This helped me understand better why so many smart men I know (still) follow sports so closely, even though some are conflicted about the amount of time they spend on it. Your points about it being about “us,” not the changing players, and also about the opportunity to feel closer to strangers as well as family and friends, are impactful.
Thanks! Making sports make sense to non-sports fans is actually something I consider a pretty huge part of getting to write about sports. And the most fun, too!
Fenway going nuts when Roberts stole second in 2004, and Nats Park when Soto hit the go-ahead single against the Brewers in the 2019 NL wild card are my two iconic fan celebrations. Love all of it. So great to see people just so joyful.
My favorite moment is game 5 of 2008 NLCS, Matt Stairs (as called by Joe Buck who was just starting to come out of his Pat Sumerall-inspired sleepy call era) hit one deep into the night at Dodger stadium to give the Phillies the lead. It was one of those moments where I was sitting on the couch, surrounded by my best friends, and then all of a sudden was in my kitchen jumping up and down. It was the first time I truly believed that a team I rooted for could win a championship.
I’m somewhat surprised that you didn’t list the 2005 Illinois-Arizona regional final as the best game you have ever seen. Or were you not there?
That was one of the two best games I ever covered. The other was the Cincinnati-Duke championship game of the Great Alaska Shootout (back when it was a big deal) in the 98-99 season. Cincinnati won on a Melvin Levitt dunk at the buzzer that capped a great full-court play and then Duke wouldn’t lose again until the national title game.
I was, alas, not there. That game was five months before Deadspin launched, which is to say, I barely had enough money to afford to get the subway fare to my friend's place to watch it, let alone to get to Chicago. (I have plenty of friends who were there, though, and they always enjoy reminding me how incredible it was in person.)
This article reminded me of the commercial Nike created (their agency, whoever it was, made some amazing ads back in the day) in anticipation of the Red Sox winning in 2004, which aired immediately after the Series ended. It was a time lapse shot of people watching a game from the seats at Fenway. Over the years/decades (a counter at the bottom of the screen) they age, disappear, and get replaced by younger people who also age and disappear before the last set gets to celebrate.
Brilliantly simple. 20 years later i STILL cant even think about that ad (never mind watch it) without getting choked up. I am now just writing this. My grandmother was born a month after the 1918 WS and died in January 2004; I also lost my dad 5 years earlier. This kind of thing was all anyone could think about when Boston finally did it. I could not agree more with what you have stated here (also i hate sports betting and what it means to sports today).
Only one of my fav teams won a title in my lifetime - the Bucks in 2021. I was so nervous during game 6 of the Finals, I was clenching my teeth, so I wore my night mouthguard in the closing minutes.
Will, I'm assuming you weren't at the Illinois-Arizona elite 8 game in 2005. If you were, I think you would have mentioned it. Easily the greatest, most amazing game I've ever witnessed live.
Okay, I am not a sportsy person and I have accepted that about myself. But the way you write about watching victories, that is exactly the way I feel about going to concerts. The community of people who all love the same band I love... it's why I've seen the Barenaked Ladies 23 times (24 in October!). Everybody should have something that makes them feel the way you describe... I am so lucky to have BNL!
The first time was as he said goodbye to my Nan at the airport as we emigrated to Australia, the other time was at 5am Melbourne time after we had just seen Chris Waddle miss his penalty and England lose on Penalty’s to West Germany in the semi-final at Italia 90
The only championship clinching I’ve ever attended was the Ducks’ 2007 Stanley Cup victory: https://youtu.be/oF42LbPDZyM?si=4XlsKiEiY0uPRhPZ
Brilliant! Sums up the essence of sport! The unending joy it can, has and might bring!
"It was the greatest catch in Tigers history." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRxeai5TNNY&t=64s
This helped me understand better why so many smart men I know (still) follow sports so closely, even though some are conflicted about the amount of time they spend on it. Your points about it being about “us,” not the changing players, and also about the opportunity to feel closer to strangers as well as family and friends, are impactful.
Thanks! Making sports make sense to non-sports fans is actually something I consider a pretty huge part of getting to write about sports. And the most fun, too!
