“Eleven seconds, you’ve got ten seconds, the countdown going on right now! Five seconds left in the game … Do you believe in miracles? YES!”
It’s hard to believe, but it was 30 years ago that Al Michaels in sports broadcasting history.
For those of you too young to remember, the Cold War was still red hot at the time. The mighty Soviet hockey team was scheduled to steamroll the world on its way to another gold medal. Instead, we got the a miracle frozen in time as a bunch of baby-faced college kids shocked the world and beat the biggest red machine of them all.
Memories of that game — and Michael’s timeless call — got me thinking. What are the greatest sports calls of all time?
Here’s my quick list:
I’m sure readers can think of plenty of others (“Havlicek stole the ball!” “Go crazy folks, go crazy!”). They are ingrained in sports fans’ memories.
And here in Colorado, we have a few memorable calls of our own:
Trivia time
Team USA beat the Soviets in the 1980 Olympic tournament, but what team did Team USA defeat to capture the gold medal? (Answer below)
Quotable
“They tested that track on my son!” — David Kumaritashvili, the father of the during a training run at the Vancouver Olympics.
Blog spot
The Post’s John Meyer reports from the Olympics that “Nothing was better or more emotional than seeing Johnny Spillane of Steamboat Springs — SKI TOWN USA, indeed — win America’s first Olympic medal in nordic combined.” Check it out at
Reader’s rant
“If the Rockies can keep from going 15-20 games under .500 by the end of May, like they normally do, they should win the division. 94-68, based on an easy interleague schedule beyond the Red Sox.”
— Greg T, posting to suggesting that the Rockies can win the NL West.
In case you missed it
Regis High School freshman Missy Franklin During Saturday’s Class 5A state meet, she set state records in the 50-yard freestyle and 100 backstroke.
My two cents
There will never, ever be an Olympic moment like The Miracle on Ice. The reason’s simple. In 1980, Team USA was a bunch of wide-eyed college kids. Today’s Olympics are filled with professionals with eyes not just on the gold medal prize, but on the gold that comes from commercial endorsements.
Trivia answer
Team USA beat Finland 4-2 to capture the gold.
Patrick Saunders: 303-954-1428 or psaunders@denverpost.com
