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BOOK OF LISTS
BIG
THE
BOOK OF
SPORTS
LISTS
SPORTSNET E-BOOK EDITION
BOOK OF LISTS
THE CONTENTS
A LIST OF ITEMS YOU’LL
FIND IN THIS BIG BOOK
OF SPORTS LISTS
EDITOR’S NOTE
THE PLAYERS
Field of Play
Out of Left Field
Money
Names
The Penalty Box
Style
Ask the Experts
Notable Quotables
THE FANS
Field of Play
Road Trips
Money
For the Nerds
THE STATS
Individuals
Teams
THE TEAMS
Field of Play
Front Office
Names
Style
BOOK OF LISTS
Penalty Box
Out of Left Field
THE SCENE
Film & TV
Music
Out of Left Field
THE VENUES
In the Arena
Ask the Experts
THE FINAL WHISTLE
BOOK OF LISTS
EDITOR’S NOTE
WHEN A CANDY RUN
CHANGES YOUR LIFE
I
still remember my first Book of Lists. And not just because it stares at
me from my coffee table every day, more than a decade after I rescued it
from the clearance bin of a used bookstore in small-town Ontario. That’s
the power of a book like this: It’s as timeless as the athletes, teams and
events that fill its pages.
I was working as a counsellor at Camp Wenonah, just outside of Bracebridge, and my cabin was granted a day in town. Amped for their lone day
in civilization in nearly a month, the kids wanted to hit the dollar store to
stock up on Nerds and Big League Chew before catching a movie (the regrettable Adam Sandler remake of Mr. Deeds, if memory serves), but I decided first we’d make a stop at the Owl Pen Book Shop, a literary treasure
trove on Manitoba Street.
I pointed the campers toward a shelf of used Goosebumps novels—“R.L.
Stine,” I told them, “remember the name”—and made my way to the back
of the store, where I found the “Book of Lists” peeking out from beneath
a pile of well-worn reads. For the rest of the summer, that book was daily
reading in my cabin. Every night, we’d pass it around, poring over different lists. And while the book’s chapters were organized by topic—everything from Military History to Famous World Records—we’d always wind
up reading from the same one: sports. The world of sports is perfectly tailored to a project like this, where the characters and games of the past are
brought back to life—in list form. From the contentious (think Benny “The
Jet” Rodriguez is too low on the list of Coolest Fictional Athletes?) to the indisputable (you know they keep track of statistics in sports, right?), our lists
will spark new debates and help settle others. And, in the process, there’s
BOOK OF LISTS
a strong chance it’ll help you become unbeatable at your local’s trivia night.
With a focus on the fans, players, teams, venues, stats and the role of
sports in popular culture, we made this book as close a representation as
possible of exactly why we love sports. And I think we pulled it off. A tip
of the cap to Jason Petroff, who spent countless hours compiling lists. And
special thanks to the athletes, experts and authors who provided us with
their memories and observations from a lifetime in and around the games
we love.
Like the book I picked up that summer all those years ago and still read
to this day, the lists in this volume will never grow tired, and the debates
they spark may never be settled. I hope you have as much fun reading it as
we had putting it together.
—DAVE ZARUM, ASSISTANT EDITOR
BOOK OF LISTS
THE PLAYERS / FIELD OF PLAY
10
GREATEST
ABA AFROS
1. ARTIS GILMORE
2. MICHAEL JACKSON
3. MEL BENNETT
4. DARNELL HILLMAN
5. JULIUS “DR. J” ERVING
6. RANDY DENTON
7. MIKE GALE
8. LARRY KENON
9. RICH JONES
10. JAMES SILAS
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10
ONE-HIT WONDERS
A look at the most confounding flash-in-the-pan athletes of the past 35 years
1. Christine “Chris” O’Neil, Tennis, 1978 The first unseeded woman to capture a grand slam title (Australian Open) until Serena Williams in 2007, the
highest O’Neil ranked in her career was 80th. She never won another title.
2. Pete Schourek, Cincinnati Reds, MLB, 1995 Schourek put up an 18-7 record with 3.22 ERA and finished second to Greg Maddux in Cy Young voting. Prior to ’95, Schourek had only won seven games and he never won
more than eight in a season again.
3. Salvatore “Toto” Schillaci, Italy, World Cup Soccer, 1990 It was no surprise that 25-year-old Schillaci, a centre forward, started the 1990 World
Cup on the bench. Leading up to the tourney, he only had two appearances
for Italy. Yet he became a national hero, scoring six times for the host team,
leading them to the semifinals and capturing the Golden Boot. He only
scored one more time in his international career and by the time he was 30,
he was playing pro soccer in Japan.
4. Jacques Richard, Quebec Nordiques, NHL, 1980–81 Richard put up 52
goals and 51 assists for 103 points and managed to eclipse his second-best
pro season—four years earlier he’d scored 48 points with the AHL’s Hershey Bears. Over the next two seasons, Richard scored only 24 goals.
5. Derek Anderson, Cleveland Browns, NFL, 2007 The Browns went 10-5
with Anderson under centre. He threw 29 touchdowns and made the Pro
Bowl. Best season other than 2007? Nine touchdowns.
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6. Warren Young, Pittsburgh Penguins, NHL, 1984–85 Young scored 40
goals as Mario Lemieux’s left-winger. By 1989 he was out of the NHL.
7. Mike James, Toronto Raptors, NBA, 2005–06 James earned a $23-million payday after putting up 20.3 points and 5.8 assists per game in his lone
season in TO—nearly doubling his career averages in both categories.
8. Scott Bjugstad, Minnesota North Stars, NHL, 1985 Bjugstad scored 43
goals and added 33 assists for 76 points—52.7 percent of his NHL career
points—helping the North Stars reach the playoffs.
9. Don MacLean, Washington Bullets, NBA, 1993–94 Maclean averaged 18.9
points and 6.2 total rebounds per game as a sophomore in the league but
never eclipsed 11.2 ppg again.
10. Jonathan Cheechoo, San Jose Sharks, NHL, 2005–06 Cheechoo managed to light the lamp 56 times and tallied 93 points in ’05–06. Although
he had two mildly successful years afterwards, in 2009–10 he only managed five goals.
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14
BEST RIVALRIES IN
SPORT, PAST AND
PRESENT
1. Bill Russell vs. Wilt Chamberlain
Basketball
2. Arnold Palmer vs. Jack Nicklaus
Golf
3. Chris Evert vs. Martina Navratilova
Tennis
4. Roger Federer vs. Rafael Nadal
Tennis
5. Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier
Boxing
6. Larry Bird vs. Magic Johnson
Basketball
7. Jerry Rice vs. Deion Sanders
Football
8. Bobby Fischer vs. Boris Spassky
Chess
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9. Peyton Manning vs. Tom Brady
Football
10. Spike Lee vs. Reggie Miller
Basketball
11. Alain Prost vs. Ayrton Senna
Car racing
12. Seabiscuit vs. War Admiral
Horse racing
13. Marvin Hagler vs. Thomas Hearns
Boxing
14. John McEnroe vs. Bjorn Borg
Tennis
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10
PROMISING CAREERS
CUT SHORT BY INJURY
1. Tony Conigliaro A highly touted outfielder, Conigliaro made his Major
League debut with the Boston Red Sox in 1964 at the age of 19. That season, he set the record for most home runs by a teenager with 24 (despite
missing the last 50 games after breaking his arm). The following year, he
became the youngest player ever to win the home run crown, pacing the
majors with 32 bombs. On Aug. 18, 1967, he was struck in the face with a
pitch, fracturing his jaw and cheekbone and damaging his retina. He missed
the entire 1968 season and, amazingly, hit 36 homers in 1970 before deteriorating eyesight forced him into retirement in ’71.
2. Barbaro In 2006, Barbaro stunned the crowd at Churchill Downs by winning the Kentucky Derby by six-and-a-half lengths, the largest margin of
victory in 60 years. Two weeks later, at the Preakness Stakes, Barbaro—a
1-2 favorite—shattered his right hind leg at the start of the race, crushing
hopes for the Triple Crown. He was euthanized three months short of his
fourth birthday due to complications related to his injury.
3. Elbert L. “Ickey” Woods In his rookie season in 1988, Woods led the Cincinnati Bengals to Super Bowl XXIII with 1,066 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns. In his second season, he tore his ACL, causing him to miss the next
13 months. Two years later, Woods injured his right knee, bringing his career to a close.
4. Robert Edwards A Heisman candidate at Georgia, Edwards led the New
England Patriots in rushing (1,115 yards, nine TDs) as a rookie in 1998, earning
a trip to the Rookie Beach Bowl flag football game in Hawaii during Pro Bowl
week. Attempting to defend a pass, the first rounder destroyed his knee,
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tearing his ACL, MCL and PCL. Narrowly avoiding amputation, Edwards returned to football in 2002 and last appeared for the 2007 Toronto Argonauts.
5. Pat Peake The Washington Capitals picked the 1993 CHL Player of the
Year 14th overall in 1991. Peake shattered his right heel in a race to nullify
an icing call during the first round of the 1996 playoffs. Over the next two
years, he managed to play in only five games, and in his lone game in 1997,
he tore several tendons in his right ankle, ending his career for good.
6. Billy Sims The 1978 Heisman Trophy recipient and Detroit’s No. 1–overall
pick in 1980, Sims ran for 4,419 yards in his first four years with the Lions before suffering a career-ending knee injury halfway through the 1984 season.
7. Maureen Connolly In 1953, Connolly became the first female tennis player
to complete the Grand Slam, adding the U.S. National Women’s title to her
Wimbledon, French and Australian titles—all before turning 18. In a freak
horse-riding incident, she sustained a broken leg and severe muscle and
tendon damage. She was unable to recover and retired from tennis in 1955.
8. Dennis Byrd In his first three seasons playing defensive end for the New
York Jets, Byrd recorded 27 sacks. But in his fourth, in 1992, he collided
headfirst with teammate Scott Mersereau after missing a tackle during a
Week 13 tilt against Kansas City. Byrd broke the C5 vertebra in his neck,
leaving him temporarily paralyzed and ending his football career.
9. Bob Sanders The former Indianapolis Colts star and 2007 AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year managed to play more than six games in a season
just twice in his career. Hampered by a list of injuries, Sanders’s last four
seasons saw him play in a combined 12 games.
10. Barry Foster In his brief time with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the early
’90s, Foster carried the football 915 times for 3943 yards (a 4.3-yard average), caught 93 balls for 804 more yards and scored 28 touchdowns. Foster lost his starting job after injuring his ankle in 1993 and knee in 1994,
and was out of the league after just five seasons. His 1,690 yards in 1992
is still the Steelers’ single-season record for a running back.
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10
GREATEST TEAM
SPORTS DUOS OF ALL
TIME
1. Michael Jordan & Scottie Pippen
Basketball
2. Joe Montana & Jerry Rice
Football
3. Magic Johnson & Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Basketball
4. Lou Gehrig & Babe Ruth
Baseball
5. Wayne Gretzky & Jari Kurri
Hockey
6. Shaquille O’Neal & Kobe Bryant
Basketball
7. Larry Bird & Kevin McHale
Basketball
8. Peyton Manning & Marvin Harrison
Football
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9. Randy Johnson & Curt Schilling
Baseball
10. Bill Russell & Bob Cousy
Basketball
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7
BRYCE HARPER FEATS
The Washington Nationals phenom burst onto the MLB scene in 2012 as a
19-year-old, and has since become the youngest major-leaguer in history to
accomplish the following marks. These are no clown records, bro:
1. Y
oungest to homer twice in his team’s season opener (April 1, 2013, vs. the
Miami Marlins)
2. M
ost National League home runs by a teenager (22)
3. T
he highest position player/hitter WAR (5.2) for a teenager
4. E
xtra-base hits (57) by a teenager, breaking the record of 48
5. Total bases by a teenager (254)
6. F irst teenager to hit a triple in a post-season game (game five, 2012 NLDS)
7. S
econd rookie in the modern era to score at least 90 runs, steal 15 bases
and hit nine triples and 20 home runs (Nomar Garciaparra, Boston, 1997)
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14
OF THE MOST
RIDICULOUS INJURIES
EVER
1. W
hile having a nightmare that he was covered in spiders, former Toronto
Blue Jays outfielder Glenallen Hill stumbled out of bed, crashed through a
glass table and down a flight of stairs, earning the nickname “Spiderman”
along with a 15-day trip to the DL. Arachnophobia: 1. Hill: 0.
2. In an effort to entertain the gallery during a 2011 tournament, golfer Thomas Levet jumped into the drink to retrieve a ball and ended up breaking his
leg.
3. It wasn’t the acrobatic bicycle-kick goal that hurt former AC Milan striker
Zlatan Ibrahimovic during a 2010 match, but the over-exuberant fist pump
that followed. The result? An elbow injury.
4. Shortly after signing a five-year, $80-million deal with the Chicago Bulls in
2010, forward Carlos Boozer tripped and fell over a gym bag while answering the door at his home, breaking his hand.
5. You can’t fault Kendrys Morales for being excited after hitting a walk-off
grand slam to earn the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim a victory in 2010.
But breaking his leg while jumping on home plate afterwards? Fault away.
6. In 2011, Toronto Blue Jays reliever Brian Tallet strained a rib-cage muscle
while sneezing. It turned out to be a godsend—a CT scan to determine the
extent of the injury revealed he had kidney disease.
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7. In 2000, Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Glenn Healy cut his hand open in the
off-season while replacing the bag on his favourite bagpipe, resulting in 10
stitches.
8. While throwing up an in-flight meal in 1992, Atlanta Braves stud southpaw
Tom Glavine broke a rib.
9. J oel Zumaya missed three games during the 2006 ALCS with a wrist injury.
Why? Too much Guitar Hero. Seriously.
10. Just days into his first spring training with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2011,
pitcher A.J. Burnett fractured his orbital bone misreading a pitch during a
bunting competition.
11. S
kating in warm-up without a helmet or visor in 2012, Taylor Hall tripped
over a teammate. The two went crashing into the boards, earning Hall a
skate to the scalp and the mother of all forehead scars.
12. It may not have been the pancakes’ fault exactly, but when L.A. Kings forward Dustin Penner sat down for breakfast in early 2012, his back locked
up and he couldn’t stand up.
13. Already sidelined with a herniated disc, 39-year-old Colorado Avalanche
captain Joe Sakic broke three fingers while using a snowblower and was
forced to sit out an additional three months.
14. While dancing at a relative’s wedding in 2011, No. 2–ranked tennis star Kim
Clijsters injured her ankle. She was eliminated in the second round of the
French Open soon after and withdrew from Wimbledon.
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12
MOST SUCCESSFUL
ATHLETES WITHOUT A
CHAMPIONSHIP
1. Barry Bonds: MVPs: 7. All-star: 14. Finals: 1. Silver Slugger: 12. HR titles: 2.
RBI titles: 1. All-time HR leader. 40/40 club member.
2. Elgin Baylor: MVPs: 0. All-star: 11. A-S MVP: 1. All-NBA: 10. Finals appearances: 8. Hall of Famer.
3. Ted Williams: MVPs: 2. All-star: 19. Finals: 1. Batting titles: 6. Triple Crowns:
2. HR titles: 4. RBI titles: 4. Hall of Famer.
4. Charles Barkley: MVPs: 1. All-star: 11. A-S MVP: 1. All-NBA: 11. Finals appearances: 1. Hall of Famer.
5. Dan Marino: MVPs: 1. Pro Bowl: 9. All-NFL: 8. Super Bowl appearances: 1.
First QB to throw for 5,000 yards and 40 TDs in one season. Hall of Famer.
6. Carl Yastrzemski: MVPs: 1. All-star: 18. A-S MVP: 1. World Series appearances: 2. Gold Gloves: 7. Triple Crowns: 1. Hall of Famer.
T-7. Karl Malone and John Stockton (combined stats): MVPs: 2. All-star:
24. A-S MVP: 3. Finals appearances: 4. All-NBA: 25. Assists titles: 9. Steals
titles: 2. Both Hall of Famers.
8. Barry Sanders: MVPs: 1. Pro Bowl: 10. All-NFL: 10. Rushing titles: 4. Hall of
Famer.
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9. Steve Nash: MVPs: 2. All-star: 8. All-NBA: 7. Assists titles: 5. 50/40/90 club
member.
10. Ken Griffey Jr.: MVPs: 1. All-star: 13. A-S MVP: 1. Silver Slugger: 7. HR
titles: 4. RBI titles: 1.
11. Pat LaFontaine: Bill Masterton Trophy: 1. All-star: 5. 90-point seasons: 5.
40-goal seasons: 6. Hall of Famer.
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6
BIGGEST BADASSES IN
PRO SPORTS
1. Serena Williams, WTA World No. 1 Eleven years after first climbing to No.
1, the most dominant player in the history of women’s tennis is back on top
of the world. She’s won 49 singles titles, 22 doubles titles and four gold
medals, told off a handful of line judges and umpires in spectacular fashion,
and crip-walked on the “sacred” grass of Wimbledon’s centre court.
2. Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers You know a player’s a true badass when
a torn Achilles at age 34 doesn’t end his dream of a sixth ring. Or when he
tells Michael Jordan, “I can take you one-on-one.” Or when he drops 81
points in a single game. Or declares a season “a wasted year of my life” because he didn’t win a championship. Or... well, you get the idea.
3. Melissa Tancredi, Team Canada At five-foot-seven and a muscular 161
lb., the veteran aptly known as “Tanc” is not only one of the best soccer
players on the planet, she’s one of the toughest. Oh, and one of the most
outspoken—after Canada’s controversial semifinal loss to the U.S. at the
London Games, she told a ref to “put on your American jersey. That’s who
you played for today.”
4. Ndamukong Suh, Detroit Lions Fined and suspended; called the dirtiest
player in the NFL; and the defensive rookie of the year. Ndamukong may
mean “house of spears” in Ngemba, the native language of Cameroon, but
it may as well mean “scariest man in the NFL.”
5. Ronda Rousey, UFC Bantamweight Champion Armbar specialist, sex
symbol, tomboy, celebrity, quote machine, first woman to break into UFC—
Rousey’s been a lot of things in her 26 years. We asked her if she had any
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regrets. “I’m the only person who’s in the business of making enemies,” she
said, “and I don’t give a damn.”
6. Jon Jones, UFC Light Heavyweight Champion The youngest UFC champ
in history has absolutely dominated the 205-lb. division. His only real test
came when Vitor Belfort caught him with an armbar in a September 2012
bout. “I was waiting for [my arm] to break,” Jones said after the fight. Instead he got free and submitted the Brazilian in the fourth round.
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8
CLUTCH PERFORMANCES
1. Joe Carter: The scene: The Blue Jays are down 6–5 against the Phillies in
the bottom of the ninth in game six of the 1993 World Series, when the Jays
slugger comes up with two out and Rickey Henderson and Paul Molitor on
base. The stakes: A win means the Jays repeat as champs. A loss forces
game seven. The shot: Carter works a 2-2 count and blasts a home run over
the wall in left field as a sold-out Skydome crowd erupts. In the words of
Jays announcer Tom Cheek, “Touch ’em all, Joe! You’ll never hit a bigger
home run in your life!”
2. Paul Henderson: The score was 5–5 with less than five minutes to play in
the eighth and final game of the ’72 Summit Series between Canada and
the Soviet Union. After Soviet goalie Vladislav Tretiak stopped a shot from
Phil Esposito, the puck came back to Henderson, who was perched in front
of the goalie. We’ll let iconic announcer Foster Hewitt take it from here:
“Here’s a shot... Henderson made a wild stab for it and fell... Here’s another
shot... Right in front... They score! Henderson has scored for Canada!”
3. Sidney Crosby: He had already lived up to the Gretzkian hype when he
made the leap to the pros, but “The Kid” became a national hero eight minutes into overtime of the gold-medal game against Team U.S.A. in front of a
home crowd at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. Tied at two, Crosby corralled
the puck off the left boards deep into the Americans’ zone and took a giveand-go pass from Jarome Iginla for a clean shot past Ryan Miller to win the
game. That golden goal was his fourth of the tourney.
4. Michael Jordan: Fact: There is nobody you want with the ball in his hands
in the dying seconds of a close game more than MJ. Jordan already had
eight playoff game-winners under his belt prior to game six of the 1998 NBA
Finals against the Utah Jazz, but his hanging jumper over Bryon Russell is
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the granddaddy of them all. MJ retired (for the second time) after that season, so let’s all agree that his playing days on the Wizards never happened.
5. Kirk Gibson: The L.A. Dodgers outfielder only had one plate appearance
in the 1988 World Series, and boy did he make it count. Fresh off winning
the NL MVP, Gibson had injured both legs in the NLCS and was sidelined in
game one of the World Series. But with his team down 4–3 to the Oakland
Athletics, with two out in the bottom of the ninth and one man on base,
Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda called on Gibson, who delivered a towering bomb that gave the Dodgers a 1–0 Series lead. They went on to win
the World Series, and Gibson’s limping home run trot has become one of
sports’ most enduring images.
6. Eli Manning & David Tyree: The New England Patriots were one win shy of
completing the perfect season and going undefeated. Up 14–10 against the
New York Giants in Super Bowl XLII with 1:15 left in the game, it looked like
a lock until Manning orchestrated one of the most epic drives imaginable.
On third down at his own 44-yard line, Manning evaded numerous sack attempts and unleashed a soaring bullet downfield that receiver David Tyree
somehow caught by wedging the ball between his helmet and forearm. The
Giants came back to win the game thanks to a last-second Plaxico Burress
TD, but it’s the “Helmet Catch” that will go down in history.
7. Adam Vinatieri: Kicking a game-winning field goal in the dying seconds of
the Super Bowl is impressive enough. But to do it twice, as the New England
Patriots kicker did in Super Bowl XXXVI and XXXVII? That’s why Vinatieri,
the first kicker ever to have four championship rings, will go down as the
greatest kicker of his generation.
8. Jonathan Toews: The Chicago Blackhawks captain etched his name in
Canadian hockey history during the semifinals at the 2007 World Junior
Championship in Leksand, Sweden, when he became the first player to
score three shootout goals in one game. After Toews beat U.S.A. goalie Jeff
Frazee handily on his first shootout attempt, Canada coach Craig Hartsburg stuck with his young star, who scored again. And again. Canada won
4–2, and later beat Russia for gold.
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30
GREATEST LEADERS IN
HOCKEY HISTORY
1. Jean Béliveau “He’s a coach’s perfect hockey player because he studies
and learns. He’s moving and planning all the time, thinking out the play
required for each situation. A perfectionist.” —Frank Selke, Hall of Fame
executive
2. Mark Messier “A skilled horse of a player, Messier was big, strong, talented
and a true leader of every team he played on.” —Jim Devellano, Red Wings
executive
3. Gordie Howe “He was ‘Mr. Hockey.’ More than just a nickname. The epitome of the sport, in all its grace and grit.” —Dan Robson, senior writer,
Sportsnet
4. Wayne Gretzky “His thoughtful, quiet, intelligent leadership in all matters
was a big part of the four Cups in Edmonton.” —Frank Orr, Elmer Ferguson Award Winner
5. Steve Yzerman “Even when he was a scorer, he was a player who didn’t put
up with anything. He just played hard every day.” —Luc Robitaille, Hall of
Fame player
6. Phil Esposito
7. Denis Potvin
8. Maurice Richard
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9. Bobby Clarke
10. Bobby Orr
11. George Armstrong
12. Mario Lemieux
13. Eddie Shore
14. Joe Sakic
15. Teeder Kennedy
16. Scott Stevens
17. Boris Mikhailov
18. Ted Lindsay
19. Syl Apps
20. Bill Cook
21. Bob Gainey
22. Stan Mikita
23. Chris Chelios
24. Sidney Crosby
25. Johnny Bucyk
26. King Clancy
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27. Cassie Campbell
28. Jarome Iginla
29. Sven Tumba
30. Cammi Granato
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8
ATHLETES TO WIN A
TITLE IN MULTIPLE
SPORTS
1. Lionel Conacher He won a Grey Cup as a halfback with the Toronto Argonauts in 1921. Then he earned back-to-back Stanley Cups in 1934 and 1935
as a defenceman with the Chicago Black Hawks and Montreal Maroons.
2. Mildred “Babe” Didrikson Zaharias After winning gold in both the 80-metre hurdles and javelin throw at the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles, Didrikson put together a World Golf Hall of Fame career by winning 48 events—
including three U.S. Open titles.
3. Renaldo Nehemiah A gold medallist in the 110-metre hurdles at the 1979
Pan-American Games, he hoisted the Lombardi Trophy in 1985 as a wide
receiver on the Super Bowl–winning San Francisco 49ers.
4. “Bullet” Bob Hayes First he collected two gold medals at the 1964 Olympics in the 100 metres and 4x100-metre relay. Then he slapped on a helmet
and won a Super Bowl with the Dallas Cowboys in 1972.
5. Gene Conley The winning pitcher when the Milwaukee Braves won the
1957 World Series, Conley then caught on for three straight NBA titles with
the Boston Celtics from 1959–61.
6. Irv Noren Won the 1947 National Basketball League championship with
the American Gears and then went on to win five World Series with the
New York Yankees and Oakland A’s.
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7. Walter Ray Williams Jr. Williams was a six-time men’s World Horseshoe
Pitching Champion and a seven-time Professional Bowlers Association
Player of the Year.
8. Emmitt Smith Won three Super Bowls with the Cowboys in his playing
days, and just when you thought he was done with the fancy footwork, he
won Dancing with the Stars.
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20
THE COOLEST
SIGNATURE SHOWOFF
MOVES
1. Cristiano Ronaldo’s gunslinger stance before free kicks
2. LeBron James’s pre-game chalk toss
3. “Chi Chi” Rodriguez’s Zorro swordplay after sinking a putt
4. Tiger Williams’s post-goal stick ride
5. Ozzie Smith’s pre-game backflip
6. Dikembe Mutombo’s finger wag after blocking a shot
7. Robbie Keane’s cartwheel
8. Tiger Woods’s fist pumps
9. Aaron Rodgers’s mock championship belt celebration
10. Teemu Selanne’s post-goal machine gunning with his hockey stick
11. Dennis Rodman’s jersey toss to a fan when ejected from a game
13. Ray Lewis’s entrance dance
14. Jason Terry’s jet run after hitting a three-pointer
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15. Mike Foligno’s post-goal jump
16. Rob Gronkowski’s spike
17. Cam Newton’s shirt-opening Superman move
18. Peter Crouch’s robot
19. Victor Cruz’s salsa dance
20. Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire’s “Bash Brothers” forearm bump
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11
ROOKIE SENSATIONS
WHO NEVER
RECAPTURED GLORY
(excludes injury cases)
1. Billy Grabarkewitz, Los Angeles Dodgers, 1970: The infielder racked up
17 home runs, 84 RBI, 152 hits and 92 runs as a rookie in 1970. Over the next
six seasons, he only managed 11 home runs total.
2. Ken Hodge Jr., Boston Bruins, 1990–91: Hodge netted 30 goals to go
with 59 points in his first year, but managed a total of only eight goals and
17 assists in the two seasons that followed.
3. Bob Hamelin, Kansas City Royals, 1994: Hamelin hit .282, along with 24
home runs, 65 RBI, and 88 hits. The ’94 Rookie of the Year struggled in the
years that followed, and, frustrated by poor play, abruptly quit baseball altogether in the middle of a game in 1998.
4. Rueben Mayes, New Orleans Saints, 1985: The native of North Battleford, Sask., rushed for more than 1,300 yards and eight touchdowns for the
Saints, earning a Pro Bowl appearance in his rookie year. His productivity
declined in each of the following years, and in his last season in 1993 he
managed just one carry for two yards.
5. Tyreke Evans, Sacramento Kings, 2009–10: Evans hasn’t disappointed
entirely, but he certainly hasn’t come close to his rookie campaign, when the
guard became just the fourth rookie in NBA history to average 20 points,
five rebounds, and five assists. The other three? Oscar Robertson, Michael
Jordan, and LeBron James. So, yeah...
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6. Rashaan Salaam, Chicago Bears, 1995: The former Heisman Trophy winner rushed for 1,074 and 10 TDs in his first season, but he was out of the
NFL by 2000. He tried his luck in the CFL, but retired after being cut by
the Argonauts in ’04.
7. Andrew Raycroft, Boston Bruins, 2003–04: Another Beantown flameout,
Raycroft impressed with 29 wins, 2.05 GAA and a .926 save percentage in
57 games as a rookie. It proved to be the best season of his career. Raycroft
spent the 2012–13 season playing in Italy.
8. Steve Mason, Columbus Blue Jackets, 2008–09: Mason looked like the
Jackets’ goalie of the future when he notched 33 wins, 10 shutouts, and a
2.29 GAA after being called up from the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch. He spent
the last part of the 2012–13 season as a backup on the Philadelphia Flyers.
9. Steve Slaton, Houston Texans, 2008: A do-it-all back, Slaton rushed for
1,282 yards and nine touchdowns as a rookie, to go along with 50 catches
and nearly 400 receiving yards. He dressed for only six games in 2011 and
failed to catch on with a team in 2012.
10. Bobby Crosby, Oakland Athletics, 2004: The shortstop smacked 22
home runs, 90 RBI, 130 hits, and scored 70 runs, earning AL rookie of the
year honours. He never hit more than nine home runs again, and only batted better than .240 once. Crosby last appeared in MLB in 2010.
11. Blaine Lacher, Boston Bruins, 1994–95: Look, it’s another Bruin! Lacher
racked up 19 wins and four shutouts playing net in his first season, but
only appeared in 12 games the following year (3-5-2) and was out of the
league shortly thereafter.
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10
GUTSIEST
PERFORMANCES OF ALL
TIME
1. Bobby Baun Broken leg. Game six of the ’64 Cup final. Scored the OT game
winner.
2. Shun Fujimoto Japanese gymnast, ’76 Olympics, broke his kneecap on
the floor exercise. Told nobody. Competed on the pommel horse and rings
despite the injury. Collapsed in agony after his landing off the rings, on
which he dislocated the broken kneecap and tore a bunch of ligaments in
his right leg.
3. Ronnie Lott The 49er had part of his left pinky finger amputated in ’85
so he could keep playing—surgery wouldn’t have allowed him to return in
time for the 1986 season.
4. Philip Rivers Played the 2008 AFC championship with a torn ACL.
5. Joannie Rochette Skated to Olympic bronze in Vancouver days after her
mom died.
6. Kerri Strug Completed a one-legged vault in 1996 with a sprained ankle to
help the American gymnastics team win Olympic gold.
7. Clint Malarchuk Returned to the ice four days after having his throat slit
by a skate.
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8. Curt Schilling A bloody sock, the mark of staples in a destabilized tendon
coming loose, was a symbol of the 2004 ALCS.
9. Jamaican Bobsleigh Team Never having raced before the Calgary Olympics, they crashed.
10. Michael Jordan Played through the flu in game five of the ’97 NBA finals,
scoring 38 points.
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12
GRUESOME INJURIES
Louisville guard Kevin Ware’s broken leg in the 2013 NCAA tournament
may have made Rick Pitino cry, but how does it compare to the most horrifying injuries in sports history?
1. Clint Malarchuk (March 22, 1989): When an errant skate blade caught the
Sabres goalie in the jugular vein, blood began spurting all over the ice. Doctors estimate that Malarchuk would have died within minutes had he been
hit three millimetres higher.
2. Wayne “Buck” Shelford (Aug. 11, 1986): During rugby’s version of the
“Battle of Nantes,” the All Blacks’ No. 8 overcame a concussion and a torn
scrotum (he was stitched up on the spot) to keep playing.
3. Joe Theismann (Nov. 18, 1985): After getting sacked by Lawrence Taylor,
Theismann lay on the turf with his leg snapped in half and his fibula protruding through the skin. He never played again.
4. Borje Salming (Nov. 26, 1986): When the Maple Leafs defenceman was
knocked down, Detroit’s Gerard Gallant accidentally stepped on his face.
Salming required facial reconstruction surgery and 200 stitches.
5. Richard Zednik (Feb. 10, 2008): The Florida Panthers forward lost five
units of blood after a teammate’s skate nearly severed his carotid artery.
6. Marc Staal (March 5, 2013): The Rangers defenceman suffered facial fractures after taking a slapshot to the right eye.
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7. Allan Ray (March 10, 2006): The Villanova guard’s eyeball popped out in
front of his eyelid after a scratch to the face. Luckily, it only turned out to
be soft-tissue damage.
8. Shaun Livingston (Feb. 26, 2007): The Clippers guard injured almost every part of his left knee following an awkward landing in a home game
against the Charlotte Bobcats, tearing his ACL, PCL, and lateral meniscus
while dislocating his patella and tibiofemoral joint.
9. Jessica Dubé (Feb. 8, 2007): At the Four Continents Figure Skating Championships, Bryce Davison accidentally sliced his pairs partner’s face with
his skate blade while they were performing side-by-side camel spins. Dubé
required more than 80 stitches.
10. Rudy Tomjanovich (Dec. 9, 1977): As the Houston Rockets forward
rushed to break up an on-court melee, Laker Kermit Washington turned
and floored him with a punch to the face, fracturing his skull and breaking
his jaw and nose.
11. Nick Kypreos (Sept. 15, 1997): During a pre-season fight, the Rangers’
Ryan VandenBussche knocked Kypreos of the Maple Leafs out with a left
punch to the head. Kypreos never played again,
12. Paulo Diogo (Dec. 5, 2004): After climbing a fence to celebrate a Swiss
Super League goal with Servette fans, Diogo jumped back down to the
ground... but left his wedding ring and half his finger behind on the fence.
As groundsmen searched for his finger, Diogo received a yellow card for
excessive celebration.
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7
SOCCER PLAYERS
SEEMINGLY IMMUNE TO
AGE
A list of the best players in the world aged 35 or older.
1. Ryan Giggs Manchester United (EPL), 39 years old. 2012 stats: 37 appearances, 4 goals, 11 assists.
2. David Beckham Paris Saint-Germain (Ligue 1), 37 years old. 2012 stats: 24
appearances, 7 goals, 9 assists.
3. Gianluigi Buffon Juventus (Serie A), 35 years old. 2012 stats: 46 appearances, 21 clean sheets.
4. Thierry Henry New York Red Bulls (MLS), 35 years old. 2012 stats: 25 appearances, 15 goals, 12 assists.
5. Antonio Di Natale Udinese (Serie A), 35 years old. 2012 stats: 41 appearances, 28 goals, 7 assists.
6. Javier Zanetti Inter Milan (Serie A), 39 years old. 2012 stats: 51 appearances, 4 assists.
7. Francesco Totti Roma (Serie A), 36 years old. 2012 stats: 31 appearances,
8 goals, 7 assists.
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10
MOST INNOVATIVE
SKATEBOARDERS EVER
1. Rodney Mullen: Created the flat-ground ollie, which revolutionized modern
street skating. Also a freestyle pioneer, he invented the kickflip, the sport’s
first flip trick, as well as countless other widely used moves.
2. Tony Hawk: Vert pioneer; the first skater to land a 900.
3. Mark Gonzales: Street-skating pioneer and the first to skate handrails.
4. Tony Alva: One of the original Z-Boys; performed the first recorded skateboard aerials.
5. Pat Duffy: Rail-grinding pioneer.
6. Christian Hosoi: Vertical skating pioneer recognized for pulling off huge
aerials; creator of aerials such as the “Christ Air” and “Rocket Air.”
7. Danny Way: Godfather of the mega ramp—a large-format vertical skate
ramp.
8. Stacy Peralta: Another original Z-Boy, Peralta popularized skating in empty pools and focused on hardware innovation.
9. Andrew Reynolds: Legend of technical street skating. Creator of the front
side flip.
10. Steve Caballero: A vertical skating pioneer, he was recognized for his
many aerial inventions, including the “Caballerial.”
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10
COOLEST NAMES FOR
SKATEBOARD TRICKS
1. Darkslide
2. Impossible
3. Coffin 50-50
4. Pop Shove-It
5. Stinkbug
6. Woolly Mammoth
7. Benihana
8. Staple Gun
9. McTwist
10. Nollie
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20
TOP INDOOR
VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS
Glenn Hoag is the head coach of the Canadian senior men’s national volleyball team. He provided the following, by position and “in no particular
order”:
SETTER
Lloy Ball, U.S.
Peter Blangé, Holland
Ricardo Garcia (Ricardinho), Brazil
Nikola Grbic, Serbia
OPPOSITE
Clayton Stanley, U.S.
Andrea Zorzi, Italy
Ivan Miljkovic, Serbia
Maxim Mikhaylov, Russia
RECEIVER/ATTACKER
Vladimir Grbic, Serbia
Lorenzo Bernardi, Italy
Gilberto Amauri de Godoy Filho (Giba), Brazil
Nalbert Bitencourt, Brazil
Wilfredo Leon, Cuba
Osmany Juantorena, Cuba
Murilo Endres, Brazil
MIDDLE
Andrea Gardini, Italy
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Gustavo Endres, Brazil
Bas van de Goor, Holland
Robertlandy Simon, Cuba
David Lee, U.S.
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JOSE BAUTISTA’S
OPPOSITE FIELD HRs AS
A BLUE JAY
Of the 140 homers Bautista hit as a Blue Jay prior to the 2013 season, just
five—less than four percent—were to the opposite field.
1. June 19, 2012. Ninth inning. 0 on, 0 out. Off John Axford. 401 ft. At Miller
Park. Final score: Jays 10, Brewers 9.
2. June 24, 2011. Ninth inning. 0 on, 1 out. Off Fernando Salas. 378 ft. At
Busch Stadium. Final score: Jays 5, Cardinals 4.
3. May 15, 2011. Sixth inning. 1 on, 1 out. Off Kevin Slowey. 405 ft. At Target
Field. Final score: Jays 11, Twins 3.
4. May 14, 2011. 11th inning. 1 on, 0 out. Off Jim Hoey. 364 ft. At Target Field.
Final score: Jays 9, Twins 3.
5. Sept. 30, 2010. Ninth inning. 0 on, 0 out. Off Jose Mijares. 359 ft. At Target
Field. Final score: Jays 13, Twins 2.
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13
TOP PRE-NHL PLAYERS
(BEFORE 1917)
Ernie Fitzsimmons is a hockey historian and author. He was a founding
member of the Society for International Hockey Research (SIHR), where
he’s served as president, vice-president and secretary. This is his list:
1. Fred “Cyclone” Taylor: “Sold hockey wherever he played with his great
rushes. Was strong defensively when in the lead. Played pro in Manitoba,
IHL, WPHL, ECHA, NHA and PCHA.”
2. Édouard “Newsy” Lalonde: “Played in five pro leagues and dominated
scoring almost every year. Also free with the stick and racked up high penalty minutes, like a Ted Lindsay from a later era.”
3. Joe Hall: “A power forward who was near the scoring and penalty minutes
lead until he switched to defence. Played with Brandon, Winnipeg and in
the IHL before winning two Stanley Cups in Quebec.”
4. Art Ross: “Rushing defenceman who played quite a rough game while winning a pair of Stanley Cups. Was so good that he was often imported for
one playoff game at a high fee.”
5. Didier Pitre: “Another vagabond forward who was among the scoring
leaders wherever he went. Twice led in scoring and won one Stanley Cup.
Scored over 300 goals in just over 300 games as a paid player.”
6. Ernie “Moose” Johnson: “Great superstar defenceman in the east who excelled in the PCHA and played pro for 22 years until 1931. Won five Stanley
Cups and was an all-star most years they were selected.”
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7. Joe Malone: “Super scorer who had numerous five-or-more-goal games.
Won a scoring title, twice led in goals and took away two Stanley Cups. Had
nine goals in a Stanley Cup game.”
8. Russ Bowie: “Sensational early player who had 19 five-or-more-goal games
in a 12-year career. Led in goals five times and won a Stanley Cup. Was a
pro referee for many years into the 1910s.”
9. Lester Patrick: “Eastern star who moved west and got even better. Started the PCHA with brother Frank. Won two Stanley Cups as a high-scoring
defender.”
10. Hugh Lehman: “Notched a high for goalies with 97 wins prior to 1917. He
won one Stanley Cup in a 12-year career divided between IHL, Temiskaming-Pro, OPHL and PCHA.”
11. Percy LeSueur: “Recorded an impressive 93-65 record in 11 pro seasons
that saw him win two Stanley Cups. Stayed in hockey management for
many years after World War I.”
12. Georges Vézina: “Had an ordinary 70-67 record for his seven pro seasons
prior to 1917, with one Stanley Cup. Unlike his contemporaries, he logged
an impressive goals-against average on fair teams.”
13. Jack Marshall: “All he did was win, being the first player to rack up Stanley Cup wins with four different teams. A high scorer early, he became a
solid defender through the last part of his career.”
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5
HIGHEST SINGLE-HOLE
SCORES DURING A PGA
EVENT
1. Hans Merrell 19 on a par 3 at the 1959 Bing Crosby Pro-Am, Rancho Santa
Fe Golf Club. Merrell took more than four swipes to free his ball from thorny
vegetation.
2. Ray Ainsley 19 on a par 4 at the 1938 U.S. Open, Cherry Hills Country Club.
The highest score in U.S. Open history can be attributed to stubbornness.
Ainsley hit his ball into a stream and refused to take a penalty drop, deciding instead to keep trying to chip it out.
3. Dale Douglass 19 on a par 4 at the 1963 Bing Crosby Pro-Am, Pebble Beach
Golf Links. Douglass spent more time in the sand than David Hasselhoff after slicing his tee shot onto the beach on No. 10. “I was so tired from swinging I couldn’t grip the club properly,” he said.
4. Willie Chisholm 18 on a par 3 at the 1919 U.S. Open, Brae Burn Country
Club. Chisholm’s tee shot landed between a rock and a hard place—literally. It took him 13 swings to free his ball after it got lodged against a boulder.
5. John Daly 18 on a par 5 at the 1998 Bay Hill Invitational, Bay Hill Club &
Lodge. Attempting to carry his tee shot over a lake, Daly’s first six tries
found water. He later missed a three-footer for 17.
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10
BEST NICKNAMES FOR A
GROUP OF TEAMMATES
1. The Mattress Line, Vancouver Canucks, 2003–04: Featuring Henrik and
Daniel Sedin, with Jason King on the wing, the name was a no-brainer for a
line featuring two twins and a king.
