[Other Sport] The Biggest Shock in Sports History

[crodonilson]

Just read that the mighty USA basketball team came within a hairs breadth of losing to South Sudan in a warm up for the Paris Olympics.

‘We were embarrassed at halftime’: US relieved after escape against underdogs South Sudan

The US eked out a late 101-100 win thanks to a late LeBron James layup, staving off one of the biggest upsets in basketball history

www.theguardian.com

This got myself and the chaps at the Ship Inn contemplating what is the biggest upset in the history of Sport?

 

[SAC]

Wimbledon beating Liverpool in the 1988 FA Cup Final.

Liverpool were only six places above them in the old First Division table but it was by 33 points and Liverpool had only lost two or three times all season.

 

[Jackthelad]

I voted Leicester because of the umber of games they had to play. Heavyweight boxing it only takes one punch to change the outcome so it’s not Douglas. But maybe the correct answer is Japan beating South Africa that was incredible.

 

[AmexRuislip]

AN other.....

Palarse finishing above us last season.

 

[Withdean South Stand]

I voted Leicester because of the umber of games they had to play. Heavyweight boxing it only takes one punch to change the outcome so it’s not Douglas. But maybe the correct answer is Japan beating South Africa that was incredible.

By this logic, I voted Emma Raducanu. She won 10 matches to win a tournament which usually requires only 7. She didn't lose a set and she beat a couple of players seriously in form at that time (including the Olympic Gold Medallist from a month or so before). It was remarkable what she managed considering her age, lack of experience and to be honest, lack of ability/mentality/fitness.

 

[Eeyore]

Just read that the mighty USA basketball team came within a hairs breadth of losing to South Sudan in a warm up for the Paris Olympics.

‘We were embarrassed at halftime’: US relieved after escape against underdogs South Sudan

The US eked out a late 101-100 win thanks to a late LeBron James layup, staving off one of the biggest upsets in basketball history

www.theguardian.com

This got myself and the chaps at the Ship Inn contemplating what is the biggest upset in the history of Sport?

I'm very surprised that, given the intense amount of knowledge you will have gained about cricket from watching The Hundred, that Zimbabwe's defeat of Australia at the 1983 World Cup isn't in there. Then again, I should make allowances.

 

[Anger]

Where’s The Mighty Ducks option?

 

[Is it PotG?]

Sunderland v Leeds
Greece winning the Euros
Joe Johnson in the snooker

 

[rippleman]

BHAFC 0 Leatherhead 1

BHAFC 0 Walton & Hersham 4



In more recent times

ROI 3 France 1 (Womens Euro qualifier. France ranked 2nd in world. ROI ranked 25th)

 

[beorhthelm]

Greece win, as i recall they were quite shit, relied on bus parking and occasional long ball to 1 upfront, got lucky enough times.

 

[Han Solo]

England wins the World Cup (1966)

 

[Insel affe]

Greece win, as i recall they were quite shit, relied on bus parking and occasional long ball to 1 upfront, got lucky enough times.

That was truly awful football, not a shock as much, just depressing.

 

[Insel affe]

I voted for Japan beating South Africa, absolutely magical moment when they went over the line, and the place erupted.
So lucky to have witnessed that, and have a beer in my seat, I will never forget that day.

 

[Hotchilidog]

Was tempted by Japan but went Leicester as it was over a full season. Yes the big guns faltered but they had the mental fortitude to get over the line. It was truly astonishing.

Some great shocks in that list, USA beating England is mighty close too.

 

[Brovion]

USA beating England 1-0 in 1950. It was before satellite broadcasting, so the match wasn't live, and apparently one newspaper, unable to believe the score that had come down the wire, printed the result as 10-1 to England. At the time it was the greatest of shocks.

Maybe in retrospect it wasn't quite the shock it appeared then because as per usual we weren't nearly as good as we thought we were. It was our first World Cup and the assumption was that, being England the inventors of football and finally deigning to take part, we would waltz home with the trophy. After all we had the players, Matthews, Finney, Mannion, Mortensen, Wright, Milburn etc, so how could we not win? (It was a lesson in hubris that of course we've never learnt).

 

[Peacehaven Wild Kids]

England wins the World Cup (1966)

Did they? I forget about that, haven’t heard it mentioned in a while

 

[Swegulls]

No contest - Herb Brooks's college kids in Miracle on Ice!

 

[nevergoagain]

Chelsea going a whole season without sacking a manager ?

 

[Seaview Seagull]

Denmark 1992 because they hadn't qualified for the finals and only came in when Yugoslavia were thrown out.

 

[Weststander]

Lake Placid 1980 the men’s ice hockey final. The USA squad averaged 22 years old, through the college system. The USSR were full time athletes and systematic doping cheats.

I stayed up to watch it, the atmosphere was incredible.


Over a full season, LCFC’s title was astonishing. I cannot see that sort of thing be repeated, ever.