Biggest Upset in Sports History?

[the 'stache]

Well, I'll select one that I have not seen mentioned. Super Bowl XXXII. The defending champion Packers were 11.5 point favorites over the Broncos.

I've tried my best to forget the game. It's still painful. It was the first of many games in which Brett Favre's mistakes just killed us. Of course, he didn't let Terrell Davis run wild. Gabe Wilkins tweaked his knee in the first quarter, but wouldn't go back in, and his replacement, Darius Holland, was a third stringer. That, coupled with Reggie White and Gilbert Brown were just too slow and banged up to do anything to slow Davis.

It's the greatest sports disappointment of my life, right up there with the '82 Brewers loss in the World Series, and the Packers going 15-1 only to lose in the playoffs two years ago. Oh, and Favre's numerous postseason chokes-the 5 pick game against the Rams, 4th and 26 against the Iggles, the loss to Vick and the Falcons at Lambeau, the pick in overtime of the 2007 NFC Championship Game at Lambeau (where he had Ryan Grant wide open in the middle of the field, which would have put them in field goal range).

Grr! LOL.

[deucetwins]

Upset beats Man O' War. Speaking of horse racing, anytime that a potential triple crown winner is beaten at Belmont. Big Brown anyone?

[alanu]

A few more to consider:

Red Sox coming back from down 0-3 to beat Yankees and WS win (a Cubs WS win would beat that though)

USSR over USA in 1972 basketball (although highly disputed)

NC State run to NCAA basketball championship

[teetwoohsix]

Originally Posted by nameless

Whats the greatest upset in Sports History? Buster Douglas defeats Tyson imo.

I'd have to go with this one off the top of my head, as well as David's Spinks beating Ali.



Sincerely, Clayton

[travrosty]

Corrie Sanders beating w. klitschko for the wbo crown. one of the biggest boxing upsets. See my avatar.

[ALR-bishop]

This is just my personal favorite, which only another Cardinals fan would appreciate

[HRBAKER]

Originally Posted by ALR-bishop

This is just my personal favorite, which only another Cardinals fan would appreciate

+1

[RTK]

Originally Posted by HOF Yankees

1980 Team USA Hockey VS Soviet Union, USA goes on to win gold

Absolutely, a group of college kids cobbled together versus a veteran team of seasoned pro's with arguably, the greatest goalie in hockey history.

[Bored5000]

WRT to the Tyson-Douglas fight, I just finished reading Tyson's amazing autobiography. He obviously talks extensively about that fight in the book. He wrote that he was so into partying and his crazy private life at the time that he had no idea Douglas' mother died shortly before the fight or that Douglas was motivated for the fight.

Tyson's training team told him repeatedly in Japan that they saw Douglas out running in his combat boots and seemingly working like a dog every day to get in shape for the fight. But Tyson was dismissive of the stories because past history had shown that Douglas was a slob who would quit as soon as things got tough in the fight.

Tyson wrote that he was such an "arrogant prick" during his prime that if he had heard the story about Douglas' mom dying, Tyson probably would have said that Douglas was going to join her after the fight. Tyson also wrote that Douglas fought a hell of a fight, but Tyson knew it was a one-time occurence. As soon as Tyson saw how fat Douglas was for his title defense against Evander Holyfield, Tyson knew that Holyfield would knock out Douglas in short order.

Compared to some of the fighters Tyson extensively praises in the book, he doesn't seems have to have much respect for Douglas because Douglas got the one giant payday against Holyfield and couldn't be bothered to get into even semi-decent shape for that fight.

[Runscott]

Hard to pick upsets for MLB, but the Twins and Braves just playing each other in the 1991 World Series was an amazing 'upset' of sorts.

I will go with the 1980 U.S. Hockey team, and Villanova over Georgetown.

All of the Dallas Cowboys Superbowl losses were hugely upsetting to me.

[Ease]

Originally Posted by travrosty

Corrie Sanders beating w. klitschko for the wbo crown. one of the biggest boxing upsets. See my avatar.

+1. It was like David beating Goliath.

A more obscure one: when the Galaxxy Warrior Nate Campbell beat Juan Diaz, in Mexico, by split decision a few years ago.

[t206trader]

Speaking for college sports two things come to mind

1.) 2007 Fiesta Bowl (When Boise State pulled out all the stops)

2.) 2011 Indiana Hoosiers over the Number 1 Kentucky Wildcats (Wildcats would go on to only lose one more game and win the national championship with I believe 7 NBA players)

[RichardSimon]

How about NY Jets +19

[jiw98]

Originally Posted by brian1961

Thanks David, for coming to my rescue on that Dan Gable upset. You were most enlightening, and confirmed it was a much more serious upset than what I remembered. Of course, most of what I remembered was 41 years ago on TV with ABC's great coverage of the Olympics. Dan Gable was profiled, and I recall some of the background of that terrible upset. Seems there was also a close sister that had died tragically that affected him during his wrestling career. Anyway, I will check out the link that you so thoughtfully included.

I don't know why, but I want to remember a dear and great man who was one of America's wrestlers in '72---super heavyweight Chris Taylor. If I miss-spelled his name, forgive me. He was from southern Michigan. A gentle soul, but a determined foe you would not want to face. I believe he took the bronze. I must say this, but for too many stupid, irresponsibly-minded Americans, they think you got to win the gold, or you failed. In any other country, any Olympic medal classifies you as "a master of sports".

Somehow David, I have a feeling you appreciate a jolly good show. Thanks again. Take care. --Brian Powell

Chris Taylor was from Dowagiac, MI. He wrestled at Muskegon Community College before going to Iowa State. He was a big deal around here at MCC. (no pun intended) He left us way too earlyat age 29.

[glynparson]

The Russian he beat was undefeated and I believe no one had even scored on him in a greco roman match. Or something close to that.

[brian1961]

Thanks for bringing back some information on Chris Taylor, guys. Indeed, indeed, he left us way too soon. Beloved by his wife and family, his fans, and his country. "Whom so proudly we hailed ......." ---Brian

[bobbyw8469]

NC State upsetting Houston in the 1983 tournament was pretty huge if you consider all the obstacles they had to overcome on the path to doing that!