2. Legion of Doom, Philadelphia Flyers, 1994–97: Consisting of Eric Lindros at centre and John LeClair and Mikael Renberg on the wings, it was
the trio’s physicality and not their scoring prowess that earned them a
pro wrestling–inspired name (the Legion of Doom was a popular tag-team
made up of “Animal” and “Hawk”).
3. Pokey and the Bandit, Winnipeg Jets, 1986–89: The name given to Jets
goaltending tandem Eldon “Pokey” Reddick and Daniel “The Bandit” Berthiaume.
4. The Fab Five, University of Michigan Wolverines, 1991–93: The Beatles
have nothing on these guys. Considered the greatest recruiting class of all
time, Chris Webber, Juwan Howard, Jimmy King, Ray Jackson and Jalen
Rose all started as freshman and reached two consecutive NCAA Championship games before Webber was selected with the first pick of the 1993
NBA draft.
5. Earth, Wind and Fire, New York Giants, 2008: Self-appointed by Derrick Ward, this was the moniker adopted by the Giants backfield in 2008—
Brandon Jacobs (Earth), Ward (Wind) and Ahmad Bradshaw (Fire)—all of
whom shared rushing duties.
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6. Run TMC, Golden State Warriors, 1989–91: The result of a fan-naming
contest and a play on rap icons Run DMC. In their short-lived tenure, the
trio of Tim Hardaway, Mitch Richmond and Chris Mullin formed the core of
one of the more explosive offensive units in NBA history.
7. The Hound Line, Toronto Maple Leafs, 1980s: Consisting of Wendel Clark,
Gary Leeman and Russ Courtnall. All three had previously played for the
Notre Dame Hounds Jr. A team in Wilcox, Sask.
8. The French Connection, Buffalo Sabres, 1972–79: The classic film of the
same name won the Best Picture Oscar the year before French-Canadian
trio Gilbert Perreault, Rick Martin and René Robert joined forces on the
Sabres.
9. The Steel Curtain, Pittsburgh Steelers, 1970s: A play on the Soviet “Iron
Curtain” and the result of a fan-naming contest held by a local radio station, the foursome of “Mean” Joe Greene, L.C. Greenwood, Dwight White
and Ernie Holmes shut down offences and helped the Steelers to four Super Bowl titles.
10. The Century Line, Pittsburgh Penguins, 1972–76: Syl Apps, Lowell MacDonald and Jean Pronovost earned the name by collectively scoring 100
or more goals in four consecutive seasons.
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40
BEST SOCCER PLAYERS
FROM WORLD CUP
WINNING COUNTRIES
URUGUAY
1. Enzo Francescoli
2. Luis Suarez
3. Diego Forlan
4. Juan Alberto Schiaffino
5. Obdulio Varela
ITALY
1. Paolo Maldini
2. Andrea Pirlo
3. Roberto Baggio
4. Gianluigi Buffon
5. Alessandro Del Piero
FRANCE
1. Zinedine Zidane
2. Just Fontaine
3. Michel Platini
4. Thierry Henry
5. Jean-Pierre Papin
ENGLAND
1. Bobby Charlton
2. Gordon Banks
3. Gary Lineker
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4. Wayne Rooney
5. Bobby Moore
BRAZIL
1. Pele
2. Ronaldo
3. Garrincha
4. Roberto Carlos
5. Ronaldinho
ARGENTINA
1. Lionel Messi
2. Diego Maradona
3. Gabriel Batistuta
4. Javier Zanetti
5. Alfredo di Stefano
GERMANY (WEST GERMANY)
1. Gerd Muller
2. Franz Beckenbauer
3. Miroslav Klose
4. Jurgen Klinsmann
5. Lothar Matthaus
SPAIN
1. Iker Casillas
2. Andres Iniesta
3. Xavi Hernandez
4. Raul
5. Luis Suarez
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3
TOP CANADIAN
CINDERELLA STORIES
1. Mike Weir wins 2003 Masters With a short tap-in on the first playoff hole,
Weir became the first Canadian man to win a major.
2. London 2012, Rosie MacLennan wins trampoline gold The 23-year-old
posted a personal best to top Chinese legends Huang Shanshan and He
Wenna.
3. Ryder Hesjedal wins 2012 Giro d’Italia The Victoria, B.C., native became
the first Canadian to win one of cycling’s three Grand Tour events by overtaking leader Joaquim Rodriguez on the final day.
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5
GREATEST UNDERDOG
TRIUMPHS BY
INDIVIDUALS. AND ONE
HORSE.
1. James “Cinderella Man” Braddock A 10-1 underdog, Braddock defeated
Max Baer in a 15-round slugfest to win the boxing heavyweight title in 1931.
2. Jack Fleck Considered golf’s greatest upset, the municipal course pro
from Davenport, Iowa, defeated Ben Hogan by three strokes to win the
1955 U.S. Open.
3. Rulon Gardner At the 2000 Sydney Olympics, the American wrestler won
the gold medal in men’s Greco-Roman 130 kg., upsetting three-time gold
winner Russian Alexander “The Bear” Karelin. Karelin had been previously
undefeated in 13 years of international competition.
4. “Buster” Douglas In a 1990 fight in Tokyo, the 42-1 underdog shocked
Mike Tyson to win the heavyweight championship.
5. Upset A 100-1 bet at the 1919 Sanford Stakes in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.,
Upset won by half a length—handing Man o’ War, considered one of the
greatest thoroughbreds of all time, his only career loss.
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CANUCKS IN THE
BIG FOUR EUROPEAN
SOCCER LEAGUES
(in the EPL era)
English Premier League
Jim Brennan (Norwich City)
Frank Yallop (Ipswich Town)
Craig Forrest (Ipswich Town, Chelsea, West Ham United)
Simeon Jackson (Norwich City)
Paul Stalteri (Tottenham)
David Edgar (Newcastle United, Burnley)
Paul Peschisolido (Fulham)
Tomasz Radzinski (Everton, Fulham)
Terry Dunfield (Manchester City)
Lars Hirschfeld (Tottenham)
Junior Hoilett (Blackburn, QPR)
Bundesliga
Kevin McKenna (Energie Cottbus, FC Koln)
Olivier Occéan (Eintracht Frankfurt)
Rob Friend (Borussia Monchengladbach)
Paul Stalteri (Werder Bremen, Borussia Monchengladbach)
Samuel Piette (Fortuna Dusseldorf)
Daniel Imhof (VfL Bochum)
Marcel de Jong (FC Augsburg)
La Liga
Julian de Guzman (Deportivo La Coruna)
Serie A
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Sandro Grande (Brescia)
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11
TOP HITTERS RIGHT
NOW
1. Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers. Absolutely no one in the game can spray
the ball around the field with as much authority as Cabrera, whose opposite-field power is nothing short of incredible. He was the fifth man to reach
1,800 hits and 300 homers before turning 30. He’s nearly impossible to
pitch to because he hits everything.
2. Robinson Cano, New York Yankees. Cano is easily the most productive
second baseman in the game. When he signs his new contract before the
2014 season, he could become the highest-paid player in the league.
3. Buster Posey, San Francisco Giants. Posey is just 26 and he’s already won
two World Series and a National League MVP. And this is a guy who missed
the majority of the 2011 season with a fractured fibula suffered in a collision
at home plate. He’ll be one of the game’s best hitters for a long, long time.
4. Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels. Trout is probably the best all-around
player in the game—aside from his prodigious hitting, he’s also a deft base
stealer and a frequent resident on highlight reels for his incredible outfield
grabs. When it comes to ballplayers right now, no one’s more exciting.
5. Ryan Braun, Milwaukee Brewers. Named NL rookie of the year in 2007
and an all-star every year since, Braun is undoubtedly one of the game’s
most talented hitters. He’s a perennial triple crown candidate in the National League.
6. Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds. Votto already has one MVP award, and it
may not be long before he wins another. The patient and powerful native
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of Etobicoke, Ont., is an annual leader in walks and on-base percentage,
which speaks both to how feared he is and how good his plate vision is.
7. Andrew McCutchen, Pittsburgh Pirates. McCutchen sometimes gets
forgotten because he plays for the Pirates, but he definitely belongs in this
company. He’s improved his stats across the board in each of his four major
league seasons and shows no signs of slowing down.
8. Bryce Harper, Washington Nationals. Most thought it would be almost
impossible for Harper to live up to the ridiculous hype that surrounded his
journey to the major leagues, but he’s proven to be the real deal since arriving in the show when he was just 19.
9. David Wright, New York Mets. Wright has been the picture of consistency
since he arrived in the majors in 2004, producing doubles and home runs
like a machine at the heart of the Mets’ lineup. Now that he’s 30, he’ll try
to make his next 10 years in the league much like the first 10—superlative.
10. Albert Pujols, Los Angeles Angels. Pujols’s production took a minor dip
in 2012, his first season with L.A.—and he still hit 30 homers. That’s a
down year. Pujols is likely already a first-ballot Hall of Famer, and he’s getting paid accordingly: He’ll make $240 million between 2012 and 2021.
11. Justin Upton, Atlanta Braves. The 25-year-old has one of the most powerful swings in the game, and though he’s still putting all the pieces together—he sure does strike out a lot—it’s a widely held belief that he’ll be
a very good hitter for a very long time.
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10
PITCHERS WHO STRIKE
FEAR IN THE HEARTS OF
BATTERS
1. Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers. Kershaw reached 1,000 strikeouts before his 25th birthday and figures to one day join the likes of Sandy
Koufax, Fernando Valenzuela and Orel Hershiser in the Dodgers’ all-time
hurlers club.
2. Justin Verlander, Detroit Tigers. Verlander has paced the majors in innings pitched three times in his career, and his fastball velocity is known to
increase by a couple of ticks in the eighth and ninth innings as he works on
one of his many complete games.
3. Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners. His swing-and-miss stuff leaves hitters looking silly and glancing skyward. Hernandez led the majors with five
complete-game shutouts in 2012.
4. Yu Darvish, Texas Rangers. The key to translating success in Japan to
success in MLB? Be absolutely fearless on the mound. Beyond his bulldog
mentality, Darvish boasts a diverse repertoire of pitches that keeps everyone in the park guessing.
5. Stephen Strasburg, Washington Nationals. The only things that can slow
Strasburg are injuries and team-imposed inning counts. Here’s hoping the
No. 1 pick from 2009 finds good health in the long term so we can all savour
his immense talent for many summers to come.
6. Cliff Lee, Philadelphia Phillies. This southpaw is the very definition of a
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crafty veteran. Lee relies on pinpoint precision for success, demonstrated
by the fact that he hasn’t walked more than 43 batters in a season since
2006.
7. Craig Kimbrel, Atlanta Braves. The young fireballer is baseball’s best
closer. He led the National League in saves in both 2011 and ’12, racking
up strikeout numbers that compete with those of starters who often pitch
nearly twice as many innings.
8. David Price, Tampa Bay Rays. He’s the crown jewel of a great young staff.
In his 2012 Cy Young season, Price made 31 starts and gave up three earned
runs or less in 28 of them.
9. Aroldis Chapman, Cincinnati Reds. If you’re searching for the smoking
gun, look no further. The lanky Cuban lefty often hits triple digits with his
heater, which is why batters don’t exactly love digging in against him.
10. Matt Cain, San Francisco Giants. His consistency and durability have
combined to make Cain one of the most dependable hurlers around. He’s
tossed 200-plus innings in every season since 2007 and has yet to spend
any time on the disabled list.
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10
TOP F1 DRIVERS OF
ALL-TIME
1. Ayrton Senna, Brazil: Racing in arguably the most competitive era in F1
history, his three championships, 65 poles and 41 wins in 162 races between
1984–94 are proof of his dominance. His career was cut short at age 34
when he died in an accident while leading the ’94 San Marino Grand Prix.
He was still one of the world’s top drivers.
2. Michael Schumacher, Germany: His record seven titles, 91 race wins and
68 poles in 308 starts make him the winningest driver ever. He would be
top of this list had he ever beaten Senna for a championship (Senna died
during the third race of Schumacher’s first championship-winning year).
3. Juan Manuel Fangio, Argentina: His statue still stands along the shores
of Monaco, where he won his first GP in 1950 in just his second F1 race.
His five championships, 28 poles and 24 wins in a career that spanned just
seven seasons and 51 races give him the best win percentage from any era.
4. Alain Prost, France: They called him “The Professor” because he treated
racing like a science. The four-time champion is second to Schumacher in
career wins with 51. His rivalry with Senna during the late 1980s was undoubtedly the greatest in racing history.
5. Niki Lauda, Austria: With 25 wins and 24 poles, it’s hard to believe he had
to pay teams to race at the start of his career. He was en route to his second championship in 1976 when he was trapped trackside in his burning car.
Lauda’s body was badly scarred. Neither the men who extinguished his body
nor the priest who administered his last rights believed he’d survive. That he
came back and won two more championships is a testament to his will.
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6. Jackie Stewart, Scotland: Three championships, 27 wins and 17 poles in
99 races—the man in the tartan helmet was undoubtedly the fastest driver
on the planet during the late 1960s and early 1970s. That Stewart chose to
retire as champion in 1973 while still in his prime surely deprived him—and
racing fans—of even more victories and championships.
7. Jim Clark, Scotland: His two championships, 25 victories and 33 poles
in just 72 starts made him the driver to beat in his time. His final F1 win
in 1968’s season opener in South Africa bested Fangio’s record for career
wins to that point. He died before the second race of the 1968 season, in a
crash while driving in Formula Two. He was just 32.
8. Gilles Villeneuve, Canada: The most gifted driver to never win a championship. Driving an inferior Ferrari, he relied on raw talent and passion. His
six victories (including one at Monaco) and two poles in 67 starts aren’t
that impressive, but his ability to outrace proven champions in better cars
have led many to call him the greatest of all time and a man who would
have been champion had he not died in 1982 at 32 in a crash during qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix.
9. Stirling Moss, England: The second man on this list to never win an F1
championship. “Mr. Motor Racing” was a two-time Monaco GP winner and
the uncrowned king of the track in the years immediately after Fangio’s
retirement. Had he not patriotically insisted on always driving for inferior
British-made cars, he surely would have won a championship or two before
being forced to retire due to injury in 1961 at the age of 33.
10. Sebastian Vettel, Germany: The 2010, ’11 and ’12 champion’s 28 wins
and 38 poles in 105 starts earn him a rightful place on this list. He’s just
25 years old and has already mustered more championships than three of
the men above him here. But he’s still young and has yet to win a championship in a car that wasn’t the best on the track.
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THE PLAYERS / OUT OF LEFT FIELD
8
CANADIAN SPORTS
PIONEERS
James Naismith “Basket Ball” was two words and it had 13 rules when the
30-year-old from Almonte, Ont., introduced the sport to a group of students
at Springfield College in Massachusetts. Dec. 21, 1891, marked the first official
game, with two peach baskets nailed to 10-foot-high railings. It was a hit and
basketball was born.
Elizabeth Graham She’d had major dental surgery, so ahead of a game in
February 1927—and at the request of her father—the Queen’s University
hockey goalie threw on a fibreglass fencing mask to protect her teeth. She
never wore it again, but Graham is credited with being the first goalie to wear
a helmet in an organized game.
Jacques Plante The all-star Montreal Canadiens goalie had been wearing
his homemade goalie mask for years in practice. But it took a slapper to the
face for him to don the cream-coloured protector in a game on Nov. 1, 1959.
And with that, Plante ushered NHL netminders into a new, safer era.
Thomas F. Ryan He opened the first 10-pin bowling alley in Canada—the
Toronto Bowling Club—before going ahead and inventing a new form of the
game. In 1908, Ryan created five-pin bowling after some patrons complained
the 10-pin game took too long over the lunch hour.
Donald Munro To help his family survive the Great Depression—and to come
up with a cost-free Christmas gift for his kids—Munro invented an absolute
gem: table hockey. He made the first set in 1932 out of wood and scrap metal
he collected in his Toronto neighbourhood.
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uncan Campbell, Randy Dueck, Paul LeJeune, Jerry Terwin, Chris SarD
gent In the late ’70s, five quadriplegic men from Manitoba invented murderball—now known as wheelchair rugby—as an alternative to wheelchair basketball for players with reduced arm and hand function. Toronto hosted the
first international tournament in 1989.
Abby Hoffman In 1956, after an all-star season in a Toronto boy’s hockey
league, it was discovered that the nine-year-old “Ab” was in fact Abby, a girl
who’d cut her hair short so she could play with boys. Abby made headlines
around the world, and though she didn’t know it at the time, she opened
doors for girls in the future.
Angela James The history of women’s hockey is full of pioneers, but the
game didn’t have a female star deemed worthy of the Hall of Fame until Angela James. The Torontonian was part of the Canadian team at the inaugural
women’s world hockey championship in 1987, where she dominated and became an inspiration to future generations.
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NOTABLE FOREIGN-BORN
ATHLETES WHO SUITED
UP FOR CANADA
Ben Johnson, track and field The Jamaican-born sprinter was named Canada’s “Newsmaker of the Year” after his 1988 Olympic doping scandal.
Daniel Igali, wrestling Igali sought refugee status in Canada after representing Nigeria at the 1994 Commonwealth Games. He won gold for Canada at
Sydney 2000.
Donovan Bailey, track and field Bailey emigrated from Jamaica at 13 and
won gold for Canada in the 100-metre dash at Atlanta 1996.
Tomasz Radzinski, soccer The Polish-born striker earned 46 caps for Canada and made 194 appearances in the English Premier League with Everton
and Fulham.
Peter Stastny, hockey After defecting from Czechoslovakia in 1980 to join
the Quebec Nordiques, Stastny wore the maple leaf at the 1984 Canada Cup.
Petr Nedved, hockey In 1989, a 17-year-old Nedved defected from Czechoslovakia while at an international midget tournament in Calgary. He played
for Canada at the Lillehammer Games in 1994.
Alex Baumann, swimming The Czechoslovakia-born swimmer, who came to
Canada as a five-year-old, won two swimming golds for Canada at Los Angeles 1984.
Simeon Jackson, soccer The only active Canadian international currently
playing in the English Premier League was born in Jamaica.
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Owen Nolan, hockey The former NHL all-star, who won gold with Team Canada at the Salt Lake City Games in 2002, was born in Northern Ireland.
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GOING PRO
Little League World Series players who made it big, even if they had to
switch sports to get it done
1. Brian Sipe, Northern Little League, 1961
NFL
2. Carney Lansford, Briarwood Little League, 1969
MLB
3. Gary Sheffield, Belmont Heights Little League, 1975
MLB
4. Ray Ferarro, Trail Little League, 1976
NHL
5. Pierre Turgeon, Rotary Little League, 1982
NHL
6. Stephane Matteau, Rotary Little League, 1982
NHL
7. Jason Varitek, Altamonte Springs National Little League, 1984
MLB
8. Chris Drury, National Little League, 1989
NHL
9. Jason Bay, Trail Little League, 1990
MLB
10. Matt Cassel, Northridge City Little League, 1994
NFL
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11. Colby Rasmus, Phoenix City National Little League, 1999
MLB
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6
BEST CONTEST DUNKS
Justin “Jus Fly” Darlington, the two-time defending World Dunk Contest
champ from Ajax, Ont., shares his go-to competition dunks.
1. Cartwheel dunk (places ball near free-throw line, picks up the ball midcartwheel and finishes with a through-the-legs dunk)
2. Beneath both legs
3. 180 reverse over somebody’s head
4. Between the legs over somebody’s head
5. 360 between the legs
6. 360 beneath both legs reverse
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4
MLB PLAYERS WHO
PLAYED ALL NINE
POSITIONS IN ONE
GAME
1. Bert Campaneris, Kansas City Athletics
Sept. 8, 1965
2. Cesar Tovar, Minnesota Twins
Sept. 22, 1968
3. Scott Sheldon, Texas Rangers
Sept. 6, 2000
4. Shane Halter, Detroit Tigers
Oct. 1, 2000
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7
BEST MOMENTS IN
OLYMPIC HISTORY
(According to four-time olympic medallist Adam Van Koeverden)
1. Lawrence Lemieux, a Canadian sailor in the 1988 Games, was sitting in
second when he saw that the Singapore crew had flipped, were injured and
couldn’t right their craft. He left the course to save the ailing sailors, eventually finishing 22nd. He was awarded the Pierre de Coubertin medal for
sportsmanship.
2. Emil Zatopek is arguably the greatest distance runner of all time. In 1948,
he placed second in the 5,000 metres and won the 10,000 metres (even
though it was his second time ever running a 10k race). In 1952, he won
both, and then decided to try the marathon, even though he had never run
the distance. After 15 km, he asked the British world-record holder Jim Peters what he thought of the pace, since it was his first ever marathon. Jim
thought he’d mess with his competitor and said it was too slow. Emil said
thanks, picked up the pace and won the race alone. Sadly, Jim didn’t finish.
3. In 1900, the Dutch coxed-rowing pair was unhappy with their coxswain
because he was too heavy, barely qualifying for the final. They recruited
a seven-year-old french lad from the grandstands, and simply asked him
not to do anything, just to sit still. They won the race, making the unnamed
seven-year-old boy the supposed youngest Olympic champion in history.
4. In 2006, Beckie Scott and Sara Renner raced the team sprint event in
cross-country skiing. After a few laps, a competitor accidently stepped on
Sara’s pole, snapping it, seemingly ending the duo’s hope for a medal. Instinctively, Norwegian coach Bjornar Hakensmoen handed Sara a replacement pole, and she raced on for a silver medal, with Norway finishing in
BOOK OF LISTS
fourth. Sara gave coach Bjornar a bottle of wine, and a Canadian businessman and apparent ski fan followed up by sending the Norwegian Olympiatoppen 8,000 cans of maple syrup as a sign of his personal gratitude.
5. T
he time that these events were contested at the Olympics (no kidding):
Rope climb, tug-of-war, motor boating and water skiing, croquet, hot-air
ballooning, Icelandic folk wrestling, co-ed korfball (look it up), obstaclecourse swimming, club swinging, the oxymoronic solo-synchronized swimming (even though of the three times it was an event, Canada won two
golds and a silver; I’m not saying it isn’t a great sport, it’s just named incorrectly), ski ballet and my favourite, live pigeon shooting.
6. Abebe Bikila was a last-minute Ethiopian entry for the Olympic marathon
in 1960, as the original competitor broke his ankle playing soccer. Because
he was a last-minute entry, Adidas didn’t supply the Ethiopian squad with
shoes for him in the correct size, so he decided to run barefoot, on the
cobblestones of Rome. He won the race by 25 seconds. Bikila came back
from retirement for the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo and won that marathon as
well—but this time, he wore shoes.
7. Pierre de Frédy, the Baron de Coubertin, was the second president of the
IOC, and is widely considered to be the father of the modern Olympic movement. In 1912, art competitions were introduced as official events, so Papa
Pierre entered his poem, “Ode to Sport,” and was awarded the Olympic
gold medal for literature. Sport-inspired art events in sculpture, architecture, music and painting were contested until their removal in 1954.
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9
OF THE BIGGEST
CHEATING SCANDALS IN
SPORTS HISTORY
1. Chicago Black Sox, 1919 With “Shoeless” Joe Jackson on the roster, the
Southsiders were favoured to win the World Series. Instead, criminal elements—New York racketeer Arnold Rothstein was named in connection—paid the boys to throw the Series so Cincinnati would win. The players avoided criminal charges, but eight of them, Jackson included, were
banned from pro ball for life.
2. European Soccer Betting Scandal, 2013 The Beautiful Game looked pretty ugly when a Europol investigation found that nearly 700 matches across
the world had been fixed by Asian gangs, including 380 in Europe. Police
say as many as 425 corrupt officials, players and criminals in 15 countries
are implicated, and $12.5 million in profits uncovered.
3. The Spanish Paralympics Basketball Team, 2000 A journalist who infiltrated the Spanish Paralympic basketball team at the Sydney Games revealed that 10 of the 12 players weren’t disabled at all. They lost their gold
medals, of course, and the scandal forced an overhaul in testing for intellectual disabilities.
4. Serie A Calciopoli Scandal, 2006 The scandal involved team officials
colluding with the referees’ association to arrange favourable officiating and earned fines for giants AC Milan, Fiorentina and Lazio. Juventus—the biggest club in Italy—was hit hardest, relegated to Serie B and
stripped of two titles.
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5. Pakistan Cricket Spot-Fixing Scandal, 2010 Several members of the Pakistani team took money from a bookie in exchange for throwing specific aspects of a Test match in England. Three members of the team—including
then-captain Salman Butt—were handed prison sentences and bans from
the sport.
6. F1’s Crashgate, 2008 Renault’s F1 team ordered Nelson Piquet Jr. to crash
deliberately during the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix in order to gain a sporting advantage for his teammate Fernando Alonso. Responsibility for the
planned crash has never been settled and neither Alonso (who is still credited with the win) nor Piquet were banned.
7. British Soccer Betting Scandal, 1965 Peter Swan could have been part of
England’s World Cup–winning 1966 team. But he was banned from soccer
for having—along with two Sheffield Wednesday teammates—bet against
his team in a 1964 match. They lost the match and their freedom, landing
prison sentences as the scandal widened to other teams and authorities
cracked down hard.
8. NBA Betting Scandal, 2007 NBA ref Tim Donaghy was getting paid to
make calls, but not just by the league. For years he’d been tipping-off gamblers with inside information on games. The scandal—which stemmed
from an investigation into the Gambino crime family—earned Donaghy 15
months in prison and more than $500,000 in fines.
9. Boston College Point-Shaving Scandal, 1978–79 If you’re going to get
mixed up in crime, why not go big? Basketball player Rick Kuhn sure did:
He hooked up with Henry Hill, the real-life Goodfellas mobster, in a pointsshaving scheme to ensure BC didn’t beat the spread in certain games. Hill
claimed he earned $100,000. Kuhn earned a prison sentence.
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13
OF THE GREATEST
MYSTERIES IN SPORT
1. Where is John Brisker? Brisker played basketball in the ABA and NBA before racking up debts and fleeing to Uganda. Since his disappearance, the
FBI and CIA have had no luck tracking down the gun-toting gunner.
2. Were the All Blacks poisoned? Forty-eight hours before the 1995 Rugby
World Cup final, 20 New Zealand rugby players ate lunch at their hotel—
and all came down with a bout of food poisoning. They accused their server
of foul play to no avail and eventually lost the game, many players throwing
up on the sidelines during stoppages.
3. How old is Albert Pujols? Questions about the slugger’s age have dogged
him since high school, when Pujols drew a walk in 63 percent of his plate
appearances as a senior—pitchers, some say, believed him to be too old for
the league.
4. What happened to “Big” Ed Delahanty on that bridge? The Hall of Fame
baseball player Ed Delahanty was last seen alive on the bridge between
Bridgeburg, Ont., and Buffalo, N.Y., on the night of July 2, 1903. The next
day he washed up on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls missing a leg, his
clothes and all of his valuables. Police never made an arrest in the case.
5. What the hell is that magic spray? When a soccer player goes down on
the pitch, writhing in pain, trainers will often take out an aerosol can and
apply magic spray. Moments later, the player will be back in the game. Evidence of flopping? A magic cure-all? Maybe not. The cooling spray merely
numbs the nerve endings, distracting the brain from interpreting the pain
signals long enough for the player to get back out there.
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6. Who boosted Pat Kane’s puck? After Kane’s Cup-winning goal in game
six in 2010, linesman Steve Miller took the puck out of the net—and it was
never seen again. Miller has no memory of what he did with the puck, and
not even a brief FBI inquiry was able to turn it up.
7. Is Sonny Liston sport’s ultimate man of mystery? Was Liston’s firstround loss to Muhammad Ali a genuine one-punch knockout or a premeditated fix? Was he killed in 1970 for winning a fight he was supposed to lose
or was it suicide? No one will ever know for sure.
8. Why is there no NFL football in L.A.? How is it that a city of nearly four
million—that supported two NFL franchises until 1995—has been without
a single franchise for the past 18 years? The biggest factor is financial—
L.A. doesn’t have the cash to cough up for a new stadium, or even a minority share in it.
9. Why did Barry Sanders retire? After 10 straight 1,000-yard seasons left
him one good season away from Walter Payton’s all-time NFL rushing record, the “Silver Streak” retired abruptly on the eve of training camp. He left
a note—faxed it to his hometown newspaper, in fact—but it didn’t explain
anything. Was he tired of losing? Tired of getting hit? Or just plain tired?
10. Who killed Bo Agee? Arthur “Bo” Agee—father of basketball player Arthur Agee Jr., one of the subjects of the documentary Hoop Dreams—was
shot in the alley behind his house in Chicago. It may have been a random
burglary, but a source told police it might also have been a paid hit resulting from a feud dating back to Agee’s days as a drug abuser. Today, the
case is still one of Chicago’s many unsolved gun deaths.
11. Where is hockey’s priceless art hidden? When legendary Montreal Canadiens photographer David Bier died, a half century of his work—including
irreplaceable images of Maurice Richard, Jean Béliveau, Jacques Plante
and others—went missing. The photos could be in the hands of someone
who doesn’t know their worth. Or they could be lost forever.
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12. Where do the yips come from? In 1990, Mets catcher Mackey Sasser inexplicably lost the ability to throw the ball back to the mound. Other athletes have similar stories. Psychiatrists say it’s a psychological problem,
unrelated to sport, and an athlete can’t simply be talked out of it.
13. Who is Harry Decker and why is anyone trying to find him? What we
know: Decker was a 19th-century ballplayer who appeared in 156 games
with six major-league teams. What we don’t: What happened to him. He’s
one of a couple hundred players who simply fell off the map after appearing in the big leagues.
BOOK OF LISTS
5
PITCHES YOU WISH YOU
COULD THROW
1. Eephus: The Pittsburgh Pirates’ Rip Sewell is said to have invented this
super-slow pitch in the ’40s, but it was his teammate, Maurice Van Robays,
who named it, explaining: “Eephus ain’t nothing, and that’s a nothing pitch.”
The pitch travels in the 40–60 mph range as it’s lobbed toward the plate.
2. Gyroball: While most pitches traditionally spin forwards or backwards, the
gyroball spins in a spiral-like fashion—imagine a perfectly thrown football
or a bullet—making it tough to identify location and speed.
3. Shuuto: Immensely popular with Japanese pitchers, the shuuto is predominantly thrown by right-handed pitchers and breaks down and in on
right-handers. It looks like a slider out of the hand but is thrown harder and
breaks in the opposite direction.
4. Shake Pitch: Thrown with a low-maintenance, understated delivery and
little spin, much like a knuckleball, the shake pitch is meant to wiggle back
and forth as it approaches the plate. Thrown very slowly and often with a
high, looping break.
5. Fosh Ball: Essentially a split-finger fastball thrown with the velocity of a
change-up. Former Orioles starter Mike Boddicker used it in the 1980s.
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THE PLAYERS / MONEY
TOP-EARNING ATHLETES
IN 2012
(By sponsorship dollars)
1. Tiger Woods, golf $55 million
2. Roger Federer, tennis $45 million
3. Phil Mickelson, golf $43 million
4. LeBron James, basketball $40 million
5. David Beckham, soccer $37 million
6. Kobe Bryant, basketball $32 million
7. Rafael Nadal, tennis $25 million
8. Mahendra Singh Dhoni, cricket $23 million
T-9. Maria Sharapova, tennis $22 million
T-9. Cristiano Ronaldo, soccer $22 million
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THE PLAYERS / MONEY
NBA’S LARGEST
AMNESTIED CONTRACTS
The 2012 CBA allowed each NBA team to buy out one contract without
penalty against their salary cap
1. Brandon Roy by Portland Trail Blazers $68,698,940
2. Gilbert Arenas by Orlando Magic $62,000,000
T-3. Baron Davis by Cleveland Cavaliers $28,000,000
Travis Outlaw by Brooklyn Nets $28,000,000
5. Brendan Haywood by Dallas Mavericks $27,200,000
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THE PLAYERS / MONEY
THE LARGEST 2012–13
PLAYER SALARIES IN
NORTH AMERICA
MLB
1. Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees $28,000,000
2. Johan Santana, New York Mets $25,500,000
3. Cliff Lee, Philadelphia Phillies $25,000,000
T4. Prince Fielder, Detroit Tigers $23,000,000
Joe Mauer, Minnesota Twins $23,000,000
C.C. Sabathia, New York Yankees $23,000,000
7. Mark Teixeira, New York Yankees $22,500,000
8. Tim Lincecum, San Francisco Giants $22,000,000
T9. Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers $21,000,000
Adrian Gonzalez, Los Angeles Dodgers $21,000,000
Vernon Wells, New York Yankees $21,000,000
NBA
1. Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers $27,849,149
2. Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks $20,907,128
3. Carmelo Anthony, New York Knicks $20,463,024
4. Amar’e Stoudemire, New York Knicks $19,948,799
5. Joe Johnson, Brooklyn Nets $19,752,645
6. Dwight Howard, Los Angeles Lakers $19,536,360
7. Pau Gasol, Los Angeles Lakers $19,000,000
8. Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers $17,779,458
T9. Chris Bosh, Miami Heat $17,545,000
LeBron James, Miami Heat $17,545,000
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NFL*
1. Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos $20,000,000
2. Jared Allen, Minnesota Vikings $14,280,612
T3. Eli Manning, New York Giants $13,000,000
Darrelle Revis, Tampa Bay Buccaneers $13,000,000
5. Julius Peppers, Chicago Bears $12,900,000
6. Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lioins $12,500,000
7. Tamba Hali, Kansas City Chiefs $12,250,000
8. Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers $12,000,000
9. Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings $11,250,000
10. Michael Johnson, Cincinnati Bengals $11,175,000
*Base salaries only. Does not include signing bonuses, incentives, etc.
NHL
1. Shea Weber, Nashville Predators $14,000,000
T2. Tyler Myers, Buffalo Sabres $12,000,000
Zach Parise, Minnesota Wild $12,000,000
Brad Richards, New York Rangers $12,000,000
Ryan Suter, Minnesota Wild $12,000,000
6. Ilya Kovalchuk, New Jersey Devils $11,000,000
7. Vincent Lecavalier, Tampa Bay Lightning $10,000,000
T8. Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins $9,000,000
Alexander Ovechkin, Washington Capitals $9,000,000
10. Eric Staal, Carolina Hurricanes $8,500,000
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THE PLAYERS / MONEY
HIGHEST CAREER
B.A.S.S. TOURNEY PRO
EARNINGS
(Number of first-place finishes)
1. Kevin VanDam (20) $5,449,476.33
2. Skeet Reese (6) $2,626,553.64
3. Denny Brauer (17) $2,579,393.71
4. Alton Jones (8) $2,210,791.17
5. Rick Clunn (14) $2,162,763.53
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THE PLAYERS / MONEY
5
MOST EXPENSIVE
SPORTS DIVORCES
1. Michael Jordan, $168 million. “His Airness” split from wife Juanita in 2006
after 17 years of marriage.
2. Frank McCourt, $130 million. The former Dodgers owner’s divorce was
well-publicized (and well-chronicled—check your back issues of Sportsnet
magazine), but when all was said and done it landed Jamie Luskin $130
million and prompted the sale of one of North America’s most iconic franchises.
3. Tiger Woods, $110 million. Though Tiger’s divorce from Elin Nordegren
isn’t the most expensive in sports, it’s the most publicized—that probably
had something to do with the prominent use of a golf club.
4. Greg Norman, $105 million. The Shark may be a predator on the course
with business acumen to boot, but when Laura Andrassy walked away after 25 years, she took $105 million with her.
5. Michael Strahan, $15 million plus child support. While Alex Rodriguez
and Shaquille O’Neal (and others) were both worth more than $100 million at the time of their divorces, the terms of their separations were never
publicized and can’t be included. Strahan, though, is a cautionary tale—his
nasty split with Jean Muggli included allegations of assault and infidelity,
and cost the former NFL star $180,000 per month in child support for his
twin daughters on top of the lump-sum settlement.
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THE PLAYERS / MONEY
10
RICHEST CONTRACTS IN
MLB HISTORY
1. Alex Rodriguez (2008–17) $275,000,000
2. Alex Rodriguez (2001–10) $252,000,000
3. Albert Pujols (2012–21) $240,000,000
4. Joey Votto (2014–23) $225,000,000
5. Prince Fielder (2012–20) $214,000,000
6. Derek Jeter (2001–10) $189,000,000
7. Joe Mauer (2011–18) $184,000,000
T8. Mark Teixeira (2009–16) $180,000,000
Justin Verlander (2013–19) $180,000,000
10. Felix Hernandez (2013–19) $175,000,000
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THE PLAYERS / MONEY
10
NHL HISTORY
1. Alex Ovechkin (2008–21) $124,000,000
2. Shea Weber (2012–26) $110,000,000
3. Sidney Crosby (2013–25) $104,000,000
4. Ilya Kovalchuk (2010–25) $100,000,000
T-5. Zach Parise (2012–25) $98,000,000
Ryan Suter (2012–25) $98,000,000
7. Vincent Lecavalier (2009–20) $85,000,000
8. Henrik Zetterberg (2009–21) $73,000,000
9. Duncan Keith (2010–23) $72,000,000
10. Mike Richards (2008–20) $69,000,000
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THE PLAYERS / MONEY
11
NBA HISTORY
1. Kobe Bryant (2004–11) $136,400,000
2. Jermaine O’Neal (2003–10) $126,558,000
3. Kevin Garnett (1999–2005) $126,000,000
4. Chris Webber (2001–07) $122,718,750
5. Tim Duncan (2003–10) $122,007,704
6. Shaquille O’Neal (1996–2003) $120,000,000
7. Joe Johnson (2010–16) $119,000,000
8. Rashard Lewis (2007–13) $118,000,000
9. Gilbert Arenas (2008–13) $111,000,000
T-10. Chris Bosh (2010–16) $109,837,500
LeBron James, (2010–16) $109,837,500
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THE PLAYERS / MONEY
MINIMUM PLAYER
SALARIES IN NORTH
AMERICAN SPORTS
1. NHL $525,000
2. NBA $490,180
3. MLB $480,000
4. NFL $405,000
5. CFL $44,000
6. WNBA $36,570
7. MLS $33,750
8. NLL $9,200
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THE PLAYERS / MONEY
7
ACTIVE MLB PLAYERS
STILL EARNING MONEY
FROM THEIR FORMER
TEAMS
1. Vernon Wells New York Yankees: $28.1 million (total owed) from the L.A.
Angels (2013–14)
2. A.J. Burnett Pittsburgh Pirates: $8.5 million from the New York Yankees
(2013)
3. Wandy Rodriguez Pittsburgh Pirates: $10.5 million from the Houston Astros (2013–14)
4. Michael Young Philadelphia Phillies: $10 million from the Texas Rangers
(2013)
5. Heath Bell Arizona Diamondbacks: $8 million from the Miami Marlins
(2013–14)
6. Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez L.A. Dodgers: $4.285 million each
from the Boston Red Sox (2013–2017).
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THE PLAYERS / MONEY
10
MEN WHO HAVE MORE
MONEY THAN GOD
THANKS TO BEING
SMART
1. Roger Penske is a former F1 star turned owner. His net worth tops $1 billion.
2. Magic Johnson invested in Starbucks, TGI Fridays and real estate. Now
he’s an owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers with a net worth around $500
million.
3. Greg Norman was the first golfer to earn $10 million on the PGA Tour. But
“The Shark” has made hundreds of millions more from course design, wine
and real estate.
4. Larry Holmes made his name in the ring, but the former heavyweight
champ made a mint thanks to restaurants and nightclubs.
5. Nolan Ryan has gone from flamethrower to money holder. He’s the president and CEO of the Texas Rangers and owns an organic beef company.
6. George Foreman is perhaps more famous now as a pitchman than he is for
being heavyweight champ. At the height of his eponymous grill’s popularity, Foreman was making $4.5 million a month.
7. Roger Staubach worked in real estate during NFL off-seasons. He started
his own company in the late 1970s and sold it for $613 million in 2008.
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8. Junior Bridgeman played 12 years in the NBA then went into the fast food
biz. Thanks to 161 Wendy’s and 124 Chili’s, he’s worth an estimated $200
million.
9. Tony Hawk revolutionized skateboarding on his board and off. The first
skating star to become a business mogul, he’s worth more than $100 million.
10. Steve Nash has earned more than $120 million in the NBA and used it to
build ownership stakes in a venture capital and marketing firm, a clothing
line, an MLS team and a gym.
