America Loves Countdowns

Countdown #3: Biggest Breaks in Pittsburgh Sports History

There is a great phrase that you hear often in sports: "I'd rather be lucky than good." There have been many amazing moments in Pittsburgh sports history, and many atheletes whose brilliant skill has made those moments possible. Then there are the moments where a great bounce or an opponent's mistake changes everything about a game, season, or even the course of a franchise. These are the moments we will examine in the 3rd list of the "America Loves Countdowns" series.

Amos Zereoue's Fumble
Pitt and West Virginia have a great rilvary, and no Backyard Brawl was better than the 1997 game at WVU. Pitt needed a win to advance to its first bowl game in nearly a decade, and the game went back and forth until overtime came. After a scoreless first overtime, Pitt blew its chance in the second frame when QB Pete Gonzalez threw an interception (which could have made the WVU list of biggest breaks). All West Virginia needed to do was get into field goal range, which shouldn't have been a difficult task given that they were starting from the 25 yard line and that Mountaineers RB Amos Zereoue had already ran for 151 yards and three touchdowns. But on the first play of the OT, Zereoue (who almost never fumbled) lost the ball and Pitt recovered, giving them another shot. They took full advantage in the third OT, converting a 4th and 17 play and then scoring the game-winning touchdown to end one of the greatest games in college football history.

Vinny Testaverde's Career
I didn't want to cram the list full of Vinny moments, so we're just going to count his entire career as a break for the Steelers. Besides, I've lost count of just how many times a Vinny mistake has helped propel the Steelers to victory. Perhaps the most dubious moment came last season, when Vinny fumbled the ball away - without being hit - in the final two minutes of a game which Dallas was leading. The Steelers recovered the ball and scored the go-ahead touchdown to win the game.

Sergei Gonchar's Lost Puck
A Penguins-Capitals playoff series appears twice on this list. The two teams met in the playoffs seven times from 1991-2001, and the Pens got the better of the Capitals six of those times, including a memorable first round series in 2001. In Game 6 of that series, the Penguins and Capitals went into overtime. A goal by the Caps would have sent the series back to Washington for game 7. Washington defenseman Sergei Gonchar slowly began bringing the puck out of his own end when he suddenly lost control of the puck (it was the equivalent to a fumble in football). Pens forward Martin Straka picked up the loose puck and skated in all alone on Capitals goalie Olaf Kolzig to score the series winning goal.

Terry Bradshaw's Coin Toss
The Steelers and Bears both finished with 1-13 records in 1969, so who got the #1 pick the next year? That was decided upon by a coin toss. The Steelers called it right and wound up with a young quarterback named Terry Bradshaw and four Super Bowl trophies. The Bears wound up with much less, all because of the lucky flip of a coin.

Calle Johansson's Kick
Here was the situation: Game 5 of the first round of the 2000 NHL playoffs. Pens and Capitals are tied 1-1 with 12:04 remaining in the game. Pens superstar Jaromir Jagr attempts a pass across the ice in front of the Washington net. Capitals defenseman Calle Johansson accidentally kicks the puck into his own net. The Pens take a 2-1 lead and play defense the rest of the game to clinch the win. Game over, series over, season over for the Capitals.
(click here for video of this play)

Tony Kubek's Bad Hop
Game 7 of the 1960 World Series. We all know the story - Bill Mazeroski's famous homerun wins the series in the bottom of the 9th inning at Forbes Field. But the Bucs were actually trailing 7-4 in the bottom of the 8th and the Yankees had a chance to put them away. That's when what should have been a routine double play ball bounced funny and hit Yankees SS Tony Kubek in the throat. That play prolonged the inning and the Pirates eventually rallied to take a 9-7 lead. The Yankees came back and tied it in the top of the 9th, setting the stage for Mazeroski's homer in the bottom frame, but none of it would have ever happened if not for this play.

Drew Bledsoe's Screen Pass
The Steelers and Patriots were two of the top teams in the AFC when they met in Foxboro for a late season game in 1997. New England had a secure 8 point lead and good field position as the clock ticked down to the two minute warning. If they got a first down, they could take a knee, and even if they didn't get a first down, they would pin the Steelers deep in their own territory with a punt. But then New England ran a play that I still cannot believe happened. Drew Bledsoe threw a screen pass to RB Dave Megget which was picked off by Steelers DL Kevin Henry. The big lineman rumbled down the field, and that set up the Steelers offense to tie the game and eventually win it in overtime. It was a miracle finish made possible by an absolutely horrific Bledsoe decision, and it gave the Steelers homefield advantage and a week's rest when the two teams met the following month in the playoffs.

Doug Brien's Epic Collapse
Although the Steelers went 15-1 in 2004, their dream season was about to come to an end in the divisional playoff round. The New York Jets were about to attempt a field goal which would have given them a 3 point lead with only two minutes left in the game. Kicker Doug Brien missed the field goal, but the Jets defense intercepted QB Ben Roethlisberger, and Brien got a second chance. This time the situation was even better for New York - there were four seconds left so the Steelers wouldn't even have a chance to score after the kick. But to the shock of everyone, Brien missed the second field goal. In fact, he was even more off than he was on the first. The Steelers went on to win the game in overtime, making Doug Brien an immortal figure in the hall of great chokers.

Kevin Stevens' Bank Shot
The New York Rangers had a 12 game lead in the Patrick Division standings late in the 1991 season, but the Penguins had battled back, and by the time the two teams met at the Civic Arena on March 21, they were neck-and-neck in the standings. The Pens had never won a championship of ANY kind - division or otherwise - and this was going to be one of the more important games in team history. The game went into overtime and the Pens won the opening faceoff. LW Kevin Stevens, seeing no opportunity to skate into the New York end of the ice, simply dumped the puck down towards the Rangers net. This happens at least a dozen times in every game, and normally the goalie takes the puck and passes it to one of his teammates. But fate was smiling on the Penguins that night. The "shot" bounced off the boards and was misplayed by Rangers goalie John Vanbiesbrouck. The puck barely crossed over the line, and with it came the Penguins most improbable victory ever. They would go on to clinch the division title a couple of days later. That goal was so important because it helped launch the team into a dynasty, much like the next moment on this list.

Franco Harris' Immaculate Reception
Yes, it was the greatest moment in NFL history, and yes, Franco's hustle made the play possible. But try to re-enact that play - it's impossible. The fact that the ball bounced the direction and distance it did was a complete fluke, but it gave the Steelers a playoff victory and like Kevin Stevens' goal, helped induce a dynasty.

Honorable Mentions:

• David Justice's Missed Tag: in game 5 of the 1991 NLCS, Braves OF Justice is called out after missing 3rd base, and an Atlanta run is taken off the board. It proves costly as the Pirates hang on to win 1-0.
• Steeler's Series of Fortunate Events to End 1989 Season: the Steelers needed four outcomes to go their way on the final day of the season in order to make the playoffs, and all four went their way
• Joe Paterno's Loss of Sanity: has helped Pitt to surpass PSU as the dominate local college football team