JAM Snub Wins Top Moment Vote

Steve Testa's infamous June 20, 1998 haircut was the overwhelming winner of the Top JAM Moment of All Time survey, buoyed by a late onrush of ballot-box-stuffing -- er, votes. The Haircut garnered a ridiculous 41 overall votes out of 75 cast, a 55-percent majority.

Testa, noted for his carefully crafted coiffure, claimed to have an appointment that Saturday in June that precluded his appearance in Yonkers.

How could a JAM snub be selected as the greatest JAM moment?

"Because it's the EQ," said JAM founder Mike Campoli, who originally placed the unkind cut on the ballot, "and it's provided us with unlimited ammunition to call an otherwise hard man soft without him being able to say anything about it."

Testa did not appear at the 2000 JAM today, but at least he had a slightly better excuse this time -- a new job with IBM in North Carolina.

"I must say I am shocked that something that has brought me so much ribbing over the last two years is now a part of JAM history," Testa said from his Durham, N.C., e-mail account. "I will never, ever live it down now. The people have spoken."

The battle for second place was heated, but it was won by the infamous Crowley-Alt collision from JAM II with seven votes. The similarly infamous Rob-Duffy collision from the following JAM tied the first JAM pinch-running substitution for third place with six votes apiece.

Voting took place on "The JAM Online," the official website of the JAM, this spring. Multiple votes were permitted.

The results of the election were officially announced today at the 2000 JAM. The complete list appears below, along with memories of some of those moments from the people that made them happen. Ties are presented in chronological order, as best as possible.