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THE PLAYERS / MONEY
20
TOP POKER PLAYERS
by total World Series earnings
1. Antonio Esfandiari $19,864,576
2. Phil Hellmuth $12,199,033
3. Jamie Gold $12,073,694
4. Sam Trickett $11,180,932
5. Greg Merson $9,785,354
6. Peter Eastgate $9,430,506
7. Jonathan Duhamel $9,157,503
8. Joe Cada $9,028,904
9. Pius Heinz $8,815,955
10. Jerry Yang $8,272,214
11. Joe Hachem $8,138,443
12. Allen Cunningham $7,543,866
13. Michael Mizrachi $7,259,572
14. John Racener $6,600,351
15. Greg Raymer $6,540,657
16. Ivan Demidov $6,452,696
17. Paul Wasicka $6,409,609
18. Phil Ivey $6,307,334
19. Ben Lamb $6,178,387
20. Daniel Negreanu $5,668,221
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THE PLAYERS / MONEY
7
OF THE LARGEST
CONTRACT BUYOUTS OF
ALL TIME
1. Manny Ramirez Los Angeles Dodgers $24,344,262
2. Jason Bay New York Mets $21,125,000
3. Alexei Yashin New York Islanders $17,632,000
4. Richard Hamilton Detroit Pistons $11,000,000
5. Chone Figgins Seattle Mariners $8,500,000
6. Vinny Prospal Tampa Bay Lightning $7,000,000
7. Bobby Bonilla New York Mets $5,900,000
BOOK OF LISTS
THE PLAYERS / MONEY
39
GUYS WHO PUTT FOR
DOUGH
Every golfer who has earned $20,000,000+ on the PGA Tour
1. Tiger Woods $105,090,300
2. Phil Mickelson $69,409,378
3. Vijay Singh $67,479,870
4. Jim Furyk $53,587,930
5. Ernie Els $45,182,241
6. Davis Love III $42,208,476
7. David Toms $39,095,476
8. Steve Stricker $37,014,901
9. Justin Leonard $32,256,649
10. Kenny Perry $31,797,536
11. Sergio Garcia $31,604,567
12. Stewart Cink $31,405,144
13. Adam Scott $30,406,922
14. Luke Donald $29,399,307
15. K.J. Choi $27,939,045
16. Retief Goosen $27,782,604
17. Scott Verplank $27,426,114
18. Mike Weir $26,849,333
19. Stuart Appleby $26,824,844
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20. Zach Johnson $26,592,423
21. Geoff Ogilvy $26,491,320
22. Robert Allenby $26,420,911
23. Rory Sabbatini $25,552,846
24. Charles Howell III $25,142,387
25. Mark Calcavecchia $24,147,827
26. Jerry Kelly $23,998,137
27. Hunter Mahan $23,276,858
28. Matt Kuchar $23,241,607
29. Chris DiMarco $22,530,407
30. Fred Couples $22,440,211
31. Justin Rose $22,343,207
32. Padraig Harrington $22,084,913
33. Tom Lehman $21,475,800
34. Chad Campbell $21,340,505
35. Fred Funk $21,097,907
36. Bob Estes $21,073,930
37. Nick Price $20,576,104
38. Tim Clark $20,403,554
39. Billy Mayfair $20,088,234
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THE PLAYERS / MONEY
10
ATHLETES WHO WERE
BAD WITH THEIR
MONEY
The history of sports (and Page 6 of the New York Post) is littered with stories of athletes blowing their money on ludicrous lifestyles. Here are the 10
who did it the best (or worst):
1. Mike Tyson Won more than $400 million in the ring but filed for bankruptcy
in 2003 owing more than $27 million. Among his more opulent purchases: a
fleet of luxury cars, pet tigers and a $2-million bathtub.
2. Terrell Owens Paid $107,000 per month in child support and mortgage
payments. Even with that, he still had to spend $10,000 a day to drop the
$80 million he made playing football.
3. Lenny Dykstra He made about $37 million playing baseball, but ended up
behind bars for grand theft auto. Between his MLB career and jail came a
stint as a stockbroker, as well as numerous bad business deals and lawsuits.
4. John Daly Lost $60 million gambling, including $1.5 million at the slots
while celebrating a $750,000 PGA Tour win.
5. Antoine Walker Financially supported more than 70 friends and family
members. His largest contract was worth $71 million over six years, and he
still managed to write more than $1 million in bad cheques.
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6. Latrell Sprewell Famously turned down a three-year, $21-million contract
in 2004. He never signed another NBA deal and later had two homes and
a boat seized.
7. Michael Vick Made $37.5 million in 2005 and owed $20 million by 2009.
He’s had his well-publicized problems, but buying his brother a new luxury
car every year couldn’t have helped.
8. Rollie Fingers An MLB showman with one of the most famous moustaches
in sport. He didn’t break the bank as a baseball player but turned his celebrity into an $8-million fortune, which he then lost on bad business deals
(horses and wind farms to name two). When the taxman came calling he
was forced to declare bankruptcy.
9. Ric Flair He was the Nature Boy in the ring and the Party Boy outside it.
He blew huge sums on jewellery, clothes and fine dining. And divorce. And
alimony. And tax bills.
10. Allen Iverson Earned $154 million in the NBA, but had his bank account
commandeered because he couldn’t pay the court-ordered $860,000 he
owed to a jewellery store.
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THE PLAYERS / NAMES
FAMOUS ATHLETE NAME
SWAPS
1. Cassius Clay / Muhammad Ali
As Cassius Clay
20-0, 16 KOs from Oct. 29, 1960, to Feb. 25, 1964
As Muhammad Ali
35-5, 21 KOs from May 25, 1965, to Dec. 11, 1981
2. Lew Alcindor / Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
As Lew Alcindor for two NBA seasons
164 games, 30.2 points per game, 55 percent from the field, 67 percent from
the free-throw line
One NBA championship
One MVP award
As Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for 18 NBA seasons
1,396 games, 23.9 points per game, 56 percent from the field, 73 percent from
the free-throw line
Five NBA championships
Five MVP awards
3. Chad Johnson / Chad Ochocinco
As Chad Johnson for seven NFL seasons
108 games, 559 receptions for 8,365 yards and 49 TDs
5.2 catches per game, 77.5 receiving yards per game
Two All-Pro Team selections
Led NFL with 1,369 receiving yards in 2006
As Chad Ochocinco for four NFL seasons
58 games, 207 receptions for 2,694 yards and 18 TDs
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3.6 catches per game, 46.4 receiving yards per game
4. Ron Artest / Metta World Peace
As Ron Artest for 12 NBA seasons
763 games, 14.8 points per game, 0.6 blocks per game, 42 percent from the
field, 72 percent from the free-throw line
One NBA championship
Named 2003–04 defensive player of the year
As Metta World Peace for two NBA seasons
139 games, 10.5 points per game, 1.3 steals per game, 0.5 blocks per game, 40
percent from the field
BOOK OF LISTS
THE PLAYERS / NAMES
10
IMPOSSIBLY BASEBALLSOUNDING CANADIAN
MLB PLAYERS
1. Spud Johnson, OF/3B (Columbus Solons/Cleveland Spiders, 1889–91)
2. Stubby Clapp, P (St. Louis Cardinals, 2001)
3. Reggie Cleveland, P (St. Louis Cardinals, Boston Red Sox, Texas Rangers,
Milwaukee Brewers, 1969–81)
4. Yip Owens, C (Boston Americans, Chicago White Sox, Brooklyn Tip-Tops,
Baltimore Terrapins, 1904–15)
5. Kid Summers, C/LF (St. Louis Browns, 1893)
6. Chub Collins, 2B/SS (Buffalo Bisons, Indianapolis Hoosiers, Detroit Wolverines, 1884–85)
7. Shorty Dee, SS (St. Louis Browns, 1915)
8. Rube Vickers, P (Cincinnati Reds, Brooklyn Superbas, Philadelphia Athletics, 1902–09)
9. L
efty Wilkie, P (Pittsburgh Pirates, 1941–46)
10. Tug Thompson, OF/C (Cincinnati Red Stockings, Indianapolis Hoosiers,
1882–84)
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THE PLAYERS / NAMES
MOST COMMON NAMES
IN COOPERSTOWN
13 Bill/Billy (notables: Mazeroski, Dickey, Klem)
11 Joe (DiMaggio, Morgan)
8 Ed/Eddie (Barrow, Murray, Plank)
7 George (Brett, Kelly)
Jim (Palmer, Rice)
6 Frank (Robinson, Chance)
John/Johnny (Bench, McGraw)
5 Tom/Tommy (Seaver, Lasorda)
Bob/Bobby (Feller, Gibson)
Al (Kaline, Simmons)
Willie (Mayes, McCovey, Stargell)
MOST COMMON NAMES
IN THE NBA HALL OF
FAME
12 Robert/Bob (notables: Parrish, Lanier, Cousy)
9 John (Havlicek, Stockton, Wooden)
6 William/Bill (Russell, Walton, Cunningham)
5 David (Robinson, DeBusschere, Thompson)
3 Charles (Barkley)
Dennis (Johnson, Rodman)
Edward (Macauley)
George (Gervin, Mikan)
Joseph (Fulks)
Tom/Tommy (Heinsohn, Gola)
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MOST COMMON NAMES
IN THE NFL HALL OF
FAME
12 John (notables: Mackey, Elway, Unitas)
11 Jim (Otto, Kelly, Brown)
10 Joe (Greene, Montana, Namath)
9 Bob (Griese, Hayes, Layne)
8 Mike (Ditka, Singletary, Michalske)
George (Blanda, Allen)
7 Dan (Marino, Reeves, Dierdorf)
Charles (Taylor, Joiner)
Bill (Walsh, Hewitt, Parcells)
Willie (Brown, Lanier, Roaf)
MOST COMMON NAMES
IN THE NHL HALL OF
FAME
11 William (notables: Cook, Smith, McGimsie)
10 Joe/Joseph (Sakic, Plante*, Richard**)
Francis/Frank (Nighbor, Clancy, Mahovlich)
9 John (Bower, Walker, Bucyk)
7 Robert (Hull, Orr, Clarke)
Harry (Lumley, Oliver, Watson)
6 George/Georges (Armstrong, Vezina, Horner)
Ed/Edward (Shore, Belfour)
5 Glenn (Hall, Anderson)
Fred (Maxwell, Scanlan)
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Charles (Conacher, Apps***)
Gordon (Howe, Wilson)
*Joseph Jacques Plante **Joseph Henri Richard and Joseph Henri Maurice
Richard ***Charles Sylvanus “Syl” Apps
MOST COMMON NAMES
IN THE CFL HALL OF
FAME
6 David (notables: Ridgway, Cutler)
John (Barrow, Ferraro)
Tom (Grant, Coffey, Clements)
Robert/Bob (Jurison, Simpson, Isbister)
5 Joe (Kapp, Montford, Breen)
Dan (Ferrone, McManus)
4 Ed/Eddie (Emerson, McQuarters)
Frank (McGill, Rigney)
Bill (Baker, Clarke)
Ron (Estay, Lancaster)
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THE PLAYERS / NAMES
8
SELF-APPOINTED
NICKNAMES FROM
FORMER NFL RUNNING
BACK CLINTON PORTIS
1. Sheriff Gonna Getcha
2. Dr. I Don’t Know
3. Reverend Gonna Change
4. Southeast Jerome
5. Kid Bro Sweets
6. The Mad Scientist
7. Coach Janky Spanky
8. Dolla Bill
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THE PLAYERS / NAMES
19
BEST NICKNAMES
1. “He Hate Me” Rod Smart, football
2. “Butterbean” Eric Esch, boxing
3. “The Chicoutimi Cucumber” Georges Vezina, hockey
4. “Magic” Earvin Johnson, basketball
5. “Pele” Edson Arantes do Nascimento, soccer
6. “Minnesota Fats” Rudolf Wanderone, pool
7. “Shoeless Joe” Joe Jackson, baseball
8. “Refrigerator” William Perry, football
9. “Big Hurt” Frank Thomas, baseball
10. “Boom Boom” Bernie Geoffrion, hockey
11. “The Sultan of Swat” Babe Ruth, baseball
12. “Prime Time” Deion Sanders, football/baseball
13. “The Grim Reaper” Stu Grimson, hockey
14. “The Wizard of Oz” Ozzie Smith, baseball
15. “Spaceman” Bill Lee, baseball
16. “The Round Mound of Rebound” Charles Barkley, basketball
17. “Spud” Anthony Webb, basketball
18. “Broadway Joe” Joe Namath, football
19. “Sweetness” Walter Payton, football
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THE PLAYERS / NAMES
18
OF THE MOST FITTING
NAMES IN SPORTS
1. Golfer: Tiger Woods
2. Sprinter: Usain Bolt
3. MLB pitcher: Rollie Fingers
4. NFL tight end: Alge Crumpler
5. NFL cornerback: Reggie Corner
6. Race car driver: Scott Speed
7. Tennis player: Anna Smashnova
8. MLB second baseman: Homer Bush
9. High jumper: Nathan Leeper
10. Soccer striker: Zhu Ting (pronounced “shoo-ting”)
11. Golfer: Chip Beck
12. NFL quarterback: Chuck Long
13. NHL defenceman (and coach): Jim Playfair
14. Swimmer: Jeffrey Float
15. NBA forward: Tim Duncan
16. Professional poker player: Chris Moneymaker
17. NBA guard: Gilbert Arenas
18. Sprinter and NFL wide receiver: James Jett
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THE PLAYERS / PENALTY BOX
TEAMMATES KOBE
BRYANT THREW UNDER
A BUS
1. Chris Mihm/Kwame Brown: “I was shooting 45 times a game. What was I
supposed to do? Pass it to Chris Mihm or Kwame Brown?”
2. Smush Parker: “[He was] the worst. He shouldn’t have been in the NBA,
but we were too cheap to pay for a point guard. So we let him walk on.”
3. Pau Gasol: “Put your big-boy pants on. Just adjust. You can’t whine about
it. You can’t complain about it.”
4. Kwame Brown: “I don’t know how he convinced Philadelphia to cough up
$7 million a year. They want to lock us out, but they’ll pay him $7 million.”
5. Brown, again: “He was present, he was there.” Reporter: “So it was like
Weekend at Bernie’s?” Bryant: “Exactly.”
6. Shaquille O’Neal: “I like players who work out. I cannot stand players who
practise for 30 minutes ... I need to say something to them.”
7. Dwight Howard: “It’s win a championship or everything is a complete failure. That’s just how [the Lakers] do it. And that’s foreign to him.”
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ATHLETES VS. ANIMALS
From dogs running onto the field to staged races against thoroughbreds,
there’s a storied history of athletes and animals interacting on the playing
field. The biggest takeaway? The playing field ain’t no place for a bird.
1. S
cottish goalkeeping legend Chic Brodie appeared in more than 400 pro
soccer matches, but he will likely never forget the 1970 game away to Colchester United in which a dog ran onto the field chasing the ball. As Brodie
was picking up a back pass, the dog collided with him, breaking the goalkeeper’s kneecap and forcing his 17-year career to a close.
2. During the seventh inning of a spring training game in 2001, a dove flew
between the mound and home plate just as six-foot-10 Arizona Diamondbacks fireballer Randy Johnson unleashed a fastball down the middle. The
dove did not survive.
3. After being banned for life from track and field, Canadian sprinter Ben
Johnson set his sights on the animal world, specifically a 17-year-old racing horse. In a 120-yard dash held in Charlottetown, P.E.I., Johnson was
given a 40-yard head start, but still lost convincingly.
4. O
n Aug. 4, 1983, then-Yankee Dave Winfield was tossing a ball around before a game in Toronto when he struck a seagull. After the game, the bird
was handed to police as “forensic evidence,” and Winfield was charged
with animal cruelty. He ended up paying a $500 fine.
5. During pre-game ceremonies at a Bakersfield Condors junior hockey
game in February 2013, the team’s mascot, an actual condor, was startled
after his handler fell to the ice. The condor made a beeline for the Condors
bench, noticeably scaring the crap out of the players.
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6. During a T20 cricket match between Yorkshire and Lancashire in 2009,
fielder Jacques Rudolph returned a ball from the outfield, accidently taking out an airborne pigeon in the process.
7. In 1998, a bird stole golfer Steve Lowery’s ball on the 17th green at TPC
Sawgrass and proceeded to drop it straight in the drink.
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3
STRANGEST NFL
ARRESTS OF 2012
1. Dion Lewis, RB, Eagles: Locked out of his Albany hotel, Lewis and his brother attempted to break down the door. When that didn’t work, they pulled
the fire alarm, a Class E felony. Police later decided not to lay charges.
2. J.T. Thomas, LB, Bears: Going the wrong way on a one-way street. OK,
bad idea, but not an arrestable offence. He was stopped by the police and
asked for his licence and registration. Still, no real problem. He reached
into the glove box and pulled out the registration, as well as the marijuana
he’d stashed there. Pot makes you forget things, kids.
3. Kenny Britt, WR, Titans: Out for a night on the town with a local female
soldier, imbibing liquor, before offering—while tipsy—to give her a lift
home. Needless to say, it’s unwise to drink and drive. And downright stupid
to drink and then attempt to drive into a well-guarded military fort.
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10
MOST EXPLOSIVE
ATHLETE-MEDIA
CONFRONTATIONS
1. Jim Everett tackles Jim Rome after Rome—then the host of an ESPN callin show—repeatedly referred to the Saints QB as “Chris” to taunt his lack
of toughness.
2. T
exas Rangers pitcher Kenny Rogers attacks two cameramen, shoving
one of them to the ground—briefly landing him in hospital—and kicking
the camera after tossing it away. He was struggling with an injury at the
time, wasn’t scheduled to pitch and didn’t want to be filmed.
3. Mike Tyson in almost every interview he’s ever done—especially those
with female journalists. We won’t repeat the quotes.
4. Members of the New England Patriots crowd, naked, around female reporter Lisa Olson in 1990, grab their private parts and dare her to touch them.
5. K
ansas City Royals manager Hal McRae flips out after a reporter asks “stupid questions” and begins throwing things off his desk, striking one reporter in the face with a tape recorder.
6. Oakland A’s slugger Dave Kingman sends reporter Susan Fornoff a box
containing a live rat with a note around its tail saying “My name is Sue.”
Kingman was angry about having a woman in the dressing room.
7. Dominik Hasek yells at, shoves, and rips the shirt of Jim Kelley of the
Buffalo Evening News after Kelley questioned the Sabres goalie’s mental
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toughness and implied his relationship with coach Ted Nolan was fractured
during a playoff series against the Senators.
8. Dennis Rodman kicks a cameraman in the heat of the moment after falling
down under the basket on Jan. 15, 1997.
9. Deion Sanders douses Tim McCarver with tubs of ice water after the Braves
clinch the National League pennant in 1992. Sanders was angry that McCarver criticized his decision to play baseball and football on consecutive
days.
10. Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman goes after ESPN’s Skip Bayless,
calling him “ignorant, pompous, egotistical” to his face before claiming
that, “In my 24 years of life, I’m better at life than you.” Things get heated
enough that Stephen A. Smith has to step in to cool them down.
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4
AWESOME INSTANCES
OF ATHLETES GETTING
REVENGE ON FANS
1. Dec. 23, 1979, Boston Bruins at New York Rangers, MSG Rangers fan
John Kaptain looks to be home free after whacking Boston’s Stan Jonathan
with a rolled-up program and taking off with his stick... until Bruins players
storm into the stands to find him. Soon, Mike Milbury is beating Kaptain
with his own shoe.
2. March 11, 2013, Twitter/Mount View Road, Sheffield, U.K. Boxer Curtis
Woodhouse gets so fed up with Twitter troll @jimmyob88’s incessant insults he decides to track him down. Woodhouse somehow finds his nemesis’s address, drives there and tweets a picture of @jimmyob88’s house
before the fearful trash-talker begins tweeting apologies.
3. Jan. 26, 2001, Chicago Blackhawks at Colorado Avalanche, Pepsi Center After being mocked by a fan over a bloody nose, Steve Sullivan enjoys
some sweet karma: When an errant clearing attempt hits the same guy in
the face, the Blackhawks forward beelines over to rub it in.
4. March 7, 2009, Washington State at University of Washington, Seattle/
Twitter State hoops fan James Monsey calls U of W starter Jon Brockman 25 sleep-disrupting times in the wee hours prior to the rivals meeting.
Brockman then not only leads the Dogs to victory, but tweets the troll’s
phone number (hello, caller ID!) so Huskies fans could rub in the win.
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THE PLAYERS / STYLE
8
OF SPORTS BIGGEST
STYLE GAME CHANGERS
1. Michael Jordan. Between the baggy shorts (Jordan is credited with starting the trend in his rookie year in Chicago) and the personalized shoes,
Jordan set the standard that all basketball players have since followed.
2. The ’80s New York Islanders dynasty. The first NHL team to collectively
grow playoff beards.
3. Babe Ruth. Among the first baseball players to wear eye black—he used
grease. Washington Redskins fullback Andy Farkas later brought it to football.
4. Katarina Witt. Wore skimpy costumes and brought sexuality to figure
skating.
5. Andre Agassi. Brought fluorescents and long hair to the court when everyone else was sporting white clothes and crew cuts.
6. Wilt Chamberlain and “Slick” Watts. Rocked headbands before it was
cool.
7. Allen Iverson. The godfather of cornrows. He brought individuality to the
court.
8. Rickie Fowler. Orange-and-green pants are hot now, but Fowler is handsdown the game’s brightest star.
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THE PLAYERS / STYLE
15
BEST MULLETS IN
SPORTS HISTORY
1. Marty McSorley
2. Mitch Williams
3. Brian Bosworth
4. Mark Gastineau
5. Roy Nelson
6. Patrick Kane
7. Ziggy Palffy
8. Rudi Voller
9. Martina Navratilova
10. Patrick Roy
11. Randy Johnson
12. Roberto Baggio
13. Jaromir Jagr
14. Dwayne Schintzius
15. Al Iafrate
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THE PLAYERS / STYLE
3
QUESTIONABLE
CHOICES
1. Brian Wilson Showing up to the ESPYs in a tux? Classy. Showing up in a
spandex-onesie tux? Not.
2. John Daly The Loudmouth-brand pants certainly make a statement. But
in his defence, the guy’s got no choice—he’s sponsored by the company.
3. Dennis Rodman Though he’s made a ton of regrettable fashion choices
over the years, showing up to his book launch in a wedding dress and full
drag makeup takes the cake.
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THE PLAYERS / ASK THE EXPERTS
SHOWDOWN JOE
FERRARO’S 10
GREATEST MMA FIGHTS
OF ALL TIME
The host of Sportsnet’s UFC Central picks the most important fights in the
history of mixed martial arts.
1. Gerard Gordeau vs. Teila Tuli (UFC 1, Nov. 12, 1993) The very first fight in
the inaugural UFC event. It lasted 26 seconds. Gordeau, a Dutch kickboxer,
dropped the 450-lb. sumo wrestler and proceeded to kick him in the face
while he was on the ground. It was the first introduction to no-holds-barred
fighting in North America.
2. Royce Gracie vs. Dan Severn (UFC 4, Dec. 16, 1994) A matchup that confirmed to the world the power of Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and that a smaller man
could defeat a larger one with patience and excellent technique.
3. Marco Ruas vs. Paul Varelans (UFC 7, Sept. 8, 1995) The introduction of
Muay Thai in MMA. Ruas (a.k.a. “The King of the Streets”) used a multitude
of leg kicks to keep his opponent at bay, patiently chopping down the tree,
until Varelans, a 300-lb. monster, could no longer stand. Once he fell, Ruas
went in for the finish.
4. Mark Coleman vs. Don Frye (UFC 10, July 12, 1996) More than bringing
dominant wrestling to MMA, this fight introduced the art of grounding and
pounding.
5. Maurice Smith vs. Conan Silveira (Extreme Fighting 3, Oct. 18, 1996) The
first major sign that the sport was evolving. The grapplers were dominant
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until Smith, a world-renowned kickboxer, proved why it was so important
to learn everything—especially grappling and submissions—in thwarting
the menacing Silveira. Smith frustrated his opponent, then finished him off
with a legendary head kick.
6. Randy Couture vs. Vitor Belfort (UFC 15, Oct. 17, 1997) Our first taste of
dirty boxing. Couture used boxing in the clinch (not allowed in the sweet
science) to defeat the heavily favoured Belfort, who was the superior striker.
7. Frank Shamrock vs. Tito Ortiz (UFC 22, Sept. 24, 1999) The importance
of cardio and stamina were on display here for the very first time. Shamrock
defeated Ortiz with more than just his technique—he did so with a full tank
of gas, as Ortiz faded away in the fourth round. Tito learned his lesson and
went on to become a cardio machine and dominant force in MMA.
8. Forrest Griffin vs. Stephan Bonnar (The Ultimate Fighter 1 finale, April
9, 2005) Important, if only because it launched MMA to the masses.
9. Matt Hughes vs. Royce Gracie (UFC 60, May 27, 2006) The passing of the
torch. It was the signal that MMA had reached its apex as Hughes defeated
a legend at his own game. After nearly submitting Royce, he proceeded to
take his back, secure position and pound his way to a TKO victory.
10. Georges St-Pierre vs. B.J. Penn 2 (UFC 94, Jan. 31, 2009) Little is remembered about the post-fight press conference, but it was GSP who
spilled the beans about integrating science into MMA. His game plan was
based on Penn’s body type, and how to tire him out without overextending himself.
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CRAIG ANDERSON’S
EIGHT HARDEST SHOTS
TO STOP IN THE NHL
TODAY
The Ottawa Senators goalie opens up about the guys he hates to see with
the puck on their stick:
1. Evgeni Malkin
2. Sidney Crosby
3. Marian Hossa
4. John Tavares
5. Jonathan Toews
6. Alexander Ovechkin
7. Steven Stamkos
8. Max Pacioretty
Additional comments: Ovechkin’s got a great shot, but you know he’s shooting. The trickier are the guys who can pass or shoot at the same time. Malkin
and Crosby, you don’t know when they’re gonna shoot or if they’re gonna
pass. Ovie is starting to pass more, but he’s still known for his shot. Malkin
and Crosby, those guys, they’re not known for their shot. They’re kinda surprising. Stamkos just because he scores, but his shot’s not that tricky; he’s
just always open and he hits his spot. He’s got really good players around him,
too, which helps. Gaborik maybe at one time, but not so much anymore. In the
past, he’s given me trouble.
BOOK OF LISTS
DANIEL ALFREDSSON’S
FOUR TOUGHEST
GOALIES TO FACE
1. Martin Brodeur, holds record for most regular season career wins (669)
2. Dominik Hasek, first goalie to win multiple Hart trophies (1997 and 1998)
3. Henrik Lundqvist, only goalie in NHL history to post 30 wins in each of his
first seven seasons (2005–2012)
4. Patrick Roy, only player to win the Conn Smythe award three times (1986,
1993, 2001)
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JAMES HINCHCLIFFE’S
ALL-TIME FAVOURITE
CANADIAN DRIVERS
Canada’s rising IndyCar star took over Danica Patrick’s Go Daddy ride when
she moved on to NASCAR in 2012. He quickly established himself as a personality off the track and a force on it.
Greg Moore No. 1 in my opinion. Not only was he a badass driver, he was a
great human being. He made a connection with everybody. He had so much
respect and admiration from everyone—a tremendous achievement, even
greater than anything he could do on the track.
Jacques Villeneuve My earliest memory of watching a race is Jacques winning the Indy 500. He did a lot for Canadian motorsport by winning his Formula One title; a very cool accomplishment. He undoubtedly helped Canada’s
reputation on the international scene.
Gilles Villeneuve I’ve watched all the footage of Gilles and read most of the
books on him. He was just so passionate and at 100 percent all of the time.
They’re great traits to have. He could also take a below-average car and give
it an above-average finish. Pretty special to be able to do that.
Paul Tracy Paul was definitely one of the most exciting drivers to watch. I
cheered him on when he finally won his championship. I had the opportunity to be his teammate when we were at Forsythe Racing in 2006; he was
in Champ Car and I was in Atlantic. It was cool to work alongside one of your
racing heroes.
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WHAT GOES THROUGH
KAILLIE HUMPHRIES’S
HEAD WHILE CRASHING
The Canadian is the reigning Olympic and two-time world champion bobsleigh pilot. Basically, she says,“Hold on tight and survive.”
About a millisecond before the actual crash, you feel the sled go weightless
and it gets very quiet; you can hear a pin drop. Depending on your position in
the sled—pilot or brakeman—your thought process is slightly different.
Pilot You see it coming and do everything you can to save it. “Nooooooooo,
seriously?!” Is your first thought, followed by your head smacking down hard
on the ice. That always leads into a very bad swear word.
Brakeman You feel that weightlessness and “Here we go!” is your initial
thought, followed by an increased grip of the handles and an even tighter
tuck into the back of the sled. Your head then slaps onto the ice and you get
tossed around like a rag doll while the sled continues down the track.
Pilot You have the added protection of the front nose cone and you wedge
yourself as far deep inside that as possible. You end up having to push yourself against the sides to keep in, all the while wondering if the brakeman is
OK.
Brakeman There is no cover. You’re basically fully exposed to the ice while
having a 200-kg sled on top of you. You think only about hanging on for dear
life and wanting it to be over as fast as possible.
In either position, the G-force works to pull you out violently, so it takes all
your strength to hold on and not get ejected.
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Along with concussions, ice burns are a very common crash injury. At any
point if a body part starts to feel hot, you do everything possible to get it off
the ice. Sometimes you don’t have a choice and just have to allow your skin
to burn, which is excruciating.
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RORY MACDONALD’S
FIVE FAVOURITE
FIGHTERS
The 24-year old Kelowna, B.C., native is ranked fourth amongst UFC welterweights (14-1, 6 KOs) and considered the best pound-for-pound fighter
under the age of 25.
1. Georges St-Pierre, Canada (24-2-0)
2. Wanderlei Silva, Brazil (35-12-1)
3. Takanori Gomi, Japan (34-9-0)
4. Fedor Emelianenko, Russia (34-4-0)
5. Vitor Belfort, Brazil (22-10-0)
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BRAD MAY’S TOUGHEST
SKILLED PLAYERS
1. Rick Tocchet
2. Chris Simon
3. Milan Lucic
4. Wendel Clark
5. Darren McCarty
6. Cam Neely
7. Chris Neil
8. Shawn Thornton
9. Shayne Corson
10. Matthew Barnaby
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BRAD MAY’S 15
TOUGHEST FIGHTERS IN
HOCKEY
As a GM, Brian Burke traded for Brad May more than once, but his reasoning was always the same. “Brad May is tougher than a night in jail,” Burke
was fond of saying. May was the ultimate team player, a guy who could
fight, bring energy on the forecheck and cash the odd goal. Whether his
gloves were on or off, May knew how to handle himself, as his 1,041 NHL
games and 2,248 PIM (36th all-time) attest.
1. Bob Probert: Big, big, overpowering tough guy.
2. Joey Kocur: You could overwhelm Joey Kocur and win the fight or not get
beat, but if he ever hit you, he’d break your face. It’s scary how tough he was.
3. Tony Twist
4. Donald Brashear: I played with him. So strong, left-handed. Played over
1,000 games, toughest guy on the ice most nights.
5. Derek Boogaard
6. Wade Belak: He could use both hands and got better as he got older.
7. Georges Laraque
8. Marty McSorley
9. Stu Grimson
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10. Rob Ray
11. Tie Domi
12. Gino Odjick
13. Matt Johnson
14. Jim McKenzie
15. Zdeno Chara
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DANIEL NEGREANU’S
TOP 5 POKER PLAYERS
OF ALL TIME
The Toronto-born card shark has won more than $17 million playing poker
and five World Series of Poker bracelets, including one in 2013.
1. Chip Reese He was supposed to study law at Stanford, but went to Vegas
instead and turned $400 into $66,000. He won three WSOP events, but
was better known for playing private games with high rollers. He died in
2007 at 56.
2. Phil Ivey Nicknamed the Tiger Woods of Poker, Ivey is considered to be the
best poker player on the planet. Has won nine WSOP bracelets.
3. Doyle Brunson Led the infamous Texas Rounders, a group of players who
won big in games across the state in the 1950s and 1960s. He then went to
Vegas where he became a tourist attraction as crowds gathered to watch
him play. He won 10 WSOP events.
4. Johnny Chan The last player to win WSOP main events in consecutive
years in 1987 and ’88. He has won 10 WSOP events in total.
5. “Amarillo Slim” Preston Another Texan, Preston was one of poker’s first
celebrities. The man with the rattlesnake head on the band of his Stetson hat was kidnapped by Pablo Escobar, who apologized for the mistake,
and played against Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon and Mickey Rooney.
He once took Larry Flynt for $1.7 million in one sitting and appeared with
Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show 11 times.
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SHOWDOWN JOE
FERRARO’S TOP POUNDFOR-POUND MMA
FIGHTERS OF ALL TIME
1. Anderson Silva: The greatest of all time. The human matrix, who sees fighting in slow motion. One flick of a switch, and the fight is over.
2. Jon Jones: Unpredictability and incredible reach at its finest.
3. Georges St-Pierre: The most cerebral fighter in MMA. He takes his opponents to where they are weakest, and where he is strongest, while using his
strengths to dominate his opposition.
4. Fedor Emelianenko: The greatest heavyweight of all time.
5. Frank Shamrock: The first and original, a complete fighting machine.
6. Kazushi Sakuraba: The Gracie Hunter. Japan’s version of Jon Jones when
he was in his prime.
7. Royce Gracie: The legend who risked his family’s reputation and helped
change the world of martial arts forever.
8. Randy Couture: Captain America, who taught us age is nothing but a number in MMA.
9. Chuck Liddell: Violence personified. Whenever ‘The Iceman’ fought, someone was getting knocked out. In his prime, it wasn’t going to be him.
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10. Ken Shamrock: He could knock out a striker, out-grapple the best wrestlers and submit you with leg locks that made you feel his wrath with every step you took thereafter.
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THE PLAYERS / NOTABLE QUOTABLES
THE BIGGEST NBA
PERSONALITIES OF THE
PAST 20 YEARS
1. Michael Jordan [Bulls owner Jerry Krause] said organizations win championships. I said, ‘I didn’t see organizations playing with the flu in Utah.’ (2009)
2. Shaquille O’Neal If I was able to have the game I have and shoot 80 percent from the line, I’d probably be an arrogant person rather than a humble
one. Everything happens for a reason. (2004)
3. Dennis Rodman I’ve jumped off a building, jumped off a cliff in a car. I’ve
been in bedrooms when women came in with knives and guns. (2005)
4. Charles Barkley Don’t ever drink beer with Larry Bird. You’ll be carried
home. I was. (2013)
5. Gregg Popovich I asked them if it wasn’t too much trouble, if I wasn’t being too pushy, if they could execute what we were trying to do. And if it
didn’t make them too angry, if they also wanted to play some defence on
the other end, that would be great. (2005)
6. Allen Iverson I’m supposed to be the franchise player, and we in here talkin’
about practice. Not a game. We talkin’ about practice. (2002)
7. Rasheed Wallace Keep us on the back burner. We won’t lose our swagger
at all, because when you put that food on the back burner, it’s just simmering and it tastes better. When you got that food on the front burner, that’s
the one you’re paying attention to the most, and that’s the one that might
burn. We’re on that back burner. (2006)
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8. Stephon Marbury I love Canada. ‘Ohhhh Can-a-da....’ I love that song. I love
your anthem. I love hearing it. It’s fresh. (2009)
9. Kevin Garnett I’ll be Batman, I’ll be Robin. I’ll be anybody you want me to
be. I’ll be the Garbage Man. (2009)
10. Phil Jackson If you meet the Buddha in the lane, feed him the ball. (2006)
11. Jalen Rose There’s always going to be criticism when your name is Jalen.
You have to wear a bulletproof vest and be ready for it. (2005)
12. Stephen Jackson If I’m shot, I’m a get stitched and play the next game. I
got hit by a car and played two days later. (2011)
13. Metta World Peace/Ron Artest If there was a fight between the fans who
loved me or booed me, I think the boos would have won. (2006)
14. Kobe Bryant I don’t f--k with bees, man. Other than that, I’m not afraid of
nothing. (2013)
15. Delonte West Bugs Bunny is the smoothest dude I ever met. You know
he be chillin’ like it just be a normal day. It be cold just like how it is in
Boston and he just want to dive in the ground, pop up, he be like, ‘Oh man
this ain’t Albuquerque!’ That’s got to be the tightest life—you just hop
underneath the ground and go! No traffic, no tolls—just underneath the
ground... BAM... carrots... Albuquerque. (2011)
16. Latrell Sprewell Why would I want to help [Minnesota] win a title? They’re
not doing anything for me. I’m at risk. I have a lot of risk here. I got my family to feed. (2004)
17. Gary Payton If somebody talks to me from the crowd, I can talk back because I can back it up. As soon as I do something good, they’re going to
shut up. (1990)
18. Larry Bird I never learned anything from losing. (1997)
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19. LeBron James I don’t know how tall I am or how much I weigh. Because
I don’t want anybody to know my identity. I’m like a superhero. Call me
Basketball Man. (2002)
20. Gilbert Arenas When I leave the NBA, I don’t want my legacy to be, ‘He
won a championship ring.’ I want my legacy to say: ‘He played for the
people.’ (2009)
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20
OF THE MOST
MEMORABLE SPORTS
QUOTES OF ALL TIME
1. Lou Brock (baseball) Show me a guy who’s afraid to look bad, and I’ll show
you a guy you can beat every time.
2. Jack Dempsey (boxing) A champion is someone who gets up when he can’t.
3. Knute Rockne (football) One man practising sportsmanship is far better
than 50 preaching it.
4. Gordie Howe (hockey) I always tell kids, you have two eyes and one
mouth. Keep two open and one closed. You never learn anything if you’re
the one talking.
5. Mike Singletary (football) Do you know what my favourite part of the
game is? The opportunity to play.
6. Bobby Jones (golf) Competitive sports are played mainly on a five-and-ahalf inch court, the space between your ears.
7. Bill Shankly (soccer) Some people believe football is a matter of life and
death. I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much,
much more important than that.
8. Lou Piniella (baseball) Statistics are like bikinis—they show a lot but not
everything.
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9. Martina Navratilova (tennis) Whoever said, ‘It’s not whether you win or
lose that counts,’ probably lost.
10. Michael Jordan (basketball) You miss 100 percent of the shots you
don’t take.
11. Jimmy Johnson (football) Treat a person as he is, and he will remain as
he is. Treat him as he could be, and he will become what he should be.
12. Yogi Berra (baseball) Good pitching always stops good hitting and vice
versa.
13. Bobby Charlton (soccer) Some people tell me that we professional players are slaves. Well, if this is slavery, give me a life sentence.
14. Jimmy Demaret (golf) Golf and sex are the only things you can enjoy
without being good at them.
15. Pat Riley (basketball) There are only two options regarding commitment.
You’re either in or you’re out. There is no such thing as life in-between.
16. Wes Westrum (baseball) Baseball is like church. Many attend, but few
understand.
17. Marv Levy (football) Football doesn’t build character, it reveals character.
18. Jim Valvano (basketball) Never give up. Failure and rejection are only
the first step to succeeding.
19. Greg Norman (golf) I owe a lot to my parents, especially my mother and
father.
20. Dennis Bergkamp (soccer) Behind every kick of the ball there has to be
a thought.
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PEOPLE MIKE TYSON
HAS THREATENED TO
KILL
1. Francois Botha, 2009 I think I’ll take a bath in his blood.
2. The media’s children, 2006 I wish that you guys had children so I could
kick them in the f---ing head or stomp on their testicles so you could feel
my pain because that’s the pain I have waking up every day.
3. Lennox Lewis, 2002 My main objective is to be professional but to kill him.
4. Lennox Lewis’s unborn children, 2002 My style is impetuous. My defence is impregnable, and I’m just ferocious. I want your heart. I want to eat
his children.
5. Razor Ruddock, 1991 If he doesn’t die, it doesn’t count. If he’s not dead, it
doesn’t count.
6. Alex Stewart, 1990 It’s nothing personal, but I’m going to kill this guy.
7. All opponents, 1988 When I fight someone, I want to break his will. I want
to take his manhood. I want to rip out his heart and show it to him.
8. Tyrell Biggs, 1987 If I don’t kill him, it doesn’t count.
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THE BIGGEST SOCCER
PAST 20 YEARS
1. Mario Balotelli Because I am rich. (After a 2010 car crash, when police
asked him why he was carrying £5,000 in cash.)
2. Zlatan Ibrahimovic Nothing, she already has Zlatan. (On what he bought
his wife for her birthday.)
3. Jose Mourinho Please don’t call me arrogant, but I’m European champion
and I think I’m a special one. (In 2004, during his introductory press conference at Chelsea.)
4. Joey Barton England did nothing in that World Cup, so why were they
bringing books out? ‘We got beat in the quarter-finals. I played like shit.
Here’s my book.’ Who wants to read that? (2006)
5. Paolo Di Canio With some players, if he has a chihuahua character, I can’t
make a chihuahua into a Rottweiler. He could be a proud chihuahua, but he
remains a chihuahua. (2011, on members of his Swindon Town squad.)
6. Diego Maradona Pele should go back to the museum. (2010)
7. Ian Holloway I watched Arsenal in the Champions League the other week
playing some of the best football I’ve ever seen and yet they couldn’t have
scored in a brothel with two grand in their pockets. (2006, on watching Arsenal fail to convert their chances.)
8. Eric Cantona When the seagulls follow the trawler, it’s because they think
sardines will be thrown into the sea. Thank you very much. (1995, when
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asked about being hounded by media.)
9. Samuel Eto’o I guarantee you that if I was a Brazilian called Eto’osinho, I’d
get much more press. (On deserving more recognition.)
10. Cristiano Ronaldo People whistle me because am I good-looking, rich
and a great footballer. They are jealous of me. (2011)
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5
BEST RONDA ROUSEY
QUOTES
(FIT TO PRINT)
1. On sex appeal in MMA Really, if we push the ‘hot chicks’ to fight each other
for a title, it’s going to get a lot of attention. That’s why I’d rather fight Miesha [Tate] for a title instead of Sarah Kaufman. Because she’s good-looking
and she’s marketable.
2. On ideal preparation for a fight For girls, it raises your testosterone, so I
try to have as much sex as possible before I fight, actually. Not with, like,
everybody. I don’t put out a Craigslist ad or anything, but if I got a steady
I’m going to be like, ‘Yo, fight time’s coming up.’
3. On political correctness My filter button’s broken, but I don’t think of it as
being vulgar or anything like that. I’m refreshingly unfiltered—that’s what
I like to call it.
4. On the glass ceiling Let them try to put me back in my place. Who are they
to say where my place is? My place is at the top and I earned it and I’m here.
Women being put in their place is part of what’s wrong with this world. So
yeah, I’m out of my place, but you know what? Fine. I’m happy to be out of
my place.
5. On her approach to coaching The Ultimate Fighter There will be no
Snookis on my team.
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10
BEST QUOTES FROM
MARTELLUS “THE
BLACK UNICORN”
BENNETT, THE NFL’S
PHILOSOPHER-IN-CHIEF
1. O
n his origin story Any time you see a picture, it’s a white unicorn. Being
African-American, I thought it would be clever to be the Black Unicorn...
Unicorns are cool, but I prefer dinosaurs, honestly. One day I had on black
tights, I was running down the field, and I felt like a unicorn. I didn’t feel like
a horse. I felt like a unicorn... It’s magical. I enjoy it.
2. O
n creativity Here’s the thing [about his children’s book, The Wannabees]:
The pages? They’re blank. I want the kids to be able to draw what the characters look like however they imagine them. You see? It’s written by me,
but illustrated by you.
3. O
n making good things better Basically, I like cool stuff that becomes
cooler when you make it a ninja.
4. O
n rehab My hamstring feels good. You want to touch it?
