Biggest upsets in sports

tacotanium

Professional
Strong start to an interesting thread.

I nominate the NY Giants' victory over the New England Patriots in last year's Superbowl.

nah that wasn't so bad. Patriots never lost therefor just never were under so much pressure til that day. lol. Brady was just over throwing passes all day.
 

Feña14

G.O.A.T.
Barnsley vs Chelsea/Liverpool

Nah, a Championship side beating a Premier League side isn't all that crazy.

Non league Hereford beating Newcastle? That's an upset.
Sunderland beating Leeds in the FA Cup final in '73, Wrexham beating Arsenal (2nd in the Premier League v bottom of the third division). Wimbledon beating Liverpool in the '88 final. What about Man Utd losing to third division Bournemouth?

Those are real giant killing upsets.

I think Australia losing to Bangladesh in 2005 was also a pretty big upset.
 
Super Bowl III AFL NY Jets beat the NFL Baltimore Colts 16-7 on 1/12/69 in the Orange Bowl. The Colts were 15-1 going into the game and were 28 point favorites. Two weeks before, they had destroyed the only team they lost to during the regular season, the Cleveland Browns, in the NFL Championship Game something like 34-0.

Weird game, Colts had a lot of turnovers and their starting QB and NFL MVP that year, Earl Morrall, had a very off day and was pulled from the game in the second half for some guy named Unitas. ;o)

The Jets were very underrated and actually had a great team with players like Joe Namath, Matt Snell, Don Maynard, etc. but the Colts offense just didn't show up that day. They had lots of scoring opportunities, but blew all but one.

There is a very famous play toward the end of the first half that epitomizes how the game went for the Colts. A flea flicker, Morrall to Tom Matte back to Morrall, and the primary receiver (Jimmy Orr) was wide open but Morrall didn't see him and threw an interception. Shula yanked him soon after that. Some theorize Morrall lost sight of Orr because the Colt marching band was standing behind the end zone at the open end of the OB and Morrall didn't see Orr against the backdrop of Colt blue. The NFL Films version shows Orr running down the sideline all by himself, waving his arms frantically near the end zone, but Earl just didn't see him.

The rival leagues merged the following season. A few years later Earl Morrall went on to lead the Dolphins (under Shula again) to their undefeated season. They blew up the OB last year. The Colts moved to Indy in 1983 and the Browns moved to Baltimore around 1997. Cats and dogs together, etc. ;o)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pb9uS7OKECU

Okay, guys who are the announcers?

Other noteworthy upsets. Clay over Liston in Miami Beach 1964. Liston quit after six rounds. The next day, Cassius Clay becomes Cassius X. A year later, Liston probably took a dive in their rematch in Lewiston, Maine. He was dead five years later of a heroin OD.

Foreman's annihilation of Frazier in Jamaica in 1973. And Clay/Ali's rope a dope job on Foreman in 1975. Leon Spinks Beating Ali in 1978. Ken Norton beating Ali in 1973. Foreman knocking out Michael Moorer in 1994. Max Schmeling knocking out Joe Louis Barrow in their first fight in 1936. All major upsets. Max lived to be 99 and just died in the last few years.

The Miami Hurricanes beating the Rozier led #1 ranked Cornhuskers in the OB in 1984 31-30. Nebraska averaged about 550 yards of total offense and 52 points per game that year. They beat Minnesota 81-13. At least they didn't run up the score.

The Mets beating the Orioles in the 1969 series. The Orioles had four twenty game winners that year and seemed unbeatable.

I think the beat down Safin gave Pete in the 2000 Open Final was a pretty big upset. As was old man Bobby Riggs beating number one ranked Margaret Smith Court in 1972 on Mother's Day no less.
 
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tbini87

Hall of Fame
Strong start to an interesting thread.

I nominate the NY Giants' victory over the New England Patriots in last year's Superbowl.

were the patriots that big of favorites? i didn't know too many who expected the patriots to blow the giants out. however, i didn't know too many who expected the patriots to lose either...
 
were the patriots that big of favorites? i didn't know too many who expected the patriots to blow the giants out. however, i didn't know too many who expected the patriots to lose either...

