Don't worry, Canada. You still have curling.
(i.cdn.turner.com)
Do you believe in mini-miracles, eh? Well, we all did this past Sunday when the United States beat Canada in their own sport on their own home ice. In a day that was labeled the 'Super Sunday' of the Winter Olympics for the stellar hockey matchups (Sweden-Finland, Russia-Czech Republic), this border rivalry on ice definitely took the cake, and ate it, too. Unfortunately for the Canucks, that cake hasn't been agreeing with them lately after being on the short end of a 5-3 American triumph. I have to admit, I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was borderline comical. I mean, what's better than beating your rival in the sport that 99.33985954% of its citizens have played since they were fetuses? It's that accepted xenophobia that makes the Olympics a sports mainstay...well if you pass on all the figure skating stuff. Unbelievable that NBC passed this game up on their main network to broadcast some riveting ice dancing, but I digress. Hey, that's just NBC being NBC! Might this have been the karmic revenge of the 8-6 WBC loss in 2006, or the gold medal game on our own ice in Salt Lake in 2002? In the grand scheme of things in international sports, it would be entertaining to think so. But there's still one thing that bothers me, even in a win so tremendous. In an age when the immediate becomes the most extravagant, it is easy to be caught up in the hype of putting Sunday's game as the best in all of history. As good as that game was, it definitely doesn't even come close to some classic upsets of years past and probably not as good as some of this past year. There was 2nd Division Alcorcon defeating the million-euro giant Real Madrid in this year's Copa del Rey, Leeds re-sparking an old rivalry by beating Manchester United in the FA Cup on their own ground for the first time since 1981 and Y.E. Yang toppling Tiger in the PGA Championship. Without further ado, let's go through the my Top 5 games, the ones that really had the devil lacing up some skates in his own abode.
Boone does it again?
(i.cdn.turner.com)
5. Sept. 1st, 2007: Appalachian State Stuns The Michigan Wolverines
And this was supposed to be one of those steamroller games that generally turn me off from being a regular consumer of college football. It seems as if the Michigan faithful joined Boston in the "Bleeping Boone" club. How you ask? From a soul breaking loss to a Division 1-AA team from Boone, NC that romped into Ann Arbor and pulled off what you could call an improbable 34-32 upset over their perennial college powerhouse in the opener (Yes, I had to look up the locale.). It was sophomore Armanti Edwards who outperformed Heisman hopeful Chad Henne in a roller coaster matchup that was projected to be anything but. It was the first FCS (Football Championship Subdivision) victory EVER over a team from the bowl division in the AP era, all in front of a shell-shocked pack of Wolverines. The crazy part is that the Mountaineers controlled the game mightily and were even up 31-20 midway through the 3rd quarter. However, it looked as if it had reached midnight for the Mountaineers as Henne, Mike Hart and crew came all the way back to make the contest 32-31 with four and a half minutes to play. But Appalachian State chipped away by frustrating Michigan's field goal unit and again emerged with the lead with a field goal of their own with 26 seconds left. All it took was one of the most shown blocked college field goal attempts in recent memory to seal the deal for the small North Carolinian school. It was a game which not only destroyed national championship dreams, but impacted the future of a college juggernaut into a checkered unknown, almost as checkered as the Norwegian curling team's pants. Out went Lloyd Carr at the end of the season, and they have been 8-16 ever since. It goes to show you that the impact of a hardcore upset goes far beyond the failiure of the moment, but it the nuclear-like fallout it has to the once mighty.
And this was supposed to be one of those steamroller games that generally turn me off from being a regular consumer of college football. It seems as if the Michigan faithful joined Boston in the "Bleeping Boone" club. How you ask? From a soul breaking loss to a Division 1-AA team from Boone, NC that romped into Ann Arbor and pulled off what you could call an improbable 34-32 upset over their perennial college powerhouse in the opener (Yes, I had to look up the locale.). It was sophomore Armanti Edwards who outperformed Heisman hopeful Chad Henne in a roller coaster matchup that was projected to be anything but. It was the first FCS (Football Championship Subdivision) victory EVER over a team from the bowl division in the AP era, all in front of a shell-shocked pack of Wolverines. The crazy part is that the Mountaineers controlled the game mightily and were even up 31-20 midway through the 3rd quarter. However, it looked as if it had reached midnight for the Mountaineers as Henne, Mike Hart and crew came all the way back to make the contest 32-31 with four and a half minutes to play. But Appalachian State chipped away by frustrating Michigan's field goal unit and again emerged with the lead with a field goal of their own with 26 seconds left. All it took was one of the most shown blocked college field goal attempts in recent memory to seal the deal for the small North Carolinian school. It was a game which not only destroyed national championship dreams, but impacted the future of a college juggernaut into a checkered unknown, almost as checkered as the Norwegian curling team's pants. Out went Lloyd Carr at the end of the season, and they have been 8-16 ever since. It goes to show you that the impact of a hardcore upset goes far beyond the failiure of the moment, but it the nuclear-like fallout it has to the once mighty.