5. O
n the difference between a man’s wife and his quarterback Eli
[Manning]’s a real laid-back guy. He’s easy, you can talk to him and just
ask him what he wants. It’s not like sometimes, with the wife, you never
know what she wants. You ask her, and she’ll be like, ‘I don’t know.’ You’ll be
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like, ‘Well, do you want steak?’ And she’ll be like, ‘No, I don’t want steak.’ Eli
knows if he wants chicken or steak.
6. O
n television Bill Nye the Science Guy was awesome.
7. O
n his new team I’m excited to be a Chicago Bear. Bears are one of my
favourite animals—after dinosaurs. I don’t think there are any dinosaurs in
the NFL, so a Bear is a good thing to be.
8. O
n his (self-given) nickname I’ve always been the Black Unicorn because
I am 50 percent black and 50 percent amazing. I was about six or seven
when I figured out I was amazing. And I was about 24 when I figured out I
was black.
9. O
n catching a fan who fell from the stands reaching to get an autograph My Spidey senses told me he was going to take a fall, so I saved
his life. He owes me his first-born or something. Actually I don’t want that.
Maybe a sandwich or something.
10. O
n free agency Being on the market is a good thing when you’re pretty.
Last year I was ugly and I did aight. A prettier Marty this year.
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THE NHL’S 15 BIGGEST
PAST 20 YEARS
1. Jeremy Roenick Wake the f--- up already. It’s a joke. Wake up. NHL, wake
up. (2004, following a game in Buffalo in which he threw a water bottle at
Blaine Angus because the referee missed a high stick that knocked his
teeth out.)
2. Brian Burke I want to point out to the officials that Todd Bertuzzi does
not play for Detroit. It just looks like that because he is wearing two or
three red sweaters all the time. (2002, during Vancouver’s first-round
series with Detroit.)
3. Brett Hull Brains make up for talent. You can play in this league with a lot
of brains and a little talent. All you need is a clue. There are too many morons running things in this league who think that to make it a player has to
do 10,000 sit-ups. That’s ridiculous. To make it, you have to have an understanding of the game. (1993)
4. Don Cherry I know those guys who wear visors are sweeties, but that’s a
little too much. (2006, after watching Islanders winger Ziggy Palffy celebrate a goal by kissing teammate Travis Green.)
5. Chris Chelios If I was Gary Bettman, I’d worry about my family or my
well-being. He’s going to affect a lot of people and some crazed fan or
even a player, who knows, they might take it into their own hands and
figure that if they get him out of the way, things might get settled. You’d
hate to see something like that happen, but he took the job. (During the
1994–95 lockout.)
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6. Chris Pronger Where is that, in the minors? (Responding to a question
after the 2010 Cup final about Blackhawks forward Adam Burish saying he
was going to hit him the next time they played.)
7. Alex Ovechkin Right now I’m scoring goals and I’m the king of the world.
And a couple weeks ago I was almost in the toilet. So maybe you just forget
to flush me. (2013)
8. Patrick Roy I can’t really hear what Jeremy [Roenick] says because I have
my two Stanley Cup rings plugging my ears. (1996, during Colorado’s second round series with Chicago)
9. Sean Avery I just wanted to comment on how it’s become like, a common
thing in the NHL for guys to fall in love with my sloppy seconds. I don’t
know what that’s about. But, enjoy the game tonight. (2008, in Calgary before a game against Dion Phaneuf and the Flames.)
10. Mark Messier We will win tonight. (Before game six of the 1994 Eastern
Conference Final versus the Devils. Messier’s Rangers won.)
11. Mike Milbury This is an awful display of hockey by Alex Ovechkin; he
should be ashamed of himself...when you’re a big star like this, you don’t
have to act like a baby. (2013)
12. Ilya Bryzgalov If you see the big picture, our galaxy is like a small, tiny
dot in the universe. And you think, like, and we have some problems here
on Earth that we worry about? Compared to like...Don’t worry, be happy.
(2011, on the HBO special 24/7 Rangers/Flyers.)
13. Paul Bissonnette k got it. if a strip club was open 7 days a week for 24
hours a day. u could spend about 11 years of ur life getting lapers. amazing.
(On Twitter, commenting on Ilya Kovalchuk’s massive free agent deal with
the Devils in the summer of 2010.)
14. John Tortorella I’m getting tired of the 25 percent rule. It’s deflating, we
need a save. (Commenting on the goaltending of John Grahame in 2006
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during Tampa Bay’s first round series with Ottawa.)
15. Matthew Barnaby No doubt it’ll be me. (Addressing rumours in 1997 that
he and another Sabres teammate argued over who would be the first to
run Dominik Hasek in training camp after the Buffalo goalie criticized deposed coach Ted Nolan.)
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14
BIGGEST MLB
PERSONALITIES
1. Bill Lee You have two hemispheres in your brain—a left and a right side.
The left side controls the right side of your body and right controls the left
half. It’s a fact. Therefore, left-handers are the only people in their right
minds. (1980)
2. Brian Wilson Chuck Norris has been known to throw a 100-mph fastball.
I’ve been known to throw Chuck Norris 100 mph. (2011)
3. Al Hrabosky I want batters to think I’m crazy, I want them to know I’m
crazy. And what could be crazier than decapitating a bird with one fatal
chomp? I wanted to, but my teammates talked me out of it. (1975)
4. Reggie Jackson So many ideas come to you and you want to try them
all but you can’t. You’re like a mosquito in a nudist camp. You don’t know
where to start. (1970, on slumping.)
5. Dock Ellis I started having a crazy idea in the fourth inning that Richard
Nixon was the home-plate umpire, and once I thought I was pitching a
baseball to Jimi Hendrix, who, to me, was holding a guitar and swinging it
over the plate. (2012, on pitching while high on LSD)
6. Billy Martin I’m getting smarter; I finally punched something that couldn’t
sue me. (1982, after breaking his finger punching a piece of furniture.)
7. Dizzy Dean The dumber a pitcher is, the better. When he gets smart and
begins to experiment with a lot of different pitches, he’s in trouble. All I ever
had was a fastball, a curve and a changeup, and I did pretty good. (1961)
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8. Satchel Paige 1. Avoid fried meats, which angry up the blood. 2. If your
stomach disputes you, lie down and pacify it with cool thoughts. 3. Keep
the juices flowing by jangling around gently as you move. 4. Go very light
on the vices, such as carrying on in society. The social ramble ain’t restful. 5. Avoid running at all times. 6. Don’t look back. Something might be
gaining on you. (1953, “How to Stay Young” by Satchel Paige in Collier’s
magazine.)
9. Y
ogi Berra Ninety percent of this game is half mental. (1979)
10. Manny Ramirez I haven’t been right all year. I guess, you know, when you
don’t feel good, and you still get hits, that’s when you know you are a bad
man. (2007)
11. Ozzie Guillen I go to the hotel bar, get drunk, sleep. I don’t do anything else.
I get drunk because I’m happy we win or I get drunk because I’m very sad
and disturbed because we lose. Same routine, it never changes. It’s been
the same routine for 25, 28 years. It doesn’t change. I don’t like to go out. I
never get in trouble, you see that? I never leave the hotel. Nobody can call
my wife and tell her they see Ozzie in this bar or place... If I got drunk and
someone talked s--t to me, there’d be a fight. I’m too little to fight. If I was
[Giancarlo] Stanton’s size, I would be looking for fights. I can’t. I might get
killed. (2012, on his post-game routine.)
12. Nyjer Morgan Where still n 1st and I hope those crying birds injoy watching tha Crew in tha Playoffs!!! Aaaaahhhhh!!! Alberta couldn’t see Plush
if she had her gloves on!!! Wat was she thinking running afta Plush!!! She
never been n tha ring!!! Anywayz!!! On our way back 2 tha Brew City 2 welcome them Phillys!!! Itz gonna be an electric series. (2011, on the St. Louis
Cardinals, via his Twitter account.)
13. Turk Wendell I will play it for nothing because I’ve loved baseball all my
life. I want my last season to be a testament to the game. I only wanted a
few things out of life—a wife, children, to play baseball and to hunt deer.
(2001, on wanting to play his last season for free. He was paid $700,000)
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14. Mark Fidrych Sometimes I get lazy and let the dishes stack up, but they
don’t stack too high. I’ve only got four dishes. (1977)
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14
MOST MEMORABLE
MUHAMMAD ALI
QUOTES
Muhammad Ali’s mouth moved as fast as his fists. Here are some classic
quips from the “Louisville Lip.”
1. W
hen you can whip any man in the world, you never know peace.
2. T
here’s not a man alive who can whup me. I’m too fast. I’m too smart. I’m too
pretty. I should be a postage stamp. That’s the only way I’ll ever get licked.
3. I am the astronaut of boxing. Joe Louis and (Jack) Dempsey were just jet
pilots. I’m in a world of my own.
4. I’ll beat him so bad he’ll need a shoehorn to put his hat on. (On Floyd Patterson, who Ali defeated in 1965 and 1972.)
5. If you dream of beating me, you’d better wake up and apologize.
6. Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. The hands can’t hit what the eyes
can’t see.
7. Joe Frazier is so ugly that when he cries, the tears turn around and go down
the back of his head.
8. Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier
to live in the world they’ve been given than to explore the power they have
to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It’s an opinion. Impossible is not a
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declaration. It’s a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.
9. A
t home I am a nice guy, but I don’t want the world to know. Humble people,
I’ve found, don’t get very far.
10. I know that I got it made while the masses of black people are catching
hell, but as long as they ain’t free, I ain’t free.
11. B
oxing is a lot of white men watching two black men beat each other up.
12. Y
ou know I hate fighting. If I knew how to make a living some other way, I
would.
13. I’ve seen George Foreman shadow boxing. And the shadow won.
14. I got nothing against no Viet Cong. No Vietnamese ever called me a n-----.
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THE BIGGEST NFL
PAST 20 YEARS
(not named Martellus Bennett)
1. Clinton Portis I mean, I’m going to be in a cage! If a shark bites through the
cage and they can’t pull me up in time, I deserved it, boy. (2009, on shark
diving in Hawaii with Colt Brennan.)
2. Deion Sanders It’s gonna be a lot of zeroes in that contract. You gonna
think it’s alphabet soup or something, all those zeroes in there. (1989, on
his first contract with the Falcons.)
3. Randy Moss When you’re rich, you don’t write cheques. Straight cash,
homey. (2005, on how he would pay a $10,000 fine for fake-mooning Packers fans.)
4. Jarred Allen The mullet isn’t just a hairdo, it’s a lifestyle. You carry it on
like a legacy, like your last name, you know. The people that did this in the
’80s, they weren’t doing it because they thought it was a cool hairdo. No,
they were doing it because they were badass. You know if someone asks
if you want extra mayonnaise, you have to say yes. Cause that’s part of it.
If the easy way is to walk around something, you walk through it. This is
bringing back like the Paul Bunyan. Men, we don’t shave our legs. We have
chest hair, even if it is shaped like a heart, which is pretty tight. That’s
the whole lifestyle of the mullet. I approach you from the front and you’re
kinda like, ‘Wow this dude’s pretty serious,’ then I walk away and you’re like
‘Damn, he likes to party with two R’s.’ (2009)
5. Ray Lewis I ride my bicycle all the time. There’s one thing about my bicycle. I’m riding, I’m riding, I’m riding. And no matter how tired I start to get,
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it’s never about this pedal I’m pedalling, it’s about the next pedal, and if you
can get to that next one, your bike will keep moving. (2012, addressing the
Loyola Greyhounds lacrosse team on teamwork)
6. Ricky Williams Tomorrow doesn’t really exist. (2005)
7. Terrell Owens I love me some me. (2007, Owens applied for rights to trademark the phrase.)
8. Chad Johnson There’s no type of corner that can stop me. He’d probably
need a third leg. (2005)
9. Rex Ryan We’re going to start with the injury report, obviously. Manning,
Clark, Addai, Reggie Wayne, Freeney, Mathis, Brackett—all those guys will
not play. Oh, hold up. That was my wish list for Santa Claus. (2009, on preparing to play the Colts in week 16.)
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THE FANS / FIELD OF PLAY
MOST CONSECUTIVE
SELLOUTS*
1. Dayton Dragons—913
(MiLB, Class A Ball) 2000–2013
2. Boston Red Sox—820
2003–2013
3. Portland Trail Blazers—814
(NBA) 1977–95
4. Boston Celtics—662
1980–95
5. Chicago Bulls—610
1987–2000
6. Colorado Avalanche—487
1995–2006
7. Dallas Mavericks—472
2001–2013
8. Cleveland Indians—482
1995–2001
9. Detroit Red Wings—452
1996–2007
10. Vancouver Canucks—407
2002–2013
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11. Minnesota Wild—382
2000–2010
*Including playoffs, up to April 30, 2013
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ALL-TIME INDOOR
ATTENDANCE RECORDS,
NORTH AMERICA
1. NBA All-Star Game, Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, Texas, 2010 108,713
2. Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants, Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, Texas, 2009 105,121
3. WrestleMania III, Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac, Mich., 1987 93,173
4. Super Bowl XLV, Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, Texas, 2011 91,060
5. BCS Championship, University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Ariz., 2011
78,603
6. SEC Championship, Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Ga., 2009 75,892
7. SEC Championship, Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Ga., 2010 75,802
8. Chick-fil-A Bowl, Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Ga., 2006 75,406
9. N
CAA Final Four, Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Ga., 2013 75,350
10. New Orleans Saints vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, La., 2011 73,043
11. AFC Wild Card, Reliant Astrodome, Houston, Texas, 2013 71,738
12. Super Bowl XLII, University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Ariz., 2008
71,101
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ADAM CAROLLA
RANKS THE L.A. RAMS’
LEGENDARY “FEARSOME
FOURSOME”
The comedian and bestselling author grew up as a diehard Rams fan in the
Los Angeles valley during the heyday of one the NFL’s most intimidating
defensive lines ever: Merlin Olsen, Lamar Lundy, Deacon Jones and Rosey
Grier. Carolla ranks the four legends according to his, well, unique criteria:
1. Deacon Jones* “If you hear him interviewed he’s always like, “I invented
the word ‘sack’ and I came up with tackling the quarterback. And if there
had been statistics kept when I played, I’d have 75 more sacks than Michael
Strahan and 100 more than LT.” He never stops talking about himself. He
loves himself some Deacon Jones.”
2. Merlin Olsen* “Just for the work he did on Little House on the Prairie alone
(Olsen appeared in 51 episodes between 1977–81).”
3. Rosey Grier “The word is “fearsome” yet there can be no gentler people
than Olsen or Rosey Grier. One of them was into crocheting and the other
was a spokesman for a flower company.”
4. Lamar Lundy “Lamar goes fourth, because nobody’s exactly sure what
he did.”
* denotes Hall of Famer
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ORIGINS OF SIX
FAMOUS SOCCER SONGS
1. “You’ll Never Walk Alone”—Written by Rodgers and Hammerstein for the
1945 musical Carousel, “You’ll Never Walk Alone” has been sung by passionate Liverpool supporters since 1964, laying claim as the first soccer
club to sing it at a game.
2. “I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles”—Originally written and composed by Jaan
Kenbrovin and John William Kellette, the song was a hit in America before
the U.K. In the late 1920s, former manager Charlie Paynter introduced the
song to the West Ham faithful and fans have been singing it ever since.
3. “Blaydon Races”—Penned by folk musician Geordie Ridley in 1862, the
song tells the story of a journey to the Blaydon horse race in Newcastle.
Today, Newcastle United supporters sing it at every match.
4. “When the Red, Red Robin (Comes Bob, Bob, Bobbin’ Along)”—Written
in 1926 by Harry Woods, the original has been covered by the likes of Doris
Day, Bing Crosby and Al Jolson. Today, it is played as Charlton take the
pitch during home matches.
5. “Blue Moon”—Composed by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart in 1934, the
song has been covered by several famous artists, including Elvis Presley.
Since 1989, Manchester City supporters have been singing “Blue Moon”
as their official anthem.
6. “Keep Right on to the End of the Road”—Moved by his son’s death during World War One, Harry Lauder wrote and performed what would become a Scottish classic. In 1956, manager Arthur Turner played the song
to calm his players’ nerves before a big FA Cup match. The team won, and
since then, the song has been a staple for Birmingham City.
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4
BIGGEST CELEBRITY NFL
FANS
The NFL Network’s Rich Eisen hosts some Hollywood heavyweights on his
self-titled podcast. Eisen shares the four stars who stand out most:
1. Matt Damon “Damon came on and knew every last detail about the New
England Patriots, more than anybody who sits in the top row at Gillette
Stadium.”
2. Adam Sandler “He believes that if he’s at the game, the Jets will lose. But
Sandler’s an optimist, which Jets fans have to try their hardest to be these
days.”
3. Charles Barkley “If Barkley wants to be an NFL analyst, he could be. The
only thing stopping him is the fact that most analysts had to have played
the game [laughs].”
4. Larry David “If you put Larry on the stand in a court of law, he’d raise his
hand and put the other one on a Bible and swear that he could be an offensive or defensive coordinator in the NFL.”
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11
THE GREATEST FAN
TRADITIONS
1. Octopus throwing in Detroit Back in 1952, when eight playoff wins equalled
a Stanley Cup, Pete and Jerry Cusimano tossed an octopus onto Detroit’s
Olympic Stadium ice surface for good luck. The Wings won it all, and the
eight-limbed lucky charm stuck.
2. Calgary’s “C of Red” The “sea of [insert team colour here]” tradition has
become commonplace in sports today, particularly in the playoffs, but it
has its roots in Calgary’s 1986 playoff series against Edmonton.
3. Green Bay’s “Lambeau Leap” When LeRoy Butler ran a fumble back for a
touchdown and celebrated with a big hop into the crowd back in December
1993, the Lambeau Leap was born.
4. The Lotte Giants’ thundersticks Over 28,000 fans banging long, plastic
balloons together all game makes for the loudest baseball atmosphere in
South Korea.
5. Texas A & M’s “Midnight Yell” The night before every home game, 25,000
raucous Aggies students and fans sing, yell, and cheer their way into a frenzy.
6. The Pittsburgh Steelers’ “Terrible Towel” The brainchild of former Steelers radio announcer Myron Cope during the 1975 playoffs. After the team’s
Super Bowl victory a few weeks later, they became permanent.
7. South Africa’s vuvuzela These plastic trumpets, which can produce noise
levels of more than 140 decibels, became the defining and divisive symbol
of the 2010 World Cup.
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8. The Atlanta Braves’ “Tomahawk Chop” When Florida State Seminole
alumnus Deion Sanders came to Turner Field back in 1991, he brought the
“Tomahawk Chop” with him.
9. Rats on the ice In 1996, after Florida Panthers winger Scott Mellanby killed
a rat in the dressing room then went out and scored two goals, the Panthers faithful began littering the ice with fake rats after each goal. The NHL
banned the tradition after just one year.
10. The Cleveland Browns’ “Dawg Pound” In 1985, Browns cornerbacks
Hanford Dixon and Frank Minnifield started calling their defensive unit
the “Dawgs,” and then decided to call the rowdiest fan section the “Dawg
Pound.” For the sake of visiting players, stadium officials soon had to ban
dog food inside the stadium.
11. The Bleacher Creatures’ “Roll Call” at Yankee Stadium At the beginning of every home game, Bleacher Creature “Bald” Vinny Milano leads the
crowd in a tradition of chanting the name of each Yankee player until they
receive acknowledgement. Former Yankee Jason Giambi calls it “the best
thing in baseball.”
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8
MOST ILL-CONCEIVED
MASCOTS
1. WuShock (Wichita State)
An angry stalk of wheat in a turtleneck.
2. Steely McBeam (Pittsburgh Steelers)
A Bill Cowher lookalike (minus the facial hair) dressed in overalls and
wielding—wait for it—a steel beam.
3. Sammy the Banana Slug (UC-Santa Cruz)
Not exactly the most intimidating mascot, the official UCSC logo depicts
Sammy reading a book titled Plato.
T-4. The Fighting Pickle (North Carolina School of the Arts)
The Fighting Okra (Delta State)
The Fighting Artichoke (Scottsdale Community College)
Do we really need to justify any of these being on this list?
The Stanford Tree (Stanford)
Exactly like it sounds, just a big ol’ goofy-looking tree.
8. Stuff (Orlando Magic)
A giant green dragon... we think.
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THE FANS / ROADTRIP
10
GREATEST SPORTS ROAD
TRIPS
1. The Monaco Grand Prix: Monaco elevates racing beyond just fast and
dangerous driving. It’s an elite, James Bondian event and admit it—you
want a taste of that, shaken or stirred.
2. El Clasico: The history of bad blood between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona makes this more than just a big match—it’s a cultural event in Spain.
3. The Kentucky Derby: The two minutes of racing are great—especially if
your bet comes in—but a trip to the Derby is really all about mint juleps,
seersucker suits and soaking up the down-south charm.
4. Wimbledon: The premier tennis event in the world is a chance to indulge
your formal side. Obey the rules, nibble strawberries and cream, and enjoy
the best tennis on Earth.
5. The Daytona 500: Camping in the infield at Daytona International gives
you a great view of the race and parachutes you into the heart of NASCAR
Nation. Each is something to behold.
6. The Masters: The promised land, but with better landscaping. If you somehow manage to get a ticket, you’re not allowed to not go.
7. Tour de France: From the fields to the mountains to the streets of Paris,
this is the only bike race that matters.
8. Australian Rugby League/Aussie Rules Football Finals: Imagine travelling to Australia to be plunged into the country-stopping mayhem of a
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Championship for a brutal sport you only kind of understand. Add beer,
rinse and repeat a week or so later with another sport. Awesome.
9. The Super Bowl: Sure, watching the game at your buddy’s is cool, but
nothing compares to experiencing the Super Bowl—and the week leading
up to it—in the belly of the beast.
10. The Japan Series: Imagine the World Series, but with everything—the
rules, the food, the fans and the atmosphere—skewed just enough that
it’s all exciting and new.
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THE FANS / MONEY
TOP SELLING JERSEYS
NBA JERSEYS IN 2012–13
1. Carmelo Anthony, New York Knicks
2. LeBron James, Miami Heat
3. Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder
4. Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
5. Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls
6. Deron Williams, Brooklyn Nets
7. Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat
8. Rajon Rondo, Boston Celtics
9. Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers
10. Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers
MLB JERSEYS IN 2012
1. Derek Jeter, New York Yankees
2. Josh Hamilton, Texas Rangers
3. Ichiro Suzuki, New York Yankees
4. Bryce Harper, Washington Nationals
5. Mike Trout, Anaheim Angels
6. Andrew McCutchen, Pittsburgh Pirates
7. Yu Darvish, Texas Rangers
8. Chipper Jones, Atlanta Braves
9. Justin Verlander, Detroit Tigers
10. Robinson Cano, New York Yankees
NFL JERSEYS IN 2012
1. Robert Griffin III, Washington Redskins
2. Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos
3. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
4. Eli Manning, New York Giants
5. Tom Brady, New England Patriots
6. Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts
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7. Victor Cruz, New York Giants
8. Tim Tebow, New York Jets
9. Troy Polamalu, Pittsburgh Steelers
10. Patrick Willis, San Francisco 49ers
NHL JERSEYS IN 2012–13
1. Jonathan Toews, Chicago Blackhawks
2. Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings
3. Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
4. Rick Nash, New York Rangers
5. Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks
6. Marian Hossa, Chicago Blackhawks
7. Claude Giroux, Philadelphia Flyers
8. Ryan Callahan, New York Rangers
9. James Neal, Pittsburgh Penguins
10. Zach Parise, Minnesota Wild
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THE FANS / MONEY
6
MOST VALUABLE
BASEBALL CARDS
1. Honus Wagner, 1909–1911 T206
$2.8 million
2. Babe Ruth, 1914 Baltimore News GC 40
$517,000
3. Joe Doyle, 1909–1911 T206 (New York, Nat’l variation) SGC 50
$329,000
4. Mickey Mantle, 1952 Topps, PSA 9
$282,000
5. Lou Gehrig, 1933 Goudey, PSA 10
$275,000
6. Ty Cobb, 1911–1914 General Baking Co., PSA 8
$272,089
(Ranked by most recent sale price)
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THE FANS / MONEY
16
MOST EXPENSIVE NHL
PLAYOFF TICKETS
These are the top prices of seats that ordinary (well, rich, but still ordinary)
people can buy through Ticketmaster. Yes, we know you can probably pay
several hundred (or, let’s be real, several thousand) dollars more to get yourself a private box. And Lord only knows what Leafs playoff tickets went for
on the grimy streets outside of a sold-out Air Canada Centre.
1. Toronto Maple Leafs
$796.75
2. Los Angeles Kings
$786.00
3. Anaheim Ducks
$756.00
4. New York Rangers
$585.00
5. Chicago Blackhawks
$557.36
6. Washington Capitals
$444.60
7. St. Louis Blues
$439.70
8. Vancouver Canucks
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$425.75
9. Montreal Canadiens
$418.00
10. San Jose Sharks
$417.30
11. Boston Bruins
$405.00
12. Pittsburgh Penguins
$340.00
13. Minnesota Wild
$308.35
14. New York Islanders
$226.45
15. Ottawa Senators
$212.99
16. Detroit Red Wings
$157.00
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THE FANS / MONEY
MOST EXPENSIVE
SPORTS MEMORABILIA
ON EARTH
(by price sold at auction)
1. Babe Ruth’s New York Yankees uniform (circa 1920s)
$4,415,658.00
2. James Naismith’s founding rules of basketball (1891)
$4,338,500.00
3. Mark McGwire’s 70th home run ball (1998)
$3,000,500.00
4. T206 Honus Wagner baseball card (1909)
$2,800,000.00
5. Soccer rules book (circa 1859)
$1,420,000.00
6. Paul Henderson’s Summit Series jersey (1972)
$1,275,707.00
7. Babe Ruth’s bat from his first home run at Yankee Stadium
$1,265,000.00
8. Muhammad Ali’s boxing gloves from his fight against Floyd Patterson
(1965)
$1,100,000.00
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9. Babe Ruth’s “called shot” jersey (1932)
$1,056,630.00
10. Contract for sale of Babe Ruth by the Red Sox to the Yankees (1919)
$996,000.0010
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THE FANS / FOR THE NERDS
MOST IMPORTANT
MODERN STATS IN
SPORTS
1. WAR: wins above replacement. The most famous and most useful of baseball’s advanced stats, WAR is a complex formula that calculates exactly
how many wins per season a given player is worth above a league average
player in his stead, taking into account hitting, pitching, fielding and baserunning. This statistic rules because every aspect of the game matters.
2. Win probability. Not as useful in the long term, but the most fascinating
in-game stat in both football and baseball. Because both sports are played
in chunks (pitches and plays), by comparing any given situation to all the
outcomes that situation has previously produced, this stat offers the perfect reason to get excited (or depressed) about big blowouts, and tells you
just how improbable that stirring comeback would be.
3. WHIP: walks and hits per inning pitched. Does a pitcher motor through
a lineup or manage to escape unscathed despite allowing baserunners? If
you want to know how good this stat is, just sort by it. At the end of the
season, the best pitchers in baseball will be at the top, regardless of their
W-L record or ERA.
4. Fenwick Close. A measure of the balance of power between two hockey
teams. By looking at how many shots a team directs at the net without being blocked and comparing it to the opponent’s number, this stat—which
is counted only in games closer than two goals during the first two periods
or that are tied in the third period and overtime—gives hockey’s most accurate analysis of which team truly carries the play.
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Here’s how Fenwick Close has done predicting playoff teams and their success over the
past five years. No team rated “poor” has made the playoffs, and no “elite” team has ever
missed them.
5. DVOA: defence-adjusted value over average. Created by Football Outsiders, this stat compares a team’s performance to a baseline league average determined by cataloguing every play in every situation in football.
Eliminates the analysis problems inherent when all teams play different
opponents.
6. (tie) Goals, touchdowns, home runs and buzzer beaters. Look, we’re not
saying they always provide the most accurate picture, but they’re what the
fans pay to see and—despite all the advanced metrics available to teams
across the four major sports—they’re still mostly what teams pay for, too.
And that matters.
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7. True shooting percentage. Combines an NBA player’s three-point, fieldgoal and free-throw averages to provide an accurate look at how well he
shoots the basketball.
8. Yards per pattern. A better way to look at NFL wide receivers. Yards per
catch will always trend heavily in favour of deep threats, but by dividing
those yards across all passing patterns run by a player, we achieve a more
complete picture of how much a receiver contributes to his team.
9. OPS: on-base percentage plus slugging percentage. Measures a ballplayer’s contribution at the plate, taking into account both power and plate
discipline.
10. PER: player efficiency rating. John Hollinger invented this measure of
the overall value an NBA player contributes, regardless of minutes.
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5
BEST MANAGER MEMES
IN THE EPL
1. Arsène Wenger’s coat Just about every time the camera pans to the Arsenal manager, he’s struggling with the zipper of his absurdly puffy sleepingbag parka. The quickest way to make an intelligent man look ridiculous.
2. Alex Ferguson’s halftime “hair dryer” A now-ubiquitous phrase coined
by former Man U player Mark Hughes, Sir Alex is famous for dressing down
underperforming players with nose-to-nose screaming so powerful it could
blow your hair back.
3. Jose Mourinho, the “special one” Call it arrogance, call it a slight misinterpretation spoken in a non-native tongue. Either way, when the thenChelsea manager referred to himself as the “special one,” fans and detractors latched onto it.
4. Paolo Di Canio The man himself is a meme—passionate, controversial,
superstitious, egotistical. From his incendiary political statements to his
crediting a win (in part) to his mother’s ghost, there’s never a dull moment.
5. Harry Redknapp’s car window Hugely quotable, the Queens Park Rangers manager always finds time for the press, and seems to have done most
interviews in his career via the rolled-down window of his car as he leaves
the stadium.
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MOST POPULAR SPORTS
TEAMS ON TWITTER
NHL TEAMS
NBA TEAMS
MLB TEAMS
1. Montreal Canadiens 1. Los Angeles Lakers 1. New York Yankees
394,690 followers
3,085,408 followers
883,557 followers
NFL TEAMS
1. New England
Patriots
588,911 followers
2. Vancouver Canucks
2. Miami Heat
2. Philadelphia Phillies
2. New York Jets
375,114
1,215,694
756,822
578,374
3. Pittsburgh
Penguins
3. Orlando Magic
3. Boston Red Sox
3. Dallas Cowboys
1,097,570
449,158
554,213
4. Boston Bruins
4. Boston Celtics
4. Pittsburgh Steelers
333,111
1,058,978
4. San Francisco
Giants
361,656
532,739
418,987
5. Chicago
Blackhawks
5. Chicago Bulls
5. Atlanta Braves
5. Green Bay Packers
753,189
323,325
451,009
310,245
30. New York
Islanders
30. Charlotte Bobcats 30. San Diego Padres 32. Arizona Cardinals
119,836
73,862
74,888
50,544
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4
CRAZIEST FAN
SECTIONS
One of the black-and-silver-clad creatures who, on Sundays, call the Oakland Coliseum’s
Black Hole (section 104–107) home
Nearly 25,000 fans pack the Sudtribune (south stand) at Borussia Dortmund matches in
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Germany, the largest (and most raucous) standing area in soccer
The student section at Duke University, a.k.a. the Cameron Crazies
Flares and fires are commonplace at Galatasaray matches in Turkey
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THE STATS / INDIVIDUALS
THE TOP 21 NHLERS 21
AND UNDER
(ranked by point shares in 2012–13 season; Chris Kunitz led all skaters
with a 7.6)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
T-8.
T-8.
10.
T-11.
T-11.
T-11.
14.
T-15.
T-15.
17.
18.
T-19.
T-19.
21.
PLAYER
Taylor Hall
Tyler Seguin
Nick Leddy
Oliver EkmanLarsson
Evander Kane
Brendan Gallagher
Jonas Brodin
Dougie Hamilton
Brandon Saad
Jonathan Huberdeau
Alex Galchenyuk
Nail Yakupov
Mika Zibanejad
Justin Faulk
Brayden Schenn
Vladimir Tarasenko
Kyle Palmieri
Simon Despres
Andrew Shaw
Jeff Skinner
Cody Eakin
AGE
21
21
21
TEAM
Edmonton Oilers
Boston Bruins
Chicago Blackhawks
POINT SHARES
5.2
4.6
4.2
21
Phoenix Coyotes
4.1
21
20
19
19
20
19
18
19
19
20
21
21
21
21
21
20
21
Winnipeg Jets
Montreal Canadiens
Minnesota Wild
Boston Bruins
Chicago Blackhawks
Florida Panthers
Montreal Canadiens
Edmonton Oilers
Ottawa Senators
Carolina Hurricanes
Philadelphia Flyers
St. Louis Blues
Anaheim Ducks
Pittsburgh Penguins
Chicago Blackhawks
Carolina Hurricanes
Dallas Stars
3.8
3.5
3.2
3.1
3.1
3.0
2.7
2.7
2.7
2.6
2.1
2.1
2.0
1.9
1.8
1.8
1.7
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TOP 21 NBAERS 21 AND
UNDER
(ranked by win shares in 2012–13 season; LeBron James led the league
with 19.3)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
T-8.
PLAYER
Kawhi Leonard
Anthony Davis
Kyrie Irving
Tristan Thompson
Andre Drummond
Derrick Favors
Jonas Valanciunas
Bradley Beal
AGE
21
19
20
21
19
21
20
19
T-8.
Derrick Williams
21
10.
11.
T-12.
T-12.
T-12.
15.
Harrison Barnes
Jared Sullinger
Maurice Harkless
Tobias Harris
Meyers Leonard
Enes Kanter
Michael KiddGilchrist
John Jenkins
Bismack Biyombo
Brandon Knight
Alec Burks
Evan Fournier
16.
17.
18.
19.
T-20.
T-20.
WIN SHARES
6.2
6.1
5.3
5.2
4.5
4.4
3.9
3.0
20
20
19
20
20
20
TEAM
San Antonio Spurs
New Orleans Hornets
Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland Cavaliers
Detroit Pistons
Utah Jazz
Toronto Raptors
Washington Wizards
Minnesota
Timberwolves
Golden State Warriors
Boston Celtics
Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic
Portland Trail Blazers
Utah Jazz
19
Charlotte Bobcats
2.1
21
20
21
21
20
Atlanta Hawks
Charlotte Bobcats
Detroit Pistons
Utah Jazz
Denver Nuggets
1.7
1.4
1.1
1.0
1.0
3.0
2.8
2.7
2.4
2.4
2.4
2.3
BOOK OF LISTS
TALLEST NHL GOALIES
Ben Bishop, Tampa Bay Lightning, six-foot-seven
Steve Valiquette, New York Rangers, six-foot-six
Anders Lindback, Tampa Bay Lightning, six-foot-six
Pekka Rinne, Nashville Predators, six-foot-five
Devan Dubnyk, Edmonton Oilers, six-foot-five
BOOK OF LISTS
WILT CHAMBERLAIN’S
UNBEATABLE RECORDS
The NBA record books are littered with Chamberlain’s accomplishments.
Here are 10 of the most impressive:
1. Most rebounds in one game: 55 (Nov. 24, 1960, vs. Boston Celtics)
2. Most rebounds in one game by a rookie: 45 (Feb. 6, 1960, vs. Detroit Pistons)
3. Most points in one game: 100 (March 2, 1962, vs. New York Knicks)
4. Most minutes per game, career: 45.8
5. Only player with a double-triple-double (20+ in three categories): 22
pts, 25 reb, 21 assists (Feb. 2, 1968, vs. Detroit Pistons)
6. Most consecutive triple-doubles: 9 (March 8–20, 1968)
7. Never fouled out of a game in his career (1,045 games)
8. Led league in total assists as a centre (702, 1967–68)
9. M
ost 60-point games in a career: 32
10. M
ost records in NBA history: 72*
*Not a typo
BOOK OF LISTS
THE TOP 21 MLB
POSITION PLAYERS 25
AND UNDER*
(ranked by WAR in the 2012 season; Mike Trout led all of baseball)
1.
2.
3.
4.
T-5.
T-5.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
T-14.
T-14.
T-14.
17.
T-18.
T-18.
T-20.
T-20.
T-22.
T-22.
T-22.
25.
PLAYER
Mike Trout
Buster Posey
Andrew McCutchen
Jason Heyward
Austin Jackson
Giancarlo Stanton
Bryce Harper
Josh Reddick
Brett Lawrie
Jason Kipnis
Elvis Andrus
Starlin Castro
Alcides Escobar
Desmond Jennings
Paul Goldschmidt
Michael Brantley
Mike Moustakas
Salvador Perez
Kyle Seager
Andrelton Simmons
Cameron Maybin
Brandon Belt
Dustin Ackley
Pedro Alvarez
Yasmani Grandal
AGE
20
24
25
25
25
22
19
25
22
25
23
22
25
25
24
25
23
22
24
22
25
24
24
25
23
TEAM
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
San Francisco Giants
Pittsburgh Pirates
Atlanta Braves
Detroit Tigers
Miami Marlins
Washington Nationals
Oakland Athletics
Toronto Blue Jays
Cleveland Indians
Texas Rangers
Chicago Cubs
Kansas City Royals
Tampa Bay Rays
Arizona Diamondbacks
Cleveland Indians
Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
Seattle Mariners
Atlanta Braves
San Diego Padres
Seattle Mariners
Pittsburgh Pirates
San Diego Padres
*According to baseball-reference.com
WAR
10.9
7.4
7.2
5.8
5.5
5.5
5.2
4.8
4.3
4.0
3.7
3.6
3.5
3.3
3.3
3.3
3.2
3.0
3.0
2.9
2.9
2.8
2.8
2.8
2.7
BOOK OF LISTS
SHORT STARS IN
SPORTS HISTORY
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
Muggsy Bogues
Wee Willie Keeler
Earl Boykins
Rabbit Maranville
Lionel Messi
Diego Maradona
David Eckstein
Theo Fluery
Spud Webb
Bobby Shantz
Darren Sproles
Doug Flutie
Maurice Jones-Drew
Henri Richard
Brian Gionta
Stephen Gionta
basketball
baseball
basketball
baseball
soccer
soccer
baseball
hockey
basketball
baseball
football
football
football
hockey
hockey
hockey
5-3
5-4
5-5
5-5
5-5
5-5
5-6
5-6
5-6
5-6
5-6
5-7
5-7
5-7
5-7
5-7
BOOK OF LISTS
NASCAR ALL-TIME
WINNING PERCENTAGE*
1. Herb Thomas 21.053% (48 wins, 228 starts)
2. Tim Flock 20.856% (39/187)
3. David Pearson 18.293% (105/574)
4. Richard Petty 16.892% (200/1184)
5. Fred Lorenzen 16.456% (26/158)
6. “Fireball” Roberts 16.019% (33/206)
7. Junior Johnson 15.974% (50/313)
8. Jimmie Johnson 15.271% (62/406)
9. Cale Yarborough 14.821% (83/560)
10. Ned Jarrett 14.205% (50/352)
*Drivers with 100 or more starts
BOOK OF LISTS
NASCAR SPRINT CUP
DRIVER WINS, CAREER
1. Richard Petty 200 (1,184 starts)
2. David Pearson 105 (580)
3. Jeff Gordon* 87 (698)
T-4.Bobby Allison 84 (718)
T-4. Darrell Waltrip 84 (809)
6. Cale Yarborough 83 (560)
7. Dale Earnhardt Sr. 76 (676)
8. Jimmie Johnson* 62 (408)
9. Rusty Wallace 55 (706)
10. Lee Petty 54 (427)
*active
BOOK OF LISTS
THE TOP 25 MLB
PITCHERS 25 AND
UNDER*
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
PLAYER
Clayton Kershaw
Chris Sale
Mat Latos
Yu Darvish
Jarrod Parker
Aroldis Chapman
Wade Miley
Jonathan Niese
Craig Kimbrel
Jeremy Hellickson
Stephen Strasburg
Trevor Cahill
Ryan Cook
Kelvin Herrera
Scott Diamond
Jose Quintana
David Phelps
Lance Lynn
Madison Bumgarner
Tommy Milone
A.J. Griffin
Brandon Beachy
Robbie Ross
Jhoulys Chacin
Kenley Jansen
AGE
24
23
24
25
23
24
25
25
24
25
23
24
25
22
25
23
25
25
22
25
24
25
23
24
24
TEAM
Los Angeles Dodgers
Chicago White Sox
Cincinnati Reds
Texas Rangers
Oakland A’s
Cincinnati Reds
New York Mets
Atlanta Braves
Tampa Bay Rays
Oakland A’s
Kansas City Royals
Minnesota Twins
Chicago White Sox
New York Yankees
St. Louis Cardinals
Oakland A’s
Oakland A’s
Atlanta Braves
Texas Rangers
Colorado Rockies
Los Angeles Dodgers
2012 bWAR
6.2
5.9
4.3
3.9
3.9
3.6
3.5
3.4
3.3
3.2
3.0
2.6
2.6
2.5
2.4
2.4
2.3
2.2
2.1
2.1
2.1
2.1
1.9
1.9
1.9
*Ranked by WAR in 2012 season; MLB leader was Justin Verlander at 7.8.
BOOK OF LISTS
THE NHL’S ALL–TIME
GREATEST PASSERS*
PLAYER
TEAM
1.
Paul Coffey
Pittsburgh Penguins
2. Nicklas Lidstrom
Detroit Red Wings
3.
Henrik Sedin
Vancouver Canucks
4.
Jason Spezza
Ottawa Senators
5.
Adam Oates
St. Louis Blues
6.
Ron Francis
Pittsburgh Penguins
7.
Joe Thornton
Boston Bruins/San Jose Sharks
8.
Wayne Gretzky
Edmonton Oilers
9. Nicklas Backstrom
Washington Capitals
10.
Doug Gilmour
Toronto Maple Leafs
11.
Bobby Orr
Boston Bruins
YEAR
1992–93
2007–08
2010–11
2005–06
1990–91
1995–96
2005–06
1985–86
2008–09
1992–93
1970–71
ASSIST-GOAL RATIO
6.25 (75 assists, 12 goals)
*Ranked by highest single-season assist-to-goal ratio
BOOK OF LISTS
GREATEST NHL “CY
YOUNG” SEASONS
Jeff Carter’s 2012–13 season was one for the ages. It’s been a long time
since someone boasted a goals-assists line like 27-6, which would make for
a hell of a win-loss record in baseball and ensure a pitcher some seasonending hardware. But Carter’s isn’t the most goal-heavy line in NHL history. Not even close.
