Dave Lefchak's opinion on the world of sports
January 4, 2002

A YEAR REMEMBERED

Okay, so I know it's a little late... but I felt that the year in sports that was 2001 needs some extra recognition. It was definitely a year - not only in sports, obviously - that many people will never forget. I would like to count down the top 10 stories of my sports year. That's MY sports year - meaning events I had either witnessed in person, or on television, and made the most impact on MY life personally. So without further ado... here we go...

#10 - CAL RIPKEN JR. HITS HOMERUN IN FINAL ALL-STAR GAME
You kinda had to see this one coming. Cal hit a homerun in the game he broke Lou Gehrig's record for consecutive games played. So, why wouldn't he hit a homerun in the biggest All-Star game of his storied career? There was talk after this game that Chan Ho Park grooved the pitch in to Cal... trust me, that it's even harder to groove a pitch than to try to throw a good one. Cal will be a Hall of Famer in five years time, and I'm booking my trip to Cooperstown right now to see it.

#9 - US OPEN MATCH BETWEEN AGASSI AND SAMPRAS
I'm not normally a tennis fan, but this match had me glued to the TV set when I should have been studying for a history exam. I was glad to see Sampras win it though, because for some reason, Andre Agassi annoys me to no end. Maybe it's all those dumb Canon Camera commercials.

#8 - RAY BOURQUE FINALLY WINS THE STANLEY CUP
Sorry, New Englanders, but you had to admit it was pretty nice to see Ray win the Stanley Cup even as a member of the Colorado Avalanche and not in the Bruins' sweater. Definitely a great way to leave the game after so many years of dedicated service. Maybe this year will be the Flyers turn... and maybe I'll keep dreaming.

#7 - ITHACA COLLEGE FOOTBALL MAKES FINAL EIGHT OF DIVISION III
This really was my first year following the Bombers' football team, and it was quite a wild ride. Even with a 9-1 record, we didn't know for sure if the Bombers would make the NCAA tournament beacuse of their weak independent schedule. But they snuck in as the #6 seed in the East Bracket, and proceeded to wreak upset havoc across the East. They defeated Montclair State in dramatic fashion, then obliterated top seed RPI to advance to the round of eight, where the Bombers were in turn obliterated by Rowan. All in all though, a good final season for a group of seniors. Next year's team is going to be interesting... or as they say, a "rebuilding year."

#6 - DALE EARNHARDT DIES AT DAYTONA 500
I remember exactly where I was when this tragic event occurred. I was on the air at 92 WICB doing Sportstalk with Jeff Wechsler. We went into the studio knowing that Dale Earnhardt had crashed at Daytona, and that the injury looked pretty serious. At about 6:45 PM, we received a phone call from Jeff's father in Philadelphia, who informed us that Dale Earnhardt had indeed died as a result of the crash. It was one of the most awkward moments in radio for sure.

#5 - BASEBALL RETURNS AFTER WORLD TRADE CENTER ATTACKS
After the attacks on the World Trade Center, I could not wait for baseball to start up again. Baseball is the American game, one that was played even when we went off to war back in the 1940s. The game I watched when the season picked up again was between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Atlanta Braves. I clearly remember Larry Bowa shedding a tear. I know that is something I will never see again. This goes to prove that despite popular opinion, the attacks didn't just affect sports teams from New York. That just happens to be one of the unfortunate assumptions made by people obssessed with New York City. For the record, I still don't like NYC.

#4 - WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON PENGUINS ADVANCE TO CALDER CUP FINALS
I was at Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals against the Hershey Bears. It was one of the most dramatic games I had ever witnessed before. The fun started before the game, when the teams showed hostilities in the pregame warmups. The game was won in overtime on Billy Tibbets' amazing goal in front of the net. The Penguins would go on to lose the Calder Cup to Saint John in 6 games, but the Penguins brought new people into the game of hockey in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

#3 - SCRANTON/WILKES-BARRE RED BARONS ADVANCE TO GOVERNOR'S CUP FINALS
This was one of the best games I ever listened to on the internet. The Red Barons took the Buffalo Bisons to 19 innings before busting out for the dramatic victory. Of course, the Red Barons lost to Louisville the next day which would be the last game played in the Governor's Cup Finals since the next day would be September 11. Maybe the third year will be a charm for the Barons.

#2 - PHILADELPHIA EAGLES SWEEP NEW YORK GIANTS IN 2001 REGULAR SEASON
After losing to the Giants nine straight times, it was about time the Eagles got this enormous monkey off their backs. The first game on Monday night at Giants Stadium was a dramatic comeback. The Eagles won 10-9 on a TD pass from Donovan McNabb to James Thrash. I never thought the second meeting could be more dramatic than the first. But I didn't expect the last two-and-a-half minutes to be so exciting. McNabb led the Eagles to 10 points in the final 2:23 to give the Eagles the 24-21 lead with 7 seconds to go. And then I was ready to throw my heart at the television. Ron Dixon caught the lateral and sped down the sidelines towards the end zone and the end of the Eagles season. But Damon Moore made a saving tackle at the 4 yard line. I still don't think my heart has started up again. It was so great to see my second-most-hated team from NYC go down in flames.

#1 - WORLD SERIES GAME SEVEN
That brings us to seeing the most hated team in NYC go down in flames. After a Sports Final cast on the first Sunday of November, many of us gathered in the newsroom to watch game seven. Our hearts sank when Alfonso Soriano hit the homer that put the Yankees up 2-1 in the eighth inning with indestructible closer Mariano Rivera entering the game. Then, the unthinkable happened. Mark Grace leading off the 9th with a base hit. Damian Miller laid down a sac bunt, but Rivera's throw sailed into center field. Then Jay Bell's bunt forced out Grace at third for the first - and last - out of the inning. Tony Womack came up and lined a double to score pinch runner David Dellucci. The game was tied - unbelievable! Then, the man who scored the winning run of the 1997 series, Craig Counsell, was hit by a pitch to load the bases. The infield was drawn in for Luis Gonzalez. He swung and the ball sailed over pretty boy Derek Jeter's head for the clincher. Pandemonium broke loose... not only in Phoenix, but in the Roy H. Park School Newsroom. A night I will never, ever forget.

That's my two cents... enjoy the game, folks.