We all have those calls that we go back and listen to time and time again.
The most talented sports broadcasters transport you to the moment.
While you may actually be sitting in the living room watching YouTube, you might as well be in a tension-filled Olympic hockey rink or a roaring U.S. Bank Stadium.
This list is absent of some of the obvious classics like “the Giants win the pennant” from the 1951 classic New York Giants-Brooklyn Dodgers battle and “down goes Frazier” from the historic Joe Frazier-George Foreman fight, but includes a few more recent picks that show the emotion and –– occasional –– bliss that comes with being a sports fan.
The underdog narrative always fuels a better call, and last-second game-defining plays are a highlight reel guarantee — you’ll see that below.
In no specific order, here are five of the greatest sports broadcasting calls of all time:
Al Michaels: “Do you believe in miracles,” 1980 Olympics
Al Michaels reaches near broadcast perfection with this call.
The U.S. Olympic Hockey team, with its fresh-faced squad, faced the Soviet Union’s dream team in the 1980 game in Lake Placid, NY, which ultimately sent the American underdogs to the gold medal matchup against Finland.
The gold medal is not what is most remembered most from this run, though.
The biggest moment from the tournament is the taking down of the previously unbeatable Soviets amidst a tense political backdrop in a 4-3 “miracle.”
U.S. captain and Boston University forward Mike Eruzione netted the goal that gave his team the lead with 10 minutes left in the third period.
The Soviets, which had won the last four Olympic golds, were about to lose their first Olympic game since 1968.
As the clock ticked down, Michaels’ enthusiasm built.
“Five seconds left in the game,” he exclaimed. The U.S. then chipped the puck to the neutral zone as time ran out.
“Do you believe in miracles? Yes!” Michaels said, leaving the booming crowd to fill in the rest of the noise.
Michaels lets the call breathe.
He doesn’t overdo it, and he understands the magnitude of the moment.
Michaels dropped an all-time line, and let the natural sounds from the following celebrations tell the rest of the story.
Dave Niehaus: Edgar Martinez sends Mariners to 1995 American League Championship Series
The call from Dave Niehaus made the list without question, partially because it’s a great baseball moment and also because Niehaus’ emphatic delivery shows what a storybook win it was for the Mariners.
Down 2-0 in the 1995 American League Division Series against the Yankees, the Mariners clawed their way back to tie the series 2-2 and forced a Game 5 at the Kingdome.
Seattle trailed 5-4 heading into the bottom of the 11th inning when Joey Cora’s drag bunt safely got him to first base.
Ken Griffey Jr. followed with a single up the middle, setting Edgar Martinez up for the historic play.
On the second pitch from Yankees’ Jack McDowell, Martinez ripped a liner down left-field, sending both Cora and Griffey Jr. to home plate to secure a 6-5 victory in the game and a 3-2 series win.
“The stretch, and the 0-1 pitch on the way to Edgar Martinez…Swung on and lined down the left field line for a base hit! Here comes Joey. Here is Junior to third base. They’re going to wave him in,” Niehaus said, his brain almost moving faster than his words.
“The throw to the plate will be late, the Mariners are going to play for the American League Championship! I don’t believe it! It just continues! MY On my!
“Edgar Martinez with a double ripped down the left field line and they are going crazy at the Kingdome!”
Paul Allen: Stefon Diggs’ 2018 ‘Minneapolis miracle’ touchdown
Joe Buck made a great call on the Fox broadcast, but Paul Allen’s call of Stefon Diggs’ 61-yard touchdown to send the Vikings to the 2018 NFC Championship game in Philadelphia is spectacular and reminds you why –– despite the inevitable pain –– you are a sports fan in the first place.
Allen’s radio call on KFAN epitomizes taking in the moment while still delivering an informative, fluid summary of the play.
The Vikings had a 17-0 lead at halftime over the Saints, but a comeback capped by a 43-yard field goal from New Orleans’ Wil Lutz put Minnesota behind by one with 29 seconds remaining in the game.
The following walk-off play, quarterbacked by Case Keenum, gave a deprived Vikings fanbase something to go bonkers about.
Keenum found Diggs down the right sideline where the wide receiver caught the ball, shook himself loose of defenders and marched down 61 yards with no time left, sealing an unlikely 29-24 win.
There’s pure joy and disbelief in Allen’s voice as he watches his team do the unthinkable.
His tone builds the moment up before exploding as Diggs reaches the end zone.
“Vikings at their own 39, it’s third down. Three receivers right, Thielen left, Marshon Lattimore 12 yards from Adam… Case on the deep drop, steps up in the pocket, he’ll fire to the right side, caught by Diggs!” Allen yelled.
“He got loose! At the thirty! Ten! Touchdown! Are you kidding me?! It’s a Minneapolis Miracle! Stefon Diggs! And the Minnesota Vikings have walked off on the New Orleans Saints! It’s a 61-yard Minneapolis Miracle!”
Johnny Most: “Havlicek stole the ball,” 1965 NBA Eastern Conference Finals
An oldie but a goodie.
Johnny Most’s “Havlicek stole the ball” call thrives in its simplicity.
Those at Boston Garden collectively held their breath as the Celtics fought to protect a 110-109 lead over the 76ers as time dwindled down in the Game 7 matchup in 1965.
Philadelphia gained possession underneath its own basket after an unforced inbounding error from Boston’s Bill Russell.
With five seconds on the clock, Hal Greer inbounded for the 76ers, and with Wilt Chamberlain guarded, looked to Chet Walker up-court who seemed to be open.
The Celtics’ John Havlicek was standing a few feet away from the direct line between Greer and Walker but calculated the pass and swooped into the lane right as Greer released the ball.
Havlicek’s sly heroics swatted the ball away from Walker and into the hands of teammate Sam Jones, winning Boston the series en route to their eventual championship title against the Lakers that year.
Most’s enthused call is wrapped in relief and says all it needs to say.
Similar to Al Micheals’ miracle call, Most doesn’t overdo it.
It shows confidence in his craft and is the perfect narration of one of the NBA’s defining moments.
“Greer is putting the ball in play. He gets it out deep and Havlicek steals it! Over to Sam Jones! Havlicek stole the ball! It’s all over. It’s all over! Johnny Havlicek is being mobbed by the fans!” Most declared.
Sam Rosen: New York Rangers win the 1994 Stanley Cup
Sam Rosen might’ve been a little too spot on when he said “and this one’s gonna last a lifetime.”
The Rangers’ 1994 playoff run had its fair share of great calls –– including Howie Rose’s radio call of Stéphane Matteau’s double-overtime goal in the Eastern Conference Finals Game 7 against the Devils –– but Rosen takes the cake, given the circumstances.
The Blueshirts broke a 54-year championship drought with the 3-2 Game 7 win over the Vancouver Canucks at Madison Square Garden, led by captain Mark Messier, Brian Leetch, Adam Graves and the shutdown Mike Richter.
The Rangers took down the Islanders and Capitals in the first two rounds after finishing the regular season with a league and franchise record of 52 wins and 112 points.
The squad’s quest for the Cup almost came short, but fueled by moments like Messier’s guarantee followed by a natural hat trick, the Rangers brought glory to New York and Rosen captured it with personality and purpose.
With 1.6 seconds left on the clock in the third period as the final faceoff was dropped, everyone knew what was coming, but Rosen’s call didn’t feel calculated.
It was authentic.
“The waiting is over, the New York Rangers are the Stanley Cup champions! And this one will last a lifetime! No more curses, this is unbelievable!
“These people have waited a long time –– fans, players, coaches –– unbelievable! Let the celebration begin!” Rosen exclaimed.
