Greatest sports call of all time...track related.

The amazed hush and then the call when it was official that Bob Beamon had destroyed the long jump world record record by almost 22 inches in the 1968 Olympics and collapsed in the pit. Sort of like..."Did he just...? OH MY GOD!!"

Heard some good footage in French of Geurrouj in Athens.

Something like: Bekele charging, Hicham holds him off! Bekele again! Hicham holding! Holding!

Hicham resiste! Resiste!

Best "call" I remember was no call - 1988 Olympic 100m - silence for about a minute, between runners getting into blocks, and Ben Johnson hitting finish line. Well done - it was a thrilling bit of high-tension tv. Too bad it was spoiled the next day when the drug tests came back, but the announcer did a great job in the moment.

After misidentifying the men's 800 winner, who was actually Paul Ereng, Shorter wailing, "I've made the mistake of the Olympics."

A few years earlier Shorter made a good call on Cova's win in the 1983 WCA 10k. Yes, I'm old.

The Mills call gives me chills everytime, too. There are so many, but that remains my favorite.

On a personal, local level, I coach at a high school. In my second year of coaching I had a girl that some people thought could crack the top 10 (maybe) on a good day at States. She won. When the announcer at the finish announced that she took the lead with about 3 minutes of running left I freaked out. I'll never forget the matter of fact announcement that she "moved into first." In fact, I almost told him he made a mistake it must have been someone else- she was in 15th at 1 mile and 7th at 2 miles. When she came out of the woods in first I went wild. 4 years later we still can't believe it happened.

1972 Munich 5K with British announcers: "Just like the Duke of pasetoro(sp?)"

"prefontaine is bankrupt, as is Ghamouddi"

Many more from that race.

"He opens us his legs and shows his class"

I dont know everything they're saying, but you have to listen to the Italian announcers for Bekele's 10,000 win in athens in 2004. Especially for the last lap.

"maaaaama mia! Bekele! Stupendo Bekele!!!"

go to around the 3:10 mark...it's great!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=g-DecuiAZyM&mode=related&search=

This is it period. End of conversation.

"ANNNNDDDD Ovett goes!

Vesihager chases!

Walker's Boxed...Pulls himself out but has lost 6 yards!

And it is this one mans blazing speed that has torn the field asunder!

My god Ovett raced for a long time at such a high level. He was chasing Cram in 85 when he was running wrs. Amazing.

Tony wrote:

I dont know everything they're saying, but you have to listen to the Italian announcers for Bekele's 10,000 win in athens in 2004. Especially for the last lap.

"maaaaama mia! Bekele! Stupendo Bekele!!!"

go to around the 3:10 mark...it's great!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=g-DecuiAZyM&mode=related&search=

That 53 sec last lap was freaking amazing

down goes DECKER

I'm glad you brought that one up ... I agree ... I loved that long silence, too. It really raised the tension level. I wish they would do that more. I can't think of the guy's name now ... old, white-haired guy.Also ... remember how he went, "NINE! SEVEN! NINE!"

bf wrote:

Best "call" I remember was no call - 1988 Olympic 100m - silence for about a minute, between runners getting into blocks, and Ben Johnson hitting finish line. Well done - it was a thrilling bit of high-tension tv. Too bad it was spoiled the next day when the drug tests came back, but the announcer did a great job in the moment.

I also liked Stones' call of the 1991 World Champs long jump, where Powell set the record.

oldmantrackfan wrote:

I can't think of the guy's name now ... old, white-haired guy.

Oh ... Tom Hammond

Charlie Jones was the one that called Ben Johnson's WR.

A great job. The most electrifying sports moment I've ever watched.

the one that always gives me goosebumps is

"Ovett gathers himself on the near side, Straub on the far side, and will this be Ovett's first defeat? Coe gets the revenge he wants! Coe Wins!"

the way the excitement in his voice just builds as they near the finish makes it so f***in exciting

Ya know...That 9.79 is amazing...as drug-enhanced as it was. He had his hand raised in the last 5m and was looking around. Damn.