Greatest Sports Upsets Ever

[timothy1997 0]

With Super Bowl XLII complete, curious to know what everyone has as their greatest sports upsets ever. Is it the greatest? Does it make your top 5 ever? If your greatest upset isn't included here, I apologize. I tried to great a wide range of sports & decades to make it fair.

My top 5

#1 Miracle on Ice

#2 Super Bowl XLII

#3 Villanova over Georgetown

#4 1969 Miracle Mets

#5 Appy State over Michigan

Edited February 4, 2008 by timothy1997

[dallas27 7]

Miracle on Ice. Appalachian State a very, very close 2nd.

[mannysBETTER3434 1]

I think No. 1 hands down is the Miracle on Ice. I don't think there will ever be a bigger upset. No. 2 sadly has to be Michigan vs Appy State. Of course I wasn't around during the time, but from it sounds like the first Super Bowl was quite the upset as well.

I'd say this years Super Bowl is right around 5th all time.

[auxlepli 17]

Miracle on Ice. Everything else pales in comparison. That sent shockwaves around the world.

Even ESPN, which everybody knows hates hockey, said it is the number one sports moment of the last century. Nothing in this one has come close.

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

I'm biased as a hockey fan, but I gotta go with Miracle on Ice.

A bunch of college kids taking on the Soviet hockey system and winning. Talk about underdogs.

I'm surprised people are considering the Michigan App State upset as #2. I'm not a Michigan fan, so it was kinda fun to watch them go down unexpectedly like that, but that game didn't mean nearly as much as the other upsets listed up there. Outside of the state of Michigan, I'm not sure it even belongs on the list.

You could also include the Red Sox coming back from 3 down to beat the Yankees in 2004. Maybe that belongs under "Biggest Chokes of All Time."

[Hockeytown Red Wings 245]

I'm biased as a hockey fan, but I gotta go with Miracle on Ice.

A bunch of college kids taking on the Soviet hockey system and winning. Talk about underdogs.

I'm surprised people are considering the Michigan App State upset as #2. I'm not a Michigan fan, so it was kinda fun to watch them go down unexpectedly like that, but that game didn't mean nearly as much as the other upsets listed up there. Outside of the state of Michigan, I'm not sure it even belongs on the list.

You could also include the Red Sox coming back from 3 down to beat the Yankees in 2004. Maybe that belongs under "Biggest Chokes of All Time."

It matters in Ohio too.

I voted for Miracle On Ice, nothing will ever top that.

[timothy1997 0]

so far the answers are what I thought they would be. Miracle on Ice is clearly the biggest sports upset. I think sunday's Super Bowl ranks as high as #2 of all time based on what was on the line for the Patriots and how no one outside of NY gave the Giants a chance.

[Sting 11 0]

I don't think this year's Super Bowl even registers. It's definitely well behind Miracle, Super Bowl III, App St. over Michigan, Villanova over Georgetown, etc. The Giants were playing very, very well in their last 5 or 6 games (at least), while the Patriots weren't playing all that well in my opinion. The way they played in the AFC championship game, they should have lost to San Diego. Just because they were undefeated doesn't mean they were head and shoulders above the rest.

Hell, I think the 1996 62-13-7 Wings getting bounced in the WCF was a bigger upset.

[mannysBETTER3434 1]

Stanford over USC was also a huge upset. If this season's college football would have been even kind of normal it would have been talked about non stop.

[RockyMountainWingGal 108]

I don't think this year's Super Bowl even registers. It's definitely well behind Miracle, Super Bowl III, App St. over Michigan, Villanova over Georgetown, etc. The Giants were playing very, very well in their last 5 or 6 games (at least), while the Patriots weren't playing all that well in my opinion. The way they played in the AFC championship game, they should have lost to San Diego. Just because they were undefeated doesn't mean they were head and shoulders above the rest.

Ditto. The salary cap and free agency mean very little separation between teams in the current NFL. I think the quote "any given Sunday" says it all. The Giants may have been point underdogs - but it's not all that surprising that they won.

Miracle on Ice #1 of course.

#2 Superbowl III - Jets over Colts: two different Leagues of talent

I don't consider college upsets amongst the greatest "sports" upsets of all time - merely because they are not paid professional athletes (well for the most part). You can put the Mich-Appy St in with 'best college upsets", but in general of all time i would say no.

[Guest jaytan]

I voted for the Miracle on Ice. I was about to justify my vote too, until I saw that everyone agrees with me.

