Before I go into this edition, allow me to make an omission apology. I made a sizable mistake in S7s, Episode 1, #4. Silver Linings, where I left out… our teachers. The appreciation for Teachers! Over the past few weeks, I have heard from countless parents and relatives how difficult it is to keep their children’s attention, keep them busy in the class and help them get their school work done, at home! I say it all the time, I don’t know how you do it… thank you teachers!!

… now …

Welcome back to Sunday 7s, where I strive to provide a small dose of levity to the current coronavirus pandemic by highlighting 7 things relevant to the times and to yours truly, AKA Chris, sport guy by trade, social thought provoker by design.

With no sports to watch these COVID-19 days, S7s Episode 2 is begging to get into what we’ve been missing. Thrilling Sports! Where have you been?

Right now we are missing the most thrilling, 7 days a week, up most late nights, multiple games on the weekends, riveting stretch of sports every year. March Madness through the June; college sports, the Kentucky Derby, the French Open, Premier League/Champions League/MLS Soccer, Major League Baseball!, NHL/NBA playoffs. Check out my top 7, Best of 7-Game Series of the past 50 years with bonus selections below. And chime in… let me know what I missed!

7. 2016 MLB World Series - Chicago Cubs over the Cleveland Indians in 7 Games
November 2, 2016, Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH. The wait is finally over, after 108 years, the Cubs are World Series champs. Game 7 went to 10 innings where after a nervy weather delay, the Cubs came out and delivered the victory. As much as I care nothing for Chicago sports, I remember staying up for this one and tipping my hat to the northsiders, to Joe Maddon and all of Cubs nation.

6. 1994 NHL Finals - New York Rangers over the Vancouver Canucks
June 14, 1994, this Game 7 was the 10th time in history that the NHL finals/Stanley Cup was going to a Game 7. Messier, Leetch, Graves, Richter… NY at the Garden!

Summer ‘94 was one of the most memorable times in my life. Hanging with friends, playing a ton of soccer, basketball and tennis (and video games! (NHL ‘94 was one of them), the World Cup soccer tournament was just about to kick off in the States and OJ Simpson was on the verge of running away in the back seat of his buddies White Bronco (June 17, 1994, top 3 30 for 30, shows it all). I turned 15 on June 17… No job…sports… total freedom, what more could a kid ask for, I’ll never forget. “The waiting is over… the New York Rangers are the Stanley Cup Champions!”
***Another NHL Game 7 worth mention; ‘87 Edmonton Oilers Game 7 Championship!

5. 2016 NBA Finals - Cleveland Cavaliers over the Golden State Warriors
June 19, 2016, Game 7, Oracle Arena in Oakland, CA. You all knew it was coming. Down 3-1 to the mighty Warriors, *controversy as usual, you knew the basketball gods (and tv/league lords) were going to see Lebron and the boys make a fight. *Draymond Green did come back for Game 7 and was it ever a fast moving thriller. (Final 3:39 of the Game here) Cleveland deserved a championship and who better to bring it home than King James.

4. 2013 NHL Eastern Conference Quarters - Boston Bruins over the Toronto Maple Leafs. May 13, 2013, Boston Garden, Boston, Mass.
Too bad Boston would make it through the Rangers and Penguins only to lose in 6 games to the (uh um, can’t stand ya) Blackhawks but this Game 7 against the Leafs is for real! Take the time to watch the last 11 minutes, Bruins down 4-1 at home, only to come back and win in OT!

3. 1988 NBA Finals - Los Angeles Lakers over the Detroit Pistons
June 21, 1988, the Great Western Forum, L.A., CA, Game 7, 108-105 - Lakers!
Back when television network contracts with leagues were as little as salary of the 12th man on the bench, we didn’t get to see a fraction of what you kids see today. “Showtime” Lakers basketball was the fastest, most exciting sports to watch in the 80s in my opinion but west coast games would be past bedtime and you only could find those few opportunities if you used a magnifying glass to the hidden schedule in the sports section of the newspaper. Oh the humanity!

And then came the playoffs. You all know how it goes, playoff sports are the Varsity to the league’s JV. No comparison… fast paced and physical… get your popcorn ready! Magic Johnson was my absolute idol and there was no way I was going to miss this action. There was a story line to it all but this one had the thuggish-ruggish Pistons up against the Showtime entertainment of the start studded Lakers.
Check out the 4th quarter of this Game 7… Go Lakers!

2. 2003 MLB AL Championship - Boston Red Sox over the New York Yankees
October 20, 2004, Red Sox v. Yankees at Yankee Stadium, Game 7, 10-3, Sox!

