"The Jumper"    

Duke University 104, University of Kentucky 103 (Overtime)  

NCAA Tournament East Regional Final 

March 28, 1992

Christian Laettner came through for the Duke Blue Devils as he had all season long. Kentucky point guard Sean Woods hit a running one-hander in the lane with 2.5 seconds left in overtime to give the Wildcats a 103-102 lead. Then, after a Duke timeout with 2.1 to go, it came down to Blue Devils forward Grant Hill hurling a pass far down the court, Laettner collecting it with his back to the basket, turning calmly to his left and going up to bury his jumper over Kentucky's Deron Feldhouse and John Pelphrey. Laettner ended his afternoon 10 of 10 from the field and 10 of 10 from the line for 31 points.

"Monday Night Miracle" 

Saint Louis Blues 6, Calgary Flames 5 (Overtime)

NHL Campbell Conference Finals Game 6

May 12, 1986

The Blues trailed by three goals with 11:52 to go when Greg Paslawski scored two late third period goals to send this game into overtime. Doug Wickenheiser then scored the game-winner at 7:30 into overtime, as the Blues completed one of the most remarkable comebacks in their history and one the most memorable in NHL playoff history. Wickenheiser's goal completed the Blues' rally from a 5-2 deficit to beat the Calgary Flames 6-5.

Doug Wickenheiser (March 30, 1961-January 12, 1999)

"The Tackle"

Saint Louis Rams 23, Tennessee Titans 16

Super Bowl XXXV 

January 30, 2000

Kurt Warner's 73-yard touchdown pass to Isaac Bruce with 1 minute, 54 seconds left, put the Rams ahead by seven points, just 16 seconds after Al Del Greco's field goal brought Tennessee back from a 16-0 deficit. That still left the Titans with almost two minutes and one time out. They worked the ball methodically down the field with two big plays -- 27 yards on Steve McNair's scramble and the ensuing penalty and a 16-yard pass to Kevin Dyson to put the ball on the 10 with five seconds left. Then the Titans called their final time out. The final play was a slant. Dyson grabbed the ball and lunged for the end zone with Mike Jones grabbing him by the ankles. He went down less than a yard from the goal, trying to get his hand with the ball in it over the goal line. Dyson was left sprawled on the ground in Jones' arms, stretching the ball toward the goal line in vain. "The Tackle" gave St. Louis its first NFL Championship in one of the most thrilling Super Bowl finishes ever.

"The Shot" 

Murray State University 62, Southeast Missouri State University 61 

Ohio Valley Conference Tournament Final   

February 28, 1999

With fifteen seconds remaining, Aubrey Reese, a thorn in the side of the Indians all season hit a jumper to put his team up by two points. Trailing 60-58 in their first OVC Championship final appearance, Southeast Missouri State University was all but ready to head home. But, with five seconds left on the clock, Kahn Cotton, one of the Indian's clutch players, pulled up from six feet behind the three point line and drained his shot to put Southeast ahead 61-60. Following a timeout, Reese took an inbound pass and raced the length of the court, getting off his desperation shot with less than a second remaining. As he had done in January against this same team, Reese hit his off-balance, one-handed shot at the buzzer to give the victory and the OVC title, as well as an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament, to the Murray State Racers. Reese ended with 16 points. Southeast Missouri's Bud Eley, the OVC player of the year, had 20 points, 17 rebounds and seven assists. 

"The Comeback"

Saint Louis Blues 6, Toronto Maple Leafs 5 (Overtime)

Regular Season

November 29, 2000 

The Blues were down 5-0 in the third when Chris Pronger scored 4 minutes and 51 seconds into the final period. Alex Khavanov then scored two minutes later to pull the Blues within 3 goals of the lead. Al MacInnis and Michal Handzus the followed suit with goals that got the Blues within one goal of the Maple Leafs. Then, with 25 seconds left in the game, Alex Khavanov scored to send the game into overtime. After that, it only took 18 seconds of overtime for Jochen Hecht to score the game winning goal, finishing what the Blues had started 15 minutes and 27 seconds before. The comeback from a five goal deficit tied an NHL record for largest overcome third period deficit in history. 

"The Record"

Saint Louis Cardinals 6, Chicago Cubs 3

September 8, 1998

Regular Season

In the bottom of the fourth inning, on the first pitch from Steve Trachsel, Mark McGwire sent a screaming line drive just over the left field wall! It was estimated at 341 feet, McGwire's shortest homer of the year, but the biggest home run in the history of baseball. McGwire was so shocked that it cleared the fence that he raised his arms and jumped right past first base into the arms of first base coach Dave McKay. He touched first and rounded the bases, again receiving high fives's from the Chicago Cubs and was greeted at the plate by his son, who he picked up and hugged. The game was delayed for 11 minutes as the crowd gave a huge standing ovation, and McGwire went up into the stands to hug and talk to the Maris family. Sammy Sosa came in from right field and was bear hugged by McGwire. So in the 144th game of the season, McGwire was done chasing history...he had caught it and passed it and was now making history!