The Pats loss was unfortunate, but those teams were closer than they were made out to be. That's why it would have been so amazing if New England had pulled it off. Any team in the NFL has the ability to beat any other.... Well, not counting the Lions.

[timothy1997 0]

Ditto. The salary cap and free agency mean very little separation between teams in the current NFL. I think the quote "any given Sunday" says it all. The Giants may have been point underdogs - but it's not all that surprising that they won.

Miracle on Ice #1 of course.

#2 Superbowl III - Jets over Colts: two different Leagues of talent

I don't consider college upsets amongst the greatest "sports" upsets of all time - merely because they are not paid professional athletes (well for the most part). You can put the Mich-Appy St in with 'best college upsets", but in general of all time i would say no.

I am curious to then why Miracle on Ice registers but college upsets don't because they are paid professional athletes when the kids that were a part of the 1980 USA Hockey team were amateurs, not paid professionals.

I put college kids up there on the same level because these kids don't know that Georgetown was supposed to beat Villanova, that Michigan was supposed to beat Appy State. No one told these kids and all they did was go out there and leave everything on that court/field. That makes you feel good no matter who you are.

[dallas27 7]

I'm surprised people are considering the Michigan App State upset as #2. I'm not a Michigan fan, so it was kinda fun to watch them go down unexpectedly like that, but that game didn't mean nearly as much as the other upsets listed up there. Outside of the state of Michigan, I'm not sure it even belongs on the list.

It's the first time in history a D2 team beat a ranked D1 team. And Michigan at that point were serious contenders for the National Championship.

[Hockeytown Red Wings 245]

It's the first time in history a D2 team beat a ranked D1 team. And Michigan at that point were serious contenders for the National Championship.

Well, App. St. was Div 1-AA...and a D 1-AA teams have beaten D 1-A teams quite a few times. None of those D 1-A teams have been ranked number 5 in the country though.

[auxlepli 17]

It's not like the pre-season college American football rankings mean something. They're about the most worthless rankings in sports.

Edited February 7, 2008 by auxlepli

[RockyMountainWingGal 108]

I am curious to then why Miracle on Ice registers but college upsets don't because they are paid professional athletes when the kids that were a part of the 1980 USA Hockey team were amateurs, not paid professionals.

I consider the Miracle on Ice to be the equivalent of a high school club beating the NHL Stanley Cup champions. The Russian team were pretty much professionals.

Another analogy would be Appy State beating the Patriots. Appy St beating Michigan is surely at the top of college upsets, but I have a hard time putting it on top of all time sports upsets. It's fresh in everyone's minds right now, but wait 5 years and then see how it ranks.

I have a hard time putting any college basketball game on there either - pretty much any collegiate baskeball club can beat another on any given day - look at the NCAA tourny each year.

[timothy1997 0]

I consider the Miracle on Ice to be the equivalent of a high school club beating the NHL Stanley Cup champions. The Russian team were pretty much professionals.

Another analogy would be Appy State beating the Patriots. Appy St beating Michigan is surely at the top of college upsets, but I have a hard time putting it on top of all time sports upsets. It's fresh in everyone's minds right now, but wait 5 years and then see how it ranks.

I have a hard time putting any college basketball game on there either - pretty much any collegiate baskeball club can beat another on any given day - look at the NCAA tourny each year.

I can see your point on college basketball with the tournament but Villanova over Georgetown to me still stands the test of time and goes down as one of the greatest sports upsets ever.

Georgetown was unstoppable that year, going 35-3, winning their last 17 games, and holding opponents to 40% shooting. And here comes Nova, the 8th seed in their region, supposed to lose by 10 pts, shoots 72% in the first half and leads by 1 pt. In the 2nd half, the Wildcats caught fire again and shoots 90% from the field. I don't care who you are, that is amazing. Villanova wins 66-64 beating probably the greatest college basketball team to never win the ncaa title. Isn't that what sports is all about. Thats why they play the game.

[auxlepli 17]

Oh wow, this is cool. Eli Manning on Letterman just mentioned Miracle and how the Giants playing the Patriots the final game of the regular season was like when the Americans were beat by the Soviets prior to the Olympics. Then how the Giants beating the Patriots was like the Americans beating the Soviets in the medal round. Weird!

[eva unit zero 271]

I voted for Rulon Gardner.

His defeat of Karelin is by far the greatest upset. Why, you ask?

His opponent had not lost a match in 13 years. His opponent had not SURRENDERED A POINT in SIX YEARS.

That is an almost unfathomable level of dominance over a sport.

Think of Roger Federer, and how he has completely dominated men's tennis for years. Now throw him in the final of Wimbledon, and have him get dismantled by a kid playing in his first professional tournament.

