We're on our quest to definitively name the greatest announcing call in the history of sports. We started with a list of 64 (the top 32 of which were seeded) that will be narrowed down to 1 at the end of the month that will earn the greatest of all-time title thanks to your votes. Each day will bring a list of new matchups as we march our way through the tournament. Round 1 and Round 2 are in the books and you can view the full results at the links. This week will see the Sweet 16.
Yesterday's winners in the Gowdy Bracket:
1) Miracle on Ice 73% vs 4) Manchester City's title winner 27%
The best of Gus Johnson 38% vs Abby Wambach saves the USA's life 62%
Up next is the McKay Bracket. Today's matchups…
1) Jack Buck calls Kirk Gibson's home run vs 4) Bill Buckner's error
3) The Goal of the Century vs Good ol' JR
1) "I don't believe what I just saw!"
Kirk Gibson's home run in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series is such a famous moment it has the top two seeds in the McKay bracket, and with all-time great announcers like Jack Buck and Vin Scully it should be no surprise. Buck's call of the remarkable moment earned a 1 seed with one of the most famous lines in sports. "I don't believe what I just saw."
https://youtube.com/watch?v=jdpImFSHhDA
4) "It gets through Buckner!"
A baseball rolling through the legs of Bill Buckner has been replayed ten million times. Each time you think he may actually corral it and each time you hear Vin Scully's stunned reaction. Scully's call not just for that play, but throughout the Mets comeback shows why he's an all time great behind the mic.
3) "Barrilete cosmico!"
You know it has to be an epic for a Spanish language call to make it into a decisively English language tournament for the greatest announcing moment of all-time. Hugo Morales earns a spot with his call of Diego Maradona's Goal of the Century in the 1986 World Cup. And for those of you non-bilingual speakers, the awesome translation is below.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=3pnSvfHiUqk
…passes the ball to Diego, now Maradona with the ball, two people on him, Maradona touches the ball, the genius of soccer heads to the right, and leaves the third and passes to Burruchaga… Always Maradona! Genius! Genius! Genius! ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta… GOAL!! GOAL!!! I am going to cry! Oh, my God! How beautiful soccer is! What a goal! Diego! Maradona! I am crying, forgive me please…. Maradona, with a memorable run, with the most beautiful play of all time…. cosmic podge…. which planet are you from? You let it seem so easy, and the whole country is a closed fist, is screaming for Argentina… Argentina 2 – England 0… Diegoal, Diegoal, Diego Armando Maradona… Thank God, for soccer, for Maradona, for these tears, for this.
"As God is my witness, he is broken in half!"
Ok, so it's debatable whether or not a clip from "sports entertainment" belongs in our list. But is there any doubt that this call by Jim Ross is one of the Top 64 of all-time in various fields of athletic endeavor? Deadspin just commemorated the 15th anniversary of Mick Foley being tossed off the top of the cell by the Undertaker. And the call by good ol' J.R. has become its own internet meme played over dozens of highlight reel plays! How could it not be included in our tournament?