The Moneyball game was the best one I ever saw in person: https://youtu.be/Kg1kaYhadNY?si=2nSfX5dHT3783Gpv
Man, this one is particularly pleasing considering what's happening in Oakland this year.
Fenway going nuts when Roberts stole second in 2004, and Nats Park when Soto hit the go-ahead single against the Brewers in the 2019 NL wild card are my two iconic fan celebrations. Love all of it. So great to see people just so joyful.
That's the thing. You see people SO HAPPY.
Call me jaded, but I’m over the videos where they’ve obviously set up a camera in their living room to record their reaction. How spontaneous…
Well, yes, but the MOMENT is spontaneous. It's sports. It has to be!
My favorite moment is game 5 of 2008 NLCS, Matt Stairs (as called by Joe Buck who was just starting to come out of his Pat Sumerall-inspired sleepy call era) hit one deep into the night at Dodger stadium to give the Phillies the lead. It was one of those moments where I was sitting on the couch, surrounded by my best friends, and then all of a sudden was in my kitchen jumping up and down. It was the first time I truly believed that a team I rooted for could win a championship.
I’m somewhat surprised that you didn’t list the 2005 Illinois-Arizona regional final as the best game you have ever seen. Or were you not there?
That was one of the two best games I ever covered. The other was the Cincinnati-Duke championship game of the Great Alaska Shootout (back when it was a big deal) in the 98-99 season. Cincinnati won on a Melvin Levitt dunk at the buzzer that capped a great full-court play and then Duke wouldn’t lose again until the national title game.
I was, alas, not there. That game was five months before Deadspin launched, which is to say, I barely had enough money to afford to get the subway fare to my friend's place to watch it, let alone to get to Chicago. (I have plenty of friends who were there, though, and they always enjoy reminding me how incredible it was in person.)
This article reminded me of the commercial Nike created (their agency, whoever it was, made some amazing ads back in the day) in anticipation of the Red Sox winning in 2004, which aired immediately after the Series ended. It was a time lapse shot of people watching a game from the seats at Fenway. Over the years/decades (a counter at the bottom of the screen) they age, disappear, and get replaced by younger people who also age and disappear before the last set gets to celebrate.
Brilliantly simple. 20 years later i STILL cant even think about that ad (never mind watch it) without getting choked up. I am now just writing this. My grandmother was born a month after the 1918 WS and died in January 2004; I also lost my dad 5 years earlier. This kind of thing was all anyone could think about when Boston finally did it. I could not agree more with what you have stated here (also i hate sports betting and what it means to sports today).
Forwarded your newsletter to all my girlfriends who don’t understand my passion for sports.
Only one of my fav teams won a title in my lifetime - the Bucks in 2021. I was so nervous during game 6 of the Finals, I was clenching my teeth, so I wore my night mouthguard in the closing minutes.
Ha, this is a great lifehack in general.
Will, I'm assuming you weren't at the Illinois-Arizona elite 8 game in 2005. If you were, I think you would have mentioned it. Easily the greatest, most amazing game I've ever witnessed live.
https://youtu.be/FmrvVQFGFlY?si=jwiSFzZZt83wucRQ
Okay, I am not a sportsy person and I have accepted that about myself. But the way you write about watching victories, that is exactly the way I feel about going to concerts. The community of people who all love the same band I love... it's why I've seen the Barenaked Ladies 23 times (24 in October!). Everybody should have something that makes them feel the way you describe... I am so lucky to have BNL!
Oh, yes! I find concerts less communal, but I think that's clearly my thing, not music's thing. But same sensation!
I’ve seen my dad cry twice in my life
The first time was as he said goodbye to my Nan at the airport as we emigrated to Australia, the other time was at 5am Melbourne time after we had just seen Chris Waddle miss his penalty and England lose on Penalty’s to West Germany in the semi-final at Italia 90
Sports most definitely are about the fans
All sports should be covered this way, I really mean it.
Unfortunately we then spent the next 30 years getting all too used to England getting knocked out of major tournaments on Penalties 😔😔😔
Your moment of glory came against my Tigers. At the 4:50 mark. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7kIUKtjVZw