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Post by Jedi-El of Tomorrow on Apr 21, 2007 21:12:02 GMT -5
Damn, my number 1 team is number 40.
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Deamon Cohln
Don Corleone
AND THAT'S THE GODDAMN TRUTH!
Posts: 1,962
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Post by Deamon Cohln on Apr 21, 2007 21:15:58 GMT -5
If the Red Wings don't make this list we riot
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MolotovMocktail
Grimlock
Home of the 5-time, 5-time, 5-time, 5-time 5-time Super Bowl Champion 49ers-and Wrestlemania 31
Posts: 13,976
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Post by MolotovMocktail on Apr 22, 2007 3:50:45 GMT -5
The worst thing about this is...the Cowboys are going to be ranked higher.
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Post by KingPopper on Apr 22, 2007 7:17:21 GMT -5
If the Red Wings don't make this list we riot Theres a good number of metro detroiters on here, so I wouldnt be surprized to see all the detroit teams (yes, even the lions) high on the list.
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Post by Drillbit Taylor on Apr 22, 2007 15:20:32 GMT -5
#39 The Seattle SuperSonics (or simply Sonics) are an American professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington. They play in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Their mascot's name is Squatch. Of the three major professional sports teams in Seattle—the Seattle Mariners, the Seattle Seahawks, and the Sonics—the Sonics are the only one to have won a championship (1979). (The Sonics' sister team, the WNBA's Seattle Storm, has also won one—in 2004.) On December 20, 1966, Los Angeles businessmen Sam Schulman and Eugene V. Klein and a group of minority partners were awarded the NBA franchise for the city of Seattle. Schulman would serve as the active partner and head of team operations. Named the SuperSonics after Boeing's recently awarded contract for the SST project (later cancelled), they were Seattle's first professional sports franchise. Beginning play in October of 1967, the SuperSonics were coached by Al Bianchi and featured All-Star guard Walt Hazzard and All-Rookie Team members Bob Rule and Al Tucker. The expansion team stumbled to a 23–59 record, and Hazzard was traded to the Atlanta Hawks before the start of the next season for future Hall-of-Famer Lenny Wilkens. Wilkens brought a strong all-around game to the SuperSonics, averaging 22.4 points per game, 8.2 assists per game, and 6.2 rebounds per game for Seattle in the 1968–69 season. Rule, meanwhile, improved on his rookie statistics with 24.0 points per game and 11.5 rebounds per game. The SuperSonics, however, only won 30 games and Bianchi was replaced by Wilkens as coach during the off-season. The legendary Bill Russell was hired as the head coach in the following year, and in 1975 he coached the SuperSonics to the playoffs for the first time. The team, which starred Haywood, guards Fred Brown and Slick Watts, and rookie center Tommy Burleson, defeated the Detroit Pistons in a three game mini-series before falling to the eventual champion Golden State Warriors in six games. The next season, the SuperSonics traded Haywood to New York forcing the remaining players to pick up the offensive slack. Guard Fred Brown, now in his fifth season, was selected to the 1976 NBA All-Star Game and finished fifth in the league in scoring average and free throw percentage. Burleson's game continued to strengthen, while Watts led the NBA in both assists and steals and was named to the All-NBA Defensive First Team. The SuperSonics again made the playoffs, but lost to the Phoenix Suns in six games in spite of strong performances from both Brown (28.5 ppg) and Burleson (20.8 ppg) during the series. Russell left the SuperSonics after the 1976–77 season, and under new coach Bob Hopkins the team started the season dismally at 5–17. Lenny Wilkens was brought back to replace Hopkins, and the team's fortunes immediately turned around. The SuperSonics won 11 of their first 12 games under Wilkens, finished the season at 47–35, won the Western Conference title, and actually led the Washington Bullets three games to two before losing in seven games in the 1978 NBA Finals. Other than the loss of center Marvin Webster to New York, the SuperSonics roster stayed largely intact during the off-season, and in the 1978–79 season they went on to win their first division title. In the playoffs, the Supersonics defeated the Phoenix Suns in a tough seven game conference final series to set up a rematch with the Washington Bullets in the finals. This time, the Bullets lost to the SuperSonics in five games to give Seattle its first, and so far only, NBA title. The championship team roster included the powerful backcourt tandem of Gus Williams and Finals MVP Dennis Johnson, second year All-Star center Jack Sikma, forwards John Johnson and Lonnie Shelton, and key reserves Fred Brown and Paul Silas. n October of 1983, original team owner Sam Schulman sold the SuperSonics to Barry Ackerley, initiating a period of decline and mediocrity for the franchise. 1984 saw Fred Brown retire after playing 13 productive seasons, all with Seattle. His career reflected much of the SuperSonics' history to that time, having been on the same team roster as Rule and Wilkens during his rookie season, playing a key role on Seattle's first playoff teams, and being the team's important sixth man during the championship series years. In recognition of his many contributions to the team, Brown's number was retired in 1986. Lenny Wilkens left the organization following the 1984–85 season, and when Jack Sikma was traded after the 1985–86 season, the last remaining tie to the SuperSonics' championship team (aside from trainer Frank Furtado) had been severed. Among the few SuperSonics highlights of second half of the 1980s were Tom Chambers' All-Star Game MVP award in 1987, Seattle's surprise appearance in the 1987 Western Conference Finals, and the performance of the power trio of Chambers, Xavier McDaniel, and Dale Ellis. In 1987–88, the three players each averaged over 20 points per game with Ellis at 25.8 ppg, McDaniel at 21.4, and Chambers at 20.4. In the 1988–89 season, with Chambers traded to Phoenix, Ellis improved to his scoring average to 27.5 points per game and finished second in the league in three-point percentage. The SuperSonics finished with a 47–35 record, and made it to the second round of the 1989 playoffs. The SuperSonics began setting a new foundation with the drafting of forward Shawn Kemp in 1989 and guard Gary Payton in 1990, and the trading of Dale Ellis and Xavier McDaniel to other teams during the 1990–91 season. It was George Karl's arrival as head coach in 1992, however, that marked a return to regular season and playoff competitiveness for the SuperSonics. With the continued improvement of Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp, the SuperSonics posted a 55–27 record in the 1992-93 season and took the Phoenix Suns to seven games in the Western Conference Finals. The next year, the SuperSonics had the best record in the NBA in 1994 at 63–19 record, but suffered a humiliating first round loss to the Denver Nuggets, becoming the first #1 seed to lose a playoff series to a #8 seed. After playing the 1994–95 season in the Tacoma Dome the team moved to the renamed Key Arena for the 1995–96 season. Perhaps the strongest roster the Supersonics ever had was the 1995–96 team, which had a franchise best 64–18 record. With a deep roster comprised of All-NBA Second Team selections Kemp and Payton, forward Detlef Schrempf, center Sam Perkins, and guard Nate McMillan, the team reached the NBA Finals, but lost to the Chicago Bulls in six games. Seattle continued to be a Western Conference powerhouse during the next two seasons, winning 57 games in 1996–97 and 61 games in 1997–98 for their second and third straight Pacific Division titles. At the end of the 1997–98 season long-time Sonic and defensive specialist Nate McMillan retired. Disagreements with management led to Karl leaving Seattle after the 1997–98 season, and the SuperSonics again descended into an extended period of mediocrity. The 2002–03 season saw All-Star Gary Payton traded to the Milwaukee Bucks, and it also marked the end to the Sonics 11-year streak of having a season with a winning percentage of at least .500, the second longest current streak in the NBA at the time. The 2004–05 team surprised many when it won the organization's sixth division title under the leadership of Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis, winning 52 games. During the off-season in 2005, head coach Nate McMillan left the Sonics to accept a high-paying position to coach the Portland Trail Blazers. After his departure, the team regressed the following season with a 35–47 record, missing the playoffs. The team has been owned by Sam Schulman (1967–1983), Barry Ackerley (1983–2001), and the Basketball Group of Seattle headed by Howard Schultz (the chairman of Starbucks Coffee, 2001–2006). Following disagreements between the Basketball Club of Seattle and the city of Seattle concerning the need to renovate the KeyArena, the Sonics and Seattle Storm were sold to an Oklahoma City group led by conservative billionaire Clay Bennett on July 18, 2006 for US$350 million.[1] The sale was approved by the NBA owners on October 24 of that year. [2] The new ownership group said that upholding the Sonics' lease with KeyArena through 2009–10 was "a priority" and that "with the right dynamics on the court, the right business model, and a financially committed ownership group that recognizes and respect the potential of the Seattle market, we can succeed here for decades to come." Initially there was rampant speculation that their intention was to move the team to Oklahoma City once the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets return to New Orleans, Louisiana.[3] Many observers still believe the new owners intend to move the team to Oklahoma. Clay Bennett has said from the beginning that Key Arena is not a suitable venue for the NBA of today and has given the region a one-year time frame to come up with a taxpayer funded package for a new arena to replace it. If a state of the art events center is not built the ownership group has indicated that relocation of the team out of the region is probable. Supporters of the teams formed Save Our Sonics and Storm to show support and urge the regions leaders and the NBA to keep the teams in Seattle. On November 7, 2006 Seattle voters overwhelmingly approved Initiative-91 to prevent city tax subsidies of professional sports. The initiative was approved with 74.08% of the vote. [4] The lopsided vote was attributed to widespread opposition to using public funds to subsidize billionaire team owners and millionaire player salaries. As of February 13th, 2007, the new ownership has stated it plans to build a new $500 million dollar arena in Renton, Washington.[5] and is asking for $400 million in tax subsidies from the state and city. The new owners have not committed to a contribution of their own and will not take any responsibility for cost overruns. The Oklahoma City based Sonics owners have shown due-diligence with regard to keeping the teams in the region: Basketball Hall of Famers * Lenny Wilkens (player and head coach for the Sonics; inducted as both, coached the 1979 Championship Team) Championships 1 (1979) Conference Titles 3 (1978, 1979, 1996) Division Titles 6 (1979, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2005) Your #39 team, SSS
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HRH The KING
Bill S. Preston, Esq.
HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS
Posts: 15,079
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Post by HRH The KING on Apr 22, 2007 17:48:51 GMT -5
#1 Accrington Stanley
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Post by normcoleman on Apr 22, 2007 21:36:16 GMT -5
^ Drink your milk!
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Post by Drillbit Taylor on Apr 22, 2007 21:37:11 GMT -5
#38 In 1979, businessman Don Carter and partner Norm Sonju requested the right to bring an NBA franchise to Dallas, Texas. The last professional basketball team in Dallas had been the Dallas Chaparrals of the American Basketball Association, which moved to San Antonio in 1973 to become the San Antonio Spurs. At the 1980 NBA All-Star Game, league owners voted to admit the new team, and the Mavericks paid a $12 million entry fee to join the NBA for the 1980-81 season. The team's name came from the 1957-1962 TV western Maverick. James Garner, who played the namesake character, was a member of the ownership group. There was some controversy at the time since the University of Texas at Arlington also uses the Mavericks nickname. They joined the Midwest Division of the Western Conference, where they would remain until the league went to six divisions for the 2004-05 season. Dick Motta, who had guided the Washington Bullets to the NBA Championship in 1977-78, was hired as the team's first head coach. He had a well-earned reputation of being a stern disciplinarian, but was also a great teacher of the game. Kiki Vandeweghe of UCLA was drafted by the Mavs with the 11th pick of the 1980 NBA Draft, but Vandeweghe refused to play for the expansion Mavericks and staged a holdout that lasted a month into the team's inaugural season. He was traded to the Denver Nuggets, along with a first-round pick in 1986, in exchange for two future first-round picks that eventually materialized into Rolando Blackman in 1981 and Sam Perkins in 1984. In the Mavericks' debut game, taking place in the brand-new Reunion Arena, the Mavericks stunned the Spurs, 103-92. But the Mavs started the season with a discouraging 6-40 record on their way to finishing 15-67. However, the Mavericks did make a player acquisition that, while it seemed minor at the time, turned out to play a very important role in the early years of their franchise. Journeyman 6'3" guard Brad Davis, who played for the Anchorage Northern Knights of the Continental Basketball Association, was tracked down and signed by the Mavs in December. At the time, there was absolutely no reason to expect that Davis would be any better than the expansion-level talent the Mavs had. But he started the Mavs' final 26 games, led the team in assists, and his career soared. He spent the next twelve years with the Mavericks, and eventually his #15 jersey was retired. The 1981 NBA Draft brought three players who would become vital parts of the team. The Mavs selected 6'6" forward Mark Aguirre with the first pick, 6'6" guard Rolando Blackman 9th, and 6'7" forward Jay Vincent 24th. By the end of his seven-year Mavs career, Aguirre would average 24.6 points per game. Blackman contributed 19.2 points over his 11-year career in Dallas. But it was Jay Vincent who made the biggest difference for the Mavs in their second season, leading the team in scoring with 21.4 points per game and earning NBA All-Rookie Team honors. The Mavericks improved to 28-54, getting out of the Midwest Division cellar as they finished above the Utah Jazz. The 1996-97 season was a year of transition for the Mavericks, as they basically re-designed their entire team; 27 different players saw action for this Dallas team, setting an all-time NBA record. By the time the season was over, only rookie forward Samaki Walker remained from the opening-day roster. The first big move came in December, as Jason Kidd, Loren Meyer and Tony Dumas were traded to the Phoenix Suns for guards Michael Finley and Sam Cassell and forward A.C. Green. By far the most important of these acquisitions was Finley who, after his first half-season in Dallas, would go on to average over or near 20 ppg for at least the next seven years of his Mavericks career. He made two visits to the NBA All-Star Game, and even played in each of the Mavs' games until the 2001-02 season. Don Nelson was hired as Dallas' general manager on February 7, and it didn't take him long to leave his own mark on the team. Within a week of his hiring, the Mavs had released Fred Roberts and Oliver Miller and traded Jamal Mashburn to the Miami Heat for forwards Kurt Thomas and Martin Müürsepp and guard Sasha Danilović. This particular trade didn't really pan out for the Mavs. Thomas did not play in 1996-97, and only ended up playing in five games as a Maverick before signing as a free agent with the New York Knicks. Danilović played in 13 games for the Mavs before opting out of his contract and signing with Bucker Bologna of the Italian League, and Müürsepp played in 73 games for the Mavericks over the next two years before leaving the NBA. Chris Gatling was the Mavericks' sole representative in the NBA All-Star Game, but he did not last much longer in Dallas. In one of the largest two-team trades in NBA history, the Mavericks traded Chris Gatling, Jim Jackson, Sam Cassell, George McCloud and Eric Montross to the New Jersey Nets for 7'6" center Shawn Bradley, forward Ed O'Bannon and guards Khalid Reeves and Robert Pack. Nelson claimed the trades were necessary because the situation in the locker room was unacceptable. Bradley would spend part of the next eight years putting up modest contributions for the Mavs and giving them solid numbers in terms of blocked shots. Undrafted rookie guard Erick Strickland was a pleasant surprise for the Mavs as he averaged 10.6 ppg. He, along with Finley and Bradley, were expected to be the core of this new Mavericks team. The constant changes made it impossible to establish any sort of team chemistry in 1996-97, and the Mavericks finished 24-58. But they had acquired some of the pieces that would help them start to turn things around in years to come. In the lockout-shortened 1998-99 season, the Mavericks finished with a lowly 19-31 record, but Michael Finley and Gary Trent put up solid numbers and led their team to their first winning home record (15-10) for the first time since 1989-90. Notable were the acquisitions of power forward Dirk Nowitzki and point guard Steve Nash, two seemingly unspectacular moves which would make a great impact in the future. In the following season the team finally "clicked" and started to win on a consistent basis. Led by Finley, the Mavericks earned their first 40-win season since 1989-90. He was greatly helped by Nowitzki, who finally "arrived" in the NBA and established himself as a potent offensive threat. On January 14, 2000, Perot's group sold the Dallas Mavericks to internet entrepreneur and season ticket-holder Mark Cuban for $285 million. Cuban immediately set out to revitalize the Mavericks and increase the team's popularity in Dallas and nationwide. His controversial moves (he allowed Dennis Rodman to live in his house for a week before temporarily signing him) and outspoken personality quickly made him a fan favorite in Dallas and garnered the team lots of press in the national media. He has also been fined millions of dollars for violating NBA rules. In 2000-01, the Mavericks improved further and finished with an impressive 53-29 record, fueled by an impressive offensive triangle of Nowitzki, Finley and Nash. The Mavs made a blockbuster trade minutes before the trade deadline that sent Hubert Davis, Christian Laettner, Courtney Alexander and Etan Thomas to the Washington Wizards for Juwan Howard, Calvin Booth and Obinna Ekezie. This move brought in fresh blood that secured the club's first playoff visit in 11 years. In the playoffs, the Mavericks won the first round against the Utah Jazz, advancing to the second round for the first time since 1988. This was also the last season in the old Reunion Arena before making the move to the modern American Airlines Center. The 2004-05 season brought in blockbuster trades which (among others) brought in burly center Erick Dampier, combo guard Jason Terry, speedy rookie point guard Devin Harris, scoring machine Jerry Stackhouse, and defensive stalwart Alan Henderson. Although the loss of All-Star Steve Nash via free agency visibly hurt the Mavericks' offense, the new acquisitions strengthened the team defense. The run-and-gun style of former times changed into a more balanced style of play. At the All-Star break, the Mavericks acquired Keith Van Horn for Calvin Booth and Henderson, the latter resigning only days later. On