1. Joe Malone, Montreal Canadiens, 1917–18:
44 goals, 4 assists
1. Newsy Lalonde, Montreal Canadiens, 1919–20:
37 goals, 9 assists
3. Jeff Carter, L.A. Kings, 2012–13:
27 goals, 6 assists
4. Cy Denneny, Ottawa Senators, 1923–24:
22 goals, 2 assists
BOOK OF LISTS
8
MOST UNBEATABLE
LACROSSE RECORDS
1. Most goals in a game (total, both teams): 49, Montreal (32) @ Calgary
(17) on Nov. 24, 2001
2. Most goals in a game (individual): 10, Gary Gait on Jan. 9, 1999, and Paul
Gait on March 26, 1999
3. Most assists in a game (individual): 13, Mark Steenhuis on Feb. 14, 2009
4. Most points in a game (individual): 17, Mark Steenhuis on Feb. 14, 2009
5. Most career loose balls: 2417, Jim Veltman
6. Most career goals: 765, John Tavares
7. Most career playoff points: 183, John Tavares
8. Most goals in a season (individual): 71, Athan Iannucci, 2008
BOOK OF LISTS
TOP SINGLE-SEASON
PLAYER EFFICIENCY
RATINGS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
PLAYER
Wilt Chamberlain*
Wilt Chamberlain*
Michael Jordan*
LeBron James
Michael Jordan*
Wilt Chamberlain*
LeBron James
Michael Jordan*
Michael Jordan*
LeBron James
LeBron James
David Robinson*
Shaquille O’Neal
Shaquille O’Neal
Dwyane Wade
Tracy McGrady
Shaquille O’Neal
Chris Paul
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*
Michael Jordan*
PER
31.82
31.74
31.71
31.67
31.63
31.63
31.59
31.18
31.14
31.11
30.74
30.66
30.65
30.55
30.36
30.27
30.23
29.96
29.94
29.78
YEAR
1962–63
1961–62
1987–88
2008–09
1990–91
1963–64
2012–13
1989–90
1988–89
2009–10
2011–12
1993–94
1999–00
1998–99
2008–09
2002–03
2000–01
2008–09
1971–72
1986–87
*Hall of Famer
TEAM
San Francisco Warriors
Philadelphia Warriors
Chicago Bulls
Cleveland Cavaliers
Chicago Bulls
Miami Heat
Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
Cleveland Cavaliers
Miami Heat
San Antonio Spurs
Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
Miami Heat
Orlando Magic
Los Angeles Lakers
New Orleans Hornets
Milwaukee Bucks
Chicago Bulls
BOOK OF LISTS
TOP 10 NFL DEFENSIVE
PLAYERS 25 AND UNDER
(ranked by positive win probability added in 2012 season)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
PLAYER
J.J. Watt
Luke Kuechly
Patrick Peterson
Geno Atkins
Bobby Wagner
Perry Riley
Ryan Kerrigan
Derrick Morgan
Janoris Jenkins
Von Miller
AGE
24
21
22
25
22
22
22
24
24
24
TEAM
Texans
Panthers
Cardinals
Bengals
Seahawks
Redskins
Redskins
Titans
Rams
Broncos
+WINPROB
2.96
2.19
2.01
1.92
1.81
1.70
1.62
1.61
1.56
1.53
BOOK OF LISTS
5
GREATEST STATISTICAL
FEATS
5. 5 x5 in basketball (five points, five steals, five rebounds, five assists, five
blocks) has only been accomplished by eight players in the past 28 years.
Hakeem Olajuwon did it six times and it was most recently accomplished
by Nicolas Batum in December 2012. (Note: The NBA didn’t record blocked
shots and steals until 1973.)
4. U
nassisted triple play Eric Bruntlett of the Phillies pulled off the trick in
2009, the 15th and most recent big leaguer to do it.
3. F ive goals, five different ways On Dec. 31, 1988, Mario Lemieux scored
even-strength, on the power-play, shorthanded, on a penalty shot and into
an empty net. Nobody had done that before and nobody’s done it since.
2. T
wo grand slams in one inning Against the L.A. Dodgers on April 23, 1999,
Cardinals third baseman Fernando Tatis became the only player ever to
do it.
1. 4
0/40 Club First accomplished by Jose Canseco in 1988, only four players
in MLB history (Canseco, Alex Rodriguez, Barry Bonds and Alfonso Soriano) have stolen 40 bases and jacked 40 dingers in a season.
BOOK OF LISTS
MOST OLYMPIC GAMES
APPEARANCES, MEN
10
Ian Millar (Canada), equestrian, 1972–2012, zero gold, one silver, zero
bronze
9
Hubert Raudaschl (Austria), sailing, 1964–1996, 0-2-0
Afanasijs Kuzmins (Soviet Union, Latvia), shooting, 1976–2012, 1-1-0
8
Paul Elvstrom (Denmark), sailing, 1948–88, 4-0-0
Raimondo D’Inzeo (Italy), equestrian, 1948–76, 1-2-3
Durward Randolph Knowles (United Kingdom, Bahamas), sailing, 1948–
88, 1-0-1
Rajmond Debevec (Yugoslavia, Slovenia), shooting, 1984–2012, 1-0-1
7
John Michael Plumb (United States), equestrian, 1960–92, 2-4-0
Ragnar Skanaker (Sweden), shooting, 1972–96, 1-2-1
Piero D’Inzeo (Italy), equestrian, 1952–76, 0-2-4
Francisco Boza (Peru), shooting, 1980–2004, 0-1-0
Ivan Joseph Martin Osiier (Denmark), fencing, 1908–48, 0-1-0
François Lafortune Jr. (Belgium), shooting, 1952–76, 0-0-0
BOOK OF LISTS
MOST OLYMPIC GAMES
APPEARANCES, WOMEN
8
Josefa Idem Guerrini, (West Germany, Italy), canoe/kayak, 1984–2008, one
gold, two silver, two bronze
7
Anky van Grunsven, (Netherlands), equestrian, 1988–2012, 3-5-1
Lesley Thompson-Willie (Canada), rowing, 1984–2012, 1-3-1
Jasna Sekaric (Yugoslavia, Independent, Serbia and Montenegro,
Serbia), shooting, 1988–2012, 1-3-1
Jeannie Longo-Ciprelli (France), cycling, 1984–2008, 1-2-1
Nino Salukvadze (Soviet Union, Unified Team, Georgia), shooting, 1988–
2012, 1-1-3
Merlene Ottey-Page (Jamaica, Slovenia), athletics, 1980–2004, 0-3-5
Seiko Hashimoto (Japan), speed skating, cycling, 1984–96 0-0-1
Kerstin Palm (Sweden), fencing, 1964–88, 0-0-0
BOOK OF LISTS
LONGEST COACHING
TENURES OF ALL TIME
1. Connie Mack (Philadelphia Athletics, baseball)
50 years (1901–1950)
Record: 3582-3814, five World Series titles.
2. Guy Roux (Auxerre, soccer)
44 years (1961–2005)
Record: 375-256-259
3. Willie Maley (Celtic Football Club, soccer)
43 years (1887–1940) 16 league championships
4. George Ramsey (Aston Villa, soccer)
42 years (1884–1926)
Record: 658-414-255
5. John McGraw (New York Giants, baseball)
31 years (1902–1932)
Record: 2583-1790
6. Tom Landry (Dallas Cowboys, football)
29 years (1960–1988)
Record: 250-162-6
7. Sir Alex Ferguson (Manchester United, soccer)
27 years (1986–2013)
Record: 889-335-264
8. Don Shula (Miami Dolphins, football)
26 years (1970–1995)
Record: 257-133-2
BOOK OF LISTS
9. Jerry Sloan (Utah Jazz, basketball)
23 years (1988–2011)
Record: 941-568
10. Chuck Noll (Pittsburgh Steelers, football)
23 years (1969–1991)
Record: 193-148-1
BOOK OF LISTS
HIGHEST POINTSCORING SEASONS IN
MAJOR JUNIOR HOCKEY
HISTORY
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
T-13.
T-13.
T-14.
T-14.
POINTS
282
251
234
227
216
214
212
209
206
201
200
197
194
194
192
192
PLAYER
Mario Lemieux
Pierre Larouche
Pat LaFontaine
Michel Deziel
Real Cloutier
Jacques Cossette
Rob Brown
Guy Lafleur
Jacques Locas
Marc Fortier
Patrice Lefebvre
Cliff Ronning
Rich Nantais
Brian Propp
Bobby Smith
Ray Ferraro
TEAM
Laval, QMJHL
Sorel, QMJHL
Verdun, QMJHL
Sorel, QMJHL
Quebec, QMJHL
Sorel, QMJHL
Kamloops, WHL
Quebec, QMJHL
Quebec, QMJHL
Chicoutimi, QMJHL
Shawinigan, QMJHL
New Westminster, WHL
Quebec, QMJHL
Brandon, WHL
Ottawa, OHL
Brandon, WHL
YEAR
1983–84 (70 games)
1973–74 (67 games)
1982–83 (70 games)
1973–74 (69 games)
1973–74 (69 games)
1973–74 (68 games)
1986–87 (63 games)
1970–71 (62 games)
1973–74 (63 games)
1986–87 (65 games)
1987–88 (70 games)
1984–85 (70 games)
1973–74 (67 games)
1978–79 (71 games)
1977–78 (61 games)
1983–84 (72 games)
BOOK OF LISTS
UNBEATABLE JUNIOR
HOCKEY RECORDS
Career goals: 309, Mike Bossy, Laval, QMJHL, 1972–77
Career assists: 408, Patrice Lefebvre, Shawinigan, QMJHL, 1984–88
Goals by a defenceman in a season: 50, Lawrence Sacharuk, Saskatoon,
WHL, 1971–72
Points by a rookie: 234, Pat LaFontaine, Verdun, QMJHL, 1982–83 (70 games)
Goals by a rookie: 104, Pat LaFontaine, Verdun, QMJHL, 1982–83
Goals in a season: 133, Mario Lemieux, Laval, QMJHL, 1983–84
Assists in a season: 157, Pierre Larouche, Sorel, QMJHL, 1973–74
Game-winning goals in a season: 18, Pat LaFontaine, Verdun, QMJHL, 1982–
83
Goals in a game: 8, Normand Aubin, Sorel, QMJHL, Sept. 23, 1979; Stéphan
Lebeau, Shawinigan, QMJHL, Dec. 22, 1986; Mathieu Benoît, Acadie-Bathurst,
QMJHL, Nov. 14, 1999
Assists in a game: 9, André Savard, Quebec, QMJHL, Feb. 5, 1971.
Points in a game: 12, André Savard, Quebec, QMJHL, Feb. 5, 1971 (3 G, 9 A)
Fastest three goals to start a period: 24 seconds, Jim Harrison, Estevan,
WHL, Dec. 4, 1966 (19:31, 19:44 and 19:55 of the third period); Tom McDonell,
Ottawa, OHL, Dec. 10, 1976 (13:02, 13:12 and 13:26 of the second period)
BOOK OF LISTS
Fastest two goals by one player: 3 seconds, Tyler Ertel, North Bay, OHL,
Jan. 8, 1989 (19:35 and 19:38 of the third period)
Consecutive 40-win seasons: 8, Sherbrooke, QMJHL, 1974–75 to 1981–82
Longest losing streak in a season: 32 games, Victoria, WHL, 1989–90
Goals scored in a season (team): 620, Sorel, QMJHL, 1973–74
Goals by two teams in one game: 26, Shawinigan (4) at Sherbrooke (22),
QMJHL, Jan. 29, 1978
BOOK OF LISTS
20
ALL-TIME LEADING
WORLD HOCKEY
ASSOCIATION SCORERS
1. André Lacroix 798 pts
2. Marc Tardif 666 pts
3. Bobby Hull 638 pts
4. Serge Bernier 566 pts
5. Réal Cloutier 566 pts
6. Robbie Ftorek 523 pts
7. Gordie Howe 508 pts
8. Mark Howe 504 pts
9. Christian Bordeleau 504 pts
10. Ulf Nilsson 484 pts
11. Anders Hedberg 458 pts
12. Larry Lund 426 pts
13. Tom Webster 425 pts
14. J.C. Tremblay 424 pts
15. Danny Lawson 422 pts
16. John McKenzie 413 pts
17. Michel Parizeau 394 pts
18. Rich LeDuc 390 pts
BOOK OF LISTS
19. Ron Ward 380 pts
20. Bryan Campbell 376 pts
BOOK OF LISTS
HIGHEST SCORES IN X
GAMES HISTORY
Athlete
Mark McMorris
Travis Pastrana
Bucky Lasek
Kaya Turski
Travis Pastrana
Chas Guldemond
Shaun White
Candide Thovex
Tom Wallisch
Roz Groenewoud
Event
Men’s Snowboard Slopestyle
Motorcross Freestyle
Skateboard Vert
Women’s Slopestyle Results
Motorcross Best Trick
Men’s Snowboard Slopestyle
Men’s Snowboard SuperPipe
Men’s Ski Superpipe
Men’s Ski Slopestyle
Women’s SuperPipe
Torstein Horgmo
Men’s Big Air
Score
98.0
99.00
98.50
96.66
98.60
99.33
100
96
96
93.66
Scored a
perfect 50
*Highest single run
When
Winter X 2013
Summer X 1999
Summer X 2000
Winter X 2010
Summer X 2006
Winter X Eur. 2011
Winter X 2012
Winter X 2003
Winter X 2012
Winter X 2012
Winter X 2012
BOOK OF LISTS
TOP 10 ABA PLAYERS
OF ALL TIME, BASED
ON CAREER PLAYER
EFFICIENCY RATING
1.
Julius Erving* (Virginia Squires, New York Nets)
2.
Ricky Barry* (Oakland Oaks, Washington Capitals, New York Nets)
3.
Artis Gilmore* (Kentucky Colonels)
4.
George McGinnis (Indiana Pacers)
5.
Dan Issel* (Kentucky Colonels, Denver Nuggets)
6.
Zelmo Beaty (Utah Stars)
7.
George Gervin* (Virginia Squires, San Antonio Spurs)
8.
Mel Daniels* (Minnesota Muskies, Indiana Pacers)
9. Larry Jones (Denver Rockets, The Floridians, Utah Stars, Dallas Chaparrals)
10.
John Beasley (Dallas/Texas Chaparrals, Utah Stars)
*Denotes Basketball Hall of Famer
26.36
23.76
23.51
22.06
21.81
21.50
20.32
20.13
19.68
19.59
BOOK OF LISTS
16
UNBREAKABLE RECORDS
(the good)
1. Cy Young
511 wins; 749 complete games
2. Joe DiMaggio
56-game hitting streak
3. Ty Cobb
.366 career batting average
4. Wayne Gretzky
2,857 career regular season points (3,239 including playoffs); 92 goals in one
season; 163 assists in one season; 215 points in one season
5. Jerry Rice
22,895 receiving yards
6. Tom McCreery
Three inside-the-park home runs in one game
7. Wilt Chamberlain
100 points in one game; 55 rebounds in one game
8. John Stockton
15,806 career assists
9. Pete Rose
4,256 career hits
BOOK OF LISTS
10. Cal Ripken Jr.
2,632 consecutive games played
11. Derrick Thomas
Seven sacks in a game
12. Byron Nelson
18 tournament wins—including 11 straight—in 1945
BOOK OF LISTS
TOP 10 NFL
QUARTERBACKS 25 OR
UNDER
(ranked by yards per pass attempt in 2013)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Colin Kaepernick
Robert Griffin III
Cam Newton
Russell Wilson
Josh Freeman
Andrew Luck
Andy Dalton
Jake Locker
Matthew Stafford
Ryan Tannehill
25
22
23
24
24
23
25
24
24
24
San Francisco 49ers
Washington Redskins
Carolina Panthers
Seattle Seahawks
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Indianapolis Colts
Cincinnati Bengals
Tennessee Titans
Detroit Lions
Miami Dolphins
8.32
8.14
7.98
7.93
7.28
6.98
6.95
6.93
6.83
6.81
BOOK OF LISTS
TOP 10 SEASONS BY
NFL QUARTERBACKS IN
THEIR 20S
(ranked by yards per pass attempt)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Boomer Esiason
Peyton Manning
Dan Marino
Philip Rivers
Kurt Warner
Philip Rivers
Daunte Culpepper
Mark Rypien
Boomer Esiason
Philip Rivers
27
28
23
28
28
29
27
29
25
27
Cincinnati Bengals
Indianapolis Colts
Miami Dolphins
San Diego Chargers
St. Louis Rams
San Diego Chargers
Minnesota Vikings
Washington Redskins
Cincinnati Bengals
San Diego Chargers
1988
2004
1984
2009
1999
2010
2004
1991
1986
2008
9.21
9.17
9.01
8.75
8.72
8.71
8.61
8.47
8.44
8.39
BOOK OF LISTS
TOP 10 SEASONS BY
NFL QUARTERBACKS IN
THEIR 30S
(ranked by Yards per pass attempt)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Lynn Dickey
Kurt Warner
Steve Young
Steve Young
Steve Young
Tom Brady
Eli Manning
Drew Brees
Tom Brady
Trent Green
34
30
32
31
33
34
30
32
30
34
Green Bay Packers
St. Louis Rams
San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
New England Patriots
New York Giants
New Orleans Saints
Kansas City Chiefs
1983
2001
1993
1992
1994
2011
2011
2011
2007
2004
9.21
8.85
8.71
8.62
8.61
8.57
8.38
8.33
8.31
8.26
BOOK OF LISTS
MLB MANAGERS WITH
60 OR MORE CAREER
EJECTIONS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
T-6.
T-6.
8.
9.
T-10.
T-10.
Bobby Cox
John McGraw
Earl Weaver
Leo Durocher
Tony LaRussa
Paul Richards
Frankie Frisch
Jim Leyland
Joe Torre
Ron Gardenhire
Lou Piniella
161
118
94
94
87
80
80
68
66
63
63
BOOK OF LISTS
7
CRAZY STRONGMAN
RECORDS
1. In 2012, backed by a very supportive crowd in the tiny town of Rustavi,
Georgia, Lasha Pataraia, 32, hauled an eight-ton truck more than 21.5 metres. With his ear.
2. In 2009, Jonathan MacFarlane set the world record for furthest throw of
a washing machine. The New Zealander set the record of 4.01 m on the set
of NZ Smashes Guinness World Records at the Sylvia Park shopping mall
in Auckland, New Zealand.
3. B
ritish native Mark Felix, a plasterer by trade, accomplished the heaviest
deadlift in human history by lifting 1,128 lb. at the 2013 Arnold Strongman
Competition. Using Hummer tires instead of weight plates, he broke the
previous world record set by Lithuanian Zydrunas Savickas (1,117 lb.) minutes before.
4. In 2012, Savickas set the Log Press world record by lifting 220 kg over his
head.
5. In 2002, Mark Henry pressed the Thomas Inch dumbbell, which weighs
more than 172 lb. and has a handle almost two and a half inches thick.
6. Brian Shaw set a new world record for the heaviest Atlas Stone lifted, at
540 lb., in 2013. He lifted it three times.
7. A
t the 2012 Arnold Strongman Classic, Mike Jenkins set the Circus Dumbbell world record by lifting the 255-lb. weight seven times, beating the old
record (five) he set in 2011.
BOOK OF LISTS
TOP 10 SEASONS BY
NHLERS IN THEIR TEENS
(ranked by points)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
PLAYER
Wayne Gretzky
Sidney Crosby
Jimmy Carson
Dale Hawerchuk
Sidney Crosby
Mario Lemieux
Steven Stamkos
Bryan Trottier
Dale Hawerchuk
Ron Francis
AGE
19
19
19
18
18
19
19
19
19
19
TEAM
Edmonton Oilers
Pittsburgh Penguins
Los Angeles Kings
Winnipeg Jets
Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins
Tampa Bay Lightning
New York Islanders
Winnipeg Jets
Hartford Whalers
YEAR
1979–80
2006–07
1987–88
1981–82
2005–06
1984–85
2009–10
1975–76
1982–83
1982–83
G
51
36
55
45
39
43
51
32
40
31
AST
86
84
52
58
63
57
44
63
51
59
PTS
137
120
107
103
102
100
95
95
91
90
BOOK OF LISTS
TOP 10 SEASONS BY
NHLERS IN THEIR 20S
(ranked by points)
(Or: Eight of Wayne Gretzky’s best seasons and two of Mario Lemieux’s)
PLAYER
AGE
TEAM
YEAR
G
AST
PTS
1.
Wayne Gretzky
25
Edmonton Oilers
1985–86
52
163
215
2.
Wayne Gretzky
21
Edmonton Oilers
1981–82
92
120
212
3.
Wayne Gretzky
24
Edmonton Oilers
1984–85
73
135
208
4.
Wayne Gretzky
23
Edmonton Oilers
1983–84
74
118
205
5.
Mario Lemieux
23
Pittsburgh Penguins
1988–89
85
114
199
6.
Wayne Gretzky
22
Edmonton Oilers
1982–83
71
125
196
7.
Wayne Gretzky
26
Edmonton Oilers
1986–87
62
121
183
8.
Wayne Gretzky
28
Edmonton Oilers
1988–89
54
114
168
9.
Mario Lemieux
22
Pittsburgh Penguins
1987–88
70
98
168
10. Wayne Gretzky
20
Edmonton Oilers
1980–81
55
109
164
BOOK OF LISTS
THE BIGGEST GOONS IN
NHL HISTORY
3,966 pim Dave “Tiger” Williams 1974–88
3,563 pim Dale Hunter 1980–99
3,515 pim Tie Domi 1989–2006
3,381 pim Marty McSorley 1983–2000
3,300 pim Bob Probert 1985–2002
3,207 pim Rob Ray 1989–2004
3,149 pim Craig Berube 1986–2003
3,146 pim Tim Hunter 1981–97
3,043 pim Chris Nilan 1979–92
2,972 pim Rick Tocchet 1984–2002
BOOK OF LISTS
10
WORST UNBREAKABLE
RECORDS
1. Most home runs allowed, career: Jamie Moyer, 522
2. Most interceptions thrown in a Super Bowl: Rich Gannon, 5
3. Most batters hit by pitch, career: 277, Gus Weyhing, 1887–1901
4. Fewest wins in an NHL season: 8, Washington Capitals, 1974–75
5. Shortest missed FG in Super Bowl history: 19 yards, Mike Cofer, 49ers,
1988 vs. the Bengals (the NFL moved the goalposts back in 1974, the shortest possible FG is just over 17 yards)
6. Most losses by an NHL goaltender in a single season: 48, Gary Smith,
1970–71, California Golden Seals
7. Most times caught stealing in a career: Rickey Henderson, 335
8. Fastest red card to start a football match: Lee Todd, Cross Farm Park
Celtic, two seconds
9. Worst single-hole score on the PGA Tour: Ray Ainsley, +19, needed 23
strokes on the par-four 16th hole at Cherry Hills, 1938 U.S. Open
10. Worst career plus-minus rating: -260, Robert Stewart, Seals, Barons,
Blues and Penguins
BOOK OF LISTS
TOP 10 SEASONS BY
NHLERS IN THEIR 30S
(ranked by points)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
PLAYER
Wayne Gretzky
Mario Lemieux
Phil Esposito
Adam Oates
Phil Esposito
Wayne Gretzky
Phil Esposito
Marcel Dionne
Jaromir Jagr
Mario Lemieux
AGE
30
30
31
30
30
33
32
33
33
31
TEAM
Los Angeles Kings
Pittsburgh Penguins
Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
Los Angeles Kings
Boston Bruins
Los Angeles Kings
New York Rangers
Pittsburgh Penguins
YEAR
1990–91
1995–96
1973–74
1992–93
1972–73
1993–94
1974–75
1984–85
2005–06
1996–97
G
41
69
68
45
55
38
61
46
54
50
AST
122
92
77
97
75
92
66
80
69
72
PTS
163
161
145
142
130
130
127
126
123
122
BOOK OF LISTS
TOP 10 SEASONS BY
NHLERS IN THEIR 40S
(ranked by points)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
PLAYER
AGE
TEAM
Gordie Howe
40
Detroit Red Wings
John Bucyk
40
Boston Red Wings
Teemu Selanne
40
Anaheim Ducks
Alex Delvecchio
40
Detroit Red Wings
Gordie Howe
41
Detroit Red Wings
Mark Messier
40
New York Rangers
Teemu Selanne
41
Anaheim Ducks
Nicklas Lidstrom
40
Detroit Red Wings
Mark Recchi
40
Boston Red Wings
Raymond Bourque 40 Colorado Avalanche
YEAR
1968–69
1975–76
2010–11
1972–73
1969–70
2000–01
2011–12
2010–11
2008–09
2000–01
G
44
36
31
18
31
24
26
16
23
7
AST PTS
59
103
47
83
49
80
53
71
40
71
43
67
40
66
46
62
38
61
52
59
BOOK OF LISTS
TOP 10 SEASONS BY
MLB PLAYERS IN THEIR
TEENS
PLAYER
1.
Bryce Harper
2.
Mel Ott
3.
Edgar Renteria
4.
Ken Griffey Jr.
5.
Ty Cobb
T-6.
Buddy Lewis
T-6. Travis Jackson
8.
Cesar Cedeno
9. Manny Machado
10. Tony Conigliaro
AGE
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
YEAR
2012
1928
1989
1989
1906
1936
1923
1970
2012
1964
TEAM
New York Giants
Florida Marlins
Seattle Mariners
Detroit Tigers
Washington Senators
New York Giants
Houston Astros
Baltimore Orioles
Boston Red Sox
WAR
5.2
3.9
3.3
3.2
2.5
2.1
2.1
1.9
1.6
1.6
BOOK OF LISTS
TOP 10 SEASONS BY
20S
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
T-8.
T-8.
10.
PLAYER
Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth
Carl Yastrzemski
Rogers Hornsby
Babe Ruth
Lou Gehrig
Babe Ruth
Mickey Mantle
Mickey Mantle
Stan Musial
AGE
28
26
27
28
25
24
29
25
24
27
YEAR
1923
1921
1967
1924
1920
1927
1924
1957
1956
1948
TEAM
New York Yankees
New York Yankees
Boston Red Sox
St. Louis Cardinals
New York Yankees
New York Yankees
New York Yankees
New York Yankees
New York Yankees
St. Louis Cardinals
WAR
14.0
12.9
12.4
12.1
11.9
11.8
11.7
11.3
11.3
11.1
BOOK OF LISTS
TOP 10 SEASONS BY
30S
1.
2.
3.
T-4.
T-4.
T-4.
7.
8.
9.
10.
PLAYER
Babe Ruth
Barry Bonds
Barry Bonds
Cal Ripken
Babe Ruth
Honus Wagner
Ty Cobb
Willie Mays
Willie Mays
Joe Morgan
AGE
32
36
37
30
31
34
30
34
33
31
YEAR
1927
2001
2002
1991
1926
1908
1917
1965
1964
1975
TEAM
New York Yankees
Baltimore Orioles
New York Yankees
Pittsburgh Pirates
Detroit Tigers
Cincinnati Reds
WAR
12.4
11.9
11.8
11.5
11.5
11.5
11.4
11.2
11.1
11.0
BOOK OF LISTS
TOP 10 SEASONS BY
40S
1.
2.
3.
T-4.
T-4.
6.
7.
8.
T-9.
T-9.
PLAYER
Willie Mays
Honus Wagner
Luke Appling
Carlton Fisk
Darrell Evans
Sam Rice
Luke Appling
Ty Cobb
Barry Bonds
Dave Winfield
AGE
40
41
42
42
40
40
40
40
41
40
YEAR
1971
1915
1949
1990
1987
1930
1947
1927
2006
1992
TEAM
Pittsburgh Pirates
Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
Detroit Tigers
Washington Senators
Chicago White Sox
Philadelphia Athletics
Toronto Blue Jays
WAR
6.3
5.5
5.1
4.9
4.9
4.8
4.6
4.4
4.0
4.0
BOOK OF LISTS
4
NBA PLAYERS TO
RECORD A QUADRUPLE
DOUBLE
Only four NBA players have managed double-digits in four of the five statistical categories: points, rebounds, assists, blocks and steals.
1. David Robinson
San Antonio Spurs Feb. 17, 1994:
34 points/10 rebounds/ 10 assists/10 blocks
2. Hakeem Olajuwon
Houston Rockets Mar. 29, 1990:
3. Alvin Robertson
San Antonio Spurs Feb. 18, 1986:
20 points/10 rebounds/ 10 assists/10 steals
4. Nate Thurmond
Golden State Warriors Oct. 18, 1974:
BOOK OF LISTS
10
GREATEST WINNING
STREAKS
1. Jahangir Khan won 555 consecutive squash matches from 1981–1986.
2. A
merican track athlete Edwin Moses won 122 straight 400-metres hurdles
over nearly 10 years before finally being bested after stumbling on the final
hurdle of a race.
3. Between 2005 and 2007, Rafael Nadal won 81 straight clay-court matches.
4. In 1945, Byron Nelson won 11 straight golf tournaments.
5. In 1984, tennis legend Martina Navratilova won 13 straight tournaments,
which amounted to 74 straight matches.
6. Julio Cesar Chavez won 87 straight bouts before a fight with Pernell
Whitaker in 1993 ended in a draw.
7. In 1967, Richard Petty won 27 NASCAR races, 10 of them in a row.
8. Formula One driver Michael Schumacher took seven consecutive chequered flags in 2004.
9. New York Giants pitcher Carl Hubbell won 24 straight pitching decisions
from 1936–37.
10. Osamu Watanabe won 187 consecutive freestyle wrestling matches, including one at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.
BOOK OF LISTS
TOP 10 SEASONS BY NBA
PLAYERS IN THEIR 20S
(ranked by points per game)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
PLAYER
Wilt Chamberlain
Wilt Chamberlain
Wilt Chamberlain
Elgin Baylor
Wilt Chamberlain
Michael Jordan
Wilt Chamberlain
Rick Barry
Kobe Bryant
Michael Jordan
AGE
25
26
24
27
23
23
27
22
27
24
TEAM
Los Angeles Lakers
Chicago Bulls
San Francisco Warrior
San Francisco Warrior
Los Angeles Lakers
Chicago Bulls
YEAR
1961–62
1962–63
1960–61
1961–62
1959–60
1986–87
1963–64
1966–67
2005–06
1987–88
PPG
50.0
44.8
38.4
38.3
37.6
37.1
36.9
35.6
35.4
35.0
BOOK OF LISTS
TOP 10 SEASONS BY
NBA PLAYERS IN THEIR
TEENS
1.
2.
3.
4.
PLAYER
Carmelo Anthony
LeBron James
Kevin Durant
Kyrie Irving
AGE
19
19
19
19
5.
Stephon Marbury
19
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Kobe Bryant
Bradley Beal
Cliff Robinson
Anthony Davis
Dajuan Webber
19
19
19
19
19
TEAM
Denver Nuggets
Cleveland Cavaliers
Seattle Sonics
Cleveland Cavaliers
Minnesota
Timberwolves
Los Angeles Lakers
Washington Wizards
New Jersey Nets
New Orleans Hornets
Cleveland Cavaliers
YEAR
2003–04
2003–04
2007–08
2011–12
PPG
21.0
20.9
20.3
18.5
1996–97
15.8
1997–98
2012–13
1979–80
2012–13
2002–03
15.4
13.9
13.6
13.5
13.4
BOOK OF LISTS
PLAYER
AGE
TEAM
YEAR
PPG
1.
Allen Iverson
30
Philadelphia 76ers
2005–06
33.0
2.
Jerry West
31
Los Angeles Lakers
1969–70
31.2
3.
Rick Barry
30
Golden State Warriors
1974–75
30.6
4.
Michael Jordan
32
Chicago Bulls
1995–96
30.4
5.
Larry Bird
31
Boston Celtics
1987–88
29.9
6.
Dominique Wilkins
33
Atlanta Hawks
1992–93
29.9
7.
Alex English
32
Denver Nuggets
1985–86
29.8
8.
Michael Jordan
33
Chicago Bulls
1996–97
29.6
9.
John Havlicek
30
Boston Celtics
1970–71
28.9
10.
Michael Jordan
34
Chicago Bulls
1997–98
28.7
BOOK OF LISTS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
PLAYER
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Karl Malone
Robert Parish
John Stockton
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Robert Parish
Kevin Willis
Clifford Robinson
John Long
Robert Parish
AGE
40
40
40
40
41
41
40
40
40
42
TEAM
Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
Boston Celtics
Utah Jazz
Los Angeles Lakers
Charlotte Hornets
San Antonio Spurs
New Jersey Nets
Toronto Raptors
Charlotte Hornets
YEAR
1987–88
2003–04
1993–94
2002–03
1988–89
1994–95
2002–03
2006–07
1996–97
1995–96
PPG
14.6
13.2
11.7
10.8
10.1
4.8
4.2
4.1
4.0
3.9
BOOK OF LISTS
TOP 10 SEASONS BY
NFL QUARTERBACKS IN
THEIR 20S
(ranked by QB rating)
1.
2.
3.
PLAYER
AGE
TEAM
YEAR
QBR
YRDS
TD
Aaron Rodgers
28
Green Bay Packers
2011
122.5
4,643
45
28
Indianapolis Colts
2004
121.1
4,557
49
27
Minnesota Vikings
2004
110.9
4,717
39
Peyton
Manning
Daunte
Culpepper
4.
Kurt Warner
28
St. Louis Rams
1999
109.2
4,353
41
5.
Dan Marino
23
Miami Dolphins
1984
108.9
5,084
48
6.
Aaron Rodgers
29
Green Bay Packers
2012
108.0
4,295
39
7.
Sid Luckman
27
Chicago Bears
1943
107.5
2,194
28
8.
Philip Rivers
27
San Diego Chargers
2008
105.5
4,009
34
9.
Drew Brees
25
San Diego Chargers
2004
104.8
3,159
27
10.
Donovan
McNabb
28
Philadelphia Eagles
2004
104.7
3,875
31
BOOK OF LISTS
TOP 10 NFL SEASONS
BY QUARTERBACKS IN
THEIR 30S
PLAYER
AGE
TEAM
YEAR
QBR
YRDS
TD
1.
Tom Brady
30
2007
117.2
4,806
50
2.
Steve Young
33
1994
112.8
3,969
35
3.
Joe Montana
33
1989
112.4
3,521
26
4.
Tom Brady
33
2010
111.0
3,900
36
5.
Drew Brees
32
New Orleans Saints
2011
110.6
5,476
46
6.
Drew Brees
30
New Orleans Saints
2009
109.6
4,388
34
7.
Randall
Cunningham
35
Minnesota Vikings
1988
106.0
3,704
34
8.
Peyton Manning
36
Denver Broncos
2012
105.8
4,659
37
9.
Tom Brady
34
2011
105.6
5,235
39
10.
Y.A. Tittle
37
New York Giants
1963
104.8
3,145
36
BOOK OF LISTS
TOP 5 SEASONS BY NFL
QUARTERBACKS IN
THEIR 40S
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
PLAYER
Brett Favre
Warren Moon
Warren Moon
Vinny
Testaverde
Brett Favre
AGE
40
41
42
TEAM
Minnesota Vikings
Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
YEAR
2009
1997
1998
QBR
107.2
83.7
76.6
YRDS
4,202
3,678
1,632
TD
33
25
11
41
Dallas Cowboys
2004
76.4
3,532
17
42
Minnesota Vikings
2010
69.9
2,509
11
BOOK OF LISTS
THE STATS / TEAMS
GREY CUP WINS
1.
Toronto Argonauts
16
2.
Edmonton Eskimos/Edmonton Elks
13
3.
Winnipeg Blue Bombers/ Winnipeg ’Pegs
10
4.
*Ottawa Rough Riders/ Ottawa Senators
9
5.
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
8
6.
Montreal Alouettes
7
T-7.
B.C. Lions
6
T-7.
Calgary Stampeders
6
9.
*Hamilton Tigers
5
10.
*University of Toronto
4
T-11.
Saskatchewan Roughriders/ Regina
Roughriders
3
T-11.
*Queen’s University
3
T-13.
*Sarnia Imperials
2
T-13.
*Toronto Balmy Beach
2
T-15.
*Hamilton Flying Wildcats
1
T-15.
*Montreal AAA Winged Wheelers
1
T-15.
*Montreal St. Hyacinthe-Don Navy
1
T-15.
*Toronto RCAF Hurricanes
1
T-15.
*Hamilton Alerts
1
T-15.
*Baltimore CFL Stallion
1
*No longer in CFL
BOOK OF LISTS
THE STATS / TEAMS
CFL DIVISION TITLES
(among active teams)
1. Edmonton Eskimos 22
2. Winnipeg Blue Bombers 19
T-3. Montreal Alouettes 18
T-3. Hamilton Tiger-Cats 18
5. Toronto Argonauts 14
6. Calgary Stampeders 13
7. Saskatchewan Roughriders 11
8. B.C. Lions 10
CFL HALL OF FAMERS BY
TEAM
1. Edmonton Eskimos 39
2. Toronto Argonauts 37
T-3. B.C. Lions 34
T-3. Hamilton Tiger-Cats 34
5. Winnipeg Blue Bombers 33
6. Calgary Stampeders 30
7. Ottawa Rough Riders/Renegades 28
8. Montreal Alouettes 24
9. Saskatchewan Roughriders 21
BOOK OF LISTS
ALL-TIME CFL WINNING
PERCENTAGES
1. Edmonton Eskimos .574
2. Calgary Stampeders .521
3. Winnipeg Blue Bombers .510
4. Montreal Alouettes .509
5. B.C. Lions .482
6. Hamilton Tiger-Cats .474
7. Toronto Argonauts .462
8. Saskatchewan Roughriders .459
9. Ottawa Rough Riders/Renegades .452
BOOK OF LISTS
THE STATS / TEAMS
13
LONGEST TEAM
WINNING STREAKS
1. T
he Kentucky Wildcats Basketball Team won 129 straight home games
from 1943–55.
2. In 2010, the University of Connecticut women’s basketball team topped the
UCLA men’s record of consecutive victories by winning 90 games in a row.
3. In the 1970s, the UCLA men’s basketball team won 88 straight games under head coach John Wooden.
4. F rom 1953–57, the Oklahoma Sooners tore up NCAA Division 1 Football.
Bud Wilkinson’s boys won 47 straight games and two national championships along the way.
5. T
he 1971–72 Lakers won 33 straight games.
6. T
he Australian cricket team won 26 World Cup matches from 1999–2011,
netting them three straight World Cups.
7. T
he U.S. won 25 straight America’s Cups between 1851 and 1983. It marks
the longest winning streak in sports history at 132 years.
8. The Indianapolis Colts won 23 straight regular-season games spread over
the 2008 and 2009 seasons.
9. T
he 2011–12 Detroit Red Wings won 23 straight home games, setting an
NHL record in the process.
BOOK OF LISTS
10. T
he 2003–04 New England Patriots racked up 21 straight victories.
11. The 1935 Chicago Cubs won 21 straight games (no ties), still tied for the
MLB record with the 1880 Chicago White Stockings.
12. The 1992–93 Pittsburgh Penguins won 17 games in a row.
13. Boston Celtics’ streak of eight consecutive NBA championships started in
1959 and ended in 1966.
BOOK OF LISTS
THE STATS / TEAMS
LONGEST CURRENT
PLAYOFF DROUGHTS
1. 28 Years:
Kansas City Royals (Last playoff appearance: 1985)
2. 21 years:
Pittsburgh Pirates (1992)
3.20 years:
Toronto Blue Jays (1993)
4.14 years:
Buffalo Bills (1999)
5.12 years:
Seattle Mariners (2001)
6.11 years:
Oakland Raiders (2002)
Cleveland Browns (2002)
7.10 years:
Miami Marlins (2003)
8.9 years:
Minnesota Timberwolves (2004)
BOOK OF LISTS
THE STATS / TEAMS
LONGEST LOSING
STREAKS
(in games)
207—Caltech Beavers, Div. III basketball (1996–2007)
80—Prairie View A&M Panthers, Division I-AA football (1989–98)
49—University of Toronto Varsity Blues, CIS football (1995–2008)
26—Cleveland Cavaliers, NBA (2010–11, first post-LeBron season)
26—Tampa Bay Buccaneers, NFL (1976–77)
26—Louisville Colonels (now defunct), minor league baseball (1889)
23—Philadelphia Phillies, MLB (1961)
17—Washington Capitals (1974–75) and San Jose Sharks (1992–93)
Bonus: The Pittsburgh Pirates have had 20 straight losing seasons since
1992, the year they let Barry Bonds leave as a free agent to the San Francisco Giants.
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THE STATS / TEAMS
THE WORST CHAMPS
1. 1937–38 Chicago Black Hawks The first NHL team with a losing record
(14-25-9) to win the Cup.
2. 2009 Real Salt Lake 40 points (11 wins, 12 losses, seven ties) stole the last
playoff spot. Then a miracle run ended by beating L.A. in the final.
3. 2006 St. Louis Cardinals A .516 regular season winning percentage (8376) remains the lowest ever for a World Series champion.
4. 2011 New York Giants The first NFL team with fewer than 10 regular-season victories (9-7) to win the Super Bowl.
5. 1977–78 Washington Bullets No NBA team has won the Finals after recording a worse regular-season mark (44-38).
BOOK OF LISTS
THE STATS / TEAMS
QUEBEC MAJOR JUNIOR
HOCKEY LEAGUE TEAMS
WITH THE MOST NHL
DRAFTED PLAYERS
(through 2012)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
T-11.
T-11.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
Shawinigan
Lewiston/Sherbrooke
Gatineau/Hull
Drummondville
Chicoutimi
Victoriaville
Halifax
Rimouski
Quebec
Val-d’Or
P.E.I./Montreal
Moncton
Baie-Comeau
Rouyn-Norandta
Cape Breton
Saint John
Acadie-Bathurst
Montreal/St. John’s
87
80
79
59
57
39
36
34
29
27
24
24
23
20
18
13
11
9
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THE STATS / TEAMS
ONTARIO HOCKEY
LEAGUE TEAMS WITH
THE MOST NHL DRAFTED
PLAYERS
(through 2012)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
T-17.
