What is the greatest upset in sports history?

[TwoStep2888]

Originally Posted by seekupig

January 25, 1971 - Martin, TN

Washington Generals - 100
Harlem Globetrotters - 99

[Jake]

Originally Posted by thebridge15

yeah I was going to add this as well. at least teams like usa hockey were actually good, chaminada was chaminade

it also made even fewer people think it was real because it was right around christmas and people didn't hear about the result of the game until well after the fact

Chaminade was a bit better than people realized but still Virginia was #1 and had a 7'4 guy on their team; I think Chaminade's tallest guy was like 6'6

Chaminade just took jumpers the whole time and pushed it up the floor.

Originally Posted by scrock25

These guys know what's up.

Great job Bo and Jesse.

Originally Posted by cooke726

Buster Douglas over Mike Tyson is greatest upset in sports history. 42-1 betting underdog knocks out the "Baddest Man on the Planet".

the problem with the Tyson - and trust me I was SHOCKED. I watched it thru the squiggly lines on HBO b/c my friend didn't have HBO at his house. We were playing poker and watching the Slam Dunk contest instead - is that in hindsight everything played into Douglas. It was in Tokyo, Tyson didn't train, Douglas was in his best shape ever, Douglas had the right plan, it was perfect.


if we want to talk long shot upsets, Mind That Bird was 57-1 when he won the Derby a few years back. The Exacta payed $2000.

the longest ever as far as I can see is 181-1

http://www.nytimes.com/1990/10/13/sp...adowlands.html

[Roose13]

only Americans think 80 game was important. God that's dumb

[Arby]

I cant see any NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, etc game being the biggest upset. They are professionals in the same league. Yea there are great teams and bad teams, but no truly shitty teams.


Any Given Sunday, bros.

[ToySoldier#34]

Originally Posted by SmoothG

Man, I forgot how Americans get such a boner for that game. It's only Americans who rank this game so highly. And if you want to talk about stage, it wasn't even a medal game. Claiming no other game or upset is on the same level is just irrational and not a very thought out or well formed opinion. Certainly one of the great upsets in sports history but there are a bunch of others that certainly deserve to be mentioned and probably quite a few that are greater.

Don't kill me, just one non Americans opinion.

Yep not a medal game, that being said I'll give it a slight edge over the Maui Classic if that's alright with you. My answer to what is the greatest upset in sports history is USA vs Russia, to me it is clear #1 and shouldn't have to explain the game for you to understand why that is a valid answer and completely rational. The game happened five years before I was born, it's not like I'm sentimental about watching it, it's just the clear answer IMO. My favorite upset of all time is Red Sox vs Yankees 2004 ALCS.

[SmoothG]

Originally Posted by hailtopitt

its not a big leap at all

so an american wrestler beating a russian wrestler in the olympics is bigger than the american hockey team beating the soviet hockey team in the olypmics?

lol that doesn't really make sense...both the russian wrestler and the soviet hockey team were equally dominant up until their upset losses

you can have an opinion that the miracle on ice isn't the biggest upset, but to say its "overrated" just because we're americans is absurd. that game shocked everyone that watched and/or heard about it.

I'm not sure your point in the first bit? That wrestling isn't as important and theirfore doesn't count?

I think it's one of the greatest upsets in sports, as I've stated, only that most in America rank that upset much higher than any other people around the world would, hence overrated.

Originally Posted by Roose13

only Americans think 80 game was important. God that's dumb

Never said that.

Originally Posted by ToySoldier#34

Yep not a medal game, that being said I'll give it a slight edge over the Maui Classic if that's alright with you. My answer to what is the greatest upset in sports history is USA vs Russia, to me it is clear #1 and shouldn't have to explain the game for you to understand why that is a valid answer and completely rational. The game happened five years before I was born, it's not like I'm sentimental about watching it, it's just the clear answer IMO. My favorite upset of all time is Red Sox vs Yankees 2004 ALCS.

That's quite alright with me, no worries. No, you certainly don't have to e plain anything, but thanks for letting me know. C

[lockman21]

Miracle on ice is the right answer.

I highly recommend watching "Red Army" on Netflix if you haven't seen it. I don't think people realize how DOMINANT that team was, and how little that USA team had in terms of professional talent. Imagine last year's Ohio State football team beating last year's Patriots. Except there were MAJOR political implications. And the Patriots had 2000 Ray Lewis, 1983 Walter Payton, and 1995 Jerry Rice.

It's absolute insanity how that happened.

[MiniFlynny34]

I'm a little biased because I was at the game, but App State over Michigan. There wasn't even a betting line (not sure why, App had won 2 straight FCS titles and won a third that year).

[Jake]

Originally Posted by MiniFlynny34

I'm a little biased because I was at the game, but App State over Michigan. There wasn't even a betting line (not sure why, App had won 2 straight FCS titles and won a third that year).

there was; all D-II games v D-1 will eventually get a line. I don't remember exactly what it was but it was somewhere in the 30-34 pt range. Not too huge.


for example, last year there were a few D-II teams favored over D-1 teams. two years ago South Dakota St was favored over Kansas and Army was a 4.5 pt dog at home to Fordham. So it happens.

[Melted]

UA basketball beating three #1 seeds in the NCAA tourney in 1996.

[SmoothG]

Originally Posted by Melted

UA basketball beating three #1 seeds in the NCAA tourney in 1996.

I mean, I'm as big wildcat fan as there is and it's a really cool stat, but this doesn't even really register. They were a 4 seed which put them around top 16, not exactly the craziest ever.

It certainly doesn't top the miracle, that's for sure.

[Roose13]

Originally Posted by Roose13

only Americans think 80 game was important. God that's dumb

Originally Posted by SmoothG

Never said that.

Uhhhh, ya bro, you did...

