Indelible or Favorite Moment in Boston Sports?

[RetractableRoof]

I was daydreaming a bit yesterday and asked myself what moment around the Red Sox was my most memorable moment, and then Boston sports in general, but then my mind continued wandering and ended up at "the favorite moment which wasn't a specific play in a game." So for example, the snow plow operator plowing the field at Foxboro. Not a play in the actual game, but memorable. I suppose one could stretch it to Fisk waving the ball fair once the act of hitting it was over. I remember feeling a crushing sadness watching Yaz take his good bye lap around Fenway (on TV of course). I loved the huge cheer for Mariano Rivera when introductions were made to open the season after the Sox won in 2004.

For me the memory that will never fade was Jim Rice going into the stands and carrying the young boy who had been struck by the foul ball (off the bat of Stapleton?) out of the stands across the field into the Sox dugout to get him to the Sox medical staff. I only saw it on TV, and honestly I don't remember the blood or any of that, just the image of him being carried and his father following them out of the stands. I didn't know until I googled yesterday that the boy threw out the first pitch the next season, or any followup to the fact that he had a 100 percent recovery. 5 minute coverage (no actual footage):


There are many here that have a longer memory of local sports. What is your indelible moment?

 

[Bunt4aTriple]

Papi after the marathon. The on field celebration stuff with Castiglione gets to be a bit much, but that day was different. The tribute had me weeping on the couch in the middle of the day, and everything about Ortiz's speech was pitch perfect.

The okay from the FCC (who had no authority anyway) was the cherry on top.

 

[hoothehoo]

Lonnie Paxton's snow angel and then his confetti angel in the super bowl is one (two?) of mine off the top of my head.

 

[H78]

Brady fighting tears on the podium after SB51, then a few shots later shown hugging his mother.

 

[Bergs]

Maybe it's just recency bias, but Brady and his mom after SBLI is some kind of moment. On a lighter note, Pedro duct-taped around a pole is pretty awesome.


Edit: I see H78 beat me to the punch on the Brady thing while I was fishing around for the Pedro video.

 

[RetractableRoof]

Maybe it's just recency bias, but Brady and his mom after SBLI is some kind of moment. On a lighter note, Pedro duct-taped around a pole is pretty awesome.

That's the kind of stuff that slips my mind. That was funny as hell, but I remember being worried he was going to get clipped by a line drive or something.

 

[TFisNEXT]

The image of the bullpen cop with his arms up during Papi's grandslam in the 2013 ALCS always sticks out in my mind when I think of great Boston sports moments.

 

[Riconway3155]

]

Maybe it's just recency bias, but Brady and his mom after SBLI is some kind of moment. On a lighter note, Pedro duct-taped around a pole is pretty awesome.


Edit: I see H78 beat me to the punch on the Brady thing while I was fishing around for the Pedro video.

Mine will forever be this one:


The commentary will never get old to me. "Make it stop!"

 

[tims4wins]

Orr waving the Horton flag vs. the Canucks

 

[hoothehoo]

Orr waving the Horton flag vs. the Canucks

Horton pouring melted Garden ice onto the Vancouver ice to make it home ice.

 

[Marbleheader]

 

[Thetoddwalker]

Varitek shoving his hands into Arods was so satisfying. Pedro shoving Zimmer down was both comical and cringing.

 

[Bergs]

Great choice. Man.

 

[54thMA]

When they closed the old garden down, Bruins players past and present took one final lap and several players helped Norman Leveille take one as well.

 

[RetractableRoof]

When they closed the old garden down, Bruins players past and present took one final lap and several players helped Norman Leveille take one as well.

Another one I had simply forgotten, thank you for this one.

 

[Bergs]

When they closed the old garden down, Bruins players past and present took one final lap and several players helped Norman Leveille take one as well.

 

[montoursvillefan]

Big Jim Ed going into the stands at the toilet to retrieve his cap, 9/13/86, that took guts, he could have been seriously injured. Was at that game, second deck first row first base side, my (now) wife almost got kicked out for spilling a beer on folks below.

 

[chrisfont9]

Good lord, what a moment! I didn't know about that (had moved away) but I can't believe there was a dry eye in the house for that. Leveille was a solid player, and it seems inappropriate to mourn the loss of his career considering all he's been through, but I was sad to see his hockey days cut short.