T-17.
T-17.
20.
21.
Peterborough
Oshawa
London
Kitchener
Ottawa
Sault Ste. Marie
Sudbury
Kingston
Windsor
Guelph
Saginaw/North Bay
Belleville
Plymouth
Owen Sound
Sarnia
Brampton
Barrie
Mississauga
St. Michael’s/Toronto
Erie
Niagara/Mississauga
173
162
155
150
143
119
116
103
96
82
78
71
70
44
37
36
31
31
31
30
20
BOOK OF LISTS
THE STATS / TEAMS
UNITED STATES HOCKEY
LEAGUE TEAMS WITH
THE MOST NHL DRAFTED
PLAYERS
(2000–12)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
T-6.
T-6.
8.
9.
10.
11.
T-12.
T-12.
14.
T-15.
T-15.
U.S. Under-18 NTDP
Des Moines
Lincoln
Green Bay
Omaha
Cedar Rapids
Sioux Falls
Waterloo
Chicago
Indiana
Sioux City
Fargo
Dubuque
Tri-City
Youngstown
Muskegon
90
19
18
16
15
14
14
11
10
9
7
4
4
3
1
1
BOOK OF LISTS
THE STATS / TEAMS
MOST NHL DRAFTED
PLAYERS FROM TEAMS
IN THE WESTERN
HOCKEY LEAGUE
(through 2012)
T-1.
T-1.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
T-10.
T-10.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
Portland
Saskatoon
Regina
Medicine Hat
Kamloops
Brandon
Seattle
Lethbridge
Prince Albert
Spokane
Moose Jaw
Tri-City
Red Deer
Swift Current
Calgary
Kelowna
Prince George
Vancouver
Kootenay
Everett
Edmonton
Chilliwack
122
122
115
111
112
106
98
92
84
68
68
56
51
47
43
41
29
22
21
15
9
5
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THE STATS / TEAMS
5
CHAMPIONSHIP
FRANCHISES
1. New York Yankees: 27 World Series titles. The second-place Cardinals
would need 16 straight to catch them.
2. Montreal Canadiens: Ran up 24 Stanley Cups by 1993, now in their longest
title-drought ever
3. Boston Celtics: NBA-leading 17 titles, including a run of seven in 11 years
4. Pittsburgh Steelers: No NFL team can top Steeltown’s six Super Bowl
championships
5. Chicago Vendetta: Their two titles lead all National Dodgeball League
franchises
BOOK OF LISTS
THE TEAMS / FIELD OF PLAY
4
CANADIANS ROBBED OF
VICTORY
(...not that we’re still bitter or anything)
1. 2012 London Games, Women’s Soccer, Canada falls to the United States
The villain of Canada’s heartbreaking 4–3 semifinal loss? Norwegian referee Christina Pederson, whose shocking delay-of-game call against goalie
Erin McLeod led to the Americans’ third—and tying—goal.
2. 2002 Salt Lake City Games, Pairs Figure Skating, silver for Jamie Salé
and David Pelletier Fans, TV commentators and non-working judges all
cried foul after the Canadians placed second. But when corruption allegations surfaced against the French judge, the pair earned a share of gold
with the Russians.
3. 1984 Los Angeles Games, Men’s Boxing, Canada vs. USA After lightmiddleweight Shawn O’Sullivan dominated American Frank Tate but lost
20–19, the home crowd booed the decision. Even Tate’s coach admitted
that O’Sullivan deserved to win.
4. 1993 Campbell Conference Final, referee Kerry Fraser misses call
against Wayne Gretzky Maple Leafs fans still curse Fraser for not calling Gretzky for a high stick on Doug Gilmour during game six. “The Great
One” scored the winner minutes later, and then potted a hat trick to help
the Kings win game seven.
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5
REALLY OLD
FRANCHISES
1. Melbourne FC (Aussie Rules Football) Founded 1858 Blackheath FC
(Rugby) Founded 1858
155 Years
2. Notts County FC (Soccer) Founded 1862
151 Years
3. Atlanta Braves (Baseball) Founded 1871 as the Boston Red Stockings
142 Years
4. Arizona Cardinals (Football) Founded 1898 as the Morgan Athletic Club
115 Years
5. Montreal Canadiens (Hockey) Founded 1909
104 Years
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10
GREATEST RIVALRIES IN
SPORTS HISTORY
1. Barcelona-Real Madrid: Forget church and state—in Spain, the line between football and state is blurry. The country’s two biggest teams have
come to stand for opposing politics—Madrid the establishment, Barca the
rebels. The divide was most acrimonious during the Spanish Civil War, when
FC Barcelona, with its Catalan supporters, was seen as an anti-nationalist
threat and the club’s president was executed by Franco’s troops. These
days, it’s Madrid for Spain; Barca for Catalonian independence. When they
meet, Spain stops.
2. Leafs-Canadiens: Hockey’s original rivalry, the Leafs and Habs were once
the most obvious (and most interesting) manifestation of Canada’s two solitudes, dividing French and English fans. As the only two Canadian squads
among the NHL’s Original Six, they had even more to fight for, and boy did
they scrap: From 1944–1978, the Canadiens met the Maple Leafs in 15 playoffs and five Cup finals. The last of these, in 1968, remains the last Cup the
Leafs have claimed; the Habs have been champs 10 times since.
3. Lakers-Celtics: In 1969, basketball’s two best, Wilt Chamberlain and Bill
Russell, stopped speaking to each other after their teams met in the NBA
Finals. Chamberlain took to the bench in the dying minutes of game seven
with a bad ankle. Russell called it “copping out.” It made personal the intense rivalry between the league’s premier squads, a lopsided affair during the 1960s when Boston won all but one championship, beating L.A.
six times. In the ’80s, the main characters—Magic and the Bird—were just
as compelling, and L.A. finally prevailed in 1985. The late aughts featured
Kevin Garnett and Kobe Bryant in the 2008 and 2010 Finals. In all, the two
teams have faced off in 12 Finals. The running score: 9-3 for Boston.
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4. Yankees-Red Sox: In 1901, the Boston Americans and New York Highlanders met for the first time. And a fight broke out. So it began. The rivalry’s
mythical moment came in 1919, when the Red Sox sold Babe Ruth to the
Yankees, a move (Bostonians insist) that haunted the Sox through an 86year championship drought. Watching the Yankees nab 27 titles, Boston
fans jumped into the fray, including a diehard Sox supporter who, in 1974,
launched a dart into the arm of Yankees first baseman Chris Chambliss.
Boston found redemption in 2004, when New York blew a 3-0 lead over the
Red Sox in the ALCS, and Boston went on to sweep St. Louis for the crown.
5. Packers-Bears: The NFL’s longest rivalry is also its most intense. These
two, with 22 NFL championships, including five Super Bowls between them,
have been trading blows since 1921. It’s always been nasty—in 1924, the
Bears’ Frank Hanny and the Packers’ Walter Voss were the first two NFL
players ever ejected for fighting. And with two meetings a year in a divisional setting, every game is critical.
6. Canadiens-Nordiques: The Habs were Quebec’s only hockey team. Then,
all of a sudden in 1979, they weren’t. In a region that has never been stoic
when it comes to sports, and among citizens who have made a habit of
turning hockey into political theatre, the Habs-Nords rivalry of the ’80s
became must-see TV.
7. Army-Navy: The original college sports rivalry. Every year since 1930, the
next generation of two branches of the American military goes toe to toe
in the muddy gridiron trenches. The fact that the game is always televised,
even when the teams competing are far from bowl calibre, is a testament to
just how much this matchup means to alumni and neutrals alike.
8. Honduras–El Salvador: Start with this: “The 100 Hours War” the countries
fought is also called “The Soccer War.” Soccer didn’t fill the powder keg
(immigration and land-reform issues did), but it provided the spark—in the
summer of 1969, simmering tensions boiled over into rioting during qualifying for the 1970 World Cup. After splitting two games, a playoff match
was held in Mexico City on June 26. El Salvador won 3–2 in extra time, then
promptly dissolved all diplomatic ties with Honduras, which led to border
BOOK OF LISTS
clashes between the two nations—and as many as 3,000 casualties.
9. Avalanche–Red Wings: The shooting star of hockey rivalries, it exploded
onto the NHL scene and burned brilliantly for about a decade before fading out completely. When Claude Lemieux smashed Kris Draper’s face into
the boards during a 1996 Western Conference final game, the Wings vowed
revenge. They didn’t get it until the following March, a 6–5 Wings OT win
that included the most epic goalie fight in NHL history with Patrick Roy
and Mike Vernon going toe-to-toe at centre ice. For years, every game—including three playoff series—was filled with the threat of serious violence.
10. Duke–North Carolina: Both as meaningful and typical as they come: Two
great teams, one small geographic region. Two legendary coaches, a slew
of fantastic players. Oh, and that special loyalty and passion that can only
come from college kids cheering on their, uh, “classmates.” It’s been raging since 1920 and has been named the hottest rivalry in college sports.
BOOK OF LISTS
9
WORST ALL-TIME HEARTWRENCHING COLLAPSES
2004 MLB Up 3–0 in the series and three outs from victory against Boston,
the New York Yankees cough up the game and then the series.
1992 NFL Leading the AFC wild-card game 28–3 at halftime, the Houston Oilers are outscored 38–10 in the second half as the Buffalo Bills pull off a 41–38
win.
1994 World Cup qualifiers France needs one point from two home games to
reach USA ’94, but consecutive last-minute collapses end in losses to Israel
and Bulgaria.
1964 MLB With 12 to play, the Philadelphia Phillies lead the NL by 6.5 games.
But a 10-game losing streak sees the St. Louis Cardinals nip them for the pennant.
1942 NHL The Detroit Red Wings become the first team in pro sports to blow
a 3-0 series lead, losing the Stanley Cup Final to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
1995 MLB The California Angels blow a 10.5-game AL West lead in five weeks
and lose a playoff tiebreaker to the Seattle Mariners.
2000 NBA The Portland Trail Blazers lead the Los Angeles Lakers by 15
points in the fourth quarter of the seventh game of the West final... and lose.
1980 NCAA SMU leads BYU by 20 with 4:00 to go in the Holiday Bowl, yet
lose 46–45.
BOOK OF LISTS
2012 EPL Manchester United lead Manchester City by eight points with six
games left. A last-gasp City win on the final day completes the title theft on
goal differential.
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CFL FRANCHISE
RANKINGS
After the 2010 season, Sportsnet ranked the CFL franchises based on their
performance across a variety of categories (all-time winning percentage,
Grey Cup wins and losses, etc.) dating back to 1945. We updated the list
for this book and, sorry Roughriders fans, the Green and White are still
dead last.
1. Edmonton Eskimos (1,775 points): Tops in winning percentage, division
titles, Grey Cup wins, regular-season MVPs and Hall of Famers, it’s no wonder the Esks are No. 1.
2. Hamilton Tiger-Cats (1,380): An extra Grey Cup win (eight to seven) puts
the Ti-Cats two points ahead of the Als.
3. Montreal Alouettes (1,378): A dearth of Als in the Hall of Fame (secondlast at 24) also costs Montreal, who boast the second-most division titles
and Grey Cup losses.
4. Toronto Argonauts (1,344): Despite a measly .462 all-time winning percentage, the Boatmen’s 11 Grey Cup wins (second only to Edmonton’s 13)
go a long way.
5. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (1,307): Tops in Grey Cup losses (12) is a good
thing in this case, earning the Bombers 240 points.
6. Calgary Stampeders (1,201): Even the league’s second-highest all-time
winning percentage (.521) can’t make up for an inability to make it to the
big dance—Calgary ranks sixth in Grey Cup losses (seven) and is tied for
second last in wins (six).
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7. B.C. Lions (1,109): Recent success aside, B.C. hasn’t made much of a postseason splash. The Lions do have a nose for talent, though, sniffing out 13
ROYs, tops all-time.
8. Ottawa Rough Riders/Renegades (1,010): Hard to stay in the hunt when
you aren’t fielding a team, but Ottawa’s six Grey Cup wins lift them over
Saskatchewan despite the club sitting dead last in all-time winning percentage at .452.
9. Saskatchewan Roughriders (961): Well, last in Grey Cup wins (three),
regular-season and Grey Cup MVPs (four each), rookie of the year winners
(two) and Hall of Famers (21); second-last in winning percentage (.459) and
coaches of the year (tied with five); and reaching its highest point (fifth) on
the list of Grey Cup losses (eight). It all adds up to the worst franchise in
the CFL (objectively).
BOOK OF LISTS
BRIAN KILREA’S 20
FAVOURITE OTTAWA
67’S TO COACH
Kilrea, the Hall of Fame former coach and GM of the Ottawa 67’s, saw plenty
of great players come and go in his 35-year history with the Ontario Hockey
League club.
1. Bobby Smith (187 games played for the 67’s, 1975–78)
2. Doug Wilson (106 GP, ’74–77)
3. Peter Lee (280 GP, ’71–76)
4. Jim Fox (164 GP, ’77–80)
5. Alyn McCauley (208 GP, ’93–97)
6. Steve Payne (113 GP, ’76–78)
7. Yvan Joly (259 GP, ’76–80)
8. Andrew Cassels (183 GP, ’86–89)
9. Mike Peca (137 GP, ’91–94)
10. Logan Couture (232 GP, ’05–09)
11. Brad Shaw (199 GP, ’81–84)
12. Brian Campbell (260 GP, ’95–99)
13. Nick Boynton (218 GP, ’95–99)
14. Mark Paterson (166 GP, ’81–84)
15. Randy Boyd (155 GP, ’79–82)
16. Darren Pang (90 GP, ’82–84)
17. Tim Higgins (197 GP, ’74–78)
18. Steve Marengere (292 GP, ’74–79)
19. Petr Mrazek (132 GP, ’09–12)
20. Bruce Cassidy (165 GP, ’82–85)
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7
TOP CANADIAN
CINDERELLA STORIES
1. 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup, Canada defeats Colombia 2–0 Canada entered the tournament ranked 85th in the world, and it took a coin flip to
get out of the group. But Les Rouges went on to beat Mexico, Trinidad and
Tobago and Colombia en route to Canada’s biggest international title.
2. 2013 Davis Cup, Canada defeats Spain Milos Raonic and Vasek Pospisil
lift their country to the Davis Cup semifinals—the furthest Canada’s ever
gone in the tournament.
3. 2009 World Baseball Classic, Canada defeats United States 8–6 A Canadian team with players drawn from the Edmonton Capitals and the Somerset Patriots beat an American lineup boasting Jeter, A-Rod and Chipper
Jones, but was eliminated one game later thanks to a 9–1 drubbing at the
hands of Mexico.
4. London 2012, women’s basketball, Canada defeats Brazil 79–73 The Canadians earned a spot in the quarterfinals with their first win over the South
American giants in 12 years.
5. 2013 Wellington Sevens rugby tournament, Canada defeats Fiji 28–19
Canada claimed the Bowl Championship after beating favourites Fiji for
just the second time ever.
6. Rogers Cup 2010, Milos Raonic/Vasek Pospisil beat Rafael Nadal/Novak
Djokovic 5–7, 6–3, 10–8 The Canadian duo knocked off the world’s firstand second-ranked players in three sets in Toronto.
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7. Sydney 2000, men’s basketball, Canada defeats Yugoslavia 83–75 Steve
Nash posted 26 points, eight boards and eight assists to help Canada reach
the quarters.
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THE LONGEST GAMES IN
HISTORY, BY SPORT
Cricket 43 hours, 16 minutes
England vs. South Africa, Durban Cricket tournament, 1939.
The craziest part about this nine-day cricket match? It ended in a draw.
Wrestling 11 hours, 40 minutes
Martin Klein vs. Alfred Asikainen, 1912 Olympics, Stockholm, Sweden
After nearly 12 hours of exhausting struggle, the Estonian Klein finally beat
his Finnish opponent. And himself, really—he was too exhausted to compete
in the final the next day, and forfeited gold.
Tennis 11 hours, five minutes
John Isner vs. Nicolas Mahut, 2010 Wimbeledon.
This marathon had to be played over three days. Isner took the final set 70
games to Mahut’s 68.
MLB Eight hours, seven minutes
Milwaukee Brewers vs. Chicago White Sox, May 8–9, 1964.
Played over two days, the game finally ended when Chicago slugger Harold
Baines hit a homer out of Comiskey in the bottom of the 25th inning.
Boxing Seven hours, 19 minutes
Andy Bowen vs. Jack Burke, April 6, 1893.
This bout in New Orleans took 110 rounds to not settle. Each fighter wanted
the $2,500 purse, but the ref called it a draw when neither could continue—
Burke had broken every bone in his hands, and both wrists.
NHL Two hours, 56 minutes
Detroit Red Wings vs. Montreal Maroons, March 24, 1936.
Scoreless through regulation and five overtime periods, game one of the ’36
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Stanley Cup final saw its only goal scored in the sixth OT. It belonged to Detroit, and they went on to win the Cup.
Table Tennis Abandoned after two hours and 12 minutes
Alex Ehrlich vs. Paneth Farcas, 1936 World Championship
Two staunchly defensive players, their opening rally lasted 12,000 strokes—
during which Ehrlich started a chess match with a spectator and the ref’s
neck physically locked up. When the point finally ended—with Ehrlich winning it—the match was soon cancelled.
Football One hour, 23 minutes
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Miami Dolphins, Dec. 25, 1971.
It took Miami more than 22 minutes of overtime to beat the Chiefs in this firstround playoff matchup.
NBA One hour, 18 minutes
Indianapolis Olympians vs. Rochester Royals, Jan. 6, 1951
Despite six overtime periods, the Olympians won by a lowly score of 75–73.
The game took place three years before the 24-second shot clock was introduced.
Soccer 48 penalty kicks after extra time
KK Palace vs. FC Civics Windhoek, Namibia, Jan. 1, 2005
KK Palace’s 17–16 penalty-kick win in a Cup match is, really, Namibian soccer’s
only claim to fame. And it didn’t even work out for the winners—Ramblers FC
ended up winning the Cup.
Golf 11 playoff holes
Cary Middlecoff vs. Lloyd Mangrum, Motor City Open, 1949
There are times when sudden-death playoffs aren’t so sudden. After 11 playoff holes, PGA officials had had enough, and named both of the future World
Golf Hall of Famers winners.
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10
TOP MONTREAL
CANADIENS OF ALL TIME
1. Maurice Richard: The first player to score 50 goals in a season and 500 in
a career is the all-time face of the franchise, thanks to those fire-filled eyes.
2. Jean Béliveau: His elegant game and gentlemanly manner made Béliveau
one of the best ambassadors Montreal—and the NHL—has ever known.
3. Guy Lafleur: In a city that cherishes style, nobody played with more élan
than “The Flower,” the Canadiens’ all-time points leader.
4. Doug Harvey: Before there was Bobby Orr, hard-nosed Doug Harvey was
pushing the attack from the back end.
5. Jacques Plante: An innovator who has more wins and games in the crease
than any other Habs goalie.
6. Howie Morenz: The team’s first superstar and a three-time Hart Trophy
winner had the entire city mourning when he passed prematurely at age 34.
7. Larry Robinson: How does plus-700 in his Habs career sound? “Big Bird”
was a force in every sense of the word.
8. Patrick Roy: Without his goaltending heroics, the Canadiens never would
have claimed their last two Cups in 1986 and 1993.
9. Aurèle Joliat: Small in stature but big on skill, Joliat often played beside
Morenz to form an unstoppable duo in the 1920s and ’30s.
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10. Henri Richard: The franchise leader in games played was as steady as
they come, and has more Cup rings (11) than fingers and thumbs.
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20
MOST SUCCESSFUL
EUROPEAN SOCCER
TEAMS*
1. Rangers (SCO) 195 pts (54 L, 33 C)
2. Celtic (SCO) 169 pts (43 L, 1 E, 35 C)
3. Real Madrid (ESP) 159 pts (32 L, 9 E, 18 C)
4. Olympiakos (GRE) 145 pts (40 L, 25 C)
5. Barcelona (ESP) 134 pts (21 L, 4 E, 26 C)
6. Ajax (NED) 131 pts (31L, 4 E, 18 C)
7. Benfica (POR) 130 pts (32 L, 2 E, 24 C)
8. Sparta Prague (CZE) 122 pts (35 L, 17 C)
9. Porto (POR) 113 pts (29 L, 2 E, 16 C)
10. Bayern Munich (GER) 104 pts (23 L, 4 E, 15 C)
11. Red Star Belgrade (SER) 104 pts (25 L, 1 E, 24 C)
12. Juventus (ITA) 103 pts (28 L, 2 E, 9 C)
13. RSC Anderlecht (BEL) 102 pts (31 L, 9 C)
14. Dynamo Kiev (UKR) 96 pts (26 L, 18 C)
15. Steaua Bucharest (ROM) 95 pts (23 L, 1 E, 21 C)
16. AC Milan (ITA) 94 pts (18 L, 7 E, 5 C)
17. Liverpool (ENG) 86 pts (18 L, 5 E, 7 C)
18. Manchester United (ENG) 83 pts (19 L, 3 E, 11 C)
19. PSV Eindhoven (NED) 77 pts (21 L, 1 E, 9 C)
20. Panathinaikos (GRE) 77 pts (20 L, 17 C)
*Formula: European Championship/ Domestic championships (L) = 3 pts;
Champions League (E) = 5 pts; Top domestic cup (C) = 1 pt
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10
CRAZY FINISHES
1. Team Canada, 2009 World Junior Championship Semifinal vs. Russia
Down a goal with the clock winding toward zero, John Tavares corrals the
puck on the right boards and fires a backhand that ricochets off a defenceman onto the stick of Jordan Eberle, who scores with 5.4 seconds left to
tie the game 5–5. Eberle also scores in the shootout as Canada defeats the
Russians 6–5.
2. Music City Miracle A late-game drive resulting in a field goal gave the
Buffalo Bills a 16–15 lead over the Tennessee Titans with just 16 seconds to
play in the 2000 AFC wild card game. On the ensuing kickoff, Titans tight
end Frank Wycheck threw a lateral to receiver Kevin Dyson, who took off
down the sidelines for a 75-yard game-winning touchdown as time expired.
3. Miracle at Medinah Trailing 10–6 heading into the final day of the 2012
Ryder Cup, team Europe battled back to secure a 14½–13½ win thanks to
a missed putt by Steve Stricker and a five-foot make by Martin Kaymer on
the 18th hole.
4. The Miracle on Manchester Down 5–0 to the powerhouse Edmonton Oilers
in the 1983 playoffs, the Los Angeles Kings did the unthinkable and stormed
back to score five goals in the third period, including the game-tying goal
from Steve Bozek with five seconds to play. Daryl Evans notched the overtime
winner. It remains the biggest single-game comeback in NHL playoff history.
5. “Havlicek stole the ball!” The Boston Celtics and Philadelphia Warriors
traded baskets throughout game seven of the 1965 Eastern Conference
final. With five seconds left and his team up by one, Celtics star John Havlicek stole Hal Greer’s in-bounds pass, sealing the win and sending the
Celts to the Finals.
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6. 1982 Monaco Grand Prix Alain Prost led from Lap 14 to 74 before slamming into a wall two loops from the finish. Riccardo Patrese took over briefly before spinning out on the famous hairpin turn and stalling his engine on
No. 75. Didier Pironi took the lead, but his gas tank ran dry before he completed a lap. As announcer James Hunt called it, “We’ve got this ridiculous
situation where we’re all sitting by the start/finish waiting for a winner, and
we don’t seem to be getting one.” Finally Patrese, who bump-started his
car, crossed the line in the least-convincing win in Monaco history.
7. Tracy McGrady’s 13 points in 35 seconds The Houston Rockets were
trailing the San Antonio Spurs 74–64 with just over a minute left in regulation. But then “T-Mac” caught fire, dropping four three-pointers and nailing
a free throw in the final 35 seconds to secure the Rockets an 81–80 win.
8. 47th Vanier Cup In 2011, McMaster and Laval provided one of the wildest
CIS games in recent memory in front of a packed house at BC Place in Vancouver. The Rouge et Or completed two comeback drives—one to tie the
game at the end of regulation and another in overtime, before a Mauraders
field goal sealed the 41–38, double-overtime win.
9. Miracle of Istanbul In the 2005 Champions League final, Liverpool scored
three goals in six minutes to tie AC Milan 3–3. The Reds won the match on
penalties, marking one of the greatest soccer finishes in history.
10. Now that’s a Hurricane The New Jersey Devils held a one-goal lead in
game seven of the first round of the 2009 playoffs when the Carolina Hurricanes scored twice in the final 1:20 to take the series.
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6
ONCE-GREAT EUROPEAN
SOCCER TEAMS FALLEN
ON HARD TIMES
1. Blackburn Rovers Only five teams have ever won the Premier League. One
of them has since been relegated twice and is currently struggling to avoid
dropping to the third tier of English soccer. Now owned by an Indian chicken processing company, Rovers are a long way from their 1995 EPL title.
2. Pro Vercelli The legendary Italian club’s heyday in the first quarter of the
1900s still has it tied for fifth in all-time Serie A titles (with seven). But they
dropped from Serie A in 1930, never to return. In 2010, the team dissolved,
but the town has since revived it, transferring its identity onto another
club. One amazing revival later, the new Pro Vercelli is in Serie B.
3. Rangers The most successful team in European history. Fifty-four league
wins, 33 Scottish Cups and 27 Scottish League Cups. But financial mismanagement sunk the team, forcing it to dissolve and reform. And, as it’s technically a new team, they started at the bottom: the Scottish third division.
They’re now working their way back up to the Scottish Premier League
they used to dominate.
4. Nottingham Forest Back-to-back winners of the European Cup in 1979
and 1980, Forest were on top of the football world. Now they’re in England’s
second tier, and they haven’t been seen in the Premier League (let alone
Europe) since last century.
5. Nantes Their eight Ligue 1 wins are the second-best ever. Add to that a
Champions League semifinal appearance, and you’ve got a pretty big club.
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Except they’re in the second division now, averaging just 12,000 fans a
game in their 38,000-seat stadium.
6. Leeds United They were English football in the 1970s, winning three league
championships and the FA Cup, and earning a European Cup runners-up
honour. Strong in the early years of the Premier League, the team’s on-field
results couldn’t keep up with the debts incurred off it. Financial implosion
followed, and the team sunk down the divisions. They have yet to recover.
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TOP-FLIGHT SOCCER
TEAMS IN CANADA
North American Soccer League (NASL), 1968–84; American Professional
Soccer League (APSL), 1990–94; A-League, 1995; Major League Soccer
(MLS), 1996–present
Toronto Falcons 1968 (NASL)
Vancouver Royals 1968 (NASL)
Toronto Metros 1970–74 (NASL)
Montreal Olympique 1971–73 (NASL)
Toronto Blizzard 1971–84 (NASL), 1993 (APSL)
Vancouver Whitecaps 1974–84 (NASL), 2011–present (MLS)
Toronto Metro-Croatia 1975–78 (NASL)
Montreal Manic 1977–1980 (NASL)
Calgary Boomers 1978–81 (NASL)
Edmonton Drillers 1978–82 (NASL)
Vancouver 86ers 1993–94 (APSL), 1995 (A-League)
Montreal Impact 1993–94 (APSL), 1995–96 (A-League), 2012–present
(MLS)
Toronto Rockets 1994 (APSL)
Toronto FC 2007–present (MLS)
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6
MOST EPIC SINGLEGAME COMEBACKS OF
ALL TIME
1. The Buffalo Bills overcame a 35–3 deficit to defeat the Houston Oilers
41–38 in overtime during the 1992 AFC wild card game.
2. Liverpool, down three goals to AC Milan, tied the game in the span of six
minutes and won on penalties to capture the 2005 Champions League title.
3. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, defending Super Bowl champs, led the Indianapolis Colts 35–14 with less than five minutes to play in a 2003 regularseason game—until Peyton Manning threw three TDs to tie the game and
send it to overtime. The Colts completed the comeback, winning 38–35.
4. In the 2005 NCAA Tournament, the No. 1 ranked Illinois trailed No. 3 Arizona by 15 points with four minutes left. The Fighting Illini went on a 20–5
run and sent the game into overtime, ultimately winning 90–89 and securing a spot in the Final Four.
5. It was dubbed the Miracle on Manchester. On April 10, 1982, at the second intermission of game three in a best-of-five first-round series, the L.A.
Kings were down 5–0 to the Edmonton Oilers. Then they stormed back
to score four goals by 17:14 of the third period. Unlikely hero Steve Bozek
scored the tying goal with five seconds left. The Kings won in OT and eliminated the Oilers in game five.
6. In an Aug. 5, 2001, matchup, the Cleveland Indians were losing 12–0 to
the Seattle Mariners. By the end of the ninth, the game was tied. After 11
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innings, the Indians emerged the victors. Their comeback tied the 1911 Detroit Tigers and the 1925 Phillidelphia Athletics as the greatest in baseball
history.
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30
GREATEST MAPLE LEAFS
OF ALL TIME
1. Dave Keon Winner of four Stanley Cups, Keon could be the best player on
the ice and the key to winning even when he didn’t score.
2. Syl Apps He retired at 33, but Apps left an indelible mark on the franchise
and the team’s trophy case—he won the first-ever Calder Trophy in 1937.
3. Charlie Conacher He was big, he was fast, he put the puck in the net for
the Blue and White. Conacher led the league in scoring twice and in goals
five times.
4. Teeder Kennedy Never the most skilled player, Kennedy worked harder
than anyone on the ice and raised the play of his teammates through sheer
determination.
5. Johnny Bower Bower didn’t suit up between the pipes for the Leafs until
he was 33, but became a star as soon as he did—he eventually played the
second-most minutes of anyone in team history.
6. Frank Mahovlich The highest-scoring left winger the franchise has ever
seen, he nearly became the second 50-goal scorer in NHL history with 48
markers in 1960–61.
7. Tim Horton Before his name became synonymous with coffee, the blueliner was selected to six post-season All-Star teams in his 20 seasons with
the Leafs.
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8. Borje Salming The Swede was a prototypical two-way defenceman, giving
as good as he got on both ends of the ice and expanding the fans’ idea of
what European players could bring to the NHL.
9. Darryl Sittler Sidney Crosby’s nickname is “Darryl,” after Sittler. That’s really all you need to know.
10. Mats Sundin While his teams never reached the pinnacle of NHL success,
Sundin sits atop the Buds’ all-time leaderboard in both goals and points.
11. King Clancy A true do-it-all player, Clancy played all six positions in an
NHL game before he joined up with the Leafs in 1930. He held a position
with the organization until his death in 1986.
12. Turk Broda He was the winningest goalie in Leafs history, and hoisted the
Cup five times. Bet you didn’t know his real first name was Walter, though,
did you?
13. Doug Gilmour Played only seven seasons in Toronto, but in his first with
the team in 1991–92, he put up 127 points on 32 goals and 95 assists—the
best season by any Leaf ever.
14. George Armstrong One of the greatest captains in franchise history, “the
Chief” potted an empty-net goal to help the team seal its last Stanley Cup
win in 1967.
15. Busher Jackson Effortless scorer, smooth skater, singular talent, alcoholic, convict—Jackson’s playing days as part of the “Kid Line” were as
bright as his post-playing days were dark.
16. Red Kelly A Leafs fan long before he ever put on the sweater, the Toronto-born pivot made eight semifinals in his eight years with the team.
17. Hap Day Day earned his nickname for his jovial spirit, but he stuck in the
league with smart, creative play that translated into a long coaching career.
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18. Wendel Clark You didn’t mess with Clark, or any of his teammates, and
you can’t mess with his playoff record now—he still holds the franchise
lead in post-season goals with 34.
19. Red Horner Described by Maclean’s in 1935 as “hockey’s bad boy,” Horner
finished his career with 1,254 penalty minutes. He also finished it with the
“C” on his chest.
20. Allan Stanley Defined by rock-solid stay-at-home defence—and, yeah,
slow skating—Stanley could also provide a scoring punch when needed,
and enjoyed his best years in blue and white.
21. Lanny McDonald Far more than just the owner of the hockey world’s most
recognizable ’stache, McDonald had talent and a work ethic to match, and
was a standout two-way player in seven seasons with the Leafs.
22. Max Bentley Known as the “Dipsy Doodle Dandy from Delisle,” Bentley
had an innate command of the puck to go with incredible speed. And to
think he centred the third line behind Apps and Kennedy.
23. Joe Primeau While Conacher and Jackson got a lot of the press, it was
the playmaking of “Gentleman Joe” that was the driving force behind Toronto’s infamous—and productive—“Kid Line.”
24. Rick Vaive Vaive’s teams didn’t win, but that was through no fault of his
own. The right winger scored 299 goals as a Leaf at a rate of 0.56 per
game, the best in team history.
25. Ron Ellis A humble kid installed in a locker room full of stars, “Ronnie the
Robot” made his bones by playing solid “D” and exhibiting an always underrated scoring touch.
26. Gordie Drillon Drillon may have been allergic to back-checking, but he
made two All-Star teams and once said he could score 20 goals “with a
broom.”
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27. Dick Duff Undersized at five-foot-nine, Duff nonetheless would drop the
gloves with anyone—even his own teammates in practice. He was a reliable point producer to boot.
28. Curtis Joseph In five years with the team over two separate stints, CuJo
made the kind of acrobatic saves they don’t teach you in hockey school,
always giving the Leafs a chance to win.
29. Babe Dye Dye was a three-sport star—he got his nickname from playing
baseball, and even suited up for a season with the Toronto Argonauts—
but it was his slapshot that made him a legend.
30. Harry Lumley Despite the fact that he wore no arm pads in net (going
black and blue over the course of a season), Lumley posted 13 shutouts
in 1953—still a Leafs record.
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CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS
THAT NO LONGER EXIST
Vancouver Millionaires Stanley Cup, 1915
Seattle Metropolitans Stanley Cup, 1917
Victoria Cougars Stanley Cup, 1925
Montreal Maroons Stanley Cup, 1926, ’35
Ottawa Rough Riders Grey Cup 1925, ’26, ’40, ’51, ’60, ’68, ’69, ’73, ’76
Baltimore Stallions Grey Cup, 1995
Akron Pros NFL Championship, 1920
Canton Bulldogs NFL Championship, 1922, ’23
Frankford Yellow Jackets NFL Championship, 1926
Providence Steam Roller NFL Championship, 1928
Baltimore Bullets NBA Championship, 1948
Houston Comets WNBA Championship, 1997, ’98, ’99, 2000
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CANADIAN-BORN
ATHLETES WHO TURNED
THEIR BACK ON CANADA
1. Brett Hull
2. Jonathan de Guzman
3. Greg Rusedski
4. Owen Hargreaves
5. Bryan Trottier
6. Isabelle and Paul Duchesnay
7. Tanith Belbin
8. Adam Deadmarsh
9. Lou Nanne
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10
SMALLEST COUNTRIES
TO REACH THE SOCCER
WORLD CUP
1. Paraguay 1 million (1930)
2. Trinidad and Tobago 1.3 million (2006)
3. Northern Ireland 1.4 million (1958)
4. Kuwait 1.5 million (1982)
5. Uruguay 1.7 million (1930)
6. U.A.E. 1.8 million (1990)
7. Slovenia 2 million (2010)
8. Jamaica 2.5 million (1998)
9. Wales 2.6 million (1958)
10. Norway 2.9 million (1938)
Population listed at the time of reaching their first World Cup
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THE TEAMS / FRONT OFFICE
11
BEST OWNERS IN
HISTORY
1. Packers fans, Green Bay Packers Publicly owned since 1923, the 363,948
people currently holding official shares are the only fans who can call their
team “my team” and really mean it.
2. Art Rooney, Pittsburgh Steelers No big deal, “The Chief” only founded the
most successful franchise in NFL history (in 1933, for a reported $2,300).
The Steelers have appeared in eight Super Bowls and won six.
3. Walter A. Brown, Boston Celtics A hockey man at heart and a key figure
in the growth of hockey in the U.S., Brown’s role as the driving force in establishing the NBA and his founding of the league’s first true dynasty, the
Boston Celtics, lands him on this list.
4. Al Davis, Oakland Raiders Between daring personnel moves, ugly legal
battles and relocating the Raiders both to and from Los Angeles in his
nearly 60 years at the helm, only one thing mattered: “Just win, baby.”
5. Mike Ilitch, Detroit Red Wings, Tigers Since Ilitch took control in 1982,
the Wings have won four Stanley Cups and missed the playoffs just three
times—the last time was in 1990. The Tigers have also appeared in two of
the past seven World Series.
6. Conn Smythe, Toronto Maple Leafs Smythe owned the Leafs from
1927–61, oversaw the building of the Gardens and has eight Stanley Cups
to his name.
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7. Jerry Buss, Los Angeles Lakers It took a reported $67 million for Buss to
purchase the Lakers (along with the NHL’s Kings and the Forum arena) in
1979, but it was worth it. He brought 10 championships and two of the most
iconic teams in NBA history to L.A. Plus, the dude had a Ph.D. in chemistry.
8. George Steinbrenner, New York Yankees “The Boss” turned an $8-million investment in 1973 into one of the most valuable franchises in all of
sports. The Yanks won seven World Series and 11 pennants before Steinbrenner died in 2010.
9. Jack Kent Cooke, Los Angeles Lakers, Washington Redskins A Hamilton, Ont., native and Canadian media mogul, Cooke brought success to
the Los Angeles sports scene when he bought the Lakers in 1965 and built
the iconic Forum arena. He also owned the Washington Redskins, who won
three Super Bowls under his ownership.
10. Jerry Jones, Dallas Cowboys Jones made an impact from day one in
Dallas, firing legendary Cowboys coach Tom Landry in his first act after
buying the team in 1989. Three Super Bowl rings and one massive stadium later, he’s still making his presence felt.
11. Wellington Mara, New York Giants A former New York Giants ballboy,
Mara took control of the club from his father at age 14 in 1930. The Giants
won six NFL titles during his tenure, and his son John has been in charge
during the franchise’s recent Super Bowl victories.
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5
NOTABLE CFL HEAD
COACHES WHO MADE
THE JUMP TO THE NFL
1. Pop Ivy
Edmonton Eskimos 1954–57
Chicago/St. Louis Cardinals 1958–61
Houston Oilers 1962–63
New York Giants 1965–84
2. Bud Grant
Winnipeg Blue Bombers 1957–66
Minnesota Vikings 1967–83, ’85
3. Marv Levy
Montreal Alouettes 1973–77
Kansas City Chiefs 1978–82
Buffalo Bills 1986–97
4. Hugh Campbell
Edmonton Eskimos 1977–82
Houston Oilers 1984–85
5. Marc Trestman
Montreal Alouettes 2008–12
Chicago Bears 2013–
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9
ACQUISITIONS
THAT CHANGED THE
LANDSCAPE OF THEIR
SPORT
1. Babe Ruth to the Yankees, 1919 The birth of a legend (in New York) and a
curse (in Boston). The next century of baseball felt the aftershocks.
2. Wayne Gretzky to the Kings, 1988 Want to know why the NHL has three
teams in California? And a bunch in other warm-weather cities? Blame this
deal, which made the rest of the U.S. sit up and notice hockey.
3. Peter Forsberg to the Nordiques, 1992 Sure, Lindros to Philly was the
bigger-news half of the deal, but it was Forsberg’s move to the Nords (and
Quebec’s move to Colorado) that resulted in Stanley Cups.
4. Herschel Walker to the Vikings, 1989 The eight draft picks the Cowboys
received in return allowed them to build their dynasty of the early ’90s.
5. Kobe Bryant to the Lakers, 1996 Vlade Divac went to Charlotte, but who
cares? Picked up on draft night, Kobe became arguably the best Laker ever
and won five rings.
6. Roberto Alomar and Joe Carter to the Blue Jays, 1990 Likely a bigger
impact to Canadians than the baseball world in general—but any deal that
results in two World Series titles is a move to be revered for decades.
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7. Scottie Pippen to the Bulls, 1987 The greatest “second-banana” trade
in sports history. The Bulls might have won a title or two without Pippen,
whom they stole from the Sonics for Olden Polynice and picks, but with
him (and that Jordan guy), they were among the most dominant teams of
all time.
8. John Elway to the Broncos, 1983 The poor Colts—Elway had no interest
in playing for them after they drafted him first overall, so they had little
choice. The Broncos won two Super Bowls with the Hall of Famer at quarterback.
9. Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett to the Celtics in separate deals, 2007
A legendary franchise was languishing on the rocks. And then it wasn’t.
Boston won a championship in 2008 and has contended almost every
year since.
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4
WORST GMS OF THE
PAST DECADE
1. Matt Millen, Detroit Lions, 2001–2008: The Lions owned a paltry .277
win percentage under Millen, third-worst in league history over at least a
seven-year span, averaging just 3.8 wins a season. For three years, between
2001–03, Detroit didn’t win a single road game. Lions fans protested Millen’s
tenure often, with “Fire Millen” chants echoing during home games, and the
infamous “Millen Man March” in 2005, which drew over 1,000 season ticket
holders. Notable draft picks: Joey Harrington (3rd overall), Charles Rogers
(2nd), Roy Williams (7th), Mike Williams (10th).
2. Elgin Baylor, L.A. Clippers, 1986–2008: An “Executive of the Year” award
in 2006 isn’t enough to erase 22 years of futility. One of the greatest players in NBA history couldn’t repeat his success in the front office. Under
Baylor, the Clippers were a perennial laughingstock, managing only two
winning seasons and one playoff series win. Notable draft picks: Danny
Manning (1st overall), Michael Olowokandi (1st), Darius Miles (3rd).
3. Mike Milbury, N.Y. Islanders, 1996–2004: The Islanders managed three
playoff appearances with Milbury calling the shots, but his tenure is best
remembered for a combination of terrible trades, questionable signings,
and head-scratching draft moves. The Islanders averaged 29 wins a season in that span. Prospects traded away: Roberto Luongo, Zdeno Chara,
Wade Redden, Eric Brewer, Darius Kasparaitis, Olli Jokinen, Todd Bertuzzi
and Jason Spezza.
