Lawrence Moten

Moten, a member of SU's All-Century Team, and the leading scorer in SU and Big East history, has returned to Syracuse University. Awesome.

SYRACUSE, NY -- Syracuse basketball great Lawrence Moten has returned to his alma mater to further his education and assist the Orange. Moten has returned to school to finish his degree requirements and will be working with the men’s basketball program providing administrative and operational support to the coaches and staff and working with the student-athletes on personal development matters. (SUathletics.com).

Even though I've never seen Moten play, he occupies a special place in my heart. I've been trying to keep my Sports Sauna posts shorter, and less boring, but allow me this indulgence: Lawrence Moten played a central role in one of the two greatest sports radio moments I've ever heard. It is difficult for me to separate "great" from "memorable," but this moment was both: Seattle sports radio host Mitch Levy, a SU grad who now has one of the city's most listened to shows, was miserable after Moten and Syracuse got bounced out of the 1995 NCAA tourney. Moten, of course, had called a Chris Webber-style timeout which cost the Orange the game. Levy opened his segment on the loss brilliantly: "Lawrence," he said. He paused. "Moten." Levy paused again. "Lawrence," he said. He paused. "Moten." Over and over, Levy said Moten's name. I don't know how many times he said it. It felt like 50. It could have been only 10. Whatever. As a listener, you couldn't wait for him to be finished. Not because you were bored, but because you were insanely curious what he had to say about Moten's error. Levy turned a dumb-mistake into gripping radio. Lawrence. Moten. Ugh. (I don't particularily recall Levy's post "Lawrence. Moten." analysis. He was bummed).

The second broadcast moment, if you care, was less a "moment" than an "epic performance." 1999 NLCS, Game 5, NYMets and Atlanta Braves. I wasn't a fan of either team, but Charlie Steiner's amazing commentary turned me into a baseball fan for life. The game was legendary — NY Mets who were facing a second elimination game after the Braves had taken a 3-0 series lead, went down a run in the top of the 15th inning, before they scored two in the bottom of the 15th to win — but the announcing was fan-making music. ...If you know what I mean.