FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Referee Tony Morelli made headlines last Sunday for cursing into a live mic during the New England Patriots-Buffalo Bills game, triggering memories from one of the greatest referee mic moments in NFL history.
On Oct. 5, 1986, Ben Dreith made his famous "giving him the business" call during a New York Jets-Bills game.
In honor of the 30-year anniversary, let's take a look back.
Dreith called a personal foul on Jets defensive tackle Marty Lyons, who was punching quarterback Jim Kelly in a pile up. It sparked a bench-clearing melee. Unlike Morelli, who didn't know the mic was on, Dreith knew exactly what he was saying to the crowd. He misidentified Lyons (he's actually No. 93), but it still was a legendary moment.
"Personal foul, No. 99 of the defense," Dreith announced. "After he tackled the quarterback, he was giving him the business down there."
To emphasize it, Dreith gave a mini-demonstration, showing the world with his right arm what it looks like to give someone the business.
Lyons, reached by phone Wednesday, laughed when told it was the 30-year anniversary. He remembered it as a chippy game, perhaps because Kelly made unflattering comments in the media about the Jets' pass rush.
"I landed on top of him and -- I'll clean this up -- he said, 'Get the F off me,'" Lyons said. "I said, 'F you,' and that started it. The following Wednesday, when the fines came from the league, I got an $800 fine for fighting. I remember thinking, 'I got my money's worth.' I got in at least eight punches.
"Jim was a fighter. He's a Hall of Fame quarterback, but he always played with a linebacker's mentality. There were no hard feelings. If you look at the tape, you can see me pat him on the helmet afterward. We've seen each other a bunch of times over the years at various charity events, and we always laugh about it."
Lyons said he laughed when he heard Dreith on the mic. He thinks Kelly laughed, too.
Lyons, the color analyst on the Jets' radio broadcasts, makes countless public appearances in the New York area during the course of the year. Fans always quiz him about Dreith's call.
"I wish I had a dollar for every time somebody asked me about giving him the business," Lyons said, laughing.
Many fans, he said, do a great Dreith impersonation.