"Number 70" 

Saint Louis Cardinals 6, Montreal Expos 3

September 27, 1998

Final Game of the Regular Season

On the last day of the season, Mark McGwire smashed his 69th home run of the year off Mike Thurman in the 3rd inning. The crowd was so loud that the fans at the St. Louis Rams game a few blocks away heard, and picked up the cheer as well. They were so loud, that it cost their own team a delay of game penalty! After crossing home plate, he made several salutes to the crowd, who demanded and got two curtain calls. But Big Mac wasn't done yet. He saved the best for last. In the 7th inning with 2 on, in what everyone knew was going to be his last at bat of the season, McGwire sent a Carl Pavano pitch sailing 370 feet over the left field fence, just above where he hit #62, for his incredible 70th home run of the year! This time, even a curtain call from McGwire didn't quiet the 46,110 fans, who remained on their feet, cheering even as Brian Jordan took a called third strike for the third out of the inning. "I've never even thought about it, dreamed about it," McGwire said. "It's absolutely amazing! It blows me away!" "This is a season I will never, ever forget, and I hope everybody in baseball never forgets." And no one ever will forget it.

"The Nail in the Coffin"

Saint Louis Blues 4, Los Angeles Kings 3

Western Conference Quarterfinals Game 3

April 27, 1998

St. Louis trailed 3-0 before staging of the biggest comebacks in recent playoff history. The Blues went on a five-minute power play after Los Angeles defenseman Sean O'Donnell received a fighting major and a game misconduct for cross-checking Geoff Courtnall in the head. O'Donnell went after Courtnall after he collided with goaltender Jamie Storr, knocking off his mask, at the right goalpost. The St. Louis Blues erupted for four goals in a 3:07 span on the same power play in the third period and rallied for a stunning 4-3 victory over the Los Angeles Kings to take a three games to none lead in the Western Conference quarterfinals. Pascal Rheaume started the rally at 9:59 when he put back a rebound of Al MacInnis' point blast inside the left post. Hull drew the Blues within 3-2 just 64 seconds later when he stuffed home Jim Campbell's pass from behind the net. Turgeon's third goal of the series knotted the score just 56 seconds after that. He deflected MacInnis' wrister from the right point. Terry Yake capped the comeback at 13:06 with his first playoff goal since he was with Hartford in 1991. MacInnis won a faceoff at the top of the right circle and fed Steve Duchesne at the left point. Duchesne's drive was gloved by Storr, who was unable to hang on to the puck. Yake charged in and flipped the puck over the prone goalie.

"A Grand Inning"   

Saint Louis Cardinals 12, Los Angeles Dodgers 5

Regular Season

April 24, 1999

Cardinal third baseman Fernando Tatis who had not hit a grand slam in his career, homered twice with the bases loaded -- both times off Chan Ho Park -- in the third inning of the Cardinals' 12-5 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Tatis not only became the first major leaguer to hit two grand slams in one inning, but also set a record with eight RBIs in an inning. Tatis' two homers were his only hits in five at-bats in the game. For his first grand slam, Fernando drilled a 2-0 fastball from Park deep into the Dodgers' bullpen in left field with none out in the third. Then, after McGwire flied out to shallow right to leave the bases loaded with two out, Tatis lined Park's 3-2 pitch into the lower seats in the left-field pavilion.

"Miracle on Ice"

United States 4, USSR 3

15th Winter Olympiad   Lake Placid, New York   Semifinal Game

February 22, 1980

The U.S. hockey team consisted of a bunch of amateur college players. Nobody expected them to play with the powerful Soviets, who regularly beat NHL teams and had many of the best players in the world. In an exhibition game two weeks before the Olympics, the Soviets won 10-3. In a semifinal game in Lake Placid, N.Y., the Soviets led 3-2 entering the final period. But Mark Johnson tied the game with 11 and a half minutes left, and two minutes later, team captain Mike Eruzione scored for a 4-3 lead. With the crowd wildly cheering them on, the U.S. held on for the stunning upset. Al Michaels made one of the most memorable comments as the game ended in a U.S. victory. "Do you believe in miracles? Yes!" Two days after the emotional win over the USSR, the United States beat Finland 4-2 to capture the gold medal. 

Don't forget to look at my Dave Mackey Tribute Page!