As the Knicks prepare for game three against the 76ers, Joel Embiid’s declaration that the Sixers will still win the series hangs over everything heading back to Philadelphia.
Boomer and Gio agreed that it was a soft guarantee, as Embiid made his comments with his head buried in his hand, dejected after a devastating game two loss at The Garden.
But Embiid’s comments got Boomer and Gio thinking what is the greatest sports guarantee ever made, with both agreeing that it came from a New York athlete, but disagreeing on which guarantee is No. 1.
Boomer says it is Mark Messier guaranteeing victory over the Devils in the 1994 Eastern Conference Final before being the star of the game and saving the Blueshirts’ season.
“Messier did it here, in a city in which the other team lives, and hates your team,” Boomer said. “He came through with a hat trick.”
Gio countered with Joe Namath’s famous guarantee before Super Bowl III, before Gang Green pulled off what is still one of the biggest upsets in Super Bowl history.
“They were a two touchdown underdog in that Super Bowl,” Gio said. “I’m not taking anything away from the Messier guarantee. It’s No. 2.”
“I don’t know how many general people in 1969 were paying attention,” Boomer countered. “The Super Bowl was in its infancy. I would say the way that Messier made the guarantee, on the back page of the newspapers here in New York, and the Devils are here.”