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Post by KAMALARAMBO: BOOMSHAKALAKA!!! on Apr 26, 2022 9:02:06 GMT -5
Like times when one player/team were overwhelmingly favored. They still won, but ALMOST didn’t.
The example that comes to mind is an MMA. Chael Sonnen subbed for someone in a UFC Light Heavyweight Championship match against Jon Jones. Shortly into the fight Jones suffered a freak injury where he broke one of his feet. If the fight lasted until the end of the round the ref would’ve stopped it and given the title to Chael. Even if the ref didn’t stop it, come the next round Sonnen could’ve stomped Jones’ foot and ended the fight the hard/grotesque way.
But Jones was in his prime. Despite having a useless foot he knocked Chael out before the round ended.
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Post by EoE: Well There's Your Problem on Apr 26, 2022 10:06:22 GMT -5
One example I can think of involves the rugby league team I support here in Australia, the Cronulla Sharks.
It's a late season game in 2014, and the season is a write-off. They're locked into having the worst record in the Australian NRL competition that year, and by this point, through a combination of injuries, suspensions from a doping scandal involving the team's coaching and medical staff, retirements and firings (if you've ever come across the story of the sportsman who got photographed pissing into his own mouth, this is what I'm referencing), the team was missing approximately 18 first-choice players (more than a full team, which is 17) and their coach. Now they're about to take a bunch of fringe squad players, rookies and reserves on a road game against the North Queensland Cowboys, who at this point had several star players in their lineup, including an actual modern legend in Johnathan Thurston as their halfback. In fact, they would go on to be NRL champions the next season. People were expecting a bloodbath.
Instead, what happens is that Cronulla hold their own, tie the game late with this long-range field goal...
...and end up only losing in extra time, in a game nobody had any hope for them in. While they ended up 5-19 for the year, with some astute recruitment and a lot of the returning guys coming into good form all at once (and a little bit of massaging the salary cap, BUT THEY DEEMED THE HEAVY FINES SUFFICIENT WHEN THEY FOUND OUT), Cronulla would turn things around to be NRL champions themselves in 2016.
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fw91
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Post by fw91 on Apr 26, 2022 19:59:38 GMT -5
Butler almost beating Duke in 2010
The Mighty Ducks almost beating The Devils in 2003.
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salz4life
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Post by salz4life on Apr 28, 2022 14:06:35 GMT -5
Like times when one player/team were overwhelmingly favored. They still won, but ALMOST didn’t. The example that comes to mind is an MMA. Chael Sonnen subbed for someone in a UFC Light Heavyweight Championship match against Jon Jones. Shortly into the fight the Jones suffered a free injury where he broke one of his feet. If the fight lasted until the end of the round the ref would’ve stopped it and given the title to Chael. Even if the ref didn’t stop it, come the next round Sonnen could’ve stomped Jones foot and ending the fight the hard/grotesque way. But Jones was in his prime. Despite having a useless foot he knocked Chael out before the round ended. Can't forget Chael's 4 1/2 round domination of Anderson Silva only to get caught in a triangle choke in the last round. |
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unc40
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Post by unc40 on Apr 29, 2022 11:47:56 GMT -5
Princeton almost beating Georgetown in the first round of the 1989 NCAA Tournament.
James Madison almost beating North Carolina in the first round of the 1982 NCAA Tournament.
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Post by karl100589 on Apr 29, 2022 12:31:19 GMT -5
Calais in the 2000 French Cup.
A team of dockworkers, postmen and factory workers knock out three top flight teams to reach the final. They actually take the lead in said match only to succumb to Nantes in the dying stages.
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chrom
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Post by chrom on Apr 29, 2022 16:43:33 GMT -5
Chuck Webner vs Ali
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Post by Ishmeal Loves Kaseyhausen on Apr 29, 2022 22:11:08 GMT -5
A local one, but in the 2006 NCAA tournament 16 seed Albany led #1 UConn by 12 with 10 minutes to go only for UConn to go on a huge run to win somewhat comfortably. It was fun to watch.
