Thanks for the memories.

• Author: Barrett, Wayne M.
• Position: Highlights of sports during the 1980s and 1990s - Column

THIS BEING a time of Thanksgiving, it would be remiss for this columnist not to do just that, for life in the pressbox truly is an unbeatable way to make a living. What follows is a subjective list of some of the most important sporting events I've covered.

* Game 4, 1992 Stanley Cup Finals, Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Ill. The Pittsburgh Penguins won a wild Game 3, 6-5, setting up the nail-biting 1-0 shutout sweep over the Blackhawks the next night. The Stadium has since been replaced, but the sight of Mario Lemieux holding Lord Stanley's trophy aloft never can be.

* 1987 American Football Conference Championship, Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio. The setting was perfect: a gray, bleak Sunday afternoon; the Browns adorned in mud-caked white; the snow swirling from the bruising winds off Lake Erie; the Depression-era-built stadium bursting with rabid fans hungry for their first Super Bowl appearance. They almost got their wish. A long touchdown pass gave the Browns the lead with just minutes to play. The ensuing kickoff was fumbled, but Denver recovered and was forced to start on their own four-yard line. Ninety-six yards later, "The Drive" was over and a bitter (for Browns fans) overtime loss lay ahead.

* Game 7, 1986 World Series, Shea Stadium, Flushing, N.Y. Following Game 6's heartbreaking loss, in which the Red Sox blew a two-run lead with two out in the ninth--will anyone ever forget Mookie Wilson's cue-ball grounder snaking through Red Sox first baseman Bill Buckner's legs?--Boston rightfielder Dwight Evans spoke of the endless string of bad luck, bad bounces, and bad breaks that had halted the Sox every year since 1918: "I don't believe in curses, or ghosts, or magic spells, but I'm beginning to." His worst beliefs were confirmed the next day as the Mets were crowned World Champions.

* 1981 AFC Wildcard Game, Shea Stadium. The Jets hadn't made the playoffs since Joe Namath's heyday. The weather at Shea was cold, rainy, and, as usual, windy. The auxiliary press facilities were at field level in the end zone. Best of all, there was a happy ending for the since beleaguered Buffalo fans. The Bills were way ahead; then a miraculous comeback by the Jets fell just short, dying with an interception inside the Buffalo 10 in the waning seconds. The rain felt good.

* Game 5, 1986 National League Championship Series, Shea Stadium. Here was the tipoff that, despite being outplayed in the post-season, the Mets were about to pull off the...