If you’re an ESPN 30 for 30 fan, you know. If you’re missing baseball as much as we are, here’s your documentary. (4 Days in October (Trailer)) Forget the 86-year Red Sox World Series drought was 22 years less historic than the Cubbies drought (above) and look past the fact that this was only to get to the World Series (as no doubt the Sox destroyed the St. Louis Cardinals in 4 games)… this was Boston & New York! Two of the most storied cities of our nation’s history, playing in the most historic past time game, loaded with heroes and villains, this series had it all! Going down 3 games to 0, Red Sox nation was not giving up.

Baseball is equal to, if not more riveting than hockey and basketball when it comes to the playoffs. These games actual have a story line and all the stars come out. I’ll never forget this one… here’s to you Big Papi, Curt Schilling, Manny Ramirez, Terry and Theo and all of Red Sox nation… thanks for the memory!

1. 1991 MLB World Series - Minnesota Twins over the Atlanta Braves
October 27, 1991, Minnesota Twins hosting the Atlanta Braves at the Metrodome, Minneapolis, MN, Game 7, 1-0 Twins!!!

From worst (1990) to first… this 7 game series had it all! Of course there would be protests out on my front step if I didn’t rank this #1 (forever Brew Crew!) but if you go back and watch all the way through the series and dig out your Homer Hankie, waive it loud, this Twins team won the hearts of baseball fans everywhere!

Four of the games were decided in the home team’s final at-bat, three of which came in extra innings. Game 6 had everything then suddenly to top it off, Kirby Pucket’s extra inning walk off homerun leading to Jack Buck’s call, “And we’ll see you tomorrow night!”, to which I am certain the entire State of Minnesota jumped at least a few feet in the air. And Game 7 had it all with All Star Braves pitcher going up against the Twins’ Jack Morris. Jack went the full 10 innings and when Gene Larkin pinch-hit singled Danny Golden Boy Gladden home, pure hysteria!! 1-0, Twins, their second championship in 4 years… life is (still) good in MN!

Hope you took the time to watch some of these videos. See below for some honorable mention Bonus Selections and let me know what I missed.

Thanks for playing… CS

***BONUS SELECTIONS:

2001 MLB World Series - Arizona Diamondbacks over the New York Yankees
Sunday, November 4, 2001, Yankees at Diamondbacks, Bank One Stadium, Phoenix, AZ, Game 7, 3-2, Diamondbacks!
Riding the heels of 911, this series and Game 7 were a thrill! In terms of actual games, rid some of the sentimental value, like the Bruins over the Maple Leafs (above) this is a top game to remember. Congrats to Randy Johnson and the boys!

2010 NBA Finals - Los Angeles Lakers over the Boston Celtics
June 17, 2010, Celtics at Lakers, Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA, Game 7,
83-79, Kobe and the Lakers! The two most storied franchises in NBA history. Star studded in tinseltown! Garnett, Allen, Pierce and Coach Doc Rivers at Kobe, Pau, Metta World Peace and the Boys coached by the Zen Master… going to a Game 7, this one received serious consideration for the top 7.

2014 MLB World Series - San Francisco Giants over the Kansas City Royals
October 29, 2014, Giants at Royals at Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, MO, Game 7, 3-2, Giants! Setting the Stage - I was in San Francisco for a 3 night run of Phish, night 3 of course coincided with Game 7 and this town was ELECTRIC!! We missed the final inning as the show was starting but phish pumped We are the Champions into their first jam of the night… Goosebumps I’ll never forget!

2008 Wimbledon Final - Rafael Nadal over Roger Federer
July 6, 2008, #1 Federer vs. #2 Nadal, 6–4, 6–4, 6–7, 6–7, 9–7, Nadal!
If there was such a thing as a Game 7 in tennis, this would be it.
I feel this would be incomplete if not at least mentioned. Therefore coming in at number 4 of Best of Game 7s, the greatest stretched out, can’t take the suspense tennis final between 2 of the all time greats. We are so lucky to still get to watch these two titans battle into their 30s.
Tennis fan or not… probably the greatest match of all time.

2019 MLB World Series - Washington Nationals over the Houston Astros
October 30, 2019, Nationals at Astros at Minute Maid Park, Game 7, 6-2, Nats!
Nevermind the cheating that we now know was happening with the now scumbag Astros, this one was for Washington! All the toxic energy that takes place in the nation’s capital these days, deserved something positive. And to think when they were 1 out away from losing to the Brewers in the Divisional series, then destroying the mighty #1 seed Dodgers, albeit making a manager change mid-season to the depths of “this season’s over, now onto 2020”, the Washington Nationals team will be remembered for their thrilling excellence and their efforts to bring hope and happiness back to the Capital!