Your Most Memorable Victory Celebration

By JOHN P. WISE
One Great Season

After watching two great sporting celebrations within minutes of each other late Saturday night — following San Francisco's clinching of the National League pennant and then Missouri's upset of Oklahoma — I couldn't help but think back to my own favorite celebrations.

I've got a few Ohio State postgames in mind, but for some reason am drawing blanks about my mid-1990s Cleveland Indians, winners of two American League pennants.

The one celebration I never forget, however, is the one to which I had absolutely zero rooting connection. In fact, I've always kind of disliked the New Jersey Devils over the years.

But the way that team erupted in 2000 after Jason Arnott scored his Stanley Cup-clinching goal in the second overtime of Game 6 in Dallas will always stay with me. At least I hope it does.

The image of grown men, many with sweaty playoff beards, jumping and hugging and even crying, always makes for a magazine-cover moment.

What great victory celebration do you most remember?