Quote of the Day: “How about that?!” –the great Mel Allen
TB’s been up in Oxford all weekend. I went to see Robert Earl Keen play Friday night and then spent all day Saturday at the Double Decker Festival on the square. Tonight’s post was going to be a recap of our trip, but I pushed it back a day after I accidentally tuned in for the first five minutes of Major League Baseball I’ve seen in years. Some guy I never heard of for the Red Sox promptly stole home against the Yankees. Jon Miller’s call was great–I think he didn’t even see the guy streaking from third until the crowd roared and the dude began to slide. It took ESPN several minutes to even find a camera with a replay, but they finally did from the left field nosebleeds. I’ve seen an awful lot of big league baseball, most of it from 1975 to 1995. I’ve seen a triple play, a no-hitter, a cycle and even a guy on first fall for the old pony league trick of faking to third and spinning to catch the guy on first trying to steal second. But I had never seen anyone steal home on live tv until tonight. Plays like this are a reminder of why baseball is the greatest game even if I still don’t care for the majors any more–you just never know what may happen.
So how about a real debate where you can’t predict the sides ahead of time for once here on TB? I give you the top ten most exciting plays in all of sports:
- Stealing home
- A sliding triple
- Flea Flicker
- A dunk rejection
- The “Big One” at Talladega
- A Grand Slam
- A close play at the plate off a double and on a relay
- A fake punt from inside your own twenty
- Alley oop
- Inside the park homer
Travellinbaen 
That was Jacoby Ellsbury, who is quickly becoming my favorite player. I saw him play in Omaha at the College World Series in 05. Unfortunately, I traded him to Sweet in our roto league.
As for the poll, I’ll take an inside the park homer if I can’t vote for a hole in one.
I don’t follow Nascar, but I caught Dale Jr on ESPN last night talking about the “Big One.” He was complaining that all the cars are the same, but isn’t that the definition of “stock car” racing?
Thanks for the info Face. You can name your own most exciting plays and I felt pretty sure you’d chime in with a golf example. I thought about hole in one, but I sort of think a chip in from the bunker is even more exciting–going from being in deep trouble to making a heroic stroke.
I will take the sliding triple.
I like the squeeze play as well.
When I think of Larry and triples for some reason I go immediately to a flashback of you leaping kickboxer style into Starkville’s third baseman–who had been standing and waiting to tag you out from the moment you rounded second.
I stumbled rounding second. That’s my story and I am sticking to it!
Kirk Gibson 1988
Fake up the middle and hit your TE for a TD
Most exciting?? I would have to say a leap up the fence to rob a homer and also a walk off dinger to win it. The hail mary for a toucdown as well.
a bloop single over the 3rd baseman’s head.HA
I was watching that game and I said the same thing you did. I have watched a lot of baseball games and that is the 1st steal of home I have ever seen. Just cool as hell to watch. The pitcher went to the wind up with the bases loaded and the 3rd baseman played way to far off.
I called AJ in to watch the play. It felt like I was watching the moon landing.
Most exciting plays:
1. Inside the park HR (Rebels had one this weekend when they took 2 of 3 from GA);
2. Steal of Home (maybe should be #1);
3. Last out of a no hitter (even better if a perfect game);
3. Walk of HR to win a game (even better if a World Series final game like Joe Carter);
4. Buzzer Beater in the NCAA tourney (better if it is an upset except when it happens to your team);
5. Hole in one;
6. triple;
7. The last 20 seconds of a horse race;
That is all I got. I can’t really come up with “a play” in football. A great 2 minute drive is great but it is always a series of plays.
A suggested football play that i enjoy watching over and over is the last second play where the offensive team laterals the ball ( a la cal berkeley) several times and scores to win the game…and if you can flatten a band kid in the process…well, that’s just icing on the cake!
The Pitch and catch for a TD in The famous Dolphins vs Chargers playoff game.(forgot the year)
Any Dan Marino drive at the end of the game to tie it or win it.
I do like the squeeze play.
SmilyJ nailing three pointers in intamural basketball because the other team decided I sucked and quit covering me altogether.
It’s not the greatest play in sports, but a kickoff return for a touchdown is a thing of beauty, especially if he has to shakes several players in that initial bunch up before hitting the open air around the 50 yard line.
In tennis the running back to the baseline, shot through the legs for a winner is athletic, agile, powerful, and beautiful.
I butchered the code in that last comment. Sorry.
That tennis play did cross my mind too. When its a winner it is pretty awesome.
Let me try your link
http://www.thedailywit.com/2009/04/26/i-know-nobody-cares-part-ii
I don’t know if anyone will see this post, but I just saw a new play to add. A center fielder robbing a homerun in the ninth inning to preserve a perfect game. Pretty cool.
A few more details? MLB?
White Sox P Mark Buerhle against Tampa Bay last night. Perfect through 8. Leadoff batter in the ninth hits one deep to left center. DeWayne Wise was inserted as a defensive replacement in center. He sprinted to the wall, jumped and pulled the ball back. As he hit the wall the ball came loose but he was able to secure it with his bare hand. Check out sportscenter this morning or mlb.com
He also threw a no-no two years ago.
That was absolutely an amazing play considering the circumstances. That ball was headed for the bleachers. He would have lost the perfect game, no-hitter, and shutout if Wise didn’t make that catch.
Found it on You Tube. Sweet.