I Guess I Beleive In Miracles

As a fan of College basketball I must say this has been the most exciting tournament in some time. From the first round on, upsets and last second shots have dominated this tourney. All of this has led me to my point that the college game is so much better then the pros.

Anyone outside of the state of Connecticut that wasn’t rooting for George Mason yesterday should get a heart transplant immediately. Here was the ultimate underdog taking on the big mad UCONN Huskies. When the tournament started, Mason was a 150-1 bet to win it all. Most people (myself included) didn’t have them winning one game, let alone beating three large conference powers to get to the final four.

But, that is just what they did. Yesterday’s game was a prime example of just what makes sports great. The highs and the lows and the impossible becoming reality. It was enough to turn this self-proclaimed cynic, into a child like fan again, rooting for an underdog. I mean all logic and common sense would tell you that George Mason had no chance of beating the Huskies. But, that is why they play the game. The old adage on any day, one team can beat another is so true and I was reminded of that again yesterday.

So, for all you reality show, American Idol watching people out there, I ask you to watch what is real drama. Only in sports can you have the upsets and non-scripted drama that we had yesterday. I am sorry watching Simon metrosexually, lambaste a singer who has 10x the voice he has is not my idea of entertainment. I mean, even my non-sports loving wife got swept up in the George Mason cinderalla story yesterday.

So, in honor of that un-real upset, here is my top 10 list of the greatest upsets in my lifetime before yesterday. I am still not sure where that game ranks on my list. I guess time will give it some perspective.

10. College Football, 2002 Ohio State over Miami – As soon as the bowl games were announced and this game was setup no one gave Ohio State a chance to beat Miami of Florida. The Canes were the defending champs and had not lost a game in three years. Ohio State had a nice team that had gone undefeated but was looked at as not being in the same class as Miami. Well, in a thriller of a game the Buckeye’s pulled off the miracle in double overtime knocking off the U.

9. College Basketball, 1988, Kansas over Oklahoma – Oklahoma on paper was a loaded team. They had Stacey King and Mookie Blaylock. They were a one seed and looked unbeatable going into the championship game against a team they had handily beaten twice that season. Kansas had Danny Manning and a bunch of scrappy kids who didn’t know they were supposed to lose. Manning, had to play the game of his life to beat Oklahoma and he did just that in leading the Jayhawks to the title.

8. College Basketball, 1991 Duke over UNLV – UNLV was the unbeaten defending champ. They had four future NBA players starting. They didn’t just beat teams they embarrassed them. The year before UNLV had beaten Duke by 30 in the championship game. Here in the Final four matchup Duke with Bobby Hurley and Christian Laettner took control of the game, with ball control and un-real defense. UNLV was slowed down and Coach K. devised the game plan of his life to stop this team. Duke would go on to win it all in an improbable season.

7. Pro Football 2001 New England over St. Louis – The Ram’s were heavy favorites to take the championship over what was perceived to be an over-achieving Patriot team. The Ram’s were the so-called greatest show on turf and on paper was far superior to New England. But, New England played great defense and Tom Brady led a miraculous last-second drive to setup the game winning filed goal.

6. Baseball 1990 Cincinnati over Oakland – On paper it was a rout. Oakland had the best team in baseball by far. McGuire, Canseco, Stewart, Welch, Eckersly, the A’s were loaded. The Reds had the nasty boy bullpen and a nice team but looked to be over-matched in a best of seven series. The Reds went out and swept the A’s in what I consider one of the biggest choke jobs in baseball history.

5. Baseball 1988 Los Angeles over Oakland – The A’s again were the victims to the ultimate baseball Cinderella. Not only were the A’s much superior on paper but also the Dodgers were banged up with a number of guys unable to play. The series will always be remembered for Gibson’s homer off the Eck in game one. I’m telling you right now if the A’s win that game they sweep the series. However, propelled by Gibson and Hershiser’s pitching L.A. took the series in 5.

4. College Basketball 1983 N.C. St. over Houston – There was no way the Wolfpack had a chance in this one. Houston was bigger, faster, deeper and just plain better. Houston had two future NBA hall of famers in Drexlor and Olajuwon while all NC St. had was a bunch of scrappers. Still, Houston missed some crucial foul shots and NC St. won it at the buzzer on one of the most memorable shots in basketball history.

3. College Basketball 1985 Villanova over Georgetown – The Hoya’s were the biggest and badest team I had ever seen. No one could touch them. For Villanova to even be in the game they would have to be perfect and well they were. The Wildcats missed one shot the entire second half and came up with the ultimate David vs. Goliath slaying in college basketball. Patrick Ewing still is wondering just how they lost that game.

2. Boxing 1990 Douglas over Tyson – When a friend told me that Tyson had been knocked out I thought he was full of shit. There was no way Iron Mike was ever going to lose. Let alone to Buster Douglas. But, sure as shit that is what happened. At the time Tyson was a monster. He was unbeatable. When he knocked out Spinks in the first round, I remember thinking that he was going to go down as the greatest ever. Better, then Louis, Marciano, and Ali. Then in Japan on that unforgettable night, Douglas shocked the world and knocked Tyson right in jaw and Tyson was never the same again.

1. Olympic Hockey 1980 USA over USSR – To this day this has to be the greatest accomplishment in sports history. No one and I mean no one, thought the US had a snowball chance in hell of beating the Russians. Russia was so far above and beyond us in Hockey it was like asking a featherweight to fight a heavyweight. Still, somehow a bunch of college kids took on the big bad Russians and beat them. A game that was about much more then just sports. I get chills just thinking about Al Michaels call at the end of the game. Just priceless.