March 19, longtime coach Don Nelson resigned and his assistant Avery Johnson succeeded him. Under Johnson's tutelage, the defense of the Mavericks became stronger and they easily qualified for the playoffs with an impressive 58-24 record. The Mavericks defeated the Houston Rockets in Round 1 of the playoffs in 7 games but then lost to the Phoenix Suns 2-4, led by former Maverick star Steve Nash. Prior to the 2005 NBA Draft, the Mavericks had traded all their picks away and were left empty-handed. On August 15, 2005, veteran guard Michael Finley was waived under the new "Allan Houston Rule" [1]. Under this rule, the Orlando Magic waived Doug Christie, who then signed with the Mavericks. On August 19, the Mavericks held a press conference announcing they had re-signed Darrell Armstrong, and introduced Christie, DeSagana Diop, Rawle Marshall, and Josh Powell as new Mavericks. Christie's playing time was very limited amidst a surgically-repaired ankle still hampering his play. He was waived on November 25, 2005. Up until the very end of the season, the Mavericks would be toe-to-toe with the San Antonio Spurs for the crown of the Southwest Division as well as the #1 spot in the Western Conference. However, they fell short of the title and had to settle for a fourth seed. Nonetheless, they once again achieved a 60-22 record, with Avery Johnson winning NBA Coach of the Year honors. In the playoffs, they swept the Memphis Grizzlies, leading to a titanic series against their state rivals and the reigning NBA champions the San Antonio Spurs. Five out of the seven games were decided in the last minute, including a Game 7 that had to go into overtime. Yet under the guidance of Dirk Nowitzki and an incredibly deep bench, the Mavericks were able to advance to the Conference Finals against former teammate Steve Nash and the Phoenix Suns. While the Suns did extend the series to six games, the Mavs' defense and depth allowed them to advance to the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history. Basketball Hall of Famers: Alex English Championships 0 Conference Titles 1 (2006) Division Titles 2 (1987, 2007) #38 Team, Dallas Macericks
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Post by KingPopper on Apr 23, 2007 12:43:21 GMT -5
I like sports.
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Post by Drillbit Taylor on Apr 23, 2007 14:21:49 GMT -5
#37 The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California. They play in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Sharks, along with the Charlotte Hornets of the NBA, the Florida Marlins of Major League Baseball, and the Jacksonville Jaguars of the NFL, are often credited with popularizing teal as a color for American sports teams Although Northern California was not considered a particularly fertile hockey market, the NHL's 1967-68 expansion included a Bay Area team, primarily because the terms of a new television agreement with CBS called for two of the new teams to be located in California. Thus, the Oakland Seals were one of the six expansion teams added, but were a failure both on the ice and at the gate. After nine money-losing seasons and continued low attendance, in 1976 the Seals were sold to Cleveland businessmen George and Gordon Gund and moved to Cleveland, where they became the Barons. After two more years of losses, the Gunds were permitted to merge the Barons with the financially struggling Minnesota North Stars. The Gunds emerged as the owners of the North Stars as part of the deal. The Gunds had long wanted to bring hockey back to the Bay Area, and asked the NHL for permission to move the North Stars there in the late 1980s, but were vetoed by the league. Meanwhile, a group led by former Hartford Whalers owner Howard Baldwin was pushing the NHL to bring a team to San Jose, where a new arena was being built. Eventually a compromise was struck by the league, where the Gunds would sell their share of the North Stars to Baldwin's group, with the Gunds receiving an expansion team in the Bay Area to begin play in the 1991-92 NHL season.[1] In return, the North Stars would be allowed to participate as an equal partner in an expansion draft with the new Bay Area team. On May 5, 1990, the Gunds officially sold their share of the North Stars to Baldwin and were awarded a new team in the Bay Area, based in San Jose. Over 5000 potential names were submitted by mail for the new team. While the first-place finisher was "Blades," the Gunds were concerned about the name's negative connotations (weapons, etc) and went with the runner-up, "Sharks." The name was said to have been inspired by the large number of sharks living in the Pacific Ocean. Seven different varieties live there, and one area of water near the Bay Area is known as the "red triangle" because of its shark population. The team's first marketing head, Matt Levine, said of the new name, "Sharks are relentless, determined, swift, agile, bright and fearless. We plan to build an organization that has all those qualities The Sharks acquired Craig Rivet from the Montreal Canadiens on February 25, 2007, with a fifth round selection in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, in exchange for defenseman Josh Gorges and San Jose’s first round selection in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. On February 27, 2007, Bill Guerin was acquired from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for Ville Nieminen, Jay Barriball, and the conditional first round draft pick received from New Jersey. In separate deals, the Sharks also traded away enforcer Scott Parker and goaltender Nolan Schaefer. San Jose also signed college forward T.J. Fox and prospect Tory Mitchell. Unique to note is that the Sharks spent most of the season rotating their two goaltenders, Vesa Toskala and Evgeni Nabokov every other game. The only time either one has played for any extended period of time was when the other was injured or otherwise unable to play. The Sharks set a club record when they went seven games without allowing a goal in the first two periods of play. During this span, Nabokov set another club record by going eight periods without allowing a goal. Toskala set a club record by recording the first multi-point game by a goalie in Sharks history when he had two assists in one game. Also, the Sharks were involved in a rare sporting event: a cancelled trade. San Jose sent a third-round-draft pick to the New Jersey Devils for Alexander Korolyuk with the requirement that Korolyuk pass a physical examination. Korolyuk, who was playing in the Russian Super League, never showed up, and the deal was cancelled. In the first round of the 2007 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Sharks again met the Nashville Predators, and advanced to the second round after defeating them 4 games to 1 for the second straight season. Hall of Famers * None Stanley Cups None Conference Championships None Division Championships 2001-02, 2003-04 #37 team, San Jose Sharks
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Post by Drillbit Taylor on Apr 23, 2007 21:29:38 GMT -5
#36 The Austin Wranglers are an American football team from Austin, Texas in the Arena Football League. They began play as a 2004 expansion team. The Wranglers began play in February of 2004, and play home games at the Frank Erwin Center on the University of Texas campus, playing in the Southern Division of the National Conference. The franchise is not to be confused with another Arena Football team called the Oklahoma Wranglers, who played the 2000 and 2001 seasons in Oklahoma City. In 2004, the Wranglers accumulated an 8-8 record with former Arena Bowl champion John Kaleo leading the roster. However, the Wranglers were unable to qualify for the playoffs, after losing 3 games to close the season. In the 2004 off-season, Wranglers recruiting was relatively quiet; signings included former All-Rookie teamer OL/DL Bryan Henderson, OS Ira Gooch, and QB John Fitzgerald. Departed was former starting quarterback John Kaleo, traded to the Los Avengers for cash and future considerations. The trade was highly controversial amongst the Wrangler's fanbase, considering Kaleo accumulated solid numbers for the expansion Wranglers. It is highly believed the move was in regards to Kaleo's locker room behaivor rather than on the field play. The training camp which ensued was headlined by the competition between free agent pick up John Fitzgerald, fresh off leading the expansion VooDoo to the playoffs, against 2004 back-up Bobby Pesavento. Pesavento would ultimately defeat Fitzgerald for the starting job, but Fitzgerald took over four games into the season when Pesavento was injured against the