I'd rather Chinese water torture over this pic.
(sportsmonarch.com)
4. Feb. 3rd, 2008: Giants Spoil The Patriots' Party At Super Bowl XLII
I still carry the symptoms from this game; the constant chills, the thousand-yard stare, that feeling of missing the bus and knowing that it wouldn't come back. Despite being two touchdown favorites in Vegas, I remember being very cautious going into that night's game. The Giants came into the Super Bowl with serious momentum by becoming the first NFC 6th seed to make it to the show, winning all of their playoff games outside their East Rutherford home. To top that off, I still had the visions of the G-Men nearly toppling our undefeated season in the last week of the regular season with a cliffhanger, but it was still hard to believe that this Patriots team would be stopped in Phoenix. Randy Moss's 23 TD receptions, Brady's 50 passing TDs, averaging almost 37 points a game during the regular season, us Patriots fans, as well as many in the nation, ultimately thought that this would be the team to accomplish what no other team had ever done, even the 1972 Dolphins squad. 19-0 wasn't exactly an inevitability, but it was a strong expectation after a season full of previously unreached accolades, while overcoming all the bitter emotions swirling from the 2006 AFC Championship game and Spygate. Plus, the Sox and Pats won in my first year of college, it was only meant to be that they would both win in my last, right? But it wasn't meant to be. The Giants defense rushed Brady and stymied the Pats' offense like no other team did that season. Of course, the play that will be emblazoned in my head for all eternity, the one where it was third down, Eli eluded the grasp of Jarvis Green, threw a desperation lob and found the hand and the helmet of David Tyree, all while Rodney Harrison failed to strip the ball away. It's when I realized that 19-0 wasn't meant to happen, even before Plaxico provided the final blow. As we have seen in the past couple of seasons, the Patriots really haven't recovered, and it is assumed nationwide that their days of outright dominance are over. 2 years later, I'm still trying to remove that dagger, wondering what could have been. On that note, I'm gonna go vomit now.
I still carry the symptoms from this game; the constant chills, the thousand-yard stare, that feeling of missing the bus and knowing that it wouldn't come back. Despite being two touchdown favorites in Vegas, I remember being very cautious going into that night's game. The Giants came into the Super Bowl with serious momentum by becoming the first NFC 6th seed to make it to the show, winning all of their playoff games outside their East Rutherford home. To top that off, I still had the visions of the G-Men nearly toppling our undefeated season in the last week of the regular season with a cliffhanger, but it was still hard to believe that this Patriots team would be stopped in Phoenix. Randy Moss's 23 TD receptions, Brady's 50 passing TDs, averaging almost 37 points a game during the regular season, us Patriots fans, as well as many in the nation, ultimately thought that this would be the team to accomplish what no other team had ever done, even the 1972 Dolphins squad. 19-0 wasn't exactly an inevitability, but it was a strong expectation after a season full of previously unreached accolades, while overcoming all the bitter emotions swirling from the 2006 AFC Championship game and Spygate. Plus, the Sox and Pats won in my first year of college, it was only meant to be that they would both win in my last, right? But it wasn't meant to be. The Giants defense rushed Brady and stymied the Pats' offense like no other team did that season. Of course, the play that will be emblazoned in my head for all eternity, the one where it was third down, Eli eluded the grasp of Jarvis Green, threw a desperation lob and found the hand and the helmet of David Tyree, all while Rodney Harrison failed to strip the ball away. It's when I realized that 19-0 wasn't meant to happen, even before Plaxico provided the final blow. As we have seen in the past couple of seasons, the Patriots really haven't recovered, and it is assumed nationwide that their days of outright dominance are over. 2 years later, I'm still trying to remove that dagger, wondering what could have been. On that note, I'm gonna go vomit now.
