Game: Wild @ Avalance (Game 7, first round)
Date: April 22, 2003
Announcer: ??
I didn’t watch a lick of hockey after the North Stars left, not even the Wild’s inaugural season. But when the made the playoffs in 2003, I tuned in. Down three games to one, they won game five, then won game six in overtime. Then game seven. I was definitely on edge.
Game: Twins vs. White Sox
Date: August 17, 2010
Announcer: Dick Bremer
So I have a close friend who was Jim Thome’s biggest fan. He would bring Thome signs to Twins games, and would always root for the Indians against his hometown team. He desperately wanted the Twins to sign Thome in 2003, but he went to Philadelphia. He desperately wanted the Twins to sign Thome in 2006, but he went to Chicago. And then the Twins got him when they usually get superstars, when they’re old and crippled.
Game: Vikings vs. 49ers
Date: September 27, 2009
Announcer: Paul Allen
I grew up a big Brett Favre fan. For my 7th grade picture, I’m wearing a Favre shirt. I was one of those rare people who rooted for both the Vikings and the Packers. So when Favre came to the Vikings, I found myself rooting for them for the first time since 2000. I wasn’t disappointed.
Game: Twins v. Tigers
Date: May 13, 2009
Announcer: Dick Bremer
What’s better than Dick Bremer announcing a grand slam? Dick Bremer announcing a walk-off grand slam. In extra innings.
Game: Twins @ Yankees
Date: May 16, 2010
Announcer: Dick Bremer
So the Twins didn’t always lose to the Yankees. I think this is like the fourth hit Rivera ever gave up to a lefty. And one of eight career grand slams in Kubel’s career.
Game: Vikings @ Cardinals
Date: December 28, 2003
Announcer: Paul Allen
As I mentioned yesterday, despite the 6-0 start, I was not caring about the Vikings in 2003. So when they needed to fend off the lowly Cardinals to make the playoffs in the season’s final weeks I was pretty much rooting for a loss. This is the only moment on the list that wound up being something bad for a Minnesota team. Dare I say it’s the best call ever at the end of a Minnesota loss.
In fact, this moment is so famous that it was immortalized in Tecmo Super Bowl.
Game: Vikings v. Broncos
Date: October 19, 2003
Announcer: Paul Allen
After the demoralizing NFC title losses in 1998 and 2000 I didn’t care about the Vikings this year, despite their 6-0 start. But I was watching this game. And oh man, what a play.
Game: Twins @ Oakland, ALDS Game 5
Date: October 6, 2002
Announcer: Jon Miller
I was just about to graduate from college and would be moving into my first apartment three months later. I was at my Dad’s house at the time and we watched this game together.
I honestly had not been paying close attention to the Twins going into 2001, and without the minor league info we get today on the internet, I had no clue there were budding stars in the making. So when I looked at the standings in April, I was dumbfounded. I began listening to every game on the radio and got hooked on the Twins all over again. Despite falling back late that year, I was geared up for 2002. For the entire month of April, I managed to score every single game while also doing homework. The first game of the season, with Jacque Jones leading off the year with a homer on the way to the Twins edging the Tigers in a slugfest, ensured I’d be hooked.
Game: Twins v. Yankees
Date: May 17, 2009
Announcer: Michael Kay
During the Gardenhire years, the Yankees absolutely beat up on the Twins. In fact, in those 13 years, the Twins never once had a winning record against them. And, of course, every time they faced the Yankees in the playoffs they just rolled over and died. 2009 was no exception, as the Twins didn’t win a single game against the Bronx Bombers, going 0-7 during the regular season and 0-3 in the playoffs.
I’ve lived in Minnesota my whole life and have followed our sports teams pretty closely. I’ve seen hundreds upon hundreds of Twins game and I’ve been a pretty regular fan of the Wild. I can’t see myself watching football anymore, but for a while there I watched closely. And while generally I would prefer to watch most sports without any commentary at all, every once in a while an announcer can elevate what I’m already seeing. And, of course, some radio personalities knock it out of the park as well. For the next few weeks I’ll relive some moments that still give me chills to this day.
Note on the Timberwolves and other Minnesota Sports: While I’ve never been a big basketball fan, my favorite announcer of all-time might be Kevin Harlan. Unfortunately, there’s a dearth on the internet of any calls Harlan made while he was with the home team. And I’ve never really been into college sports, so if there’s a great call out there, I’m sure I missed it.
Death By Troggles 
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