Greatest Upset in Sports History

[Bigdog]

37 years ago today in a little town in Upstate NY, without a doubt, the greatest upset in sports history happened. The USA beat perhaps the greatest hockey team ever assembled in the Russians. It gave Americans and this country a much needed shot in the arm.

 

[haleyrules]

How about Buster Douglas brutal KO of Mike Tyson. That was a shocker.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

How about Buster Douglas brutal KO of Mike Tyson. That was a shocker.

In boxing you usually have a puncher's chance. The bigger shock was how Douglas dominated Tyson. Although Douglas was always considered talented and was really a good matchup for Tyson and was now motivated for the first time in his life. Tyson was a wildman in Japan throughout that week.

You really didn't have that with the Russians. They were more than pros because their training regimen was longer and more difficult that the NHL and if the NHL pros weren't so dirty the Russians would have dominated every matchup against them. Furthermore, the Russians were beating teams by double digits...in freaking hockey. And they beat the US team in an exhibition 10-3 days before the Olympics started. And the USA team had not been very good in a long time and was filled with college kids, almost all of whom never made it to the NHL or lasted in the NHL (perhaps the best NHL player was Neal Broten who didn't play much for the USA team).

I would probably add Francis Ouimet's victory in the 1913 US Open as he was an amateur from poor beginnings playing against world renowned pros like Harry Vardon and Ted Ray. Back then, golf professionals' main competition came from amateurs of wealthy and prestigious backgrounds who didn't want to turn pro because pros were kind of considered carny freakshows. Poor amateurs who played competitively didn't exist and for Ouimet to win and beat Vardon and Ray at the age of 19 years old people didn't think was possible.






YR

 

[Bigdog]

How about Buster Douglas brutal KO of Mike Tyson. That was a shocker.

Exactly what YR said. I also might add that the Russian team also beat the NHL all star team that year soundly. I believe they outscored their opponents in the prelim something like 35-3. The Americans made them pull their goalie Tretiak(sp?)who was consider the best goalie at the time and maybe ever going into the crucial 3rd period. The Russian coach even when down with about a 2 minutes to go, had no idea what to do because his team has never been in that situation. He would not pull his goalie to the dismay of the US team.

 

[Tabascocat]

The U.S. team beating the Russians is #1 by a mile. There have been some significant upsets in history, but another stands out to me........Villanova beating Georgetown in 1985 bball.

 

[Biggems]

App. St. going into the Big House to beat Michigan is definitely high on the list for me.

The miracle on ice has to be number 1. A bunch of jags come together to defeat the great grizzly bear that is the russian hockey team.

 

[bb721]

I won't argue with your number one choice, but as runner up I'll nominate Chaminade University from the NAIA defeating the NCAA number one ranked team the University of Virginia featuring three time player of the year Ralph Sampson. At the time Chaminade only had 800 students and didn't even have their own gym.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

In boxing you usually have a puncher's chance. The bigger shock was how Douglas dominated Tyson. Although Douglas was always considered talented and was really a good matchup for Tyson and was now motivated for the first time in his life. Tyson was a wildman in Japan throughout that week.

You really didn't have that with the Russians. They were more than pros because their training regimen was longer and more difficult that the NHL and if the NHL pros weren't so dirty the Russians would have dominated every matchup against them. Furthermore, the Russians were beating teams by double digits...in freaking hockey. And they beat the US team in an exhibition 10-3 days before the Olympics started. And the USA team had not been very good in a long time and was filled with college kids, almost all of whom never made it to the NHL or lasted in the NHL (perhaps the best NHL player was Neal Broten who didn't play much for the USA team).

I would probably add Francis Ouimet's victory in the 1913 US Open as he was an amateur from poor beginnings playing against world renowned pros like Harry Vardon and Ted Ray. Back then, golf professionals' main competition came from amateurs of wealthy and prestigious backgrounds who didn't want to turn pro because pros were kind of considered carny freakshows. Poor amateurs who played competitively didn't exist and for Ouimet to win and beat Vardon and Ray at the age of 19 years old people didn't think was possible.






YR

It's true Rich. That Russian team was stupid good. In 79, they played the NHL All-Stars that had like 20 HOFers on it, and beat them 2 out of 3. In fact, they beat the hell out of NHL teams in exhibition play for years.


