Traina Thoughts: Two Years Ago Today, the World Was Treated to One of the Greatest Play-By-Play Calls in Sports History

Two years ago today, Kevin Harlan did amazing play-by-play of a fan running on the field.
Traina Thoughts: Two Years Ago Today, the World Was Treated to One of the Greatest Play-By-Play Calls in Sports History
Traina Thoughts: Two Years Ago Today, the World Was Treated to One of the Greatest Play-By-Play Calls in Sports History /

1. Happy anniversary, Kevin Harlan. Two years ago today, Sept. 12, 2016, the man with the best pipes in the business, did play-by-play of a fan running onto the field during a Rams-Niners game and it instantly become one of the greatest calls in sports broadcasting history.

Interestingly, when I interviewed Harlan on the SI Media Podcast this April he told me (39 minutes into the podcast) that he initally regretted the call, but now he's fine with it. He also went through exactly what that moment was like for him and how his now famous call came about.

2. If you read Traina Thoughts on a regular basis, you know that I've said many times that the most bizarre people on the face of the earth are football coaches. Here is the latest example that proves my theory to be correct. 

3. I know we live in a social media world, but I always find it very strange when people with relationship issues take to Twitter or Instagram to share an update, but that's what golfer Dustin Johnson did yesterday after the internet discovered that Paulina Gretzky wiped him off her Instagram page.

4. There is no better weekly segment on sports television than Scott Van Pelt's "Bad Beats." This week was particularly outstanding. If you're someone who does not bet on sports, but was toying with the idea to dip into the pool now that it's legal in some states, you might want to watch this as a precaution. 

5. To beard or not to beard? That is the question facing Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek and the show is letting you vote on whether he should keep the facial hair via it's Instagram story.

ESPN's Bob Ley, who rocked the sports media world recently by going beard after being clean shaven for most of his career, had some words of inspiration for Trebek.

6. Jacob deGrom should be a unanimous Cy Young Award winner this season.

7. RANDOM YOUTUBE VIDEO OF THE DAY: A new SI Media Podcast drops early Thursday morning with the one and only Gus Johnson. (Subscribe to the podcast here to make sure you get it delivered directly to the device of your choice.) We talked for a while about this famous call and Johnson revealed something very surprising about it.

Traina Thoughts is the best of the Internet, plus musings by SI.com writer, Jimmy Traina. Get the link to a new Traina's Thoughts each day by following on Twitter and liking on Facebook. Catch up on previous editions of Traina Thoughts right here.And make sure to listen to and subscribe to the SI Media Podcast hosted by Jimmy Traina.

IN CLOSING: I'll miss betting against Nathan Peterman every week.


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Jimmy Traina
JIMMY TRAINA

Jimmy Traina is a staff writer and podcast host for Sports Illustrated. A 20-year veteran in the industry, he’s been covering the sports media landscape for seven years and writes a daily column, Traina Thoughts. Traina has hosted the Sports Illustrated Media Podcast since 2018, a show known for interviews with some of the most important and powerful people in sports media. He also was the creator and writer of SI’s Hot Clicks feature from 2007 to '13.