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lucas_lee
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Post by lucas_lee on May 14, 2022 8:44:34 GMT -5
That wasn't even close to being an upset haha. |
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Post by KAMALARAMBO: BOOMSHAKALAKA!!! on May 14, 2022 9:28:20 GMT -5
That wasn't even close to being an upset haha. Wasn’t the whole thing that Wepner just had a way better showing than people thought he would for a fairly unknown guy? Ali was Ali, and while Wepner may have been a great boxer the difference in name value, especially at the time, between Ali and most great boxers was incredible. In the actual fight Wepner made it to the 15th round, but still lost by TKO. Of course the whole thing inspired Sylvester Stallone to write Rocky where Rocky not only survived the whole fight to lose on points, but in the sequel beats Apollo Creed. It’s not surprising given the success of the Rocky series people get the wrong idea about a fight that happened nearly 50 years ago. |
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lucas_lee
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Post by lucas_lee on May 14, 2022 14:29:48 GMT -5
That wasn't even close to being an upset haha. Wasn’t the whole thing that Wepner just had a way better showing than people thought he would for a fairly unknown guy? Ali was Ali, and while Wepner may have been a great boxer the difference in name value, especially at the time, between Ali and most great boxers was incredible. In the actual fight Wepner made it to the 15th round, but still lost by TKO. Of course the whole thing inspired Sylvester Stallone to write Rocky where Rocky not only survived the whole fight to lose on points, but in the sequel beats Apollo Creed. It’s not surprising given the success of the Rocky series people get the wrong idea about a fight that happened nearly 50 years ago. Nah it was a one sided whooping. The only reason Wepner stayed alive so long was by fighting dirty and doing rabbit punches to Ali. He should be celebrated for having a GOAT chin but this night he kinda acted like an ass |
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Post by msc on May 14, 2022 14:44:50 GMT -5
Iran have done it in the last two World Cups despite being massive underdogs. In 2014, they took on Argentina, and not only nearly held them but started getting chances of their own and close to the end had a really good chance to take the lead, but missed. And then, Messi scored out of nowhere to win the game for Argentina.
But then in 2018 they were in the Group of Death with Spain, Portugal and Morocco. No chance. Even though they beat Morocco (an upset). Then they lost narrowly to Spain. Last match, European Champions, 1-0 down and ref misses an elbow so they're heading out.
Then, very late in the game, Iran got a penalty. And scored. 1-1 and suddenly, if they could just get another goal in injury time, Portugal were out.
And then, with seconds to go, Iran burst forward, clear in the box, their player took a shot at goal and it went... agonisingly just clear. Less than millimetres between scoring and not. They could not have come closer to qualifying for the next round. But Portugal survived and swiftly lost in the next round to Uruguay.
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Spider2024
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Post by Spider2024 on May 14, 2022 14:55:25 GMT -5
Stefanos Tsitsipas, fellow countryman, almost won the French Open last year. Was up 2 sets to 0 against Djokovic in the final too.
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sfvega
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Post by sfvega on May 14, 2022 15:11:38 GMT -5
Stefanos Tsitsipas, fellow countryman, almost won the French Open last year. Was up 2 sets to 0 against Djokovic in the final too. Tsitsipas is an elite (top 6) player in today's game. Going forward, I feel comfortable saying that he probably beats Joker on a big stage within the next 2/3 years. Tsitsipas, Zverev, and Medvedev are the guys who are going to win when Nadal and Djokovic slow down. I know it's been said for the last 5 years, but they truly are going to take over the game at some point. Would have been an upset, but not a huge upset. |
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Post by G✇JI☈A on May 14, 2022 18:30:58 GMT -5
During Howthorn’s great run in the AFL in the mid “2010’s” three teams almost denied them a spot in the Grand Final in 2012, 2013, and 2014 with close preliminary finals
Adelaide got within a goal in during 2012 and they definitely had momentum but ran out of time.
Some will say it would not count as an upset if Geelong got the Hawks in 2013 since the Cats had beaten the Hawks in every match they faced them in since 2009. But Hawks were definitely the top team that year and it would have been quite the thing if they at least didn’t get to the final match of the year. Anyway it did look like the Cats we’re gonna take it, they were 20 points up at 3 qtr time.. but the Hawks rallied and won by 5 points with match winner being kicked in the final minutes of the match.
