In an effort to keep things positive for the holidays, please post something about your team that, while not everyone else would consider the defining moment of the franchise, is something that points out why you love your team.
It can be a championship, but certainly doesn't have to be. Cases in point...
1. Rangers - I was a young and at the game, the Rangers are killing a power play, and under siege the entire two minutes. Mike Richter is making some incredible saves, and the crowd is going crazy for him. The noise is deafening, Darren Turcotte comes out of the penalty box right when the Rangers finally clear the zone, and he's off on a breakaway. Dekes to his backhand and roofs it home, and I thought the explosion of noise would literally blow the roof off the building and send it into outer space. I don't even remember how that particular team finished the season, but I remember thinking at the time, even at the age of 11 or 12 or whatever I was...wow, THIS is my team.
2. Yankees - The Aaron Boone homerun in 2003 was amazing, and so is the Roll Call at the start of every game, but the Derek Jeter catch where his momentum from chasing the ball down, diving into the stands, crashing into a railing with his face and holding onto the ball in a regular season game, still sends a chill down my spine when I see it.
3. Ohio State - There is nothing better than beating Michigan, but I still remember an ABC on-field interview with Troy Smith, after the Buckeyes beat Texas in Austin, where Troy had played a major part in the victory. The announcer asked him if it was revenge for the loss up in Columbus to Vince Young and Texas the year before, and Troy said...'it's not about that. This victory is for the coaches, who spend endless, endless hours studying film and preparing the team to play each week. ' I got a chill from that comment too. What a great kid.
4. New York Knicks - 'The Dunk.' The John Starks dunk over Michael Jordan. Still can't believe it happened. John Starks was one of those players who made the most out of the talent he had, and when the little guy drove right and jumped over two Bulls, one of which was Michael Jordan, and dunked with his left hand. Wow.
5. New York Jets - Unfortunately with the Jets the first things that come to my mind are losses, but it does give you a shiver when you're in the stadium and Fireman Ed starts the J-E-T-S chants. Even though there has been so much disappointment, even though you basically don't have a home stadium...Jet fans are nothing if not resilient. Watch out if this team ever gets over that hump...
6. St. John's - Since Chris Mullin was nearly God-like in the house I grew up in (although I wasn't old enough to remember seeing him play for them), the thing I remember most is how excited everyone was in our house when they went to the final four.
Even though my mom still jokes that when I came out of the womb I immediately asked how the Rangers did that night, the final four year was perhaps my first exposure to how sports can change how everyone feels...even though at that age I cared more about my stuffed animals than any game.
Sandra
It can be a championship, but certainly doesn't have to be. Cases in point...
1. Rangers - I was a young and at the game, the Rangers are killing a power play, and under siege the entire two minutes. Mike Richter is making some incredible saves, and the crowd is going crazy for him. The noise is deafening, Darren Turcotte comes out of the penalty box right when the Rangers finally clear the zone, and he's off on a breakaway. Dekes to his backhand and roofs it home, and I thought the explosion of noise would literally blow the roof off the building and send it into outer space. I don't even remember how that particular team finished the season, but I remember thinking at the time, even at the age of 11 or 12 or whatever I was...wow, THIS is my team.
2. Yankees - The Aaron Boone homerun in 2003 was amazing, and so is the Roll Call at the start of every game, but the Derek Jeter catch where his momentum from chasing the ball down, diving into the stands, crashing into a railing with his face and holding onto the ball in a regular season game, still sends a chill down my spine when I see it.
3. Ohio State - There is nothing better than beating Michigan, but I still remember an ABC on-field interview with Troy Smith, after the Buckeyes beat Texas in Austin, where Troy had played a major part in the victory. The announcer asked him if it was revenge for the loss up in Columbus to Vince Young and Texas the year before, and Troy said...'it's not about that. This victory is for the coaches, who spend endless, endless hours studying film and preparing the team to play each week. ' I got a chill from that comment too. What a great kid.
4. New York Knicks - 'The Dunk.' The John Starks dunk over Michael Jordan. Still can't believe it happened. John Starks was one of those players who made the most out of the talent he had, and when the little guy drove right and jumped over two Bulls, one of which was Michael Jordan, and dunked with his left hand. Wow.
5. New York Jets - Unfortunately with the Jets the first things that come to my mind are losses, but it does give you a shiver when you're in the stadium and Fireman Ed starts the J-E-T-S chants. Even though there has been so much disappointment, even though you basically don't have a home stadium...Jet fans are nothing if not resilient. Watch out if this team ever gets over that hump...
6. St. John's - Since Chris Mullin was nearly God-like in the house I grew up in (although I wasn't old enough to remember seeing him play for them), the thing I remember most is how excited everyone was in our house when they went to the final four.
Even though my mom still jokes that when I came out of the womb I immediately asked how the Rangers did that night, the final four year was perhaps my first exposure to how sports can change how everyone feels...even though at that age I cared more about my stuffed animals than any game.
Sandra
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