Biggest Upset in Sports History?

[novakjr]

Originally Posted by nameless

Pro Wrestling counts

If you're willing to include pro-wrestling. Fixed outcomes aside, I'd almost have to count the "Montreal Screwjob".

quick rundown from wiki

"A week before Survivor Series, Hart, who had performed for the WWF since 1984, signed a contract to perform with WCW beginning in December 1997. McMahon sought to prevent Hart from leaving the company as the champion, but Hart was unwilling to lose the title to Michaels – with whom he had a long feud both on-screen and off – at Survivor Series in his home country. Hart, Michaels, and McMahon came to an agreement where the Survivor Series match would end with a disqualification, which under normal rules would result in Hart retaining the title; Hart would then forfeit the title to McMahon on Monday Night Raw the following day. However, McMahon decided without Hart's knowledge that Michaels would win the title at Survivor Series. Accounts differ as to who exactly was involved in the plan and the extent of their involvement. The plan was executed when match referee Earl Hebner, on direct order from McMahon, ended the match as Michaels held Hart in the Sharpshooter submission hold, Hart's signature finishing move, even though Hart had not submitted. Michaels was declared the victor by submission and crowned as the new WWF Champion."


Now as far as actual sports upsets, I always tend to look at them from "in-game situations". To me the 2011 World Series game 6 fits that criteria better than any.

The Rangers blew a two run lead with 2 outs and a 1-2 count to Freese in the 9th that would've clinched a championship. Then regained a two run lead in the 10th, and were 1 strike away(yet again), only to blow it again..

And as we all know, the Cardinals went on to win that game and game 7..

THAT to me, is an upset..

[tiger8mush]

Originally Posted by novakjr

Now as far as actual sports upsets, I always tend to look at them from "in-game situations".

The Bills were down 35-3 to the Oilers in a playoff game early in the 3rd quarter and came back to win something like 41-38. I'd say that was a pretty big in-game upset

[digdugdig]

Originally Posted by tiger8mush

The Bills were down 35-3 to the Oilers in a playoff game early in the 3rd quarter and came back to win something like 41-38. I'd say that was a pretty big in-game upset

And if I'm not mistaken, that was with Frank Reich at QB, not Jim Kelly.
I gotta go with the kid's from the '80 Olympics...that Gold Medal game against Finland was kinda anti-climatic after upsetting a team that gave NHL all-stars fits!! Al little over looked was Bill Baker's late game tying goal vs. Sweden in game 1.

[Mikehealer]

Francis Ouimet 1913 U.S. Open.

[Exhibitman]

Gotta go with Douglas knocking the piss out of the baddest man on the planet. The odds were 42:1 in favor of Tyson, the greatest differential in heavyweight history.

[Leon]

I was at this game and left in the 3rd quarter because there was no way we (I lived in Houston) we were going to lose.. ...from wiki....
.


The 1979 Cotton Bowl Classic, popularly called the Chicken Soup Game,[1] was a football game played between the University of Notre Dame and the University of Houston. The game took place on an unusually cold day in Dallas, Texas, played the day after Dallas's worst ice storm in 30 years. Quarterback Joe Montana, who had the flu, led Notre Dame to a come-from-behind victory in the second half after eating a bowl of chicken soup.[2]

The final play was a touchdown pass to receiver Kris Haines with 0:00 on the clock. Placekicker Joe Unis was forced to kick the extra point twice after a Notre Dame penalty, but was successful both times, and Notre Dame won the game 35–34.[4]


.

[barrysloate]

Nobody mentioned the 1969 Mets? I guess I will then.

[EvilKing00]

Originally Posted by novakjr

If you're willing to include pro-wrestling. Fixed outcomes aside, I'd almost have to count the "Montreal Screwjob".

quick rundown from wiki

"A week before Survivor Series, Hart, who had performed for the WWF since 1984, signed a contract to perform with WCW beginning in December 1997. McMahon sought to prevent Hart from leaving the company as the champion, but Hart was unwilling to lose the title to Michaels – with whom he had a long feud both on-screen and off – at Survivor Series in his home country. Hart, Michaels, and McMahon came to an agreement where the Survivor Series match would end with a disqualification, which under normal rules would result in Hart retaining the title; Hart would then forfeit the title to McMahon on Monday Night Raw the following day. However, McMahon decided without Hart's knowledge that Michaels would win the title at Survivor Series. Accounts differ as to who exactly was involved in the plan and the extent of their involvement. The plan was executed when match referee Earl Hebner, on direct order from McMahon, ended the match as Michaels held Hart in the Sharpshooter submission hold, Hart's signature finishing move, even though Hart had not submitted. Michaels was declared the victor by submission and crowned as the new WWF Champion."


Now as far as actual sports upsets, I always tend to look at them from "in-game situations". To me the 2011 World Series game 6 fits that criteria better than any.

The Rangers blew a two run lead with 2 outs and a 1-2 count to Freese in the 9th that would've clinched a championship. Then regained a two run lead in the 10th, and were 1 strike away(yet again), only to blow it again..

And as we all know, the Cardinals went on to win that game and game 7..

THAT to me, is an upset..

if your going with "fake" I would say any time the harlem globetrotters loose a game. I think they have just over 22,000 wins and 345 losses in their history.

[novakjr]

Originally Posted by EvilKing00

if your going with "fake" I would say any time the harlem globetrotters loose a game. I think they have just over 22,000 wins and 345 losses in their history.

"Fake" is a pretty harsh term. I'd much prefer the use of "kayfabe"

I'd say if there was a game that the Globetrotter "weren't" supposed to lose, that they somehow ended up losing, then yes, I'd put that on the same level as the "Montreal Screwjob"...

[glenv]

Originally Posted by novakjr

Now as far as actual sports upsets, I always tend to look at them from "in-game situations". To me the 2011 World Series game 6 fits that criteria better than any.

The Rangers blew a two run lead with 2 outs and a 1-2 count to Freese in the 9th that would've clinched a championship. Then regained a two run lead in the 10th, and were 1 strike away(yet again), only to blow it again..

And as we all know, the Cardinals went on to win that game and game 7..

THAT to me, is an upset..

For an in-series situation, it's hard to beat the Red Sox in the 2004 ALC. Yankees were one inning away from a four game sweep and had Rivera on the mound...