Originally Posted by SmoothG

Man, I forgot how Americans get such a boner for that game. It's only Americans who rank this game so highly. And if you want to talk about stage, it wasn't even a medal game. Claiming no other game or upset is on the same level is just irrational and not a very thought out or well formed opinion. Certainly one of the great upsets in sports history but there are a bunch of others that certainly deserve to be mentioned and probably quite a few that are greater.

Don't kill me, just one non Americans opinion.

[Tiduwho]

Originally Posted by BotheBradyFan

(Tyson got fucked, by the way, Douglas was down for a 13 count. Worst ref ever.)

Hungover Tyson got his ass beat through and through. Worst showing ever.

[scrock25]

How does that change the fact that BD was down for more than 10 seconds?

[SmoothG]

Originally Posted by Roose13

Uhhhh, ya bro, you did...

I said no one else would place it so high on a list as Americans....not that it wouldn't be listed. Most people, including myself would rank it as one of the greatest upsets and rightfully so. The key word in that sentence is 'so'.

So no, I never said that. I said only in relation to a more international poll Americans view that victory as more important than many would.

Edit: reread it. Pretty straight forward comparative. Not sure where the confusion is.

[BotheLaneFan]

Originally Posted by seekupig

January 25, 1971 - Martin, TN

Washington Generals - 100
Harlem Globetrotters - 99

Not even the biggest upset in the history of scripted sport.

Brock Lesnar beating Undertaker at WM XXX (thusly breaking The Streak) created the most amazing reaction from a crowd I've ever seen. The entire Superdome went into a state of shock for over half an hour.

[MiniFlynny34]

Originally Posted by BotheBradyFan

Not even the biggest upset in the history of scripted sport.

Brock Lesnar beating Undertaker at WM XXX (thusly breaking The Streak) created the most amazing reaction from a crowd I've ever seen. The entire Superdome went into a state of shock for over half an hour.

Even though it was pre-determined, this.

[TwoStep2888]

haven't followed wrestling since I was a kid and I was still horrified when the Streak ended

[Lcsulla]

Originally Posted by keithcoldroses

1980 USA vs USSR.

Always.

Could not agree more.

[daveshookme]

Originally Posted by lockman21

Miracle on ice is the right answer.



I highly recommend watching "Red Army" on Netflix if you haven't seen it. I don't think people realize how DOMINANT that team was, and how little that USA team had in terms of professional talent. Imagine last year's Ohio State football team beating last year's Patriots. Except there were MAJOR political implications. And the Patriots had 2000 Ray Lewis, 1983 Walter Payton, and 1995 Jerry Rice.



It's absolute insanity how that happened.

It's really the only answer. USA didn't stand a chance. I don't think we'll ever see as great a goalie performance as Craig threw down those last 10 minutes. Just a complete onslaught of offense from the most dominate and effective offense in the world who threw down no less that 10 goals a week prior.

[BotheLaneFan]

Originally Posted by daveshookme

It's really the only answer. USA didn't stand a chance. I don't think we'll ever see as great a goalie performance as Craig threw down those last 10 minutes. Just a complete onslaught of offense from the most dominate and effective offense in the world who threw down no less that 10 goals a week prior.

It really isn't, because again, Tyson v Douglas exists.

Shit, Schmeling v Louis I is up there too. (With Schmeling v Louis II being probably the most important sporting event in US history.)

[scrock25]

Originally Posted by BotheBradyFan

It really isn't, because again, Tyson v Douglas exists.

Shit, Schmeling v Louis I is up there too. (With Schmeling v Louis II being probably the most important sporting event in US history.)

Bo knows much more than diddly.



"The only answer"

[barbogast]

What about Lori McNeil over Steffi Graf at Wimbledon 94? That's gotta be up there. Can't currently think of a bigger tennis upset anyway. Maybe Bastl over Sampras or Soderling over Nadal. I think I give the edge to McNeil, though.

[hailtopitt]

Originally Posted by SmoothG

I said no one else would place it so high on a list as Americans....not that it wouldn't be listed. Most people, including myself would rank it as one of the greatest upsets and rightfully so. The key word in that sentence is 'so'.

So no, I never said that. I said only in relation to a more international poll Americans view that victory as more important than many would.

Edit: reread it. Pretty straight forward comparative. Not sure where the confusion is.

you're right, it's one of the greatest upsets ever yet Americans overrate it

makes perfect sense

how dare we snub Rulon Gardner

[Noles20]

In 1919 when Man o' War lost its only race to a horse named Upset.

[hailtopitt]

Originally Posted by barbogast

What about Lori McNeil over Steffi Graf at Wimbledon 94? That's gotta be up there. Can't currently think of a bigger tennis upset anyway. Maybe Bastl over Sampras or Soderling over Nadal. I think I give the edge to McNeil, though.

i said a few pages ago that Gerber over Serena last week might be the biggest upset in women's tennis

i don't think Steffi was ever as dominant as Serena is now

[BotheLaneFan]

Originally Posted by hailtopitt

you're right, it's one of the greatest upsets ever yet Americans overrate it

makes perfect sense

how dare we snub Rulon Gardner

Or Kurt Angle, who won a gold medal with a BROKEN FREAKING NECK!

[hailtopitt]

Originally Posted by BotheBradyFan

Or Kurt Angle, who won a gold medal with a BROKEN FREAKING NECK!

uh oh, another American athlete that isn't named Gardner

be careful

[ToySoldier#34]

The only possible alternative to miracle on ice is 1941 tortoise vs. hare

[cooke726]

Originally Posted by ToySoldier#34

The only possible alternative to miracle on ice is 1941 tortoise vs. hare

I assume you're using the Tortoise vs. Hare as a metaphor for Douglas v. Tyson?