What was your greatest year as a fan?

2009-10-27T12:40:18-04:00

2009-10-08T15:54:45-04:00

2009-10-27T12:40:18-04:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/457/465/thumb/download_1_020.jpg 21 TX

PJINTEXAS

Universal City 457905

12 Are you kidding? 1993! The Kings' one and only Stanley Cup run! My good friend Glenn and I even forked over the then-astronomical $95 to see a game at the Fabulous Forum. Our seats were right in front of the press box. All kinds of old timers from Kings teams past showed up, and we got 'em all to sign a letter I had from Bob Miller. Butch and Marcel both came by to say hi to Bob Miller -- and to us. It was the crowning moment of an unforgettable season that turned a couple of grown men in their 30s into little boys. I still haven't forgiven Marty McSorehead for his bent stick. Whatever else you want to say about Bruce McNall, he gave us an amazing run for the cup. Sadly, high ticket prices probably mean my kids will never have a feeling like that. 7423486

2009-10-20T15:32:24-04:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/351/660/thumb/Halas.jpg 7 IL

OldScout

Northbrook 352080

11 For a lifelong Chicago guy, nothing will ever top 1985. Da Bears. Ditka, McMahon, the Fridge, Fencik, Hampton, Walter Payton, Butthead Butler, Dent, Singletary. The most colorful football team ever, and possibly the greatest defense of all time. There'll never be another year, or a team, like that. 7330754

2009-10-14T18:27:51-04:00

gobluetrue

La Joya 169076

10 As a diehard Michigan and Tigers fan (and only being born in 1993), I would have to go with 2006. Tigers were great for the first time in my life, sweeping the A's w/ the classic picture of Polanco running and jumping after Mags walk off. And then the world series... And you have Michigan go 11-1 reg season in a 1 vs 2 game against the bucks. That game brought back so much positive memories to the 10 years war and greats moments in the best rivalry in college sports. Although I have been alive for a Michigan NC, several Wings Cups, Piston Champs, and such, 2006 was the best for me. 7256872

2009-10-12T16:54:19-04:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/887/847/thumb/Yankee_logo__2.jpg 2 CA

Pinstriped Pride

Sherman Oaks 888507

9 As a die-hard Yankee fan: 1978, without a doubt. Yanks come back from 14 games behind. The Boston Masacre takes place. They beat the Bosox in the playoff game at Fenway (Bucky Dent!), win the World Series against the Dodgers. Guidry goes 25-3 and wins the playoff game. A never-ending source of joy for a Yankee fan! 7220982

2009-10-12T02:46:32-04:00

OldYankeeFan

No City 888150

8 Two memorable moments. 1) 1977, when Reggie Jackson hit three home runs in a row, all on the first pitch, in the World Series, which the Yankees won; and 2) 1996, when the underdog Yankees came back to beat the Braves 4 in a row. 7210574

2009-10-12T01:23:18-04:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/579/16/thumb/familyguy055.jpg 991 ON

TorFan

Thornhill 58196

7 1993 Toronto. Blue Jays in the post-season going for 2, Maple Leafs' 10 game winning streak to start the season couldn't even make headlines (which is insane) In the springtime earlier, the Leafs (specifically Nic Boraschevsky) slammed the door shut not only the Detroit Dead Thangs but the entire Ballard era of disaster once & for all. Doug Gilmour had the city & the province in the palm of his hand- his wrap around on Cujo was probably their apex. & oh yeah, I think the Argos still hadn't tarped off the 500 level of Skydome lol 7210484

2009-10-09T23:57:22-04:00

JMoney1983

No City 135519

6 92-93, i was 10 years old and the Blue Jays were winning back to back world series, cementing my love for baseball. and the leafs were in the conference finals, only to be robbed by a non-call on The Great One's high stick on Dougie. it was still the best sports time in my life. looking back gets me through the crap show that the Blue Jays and Leafs have become 7197833

2009-10-09T12:59:50-04:00

drummerfc

Voorhees 409157

5 As a Philly sports fan, it's gotta be the 1979-1980 sports year. All 4 major sports teams went to their respective Finals/Championship Series or games (Super Bowl), with the Phillies actually winning the title and the Flyers close but for a blatantly offsides goal by the Islanders in Game 6. What made it really fun for me was being in college in those days, and not having the responsibilities I do now, so I was able to take the time to go to or watch the games, and attend the celebrations for the Phils' World Series win that night and during the parade the next day. Overall the late 70s/early 80s were the salad days for Philadelphia sports, as we witnessed 2 Stanley Cups and several more Finals appearances by the Flyers, one NBA Title and several Finals appearances by the Sixers, several playoff wins and a conference championship by the Eagles, and a number of very good Phillies teams culminating in the '80 crown....followed by a long stretch of failure. Only in the past few years are Philly teams finally beginning to get their grooves back! 7188101

2009-10-09T12:40:24-04:00

tigmet

Carle Place 801205

4 I'm a New York Islander fan, but I'm also a Detroit Tigers fan. I used to be a big St. John's basketball fan, but they've slipped into such hopeless mediocrity that I barely care anymore. Finally, the Mets are my New York baseball team, though behind the Tigers in personal love. And I like the Giants. So the whole mid-80's stretch I had still amazes me. '83 -- Isles win 4th Cup, St. John's wins Big East. '84 -- Isles make it to finals, Tigers win World Series '85-- St. John's only Final Four. '86 -- St. John's wins Big East, Mets win World Series. '86 season, Super Bowl in '87 -- Giants win Super Bowl. Wow. What a run. I don't think I fully realized at the time how amazing it was. 7187656

2009-10-09T08:07:29-04:00

erniecohen

Wyncote 426799

3 Pittsburgh '79. But would somebody inform the clueless sports historians at SI that the sneaker game was in 1936, not 1956? (Even though the Giants wore sneakers in the '56 NFL championship, they didn't change at halftime.) 7181417

Every fan, if he or she is lucky, has a year to look <img style="float: right;" src="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/john_ondrasik/10/08/magic.years/wayne-gretzky.2.jpg" alt="Wayne Gretzky" width="250" height="307" /> back on and treasure. For SI.com columnist John Ondrasik, that year was 1988. As a young fan in Los Angeles, he thrilled to the Lakers' second straight NBA title, the arrival of Wayne Gretzky with the Kings, and Kirk Gibson's dramatic pinch-hit walk-off home run in Game 1 of the World Series that sparked the Dodgers to the championship while the voice of legendary broadcaster Vin Scully provided a soundtrack. The year still resonates for him: Listening to Vin Scully makes me feel good. When he goes, so will a chunk of the hometown heart. I'm not alone in treasuring each story, strike, and stretch these days. Perhaps it's because he's my last connection to my sports puberty, perhaps because he's just the best. Golden ages are gold for a reason. They shine and increase in value over time. We forget the bad, remember the great, and embellish the rest. Here in my forties, I still watch and enjoy sports. I can't help it. My hat size was imprinted on The D.C. Westin's ceiling after Derek Fisher's Game 4 OT three against the Magic. Ben Howland's Bruins, Mike Scioscia's Angels, even my Kings show promise, so I'm still holding on. <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/john_ondrasik/10/08/magic.years/index.html" target="_blank">Read all of John's column here</a>. In <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/0910/fan.heaven.winning.cities/content.1.html" target="_blank">this photo gallery</a>, we look at 10 magical years in various cities where multiple titles were won and star athletes made or added to their legends. So, what was your greatest year as a fan? What memories do you treasure most? Maybe, if you're lucky enough to live in Pittsburgh, these are the good old days. 80522

The SI Staff

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