Happy 30th ESPN!

If you're as old as I am, can you remember what it was like to follow sports before ESPN came into our world? You pretty much had to get the daily newspaper. You could also go to your local bookstore and purchase a magazine. Without a doubt, ESPN has totally revolutionized the way we view the sports world.

About a year ago, someone asked me the six things I couldn't live without. ESPN was one of those things. I am a sports junkie, you see.

As I'm watching last night's celebration on SportsCenter, Chris Berman, John Saunders, and Bob Ley were reflecting on certain events that have happened in sports since ESPN has been on the air for the past 30 years. I took a moment to reflect on some of my own personal memories since ESPN hit the airwaves in September, 1979. Here they are in no particular order. I selected one moment from each of my selfmade categories, so to speak.

Pro Football: "The Catch" - Joe Montana to Dwight Clark to lead the San Francisco 49ers over the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Championship. A legend was born that day. And I won a $5 bet from my manager...I had the Niners.

College Football: "Hail Mary" - Flutie to Phelan for a TD and a win over the Miami Hurricanes. This single play probably got Flutie the Heisman. And what a play it was.

Baseball: Cal Ripken, Jr. breaks Lou Gehrig's "Iron Man" streak - Seeing Cal take a lap around Camden Yards still sends chills. What an ambassador he's been for baseball.

Golf: Tiger Woods sinking the birdie putt on the 18th hole at Torrey Pines to force a playoff with Rocco Mediate at the 2008 U.S. Open - What's better than this? Tiger was one leg due to a knee that was ravaged. And NBC's Dan Hicks gave us probably the second best call in all of sports with "Expect anything different?". It was actually Rocco's reaction that sums it up, "I knew he was gonna make it."

Tennis: Michael Chang beating Ivan Lendl at the 1989 French Open despite dealing with severe cramping - And Chang went on to win the French Open for his only Grand Slam victory. The underhand serve. It's on YouTube.

Pro Basketball: The Denver Nuggets become the first #8 seed to beat a #1 seed in the playoffs - I chose this one for one reason...I can still see Dikembe Mutombo on the ground and clutching the ball after the Nuggets won Game 5. They played best 3 out of 5 then. My apologies to His Airness, Magic, and Bird.

College Basketball: North Carolina State wins 1983 NCAA Champioship over Houston on last second "pass" - That "pass" from Dereck Whittenburg to Lorenzo Charles and watching Jimmy V run around the court as if he's looking for someone to hug.

Pro Hockey: The New York Rangers winning the Stanley Cup in 1993-1994 - Mark Messier was brought to the Big Apple for this reason alone. To see all the raw emotion from him while being presented the Cup speaks louder than any words.

Olympics: "Miracle on Ice" - This is my favorite sports moment ever. Disney even made a movie about it. "Do you believe in miracles? Yes!" Al Michaels, then of ABC, gave us the greatest line(s) even spoken in reference to sports. The U.S. hockey team went on to beat Finalnd and win the gold medal in what many still call the greatest upset in the history of sports.

Do you have memories you would like to share? Let me know as comments are always welcome.

Happy 30th birthday, ESPN! We wouldn't know what to do without ya!