On My Living Room Floor
I grew up in Westville, Oklahoma. It is a little town in the heart of the Ozark Mountains and Green Country and I lived in a small brick house on an old farm. And in that house, I witnessed some great championship moments. I watched them right in front of the television because the couch was no far away. Sitting right there on my living room floor.
The first two moments might have the best and they did involve the same guy: Michael Jordan. First was the 1997 NBA Finals, game five with the Bulls visiting the Utah Jazz. On the day of the game, Jordan is running a 100-plus degree fever and throwing up. No one thinks he can play, much less be at his best, but he is better than his usual best. Despite being sick, he puts in 37 points and single-handily led his team to the victory. I sat there thinking we will never see another superman performance like this before. And then the scene of Scottie Pippen helping him off the court at the end was absolutely priceless. A man who left everything on the floor, and in the trash can, being carried away by one of the game’s greatest teammates.
And of course, “the last shot.” Again in the Finals against the Jazz. Jordan makes a steal on the defensive end and then goes down the court to win it. He drove into the lane, pushed off against Brian Russell (Jordan always knew how to get away with a good push) and stopped on a dime. The world froze because we all knew the inevitable was about to happen. Jordan jumped in perfect shooting form and drained the shot. It was a peerless shot to cap off a marvelous career. It couldn’t have ended better.
It was eighty-seven years. A very long eighty-seven years. But in October of 2004, the World Series crown returned to Boston and “the curse” was no more. After going up three games to none, I was wondering if the Sox would find a way to blow it but they didn’t. The continued to play well in game four and when Kevin Foulke fielded a bouncer back to the mound and then threw to Doug Mientkiewicz at first it was the put-out that ended generations of misery. There were so many characters and personalities on that team: Manny Ramirez, David Ortiz, Johnny Damon, Curt Schilling and Pedro Martinez. They were colorful bunch and maybe it was that eccentricity that led them to victory. It took me awhile to realize what was really happening after the celebrations began. But then it hit me, I witnessed the light at the end of the tunnel that so many other Sox fans never saw.
In the 2005 Champions League Final, I witnessed one of the greatest comebacks ever. When Liverpool F.C. (England) and AC Milan (Italy) squared off that night in Istanbul, Turkey few could image what would happen. Milan goes up 1-0 inside the first minute and then adds two more goals right before the break and all looks lost for the Reds. I was so close to taking my scarf off my neck and turning off the television but thankfully I didn’t. First the inspirational Steven Garrard puts in a header to give some hope. Then just two minutes later Vladimir Smicer hits a perfect drive from twenty yards out to bring the match to 3-2 and the impossible is quickly becoming a reality. Garrard makes a strong run into the box six minutes after that only to be tripped up and win a penalty. Xabi Alonso buries the rebound after missing the initial shot and the ‘Pool is in dreamland at 3-3. The rest of regular and extra time goes scoreless and the match heads to penalties. Keeper Jerzy Dudek makes two brilliant saves and the greatest comeback in Champions League history is complete. It is impossible to feel true desperation until trailing by a goal in a championship soccer match; the frustration of not being able to put the ball over the line. Multiply those emotions three times over and the feelings are indescribable.
I hope you enjoyed this trip down memory lane. I know I still get a big smile on my face every time I watch old highlights or think about these games. They were moments I’ll never forget. I might have been hundreds or thousands of miles away from the actual location but it is still so real. Sitting two feet from the television, witnessing the passion and thrill of a great victory, right there on my living room floor.
The first two moments might have the best and they did involve the same guy: Michael Jordan. First was the 1997 NBA Finals, game five with the Bulls visiting the Utah Jazz. On the day of the game, Jordan is running a 100-plus degree fever and throwing up. No one thinks he can play, much less be at his best, but he is better than his usual best. Despite being sick, he puts in 37 points and single-handily led his team to the victory. I sat there thinking we will never see another superman performance like this before. And then the scene of Scottie Pippen helping him off the court at the end was absolutely priceless. A man who left everything on the floor, and in the trash can, being carried away by one of the game’s greatest teammates.
And of course, “the last shot.” Again in the Finals against the Jazz. Jordan makes a steal on the defensive end and then goes down the court to win it. He drove into the lane, pushed off against Brian Russell (Jordan always knew how to get away with a good push) and stopped on a dime. The world froze because we all knew the inevitable was about to happen. Jordan jumped in perfect shooting form and drained the shot. It was a peerless shot to cap off a marvelous career. It couldn’t have ended better.
It was eighty-seven years. A very long eighty-seven years. But in October of 2004, the World Series crown returned to Boston and “the curse” was no more. After going up three games to none, I was wondering if the Sox would find a way to blow it but they didn’t. The continued to play well in game four and when Kevin Foulke fielded a bouncer back to the mound and then threw to Doug Mientkiewicz at first it was the put-out that ended generations of misery. There were so many characters and personalities on that team: Manny Ramirez, David Ortiz, Johnny Damon, Curt Schilling and Pedro Martinez. They were colorful bunch and maybe it was that eccentricity that led them to victory. It took me awhile to realize what was really happening after the celebrations began. But then it hit me, I witnessed the light at the end of the tunnel that so many other Sox fans never saw.
In the 2005 Champions League Final, I witnessed one of the greatest comebacks ever. When Liverpool F.C. (England) and AC Milan (Italy) squared off that night in Istanbul, Turkey few could image what would happen. Milan goes up 1-0 inside the first minute and then adds two more goals right before the break and all looks lost for the Reds. I was so close to taking my scarf off my neck and turning off the television but thankfully I didn’t. First the inspirational Steven Garrard puts in a header to give some hope. Then just two minutes later Vladimir Smicer hits a perfect drive from twenty yards out to bring the match to 3-2 and the impossible is quickly becoming a reality. Garrard makes a strong run into the box six minutes after that only to be tripped up and win a penalty. Xabi Alonso buries the rebound after missing the initial shot and the ‘Pool is in dreamland at 3-3. The rest of regular and extra time goes scoreless and the match heads to penalties. Keeper Jerzy Dudek makes two brilliant saves and the greatest comeback in Champions League history is complete. It is impossible to feel true desperation until trailing by a goal in a championship soccer match; the frustration of not being able to put the ball over the line. Multiply those emotions three times over and the feelings are indescribable.
I hope you enjoyed this trip down memory lane. I know I still get a big smile on my face every time I watch old highlights or think about these games. They were moments I’ll never forget. I might have been hundreds or thousands of miles away from the actual location but it is still so real. Sitting two feet from the television, witnessing the passion and thrill of a great victory, right there on my living room floor.
posted by William Allison @ 8:23 PM
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