the best.

[cherokeeprogressive]

18. I miss Cosell doing the Harlem Globetrotter games on Wide World of Sports.

Meadowlark Lemon pouring a bucket of confetti on him...

[DaveinMD]

19. Monday Night Football

has never been the same without him. I know so many people hated him, but he meant football to me.

[Captain Hilts]

25. Oh, yeah. That was a biggie. nt

[SidDithers]

12. For Canadians, it's the call on Paul Henderson's goal...

in the final game of the '72 Summit Series against Russia.

"Henderson has scored for Canada!" spoken by the immortal Foster Hewitt.

Sid

[fishwax]

13. Found it on youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWwN9kHnsKI&feature=related

There are some problems with the audio, and I wish it had a bit more of the context at the beginning of the clip, but interesting nonetheless. I'd never heard this one before, so thanks for bringing it to the table :toast:

[trumad]

14. LOL--- before Cboy opines let's make it clear it was the NY Giants..

[Awsi Dooger]

15. "In your life have you ever seen anything like that?"

Verne Lundquist, after Tiger's phenomenal back door chip in on #16 at Augusta.

The best calls are spontaneous. Al Michaels had days to think of his line and know damn well he would use it, if the situation arose. I guarantee that's exactly what happened. So I don't give that call nearly the weight it's always received. Michaels is lucky the color commentator backed off just slightly at the end or the line would have been lost. Michaels walked right over the guy to make sure his line got in before time expired.

[thatsrightimirish]

16. The Bush family hated this one

"Montana lines up at the five...and on third-down-and-three he rolls right, looking to throw...looking to throw...and he throws into the end zone...Touchdown! Touchdown! Touchdown, San Francisco, by Dwight Clark!"

[givemebackmycountry]

20. I CAN'T BELIEVE WHAT I JUST SAW!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kurt Gibson homers on one leg.

That was Joe Buck right? (edit)

[ProfessorGAC]

23. Joe or Jack?

I thought his dad made that call.
GAC

[givemebackmycountry]

21. BIRD STEALS THE BALL! PASSES TO DJ!

I'm not saying I'm 100% on these but that was Johnny Most right?

edit-

He did this one too right?

"Havlichek steals the ball! Havlichek steals the ball!"

[Captain Hilts]

26. Yes, that was Johnny Most. How 'bout "Henderson steals the ball!!!"

[DaveinMD]

31. Havlicheck

steals the ball.

[Captain Hilts]

32. "Henderson stole the ball" in the '80s. nt

[DaveinMD]

34. did he?

I don't remember that. I know the other one.

[Captain Hilts]

35. Yeah. NOT to be confused with the other Henderson's home run the next year. nt

[DaveinMD]

36. what game was that in

He was a good little player.

[Captain Hilts]

38. Finals vs. LA I believe. I think he passed it after he stole it and the Celts won. nt

[DaveinMD]

39. OK

Loved those games. Much better than today's NBA.

[Captain Hilts]

40. Yes. It was much more a team sport then, rather than an aggregate of

individuals. John Wooden prefers to watch women play nowadays as they still play defense and pass the ball a bit.

[DaveinMD]

41. there is plenty of defense

in fact, too much defense is what almost ruined the sport. My Knicks of the 90s were largely responsible for that. All the iso play is too much though. I like the college game better now.

[Captain Hilts]

42. Constant man-to-man coverage is a bad rule.

You can't beat the intensity and diversity of college ball.

[Forkboy]

37. The only "homer" that I loved.

He was great. I remember him calling McMillan from the Bullets McVillian. :rofl:

[givemebackmycountry]

22. Howie Rose when the Rangers finally let their fans die in peace...

"Matteau! Matteau! Matteau!"

Was made when Stephane Matteau scored the game-winning goal in double-overtime of Game 7 of the 1994 NHL Eastern Conference Finals against the New Jersey Devils.

[DaveinMD]

30. that was Sam Rosen

I believe.

[Onceuponalife]

27. This is the best ever

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIhr83-ZVdA&feature=related

It was the 12th inning and you know Dodger fans all leave in the seventh to avoid spending 4 hours in traffic. So that explains empty seats.

Check out the second comment down...that has to be upton!!:rofl:

[muriel_volestrangler]

28. "Some people are on the pitch ..."

Anyone English who's ever watched sports can complete the phrase for you. It's the 1966 World Cup Final, England lead West Germany 3-2 in the dying seconds of extra time, and the referee checks his watch ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wyLvagyApY

[Poiuyt]

29. "I can't believe what I just saw." by Paul Allen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2TZQlVPvjk

It never gets old.

[ProfessorGAC]

43. That's Just Mean

That's not judgment, though. It is funny. But, it IS mean.
GAC

[damyank913]

44. How bout "The Giants Win the Superbowl"?

Warms the heart, don't it?