The previous generation always talked about “where they were” when JFK was shot, saying that was the one moment that everyone remembered where they were at that time.  I am not one to think that my memory is better than anyone else’s, but I can sure remember where I was when many more than one certain thing happened.  This also exists in the world of sports, so let’s do a test—do you remember where you were when all of these happened?  I’m going to guess that you probably do—they are the biggest “where were you?s” in sports in the last 20 years.

7. Tiger Woods and hookers
This spot or another probably should go to Mark McGwire’s 62nd home run, but that’s downright depressing to talk about now.  What percentage of early Christmas parties this past year the weekend after Thanksgiving had a Tiger discussion?  99.5%?  It was the second time that a Thanksgiving weekend produced a great “everyone’s talking about it moment” in four years, because Michael Richards’ racist blasts were right before Thanksgiving 2006.  I’m already giddy for what will happen this coming November.  Tiger’s story was one that started small, but you could immediately sense, “wow, this is going to be gigantic in another day or so.”

6. Janet Jackson Shows Her Nipple
This one almost isn’t fair to put on here because I can pretty much remember where I watched every Superbowl since 1988.  This one was noteworthy, however, because it was the first-ever huge TiVo moment.  The house I was watching at did not have TiVo yet, and I had to get a call from someone that said “did you see the nipple?  Oh, there was a nipple!”  I’ll also nominate this for most overblown story in American history.

5. The Goal
And the purpose behind this list.  I think that Landon Donovan’s goal last week will end up being a “where were you?” moment.  I’m sure that you can probably remember where you were last Wednesday, but maybe you can’t.  Anytime people are sharing stories about what the responses were like around them or what they were doing, you’re pretty sure that you have a WWY moment.  In this case, since many people were at work, you had tremendous stories of people trying to hold in their excitement because they were watching a soccer game on their computer instead of working, or people unable to control their joy and shouting out, or lots of noise coming from a break room, or being one of the lucky ones who took off to enjoy it with a fine Bloody Mary at a local drinking establishment. 

Personally, I was in a corner of a bar in Toronto surrounded by English people who didn’t really care to see the U.S. win.  It was a fine, fine vengeance moment.  This is the soccer version of what Albert Pujols’s home run against Brad Lidge was to Cardinal fans—the most amazing thing you’ve ever seen, then extreme disappointment after the next game, some down time, followed by “f -it, that was still unbelievable, I’m going to watch it 9,000 times a year and get chills every time.”

4. Magic Johnson has AIDS
I was about to leave for a junior high basketball game and one of our players’ favorite player was Magic.  He wouldn’t speak to anyone.  I’m pretty sure that we lost that night too, mainly because we usually played all-white teams who probably weren’t bothered by it as much.  How about his call that he was going to “beat it.”  It’s like Lance Armstrong calling his beating cancer.  The two greatest calls in sports history, and maybe life history.



3. Tyson Bites off Holyfield’s Ear
I wasn’t watching the fight because there were about 3,000 people crammed into a living room across the street, but I distinctly remember an insanely drunk person telling me that Tyson bit off Holyfield’s ear, and not believing it until I saw it.

2.    Jordan is Back
The first time I saw it was a headline in the paper that said “All Signs Point to Jordan Returning to Bulls.”  And just like that, a boring year-and-a-half of basketball was turned into possibly the best three ever.  Never had a non-championship event, and something that had nothing to do with actual wins and losses, ever produced so much joy, and I can’t imagine anything else nowadays really coming close, though if Pujols re-signs with the Cardinals for ten years that could possibly approach near the ballpark of it.

1.    OJ Bronco Chase
I was actually watching Larry King Live when he broke into say “They believe OJ Simpson is in that vehicle.”  Of course, Larry King was talking about OJ already.  I was 16 years old, watching Larry King Live.  At least I can take solace in knowing that I have always been a complete dork.