 

[chrisfont9]

I can add two to the list here:
* Kareem taking oxygen on the bench in game 5 of the '84 finals. The only game of any "finals" of any kind that I've attended. As stifling as the heat was -- we were dripping with sweat the whole game -- there was a collective sense that the Celtics were going to tough it out way better than the Lakers ever would.
* Bruins going into the stands at MSG. Not a proud moment, but as kids we probably talked about that more than any other non-play.

 

[54thMA]

Thanks for doing that Bergs.............I was there, my late uncle worked security at the Garden, my Dad was with the BPD for 39 years, he did a detail at the garden and the two of them shoehorned myself and three of my college friends into the building............what a moment.

 

[54thMA]

On a lighter note, I remember in the 1986 AFC playoffs vs the Raiders, after the game Patrick Sullivan got cracked off the coconut with Matt Millen's helmet, he was on the field after the game and Millen drilled him in retaliation for heckling Howie Long from the sidelines during the game.

Back in those days, even when the Patriots won they lost................

 

[Lupe Whalewatch]

I've been to a lot of big games in my life, but for me I don't think I've ever seen anything quite like the Bruins comeback against the leafs in game 7 in 2013. The atmosphere inside the Garden in between the 3rd period and OT was unlike anything I've witnessed in sports...people were just going crazy.

 

[PaulinMyrBch]

This does not involve players, but a visit to Fenway for me. My dad was in bad health but we had traveled for a family wedding. Had tickets to a Sunday game, but a Friday rainout moved our game from 1 to 5 as they inserted the missed game at 1:00. We were flying out that evening, so we were screwed. But we went by Fenway anyway trying to get tickets since we couldn't use the others. Dad had said this would be his last trip to Boston, so clearly last visit to Fenway, so that feeling was starting to wear on me. The ticket lady didn't have much, but when I explained the situation, she put us in handicapped seats, which were actually just folding chairs and we sat on that concrete pad on the short fence just past the maintenance tunnel on the first base line. So just hanging out drinking beer with my dad at Fenway for the last time in some pretty good seats. A real good memory for me.

 

[RetractableRoof]

This does not involve players, but a visit to Fenway for me. My dad was in bad health but we had traveled for a family wedding. Had tickets to a Sunday game, but a Friday rainout moved our game from 1 to 5 as they inserted the missed game at 1:00. We were flying out that evening, so we were screwed. But we went by Fenway anyway trying to get tickets since we couldn't use the others. Dad had said this would be his last trip to Boston, so clearly last visit to Fenway, so that feeling was starting to wear on me. The ticket lady didn't have much, but when I explained the situation, she put us in handicapped seats, which were actually just folding chairs and we sat on that concrete pad on the short fence just past the maintenance tunnel on the first base line. So just hanging out drinking beer with my dad at Fenway for the last time in some pretty good seats. A real good memory for me.

Sounds like the best seats in the house if you ask me.

 

[TheoShmeo]

At the 37:37-40 mark of the video linked above, Dwight Evans tells Johnny Damon right before Game One of the 2004 WS to "have some fun, and win it, win it, win it." I only saw this after the fact, of course, but it's one of those indelible moments for me. It was as if Dewey was saying "enough of near misses, this is winning time," which is exactly how so many of us felt on the heals of Grady's lunacy in 2003 and the whole history of near misses. I also liked the connection it cemented between the Sox of my youth and the ones who would finally break through.

Three other moments that will always be etched in my brain are:

- The Bruins players going into the stands to fight with Rangers fans and Mike Milbury beating one of them with a shoe; high comedy;

- A young Tom Brady spiking the ball to stop the clock after Jermaine Wiggins caught the last pass before the Adam kick, and just sort of holding the ball in place for a few seconds...what a cool customer he was and of course still is; and

- Curt Schilling pitching in 2004 ALCS Game 6 and WS Game 2 with blood coming out of his ankle and into his sock, and somehow getting it done after having had meatball surgery; that I was at both games adds to the intensity of my memory, especially the game at the Toilet.

 

[PaulinMyrBch]

Sounds like the best seats in the house if you ask me.

Definitely.

 

[LoweTek]

Orr's flying goal to clinch the Cup.

 

[The Last DiMaggio]

Ted Williams being honored at the 1999 All-Star Game.

 

[DennyDoyle'sBoil]

Koji slapping Victorino was a great one.

 

[chawson]

Considering its timing and the poster's tone in Race and the Red Sox, this thread seems designed to whitewash a pretty important national discussion about systemic racism in Boston sports. It's ugly.