Tampa Bay Storm. Throughout the season John Fitzgerald was one of a few bright spots on a depleted team. The Wranglers went down to a 6-10 record in 2005. Though many close games were played, 2 of which included a pair of 3 point losses to National Conference Champion, the Georgia Force. Realizing the past failures in 2004 and 2005, the Wranglers management went out and had an explosive off-season. Team presidents Doug MacGregor and Glyn Milburn both made desicive re-signings and signings, in which included Sedrick Robinson, AFL all time leading tackler Damon Mason, Donvetis Franklin, Donovan Arp, Derrick Lewis, Chance Mock, and Marcus McKenzie. On Wednesday, April 26, 2006, Deion Sanders, the multi-talented athlete who retired from playing in the NFL, became one of the franchise's owners[1]. On May 7th, 2006, the Wranglers clinched their first ever playoff birth with a win over the Grand Rapids Rampage. Unfortunately the Wranglers were eliminated from the playoffs after losing to the Philadelphia Soul in the first round of the wild card playoffs. Shortly after the end of the Wrangler's season, team owner Doug MacGregor announced the firing of Skip Foster, after leading the Wranglers to a franchise best 10-6 season. This shocking move led to many to speculate what the Wrangler's intentions were for the future. After a month full of searching for the future head coach of the Wranglers, Austin announced on June 29th, 2006, former offensive coordinator of the Colorado Crush, Brian Partlow, would lead the Wranglers in 2007. During his three seasons as offensive coordinator with the Crush, Partlow established a respected offense in the AFL, in which managed to win one Arena Bowl. Along with this success, Partlow coached offensive specialist Damian Harrell to two consecutive offensive player of the year seasons, while establishing John Dutton, cover boy of EA Sport's Arena Football, as one of the most feared quarterbacks in the league. On September 15th, 2006, the Arena Football League sent shockwaves through its fanbase announcing the implentation of free-substitution, substantially eliminating any remains of the AFL's highly reguarded reputation of Ironman football. Previously teams were restricted one substitution per quarter, forcing wide receivers, defensive backs, offensive and defensive linemen to play both sides of the ball. It was highly believed teams would take advantage of this change, in increasing signings of former NFL and NFL Europe players rather than searching for existing talent already in the AFL. A month later in October, the Wranglers quickly proved this theory. After a relatively quiet opening to the the free agency period with the signing of former Georgia Force defensive specialist Nate Coogins, the Wranglers took advantage of the AFL's free-substitution rule, signing of a rather large batch of rookies lacking expirence in the arena game including former Texas Longhorn Mike Williams. In addition, the Wranglers signed 2004 AFL Rookie of the Year and former Florida State Seminoles quarterback Adrian McPherson. Following training camp 2007, the Wranglers roster was set as seven rookies made the cut (nearly a fourth of the team), while Adrian McPherson, Nate Coogins, Anthony Hines, and Chad Dukes were the lone AFL veteran free agent pick ups making the squad. The rest of the roster remained the core nuclues of the Wrangler's playoff run in 2006, including starting defensive specialist Damon Mason and stand out wide receiver Derrick Lewis. Trivia The original mascot for the Austin Wranglers was named Blaze, who was a horse, and in 2005 he was joined by a cowboy - Red Eye (whose eyes glowed red). Due to the expansion team in Utah, the Blaze, the Austin Wranglers changed the name of their mascot to avoid confusion, so the new mascot is now wilder than before and goes by the name Trigger. #36 Team, Austin Wranglers (PS, This one Shocks me just as much as yall, but people voted so it is here)
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HRH The KING
Bill S. Preston, Esq.
HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS
Posts: 15,079
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Post by HRH The KING on Apr 23, 2007 22:06:48 GMT -5
LOL@the shark biting the hockey stick
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Post by KingPopper on Apr 24, 2007 6:33:39 GMT -5
Never heard of them.
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Sajoa Moe
Patti Mayonnaise
Did you get that thing I sent ya?
A man without gimmick.
Posts: 39,683
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Post by Sajoa Moe on Apr 24, 2007 9:52:10 GMT -5
At this rate, the New Britain Rock Cats are going to be #1.
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Post by Drillbit Taylor on Apr 24, 2007 17:11:10 GMT -5
#35 Boise State Broncos are the official athletic program of Boise State University. The Broncos compete in a wide variety of sports. Perhaps the most well-known of these sports is the football program. The program attained a 13-0 season in 2006 capped by a memorable overtime win in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl against the Oklahoma Sooners. They finished the season as the only major undefeated college football team, yet they became the first team since the 2004-2005 season with an unblemished record and not receive any share of the National Championship. Other notable sports teams include the wrestling team, which competes in the Pacific-10 Conference, and the women's basketball team, which won the WAC for the first time ever in 2007. The Broncos have a very successful athletic program overall, winning the WAC commissioner's cup for the 2005-06 year and leading it in the 2006-07 year. Team records * Consecutive victories: 22, 1980-1981 & 2003-2004 * Largest NCAA Division 1 margin of victory: 74 vs. Humboldt State, 1986 * Victories in a season: 13, 1994, 2003 & 2006 Current NFL players * Kimo von Oelhoffen - DL, New York Jets * Jeb Putzier - TE, Houston Texans * Quintin Mikell - DB, Philadelphia Eagles * Bryan Johnson - FB, Chicago Bears * Chris Carr - DB, Oakland Raiders * Daryn Colledge - OT, Green Bay Packers * Brock Forsey - RB, Washington Redskins Colors Blue and Orange Outfitter Nike Mascot Buster Bronco Marching Band Keith Stein Blue Thunder Marching Band Football Stadium Bronco Stadium (c. 30,000, Blue Astroplay) Basketball Arena Taco Bell Arena (c. 12,820) Rivals Idaho (main rivals), Fresno State, Hawaiʻi, Nevada #35 Boise State Broncos
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Post by Drillbit Taylor on Apr 24, 2007 19:40:46 GMT -5
#34 The Boston Red Sox are a Major League Baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They are also known as the Old Town Team, and The Bosox (a portmanteau of Boston and Sox). They are often familiarly referred to by newspapers and fans as simply The Sox. A member of the American League East Division, their home field is Fenway Park, which opened on April 20, 1912, and is the oldest major league ballpark still in operation. The Red Sox won the first World Series as the Boston Americans in 1903 against the Pittsburgh Pirates. They won their most recent World Series championship in 2004, after an 86-year interval. The Red Sox have one of the longest standing and most storied rivalries in North American sports with the nearby New York Yankees. The Yankees-Red Sox Rivalry has centered around the supposed Curse of the Bambino, and has gained even more significance with the creation of the wild card in 1995, which allowed the two teams to meet in the playoffs. In 1900, the minor Western League, led by Ban Johnson, declared its equality with the National League, then the only major league. Johnson changed the name of the league to the American League. Competing in the streets, the upstart placed franchises in two of the largest and most important National League cities, Philadelphia and Boston. Playing their home games at Huntington Avenue Grounds, they were one of these two franchises, the Boston Americans, as they were often called, finished second and third before capturing their first pennant in 1903 and repeating the next year. Those teams were led by manager and star third baseman Jimmy Collins and by pitcher Cy Young, whose 1901 to 1904 seasons rank among the best four-year runs ever. In addition, the Americans received significant contributions from outfielders Chick Stahl, Buck Freeman and Patsy Dougherty. In 1903, the Americans participated in the first modern World Series, beating the favored Pittsburgh Pirates, winners of the NL pennant by six and a half games, winning five games to three. The Americans, aided by the modified chants of "Tessie" by the Royal