Football is amazing...

I would consider myself an advid sports fan. Part fanatic, can't miss the game, and part realistic... I sometimes have to catch the highlights on ESPN, yet feel smart enough to know what happened from the highlights. Watching football for many years, you get a sense of knowing your favorite teams as well as the game in general. At times I feel like an offensive/defensive coordinator- calling out the plays my favorite team is going to run or how to defend against the opponents'. Very few times does the game of football offer surprises that will have people talking at the water cooler for days. But it is these times that being a fan is so awesome. To have seen the game and be able to describe it to those who did not is a great feeling. To relive the moment that was. To embelish a little, even. Hey, they weren't there-it's your story.



In 1982, during the Stanford-Cal game, what was thought to be a certain Stanford victory turned out to be one of the oddest finishes to any game ever seen. When Stanford kicked off leading by two with four seconds left, the celebration had already begun. The game was thought to be over to everyone except for Cal. Seven laterals later, Cal entered the end zone, eluding the eleven men on the field as well as the band. Crazy.



In 1974, Tom Dempsey was a place kicker for the New Orleans Saints. He was born with just one arm, and half his one foot was missing. And that was his kicking foot. A special shoe was desinged for him. At the end of the first half in a meaningless game, Dempsey was sent out to kick a 63-yard field goal. Dempsey's kick not only went thruough the up rights, but was the eventual difference in the game.

In 2000, the Tennessee Titans pulled off what is known as the Music City Miracle, a play that put them in the Super Bowl. On the kickoff, Lorenzo Neal, a bruising 250 pound full back caught the ball and then pitched it back to tight end Frank Wycheck. Wycheck then threw the ball across the field to a waiting wide receiver who had a convoy of blockers waiting for him. He went into the end zone untouched and the rest is history.

Last year, Devin Hester playing for the Chicago Bears was sent to stand in the end zone as Arizona set up for a long, improbable field goal attempt. The kick fell short and Hester caught the ball, and went on to return it for a then NFL record 104 yards for a touchdown.

Sunday provided one of these moments. One of those, "I thought I've seen it all" moments... The Browns trailed Baltimore, 30-27 with only four seconds left. The Browns sent Phil Dawson out to kick a 51 yard field goal. As the ball sailed in the air, it began to shift left. When it reached it's destination, it hit the left up-right and bounced toward the center of the goal posts. It hit the extention that supports the cross bar. The ball then bounced up in the air and fell in front of the goal posts. The referees declared the kick no-good. Time had expired and handshakes were being exchanged at mid-field.

Field goal kicks are not reviewable. The Ravens were declared the winner, 30-27. The refs then had a discussion about the kick noting the ball hit behind the cross bar making it a good kick. The refs overturned their own previous decision and now announced the kick to be good. Which meant overtime. The Browns won the coin toss and marched down the field to set up another Dawson field goal attempt. This time the ball sailed through the up-rights, with a lot less drama, and the Browns won 33-30.

When people ask me why I even watch the games if you know what the play is usually going to be... I can point to these moments. The game of football at times can be predictable. Other times, the ball can take a freakish bounce and it is all you can talk about for the next few weeks/months/years. I don't like to be the one at the water cooler listening to these stories. I like to be the one telling them. Wonder what's going to happen this Sunday?