"When you do that with footballers like he said about Leeds, and when you do things like that about a man like Stuart Pearce..." With those 24 words, staring past the camera and into the households of millions across the world, Kevin Keegan's infamous rant started to gather speed.
"I've kept really quiet but I'll tell you something, he went down in my estimations when he said that. We have not resorted to that. You can tell him now, we're still fighting for this title and he's got to go to Middlesbrough and get something," he continued, referring to recent comments made by the master of mind games himself Sir Alex Ferguson.
Then came the moment that would live with the Newcastle United boss for the rest of his days, the words which have followed him wherever he has been. "I'll tell you, honestly, I will love it if we beat them. Love it.
"It really has got to me. I've voiced it live, not in front of the press or anywhere. I'm not even going to the press conference. But the battle is still on and Man United have not won this yet."
To give the recently-voted most memorable Premier League quote of all time some added context, Keegan staged his tirade at a time when the Magpies' grip at the summit had fast faded away. Having found themselves 12 points clear at one stage, the Red Devils had now clawed themselves back into the picture.
The two-horse race would go all the way, but after seeing the cracks begin to show, Ferguson taunted his rival by suggesting that Newcastle's opponents lacked motivation compared to when they came up against his own side. Keegan did not take too kindly to this, and when asked about the comments live on air following a victory over Leeds United, he did not hold back.
History tells us that the Toon Army would draw their final two fixtures, while their title rivals did not look back to open up a four-point gap and claim the trophy. Newcastle would also finish in second place the following season, this time seven points behind Ferguson's charges.
There has been little to get excited about since in truth, a couple of top-four finishes in the early Noughties aside, which goes some way to showing just why supporters of the North-East outfit have felt short-changed in recent years, culminating in the recent protests which took place at White Hart Lane earlier this month.
As for the former European footballer of the year, he has used his rant, which took place on this day 19 years ago, to help land some lucrative sponsorship deals. His last foray in football, a second spell in charge of Newcastle in 2008, may have come to an abrupt end, but his 90 second interview will live long in the memory.
