As sports fans, we all love to witness the underdog pull off a stunning upset against their more favored opponent. It’s these moments that remind us why we watch sports in the first place. Over the years, there have been countless upsets that have left fans in disbelief. In this article, we will take a look at some of the greatest upsets in sports history that will go down in the record books forever.
The Miracle on Ice
The 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York, was the stage for one of the greatest upsets in sports history. The Soviet Union’s ice hockey team had won the gold medal in six of the previous seven Olympics and was the heavy favorite to win again. However, the United States, led by coach Herb Brooks, had other plans. In what became known as the “Miracle on Ice,” the US team defeated the Soviets 4-3 in the semifinals, en route to winning the gold medal. It was a moment that brought the entire nation together and is still celebrated to this day.
Buster Douglas vs. Mike Tyson
In 1990, Mike Tyson was the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world and was considered by many to be unbeatable. That was until he faced off against Buster Douglas in Tokyo, Japan. Douglas, who was a 42-1 underdog, put on the performance of a lifetime, knocking out Tyson in the 10th round to become the new heavyweight champion. It was a stunning upset that shook the boxing world to its core.
Leicester City’s Premier League Title
In the 2015-2016 English Premier League season, Leicester City was a 5000-1 underdog to win the title. The team had narrowly avoided relegation the previous season and was expected to struggle again. However, under the guidance of manager Claudio Ranieri, Leicester City put together one of the greatest seasons in Premier League history. They won the title with two games to spare, finishing 10 points ahead of their nearest rival. It was a fairy-tale ending for a team that had been written off before the season even started.
The Miracle Mets
In 1969, the New York Mets were a team that had never experienced much success. However, in that season, they put together one of the greatest turnarounds in sports history. Led by pitcher Tom Seaver, the Mets won 100 games and made it to the World Series, where they faced off against the heavily favored Baltimore Orioles. The Mets shocked the baseball world by winning the series in five games, becoming the first expansion team to win a World Series.
Appalachian State vs. Michigan
In 2007, the Appalachian State Mountaineers, a team from the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA), traveled to Ann Arbor, Michigan, to take on the Michigan Wolverines, a perennial powerhouse in college football. Michigan was ranked fifth in the country and was expected to win easily. However, Appalachian State had other plans. Led by quarterback Armanti Edwards, they pulled off one of the greatest upsets in college football history, defeating Michigan 34-32.
Conclusion
These are just a few examples of the greatest upsets in sports history. These moments remind us that anything is possible and that the underdog can come out on top. While these upsets may have been surprising at the time, they will forever be etched in the history books as some of the greatest moments in sports. As fans, we can only hope to witness more moments like these in the future.