Rooters fan club and by its stronger pitching staff, managed to overcome the odds, winning the first ever World Series. However, perhaps the climax of the season occurred on the last, dramatic doubleheader at the Highlanders’ home stadium, Hilltop Park. In order to win the pennant, the Highlanders needed to win both games. With Jack Chesbro, the Highlanders' 41-game winner, on the mound, the Highlanders seemed to have a good chance of winning the first game. However, with the score tied 2-2 with a man on third in the top of the ninth, a spitball got away from Chesbro and Lou Criger scored the go-ahead run on one of the most famous wild pitches in history. Unfortunately, the NL champion New York Giants declined to play any postseason series, fearing it would give their New York rivals (they had expected the Highlanders to win) credibility, but a sharp public reaction led the two leagues immediately to make the World Series a permanent championship. These successful times soon ended, however, as the Americans lost 100 games in the 1906 season. But several new star players helped the newly renamed Red Sox improve almost immediately. By 1909, the legendary center fielder Tris Speaker had become a fixture in the Boston outfield, and the Red Sox worked their way to third place. However, the Red Sox would not win the pennant again until their 105-win 1912 season, finishing with a club record .691 winning percentage. Anchored by an outfield considered to be among the finest in the game — Tris Speaker, Harry Hooper and Duffy Lewis — and superstar pitcher Smokey Joe Wood, the Red Sox beat the New York Giants 4-3-1 in a classic World Series best known for Snodgrass’s Muff. From 1913 to 1916 the Red Sox were owned by Joseph Lannin, who signed Babe Ruth, soon the best-known and one of the best players ever. Another 101 wins in 1915 propelled the Red Sox to the World Series again, where they beat the Philadelphia Phillies four games to one. The 1916 team repeated the pennant, though Tris Speaker, a fixture for six years, was traded to the Cleveland Indians in the off-season. His departure was more than compensated for, however, by the emergence of star pitcher Babe Ruth. Once again, the Red Sox won the World Series, this time defeating the Brooklyn Robins. By 1918, the team found itself at the top of the heap again, led by Babe Ruth to a World Series championship over the Chicago Cubs. After three seasons in Boston, Harry Frazee sold Babe Ruth to the rival New York Yankees on January 2, 1920. Ruth had just broken the single-season home run record, hitting 29 in 1919.[1] Legend has it that Frazee did so in order to finance the Broadway play No, No, Nanette, starring "a friend", but the play did not open on Broadway until 1925. After New York achieved great success and Boston did not win for a few decades, the sale of Babe Ruth came to be viewed as the beginning of the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry, described as the "Greatest Rivalry on Earth" by some journalists.[3][4][5][6] . Plus, years later, many thought the sale was the cause of the "Curse of the Bambino". After the sale of Ruth to the Yankees, Frazee continued to sell many of his star players. In the winter of 1920, Wally Schang, future star pitcher Waite Hoyt, Harry Harper, and Mike McNally were traded to the Yankees for Del Pratt, Muddy Ruel, John Costello, Hank Thormahlen, Sammy Vick and cash.[7] The following winter, iron man shortstop Everett Scott, and pitchers Bullet Joe Bush and Sad Sam Jones were traded to the Yankees for Roger Peckinpaugh (who would be immediately shipped to the Washington Senators), Jack Quinn, Rip Collins, Bill Piercy and $50,000 The 1960s also started poorly for the Red Sox, though 1961 saw the debut of Carl "Yaz" Yastrzemski, (uniform #8) who developed into one of the better hitters of a pitching-rich decade. Red Sox fans refer to 1967 as the year of the "Impossible Dream." The slogan refers to the hit song from the popular musical play "Man of La Mancha." The 1967 season is remembered as one of the great pennant races in baseball history because four teams were in the AL pennant race until almost the last game. The team had finished the 1966 season in ninth place, but they found new life with Yastrzemski as the team went to the World Series. Yastrzemski won the American League Triple Crown (the most recent player to accomplish such a feat) and put forth what is considered one of the best seasons in baseball history. But the Red Sox lost the series — again to the St. Louis Cardinals, in seven games. Legendary pitcher Bob Gibson stymied the Sox winning three games. The Red Sox won the AL pennant in 1975, with Yastrzemski surrounded by other players such as rookie outfielders Jim Rice and Fred Lynn the "Gold Dust Twins", veteran outfielder Dwight Evans "Dewey", catcher Carlton Fisk "Pudge", and pitchers Luis Tiant "Louie" and eccentric junkballer Bill Lee "The Spaceman". With many different personalities in the clubhouse, the 1975 Red Sox were as colorful as they were talented. Fred Lynn won both the American League Rookie of the Year award and the Most Valuable Player award, a feat which had never been accomplished at that time and was not duplicated until Ichiro Suzuki did it in 2001. ,[11][12]. In the playoffs, the Sox swept the Oakland A's. In the World Series, they faced the Cincinnati Reds, also known as The Big Red Machine, a team considered a baseball dynasty during the 1970s. Luis Tiant won games 1 and 4 of the World Series but after five games, the Red Sox trailed the series 3 games to 2. Game 6 played at Fenway Park is thought to be one of the greatest, if not the greatest, game in postseason history. The Sox were down 6-3 in the bottom of the eighth when pinch hitter Bernie Carbo hit a three run homer into the center field bleachers off Reds fireman Rawly Eastwick to tie the game. In the top of the eleventh inning, right fielder Dwight Evans made a spectacular catch of a Joe Morgan line drive and doubled Ken Griffey Sr. of 1st base to preserve the tie. The Red Sox ultimately prevailed in the bottom of the twelfth inning when Carlton Fisk hit a deep fly ball which sliced towards the left field foul pole above the Green Monster. As the ball sailed into the night, Fisk waved his arms frantically towards fair territory, seemingly pleading with the ball not to go foul. The ball hit probably six inches to the fair side of the foul pole and bedlam ensued at Fenway as Fisk rounded the bases to win the game 7-6. Footage of the Fisk home run is shown again and again on ESPN classic. The Red Sox lost game 7, 4-3 even though they had an early 3-0 lead. Starting pitcher Bill Lee threw a slow looping curve which he called a "Leephus pitch" or "space ball" to Reds 1st baseman Tony Perez who hit the ball over the Green Monster and across the street. The Reds scored the winning run in the 9th inning. Carlton Fisk said famously about the 1975 World Series, "We won that thing 3 games to 4". In the 1986 World Series the Red Sox played the New York Mets. The Red Sox won the first two games in Shea Stadium, but lost the next two at Fenway, knotting the series at 2 games apiece. After Bruce Hurst recorded his second victory of the series in game 5; the Red Sox returned to Flushing Meadows looking to garner their first championship in 68 years. However, Game Six would go down as one of the most devastating losses in club history. After pitching seven strong innings, Roger Clemens was curiously lifted from the game with a 3-2 lead. Years later, Manager John McNamara said that Clemens was suffering from a blister and asked to be taken out of the game, a fact that Clemens vehemently denied. [14] The Mets tied the score 3-3 in the eighth inning by scoring a run off reliever Calvin Schiraldi. The game went to extra innings, where the Red Sox took a 5-3 lead in the top of the tenth on a solo home run by Dave Henderson, a double by Wade Boggs and an RBI single by Marty Barrett. After recording two easy outs in the bottom of the 10th innning, the Red Sox were one strike away from breaking their championship drought. The champagne was on ice in the Red Sox clubhouse, a graphic appeared on the NBC telecast hailing second baseman Marty Barrett as the World Series MVP, a message even appeared briefly on the Shea Stadium Scoreboard congratulating the Red Sox as World Champions. After so many years of abject frustration, Red Sox fans around the world could taste victory. Alas, just when even the most cautious and pessimistic of Sox fans started to believe, things began to unravel for the Old Town Team. While words can not describe what ensued, the memories of that chilly early fall morning at Shea Stadium live on