Clubhouse Chatter: The best game I ever covered was ...
What our Sports staff has to say while waiting for the games to resume.
The list is lengthy, but I'll go with the 2008 "Blackout Game" between the White Sox and Twins. It was a rare win-and-go-to-the-playoffs or lose-and-go-home game, and the Sox moved on thanks to John Danks' arm, Jim Thome's bat, Ken Griffey Jr.'s defense and a jacked-up crowd on the South Side.
- Scot Gregor
A couple of games or events stand out as all-time favorites, such as Montini's epic 70-45 win over Joliet Catholic in the 2011 Class 5A state football championship. I did a color story for the Chicago Blackhawks' 2014 NHL Stadium Series game at Soldier Field against the Pittsburgh Penguins, held in a blizzard. The capper was the 2009 NHL Winter Classic between the Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings at Wrigley Field. I (and the Daily Herald's Joe Aguilar) got to skate on the fresh ice a few days in advance, and during the game I heard Stan Mikita tell stories in the makeshift press room below the right-field grandstand.
- Dave Oberhelman
Best game I ever covered was 1988 Class AA girls basketball semifinal between state power Maine West (33-0) and Marshall (28-0). A buzzer-beating, 17-foot baseline shot by sophomore Moria Kennelly gave coach Derril Kipp's club the dramatic 52-51 victory that allowed the Warriors go on to win the state crown over York.
- John Leusch
That is really hard to narrow down, but one of my favorite games I covered in recent memory was just this past winter. Rolling Meadows at Buffalo Grove boys basketball. It was a double-overtime win for Rolling Meadows in a battle for first place in the Mid-Suburban League East. Standing room only, loud and engaged crowd. And there was a personal duel like I've never seen between Max Christie of Rolling Meadows and Kam Craft of Buffalo Grove. Christie had 42 points and Craft had 46 points. Eighty-eight points between two players in the same game. In 25 years of covering sports, I have never seen anything like that.
- Patricia Babcock McGraw
The best game I've covered is the 2009 Class 7A state championship football game between legendary programs Wheaton Warrenville South and Glenbard West. The Tigers claimed their sixth state title with a 31-24 double-overtime doozy. Reilly O'Toole, Tommy Schutt, Johnny Caspers, Jordan Walsh ... an incredible game with incredible talent.
- Kevin Schmit