I don't remember this from 'Punch-Out'.
(virginmedia.com)
3. Feb. 11th, 1990: Buster Douglas Clobbers Iron Mike
What? Mike Tyson? On the canvass? It happened for the first time one February night in Tokyo when James "Buster" Douglas's flurry of punches in the 10th round shook the sports world off its axis, while competing heavily for story of the year with Nelson Mandela's release, which happened on the same weekend. The 30-year old was a 42/1 underdog going into the fight against a guy who practically invented the pay-per-view blockbuster, while making viewers question whether it was worth the investment to watch a lion maul a bunch of gazelles in two minutes or less. This bout was going to be no different. I mean, Tyson just came off his 17th bout that ended in the 1st round, so Douglas was just gonna be another gladiator thrown to the lions, or so we thought. With a dissolved marriage and the death of his mother, Douglas had more to be motivated for and had less time to dwindle on the intimidating aura of a certain 'Iron Mike'. He even showed it throughout the whole bout (feeling a little Don King) by carrying out a well conducted fight, using his size to his advantage to bully the bully. Even after being knocked down by the seemingly invincible Tyson at the end of the 8th round, Douglas, a boxer who was known to shut it down when he wanted to, countered with the most significant blows of his career by knocking the champion into the ropes in the 9th round, and ultimately turned Tyson into Jello in the 10th, silencing the lookers-on at the Tokyo Dome. Like with the other upsets on my list, the moment had a carryover that would impact the future of the defeated. That iconic image of Tyson on the mat with that crooked mouthpiece was more than an upset. It became somewhat of an omen to the downhill trajectory that his life was about to travel. Also pretty amazing considering that Douglas would lose the title of being the undisputed heavyweight champion in his next bout against some Holyfield guy several months later, who happened to be ringside sizing up Tyson for a future title bout. But hey, knocking out 'The Baddest Man on the Planet' is a fifteen minutes worth treasuring, and is also worth another fifteen minutes of basking in the awe of such a seemingly improbable feat.
Maybe Rex was trying to do a Broadway Joe.
(4.bp.blogspot.com)
2. Jan. 12th, 1969: Joe's Guarantee In Super Bowl III
Even though there were two previous championship clashes between the NFL and the AFL, this would be the first game to carry the 'Super Bowl' moniker, and was there ever a game so ever-deserving to start carrying that torch. The Colts, like the 2007 Pats, were considered to be the upper echelon of the sport despite not having icon Johnny Unitas during the year due to an arm injury in preseason. At one point, backup QB Earl Morrall and crew pulled off 10 consecutive wins en route to a 13-1 season, with the only loss being avenged in the NFL Championship against the Browns at a 34-0 clip. With a high octane offense and with football's best defense (only 144 points allowed), there was no reason for people to think that the NFL wouldn't triumph again just like they had with the last two battles between the leagues, especially against a fledgling AFL.....well, unless you were Joe Namath and the Jets. The AFL rep for the big game had a head coach in Weeb Ewbank, who coached the Colts in "The Greatest Game Ever Played" a decade earlier. He was able to guide the Jets to a 11-3 record and was able to avenge the 'Heidi Game' loss against the Raiders with a comeback victory in the AFL Championship Game. The conductor of that comeback was be a guy named Joe Willie Namath, who would throw more interceptions than touchdowns (17 to 15). But he was undoubtedly the Jets leader when the game was on the line, where he would be as bold as the guarantee he would make a few days before the contest. When the going got going in Miami, it was the Jets who forced five turnovers, including 4 on their half of the field. While Namath would not throw a touchdown for the game (and still won the MVP), he managed the Jets offense well enough to score 16 unanswered points against the zone defense of the Colts, a run that was snapped only when Johnny Unitas replaced the struggling Morrall and lead an 80 yard TD drive with just over 3 minutes left in the game. What was the impact provided by this stunner? This game not only showed that the NFL-AFL merger was valid for competitive reasons, but would be the launching point in the NFL's dominance as America's pro sports league today. For that reason, something all-world would have to top this upset, well speaking of.......