in the realm of sports infamy. After three straight singles off Calvin Schiraldi and a wild pitch by Bob Stanley, the Mets tied the game at five. Some people felt that the play should have been scored a passed ball on catcher Rich Gedman as the ball was not that far from the strike zone . It looked as though the Red Sox would record the third out leaving the score tied when Mookie Wilson hit a slow ground ball to first; unfortunately the ball took a strange hop and rolled through Bill Buckner's legs, allowing Ray Knight to score the winning run from second. Much like the Fisk homer in '75, this error is played again and again on TV. While Buckner was singled out as responsible for the loss, many observers — as well as both Wilson and Buckner — have noted that even if Buckner had fielded the ball cleanly, Wilson possibly would still have been safe (Wilson at the time was thought of as one of the faster players in the National League), leaving the game-winning run at third with two out. Many observers questioned why Buckner was in the game at that point in light of the fact that he had very bad knees and Dave Stapleton had come in as a late inning defensive replacement in prior series games. It appeared as though McNamara was trying to reward Buckner for his long and illustrious career by leaving him in the game. After dropping behind 3-0, the New York Mets then won Game 7, concluding the devastating collapse and feeding the myth that the Red Sox were actually "cursed." Boston began the playoffs by sweeping the AL West champion Anaheim Angels. The Red Sox blew out the Angels 9-3 in Game 1, scoring 7 of those runs in the fourth inning. However, the Sox' 2003 off season prize pickup Curt Schilling suffered a torn tendon when he was hit by a line drive. The injury was exacerbated when Schilling fielded a ball rolling down the first base line. The second game, pitched by Pedro Martinez, stayed close until Boston scored four in the ninth to win 8-3. In game three, what looked to be a blowout turned out to be a nail-biter, as Vladimir Guerrero hit a grand slam off Mike Timlin in the seventh to tie it at six. However, David Ortiz, who is famously noted for his clutch hitting, delivered in the 10th inning with a game winning two-run homer over the Green Monster. The Red Sox advanced to a rematch in the 2004 American League Championship Series against their bitter rivals, the New York Yankees. Despite high hopes that the Red Sox would finally vanquish their nemesis from the Bronx, the series started disastrously for them. Curt Schilling pitched with the torn tendon sheath in his right ankle he had suffered in Game 1 of the Division Series against Anaheim, and was routed for six runs in three innings. Yankee starter Mike Mussina had six perfect innings, and held an 8-0 lead. Despite the Sox' best effort to come back (they scored seven runs to make it 8-7), they ended up losing 10-7. In Game 2, already with his Yankees leading 1-0 for most of the game, John Olerud hit a two-run home run to put the New York team up for good. The Sox were soon down three games to none after a crushing 19-8 loss in Game 3 at home. In that game, the two clubs set the record for most runs scored in a League Championship Series game. At that point in the history of baseball, no team had come back to win from a 3-0 series deficit (in fact, only the 1998 Atlanta Braves and 1999 New York Mets had ever gotten as far as a Game 6). In Game 4, the Red Sox found themselves facing elimination, trailing 4-3 in the ninth with Yankees superstar closer Mariano Rivera on the mound. After Rivera issued a walk to Kevin Millar, Dave Roberts came on to pinch run and promptly stole second base. He then scored on an RBI single by Bill Mueller which sent the game to extra innings. The Red Sox went on to win the game on a two-run home run by David Ortiz in the 12th inning. In Game 5, the Red Sox were again down late, this time by the score of 4-2, as a result of Derek Jeter's bases-clearing triple. But the Sox struck back in the eighth, as Ortiz hit a homer over the Green Monster to bring the Sox within a run. Then Jason Varitek hit a sacrifice fly to bring home Dave Roberts, scoring the tying run. The game would go for 14 innings, capped off by many squandered Yankee opportunities (they were 1 for 13 with runners in scoring position). In the top of the 12th, the knuckleballing Tim Wakefield came in from the bullpen, without his customary "personal catcher," Doug Mirabelli. Though Jason Varitek, the starting catcher, had little trouble with Wakefield's tricky knuckleballs in the 12th, he allowed 3 passed balls in the 13th. The third and last of those gave the Yankees runners on second and third with two out. Red Sox Nation was spared, however, as Ruben Sierra struck out to end the inning. In the bottom of the 14th, Ortiz would again seal the win with a game-winning RBI single that brought home Damon. The game set the record for longest postseason game in terms of time (5 hours and 49 minutes) and for the longest American League Championship Series game (14 innings), though the former has since been broken. With the series returning to Yankee Stadium for Game 6, the improbable comeback continued, with Curt Schilling pitching on an ankle that had three sutures wrapped in a bloody (red) sock. Schilling struck out four, walked none, and only allowed one run over seven innings to lead the team to victory. Mark Bellhorn also helped in the effort as he hit a three-run home run in the fourth inning. Originally called a double, the umpires conferred and agreed that the ball had actually gone in to the stands before falling back in to the field of play, which was apparent to the television audience but angered Yankees fans. A key play came in the bottom of the eighth inning with Derek Jeter on first and Alex Rodríguez facing Bronson Arroyo. Rodríguez hit a ground ball down the first base line. Arroyo fielded it and reached out to tag him as he raced down the line. Rodríguez slapped at the ball and it came loose, rolling down the line. Jeter scored and Rodríguez ended up on second. After conferring, however, the umpires called Rodríguez out on interference and returned Jeter to first base, the second time in the game they reversed a call. Yankees fans, upset with the calls, littered the field with debris. The umpires called police clad in riot gear to line the field in the top of the 9th inning. In the bottom of the ninth, the Yankees staged a rally and brought former Red Sox player Tony Clark, who had played well against the Red Sox since leaving the team, to the plate as the potential winning run. Closer Keith Foulke however, struck out Clark to end the game and force a Game 7. In this game, the Red Sox completed their historic comeback on the strength of Derek Lowe's one-hit/one-run pitching and Johnny Damon's two home runs, including a grand slam in the second inning off the first pitch of reliever Javier Vazquez, and defeated the New York Yankees 10-3. Ortiz, who had the game winning RBIs in Games 4 and 5, was named ALCS Most Valuable Player. Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association, and the National Hockey League are the three professional sports that feature best-of-seven games series in their playoffs. The incredible feat of coming back to win a seven game series when down by three games has only been accomplished by three teams in the history of the MLB, NBA, and NHL. The 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL) came back from being down by three games to the Detroit Red Wings to win the 1942 Stanley Cup. The 1975 New York Islanders (NHL) did the same when they came back to beat the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 1975 Stanley Cup Quarterfinals. No team in the NBA has ever accomplished such a comeback and the Boston Red Sox are the only team in Major League Baseball history to ever do so. The Red Sox faced the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2004 World Series. The Cardinals had posted the best record in the major leagues that season, and had previously defeated the Red Sox in the 1946 and 1967 Series, with both series going seven games. The third time would be the charm, however, as the momentum and confidence Boston had built up in the ALCS would overwhelm St. Louis. The Red Sox began the Series with an 11-9 win, marked by Mark Bellhorn's game-winning home-run off Pesky's Pole. This was unusual because Bellhorn was known for ground balls or striking out rather than hitting a home run. He later on said that he "just did what he needed to do." It was the highest scoring World Series opening game ever (breaking the previous record set in 1932). T After Foulke