In 2014 now this could be called a genuine upset if it happened. Hawthorn were heavy favourites again, and their opponents Port Adelaide had a spirited season with a great winning record after moving to their new home ground, and getting a new coach Ken Hinkley who really connected with their players and turned the team from a basket case to genuine contenders. Also Port finished outside the top 4 so they didn’t get the double chance in the finals. So after upsetting the Fremantle Dockers in Perth they had a date with the Hawks at The MCG. And man Port got so close. Port got out to early lead, but the Hawks clawed back, and Port never went away and the match stayed close until the final siren.. once again the final score was less then goal and in the dying seconds the ball was in Port’s forward 50 when Hawk Brian Lake dived on the ball and was then grabbed by Port’s Angus Monfries… I thought the umpire was gonna call holding the ball.. but he didn’t and the final siren blew.
I was at all three of these matches and I think they took at least a decade off my life span
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Post by MolotovMocktail on May 15, 2022 16:49:06 GMT -5
The Sharks in their third year of existence, after setting the league record for losses in a season the year before, snuck into 8th seed in the playoffs and epically upset the Red Wings, who were heavy favorites to win the Cup that year. What sometimes gets forgotten was that they almost upset the Maple Leafs in the next round too. They led 3-2, and Johan Garpenlov hit the crossbar in overtime in Game 6, which would have given them the win. They ended up losing that game and the next.
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Post by häšhtå.gdālėÿ on May 16, 2022 13:47:43 GMT -5
Remember when the Kings almost beat Late-prime Stockton / Malone Utah in a 1/8 battle. Went to game 5, Vlade missed a game winning hook shot attempt (FXXX YOU VLADE) then the Kings lost in OT.
Sacramento greeted this team at the airport like they won the title.
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It was actually 3 / 6 seed so not as huge an upset as I’d remembered, but still pushed them to the limit coming off a championship appearance the previous season.
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Post by karl100589 on May 16, 2022 14:22:01 GMT -5
Some F1 examples for you.
Ayrton Senna at the 1984 Monaco Grand Prix. Senna was driving for the tiny Toleman team in his debut season and was closing in on race leader Alain Prost when the race was red flagged. Senna finished second, but had the race continued would've likely passed Prost for the win.
Damon Hill at the 1997 Hungarian Grand Prix. Hill was having an awful season for the uncompetitive Arrows team, but in Hungary qualified third before passing Michael Schumacher for the lead. Hill built up a 30 second lead before car issues saw him passed by Jacques Villeneuve on the final lap.
Ivan Capelli at the 1990 French Grand Prix. At the previous round in Mexico Ivan Capelli had failed to qualify his Leyton House for the race, but after making the field in France his team gambled on going the entire race without a pitstop; taking him from the midfield into the lead. Capelli was eventually caught and passed by Alain Prost with three laps to go, but held on for his only points finish of the season.
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Post by Sponsored by Groose Wipes on May 18, 2022 12:46:58 GMT -5
Local pick but The Browns would have punked out the Chiefs in 2020 if not for Chad Henne.
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Post by EoE: Well There's Your Problem on May 19, 2022 12:00:45 GMT -5
Some F1 examples for you. Ayrton Senna at the 1984 Monaco Grand Prix. Senna was driving for the tiny Toleman team in his debut season and was closing in on race leader Alain Prost when the race was red flagged. Senna finished second, but had the race continued would've likely passed Prost for the win.
The weird butterfly effects of that one race… If they keep going through the bad weather long enough to cover 75% race distance and get full points, Prost could’ve gotten more points for finishing second to Senna than he did for winning a shortened race for half-points… Enough for him to win his first World Championship, one that he actually ended up losing by a mere half of a point to teammate Niki Lauda. Even if you factor in the possibility of Stefan Bellof passing them both by that point (as he was closing on both of them just as quick), his team gets disqualified from all prior races later in the season, so the win could’ve defaulted back to Senna and bumped Prost back up. |
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