4. Rob Babcock, Toronto Raptors, 2004–06: His first move, drafting Rafael
Araujo one pick ahead of Andre Iguodala, should have warned us all that
this wasn’t going to end well. Though he is credited with bringing Jose
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Calderon to Toronto, the Raptors managed 60 wins in Babcock’s two seasons at the helm. He was fired during the 2006 season; replacement Bryan
Colangelo went on to win Executive of the Year. Notable gaffes: drafting
Araujo (8th overall), Charlie Villanueva (7th), and Joey Graham (16th); trading Vince Carter to the Nets for Eric Williams and Aaron Williams.
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7
BIGGEST NFL DRAFT-DAY
TRADES
1. Tony Dorsett, 1977 The Dallas Cowboys wanted Dorsett so bad they sent
the Seattle Seahawks the 14th overall pick and three second-rounders to
move up to the No. 2 spot in the draft. The Cowboys won the Super Bowl in
his rookie season. The Seahawks used their picks to select Steve August,
Tom Lynch and Terry Beeson. They went 5-9 in 1977.
2. Jerry Rice, 1985 New England shipped the 16th pick to San Francisco for
the 28th and 56th selections. The 49ers selected the greatest wide receiver in NFL history. The Patriots nabbed Trevor Matich (11 seasons, 22 starts)
and Ben Thomas (five seasons, 19 starts).
3. Steve Young, 1987 The Tampa Bay Buccaneers traded their struggling
quarterback to the San Francisco 49ers for second- and fourth-round picks
that they used to draft Winston Moss and Bruce Hill.
4. Ricky Williams, 1999 Mike Ditka traded New Orleans’s picks in rounds one,
three, four, five, six and seven of the 1999 draft and first- and third-round
selections in 2000 to Washington to select Ricky Williams fifth overall with
the Saints’ lone pick. It was the first time in history a team had only a single
selection. After some further swaps, the Redskins ended up with Champ
Bailey, Derek Smith, LaVar Arrington and Lloyd Harrison.
5. Michael Vick, 2001 San Diego had the first overall pick but couldn’t refuse
Atlanta’s offer of the fifth selection and second-rounders in 2001 and 2002,
along with receiver Tim Dwight. The Falcons used their first overall pick to
select Michael Vick, while the Chargers used their 2001 picks on LaDainian
Tomlinson and Drew Brees, and their 2002 pick on Reche Caldwell.
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6. Eli Manning, 2004 The San Diego Chargers took Manning first overall and
then traded him to the New York Giants for Philip Rivers (selected fourth
overall in 2004) and three draft picks. The Chargers selected Nick Kaeding
in 2004, Shawne Merriman in 2005, and traded the third pick for veteran
Roman Oben.
7. Robert Griffin III, 2012 The Washington Redskins traded their first- and
second-round draft picks in 2012, as well as their first-round picks in 2013
and 2014, to the St. Louis Rams to select RGIII at No. 2.
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7
MR. IRRELEVANTS WHO
MANAGED TO HAVE A
FOOTBALL CAREER
The not-so-magnanimous title is awarded to the player selected with the
last pick of the NFL draft. For their trouble, they’re awarded the Heismanlike Lowsman Trophy and are the stars of “Irrelevant Week” in California
each year.
1. Marty Moore, 1994 Played eight years (112 games/started 20) for New England and Cleveland, recording 110 tackles. He was the first Mr. Irrelevant to
appear in a Super Bowl (XXXI).
2. Ryan Succop, 2009 Succop is on his way to becoming the greatest Mr. Irrelevant of all time. Through the 2012 season, he is the Kansas City Chief’s
all-time leader in FGs attempted and FGs made in a single game (six), has
hit 81.5 percent of his field-goal attempts and has yet to miss an extra point
(108). In 2011, the Chiefs signed Succop to a five-year, $14-million extension.
3. David Vobora, 2008 From 2008–11, Vobora played 40 games at linebacker
for the St. Louis Rams and the Seattle Seahawks and recorded 57 tackles.
The NFL gave Vobora a four-game suspension in 2009 for violating their
policy on performance-enhancing substances. He sued the Anti-Steroid
Company (Anti-Steroid Program LLC of Key Largo, Fla.) for misleading him,
as their “Ultimate Sports Spray” contained methyltestosterone, a banned
substance that showed up in an NFL drug test and led to his suspension.
He was awarded $5.4 million for damages and lost future income.
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4. Michael Green, 2000 Between 2000 and 2008, Green played 104 games
and started 48 for the Bears, Seahawks and Redskins. He put together an
impressive resumé over the course of his career, recording six sacks, seven
forced fumbles, eight fumble recoveries, four interceptions and 340 tackles. Not bad for a guy who went 254th overall.
5. Jim Finn, 1999 The man in front of Tiki Barber’s dominant franchise-record-setting season for the New York Giants in 2005 was none other than
1999’s Mr. Irrelevant. At fullback, Finn played 106 games for the Colts and
the Giants, with 60 receptions for 423 yards and one touchdown. In 2011,
Finn sued the NFL for negligence with regards to their lack of concussion
protocol. Mr. Irrelevant is now known as “Jim Finn et al. v. National Football
League.”
6. Bill Kenney, 1978 Kenney, by default, was the winner of the Lowsman Trophy when Lee Washburn decided not to attend Dallas Cowboys training
camp in 1978. Kenney spent nine years playing quarterback for the Kansas
City Chiefs, starting 77 games, going 34-43 and throwing 105 touchdowns.
He had a career quarterback rating of 77.0 and made the Pro Bowl in 1983.
7. Kelvin Kirk, 1976 The University of Dayton standout was the first recipient
of the Lowsman Trophy. Although he never cracked an NFL roster, he did
play seven seasons in the CFL.
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10
LONGEST PROFESSIONAL
COACHING TENURES
1. Connie Mack Philadelphia Athletics
50 years (1901–1950)
Record: 3,582-3,814
2. Willie Maley Celtic FC
43 years (1897–1940)
Record: 1,045-265-306
3. George Ramsay Aston Villa
42 years (1884–1926)
Record: 658-255-414
4. Guy Roux Auxerre
41 years (1961–62, 1964–2000, 2001–2005)
Record: 375-259-256
5. John McGraw New York Giants, MLB
31 years (1902–1932)
Record: 2,583-1,790
6. Tom Landry Dallas Cowboys
29 years (1960–1988)
Record: 250-162-6
7. Sir Alex Ferguson Manchester United
27 years (1986–2013)
Record: 893-266-337
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8. Don Shula Miami Dolphins
26 years (1970–1995)
Record: 257-133-2
9. Chuck Noll Pittsburgh Steelers
23 years (1969–1991)
Record: 193-148-1
10. Jerry Sloan Utah Jazz
23 years (1988–2011)
Record: 941-568
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10
INFAMOUS SPORTS
OWNERS
1. Bruce McNall, L.A. Kings, 1986–94; Toronto Argonauts, 1991–94 He
brought Gretzky to L.A. (1988) and Rocket Ismail to the Argos (1991), but
the good times stopped abruptly in 1993 when he defaulted on a $90-million loan and was forced to sell the Kings, who filed for bankruptcy two
years later. Since then, it’s been proven that he lied about having attended
Oxford, was found guilty of defrauding several banks for over $200 million
and spent five years in jail.
2. William “Boots” Del Biaggio III, Nashville Predators, 2007–10 Bought
a 26 percent stake in the Predators in 2007, but only after forging documents to swindle investors into loaning him the tens of millions he needed
to afford for his share. It all came crashing down and by 2009 he was bankrupt and facing eight years in prison.
3. Silvio Berlusconi, AC Milan, 1986–present Runs AC Milan like he ran Italy—dubiously. Under Berlusconi’s leadership the club became embroiled
in the Calciopoli match-fixing scandal that landed the club severe points
deductions; in politics, the Italian president went from scandal to scandal—
including an ongoing prostitution scandal—eventually earning a prison
sentence for illegal wiretapping (which he’s appealed).
4. Edward John DeBartolo Jr., San Francisco 49ers, 1977–2000 He presided over perhaps the greatest football dynasty ever, but the son of an
Ohio construction tycoon got himself embroiled in a scandal involving the
governor of Louisiana, $400,000 and a riverboat casino. The heat eventually forced him to transfer ownership to his sister.
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5. Jeffrey Loria, Miami Marlins, 2002–present The most hated owner in
baseball? It was he who ripped the Expos from Montreal, which led to a
racketeering charge against the owner and MLB. Now with Miami, he’s
making deals that have many wondering if he even wants his team to win.
Oh, and there’s that $2.4-billion stadium deal that Miami-Dade County will
be paying off for decades.
6. Marge Schott, Cincinnati Reds, 1984–99 A reputed racist, a bigot and a
cheap owner, she made statements offensive to African-Americans, Jews,
the Japanese and homosexuals. She even groused when the Reds’ 1996
home opener was postponed after an umpire collapsed and later died. She
was not-so-subtly pushed out of the game in 1999.
7. Harry Frazee, Boston Red Sox, 1916–23 Ask any Boston fan and they’ll tell
you: This is the man who doomed the BoSox to 86 years of misery. Responsible for selling Babe Ruth in 1919 to fund his Broadway musicals, Frazee
eventually left the Red Sox broke and, if you buy it, cursed.
8. Charles Comiskey, Chicago White Sox, 1900–31 He may have supported
the disgraced “Black Sox” team at their trial for throwing the 1919 World
Series, but Comiskey may also have driven them to do it. A notorious tightwad, Comiskey paid his star players a pittance even by the day’s modest
standards, which may have made them easier targets for crooks. The team
was even said to be literally dirty, as Comiskey skimped on laundry expenses.
9. Peter Pocklington, Edmonton Oilers, 1976–98 Sure, he delivered the
NHL and Gretzky to Edmonton, but “Peter Puck” also shipped “The Great
One” out of town at the height of his fame. By that point he was operating
the team entirely on a line of credit—the debt eventually got called in, and
Pocklington sold. The Oilers have won precious little since.
10. Malcolm Glazer, Manchester United, 2005–present The most hated
owner in English soccer since buying Manchester United for £525 million in borrowed money, then loading that debt onto the team itself. The
team is as good as ever, but fans have protested the Glazer family unreSPORTSNET E-BOOK EDITION
BOOK OF LISTS
lentingly—some even founded a new team (FC United of Manchester) to
get away from them and prompting rich Red Devils supporters to band
together in an unsuccessful bid to wrest away control of the club.
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NCAA SCHOOLS
WITH THE MOST NHL
DRAFTEES
(through 2012)
69 MINNESOTA
69 MICHIGAN
56 BOSTON U
49 MICHIGAN STATE
49 WISCONSIN
46 MICHIGAN TECH
45 DENVER
40 NORTH DAKOTA
38 BOSTON COLLEGE
36 PROVIDENCE
35 HARVARD
35 NOTRE DAME
34 CLARKSON
34 CORNELL
33 COLORADO
31 NEW HAMPSHIRE
30 NORTHEASTERN
28 BOWLING GREEN
27 RPI
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26 MICHIGAN
25 LAKE SUPERIOR
24 MIAMI U
24 NORTHERN MICH.
23 ST. LAWRENCE
22 MAINE
21 OHIO STATE
20 VERMONT
16 YALE
14 BROWN
13 COLGATE
13 MINN.-DULUTH
10 DARTMOUTH
10 PRINCETON
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4
FOOTBALL DRAFT
GAFFES
1995 CFL draft The Ottawa Rough Riders selected Derrell Robertson, unaware the defensive end had died in a car crash four months earlier.
1996 CFL draft The Montreal Alouettes chose defensive end James Eggink
of Northern Illinois in the fifth round, only to learn that Eggink had died of
cancer the previous December.
1996 NFL draft The New York Giants used the fifth overall pick on defensive
end Cedric Jones, not knowing he was blind in one eye and couldn’t play on
the left side.
1997 CFL draft Caught in the bathroom when the draft’s conference call
started, Toronto Argonauts coach Don Matthews selected Chad Folk first
overall while sitting on the toilet.
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PLAYERS WHO HAVE
BEEN CHOSEN FIRST
OVERALL IN THE MLB
DRAFT... TWICE
1. Danny Goodwin was selected out of Peoria Central High School by the Chicago White Sox in 1971 and then by the California Angels in 1975 after four
years at Southern University and A&M College. During a big-league career
that spanned seven seasons, he hit .236 with 13 home runs and 81 RBI.
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JIM DEVELLANO’S FIVE
BIGGEST TRADES OF THE
RED WINGS’ 22-SEASON
PLAYOFF STREAK
“Jimmy D” has been an executive with the Detroit Red Wings since 1982.
1. L
arry Murphy from Toronto for future considerations (cash) “It didn’t
seem like much at the time. We thought we were getting a veteran to play
some lower-end minutes, but he ended up winning three Stanley Cups with
us and being a perfect fit beside Nicklas Lidstrom.”
2. C
hris Chelios from Chicago for Anders Eriksson and two first-round
picks “I remember this one as exceptionally good, because we had seriously wondered about his age [Chelios was 37 at the time]. To give up two
first-round picks and a good young player for a guy we didn’t know was
going to be around much longer... there were some concerns. But he played
nine more seasons with us, won three Stanley Cups and made us all look
stupid to have been worried.”
3. Igor Larionov from San Jose for Ray Sheppard “It seemed like we were
trading a decent goal scorer for an older Russian player, but Larionov was
great with our Russian guys [like Sergei Fedorov] and he gave us a thirdline centre as good as any in the league behind Yzerman and Fedorov. That
was a big weapon, that depth in the middle.”
4. Brendan Shanahan from Hartford for Paul Coffey, Keith Primeau and
a first-round pick “That was a fair deal for both teams when we made it,
but we had the depth at centre because we had acquired Larionov [in fact,
Primeau held out after Larionov was acquired], and we thought Shanahan
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would be a goal scorer for us for many years. He was even better than what
we thought we were getting when we made the trade.”
5.Kris Draper from Winnipeg for future considerations (which turned
out to be $1) “Doug MacLean, who was kind of an assistant GM, thought
he was just filling out his farm team, which was his responsibility [MacLean
was technically the GM of the Adirondack Red Wings in 1993]. We thought
we were getting a player for Adirondack, which is where we sent him at
first, and he was just so excellent we couldn’t keep him down, and he ended
up with four rings. I think even Doug would tell you that was a pleasant
surprise [laughs].”
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10
MOST SIGNIFICANT
TRADE-DEADLINE DEALS
1. Ron Francis, Ulf Samuelsson and Greg Jennings to the Pittsburgh Penguins for John Cullen, Jeff Parker and Zarley Zalapski, 1991: With Francis
centring the second line and Samuelsson manning the blueline, the Penguins won their first Stanley Cup.
2. Curt Schilling to the Arizona Diamondbacks for Travis Lee, 2001: The Diamondbacks won the World Series, beating the Yankees in seven. Schilling
was named co-MVP.
3. David Cone to the Toronto Blue Jays for Jeff Kent, 1992: Cone went 1-1
with a 3.22 ERA in the post-season. The Jays won the first of their two
World Series.
4. Clyde Drexler to the Houston Rockets for Otis Thorpe, 1995: Reunited
with college teammate Hakeem Olajuwon, Drexler and the Rockets swept
the Orlando Magic to win their second straight championship.
5. David Justice to the New York Yankees for Jake Westbrook, 2000: Justice was named ALCS MVP and the Yankees went on to capture the World
Series title.
6. Pau Gasol to the Los Angeles Lakers for Kwame Brown and Marc Gasol,
2008: The Lakers lost in the Finals that season to the Boston Celtics. Gasol
led all players in blocks and double-doubles during the ’08 playoffs.
7. Lou Brock to the St. Louis Cardinals for Ernie Broglio, 1964: The Cards won
the World Series that year, four months to the day after trading for Brock.
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8. Rasheed Wallace to the Detroit Pistons for Bobby Sura and picks, 2004:
Detroit loses the NBA Finals to the San Antonio Spurs in seven games.
9. Cliff Lee to the Philadelphia Phillies for prospects, 2009: Phillies made it to
the World Series, Lee tosses complete game in game one.
10. Dikembe Mutombo to the Philadelphia 76ers for Theo Ratliff, 2000: Sixers made it to the Finals, Mutombo named Defensive Player of the Year.
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NCAA SCHOOLS WITH
THE MOST NBA LOTTERY
PICKS SINCE 1985
18 North Carolina
Notables include Vince Carter, Ty Lawson, Rasheed Wallace
17 Duke
Kyrie Irving, Grant Hill, Luol Deng
13 Connecticut
Ray Allen, Rudy Gay, Donyell Marshall
13 Kansas
Paul Pierce, Mario Chalmers
11 Kentucky
John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, Jamal Mashburn
11 Arizona
Damon Stoudamire, Andre Iguodala, Jason Terry
8 Georgetown
Patrick Ewing, Allen Iverson
7 Georgia Tech
Chris Bosh, Stephon Marbury
7 Michigan
Jamal Crawford, Chris Webber, Jalen Rose
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7 Syracuse
Carmelo Anthony, Dion Waiters, Derrick Coleman
7 UNLV
Larry Johnson, Shawn Marion
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10
MASSIVE DRAFT BUSTS
1. JaMarcus Russell, NFL, drafted first overall in 2007 by the Oakland
Raiders
Chosen ahead of Calvin Johnson, Adrian Peterson, Patrick Willis, Darrelle Revis
Size and arm strength put the quarterback atop draft boards after starring
at LSU. He went 7-18 in 25 starts for the Raiders and averaged only 131.7
passing yards en route to a paltry 65.2 QB rating. He was out of the league
in three seasons.
2. Ryan Leaf, NFL, drafted second overall in 1998 by the San Diego Chargers
Chosen ahead of Charles Woodson, Randy Moss, Fred Taylor
He was a Heisman Trophy finalist at Washington State but had a 4-17 record
in 21 NFL starts, with a 48.4 completion percentage and an average of 146.6
passing yards (good for a 57.7 QB rating). It didn’t help that he was constantly
measured against No. 1 pick Peyton Manning. Leaf was also out of the league
in three years.
3. LaRue Martin, NBA, drafted first overall in 1972 by the Portland Trail
Blazers
Chosen ahead of Julius Erving, Bob McAdoo
The six-foot-11 centre out of Loyola University averaged 18.2 points and 15.9
rebounds during his college career and outplayed UCLA’s Bill Walton when
the two met in 1972. He averaged 5.3 points and 4.6 rebounds in the NBA and
retired after just four seasons.
4. Brian Lawton, NHL, drafted first overall in 1983 by the Minnesota
North Stars
Chosen ahead of Steve Yzerman, Pat LaFontaine, Cam Neely, Dominik Hasek
The classic example of too much, too soon. After scoring 171 points in 49
BOOK OF LISTS
games for the Mount Saint Charles Mounties in Rhode Island, Lawton was
drafted right out of high school. He was a solid, if unspectacular, player during parts of nine seasons, but was forever compared to the Hall of Famers
chosen after him.
5. Aundray Bruce, NFL, drafted first overall in 1988 by the Atlanta Falcons
Chosen ahead of Tim Brown, Neil Smith, Eric Allen
Dubbed “the next Lawrence Taylor” at Auburn after making 10 tackles and
intercepting three passes (one a pick-six) in a nationally televised game. He
started just 42 games during an 11-year NFL career.
6. Kenneth Wayne Sims, NFL, drafted first overall in 1982 by the New England Patriots
Chosen ahead of Marcus Allen, Mike Munchak, Jim McMahon
The Lombardi Award winner and standout defensive end at Texas developed
a reputation at the pro level for dogging it in practice. He was released by the
Patriots in 1990 after being charged with cocaine possession.
7. Tom Cousineau, NFL, drafted first overall in 1979 by the Buffalo Bills
Chosen ahead of Kellen Winslow, Phil Simms, Dan Hampton
He set the single-season record at Ohio State with 211 tackles in 1978, and the
Bills traded O.J. Simpson to San Francisco for the pick. But Cousineau never
played for the Bills, accepting a more lucrative offer from the CFL’s Montreal
Alouettes instead. He was named Grey Cup MVP as a rookie, and the Bills
traded his rights to the Cleveland Browns for a 1983 first-round pick that they
used to draft Jim Kelly, so there’s that.
8. Adam Morrison, NBA, drafted third overall in 2006 by the Charlotte
Bobcats
Chosen ahead of Rajon Rondo, Rudy Gay, Brandon Roy
The sharpshooter was a scoring machine in college, averaging 28.1 points
per game, including 13 games with 30 or more points (and five over 40) in
his final season at Gonzaga. He shot 37 percent and averaged 7.5 points in
five NBA seasons.
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9. Alexander Daigle, NHL, drafted first overall in 1993 by the Ottawa
Senators
Chosen ahead of Chris Pronger, Paul Kariya, Jason Arnott, Saku Koivu
He scored 247 points in 119 games for Victoriaville of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and was second in team scoring with 51 points as a rookie on a brutal Sens squad, but he never topped that total (he reached it twice
more). He played 616 games for six teams in 10 seasons. Not bad, but not
what was expected.
10. Sergei Bautin, NHL, drafted 17th overall in 1992 by the Winnipeg Jets
Chosen ahead of Martin Straka, Michael Peca, Jere Lehtinen
For starters, he was 25 when picked. Worse, they could have signed him as an
undrafted free agent. He did appear in 130 Jets games (scoring 30 points),
mostly due to team brass refusing to give in.
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9
BIGGEST DRAFT STEALS
1.Joe Montana
Drafted 82nd (3rd round) in 1979 by the San Francisco 49ers
The fourth QB drafted that year, Montana fell in the draft after unimpressive
results at the combine. He went on to be named MVP in three of the four
Super Bowls he won with the 49ers (SB stats: 11 TDs, 0 INT). Fourth on NFL.
com’s list of the top 100 players of all time.
2.Tom Brady
Drafted 199th (6th round) in 2000 by the New England Patriots.
Began his rookie year in New England as the Pats’ fourth-string QB. Won a
Super Bowl in his first year as a starter, and has since added two more (including two SB MVPs). Eight-time Pro-Bowler and twice named league MVP
(’07, ’10).
T-3. Manu Ginobili
Drafted 57th (2nd round) in 1999 by the San Antonio Spurs.
Before it was chic to draft international talent, the Spurs grabbed the Argentine and stashed him in Europe, where he won two Euroleague MVPs . He
made his NBA debut in 2002 and has since won three NBA titles, appeared in
two all-star games and led Argentina to a gold medal at the 2004 Olympics.
T-3. Tony Parker
Drafted 28th (1st round) in 2001 by the San Antonio Spurs.
No wonder so many teams want to steal Spurs execs. Parker has been the
starting point guard on three championship teams, and was named Finals
MVP in 2007. A five-time all-star.
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5. Pavel Datsyuk
Drafted 171st (6th round) in 1998 by the Detroit Red Wings.
Never topping 26 points in a season in Russia, Datsyuk scored 35 points as a
rookie in Detroit and never looked back, posting at least 87 points four times
in his NHL career. Achievements include four consecutive Lady Byng awards
(’06–’09), three Selke trophies and two Stanley Cups.
6. Mike Piazza
Drafted 1,309th (62nd round) in 1988 by the L.A. Dodgers.
The MLB draft is the biggest crapshoot of them all, but still... Piazza was
named Rookie of the Year in 1993 and went on to be a 12-time all-star (including 10 straight between ’93 and ’02). He was a 10-time Silver Slugger, and is
arguably the greatest-hitting catcher ever.
7. Mark Buehrle
Drafted 1,139th (38th round) in 1998 by the Chicago White Sox.
Another Mark—Mark Mulder—was the top pitcher chosen that year, but it
was Buehrle who went on to have the better career, throwing a no-hitter and
a perfect game and winning a World Series in 2005.
8. Luc Robitaille
Drafted 171st (9th round) in 1984 by the L.A. Kings.
Despite scoring 424 points in 197 QMJHL games, the Kings were the only
NHL club in contact with Robitaille before the draft. “Lucky Luc” scored 84
points as a rookie, made eight all-star teams and topped the 100-point mark
three times during his 19-year career.
9. Dennis Rodman
Drafted 27th (2nd round) in 1986 by the Detroit Pistons.
Overlooked at tiny Southeastern Oklahoma State in college, the undersized
Rodman joined Chuck Daly’s “Bad Boy” Pistons, where he won two titles, before going on to win three more with the Chicago Bulls. He led the NBA in rebounding for seven straight seasons (’92–’98) and recorded the two highest
rebounding seasons in the modern era (18.7 rpg in ’92 and 18.3 in ’93).
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THE TEAMS / STYLE
7
TEAM NICKNAMES THAT
HAVE NOTHING TO DO
WITH THEIR CITY
1. Utah Jazz Originally the New Orleans Jazz, the franchise kept the name
after relocating in 1979. It goes without saying that Mormon country isn’t
the home of jazz.
2. Memphis Grizzlies The franchise moved from Vancouver in 2001. Sure,
grizzlies don’t frequent downtown Van City, but they’re found nowhere
near Tennessee.
3. Calgary Flames When the franchise headed from Atlanta to Calgary in
1980, owner Nelson Skalbania opted to keep the name. Sorry, Cowtown:
The name was intended to commemorate the Civil War burning of Atlanta.
4. Los Angeles Lakers Originally the Minneapolis Lakers—the Minnesota
state motto is “Land of 10,000 Lakes.”
5. Arizona Cardinals Retained in ’88 after relocating from St. Louis, where it
shared the name with the city’s baseball team.
6. Buffalo Sabres The result of a fan-naming contest, owners liked what the
sabre, a type of versatile blade, represented.
7. Toronto Raptors Also the result of a fan contest—plus team owners liked
the notion of hitching onto the massive popularity of the then recently released film Jurassic Park.
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THE TEAMS / STYLE
10
BEST UNIFORMS IN
SPORTS
1. Montreal Canadiens The CH logo. The vibrant colours. The bleu, blanc
et rouge has forever been the one that all other uniforms are measured
against.
2. New York Yankees Someone once asked Joe DiMaggio what was his greatest baseball thrill. “Joltin’ Joe” answered, “Putting the Yankee uniform on
every day.”
3. Boston Celtics No matter who’s wearing a Celtics uniform, it conjures images of the legends who’ve worn it, won in it and made it what it is today:
The gold standard of the NBA.
4. Chicago Blackhawks The sweater—simple solid red with the Native American crest on the chest—has remained virtually unchanged since 1955. Six
decades of continuity speaks volumes for the quality of the design.
5. New Zealand All Blacks Aggressiveness, intimidation, honour, respect,
courage, battle—all embodied in one uniform. And it only needs one colour
to say it all.
6. Green Bay Packers Nobody messes with the Packers’ green and gold—
not even the Packers themselves.
7. Detroit Red Wings No other crest has been so synonymous with both the
styles of the men who have worn it and the city it calls home.
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8. Notre Dame Fighting Irish The embodiment of a school’s heritage and pride,
the gold helmet is the single most respected emblem in collegiate sport.
9. Celtic FC Wearing a green-and-white striped Celtic uniform means more
than just throwing on a shirt and trotting out onto the pitch; it means carrying a community on your back.
10. St. Louis Cardinals St. Louis is often cited as the premier baseball city on
the planet, so it stands to reason its players get nothing but the finest duds.
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THE TEAMS / STYLE
10
WORST UNIFORMS IN
SPORTS
1. Chicago White Sox, 1976 Shorts! Only worn for one half of a doubleheader,
this outfit was still worn way too often.
2. Vancouver Canucks, 1978–85 Reminiscent of a graduation gown, but this
getup elevated no one. A sports writer of the era said the Canucks were
“No. 15 in the standings and No. 1 on your retinas.”
3. Manchester United alternate, 1995 The infamous “invisible kit.” The twotone grey combo was sent packing—at halftime during a game against
Southampton—after players complained they couldn’t see each other on
the pitch.
4. New York Islanders, 1995–97 It’s oddly fitting that the fisherman on this
sweater is a dead ringer for the villain from I Know What You Did Last Summer. Then again, this logo is far more disturbing than any horror movie.
5. Pittsburgh Pirates, 1976–86 Good idea with the black painter’s caps, guys.
It’ll take several coats to gloss over the Pirates’ all-time win-loss record.
6. Baylor Bears, 2012 (basketball) Highlighter yellow, a lowlight in uniform
history.
7. Houston Astros, 1975–79 They wore the rainbow jersey until 1986, but this
era in Astros history gets special credit for demonstrating why no other
team’s uniform has players’ numbers on their thighs.
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8. Denver Nuggets road jersey, 1981–84 Navy with green fringe, vibrating
white text with yellow outlines, plus just about every other colour there is.
Is that the Denver skyline made out of Tetris blocks?
9. Anaheim Mighty Ducks third jersey, 1995–96 The jersey featured a barrel-chested duck goalie breaking through the ice. Which is oddly appropriate because it’s still a great conversation starter: “Remember that terrible
Ducks uniform?”
10. P
hiladelphia Flyers, 1981–83 Cooperalls. Period.
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THE TEAMS / STYLE
11
NORTH AMERICAN PRO
TEAMS WITH 10 OR
MORE RETIRED JERSEY
NUMBERS
1. Boston Celtics 21
2. New York Yankees 16
3. Montreal Canadiens 15
4. Chicago Bears 13
T-5. New York Giants 11
T-5. Portland Trail Blazers 11
T-5. St. Louis Cardinals 11
T-5. San Francisco Giants 11
6. Boston Bruins Phoenix Suns Sacramento Kings 10
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THE TEAMS / PENALTY BOX
12
MOST MEMORABLE
BLOWN CALLS IN
SPORTS HISTORY
1. B
rett Hull’s skate in the crease on his series-clinching, triple-OT goal in
game six of the 1999 Stanley Cup final, making the goal technically illegal.
2. MLB umpire Jim Joyce calls Jason Donald safe at first to ruin Detroit Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga’s perfect game on June 2, 2010.
3. S
occer legend Diego Maradona’s handball on his first goal for Argentina
against England in the quarterfinals of the 1986 World Cup—will be known
forever after as the “Hand of God.”
4. O
n the road at Missouri in 1990, Colorado is awarded two second downs on
their final drive and ultimately scores on their fifth down to beat their Big
Eight rival 33–31.
5. Swiss referee Gottfried Dienst awards England a goal to put them up 3–2
over West Germany in the 1966 World Cup Final despite the ball not crossing the line.
6. L
eading 1–0 in the bottom of the ninth in game six of the 1985 World Series,
the St. Louis Cardinals are three outs from winning the World Series. Kansas City’s Jorge Orta hits a routine groundball and appears to be thrown
out at first. Shockingly, umpire Don Denkinger calls Orta safe, the Royals
rally to win game six 2–1 and take game seven to win the Series.
7. W
ith the Yankees down 4–3 in game one of the 1996 ALCS, Derek Jeter
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steps to the plate and hits a long fly ball to deep centre. As the ball approaches the fence, 12-year-old Jeffrey Maier deflects the ball into the
stands helping the Yankees tie the game. Umpire Rich Garcia, calls it a
home run despite the obvious fan interference and the Yankees go on to
win the game, the ALCS and the World Series.
8. After American Roy Jones Jr. absolutely destroys South Korea’s Park SiHun in the light middleweight gold medal boxing match at the 1988 Seoul
Olympics, Si-Hun is awarded the fight anyway.
9. O
akland’s Charles Woodson forces a fumble hitting Patriots’ quarterback
Tom Brady in the closing moments of their AFC divisional playoff game in
2001, but referee Walt Coleman reverses the call, citing the “tuck rule” and
giving the Patriots the ball. New England tied the game on an Adam Vinatieri field goal and won in overtime. The rule was eliminated 12 years later,
in March 2013.
10. T
he men’s gold medal basketball game between the United States and
the USSR at the 1972 Munich Olympics sees the last three seconds of the
game played three separate times, resulting in a winning basket for the
USSR—the first time an American team lost in men’s basketball at the
Olympics.
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THE TEAMS / PENALTY BOX
12
BIGGEST COACHING
MELTDOWNS
1. Phillip Wellman (June 1, 2007) The Mississippi Braves manager did it all
in Chattanooga. While protesting a call, Wellman buried home plate in dirt,
tossed third base into the outfield and launched the rosin bag like a hand
grenade at the umpires. After a few kisses to the crowd, he called it a night.
2. Bobby Knight’s chair throw (Feb. 23, 1985) In an epic meltdown that
prompted an ejection after only five minutes, the Indiana Hoosiers coach
protested a foul call by tossing a chair across the court.
3. Jim Schoenfeld vs. Don Koharski, “Have another Doughnut” (May 5,
1988) After a 6–1 playoff loss to Boston, the irate New Jersey Devils head
coach let referee Koharski know what he thought of both of his officiating
ability and his weight.
4. Jim Playfair (March 27, 2010) The Abbotsford Heat coach smashed one
stick over the boards, removed his blazer and then smashed another stick
while berating referee Jamie Koharski (yes, Don’s son).
5. Nick Vitucci (Feb. 25, 2012) The Toledo Walleye coach sent water bottles,
sticks and even his clipboard onto the ice before taking off down the tunnel.
6. Joe Mikulik (July 27, 2012) After umpires blew a call against the Asheville Tourists, manager Mikulik stole third base and handed it to a fan in
the stands.
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7. Lou Piniella (June 2, 2007) The Chicago Cubs manager earned his 73rd
career ejection by kicking dirt at an umpire and then booting another ump’s
hat away. Cubs fans joined in, littering the outfield with debris.
8. Earl Weaver (Sept. 17, 1980) The best line of the Baltimore Orioles manager three-minute screaming match with umpire Bill Haller: “You’re here,
and your crew is here, just to f--k us!”
9. John Calipari vs. John Chaney (Feb. 13, 1994) After a testy NCAA contest between the University of Massachusetts and Temple, the two coaches had to be physically restrained in the post-game press conference.
10. Hal McCrae (April 26, 1993) During post-game interviews, the Kansas
City Royals manager trashed the room because of one “stupid-ass f---in’
question.”
11. Bruce Boudreau drops 15 F-bombs on HBO 24/7 (aired Dec. 15, 2010)
Most days, the Washington Capitals coach’s rants stayed within dressing
room walls. This time, they made it onto national TV, much to the delight
of hockey fans everywhere.
12. Tom Webster throws a stick at Kerry Fraser (Nov. 16, 1991) The L.A.
Kings coach demonstrated a near-perfect javelin toss. But when your javelin is a hockey stick, and your target is referee Kerry Fraser, that gets you
a 12-game suspension.
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THE TEAMS / OUT OF LEFT FIELD
9
EXTREMELY ODD
SPORTS YOU’VE LIKELY
NEVER HEARD OF
1. Pig-N-Ford Races (est. 1924), Tillamook County Fair, Tillamook, Ore.:
When drivers hear the starting gun they must run across a track, grab a 20lb. pig and jump into a Model T. After each lap, the driver must ditch their
pig and grab a new one. First to complete three laps wins.
2. Mobile Phone Throwing (est. 2000), Finland: Competitors throw cellphones over the shoulder as far as possible. In the “freestyle category,”
style and aesthetics are judged.
3. Bol Chumann na hEireann, a.k.a. Road Bowling (est. 17th century),
Cork, Ireland: Using a 28-oz. solid iron bowl, bowlers attempt to cover a
4-km course in the least number of throws. A European Championship is
held each year.
4. Elephant Polo (est. 1982), Royal Chitwan Park, Nepal: Teams play two
seven-minute halves with three elephants a side. If the elephant picks
up the ball (a frequent occurrence), its team is penalized. Teams from
Nepal, Thailand and Sri Lanka meet annually for the World Elephant Polo
Tournament.
5. Shin Kicking (est. 1612), Cotswolds, England: Each match is determined
by three battles with the winner kicking their opponent to the ground. Kicking can take place below the knee and competitors can stuff their pant legs
with straw.
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6. Chess Boxing (est. 1992), Worldwide: Created by a French artist, combatants alternate between three-minute rounds of boxing and four-minute
rounds of chess.
7. Wife Carrying (est. 1992), Sonkajarvi, Finland: The wife must be at least
17 years old and weigh 49 kg—if she weighs less, she must carry a rucksack
containing additional weight.
8. Joggling (est. 1980), Fargo, N.D.: A combination of running and juggling
using at least three balls.
9. Tuna Tossing (est. 1962), Port Lincoln, Australia: Similar to the hammer
toss at the Olympics, except with an 8-kg bluefin tuna. The World Tuna
Tossing Championships take place at the annual Tunarama Festival.
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13
GREATEST UPSETS AND
UNDERDOG MOMENTS
1. Super Bowl III New York Jets 16, Baltimore Colts 7. The reason Joe Namath is, and always will be, a legend in New York City.
2. FCS champions (the FCS is the lower tier of Div. I) Appalachian State
Mountaineers beat No. 5 (in Div. I) Michigan 34–32 in 2007.
3. The New York Giants defeat the powerhouse 2007 New England Patriots
to win Super Bowl XLIV and end the Pats’ perfect season.
4. The Miracle on Ice The U.S. defeats the legendary U.S.S.R. in Lake Placid
in the 1980 Olympics.
5. Breaking the “Curse of the Bambino” The 2004 Boston Red Sox, down 3–0
to the Yankees, rally to win the series, then go on to win the World Series.
6. Downing Dirk The eighth-seed Golden State Warriors (42-40) defeat the
first-seed Dallas Mavericks (67-15) 4–2 in the 2007 NBA playoffs.
7. The Oakland A’s (103-59), heavily favoured to repeat as World Series
champions, were swept by the Cincinnati Reds (91-71) during the 1990
World Series.
8. Super ’Nova No. 8 Villanova defeated the Patrick Ewing–led No. 1 Georgetown Hoyas in the final, 66–64, to win the 1985 NCAA championship. Former Toronto Raptor Ed Pinckney was the game’s MVP.
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9. The Miracle Mets The 1969 New York Mets upset the Baltimore Orioles
4–1 to win the World Series. Despite winning 100 games that year, they
were 100-1 underdogs to win the World Series.
10. Oil Leak The L.A. Kings (24-41-15, 63 points) defeat the Edmonton Oilers
(48-17-15, 111 points) three games to two in the 1982 NHL playoffs.
11. Jolted Joe Montana The Minnesota Vikings (8-7) defeat the top-seeded
San Francisco 49ers (13-2) in the 1987 NFL playoffs.
12. Super Bowl XXV The Giants, led by backup quarterback Jeff Hostetler,
defeat the 1990 Buffalo Bills—a squad featuring nine Pro Bowlers—20–19.
13. “The Hitless Wonders” The Chicago White Sox (93-58) defeated the
Chicago Cubs (116-36) in six games to capture the 1906 World Series. The
White Sox hit a league-low .230 in the regular season and only .198 in the
playoffs, yet managed to win the World Series.
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14
MAJOR TROPHIES BY
SIZE
Grey Cup, CFL
46 inches
Stanley Cup, NHL
35.25 inches
Larry O’Brien Trophy, NBA
33 inches approx.
Champions League Trophy, UEFA
29 inches
Wanamaker Trophy, PGA Championship
28 inches (10.5 in diameter, 27 in handle-to-handle)
Commissioner’s Trophy, MLB
24 inches (not including base)
ICC Cricket World Cup Trophy
23.6 inches
Vince Lombardi Trophy, NFL
22 inches
Claret Jug, British Open golf
20 inches
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ICC World Twenty20 Trophy, cricket
20 inches
Wimbledon, WTA
18.75 inches
Wimbledon, ATP
18 inches in diameter
World Cup Trophy, FIFA
14.5 inches
Webb Ellis Cup, Rugby World Cup
13.4 inches
BOOK OF LISTS
9
MOST HARD-LUCK
FRANCHISES
1. Buffalo Bills: 0-4 in Super Bowls
2. Buffalo Sabres: Skate in the crease
3. Minnesota Vikings: Herschel Walker trade
4. Chicago Cubs: Haven’t won a championship since 1908
5. Cleveland Indians: Same thing, since 1948
6. Portland Trail Blazers: Bowie and Oden over Jordan and Durant
7. Detroit Lions: The Matt Millen era alone qualifies them
8. Pittsburgh Pirates: Haven’t had a winning season since they traded
Barry Bonds
9. Toronto Maple Leafs: Kerry Fraser. High stick. No call. 1967. Nuff said.
BOOK OF LISTS
4
WEIRDEST NFL TEAM–
BRANDED ITEMS YOU
CAN PURCHASE FROM
NFLSHOP.COM*
1. Toaster, $39.99: The purpose of a toaster is to evenly brown your bread. But
this toaster sneers at its intended purpose. It’s designed to burn the logo of
your favourite team into your toast. Making it... partially burnt bread. This is
the rare instance in which adding an NFL theme specifically detracts from
the purpose of the item.
2. Fur-trim boots, $144.99: It’s not the boots themselves that are the problem. They seem like nice enough boots. But why do they need a logo, and
just how much does that logo add to the price? Also, you can purchase
these in Dolphins, Buccaneers or Jaguars colours... because fur-trimmed
boots are all the rage in Florida.
3. Windsor English picnic set, $399.95: Yes, it costs four hundred smackers,
but ask yourself this: What picnic have you ever thrown that wouldn’t be
improved with a gigantic wicker basket containing porcelain plates, handblown wine glasses and real silverware, and with a Chicago Bears logo
stamped on top of it? Because when you think fine-dining and slow, lazy
afternoons spent nowhere near the crush of the rest of humanity, you want
to be reminded of the Monsters of the Midway.
4. A roadside assistance kit, $50.95: Imagine being stranded without help,
left behind as civilization moves past you, abandoned on the side of the
BOOK OF LISTS
road like so much discarded trash... what you really need to escape such
a mess is something—anything—that comes complete with a Cleveland
Browns logo.
*Note: These items should be available for the NFL team of your choice. In the
odd instance that they are not, you can comfort yourself with the thought
that your team either a) has too much dignity to attach their storied logo to
crap like this, or b) has fans so rabid, so devoted to the cause, that they’ve
already purchased every Green Bay Packers picnic set manufactured. Whatever makes you feel better.
BOOK OF LISTS
5
EVENTS AT THE REDNECK
GAMES
It’s held annually in East Dublin, Ga., and includes a number of crowdpleasers.
1. Watermelon Seed Spitting
2. Bobbin’ for Pigs’ Feet
3. Armpit Serenade
4. Mudpit Belly Flop
5. Hubcap Hurl
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10
CRICKET TERMS
IN NEED OF SOME
EXPLANATION
1. LBW: Not a president’s initials but an acronym for “leg before wicket,” a ruling that dismisses a batsman struck by a ball that would otherwise have hit
the wicket.