lobbed the ball to Doug Mientkiewicz, the Sox had won their first World Championship in 86 years. The Sox held the Cardinals' offense (the best in the NL in 2004) to only three runs in the last three games, never trailing in the Series. Manny Ramírez was named World Series MVP. The Red Sox won Game Four of the series on October 27, eighteen years to the day from when they lost to the New York Mets in the 1986 World Series. The Red Sox performed well in the 2004 postseason. From the eighth inning of Game 5 of the American League Championship Series against the Yankees (a tie) until the end of the World Series, the Sox played 60 innings, and never trailed at any point. To add a final, surreal touch to the Red Sox championship title, on the night the Red Sox won, a total lunar eclipse colored the moon over Busch Stadium to a deep red hue. The Red Sox won the title about eleven minutes before totality ended. The Red Sox held a parade (or as Boston mayor Thomas Menino put it, a "rolling rally") on Saturday, October 30, 2004. A crowd of more than three million people filled the streets of Boston to cheer as the team rode on the city's famous Duck Boats. Following their 2004 World Series win, the Red Sox replaced the dirt from the field as a "fresh start". They earned many accolades from sports media and throughout the nation for their incredible season. Baseball Hall of Famers * Luis Aparicio * Wade Boggs * * Lou Boudreau * Jesse Burkett * Orlando Cepeda * Jack Chesbro * Jimmy Collins * * Joe Cronin * * Bobby Doerr * * Dennis Eckersley * Rick Ferrell ** * Carlton Fisk ** * Jimmie Foxx ** * Lefty Grove ** * Harry Hooper * * Waite Hoyt * Ferguson Jenkins * George Kell * Heinie Manush * Juan Marichal * Herb Pennock * Tony Pérez * Red Ruffing * Babe Ruth * Tom Seaver * Al Simmons * Tris Speaker * Ted Williams * * Carl Yastrzemski * * Cy Young Notable seasons and team records * Cy Young in 1901 won 41.8% of the team's 79 games. He won the pitching Triple Crown with 33 wins, 1.62 ERA and 158 strikeouts. [4] * Dutch Leonard posted a modern record 0.96 ERA in 1914. [5] * Earl Webb set the single-season doubles record in 1931 with 67. [6] * Jimmie Foxx hit 50 home runs in 1938, which would stand as a club record for 68 years. Foxx also drove in a club record 175 runs. [7] * Ted Williams hit .406 in 1941, the last time a major leaguer has hit above .400 in a full season. Williams also established club records in slugging percentage (.741) and on base percentage (.553). [8] * In 1967, Carl Yastrzemski became the last major leaguer to win the Triple Crown, hitting .326 with 44 home runs and 121 RBI's. He finished one vote short of a unanimous MVP selection, as, in a famous controversy, a Minnesota sportswriter placed Twins center fielder Cesar Tovar first on his ballot. [9] * In 1975, twenty-three year old Fred Lynn became the first player in major league history to win the MVP award and the Rookie of the Year award in the same season. [10] * In 1986, Roger Clemens won the Cy Young and MVP, finished with a 2.48 ERA, and had a 20-strikeout game. [11] * Pedro Martinez in 2000 had one of the greatest pitching seasons of all time — a 1.74 ERA in a hitter's park in a big-hitting era. [12] * Nomar Garciaparra hit .372 in 2000, the club record for a right-handed hitter. [13] * David Ortiz in 2005 had 47 home runs and 148 RBI's. He also had many game winning and timely hits and came in second in the MVP voting to the New York Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez. [14] * David Ortiz had a franchise record-breaking 2006 season with 54 home runs in the regular season * In 2006, The Boston Red Sox had the highest payroll of any team in Major League history to not make the playoffs. [15] * Mo Vaughn is the last Red Sox player to win the MVP in 1995 * On April 22nd, 2007, Manny Ramirez, J. D. Drew, Mike Lowell, and Jason Varitek hit four consecutive home runs in the 3rd inning, the first time in Red Sox history this feat has occurred. All four home runs were off of 10 pitches from Chase Wright of the New York Yankees in his second Major League start. This was the fifth time in Major League history that such an feat had occurred. Additionally notable, J. D. Drew, then with the Dodgers, previously contributed to a four consecutive home run series as had Red Sox manager Terry Francona's father, Tito Francona. Major league titles World Series titles (6) 2004 • 1918 • 1916 • 1915 1912 • 1903 AL Pennants (11) 2004 • 1986 • 1975 • 1967 1946 • 1918 • 1916 • 1915 1912 • 1904 • 1903 East Division titles (5) 1995 • 1990 • 1988 • 1986 1975 Wild card berths (5) 2005 •2004 • 2003 • 1999 1998 #34 Team, Boston Red Sox
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Post by gsguy on Apr 24, 2007 19:53:59 GMT -5
Wow, I'm surprised the Red Sox are this low. Yes they had a giant World Series drought but they had great teams. If they were in the National league, they'd have as many rings as the Yanks.
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Post by Drillbit Taylor on Apr 24, 2007 22:30:07 GMT -5
#33 Texas A&M Aggies football team is the official football team at Texas A&M University. The team is often referred to as the Texas Aggies, referring to the state in which the school is located rather than the university the players attend. The team has competed in the South Division of Big 12 Conference since the conference's creation in 1996. Texas A&M football has earned one national title and 19 conference titles since becoming a charter member in the Southwest Conference in 1915. Head coach Dennis Franchione has led the program since 2003, finishing the 2006 season with a 9-4 overall record, 5-3 conference record, and a loss in the Holiday Bowl to the California Golden Bears. The team plays all home games at Kyle Field, an 82,600-capacity stadium on the campus of Texas A&M University. Conference affiliations * 1894-1902: Independent * 1903-1908: Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association * 1909-1911: Independent * 1912-1914: Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association * 1913-1917: Texas Intercollegiate Athletic Association * 1915-1995: Southwest Athletic Conference * 1996-present: Big 12 Conference (South Division) 12th Man The 12th Man refers to the tradition of the student body standing ready to help the football team. The tradition originated when a reserve member of the team, E. King Gill, was called on from the stands to suit up and help the team in a game in 1922. Bonfire Bonfire was a long-lasting tradition in which a large stack of logs was burned before the UT game to represent the Aggies' burning desire to beat the Longhorns. The first Bonfire was lit in 1909 and the tradition continued until the tragic accident in 1999 when the log stack collapsed during construction. After the accident, the Bonfire was no longer sanctioned by the university and has been held off campus in an event called the Student Bonfire since 2002. Fightin' Texas Aggie Band The Fightin' Texas Aggie Band performs marches at all home football games. Midnight Yell Main article: Midnight Yell Practice Midnight Yell is essentially a pep rally usually held the night before a football game. If the football game is to be held at Kyle Field, midnight yell takes place the day of the football game at 12:00 a.m. If the football game is an away game, a yell is held on the Thursday night before at the Corps Arches, and Midnight Yell will be held in the city the game is being played. For example, the Midnight Yell for the annual game against the University of Texas is held on the steps of the State Capitol in Austin. Yell Leaders Yell Leaders are five students who lead the crowd in yells during the games. The team consists of three seniors and two juniors elected by the student body. The Yell Leaders take the place of traditional "cheerleaders" and perform many of the same functions without the gymnastics and dance routines. They also participate in post-game activities such as being thrown in the Fish Pond if the team wins, or leading the student body in the singing of The Twelfth Man if the team loses. Colors Maroon and White Fight song Aggie War Hymn Mascot Reveille Marching Band Fightin' Texas Aggie Band Rivals Texas Longhorns Baylor Bears Texas Tech Red Raiders #33 Team, Texas A&M Aggies
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Post by normcoleman on Apr 25, 2007 0:56:40 GMT -5
Wow, I'm surprised the Red Sox are this low. Yes they had a giant World Series drought but they had great teams. If they were in the National league, they'd have as many rings as the Yanks. I'd think the Cards, Reds, Dodgers, Giants, Mets, Braves, and Pirates would have gotten them in different stages.
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Post by Drillbit Taylor on Apr 25, 2007 16:32:36 GMT -5
#32 The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional American football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Northern Division of the American Football Conference (AFC), in the National Football League (NFL). The Steelers are the oldest and most championed franchise in the AFC. The team has appeared in six Super Bowls ( they have won 5 out of the 6 appearences)and is, along with the San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys, one of three teams to have won the Super Bowl five times. They have appeared in thirteen Conference Championship Games, and have hosted more conference championship games than any other NFL franchise. They are the only team in NFL playoff history to win a Super Bowl after being seeded sixth in the playoffs, winning three consecutive games on the road followed by a Super Bowl XL victory in Detroit on February 5, 2006 against the Seattle Seahawks. Originally named the Pittsburgh Pirates, the team, along with the Philadelphia Eagles and the now-defunct Cincinnati Reds football team, joined the NFL as 1933 expansion teams, after Art Rooney, Sr. paid a $2,500 fee. However the Steelers are the heirs to the first ever pro-football team, Pittsburgh being the city to host the world's first pro game in the 1890s, a franchise that fell victim to the strict state blue laws preventing any activity during the sabbath (NFL Sundays) up until 1933. The team was renamed the Steelers in 1940 after the city's prominent steel industry to reflect the "blue-collar worker" ethic of the many Pittsburgh fans as well as to avoid confusion with the major league baseball team with the same name. The Pittsburgh Steelers (Pirates) first took to the field on September 20, 1933, losing 23-2 to the New York Giants. Through the 1930s the Pirates never finished higher than second place in their division, or with a record better than .500 (1936). Pittsburgh did make history in 1938 by signing Byron White, a future justice of the U.S. Supreme Court to what was at the time the biggest contract in NFL history, but he only played one year with the Pirates before signing with the Detroit Lions. During World War II, the Steelers experienced player shortages. They twice merged with other NFL franchises in order to field a team. During the 1943 season, they merged with the Philadelphia Eagles forming the "Phil-Pitt Eagles" and were known as the "Steagles". This team went 5-4-1. In 1944 they merged with the Chicago Cardinals and were known as "Card-Pitt" and derisively known as the "Car-Pitts" or "Carpets", as they finished the season winless. The Steelers made the playoffs for the first time in 1947, tying for first place in the division at 8-4 with the Philadelphia Eagles. This forced a tie-breaking playoff game at Forbes Field, which the Steelers lost 21-0. That would be Pittsburgh's last playoff game for 25 years, though the Steelers did qualify for a "Playoff Bowl" in 1963 as the second best team in their conference, though not considered an official playoff. Their luck changed with the hiring of coach Chuck Noll. Noll's most remarkable talent was in his draft selections, taking Hall of Famers "Mean" Joe Greene in 1969, Terry Bradshaw and Mel Blount in 1970, Jack Ham in 1971, Franco Harris in 1972, and finally, in 1974 pulled off the incredible feat of selecting four Hall of Famers in one draft year, Mike Webster, Lynn Swann, John Stallworth and Jack Lambert. The Pittsburgh Steelers' 1974 draft has gone down in NFL history as the best ever, considering no other team has ever drafted four future Hall of Famers in one year. The players drafted in the early 70's formed the base of one of the greatest dynasties in NFL history, making the playoffs eight seasons, and becoming the only team in NFL history to win four Super Bowls in six years, as well as the first to win more than two. The Steelers suffered a rash of injuries in the 1980 season and missed the playoffs with a 9-7 record. 1981 was no better, with an 8-8 showing. The team was then hit with the retirements of all their key players from the Super Bowl years. Mean Joe Greene retired after the 1981 season, Lynn Swann and Jack Ham after 1982's playoff berth, Terry Bradshaw and Mel Blount after 1983's divisional championship, and Jack Lambert after 1984's AFC Championship Game appearance. After those retirements the franchise skidded to their first losing seasons since 1971. Though still competitive the Steelers would not finish above .500 in 1985, 1986 and 1988. In the strike year of 1987,the Steelers finished with a record of 8-7, but missed the playoffs. In 1989 they would reach the second round of the playoffs on the strength of Merrill Hoge and Rod Woodson before narrowly missing the playoffs each of the next two seasons. In 1992, Chuck Noll retired and was succeeded by Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator Bill Cowher, a native of the Pittsburgh suburb of Crafton. Cowher led the Steelers to the playoffs in each of his first six seasons as coach, a feat that had only previously been accomplished by legendary coach Paul Brown of the Cleveland Browns. Overall, Cowher lead the Steelers to the playoffs in 10 of his 15 seasons, including appearances in Super Bowl XXX in at the end of the 1995 season, and the franchise's record-tying fifth Super Bowl win in Super Bowl XL over the National Football Conference champion Seattle Seahawks ten years later. With their Super Bowl XL victory, the Steelers became the third team to win five Super Bowls, and the first sixth-seeded playoff team to reach and win the Super Bowl since the NFL expanded to a 12-team postseason tournament in 1990. Cowher resigned from coaching the Steelers on January 5, 2007, citing a need to spend more time with his family. He did not use the term 'retire', leaving open a possible return to the NFL as coach of another team. A three-man committee consisting of Art Rooney II, Dan Rooney, and Kevin Colbert was set-up to conduct interviews for the head coaching vacancy[1]. The candidates interviewed included: offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt, offensive line coach Russ Grimm, former offensive coordinator Chan Gailey, Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Mike Tomlin, and Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Ron Rivera. January 22, 2007, Mike Tomlin was announced as Cowher's successor as head coach. Tomlin is the first African-American to be named head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers in its 74-year history. Since the NFL merger in 1970, the Pittsburgh Steelers have compiled an overall record of 333-217-2, reached the playoffs 22 times, won their division 17 times, played in 13 AFC Championship Games, and won 5 Super Bowls. The team's current divisional rivals consist of the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, and the Cleveland Browns. What was once a brutal rivalry with Cleveland has now been dominated by the Steelers as of late. Since their rebirth in 1999 the Browns have only beat the Steelers 3 times in 17 contests, the last one coming early in the 2003 season. In 2006, the Steelers evened the all-time record versus the Browns, 55-55. Other rivals in Steelers franchise history include the Oakland Raiders, Dallas Cowboys, and most recently, the New England Patriots. The "Terrible Towel" The "Terrible Towel" is a gimmick created by Pittsburgh broadcaster Myron Cope for the Steelers. Needing a way to excite the fans during a 1975 playoff game against the Baltimore Colts, Cope urged fans to take gold dish towels to the game and wave them throughout. The Steelers beat the Colts 28-10, and the Terrible Towel was born. By the time the Steelers made it to Super Bowl X against the Dallas Cowboys, the craze had caught fire and the majority of Steelers fans waved Towels of their own. Since 1996, all of the proceeds from each Towel sold are donated to the Allegheny Valley School, a Pittsburgh school for the mentally disabled. Steelers in popular culture The Steelers have been immortalized by film, television and print. The Steel Curtain teams of the 1970s dynasty had many big-screen moments, including the 1977 John Frankenheimer thriller Black Sunday. A year later, it was Warren Beatty playing the prelude to the Steelers fourth championship in 1978's Heaven Can Wait, and then a team cameo in the 1980 Burt Reynolds film Smokey and the Bandit II. In more recent times Adam Sandler's 1998 film The Waterboy featured a few Steeler greats as well as Coach Cowher arguing with real-life rival and former Cowboy and Dolphin head coach Jimmy Johnson. Sandler, a Steelers fan, also made Paul Crewe a former Steelers quarterback in his remake of The Longest Yard. In 2002, the independent film Icarus of Pittsburgh by Evan Mather delved into the world of a 70's Steeler fan. Major celebrities from all ends of the industry, rapper Snoop Dogg, comedian Dennis Miller, rock singer Bret Michaels, actor Michael Keaton, political pundit Rush Limbaugh and country singer Hank Williams, Jr. are widely known to be avid Steelers fans. All have been seen in a number of music videos/appearances wearing Steeler hats and jackets. Williams and Keaton also attended Super Bowl XL in Detroit, Michigan in 2006. Batman actor and native of Pittsburgh, Keaton was seen on television before the 2005 AFC Championship Game speaking to Pittsburgh television personality Paul Steigerwald and carrying a Terrible Towel. The Steelers and their fans were also featured in the Charlie Daniels Band's 1980 song, In America ("You just go lay your hand on a Pittsburgh Steeler fan, and I think you're gonna finally understand."). Television has turned to the Steelers in 1980's "Fighting Back" a movie where Art Carney plays Art Rooney, and 1981's The Steeler and the Pittsburgh Kid. The Steelers of lore also have starring roles in several ESPN productions such as Matchup of the Millenium and Dream Bowl series, winning every championship, thus being considered the best team ever ('78 Steelers). In January, 2007, a company called SportSims, whose simulation is used every year by USAToday to predict the winner of the given year's Super Bowl, simulated all 40 Super Bowl champions (40 teams won the Super Bowl at the time) in a tournament, with the '78 Steelers defeating the '85 Bears 22-20 for the tournament title. "Mean" Joe Greene has appeared in the famous Coca-Cola ad where a child calls out to Greene and gives him his Coke. Greene then gives his game jersey to the kid. Two recent Chunky Soup commercials have also featured the Steelers. One had current Steelers and Max Starks' mother; the other starred Seattle quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, who found himself facing the old Steel Curtain at the end of the spot. Championships League Championships (5) * Super Bowl Championships (5) 1974 (IX), 1975 (X), 1978 (XIII), 1979 (XIV), 2005 (XL) Conference Championships (6) * AFC: 1974, 1975, 1978, 1979, 1995, 2005 Division Championships (17) * AFC Central: 1972, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1983, 1984, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2001 * AFC North: 2002, 2004 Your #32 Team, Pittsburgh Steelers
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