The big story in Philadelphia sports this week was the unexpected retirement of Marc Zumoff.

Zoo is calling it quits after 27 seasons as the Sixers play-by-play announcer. He wants to spend more time with his wife, travel, maybe learn a new language or musical instrument. He’s sort of like 50 Cent, who once famously said, “I’ve got a lot of living to do before I die, and I ain’t got time to waste.”

Not sure if Marc is familiar with that lyric, but it seems apt. He’s got the rest of his life in front of him after putting in a fantastic multi-decade shift as the voice of the local basketball team. Zumoff is a consummate pro and totally genuine person. Just a really down-to-Earth guy.

In his honor, we compiled our Mount Rushmore of Zoo’s best Sixers calls.

 

“He won the game! He won the game!”

This was in 2004, an overtime game winner from Allen Iverson. Believe it or not, this was one of two buzzer beaters A.I. would hit in the same month, and Zoo’s call was fantastic:

“3.9 to go… the steal by Iverson! Coasting in! He wins it! He won the game! He won the game! Do you love this game?!”

 

“Going for the win…. yesssssssssssssssss!”

March 18th, 2009.

The Sixers go on the road, to the Staples Center, and Andre Iguodala hits a game winner over Trevor Ariza and a Lakers team that would go on to win it all:

“Andre Iguodala, with the Sixers down two… going for the win… yesssssssssssssssssssss! Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh yessss!”

 

“Andre Iguodala… for the lead!”

Game 1 of the 2009 playoffs. The Sixers lost this series 4-2 but stole the opener in Orlando, against a Magic team that went all the way to the Finals. Hedo Turkoglu could not have played better defense on this possession, but Iguodala made it happen anyway:

“Sixers without a timeout. They get it to Iguodala, against Turkoglu. They spread the floor for Iguodala, against Turkoglu. Andre Iguodala… for the lead! Yessssssssssssss! Ohhhhhhhhhhh yesss! Andre Iguodala has done it again!”

 

“Iverson against Gill… the crowd on its feet”

November of 2004. Sixers vs. a Pacers team that only fielded eight players. Three of them fouled out in overtime, and it came down to Allen Iverson vs. Eddie Gill on the final possession:

“Shot clock unplugged. 104-104, seven seconds to play. Iverson against Gill, the crowd on its feet… Allen for the win… yessssssssssssssss!