U.S.A.: Believing in miracles since 1980.
(independent.co.uk)
1. Feb. 22nd, 1980: The American Miracle In Lake Placid
After reading the intro, what else did you think it was? It was the event in sports the truly shocked the world, still carrying its magnitude even after the 2 days and 30 years since it happened. There was so many reasons to give that game to the Soviets, like the 10-3 exhibition thrashing at Madison Square Garden, or the fact that they had only lost once in the last 4 Olympics, or that they had won all but one Olympic hockey gold medal up to that point. Although they were considered amateurs, the Soviets weren't even close to novices in skill level, and with a few 30-year old players on the team, in age either. The Soviets were trained and disciplined like soldiers, and even lived in barracks for almost the entire year. It was expected that this Cold War on ice was going to be a cakewalk, especially after the Soviets went through a demolition tour (outscored opponents 51-11 in 5 games) going into the game. But this was a different opponent than the one that showed up for the New York exhibition contest, and coach Herb Brooks would make sure that his young squad was up for the daunting task. Even after trailing twice in the game, including being down 2-3 after the 2nd period, captain Mike Eruzione (second oldest player on the team at 25) and crew were not gonna be content with caving in to the Kremlin. With 2 goals, including one by Eruzione, the Americans had their first lead of the game, and would have to persevere for 10 of the longest minutes in sports history. The 3rd period comeback, however remarkable, was routine, for it was a common theme for this United States squad (were behind in all but one game in Olympics). Glory would eventually arrive as Al Michaels uttered his famous proclamation, with The Olympic Center bathed in the proud Lake Placid screams of "U-S-A". They cut the Russian five years before Rocky did. It will be a moment that probably won't be duplicated ever again, considering that many of the Olympians now are players in the professional ranks. Most significantly, it showed the power of a bunch of college kids, who united a country that had been filled with social and political strife, as well as provided a story that would be the motor for many underdogs to create miracles of their own.
After reading the intro, what else did you think it was? It was the event in sports the truly shocked the world, still carrying its magnitude even after the 2 days and 30 years since it happened. There was so many reasons to give that game to the Soviets, like the 10-3 exhibition thrashing at Madison Square Garden, or the fact that they had only lost once in the last 4 Olympics, or that they had won all but one Olympic hockey gold medal up to that point. Although they were considered amateurs, the Soviets weren't even close to novices in skill level, and with a few 30-year old players on the team, in age either. The Soviets were trained and disciplined like soldiers, and even lived in barracks for almost the entire year. It was expected that this Cold War on ice was going to be a cakewalk, especially after the Soviets went through a demolition tour (outscored opponents 51-11 in 5 games) going into the game. But this was a different opponent than the one that showed up for the New York exhibition contest, and coach Herb Brooks would make sure that his young squad was up for the daunting task. Even after trailing twice in the game, including being down 2-3 after the 2nd period, captain Mike Eruzione (second oldest player on the team at 25) and crew were not gonna be content with caving in to the Kremlin. With 2 goals, including one by Eruzione, the Americans had their first lead of the game, and would have to persevere for 10 of the longest minutes in sports history. The 3rd period comeback, however remarkable, was routine, for it was a common theme for this United States squad (were behind in all but one game in Olympics). Glory would eventually arrive as Al Michaels uttered his famous proclamation, with The Olympic Center bathed in the proud Lake Placid screams of "U-S-A". They cut the Russian five years before Rocky did. It will be a moment that probably won't be duplicated ever again, considering that many of the Olympians now are players in the professional ranks. Most significantly, it showed the power of a bunch of college kids, who united a country that had been filled with social and political strife, as well as provided a story that would be the motor for many underdogs to create miracles of their own.
Apologies to..... Chaminade over Viginia in 1982 Maui Invitational, Miracle Braves over Athletics in 1914 World Series, Miracle Mets over Orioles in 1969 World Series, N.C. State over Houston in 1983 NCAA Championship, Villanova over Georgetown in 1985 NCAA Championship, Miracle on Grass: U.S. over England in 1950 World Cup, Rulon Gardner over Alexander Karelin in 2000 Summer Olympics, George Mason's 2006 Final Four run, Greece's Euro 2004 victory
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