What Is the Best Ending in Sports?

Game One of the 1988 World Series. A's vs. Dodgers. Bottom of the ninth. Two outs. The Dodgers call on their best player, Kirk Gibson. He was the MVP of the Leagues Championship Series but was injured and could not play in the World Series. Or so we were told. But he convinced Tom Lasorda to give him one shot. He was facing ace reliever Dennis Eckersley. Eckersley would go on to the Hall of Fame. He was the Mariano Rivera of his era. Gibson taking swings in the tunnel before his at bat could be heard groaning in pain on every swing. It didn't look good for L.A.

And then history was made. Gibson took a swing at a low, outside pitch. His top hand came off the bat. He one-handed it over the right field wall at Dodger Stadium, prompting the immortal call from Jack Buck: "I don't believe what I just saw."

The 1987 NBA Eastern Conference Finals, Detroit vs. Boston. Game Five. Pistons lead by one, and Isaiah Thomas is inbounding the ball at the Celtics end of the court. All the Pistons have to do is grab the inbounds pass, get fouled, and go to the line to ice the game. But Larry Bird had other ideas. He streaked out of nowhere and deflected the pass. He then chases it down on the baseline with the gravelly voice of Johnny Most yelling "Bird stole the Ball!" He throws a pass towards the hoop to Dennis Johnson. Some say he didn't know if anyone would be there or not, but that was the only hope. DJ catches the pass and lays it in. Celtics Win!

November 23, 1984. Boston College at Miami. The 'Canes lead 45-41. BC has time for one last play from their own 45. Eventual Heisman Winner Doug Flutie sends three receivers to the end zone. The play was designed to go to Gerard Phelan. But if he couldn't catch it, then he was to try to tip it in the air in hopes that a teammate could get the rebound. No tip was needed. The Miami secondary didn't believe the 5'9" Flutie could throw the ball 60 yards. They were wrong. Phelan got behind them, the ball sailed over their heads. TOUCHDOWN!! Eagles Win 47-45.

So the question is, which is the better ending? Is it the shot at the buzzer to win a basketball game? Or the walk off home run in a baseball game? Or the Hail Mary Touchdown Pass in football? For me, the best playoff moment was the walk off home run. There is nothing more intense than postseason baseball. These teams have played 162 games to get there, and now it might come down to one pitch and one swing. That's good stuff.

I did have the privilege of being in attendance at the Florida-South Carolina Game earlier this year when Chandler Parsons hit a buzzer beater to beat the Gamecocks. It was about as exciting of a game as I've ever been to. When that ball went through and horn sounded, that place exploded. I was hoarse the next day myself.

But those playoff walk offs, with the tension mounting every pitch and the sound of that bat crack, watching the outfielder drift towards the wall and the announcer yelling, "Way back, going, going GONE!" It doesn't get any better. 

Here is a link a friend sent me of a high school basketball game played last night. The game was between Ocala (Florida) Forest, ranked in the top five with a 15-1 record, and Lake Weir (Florida). The score was tied at 42 when this happened.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRlPGIUcTyI