The 5 Greatest Sports Call Of All Time | Mike Gunz

44-years-ago yesterday, February 22nd, 1980, Team USA's men's hockey team made history when they defeated the Soviet Union. The American hockey team was full of a bunch of college-aged amateurs who had pretty much no business even making it to the medal round, let alone later winning the gold medal against Finland.

As broadcaster, Al Michaels famously asked us all that day, "Do you believe in miracles?" to which Americans still to this day scream a resounding, "Yes!" 

Of course, many years have passed since Michaels' famous call that eventually made him one of the top sports broadcasters of all time. Unfortunately, only to then be put out of his misery by calling a stretch of the worst Thursday Night Football games ever on Amazon Prime. 

But the Michaels' anniversary got me thinking - is Al Michaels call the greatest of all time? Check out my Top 5 here, as well as what some of the OutKick audience thinks as well!

5. "The band is on the field!"- Joe Starkey

We'll take it back to November 20th, 1982 to the Stanford vs Cal. football rivalry. Stanford had just scored and were up 20-19 with just four seconds left in the game. This one was over folks; pack your bags, say your goodbyes, and head to the local bars to drink in celebration or misery. 

That is, until it wasn't.

I'm talking about FIVE LATERALS in what would simply be known for decades as "The Play." 

Starkey's call is absolutely legendary as you can hear the emotion in his voice build up with each successful lateral thrown, only to then have all 144 members of the fricken Stanford marching band LITERALLY run onto the playing field, causing Cal defensive back Kevin Moen to BOUNCE off of trombone player Gary Tyrrell into the end zone. (Funny story - Cal only had 10 players on the field instead of 11, so Moen moved over to accommodate the missing field position.)

The only reason this call isn't higher is because, unfortunately, even though someone like me in their 30s knows this play, many people my age and younger don't. 

4. "Good God almighty! As God is my witness, he is broken in half!" - WWE Commentator Jim Ross 

We go from something perhaps only older people will know, into something that millennial and Gen Z sports fans are very familiar with. WWE Hall of Fame commentator Jim Ross called the "Hell in a Cell" match between The Undertaker and Mankind at the 1998 King of the Ring.

Before you roll your eyes because it's wrestling, watch the clip above. You will DEFINITELY be familiar with the call as it's used all the time now in highlight videos and memes whenever someone gets absolutely wrecked, which is what happened to Mankind, also known as Mick Foley. 

Jim Ross's reaction is 100% real here in this call, as nobody except Foley and The Undertaker knew that Mick was about to be thrown off the top of the 22-foot-high cage onto the announcers' table that was not prepped for the impact. (Normally they remove certain electronic parts and TVs if a wrestler is supposed to go through the table - they didn't here.)  It's just an absolute INSANE move to witness live and Jim Ross nailed it with the call. 

You can regularly hear Ross's famous reaction in NFL and other sports highlights.

3. 2013 IRON BOWL - 109-yard game winning field goal on short field goal  Rod Bramblett / Auburn Radio Network

This play is straight up UNREAL and will have college football fans talking about it for the rest of time. 

Iron Bowl 2013. Auburn had just tied the game 28-28 with 32 seconds left only to have Alabama get a couple first downs and setup for a game-wininng 57 yard field goal. 

As the kick went short, Auburn's Chris Davis caught it and would end up running it back the ENTIRE length of the field, making it a 109-yard return, the longest ever in football history. 

You know it's a historical call when it's given a nickname. This one will forever be known as "Kick Six," playing off of "pick six."

2. Kirk Gibson's pinch hit walk-off home run of the 1988 World Series - Jack Buck

Every baseball and sports fan knows this one. Kirk Gibson, with two legs that were absolutely shot, hobbles up as a pinch hitter in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Jack Buck (yes, Joe Buck's father for the youngings out there) and Bill White are on the call. 

Dodger's trailed 4-3 with one on and two outs and a full count in the bottom of the 9th.  Gibson takes an off-speed pitch and hits it over the wall. His iconic fist pump as he rounds second base is what every kid dreams about playing baseball in their backyard growing up. 

Buck goes absolutely wild. Screaming, "I don't believe what I just saw! I don't believvvve what I just saw!!! Is this really happening?!" 

Just perfect. (Vin Scully's TV call is also amazing - but Buck has it here with his famous quote.)

1. Miracle On Ice - Al Michaels

Without a doubt, this one means everything.

Michaels' call single-handedly sums up the United States being able to not only defeat the Soviets in hockey, but also in the Cold War as well. 

If you ever want to get pumped up, just rematch this game on YouTube or check out "Miracle' starring Kurt Russel as Team USA coach Herb Brooks. 

I recently spoke with the captain of the team Mike Eurizione - who needless to say still loves America, and told me about how impactful that game was as a rallying cry for the country. 

Hands down, best call. Well done, Al! 

HONORABLE MENTIONS

The OutKick audience chimed in with their own favorite calls. Many people love Johnny Rodgers punt return that helped Nebraska defeat Oklahoma in "The Game of the Century."

Some other calls that were mentioned include "The Immaculate Reception" with Terry Bradshaw and the Steelers defeating the Raiders in an UNBELIEVABLE way and honestly a heck of a call that, unfortunately, I don't think the younger audience knows these days. 

Here are some of your other suggestions! 

How'd I do? What are your top 5 sports calls of all time? Email me: Michael.Gunzelman@OutKick.com or tweet me @TheGunzShow and let me know!