 

[pedro1918]

This does not involve players, but a visit to Fenway for me. My dad was in bad health but we had traveled for a family wedding. Had tickets to a Sunday game, but a Friday rainout moved our game from 1 to 5 as they inserted the missed game at 1:00. We were flying out that evening, so we were screwed. But we went by Fenway anyway trying to get tickets since we couldn't use the others. Dad had said this would be his last trip to Boston, so clearly last visit to Fenway, so that feeling was starting to wear on me. The ticket lady didn't have much, but when I explained the situation, she put us in handicapped seats, which were actually just folding chairs and we sat on that concrete pad on the short fence just past the maintenance tunnel on the first base line. So just hanging out drinking beer with my dad at Fenway for the last time in some pretty good seats. A real good memory for me.

I took my Dad to Opening Day in 2008. He had not been to Fenway since having a heart attack in 2005. It was kind of cold and windy that day, but he was adamant that he wanted to go. I have vivid memory of my Father walking from our car to Fenway. It wasn't a long walk, I gladly paid a bunch for parking, but he had a spring in his step I hadn't seen in a few years. He was hoping up on curbs. It might not seem like much, but I was stunned to see him moving so quickly and fluidly. He was as happy as I had seen him in a long time. Turned out to be his last game at Fenway. It was a great day and I am forever grateful to have shared it with him.

 

[TheoShmeo]

Considering its timing and the poster's tone in Race and the Red Sox, this thread seems designed to whitewash a pretty important national discussion about systemic racism in Boston sports. It's ugly.

So what's the premise? That we should not discuss our favorite Boston sports memories while the nation turns over the Jones incident? Or that a poster whose views you disagree with came up with this thread as a means of deflecting attention from himself or herself? Both are ridiculous. We can easily agree that the discussion emanating from what happened on Monday night is very important. But SoSH can walk and chew gum at the same time, and there's no reason to think that the thread starter felt to the need for cover.

 

[PC Drunken Friar]

Kevin Garnett 's "Anything is Posssssssible!!!!!!!!!". Unbridled joy

 

[chawson]

It's May 3.

So what's the premise? That we should not discuss our favorite Boston sports memories while the nation turns over the Jones incident? Or that a poster whose views you disagree with came up with this thread as a means of deflecting attention from himself or herself? Both are ridiculous. We can easily agree that the discussion emanating from what happened on Monday night is very important. But SoSH can walk and chew gum at the same time, and there's no reason to think that the thread starter felt to the need for cover.

It's May 3rd. There's a lot of baseball to talk about. These types of threads happen in winter. It's pretty transparent what the intention is.

A bunch of white dudes suddenly needing to discuss cute, fuzzy memories because someone brings up an uncomfortable topic only affirms that Boston has an embedded cultural problem with talking about race.

Y'all can do what you want. But it's ugly.

 

[Dollar]

There isn't enough Patriots love in this thread yet, so I'll toss this moment in:

 

[reggiecleveland]

I am from Canada so almost by definition I am lft to yo guys on many things. Free health care, no guns, leave gay people alone, nobody wants to her about your god, are givens here. But, man people have to let some stuff go, and not look for whitey in the hood in everything. Perhaps there is a ulterior motive, but I expect most people are getting caught up in the thread topic, rather than hoping to wash away white guilt in some online forum.

Two no game play Celtic memories:24 second point of this video bird runs through the crowd.
.

Not to be accused as trying to make us too happy.

 

[tims4wins]

There isn't enough Patriots love in this thread yet, so I'll toss this moment in:

And this

 

[RetractableRoof]

I took my Dad to Opening Day in 2008. He had not been to Fenway since having a heart attack in 2005. It was kind of cold and windy that day, but he was adamant that he wanted to go. I have vivid memory of my Father walking from our car to Fenway. It wasn't a long walk, I gladly paid a bunch for parking, but he had a spring in his step I hadn't seen in a few years. He was hoping up on curbs. It might not seem like much, but I was stunned to see him moving so quickly and fluidly. He was as happy as I had seen him in a long time. Turned out to be his last game at Fenway. It was a great day and I am forever grateful to have shared it with him.

