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Iconic broadcasting moments capture the excitement, drama and emotion that allow sports moments to live on in vivid glory. The voices of Al Michaels, Vin Scully, Jack and Joe Buck, Howard Cosell and Jim Nantz have become as legendary as some of the events they have described.
We have already penned articles detailing the most iconic NFL and NCAAF broadcasting moments, so excluding football, here are the top five most iconic sports broadcasting moments ingrained in the collective memory of sports fans. Check out the videos to listen to some of the greatest sporting calls in history!
Event: 1980 Winter Olympics, USA vs. USSR Hockey
One of the most iconic calls in sports history came from Al Michaels during the 1980 Winter Olympics. The U.S. men’s hockey team, filled with amateur and collegiate players, faced the seemingly invincible Soviet team in the semifinal round. In a stunning upset, the U.S. team triumphed 4-3. As the final seconds ticked away, Al Michaels captured the disbelief and euphoria of the moment with his famous line:
“Do you believe in Miracles? Yes!”
Watch the video to relive the moment:
Event: 1988 World Series, Game 1
In Game 1 of the 1988 World Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers faced the Oakland Athletics. An injured Kirk Gibson, who wasn’t expected to play, was called upon to pinch-hit in the bottom of the ninth inning. Gibson hit a walk-off home run, and legendary broadcaster Vin Scully narrated “high fly ball into right field…she is gone!” Scully then let the broadcast breathe, and he collected himself as Gibson began to round the bases before uttering one of the most iconic calls in baseball history:
“In a year that has been so improbable, the impossible has happened”
Jack Buck was also calling the game, but for the national radio broadcast, and the incredulous call, “I don’t believe what I just saw,” echoed the sentiments of millions of viewers.
Event: 1991 World Series, Game 6 & 2011 World Series, Game 6
Jack Buck first coined “We’ll see you tomorrow night” in 1991 when Kirby Puckett hit a walk-off home run for the Minnesota Twins in Game 6 of the World Series. Two decades later, his son Joe Buck echoed his father’s iconic call when David Freese of the St. Louis Cardinals hit a walk-off home run in Game 6 of the 2011 World Series. Joe Buck’s homage to his father created a poignant and memorable moment in sports broadcasting: This phrase, spanning two generations of legendary father & son broadcasters, connects the tissue of timeless sports moments.
Event: 1973 Heavyweight Boxing Match, George Foreman vs. Joe Frazier
Howard Cosell’s call during the 1973 heavyweight title fight between George Foreman and Joe Frazier remains one of the most dramatic in boxing history. Foreman, a powerful young challenger, knocked Frazier down six times before the fight was stopped in the second round. Cosell’s excited repetition as Frazier hit the canvas became an unforgettable moment in sports broadcasting:
“Down goes Frazier! Down goes Frazier! Down goes Frazier!”
Cosell’s emphatic call conveyed the shocking nature of the upset, solidifying its place in sports history – watch the final moments of the fight in this video:
Event: 2016 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship, Villanova vs. North Carolina
In the 2016 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship, Villanova’s Kris Jenkins hit a buzzer-beating three-pointer to secure the title for the Wildcats in a thrilling finish against North Carolina. Jim Nantz’s pinpoint, moment-by-moment call of the game-winning shot captured the intensity and excitement of the moment:
“Gives it to Jenkins…for the championship…yes!”
Nantz’s voice-cracked exclamation as the ball swished through the net immortalized one of the greatest finishes in college basketball history.
Zach has been a published sports writer since 2018 specializing in college football & basketball, MLB and NFL content for multiple publications.