You can google it up to check, but I'm sure the oddsmakers had the Patriots as heavy favorites.
 

Klatu Verata Necktie

Hall of Fame
were the patriots that big of favorites? i didn't know too many who expected the patriots to blow the giants out. however, i didn't know too many who expected the patriots to lose either...

I don't recall the point spread, but they were the team of destiny which had gone 18-0.
 

hollywood9826

Hall of Fame
Also Fresno State winning the College World series this year. They were the lowest ranked team in the History of all college sports to win a title.

And Boise state over Oklahoma 2007 fiesta bowl statue of liberty play as well.

Villanove over defending champs Georgetown 1985 BBall. Nova as a 8 seed is lowest seed to ever win the tourney. As a team Villanova made 78 percent of thier shot attempts. One of the most perfect games a team can play
 

random guy

Professional
Canas beating Federer last year in back to back tournaments

Second that. I don't know "in history" but it was epic, with Cañas coming from the suspension and playing like a man with a mission. And the first one was also on my birthday. Perfect gift if you ask me.
 

Xisbum

Semi-Pro
Russians beating U.S. for gold medal in 1972 Olympics basketball. First loss ever for U.S. in Olympics basketball.

U. S. Olympics hockey team had won gold before (1960), so Miracle on Ice would be second at best. IMO, of course. :)
 

hollywood9826

Hall of Fame
Come on Xis,

that 72 final was fixed. the Russians missed the shot at the end and the refs came up ans said

"oh wait theres supposed to be 1 second left on the clock"

the russians again missed and the refs came back again and said

"Ooops our bad, there is actually supposed to be 2 seconds left on the clock"

At which time the Russians lob a hail mary which the dude shoves an american out of the way catches and has an easy layup for the win.

Screw jobs dont count as upsets.

And the 1980 Ice hockey was more of an upset because russi was destroying everyone in international competition, and a buch of american amatures/college players took them out.

We can argue over this more this Saturday over a few brewskis and brats. seeing as how youre all hobbled up and everything
 

Xisbum

Semi-Pro
Come on Xis,

that 72 final was fixed. the Russians missed the shot at the end and the refs came up ans said

"oh wait theres supposed to be 1 second left on the clock"

the russians again missed and the refs came back again and said

"Ooops our bad, there is actually supposed to be 2 seconds left on the clock"

At which time the Russians lob a hail mary which the dude shoves an american out of the way catches and has an easy layup for the win.

Screw jobs dont count as upsets.

And the 1980 Ice hockey was more of an upset because russi was destroying everyone in international competition, and a buch of american amatures/college players took them out.

We can argue over this more this Saturday over a few brewskis and brats. seeing as how youre all hobbled up and everything

Sure, I'll argue with a lamppost, my wife always says.

Point is, in '72 the Russians shouldn't have been within 10 points of the U.S. with less than a minute remaining, fixed or not. I agree, 3 tries at the final shot was a bit much, but the fact remains - it was the FIRST LOSS EVER in Olympic history for a U.S. basketball team.

And the U.S. did win hockey gold in 1980 Olys., beating Canada, USSR and Czechoslavakia in succession.
 

hollywood9826

Hall of Fame
And the U.S. did win hockey gold in 1980 Olys., beating Canada, USSR and Czechoslavakia in succession.

Do you mean 1960 they beat those guys? Was it a roundrobin gold medal round like in 1980? why have I never known about this before?

72 does not count
 
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dpfrazier

Rookie
2007 NCAA Football:

Stanford 24, USC 23, despite 41 point spread

"Biggest. Upset. Ever."

60320-R805-R806.jpg
 

Xisbum

Semi-Pro
Do you mean 1960 they beat those guys? Was it a roundrobin gold medal round like in 1980? why have I never known about this before?