There have been a lot of sports in my life (like most all of us here). My dad' and I only shared one intersection with sports - a couple of minutes of boxing talk when Tyson was the up and coming monster to be admired (in the ring of course). I didn't know anything about boxing then (nor much about it now). My end of the conversation was really light :/

I envy all of you who've had that seat next to your dad at a game, any game at all. Savor the memories and for those with the chance, create additional ones.

 

[SoxJox]

Restuffing Ted at the foot of the Green Monster...sniffle.

On a more serious note: Larry Lucchino tagging the Yankees with the moniker "Evil Empire" (with all due respect to EE).

Or perhaps Pedro showing complete and utter disrespect for his elders, physically abusing Don Zimmer.

 

[Captaincoop]

It was before my time, but Bob Cousy's sendoff at the Garden ("We love ya, Cooz!"):

https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2013/03/16/bob-cousy-sendoff-love-cooz-still-resonates-years-later/wqO87Cx8UtR5gEM5Uv8tkK/story.html

Another moment from Celtic history, The "Beat LA" chants as the Celtics were losing to the Sixers in the ECF back in '82. That was awesome stuff from Boston fans.

Also, the "Dar-yl" chants in the '86 World Series.

 

[RetractableRoof]

Restuffing Ted at the foot of the Green Monster...sniffle.

On a more serious note: Larry Lucchino tagging the Yankees with the moniker "Evil Empire" (with all due respect to EE).

Or perhaps Pedro showing complete and utter disrespect for his elders, physically abusing Don Zimmer.

Pedro probably weighed 160 pounds there, if Zimmer had gotten ahold of him (even at that age) Zimmer probably would have hurt Pedro. I think Pedro ole'ing him and sending him off to the ground was the least damaging way that was going to end. I always wish that hadn't happened. If I recall Zimmer had a plate in his head from a baseball, and certainly felt strongly about those pitches (a tie-in to current conflicts I guess).

 

[E5 Yaz]

The "Beat LA" chants as the Celtics were losing to the Sixers in the ECF back in '82. That was awesome stuff from Boston fans.

That was the first one that came to mind for me; although so many of those listed would be high up there.

In Red Sox terms, Yaz's victory lap around Fenway after his finale was memorable. He did it before it became a "thing."

Or the all-time roster being introduced at the Fenway celebration

 

[HriniakPosterChild]

Pedro probably weighed 160 pounds there, if Zimmer had gotten ahold of him (even at that age) Zimmer probably would have hurt Pedro. I think Pedro ole'ing him and sending him off to the ground was the least damaging way that was going to end. I always wish that hadn't happened. If I recall Zimmer had a plate in his head from a baseball, and certainly felt strongly about those pitches (a tie-in to current conflicts I guess).

I remember the plate in Zim's head. I remember Zim's taking exception to a fan who sits near me close to the visitors dugout in Seattle who liked to mark every first pitch by screaming, "Stick it in his ear!"

I don't remember Zim's objecting to Roger Clemens's pitch that hit Trot Nixon in the head.

 

[RetractableRoof]

It was before my time, but Bob Cousy's sendoff at the Garden ("We love ya, Cooz!"):

https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2013/03/16/bob-cousy-sendoff-love-cooz-still-resonates-years-later/wqO87Cx8UtR5gEM5Uv8tkK/story.html

Another moment from Celtic history, The "Beat LA" chants as the Celtics were losing to the Sixers in the ECF back in '82. That was awesome stuff from Boston fans.

Also, the "Dar-yl" chants in the '86 World Series.

Those chants for the Sixers at the Garden sent chills up and down my back. I'll check out the Cousy story - it was before my time as well.

 

[SoxJox]

Pedro ole'ing him

"Ole-ing"...a new verb! This made me chuckle...as the Pedro-Zimmer memory video loop plays in my mind.

 

[charlieoscar]

Among my memories is that of Ted Williams hitting a game-winning home run in April of 1952 in his last game before his call-up to the Marines for the Korean Conflict and then after popping out as a pinch hitter in his first game after his return in August of 1953. He pinch hit a 3-run homer in his next at bat.

 

[Ale Xander]

Kevin Garnett 's "Anything is Posssssssible!!!!!!!!!". Unbridled joy

this

and here's the vid

 

[Trotski]

A great one for me was, Larry Bird coming out of the locker room in 91 or 92 against Indiana after smashing his face on the court. I think he ended up scoring 30+ in that game.

 

[Ale Xander]

Actually KG was 2nd best.

This was best

 

[Was (Not Wasdin)]