Jamie Mottram's Sports Blog - www.misterirrelevant.com

Inspired by the new book Being There, I've asked sports bloggers/fans for their favorite in-person sporting moments. The contributions range from heartfelt and triumphant to absurd and mundane, and they're sure to put a smile on your face. Yesterday's post focused on the WWF and Monday's on the NBA, and today's looks at the NFL with other sports going up throughout the week. Stay tuned, and send your own Out of the Basement, Onto the Game moment to dcsportsguy@aol.com. It's almost sure to get posted.

Enrico Campitelli Jr., The 700 Level and FanHouse

4th and 26 - You know you've witnessed something special when you can simply say 4th and 26 and anyone who is a sports fan knows what you are referring to.  The gigantic swing of emotions from complete silence and dismay prior to 4th down to the entire Linc jumping up and down in shock and awe.  Once Freddie Mitchell caught that pass I knew the Eagles were coming back to beat Brett Favre.  It certainly didn't hurt that my Dad got tickets four hours before the game from his buddy and we ended up in the first row on the 48 yard line.  Sick. (It also inspired my first ever post at The 700 Level -- a simple picture of my view from the game.)

Brother L, The Big Lead and FanHouse

The Redskins were playing the Saints a few years ago in DC. Don't remember much due to the excessive amounts of booze that were consumed in the parking lot. Had great end zone seats. When the cheerleaders came out, I went to the area near the tunnel and yelled, 'Sarah!' Of course out of 30 chicks, one is going to be Sarah (it might have been Amy or Jen), so one of them turn around and look our way. A buddy and I crack up laughing as the cheerleader leans to her friend to try and discern who the hell I was.

At halftime of that game, the Saints players were coming through the tunnel, and I start yelling s--- at Aaron Brooks of the Saints. Something about how UVa wasn't s---. He clearly heard and flicked me off. Then came Michael Lewis, the UPS guy who had earlier in the game returned a punt for a score. I kept saying how slow he was, 'You're slow! I ran a faster 40 time in high school!' and weak stuff like that. He goes, 'Watch, I'm gonna get me another.'

Second half,  he runs a punt back for a score, his second of the game.

Tom Fornelli, Foul Balls and FanHouse

God, this is a tough question.  The White Sox playoff games in 2005 were excellent, but they're not the games I'm going to choose.

In terms of sheer amazement it has to be the Bears game I went to on November 4th, 2001.   It was the last time I'd ever be at the old Soldier Field.

The Bears were playing the Browns and we trailed 21-7 with under a minute to go and Shane Matthews at quarterback.    Almost the entire crowd had left, but not us.   My friend Silvio had been at the Bears game a week earlier when they made a miraculous comeback against the 49ers, and Mike Brown returned an interception for a touchdown at the start of overtime to win the game.   After seeing that we knew better than to leave early.

With :28 seconds left Shane Matthews found Marty Booker for a 9-yard touchdown. 21-14.

Bobby Howard then recovered an onside kick at the 47-yard line.   A few plays later Shane Matthews was launching a Hail Mary 34 yards into the end zone.   Keep in mind my mom has a stronger arm than Shane Matthews, so this was like a career achievement in and of itself.

Anyway, the ball was tipped away by the Cleveland defender, but James Allen grabbed it mere millimeters before it hit the ground.   21-21.   Overtime.

And wouldn't you know it?  After the Bears went three and out Mike Brown made another interception and returned this one for a touchdown too.   He never even stopped running.   He kept going all the way back to the locker room as Soldier Field went f---ing ballistic.

I even made a Browns fan cry.   She was talking a lot of smack while they were winning, and after the play was over I turned around and gave her the finger while yelling, "F--- you!  Go back to Cleveland."

A few minutes later she came over to me with a big guy-I'm 6'2, 235 pounds so keep in mind when I say big guy, I mean BIG GUY-and she said with tears in her eyes, "That's him!  That's the guy that said 'F--- you!'"

The big man looked at me for a second, and I peed a little.   He then smiled and yelled "Go Bears!!" before giving me a high five.  

You should have seen the look on the girls face.   F---ing priceless.

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