Goal celebrations

Simon Hattenstone in the Guardian sportblog wins Post of the Morning honours - now there's a new regular feature here to ponder - with this one on footy goal celebrations:

CP FILE PHOTO

Now that's a goal celebration.

It is remarkable what a celebration tells us about the scorer. Alan Shearer's macho outstretched arm is so Alan Shearer that he patented it. The brilliantly understated Colin Bell just about raised a hand in acknowledgment - a bashful thanks rather than a victorious salute. Denis Law celebrated with one finger in the air - stylish but modest - until he scored for City against United to relegate them and marked it with a grief-stricken tear. Samuel Eto'o followed a goal at Real Madrid's Bernabéu with a Black Power salute.

 

So let's think here. Playing off Simon's tee shot, what can we come up with for hockey? Corey Schneider put this Youtube compilation together (skip ahead to about the 1:45 mark for the actual top 10 hockey goal celebrations, unless you want to sit through another dose of hits and fights and *cringe* Chumbawumba).

Of that bunch, Milan Hejduk gets my nod. But what about this one? Here's a hint - Signature moment, and the in-the-air flourish looks on one level to be merely the finishing move - but the puck's already in the net. That's a celebration, even if it's not as separated from the actual goal as Hejduk's, or Tiger Williams, or Sean Avery doing Jack Palance (pick it up around the 3:30 mark, and RIP, Jack).

Bobby Orr winning the Cup (nice touch, the cheezy period soundtrack at the end; here's Dan Kelly's original call) - No. 1 choice here for best hockey goal celebration.

Comments

[Joe]

I haven't listened to the Dan Kelly call yet because I think I can still remember it.
But was just wondering perhaps you can get Zelkovich in on this. Who is The Best play by play man in hockey or sports. In today's landscape I quite enjoy The Swirsk. Can do without Bowen, and Bob Cole NEEDS! to retire. Of all time Hockey play by play guys I would put Kelly at the top of my list. I have that 87 Canada cup winning goal call in my memory bank. Probably one of the greatest of all time, along with Foster Hewit,s call of Henderson's 72 challenge cup winning goal.

[cy]

we've had this debate before. Everybody has their detractors and backers. but i have to admit one thing: when i put this post up this morning, i was 99 per cent sure that was Dan Kelly calling the goal and should have noted that. That's not 100 per cent. If anyone knows for absolute sure, let me know. It sure sounds like him an awful, awful lot, and that was his era.

[Carla]

Honestly, I hate these kinds of undignified on-ice antics. I can understand it if your goal has just clinched the Cup for your team, but there's only gonna be one of those goals scored each season. Not every dang goal all season long.

An understated celebration of a goal is what I would prefer to see. (And while we’re at it, could we please get rid of the 1. cheerleaders, 2. mascots, 3. eardrum-shattering pop music clips every time there is the merest stoppage in play, 4. exaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaggeraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaated introductions of the players/identifications of the scorers, 5. anthem singers who seem to think they’re on “American Idol” and embellish every note that has to be held for more than a single beat, and 6. yearly jersey changes?)

I could probably think of a few more, but I think I’ve whinged enough for today.

[Joe]

Yeah I think it is Kelly, but my audio here is not the best quality. The only other person that comes to mind would be Bill Hewitt. Not entirely sure but my gut says Kelly.