NO. 1 (41 votes): The E.Q. misses The Notorious J.A.M. to get his hair cut. Steve Testa's notorious coiffure needs constant maintenance, so the Equalizer turned down an invitation to the 1998 JAM. Testa remembers: I think I felt an empty feeling sitting in the barber chair. A feeling as if I was supposed to be someplace else. Usually geting my hair cut is a happy day, but not that day... Mike Campoli remembers: Blakes (Chris Blakely) actually made the call and told me. "Guess why Steve can't show up?" "I dunno -- he's supposed to do something with Katie (Wood, his girlfriend)?" "No. He's getting his hair cut. He said he made an appointment and he can't break it." NO. 2 (7 votes): Crowley barrels into Keith Alt at JAM II. At the highest scoring JAM in history, the Boom Boxers' Chris Crowley proved that he would stop at nothing in an effort to get the win, as he slammed into Patches first baseman Keith Alt after hitting a routine infield grounder. The impact sent the lanky Alt flying and caused him to drop the ball. Crowley was safe at first. NO. 3 (tie) (6 votes): Rob and Duffy collide at JAM III. It was a meeting of the minds, literally, as Patches left fielder Rob Andrusco and shortstop Myles Duffy collided in shallow left field on a pop fly hit by the Blasters' Heather Docherty. The impact of the vicious hit left Duffy's eye swollen shut and Rob's lip split open. Remarkably, despite the swelling and the bleeding, Rob insisted that he wasn't hurt that badly and took the field for another inning before finally going to the hospital for stitches. By doing so, Rob unquestionably earns praise as the toughest JAMmer of all time. NO. 3 (tie) (6 votes): Spellman replaces Fornabaio as a pinch runner at JAM VI. After watching Mike Fornabaio smack a double, Chris Spellman, the Patches' innovative captain, inserted himself into the game as a pinch runner. Fornabaio didn't protest, but instead said, "Hey, I just wanna win." Fornabaio remembers: Well, actually, if I remember right, it was a two-base throwing error on a weak ground ball to short. I saw the ball fly past me, and I knew I had to get two bases, because we were still only down three. But man, by the time I got there, I was tired. Chugging 120 feet down to second... Frankly, I was pretty damn happy to see someone trotting out to get me. NO. 5 (4 votes): Campoli hits five home runs at the Mad Phat JAM. In one of the greatest offensive performances in the modern era, Mike Campoli hit five home runs and a double, for a total of 22 bases, to help lead the Boom Boxers to their first title. NO. 6 (tie) (2 votes): Rob's home run at The Event Formerly Known as The JAM. Rob Andrusco put an exclamation point on a ten run first inning for the Patches by blasting a three run home run to center field. The Patches maintained the lead, and captured their first title (Patches '99!) in six years. NO. 6 (tie) (2 votes): Tom Dever legs out a triple for the Blasters at JAM VI. This was by far the longest Tom had run in one burst in a while. NO. 8 (tie) (1 vote): Spellman turns the first double play in JAM history, JAM II. On a ball hit by the next batter after the infamous Crowley-Alt collision, Patches captain Chris Spellman made a fine play on an infield grounder, stepped on the tire that substituted as second base to force the out on Crowley, and made the relay to Alt at first. Alt, shaking off the effects of the hit from Crowley, scooped the ball up to complete the double play. NO. 8 (tie) (1 vote): Jen and the 40 oz. bottle of Colt 45 after JAM III. Enough said. NO. 8 (tie) (1 vote): Smith fans nine at The Grand Slam JAM. In a stunning display of skill and poise, Blasters pitcher Sue Smith struck out a record nine players in an 11-8 win over the Teats. Among her victims were Jer Silkowski (twice), Carter Morgan and Geoff Bowler. NO. 8 (tie) (1 vote): Karen's hit at JAM IV. With two outs in the seventh inning and the Blasters clinging to a 9-8 lead in the Grand Slam JAM, Karen Zimmerman somehow made contact and hit a soft ground ball that never made it past Patches pitcher Missy Jackson. Missy then bobbled the ball, allowing Karen to reach first. By getting on base, Karen set the stage for Campoli and George McShane to deliver consecutive hits that upped the lead to 11-8, the final score. NO. 8 (tie) (1 vote): Twon leaves The Phi Beta JAM. After collecting a hit at JAM V for the Blasters, Antoine Carr, the man after whom The Lord Twon JAM Cup is named, hopped in his car, cranked up the stereo, and rolled out of Cook Field, looking hard the whole time. NO. 8 (tie) (1 vote): Myles Duffy's rained-out chess game with John Annese (write-in). Annese remembers: "I had (the chess set) in my car or something. Duffy said, 'Bring it out. I want to play against you.'" NO. 8 (tie) (1 vote): The Six-Foot Wedge (write-in). No JAM would be complete without the celebratory six-foot wedge back at Campoli's house. The postgame meal has occasionally been pizza in recent years, but the wedge lives on. Matt Fornabaio (the voter) remembers: My brother, Mike Campoli and I got into the big green Camry and went to buy the six-foot wedge, the whole time chanting, "Six-foot wedge, six-foot wedge!" The following did not receive a vote, but that in no way diminishes their contributions to JAM history: June 12, 1993. The first pitch in JAM history. Deming and Gino. Upon arriving for JAM II, Deming got his black sweat pants caught on a piece of rust on his car, Gino, not once, not twice, but three times in a span of 30 seconds. After the third time, Deming kicked the car and screamed, "Damn it Gino, what the hell are you trying to do to me?!" (Ed. note: It was much more amusing if you actually witnessed it.) Outback Sven, the first international JAMmer, takes the field at The Prime Time JAM. With Duffy and Rob injured, and the list of available players dwindling, Outback Sven, an Irish native, got the call to play left field for the Blasters. Never having played baseball before, his first question upon picking up a glove was, "Which hand do I put this on?" Despite the fact that he guessed wrongly, he still recorded a putout. Jim's catch to start off JAM V. Although he didn't remind anybody of Willie Mays, Patches rightfielder Jim Altomare -- a notoriously poor fielder -- began JAM V by catching a fly ball hit by the Blasters' Mike Campoli. "I hit it at Jim," Campoli muttered after the play. "What more could I have done?" The keg in the garbage can at JAM VII. Enough said.

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