The 1996 NFC Championship: Green Bay returns to glory

The coverage starts with a shot of John Madden and Pat Summerall in the open air booth in giant blue and black bubble parkas dawning the Fox logo. Madden provides a killer analysis of the big game about to take place, beautifully set up by Summerall. The temperature is 3 degrees Fahrenheit at a coldContinue reading “The 1996 NFC Championship: Green Bay returns to glory”

Game 3 of the 1996 World Cup of Hockey Final: USA shocks the world

The year 1996 was a bit of a bland one in North America. There were no world changing events. Jean Chretien was in his third year as Prime Minister, and Bill Clinton won re-election to a second term as President. But in the hockey world, 1996 was a huge year of change. It was theContinue reading “Game 3 of the 1996 World Cup of Hockey Final: USA shocks the world”

Game 7 of the 1989 Smythe Division semi-final: a close call for Calgary

In 1989, the Calgary Flames won the Stanley Cup. But what is often forgotten is just how close they came to being eliminated by an upstart Vancouver Canucks team in the first round of that year’s playoffs. On April 15, 1989, the two teams clashed in a decisive game 7, and it would take overtimeContinue reading “Game 7 of the 1989 Smythe Division semi-final: a close call for Calgary”

Game 5 of the 1984 NLCS: the Padres complete the comeback

The 1984 NLCS pitted 2 teams against each other who had not experienced success in a while. Neither team had appeared in an NLCS since the inception of this round of the playoffs in 1969. However, the Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres teamed up to give fans a legendary series to remember. The CubsContinue reading “Game 5 of the 1984 NLCS: the Padres complete the comeback”

Vikings vs. Cowboys: a 1998 Thanksgiving Classic

It was the year that the Monica Lewinsky scandal broke. Musical artists like Celine Dion and Lauryn Hill were topping the charts. It was also the year that the Minnesota Vikings fielded one of the most potent offensive attacks in NFL history. It was 1998. The traditional Thanksgiving Day NFL match-up in Dallas that yearContinue reading “Vikings vs. Cowboys: a 1998 Thanksgiving Classic”

Game 6 of the 1991 Stanley Cup Final: the Penguins take flight

The year 1991 was one that helped to usher in a changing world. As the Cold War was coming to an end, the international community was cooperating in new and different ways. As much of the world united in a war against Iraq early in the year, the sporting world was also seeing new heroesContinue reading “Game 6 of the 1991 Stanley Cup Final: the Penguins take flight”

The 2003 AFC Championship: Brady and Belichick in top form

It was a stormy afternoon in Foxborough, Massachusetts on January 18, 2004 for the 2003 AFC Championship game. As a mixture of snow and rain fell on Gillette Stadium, the New England Patriots were also casting a darkness upon the Indianapolis Colts. It was the first matchup of Tom Brady and Peyton Manning on aContinue reading “The 2003 AFC Championship: Brady and Belichick in top form”

Game 4 of the 1988 Stanley Cup Final: the end of an era

Game 4 of the 1988 Stanley Cup Final between the Edmonton Oilers and Boston Bruins was one of the most interesting NHL playoff games ever played because they didn’t get it on the first try. The game started in Boston on May 24, 1988, but towards the end of the second period, a blackout hitContinue reading “Game 4 of the 1988 Stanley Cup Final: the end of an era”