72 does not count

1960 hockey standings: USA, 5-0; Canada, 4-1; USSR, 2-2-1 (Gold, Silver, Bronze).

Hey, U.S. hockey team won a silver in '72 Olys., ahead of Czechs and behind the Soviets. So U.S. hockey had some kind of history in the Olympics before 1980.

U.S. basketball record before final game in 1972 Olys: 7 consecutive gold medals (all that were ever given), 63-0 record in all rounds. Never. Lost. A. Single. Game.

You gotta convince me 1972 doesn't count, dude. If it doesn't count, my DD214 is worthless. :)
 

TheJRK

Rookie
1982- Ralph Sampson and #1 Virginia losing to Chaminade Hawaii in college hoops.

Wow, I was gonna post that one seeing as I graduated from Chaminade... of course it wasn't in 1982 but I'll still get a lot of **** from old dudes that went to VA back in the day.
 

Xisbum

Semi-Pro
Wow, I was gonna post that one seeing as I graduated from Chaminade... of course it wasn't in 1982 but I'll still get a lot of **** from old dudes that went to VA back in the day.

And why wouldn't you be giving them ****, surfer dude? You got bragging rights on this one. :twisted:

How's the arm?
 

hollywood9826

Hall of Fame
Screw jobs dont count as much as avatars of cats eating spaghetti dont count :)

If it was a true upset the americans would have taken the silver medals in pride. Instead they never accepted them and they sit in a vault somewhere in switzerland. The whole game the refs were shoddy (they ejected USs leading scorer and rebounder) and the end proves it. Doug collins steal a pass with 10 seconds left goes for the layup and gets horrendously undercut. Collins then made two of the most clutch free throws of all time. I guess they didnt have flagrant fouls back then. The buzzer sounded then the refs put three seconds back on the clock. the russians missed thier 2nd chance then to top it off another clock reset was granted by the Secretary General of FIBA (the International Basketball Federation), who had no authority during a game. Screw jobs dont count as upsets dude.
 

Xisbum

Semi-Pro
Screw jobs dont count as much as avatars of cats eating spaghetti dont count :)

If it was a true upset the americans would have taken the silver medals in pride. Instead they never accepted them and they sit in a vault somewhere in switzerland. The whole game the refs were shoddy (they ejected USs leading scorer and rebounder) and the end proves it. Doug collins steal a pass with 10 seconds left goes for the layup and gets horrendously undercut. Collins then made two of the most clutch free throws of all time. I guess they didnt have flagrant fouls back then. The buzzer sounded then the refs put three seconds back on the clock. the russians missed thier 2nd chance then to top it off another clock reset was granted by the Secretary General of FIBA (the International Basketball Federation), who had no authority during a game. Screw jobs dont count as upsets dude.

Wait, how does that old proverb go? Is it "Whiners never win" or "Winners never whine"? I never can get that straight. :)

Bottom line: from 63-0 to 63-1, regardless of how they got there. :neutral:

We'll have fun discussing this Saturday.

P.S. Not gonna kick my bad knee are ya?

P.P.S. Got 2 tickets to Dodgers/Nats tomorrow night. Wanna go and discuss upsets there?
 
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hollywood9826

Hall of Fame
^^^

i would so take you up the Nats game. But it probably wont end until 11 then Ill have to drive my 2 hours home to wake up at 4AM to make it to work by 6. They canned one of the dudes at work and I gotta work fridays until we can get a replacement for him up to speed. You dont know any Systems adminstrator types with a TS/SCI clearence do you?

And no i wont bash your knee :)
 

burosky

Professional
Jimmy V's NC State beating University of Houston's Phi Slamma Jamma in '83. Also, Massimino's Villanova beating Patrick Ewing's Georgetown (was it in '80?)
 

JohnnyCracker

Semi-Pro
Mardy Fish beating Federer earlier this year. :mrgreen:

I'll go with Rulon Gardner defeating the "Russian Bear" Alexander Karelin, who was undefeated in 13 years, with the last 6 years not being scored on...not even a single point in 6 years.
 
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