Some of them are moments for the ages: A big hit or a big touchdown in a game that we will remember vividly for decades. Those are attached to names like Jack Morris ... or Stefon Diggs ... or Maya Moore.
Others passed quickly, making an impact on the people who witnessed them and maybe some others in the telling. You know about Micah Koehn of Totino-Grace, don't you? The 2007 Prep Bowl? The winning play? It would have been a moment for the ages if it had happened someplace else. But for those saw it unfold, it was no less indelible.
Star Tribune reporters and editors gathered Wednesday night for a Virtual Happy Hour during which they drafted their favorite Minnesota clutch performances. The rules were fast and loose: It could be something that happened here, done by a Minnesota athlete somewhere else or had some kind of connection to the state.
Here's how the draft went. If you want to see what we said about our choices, along with back stories, photos and how others reacted to them, click on the Live Blog below.
The draft:
1. Kirby Puckett's Game 6 winning home run in the 1991 World Series. (Brian Stensaas, sports web editor and golf writer).
2. Kevin Garnett's Game 7 performance vs. the Kings in the 2004 NBA playoffs. (Jeff Day, copy editor).
3. The Minneapolis Miracle touchdown by Stefon Diggs vs. New Orleans in the 2016 NFL playoffs. (Jerry Zgoda, soccer writer).