SAN ANTONIO — As with so many seminal moments in sports, all it requires to take us back is a familiar call burned into our brains. Howie Rose on Stephane Matteau (and Mike Piazza). Russ Hodges on Bobby Thomson. Al Michaels on a genuine hockey miracle.
We hear the words, and we can immediately conjure the image.
Like this one, from April 15, 1965, inside the sold-out Boston Garden, 13,909 in the stands, the Celtics clinging to a 110-109 lead over the 76ers in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals:
“Greer is putting the ball into play. He gets it out deep. … Havlicek steals it! Over to Sam Jones! Havlicek stole the ball! It’s all over! It’s all over! Johnny Havlicek is being mobbed by the fans! It’s all over! Johnny Havlicek stole the ball!”
