After ESPN ran the contest on the best plays of all time, I started thinking about the significant sporting events in my life. So here they are.
Number 10 happened when I was 18 years old. I saw a sophomore named Michael Jordan dunk on Syracuse at the old Charlotte Coliseum. It was so awesome that Syracuse players cheered. That drew a stream of expletives from Jim Boeheim which made my dad want to leave!
Number 9 is not one game but the strike shortened baseball season of 1994. At the time of the strike my favorite team, the Montreal Expos, were in first place and had the best record in baseball. This killed the franchise and now they are the Washington Nationals.
Number 8 happened last year when I visited South Bend, IN to see Notre Dame play UNC in football. Seeing the campus and the stadium for the first time was very spiritual. It was everything I thought it would be and more. I felt like Rudy.
Number 7 was a college basketball game between Maryland and Clemson back in 1982. Both teams were strong but during warm ups the fans only whispered as this bass drum played a slow drum beat. During introductions the Clemson fans made cheering motions for their team but made no noise. They read newspapers as the Maryland Players were introduced. When the last Clemson player was called, Larry Nance, that place erupted for 15 minutes. Maryland won in double over time.
Number 6 was Florida State’s first ACC basketball game against UNC. I had a Y friend give me Dean Dome floor seats and a parking pass. Of course FSU won. Sam Cassell called UNC fans the wine and cheese crowd. Bobby Sura dunked and danced down the court in front of the Dean! And I never got those seats or parking pass again!
Number 5 is Michael Jordan’s shove to hit the game winning shot against the Utah Jazz. Even before that he stole the ball from Karl Malone. I love the Jazz because Pete Maravich was my hero.
Number 4. The Expos were three outs from going to the World Series. Rick Monday’s 9th inning homer killed the dream. During this week my parents went a way for a few days, leaving me home alone for the first time. And then heartbroken.
Number 3 was Notre Dame vs Colorado for the National Championship. It must have been 1990. Colorado pretty much had the game won when the Rocket Ismail returned a punt for a touchdown. Instantly my phone rang about 12:30am. I knew it was my brother calling. By the time I picked it up on the second wring they announced a bogus clipping call. I just picked up the phone and said expletive clip and slammed it down. That was before caller ID so I hope it was my brother.
Number 2 was the game where Cal Ripken broke Lou Gehrig’s consecutive game streak. I just got my VHS tape burned onto CD for Christmas.
And my Number 1 sports memory was UNC beating Georgetown for the national Championship in 1992. My then 79 year old grandfather climbed a ladder and helped me cut my net down in the back yard!
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