I need to just bask in my favorite Chicago sports moments. Here they are, as they come to me.

A feel-good thread.

Let’s start with a two-parter: Mike Brown!

Mike Brown Part 2!

The games that taught a generation of Bears fans a vital lesson:

Never. Leave. Early.

The 1993 Bulls taught me about believing in my team when the national hype machine has turned against them. This was an underrated Chicago Against Everyone season. Thank you fellas!

The ‘98 Cubs wild card game was so important man. This season started with Harry Caray passing away. No playoffs since ‘89. Cubs fans needed this bad. Seeing Gracie squeeze that final out still brings me joy.

S/O to The Rat!

Every sports fan has moments where their mind is blown as they realize, “Holy moly — they can do THAT??!”

Introducing the first fake punt I remember: Chris Gardocki to Mark Green, 1992, with the “Oh no, too many men on the field!” fake-out.

I’m not a Sox fan (aside from a short stretch in the 90s) (a story for another day) but I tell ya: If you need more proof of national disrespect toward the White Sox, it’s that this catch by Juan Uribe isn’t one of the most famous plays in MLB history.

One of the most blissful, life-affirming sports moments I ever had in my life came in a 6-10 season.

You know what this is. Love you Walter.

The Monsters in the Meadowlands!

Hester with the

Hillenmeyer with the

I showed this play to my high school sports journalism students in 2009 or so, and they stared at me and said, “Scottie Pippen could dunk like THAT??”

Yes. Yes he could.

Let’s run it back to the ‘01 Bears...

...and run it back like Keith Traylor!

2012: @LanceBriggs & @peanuttillman go back to back...

...back to back

Marcus Robinson broke out the year after Randy Moss and became OUR Moss. Those ‘99 Bears were so special. Thanks guys!

https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2017/8/2/16061558/the-legend-of-marcus-robinson-1999-chicago-bears-gary-crowton-cade-mcnown-jim-miller-curtis-conway

Tuffy Rhodes hit 477 professional home runs. 13 of those were in MLB. 11 of those were with the Cubs. 3 of those were on opening day, 1994.

More than any other player, Fast Eddie to me signified the re-birth of our Bears. Miss you 39. Bear Down!

I watched the Illini-Arizona comeback as a houseguest of a GF’s family’s friend. When ILL was down 15, the host — a man of 60+ I met that day — went to the bathroom. He came out with Illinois down about 6 and I ordered him in his own house to go back in.

Chicago sports to me is about the games and the players and the fans and the teams and the parks... and the press.

Thank you to the SportsWriters on TV: Bentley, Gleason, Jauss, Munson, and my guy Rick.

Ben Gordon was special. That’s all there is to it. If you were here, you know.

108 yards for Nate Vash! This one set the NFL record for longest play ever. Devin tied it the next year. (Since broken at 109.)

Look at the spin move... and the blocks!

Sideline view of @NathanVasher31’s FG TD. Lovie’s Bears with Toub‘s special teams was a thing of beauty: All top defenders contributed. Look at these blocks: @BUrlacher54 @peanuttillman @LanceBriggs @hthill @alexbrown96 @iidonije Chris Harris...

Who else do I see out there — McGowan, Boone. Missing one. Love this team :)

And S/O to @spiceadams on the vid!

https://twitter.com/readjack/status/1282398055367675904?s=21 https://twitter.com/readjack/status/1282398055367675904

The greatest long distance shooting display I’ve ever seen. Craig Hodges, 1991, 19 threes in a row!

2003 ALDS Game 3.

Mark Prior out-duels Greg Maddox.

This was magic, both because of what we thought it meant for the Cubs and what we thought it meant Mark. C’est la vie.

My interview with Prior, who was awesome and candid: https://www.chicagotribune.com/redeye/ct-red-1003-prior-20131002-story.html

I meant to tweet The Keith Traylor Play earlier but grabbed the wrong link. Here ya go!

Thank you @TowngeeChi

With apologies to future Bears great Anthony Thomas, my Northwestern Wildcats going toe-to-toe with an incredible Michigan team in 2000 in Evanston and prevailing 54-51 was one for the ages.

Matt Steigenga!

One of my all-time favorite Chicago sports stories. What a run: asked Jerry Krause for Bulls tickets, ended up on a championship team and got a ring and a Grant Park intro.

https://twitter.com/readjack/status/1111122315247525889?s=21 https://twitter.com/readjack/status/1111122315247525889

The Seattle game in January ‘07 was such a beautiful moment for Bears fans. I basically blacked out for a minute after Robbie’s winner. Thank you to Rex and Rashied for this super-clutch throw and catch. Appreciate you RD!

https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2016/10/19/13330432/rashied-davis-the-king-of-3rd-down-2006-bears-interview

Bo Knows Division Clinchers!

@BoJackson giving the Sox a lead they would not relinquish en route to clinching the AL West, with this three-run shot in a scoreless game in the 6th. BO KNOWS BABY!

I got to cover the Hawks-Wings Game 7 in 2013, and the OT winner by Brent Seabrook remains one of the greatest sports moments I've ever seen live. Not sure I've ever heard a building as loud as the UC after that one. Final Hawks-Wings playoff game as conference-mates too. Unreal.