Think that's a huge upset? Consider that Federer has not been as dominant as Karelin was.

Rulon Gardner's Olympic victory is the greatest upset ever.

EDIT: Spelling

Edited February 20, 2008 by eva unit zero

[norrisnick 1]

I voted for Rulon Gardner.

His defeat of Karelin is by far the greatest upset. Why, you ask?

His opponent had not lost a match in 13 years. His opponent had not SURRENDERED A POINT in SIX YEARS.

That is an almost unfathomable level of dominance over a sport.

Think of Roger Federer, and how he has completely dominated men's tennis for years. Now throw him in the final of Wilmbledon, and have him get dismantled by a kid playing in his first professional tournament.

Think that's a huge upset? Consider that Federer has not been as dominant as Karelin was.

Rulon Gardner's Olympic victory is the greatest upset ever.

Easily.

Miracle might get close if the CCCP hadn't given up a goal in 6 years worth of games. And Gardner only won because Karelin's hands slipped apart during a clinch and he then pretty much stalled the rest of the match not trying anything remotely aggressive.

That and Karelin is in one of the scariest sports photos ever.

Imagine that guy mad at you...

[Packer487 3]

Is he wrestling Borat there? That is a hairy, hairy man.

[timothy1997 0]

I voted for Rulon Gardner.

His defeat of Karelin is by far the greatest upset. Why, you ask?

His opponent had not lost a match in 13 years. His opponent had not SURRENDERED A POINT in SIX YEARS.

That is an almost unfathomable level of dominance over a sport.

Think of Roger Federer, and how he has completely dominated men's tennis for years. Now throw him in the final of Wilmbledon, and have him get dismantled by a kid playing in his first professional tournament.

Think that's a huge upset? Consider that Federer has not been as dominant as Karelin was.

Rulon Gardner's Olympic victory is the greatest upset ever.

I totally agree. It is definately worthy of being in the top 10, if not top sports upsets ever. When I created this poll, I obviously wanted to include some cant miss upsets of all time. Rulon Gardner's upset is one of the greatest upsets ever when you consider his opponent that he had beaten. If not for the Miracle on Ice story, I would easily vote this top olympic upset hands down. Miracle on Ice to me takes the sport to a far above level.

[RainingBlood 8]

I have to say when the USA Ducks beat Team Iceland and Gordon Bombey got his revenge on Wolf "The Dentist" Stanson

[eva unit zero 271]

I totally agree. It is definately worthy of being in the top 10, if not top sports upsets ever. When I created this poll, I obviously wanted to include some cant miss upsets of all time. Rulon Gardner's upset is one of the greatest upsets ever when you consider his opponent that he had beaten. If not for the Miracle on Ice story, I would easily vote this top olympic upset hands down. Miracle on Ice to me takes the sport to a far above level.

The US National team had been finishing close to the Russians for years, though. Saying that the Miracle On Ice was the greatest upset ever is like saying that Ohio State's 2002 championship victory is one of the greatest upsets because they hadn't won one in a while and Miami had been the dominant program through the late 90s.

The Soviet Union hockey team was good. Alexander Karelin was UNTOUCHABLE. No points against in six years means he was more dominant than Roger Federer, Tiger Woods, or Wayne Gretzky in their primes. Think about that for a second; what kind of performance it took to outdo those guys in their best years. Now consider that in their best years, none of the three was the best player on a given day every single day. Karelin was. And not only was he always the best, he was so far above his opponents that it was always a mismatch.

The Soviet Union team won a lot of golds, but they didn't always win gold. the 1972 Olympics, and the 76 and 77 World Championships saw the Soviets finish outside of first. Karelin, OTOH, was undefeated in 13 years. That would mean Gold in every tournament since 1967 for the Soviets, by comparison.

[juice71285 2]

My top 3 are:

1. 1969 Miracle Mets- This team had to make up huge ground on the Cubs in the last month to even get into the playoffs let alone win the World Series. Granted it was the Cubs, but still the Mets organization had been horrible to this point.

2. 1969 New York Jets- The AFL teams were no where the level of the NFL teams during the '60s, yet the Jets surprised the world when they beat the Colts in the Super Bowl. This would eventually help lead to the merger of the two leagues since it showed that the AFL could become quite the rival league.

3. 1980 "Miracle on Ice"- While this is one of the biggest upsets of all time, I don't consider it number 1. The Russians took easily the best player in the world out of the game after the 1st period. If Tretiak was still in the game, USA doesn't win end of story.