I remember staying up and watching all of those games. They didn't show the tournament in prime time. it came on after nightline, as I recall. After the game with the Russians, I remember it was pretty late by the time it ended, we had a wrestling tournament the next day (I think it was a Saturday but I don't remember for sure), we had a really good team but not that day. We got our butts kicked and I am sure it's because everybody stayed up late on team. I guess the other team, I don't know, they got didn't but it was worth it. I will never forget that team.

 

[65fastback2plus2]

How about Buster Douglas brutal KO of Mike Tyson. That was a shocker.

This or Frazier beating Ali, imo.

Hockey, meh.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

This or Frazier beating Ali, imo.

Hockey, meh.

I don't really think Frazier beating Ali was that much of an upset, if at all. Frazier was a world class fighter. Ali was out of shape, out of boxing for some time. Frazier, he was truly in his prime and when he beat Ali in the first fight, I think he was the better fighter. JMO

 

[65fastback2plus2]

I don't really think Frazier beating Ali was that much of an upset, if at all. Frazier was a world class fighter. Ali was out of shape, out of boxing for some time. Frazier, he was truly in his prime and when he beat Ali in the first fight, I think he was the better fighter. JMO

We can make reasons, but Ali was undefeated.

Itd be like if Mayweather fought again and got beat. Excuses wouldnt cover that one of the greatest boxers ever got his first L.

Thats just my opinion tho.

My fav ever is still Ali v. Young Foreman.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

We can make reasons, but Ali was undefeated.

Itd be like if Mayweather fought again and got beat. Excuses wouldnt cover that one of the greatest boxers ever got his first L.

Thats just my opinion tho.

My fav ever is still Ali v. Young Foreman.

He was undefeated at the time but he had not fought for a long time. He couldn't get licensed to fight in many places. It was the whole deal against Vietnam and his involvement with Malcomb X and his conversion to Islam. Frazier was good though. Even in shape, Ali would have had his hands full with Frazier IMO.

 

[haleyrules]

This or Frazier beating Ali, imo.

Hockey, meh.

Well, Frazier was also highly regarded at the time. His shocking beating by a young George Foreman was a serious upset.

I don't really think Frazier beating Ali was that much of an upset, if at all. Frazier was a world class fighter. Ali was out of shape, out of boxing for some time. Frazier, he was truly in his prime and when he beat Ali in the first fight, I think he was the better fighter. JMO

Yep. Smokin Joe was for real. All of his fights with Ali were very tough.

 

[Bigdog]

I think the second biggest upset in sports history is any team that beats are beloved Cowboys,

 

[Sarge]

Villanova over Georgetown 1985 NCAA Championship comes to mind. Probably not on par with the U.S. hockey team but.....

 

[big dog cowboy]

Villanova over Georgetown 1985 NCAA Championship comes to mind. Probably not on par with the U.S. hockey team but.....

North Carolina State over Houston. Both games stunners.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Well, Frazier was also highly regarded at the time. His shocking beating by a young George Foreman was a serious upset.

Yep. Smokin Joe was for real. All of his fights with Ali were very tough.

Foreman was the prototype you look for when you say "Man Child". I truly believe that if that Ali Foreman fight would have happened a year later, Foreman probably beats Ali. He was just so strong, he was young and his power was devastating. If he had known enough not to spend himself in those early rounds, he would have probably beaten Ali but he didn't. Taking nothing away from Ali, he was truly one of the greatest athletes, in any sport, I have ever seen. You don't see talent like that in lifetimes.

The Foreman Frazier fights are a testament to how awesome Foreman's power was. Joe had a chin and a devastating left hook but Foreman, he was scary powerful in his youth.

I miss those days. So many great fighters then. It pains me to see the state of boxing now.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

North Carolina State over Houston. Both games stunners.

I saw that game. That Championship tourney was here in Albuquerque at the Pitt. People were shocked! Houston was frightening. NC State was an upstart, in comparison. Guard play was the difference in that game. Great game!

 

[dogunwo]

Villanova over Georgetown 1985 NCAA Championship comes to mind. Probably not on par with the U.S. hockey team but.....

I am not sure why that game is always considered such an upset. IIRC, Georgetown struggled with Villanova in the regular season, and Villanova was actually a pretty good team. Maybe it was because Georgetown was considered generational talent at the time.

 

[Sarge]

I am not sure why that game is always considered such an upset. IIRC, Georgetown struggled with Villanova in the regular season, and Villanova was actually a pretty good team. Maybe it was because Georgetown was considered generational talent at the time.

Villanova shot 75% from the field and 90% from the filed in the second half and still only won by 2 points. That's how good Georgetown was. Total upset.