2. Wicket: Those three precious sticks (or “stumps”) at either end of the
pitch that batsmen must prevent from being hit, lest they be dismissed.
3. Bail: A wee piece of wood, two of which rest atop the three stumps, and
help determine if the wicket is broken.
4. Wicket-keeper: A member of the defence who stands behind the wicket.
The only fielder allowed to wear gloves.
5. Stumped: When a wicket-keeper dismisses a batsman by toppling the
wicket after the batsman misses the ball, if he moves out of the popping
crease.
6. Popping crease: A line drawn on the pitch past which the batsman must
remain until he successfully hits the ball. So named because early cricketers would pop their bats in a hole in the crease in order for a run to count.
7. Duck: Dismissal of a batsman who fails to score. There are also golden
ducks (dismissal on the first ball) and laughing ducks (dismissal that ends
the team’s innings).
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8. Century: The scoring of 100 runs by a batsman in one innings.
9. Innings: You heard right. Innings is a singular term that refers to a team’s
or an individual’s turn at bat.
10. Over: A set of six balls delivered by a bowler, after which he is replaced
by a different bowler from the other end of the pitch for at least one over.
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4
ICONIC STANLEY CUP
PHOTOS
1. C
anucks captain Trevor Linden and goalie Kirk McLean after Vancouver’s
game-six win against the Rangers in 1994
2. C
algary’s Lanny McDonald shares a moment with Lord Stanley in 1989
BOOK OF LISTS
3. M
ontreal’s Patrick Roy hoists the Cup after beating the Flames in 1986
4. “The Chief,” George Armstrong, poses with the Cup after the Maple Leafs’
1967 championship
BOOK OF LISTS
THE SCENE / FILM & TV
4
BEST BEASTIE BOYS
ATHLETE REFERENCES
1. “A-D-R-O-C-K spells ‘relief’ /
There’s holes in my story like Leon Spinks’s teeth”
(“B-Boys in the Cut,” 2011)
2. “I got my hair cut correct, like Anthony Mason /
Then I ride the I.R.T. right up to Penn Station”
(“B-Boys Makin’ With the Freak Freak,” 1994)
3. “There’s more to me than you’ll ever know /
And I got more hits than Sadaharu Oh”
(“Hey Ladies,” 1989)
4. “Like Jerry Lee Swaggart or Jerry Lee Falwell /
You love Mario Andretti cause he always drives his car well”
(“Shadrach,” 1988)
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10
ACTORS WITH SERIOUS
SPORTS CHOPS
1. Dean Cain (football): The one-time Superman was an All-American defensive back at Princeton. In 1988, Cain broke an NCAA Div I-AA record with
12 interceptions. He signed with the Buffalo Bills that year but suffered a
career-ending knee injury in training camp.
2. Ed O’Neill (football): Al Bundy (or Jay Pritchett to you young people)
played defensive end at Ohio University and Youngstown State. He was
signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1969, but the arrival of “Mean” Joe
Greene that same year made O’Neill expendable.
3. Steve Carell (hockey): Everyone’s favourite paper company manager
played goalie for the Division III Denison University.
4. Charlie Sheen (baseball): Long before he was #winning, he turned down
a scholarship from the University of Kansas in 1989 to pursue acting.
5. Joel McHale (football): The Community star played tight end for the University of Washington.
6. Matthew Perry (tennis): Chandler Bing was once a nationally ranked junior player from Ottawa.
7. Burt Reynolds (football): Began his stint at Florida State in 1954 with a 33yard pass reception against the Georgia Bulldogs before injuries derailed a
promising career.
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8. Denzel Washington (basketball): From 1972–74, he played for current
New Jersey Nets coach P.J. Carlesimo’s junior varsity squad at Fordham
University in New York City.
9. Matthew Fox (football): The Lost and Party of Five star was a wide receiver for Columbia University.
10. Carl Weathers (football): No wonder Apollo Creed was so jacked—
Weathers was a standout linebacker at San Diego State and played eight
games with the Oakland Raiders. He also played 18 games for the B.C. Lions between 1971–73.
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9
CANADIAN ATHLETES ON
FILM
1. Stan Mikita (Wayne’s World, 1992): Appeared as the owner of Wayne and
Garth’s favourite hangout, Stan Mikita’s Doughnuts.
2. Wayne Gretzky (The Young and the Restless, 1981): Appeared in one
episode as “Wayne,” a mob toughie whose only line of dialogue was, “I’m
Wayne, from the Edmonton operation.” He nailed it. First take.*
3. Rick Fox (Oz, 1997–2003): The former Lakers star had a regular role on the
HBO prison series, playing Jackson Vahue, a former pro basketball player
sent to Oswald State Correctional Facility for beating his girlfriend.
4. Marty McSorley (Con-Air, 1997): The former NHLer also appeared in Bad
Boys and Forget Paris, but his role as Mack the Co-Pilot in the Nic Cage
flick stands out.
5. Steve Nash (Entourage, 2009): The second Canuck (after James Cameron) to make a cameo on the show at that point and the first Canadian
athlete.
6. Cam Neely (Dumb and Dumber, 1994): The Hockey Hall of Famer appeared in three Farrelly Bros. films, but no role was more memorable than
his turn as truck stop bully Sea Bass. Kick his ass, Sea Bass!
7. Steve Thomas & Peter Zezel (Youngblood, 1986): The two former Maple
Leafs had small roles in this cult classic as members of the fictional Hamilton Mustangs hockey team.
BOOK OF LISTS
8. Scott Hartnell & Ian Laperrière (This is 40, 2012): The Philadelphia Flyers teammates appear in one scene, partying at a nightclub in L.A. following a Flyer game against the Kings.
9. Joe Sakic (Happy Gilmore, 1996): Appeared, albeit uncredited, at Happy’s
hockey tryouts.
*May or may not be true
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15
COOLEST (FICTIONAL)
ATHLETES IN MOVIES
1. Reg Dunlop, Slap Shot: The seasoned player-coach of the Charleston
Chiefs is a shrewd leader and master manipulator. He also gets full credit
for unleashing the Hanson Brothers (the brawlers, not the boy band).
2. Benny “The Jet” Rodriguez, The Sandlot: From dominating on the diamond to befriending the awkward new kid in town, Scotty Smalls, it’s no
wonder “The Jet” was the leader of the pack. Bonus points for making it to
the big leagues.
3. Ricky “Wild Thing” Vaughan, Major League: He had the nickname, the
glasses, the killer intro, the haircut and the heat. Besides, pitching control
is overrated anyways.
4. Rocky Balboa, Rocky: Sure he’s a mumbling loser when we first meet him,
but as we come to learn, put him in a ring and the “Italian Stallion” can be
one mean dude.
5. Derek Sutton, Youngblood: He’s Reg Dunlop Lite. The calm, cool and collected captain who inspires Dean Youngblood to greatness.
6. Crash Davis, Bull Durham: Never mind that he only played 12 games in
the majors. Crash perfected the selfless task of preparing young pups for
the bigs.
7. Willie Mays Hayes, Major League: Really, the entire Indians roster from
the first Major League instalment can make this list, but Hayes outshone
them all.
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8. Jesus Shuttlesworth, He Got Game: If hoops fans didn’t know Ray Allen
was going to be a star coming out of college, his turn as this Coney Island
prodigy was enough to change everybody’s mind.
9. Roy McAvoy, Tin Cup: The lovable loser who blows up when it counts
most, but still gets the girl.
10. Rod Tidwell, Jerry Maguire: Between catchphrases like “Show me the
money!” and the significance of the “Quan,” the talented NFL wideout
could have had a second career in broadcasting.
11. Ty Webb, Caddyshack: The ultimate bachelor, he’s a transcendent golfer
who always does well with the ladies.
12. “Fast Eddie” Felson, The Hustler: As the sequel, The Colour of Money,
proved 25 years later: Once a badass pool shark, always a badass pool shark.
13. Apollo Creed, Rocky IV: Could you get James Brown to perform live during your ring entrance? Didn’t think so.
14. Paul “Wrecking” Crewe, The Longest Yard: No, not Adam Sandler’s version. The good one.
15. Ricky Bobby, Talladega Nights: The man who brought “Shake and Bake”
to the NASCAR track. As his favourite catchphrase goes, “If you’re not
first, you’re last.”
BOOK OF LISTS
8
HIGHEST-GROSSING
SPORTS MOVIES OF ALL
TIME
1. The Blind Side (2009)
$255,959,475
2. Rocky IV (1985)
$127,873,716
3. Rocky III (1982)
$125,049,125
4. Seabiscuit (2003)
$120,277,854
5. Rocky (1976)
$117,235,147
6. Remember the Titans (2000)
$115,654,751
7. Million Dollar Baby (2004)
$100,492,203
8. The Fighter (2010)
$93,617,009
BOOK OF LISTS
5
LOWEST-GROSSING
NON-DOCUMENTARY
SPORTS MOVIES OF ALL
TIME
1. Motocross Kids (2004)
starring Lorenzo Lamas and a monkey
$2,462
2. Blue Juice (1995)
starring Ewan McGregor and Catherine Zeta-Jones
$4,535
3. Home Run Showdown (2012)
starring Matthew Lillard and Dean Cain
$8,824
4. Fighting Tommy Riley (2004)
starring Eddie Jones
$10,514
5. Red Surf (1989)
starring George Clooney
$13,136
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10
BEST FICTIONAL
SPORTS
1. Quidditch (Harry Potter) A mix of dodgeball, basketball and rugby, except
on flying broomsticks and using multiple balls of different values.
2. Blernsball (Futurama) Like baseball, except with mandatory steroid injections and an elastic tether attaching the ball to the field.
3. Pyramid (Battlestar Galactica) Like handball, except in a triangular court.
4. Podracing (Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace) Like car racing,
except with a hovering pod.
5. Dom-jot (Star Trek) Like pool, except with elements of pinball.
6. BASEketball (BASEketball) Like, uh, you get it.
7. Whack-bat (The Fantastic Mr. Fox) Like cricket, except with a flaming
pine cone.
8. Transcontinental Road Race (Death Race 2000) Like rally racing, except
with points for hitting pedestrians.
9. Fire Ball (Friends) Like throwing paper balls into a trash can, except way
more extreme.
10. Flamingo Croquet (Alice in Wonderland) Like croquet, except with flamingos instead of mallets. Hey, we didn’t make it up.
BOOK OF LISTS
THE SCENE / MUSIC
8
HOCKEY SONGS NOT
TITLED “THE HOCKEY
SONG”
1. “Fireworks” by The Tragically Hip (1998): And all I remember was sitting
beside you / You said you didn’t give a f--k about hockey / And I never saw
someone say that before.
2. “Big League” by Tom Cochrane & Red Rider (1988): Not many ways out
of this cold northern town / You work in the mill and get laid in the ground
/ If you’re gonna jump it will be with the game / Real fast and tough is the
only clear lane.
3. “Time To Go” by Dropkick Murphys (2003): Rancourt’s ready, it’s time
to take to the ice / So tie down the jersey ’cause it could get ugly tonight /
Top corner, five-hole, off the post and in / On a quest for the Cup and we’re
ready to win... Go! Go! Black and Gold!
4. “50 Mission Cap” by The Tragically Hip (1992): The last goal he ever
scored won the Leafs the Cup / They wouldn’t win another ’til 1962, the
year he was discovered.
5. “The Ballad of Wendel Clark, Parts I and II” by The Rheostatics (1987):
You’ll wish that you had died when Wendel has your hide, ’cause he does it
the Canadian way.
6. “Gretzky Rocks” by The Pursuit of Happiness (1995): If they’d just watch
Wayne Gretzky play then they’d watch hockey every day / Actually I like
the Hawks but boy oh boy Wayne Gretzky rocks.
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7. “Me Like Hockey” by The Arrogant Worms (1997): Swedish players must
be geeks / ’Cause they still got own real teeth / Not like Finnish players
names / What’s a Teemu anyways?
8. “(I Wanna Drive the) Zamboni” by the Gear Daddies (1990): Now the
manager said, “Son, I know it looks keen, but that right there is one expensive machine / And I’ve got Smokey who’s been driving for years.” About
that time I broke down in tears.
BOOK OF LISTS
THE SCENE / MUSIC
7
WANNABE ATHLETE
RAPPERS
The history of sports stars moonlighting as rappers is rich with regrettable
decisions, but every once in a while, an athlete surprises us all with his mic
skills. Here are some of the best and worst rappers in sports history—you
be the judge of which category they fall into.
1. Lou Williams: I came to Philly, ain’t asking for no favours / Accept no handouts, no sugar from my neighbours (freestyle, 2010)
2. “Macho Man” Randy Savage: They call you “Hollywood?” Don’t make me
laugh / Cause your movies and acting skills are both trash (“Be a Man,” 2003)
3. Brandon Lloyd: I don’t do this for my health, I do this for my wealth / In rap,
I throw the ball to myself (“Sucker Freestyle,” 2007)
4. Allen Iverson: Man enough to pull a gun, be man enough to squeeze it /
[Gunshots] Die if you don’t believe it (“40 Bars,” 2000)
5. Alex Ovechkin: Among the 10 best players of the decade / Stick in my
hands, rap in my headphones / Saying hello from Washington (English
translation of “Champion,” 2012)
6. Shaquille O’Neal: Mic-checker, the rim-and-rhyme wrecker / Rocks from
here to Mecca, boom Shaq-a-laq-a-laq-a! (“I Know I Got Skillz,” 1993)
7. William “The Refrigerator” Perry: I eat linemen for lunch, I eat quarterbacks for dinner / To wash it all down, I drink paint thinner (“The Refrigerator Man,” 1985)
BOOK OF LISTS
THE SCENE / MUSIC
4
MUSICIANS WITH
SERIOUS SPORTS
CHOPS
Tauheed Epps a.k.a. 2 Chainz:
After a stellar high school basketball career at North Clayton High in Georgia,
Epps went on to play a full season of Div. I ball at Alabama State in 1996–97.
Percy Miller, Sr. a.k.a. Master P:
A high school basketball standout, the rapper/producer tried out for the
Charlotte Bobcats and Toronto Raptors and suited up for the Continental
Basketball Association’s Fort Wayne Fury. As Miller himself put it: “If Shaq can
rap, Master P can play basketball.” Bonus: Master P’s son Lil’ Romeo suited up
alongside Toronto Raptor DeMar DeRozan for USC in college.
Billy Ray Cyrus:
Well before he wrote “Achy Breaky Heart,” Billy Ray earned a baseball scholarship to Georgetown College in Kentucky.
Bobby Pollard:
The Guided by Voices frontman was a star quarterback in high school, but
it was his baseball talent that got him a scholarship to Wright State University—in 1978 he pitched the school’s first ever no-hitter.
BOOK OF LISTS
THE SCENE / OUT OF LEFT FIELD
BRUNT’S BEST SPORTS
READS
Stephen Brunt is Canada’s pre-eminent sports columnist and the author of
bestselling books Facing Ali, Gretzky’s Tears and Searching for Bobby Orr.
These are his 13 essential sports books:
1. The Courting of Marcus Dupree (1983) by Willie Morris “A beautifully
written book about race, the South, going home... and football.”
2. Fat City (1969) by Leonard Gardner “Gardner’s only novel is a bit of a lost
classic.”
3. Fever Pitch (1992) by Nick Hornby “The fact that it was made into not
just one but two lousy movies might blur the memory of what a terrific, fun
read Hornby’s autobiographical book is.”
4. Foul: The Connie Hawkins Story (1972) by David Wolf “If you don’t know
the Connie Hawkins story, you should. Wolf, a true eccentric who had a
long second career as a boxing manager—Ray Mancini, Donnie Lalonde—
wrote this pioneering sports biography.”
5. Jackie Robinson (1997) by Arnold Rampersad “Especially worth reading
now in the wake of the cardboard cut-out bio film 42.”
6. The Lords of the Rings: Power, Money and Drugs in the Modern Olympics (1992) by Andrew Jennings “All great investigative reporters are
obsessives, but Jennings redefines the term, taking on the International
Olympic Committee all by himself. These days, he’s hammering away at
another gang of bad guys, FIFA.”
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7. The Natural (1952) by Bernard Malamud “If you’re going to dip into fantastical, poetic baseball writing, why not go to the source?”
8. Night Work (2008) by Randall Maggs “Yes, it’s poetry. About Terry Sawchuk. And it may be the most fundamentally true hockey book ever written.”
9. Salvage King, Ya! (1997) by Mark Anthony Jarman “The great postmodern hockey novel. Not for everyone, but if you like the idea of Hunter S.
Thompson stumbling into small-town Alberta, this could be your cup of
tea.”
10. The 16th Round: From Number 1 Contender to Number 45472 (1973)
by Rubin “Hurricane” Carter “The later iterations of Carter’s story don’t
stand up against the searing original.”
11. The Story of the World Cup (1993) by Brian Glanville “The definitive
reference work on the subject, written by a great, meticulous storyteller.”
12. Sugar Ray (1969) by Dave Anderson “That most rare commodity—an
authorized sports biography worth the paper it’s written on. Ray Robinson
was the bridge, not just in boxing, but culturally and politically, from Joe
Louis to Muhammad Ali.”
13. The Summer Game (1972) by Roger Angell “Or anything else by Roger
Angell, on any subject.”
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5
ATHLETE-ENDORSED
CABERNETS AVAILABLE
IN CANADA
1. Andretti Winery Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon $39.75
2. Greg Norman Cabernet Merlot $25.49
3. Ernie Els Cabernet Sauvignon $23.95
4. Mike Weir Cabernet Merlot $16.95
5. Wayne Gretzky Cabernet Merlot $15.95
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7
SEVEN FOOD PRODUCTS
ENDORSED BY
CANADIAN ATHLETES
Flower Power energy drink (Guy Lafleur, 1991)
Fleury Flakes cereal (Marc-André Fleury, 2011)
Getzlaf Waggle cereal (Chris Getzlaf, 2010)
Fantuz Flakes cereal (Andy Fantuz, 2010)
Classic Dupuis Dijon mustard (Pascal Dupuis, 2011)
Cheetah Power Surge energy drink (Ben Johnson, 2009)
Votto’s cereal (Joey Votto, 2011)
BOOK OF LISTS
10
MOST UNSTOPPABLE
VIDEO GAME ATHLETES
OF ALL TIME
Bryan Calhoun, host of Sportsnet 590 The Fan’s Got Game, gave us his list
1. Bo Jackson in Tecmo Super Bowl (1991): “Jackson was a quality assurance tester’s nightmare. A single character with statistics so high he could
literally run circles around anyone on the field.”
2. Mike Tyson in Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!! (1987): “Taking down the champ
is one of the hardest things to do in any video game. Tyson moved faster
than humanly possible. To make matters worse, if knocked down he’d always get back up with half of his health recharged.”
3. Jeremy Roenick in the EA Sports’s NHL franchise: “The only hockey
player who was a force to be reckoned with in pretty much any version he
was in.”
4. Michael Vick in Madden ’04 (2003): “A one-man offensive unit. With speed
and throwing-power ratings in the high 90s, Vick got the ball upfield at will.
Many thought he was too good; EA Sports was still getting complaints
about his dominating offensive play when Madden ’05 was released.”
5. Bill Elliott in Bill Elliott’s NASCAR Challenge (1990): “In this case, it may
have been the car that was the real athlete. Bill won almost every race and
led laps in the majority of them.”
BOOK OF LISTS
6. Chris Mullin in NBA Jam (1993): “There are a ton of unstoppable characters in NBA Jam, but if you were in an arcade and didn’t pick Mullin, you
screwed up. His unnatural accuracy from outside made him virtually impossible to stop.”
7. Randy Moss in Madden ’08 (2007): “Virtual Randy is best known for dominating one-handed grabs in Madden ’08 but always allowed for a very simple strategy: Point him in the direction of the other team’s end zone and
throw him the ball.”
8. Reggie Jackson in RBI Baseball (1987): “I am not sure if the team at Namco was just impressed by Reggie or if they were fans, but in a game founded on homers he got the most.”
9. Charles Barkley in Barkley, Shut Up and Jam (1994): “As the title character, Sir Charles was the best. His power ratings were maxed out, allowing
even a rookie gamer to dominate.”
10. Tiger Woods in EA Sports’s Tiger Woods PGA Tour franchise: “This
is one is easy to explain. Virtual Tiger drives farther than real-life Dustin
Johnson and makes crucial putts more often than Jack Nicklaus did in
his prime.”
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19
SUPERSTAR ATHLETES
TURNED POLITICIANS
1. Pele: World Cup winner, extraordinary minister for sport, Brazil
2. Bill Bradley: NBA Hall of Famer, U.S. senator
3. Arnold Schwarzenegger: Bodybuilder, governor of California
4. Manny Pacquiao: Boxer, member of Congress, Philippines
5. Frank Mahovlich: NHL Hall of Famer, Canadian senator
6. Vitali Klitschko: World heavyweight champion boxer, city councillor, Kiev,
Ukraine
7. Ken Dryden: NHL Hall of Famer, Canadian MP
8. Red Kelly: NHL Hall of Famer, Canadian MP
9. J
esse Ventura: Wrestler, governor of Minnesota
10. O
tto Jelinek: Figure skater, Canadian MP
11. Jack Kemp: Football Hall of Famer, U.S. Congressman
12. Howie Meeker: NHL Hall of Famer,Canadian MP
13. Steve Largent: Football Hall of Famer, U.S. Congressman
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14. Gianni Rivera: FIFA Ballon D’Or winner, member of European Parliament
15. Romario: World Cup winner, Congressman, Brazilian national Chamber of
Deputies
16. J.C. Watts: CFL quarterback, U.S. Congressman
17. K
evin Johnson: All-star NBA guard, mayor of Sacramento, Calif.
18. Dave Bing: All-star NBA guard, mayor of Detroit
19. J
im Bunning: MLB Hall of Famer, U.S. senator
BOOK OF LISTS
THE GREATEST
ATHLETES WHO NEVER
EXISTED*
1. Hayden “Sidd” Finch: Originally appearing in George Plimpton’s 1985
Sports Illustrated story “The Curious Case of Sidd Finch,” Finch was said to
be a rookie pitcher for the New York Mets who had played for Harvard, was
raised in an orphanage in England and left school to study yoga in Tibet.
With an unorthodox pitching style (wearing only one shoe, with a high-kick
delivery), Plimpton claimed that Finch could hit 168 mph with his fastball.
It was later revealed that the story was a fabrication, part of an elaborate
April Fool’s joke. Plimpton later penned a novel titled The Curious Case of
Sidd Finch.
2. Taro Tsujimoto: The first NHL player selected out of the Japanese Ice
Hockey League—or so we were told in 1978 by then–Sabres GM Punch Imlach. Bored with the proceedings as the ’78 draft dragged on, Imlach came
up with the name Tsujimoto and drafted him in the 11th round. For weeks,
he led on local media, promising the prospect was on his way to the U.S.
before admitting it was a gag at the beginning of training camp.
3. Yardis Alpolfo: In 2003, Rangers in Scotland made noise around the soccer
world by acquiring Alpolfo from a Turkish club for a then-absurd $15-million transfer fee. The club later admitted, after the media ran with the story,
that Alpolfo was pure fiction. Evidently the press didn’t pick up on the fact
that it was April 1, and Yardis Alpolfo is an anagram for “April Fools Day.”
4. Johnny “The Celestial Comet” Chung: The star halfback at Plainfield
Teachers College in 1941, Chung would reportedly down bowlfuls of rice (it
was ’41, hardly the pinnacle of political correctness) between quarters as
PTC improbably became one of the most dominant college football teams
BOOK OF LISTS
around, undefeated six weeks into the season. The New York Times ran
with the story, as did the Philadelphia Record, who sent a reporter to Plainfield, where it was discovered that neither the school nor Chung actually
existed. They were the brainchild of stockbroker Morris Newburger and
New York radio host Alex Dannenbaum.
5. Masal Bugduv: When the Times of London released their list of the 50 rising stars to watch in soccer in 2009, one name stood out: 16-year-old attacker Masal Bugduv, dubbed “Moldova’s finest.” Turns out the Times had
been duped; Bugduv was the created out of a blogger’s imagination.
*but had everybody fooled
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10
HIGHEST-SELLING
SPORTS GAME
FRANCHISES OF ALLTIME*
1. Wii Sports 109.6
2. FIFA 100.7
3. Need For Speed 100
4. Madden 99
5. Winning 11/Pro Evolution Soccer 81.65
6. Mario Kart 80.8
7. Gran Turismo 68.08
8. WWE 47
9. Wii Fit 43.15
10. NBA Live 35
*Includes all titles released under that banner, in order of units sold, in
millions
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9
ICONIC SPORTS MOVIE
POSTERS
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BOOK OF LISTS
THE VENUES / IN THE ARENA
6
ADAM HADWIN’S
FAVOURITE COURSES IN
CANADA
The professional golfer hasn’t played every course in Canada, but he’s
played a lot.
1. Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club, Vancouver “A challenging, tree-lined
course that makes you hit every club in your bag.”
2. National Golf Club of Canada, Woodbridge, Ont. “An extremely wellmanicured, difficult course. Very challenging from start to finish.”
3. St. George’s Golf and Country Club, Etobicoke, Ont. “It has a mix of everything—elevation changes, doglegs, challenging holes, easier holes and
very challenging greens.”
4. Riverside Country Club, Saskatoon “Set on the Saskatchewan River, it
has a great layout and can play extremely difficult when the winds pick up.”
5. Scarboro Golf & Country Club, Toronto “Fantastic old-style course. Elevation changes and tricky greens make for a challenging round.”
6. Greystone Golf Club, Milton, Ont. “Relatively unknown. Good layout,
mostly open with long fescue and a few holes cut through trees make it a
great course.”
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10
STADIUMS WITH MORE
SEATS THAN ANY OTHER
1. Rungrado May Day Stadium, Pyongyang, North Korea
150,000
2. Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata, India
120,000
3. Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Mich.
109,901
4. Beaver Stadium (Penn State), University Park, Pa.
107,282
5. Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, Tenn.
102,455
6. Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio.
102,329
7. Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Ala.
101,821
8. Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico
101,000
9. DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium, Austin, Texas
100,119
10. Camp Nou Stadium, Barcelona, Spain
99,354
*Excluding race tracks
BOOK OF LISTS
WORST STADIUM
DISASTERS
Oct. 20, 1982, Moscow, U.S.S.R. Police reportedly clashed with unruly fans
rushing into the stadium during a Spartak Moscow European Cup match. The
final death toll was 340, mostly from trampling.
May 24, 1964, Lima, Peru Rioting broke out after Argentina defeated Peru in
an Olympic qualifier at National Stadium, killing 318 and injuring 500.
May 9, 2001, Accra, Ghana 126 people die at a Ghana Premier League match
between Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko after police fire tear gas into the
raucous crowd, causing a stampede.
April 15, 1989, Sheffield, England When overcrowding outside Hillsborough Stadium led police to open the gates to the stadium during a Liverpool–Nottingham Forest match, 96 fans were crushed to death trying to
swarm the stands.
March 12, 1988, Kathmandu, Nepal 93 people killed as fans fleeing a hailstorm find locked exits.
Oct. 16, 1996, Guatemala City, Guatemala Yet another stampede in an overcrowded stadium. A reported 78 were killed during a Guatemala–Costa Rica
World Cup qualifier.
June 23, 1968, Buenos Aires, Argentina 74 killed and over 150 injured when
fans stampede after a River Plate–Boca Juniors game. Both sets of fans blame
each other.
Feb. 1, 2012, Port Said, Egypt 74 killed and over 1,000 injured during postmatch riots.
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Jan. 5, 1971, Glasgow, Scotland When stadium barriers crumbled during a
Celtic-Rangers match, 66 people were crushed and 140 hurt.
May 11, 1985, Bradford, England A discarded cigarette butt starts a stadium
fire that quickly spreads. 56 die as a result.
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10
OLDEST NORTH
AMERICAN VENUES
STILL IN USE
1. Saratoga Race Track
Saratoga, N.Y.
Est. 1863
2. Pimlico Race Track
Baltimore, Md.
1870
3. Churchill Downs
Louisville, Ky
1875
4. Labatt Park
London, Ont.
Est. 1877
5. Franklin Field
University of Pennsylvania
1895
6. Harvard Stadium
Cambridge, Mass.
1903
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7. Milwaukee Mile
Milwaukee, Wis.
1903
8. Belmont Park
Belmont, N.Y.
1905
9. Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Indianapolis, Ind.
1909
10. Matthews Arena
Northeastern University, Boston, Mass.
1910
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10
MOST EXPENSIVE
STADIUMS EVER
CONSTRUCTED
1. Madison Square Garden
New York, N.Y., 1968
$1,975,349,918.85
2. Olympic Stadium
Montreal, Que., 1976
$1,821,998,158.38
3. MetLife Stadium
East Rutherford, N.J., 2010
$1,707,994,771.96
4. Wembley Stadium
London, England, 2007
$1,684,122,468.39
5. Yankee Stadium
The Bronx, N.Y., 2009
$1,627,502,482.09
6. Cowboys Stadium
Arlington, Texas, 2009
$1,410,502,151.14
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7. Rogers Centre
Toronto, Ont., 1989
$1,026,043,562.45
8. Olympic Stadium
$817,613,550.18
9. Emirates Stadium
$759,386,156.29
10. Stade de France
Paris, France, 1998
$746,980,023.79
*Including renovation costs and adjusted for inflation
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LONGEST HOME RUNS OF
THE PAST FIVE YEARS
504 feet
Adam Dunn, Arizona Diamondbacks, Sept. 27, 2008
495 feet
Wladimir Balentien, Cincinnati Reds, Oct. 2, 2009
494 feet
Giancarlo Stanton, Miami Marlins, Aug. 17, 2012
488 feet
Edwin Encarnacion, Toronto Blue Jays, Sept. 1, 2012
486 feet
Adam Dunn, Cincinnati Reds, July 10, 2008
486 feet
Prince Fielder, Milwaukee Brewers, April 29, 2011
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THE WORLD’S BIGGEST
SPEEDWAYS
(ranked by capacity)
1. Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Indianapolis, Ind.
400,000
2. Circuit de la Sarthe
Le Mans, France
384,000
3. Shanghai International Circuit
Shanghai, China
200,000
4. Texas Motor Speedway
Fort Worth, Texas
191,122
5. Daytona International Speedway
Daytona Beach, Fla.
167,000
6. Bristol Motor Speedway
Bristol, Tenn.
160,000
7. Silverstone Circuit
Northamptonshire, U.K.
150,000
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8. Buddh International Circuit
Uttar Pradesh, India
150,000
9. Charlotte Motor Speedway
Concord, N.C.
134,000
10. Istanbul Park
Istanbul, Turkey
130,000
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12
SIGNATURE SIGHTS
1. Wrigley Field’s ivy-covered outfield wall: If a ball gets lost in this mess,
it’s a ground-rule double.
2. Fenway Park’s Green Monster: The 37-foot left-field wall was built in 1912
and painted green in 1947.
3. Notre Dame Stadium’s Touchdown Jesus: Perched on top of the school’s
Hesburgh Library, the 14-storey structure looms over the north end zone.
4. The Old Course’s Swilcan Bridge: A Roman-style arch that is at least 700
years old, it spans the Swilcan Burn at St. Andrews Links in Scotland, connecting the first and 18th fairways.
5. Old Father Time, Lord’s Cricket Ground: The famous weather vane overlooking this London landmark has been around since 1926.
6. The Shankly Gates at Anfield: Unveiled in 1982 to honour legendary Liverpool manager Bill Shankly, who led the Reds for 25 years. It’s topped by
the phrase “You’ll Never Walk Alone.”
7. The Chicago Stadium horn: The Blackhawks had a marine horn installed
in their old barn in 1983 and brought it along to the United Center in 1994.
8. The short porch at Yankee Stadium: Many left-handed hitters have made
careers for themselves launching fat pitches into the stands in right field.
9. The Twin Spires of Churchill Downs: Built in 1895, the hexagonal spires
represent an architectural era where symmetry and balance trumped
function.
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10. The berm at Howard J. Lamade Stadium: There’s something pure about
the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa. And much of that
quaintness comes from its home field and the grassy hill that rises beyond the outfield wall.
11. Winnipeg Arena’s portrait of the Queen: The largest known portrait of
Queen Elizabeth II hung from the rafters of the now-demolished arena for
20 years.
12. The blue turf at Bronco Stadium: Purists might not like it, but Boise
State’s football playing surface was deemed iconic enough for the Idaho
State Historical Museum’s “Essential Idaho: 150 things that make the Gem
State unique.”
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10
BOOZY BEVERAGES SOLD
AT THE AIR CANADA
CENTRE DURING LEAFS
GAMES*
1. Molson Canadian draft 200,299
2. Coors Light draft 177,679
3. Miller Genuine Draft tall can 21,725
4. Smirnoff Ice tall can 14,477
5. Coors Light tall can 12,054
6. Molson Canadian tall can 11,377
7. Heineken tall can 11,365
8. Crown Royal 8,583
9. Red wine 7,909
10. White wine 7,761
*2011–12 season
BOOK OF LISTS
10
LONGEST RUNNING
RACES ON EARTH
1. 4,989 km, Self-Transcendence Race Runners are given 52 days to complete this race around one New York City block in Queens. It takes 5,649
laps to complete—an average of more than 60 miles a day.
2. 3,999 km, TransEurope-Footrace A 64-stage race across Scotland, England, France and Spain. The shortest stage is 39 km, the longest is 83.3 km.
3. 3,895 km, Relentless Ultramarathon A 29-day race across all 47 counties
in England. An average day consists of 82 km.
4. 2,589 km, Iditarod Trail Invitational Runners have a 30-day time limit
to complete this Alaskan race, held on the same path as the famous dogsled race.
5. 1,609 km, Silverton Challenge This multi-day race in Colorado includes a
minimum speed requirement: one mile per hour.
6. 1,200 km, Deutschlandlauf About 30 runners take part in this multi-day
run across Germany each year.
7. 1,040 km, Poland Footrace This road race consists of 15 stages and draws
about 50 runners.
8. 1,000 km, Athens International Ultramarathon Festival While the festival is home to 24-, 48- and 72-hour races, it’s the seven-day 1,000-km trek
that deserves the attention.
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9. 1,000 km, Mil’kil De France About 400 runners take part in this race,
which takes, on average, nine to 11 days to complete.
10. 740 km, Yukon Arctic Ultra This trek takes place every two years and follows the same path as the Yukon Quest dogsled race. So pack your mittens.
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12
VENUES CURRENTLY
WITHOUT ACTIVE
PROFESSIONAL
TENANTS
1. The Forum, Los Angeles, Calif. The iconic former home of the Los Angeles Lakers and the NHL’s Kings between 1967–99. The Lakers won
six titles playing in the Forum, including the entire Magic Johnson–led
“Showtime” era.
2. Colisée Pepsi, Quebec City, Que. The Nordiques used to call this place
home, and the Philadelphia Flyers even played five games here in 1968, but
these days it’s home ice for the QMJHL’s Quebec Remparts.
3. The Olympic Stadium Adjusted for inflation, it’s one of the most expensive stadiums ever constructed. It was the longtime home of the Expos and
Alouettes (it still hosts Als playoff games). Most recently, MLS’s Montreal
Impact played parts of the 2012 season at the “Big O” while awaiting construction of Saputo Stadium.
4. National Stadium in Beijing: The famous “Bird’s Nest” built for the 2008
Olympic Games, has gone virtually unused since then, but it has hosted
the Supercoppa Italiana soccer tournament (no, that’s not a typo) three of
the past four years.
5. The Silverdome, Pontiac, Mich. Arguably, its career highlight came when
more than 93,000 packed the ’Dome for Wrestlemania III. Because nearly
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30 years of Detroit Lions games and more than a decade of pre–Bad Boy
Pistons certainly don’t qualify.
6. Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Mo. The short-lived K.C. Scouts NHL franchise played here (1974–76), but this arena hasn’t housed a major pro sports
team since the NBA’s Kings relocated to Sacramento in 1985.
7. Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, Calif. This is the house
that saw the mighty Jerry West and Elgin Baylor Laker teams of the ’60s.
The last club to play out of the Memorial was the L.A. Clippers (1984–99).
No amount of time can erase the horrors those walls have seen.
8. Pacific Coliseum, Vancouver, B.C. The former home of the Canucks and
Whitecaps is now occupied by the WHL’s Vancouver Giants.
9. Izod Center, East Rutherford, N.J. The NHL’s Devils and the NBA’s Nets
called the Izod Center home for more than 25 years. One of them won two
championships, the other won none. You guess which.
10. Greensboro Coliseum Complex, Carolina, N.C. Currently home to the
University of North Carolina Greensboro Spartans, the Carolina Hurricanes played here from 1997–99.
11. Estadio Lluis Sitjar in Palma de Mallorca, Spain Now in ruins, this was
the home pitch for La Liga football club RCD Mallorca.
12. Reliant Astrodome in Houston Both MLB’s Astros and the NFL’s Oilers
played in the revolutionary arena from the mid-’60s until the turn of the
millennium.
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5
SMALLEST CITIES
WITH A TEAM IN THE
BIG FOUR EUROPEAN
SOCCER LEAGUES
(compared to the biggest city in the league)
1. Hoffenheim (Bundesliga): pop. 3,200
Hamburg: 1.8 million
2. Siena (Serie A): pop. 54,543
Rome: 2.7 million
3. Wigan (EPL): pop. 81,203
London: 8.1 million
4. Udinese (Serie A): pop. 99,000
Rome: 2.7 million
5. Bergamo (Serie A): pop. 118,786
Rome: 2.7 million
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THE WORLD’S MOST
DANGEROUS SPORTS
1. Bullfighting Sure, you’ve got a sword and a cape, but the bull’s got a
weight, speed and strength advantage. And horns. Please, please don’t
forget the horns.
2. Speed skiing The fastest non-motorized sport on Earth, in which competitors regularly top the 200-km/h mark. Just tuck and go. And, um, pray?
3. Free soloing Scaling sheer rock faces hundreds of feet high takes guts.
Scaling them without ropes takes a genuine lack of concern for your own
well-being.
4. Race-car driving The cars are designed for safety, and many of the tracks
are predictable ovals. Counterpoint: There’s no such thing as a fenderbender at 370 km/h.
5. Single-handed sailing Around the world in three months with little to no
sleep, dodging icebergs and dreading storms. This isn’t the type of sailing
Christopher Cross had in mind.
6. Free diving Tests how deep an athlete can dive on a single breath. Here’s
how scary this is: Blacking out under water is just part of the sport.
7. Isle of Man motorcycle racing At the annual Isle of Man Tourist Trophy—
which takes place on a 60.73-km road course—it’s not a matter of if a racer
will die, but when.
8. Big wave surfing Big waves. Really, really, really big waves. Fast, too.
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9. Ice climbing It’s not just falling from the piece of ice you’re clinging to that
you need to worry about. Sometimes that ice falls, too.
10. Bobsleigh Your main jobs are 1) go as fast as possible, and 2) don’t flip
over. If you succeed too well at the former, you will almost certainly fail at
the latter.
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8
PLACES YOU WANT TO
SURF... BUT REALLY
SHOULDN’T
1. Pipeline, Hawaii: Some of the best pipe surfing anywhere, the home of the
Pipeline Masters tournament is lethal—big waves break over a shallow jagged reef. Has reputedly claimed more surfers—including professionals—
than most other beaches combined.
2. Mavericks, California: Its cold waves, reaching 50 feet, bring the pros for
the Mavericks Invitational, or what’s been called the “Super Bowl of Surfing.” But even they aren’t safe—legend Mark Foo (1994) and big-wave rider
Sion Milosky (2011) fell victim to the Mavericks surf.
3. Teahupo’o, Tahiti: Super-heavy waves—i.e., top-heavy liquid walls that
dump massive amounts of water on fallen boarders—crashing over razorsharp coral just below the surface.
4. Nazare, Portugal: Big-wave god Garrett McNamara mastered a 90-footer here—the creation of a unique underwater canyon—but you probably
can’t. And when you slip up, there’s a massive cliff wall waiting to greet you.
5. Siargao Island, Philippines: The waves are great and the water is warm. So
what’s the problem? Well, the Canadian government warns against travel
to the area “due to the serious threat of terrorist attacks and kidnapping.”
Likely by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. (Yes, MILF.) Gnarly.
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6. Cyclops, Australia: You can only get there by boat, but you don’t want to.
Not the highest waves, but some of the world’s heaviest—and if you mess
up, you’ll hit the rocks with medical help hours away.
7. Cape Cross, Namibia: A hidden gem on Africa’s southwest coast, but the
best surfing is off a seal reserve. If thousands of ornery fur seals aren’t bad
enough, the great white sharks that lurk in the water to eat them—and often mistake paddling surfers for prey—sure are.
8. Kurnell, Australia: You’ve got to be perfect to not get tossed like a doll or
smashed into the cliffs. Even if you reach the beach intact you’ll likely run
afoul of the Bra Boys, a violent local gang who’ve claimed the break as their
own; they literally renamed it “Ours.”
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THE VENUES / ASK THE EXPERTS
6
YUKON QUEST DANGERS
These are the greatest menaces a long-distance musher faces according to
Sebastian Schnuelle, winner of the Yukon Quest 1,000 Mile International
Sled Dog Race in 2009.
1. Realizing you are on the wrong trail Turning a team around is demoralizing, never mind the time lost.
2. Being so tired you forget to properly load your sled I have left crucial
equipment behind like my beaver-fur mittens or Thermoses.
3. Breaking through the ice at 50 below Dog-food bags and dog coats with
lots of rope make good boots and save feet from falling off.
4. A storm that’s so bad you wonder if you’re going to make it In the 2009
Iditarod, I decided to not stop in at the checkpoint despite a pretty good
storm. An 11-hour run was stretching into 18 hours with a headwind so
strong that the team stalled as soon as I stood up. The dogs’ eyelids would
ice up so bad from the drifting snow that I had to stop frequently to rub
them free so they could see.
5. Losing a team A musher’s nightmare. Dogs gone, equipment gone, transportation gone—to be avoided at all cost. In 2011, I woke up on the ground
alone. Started walking—or limping—and wondering what disaster I would
find, sick with panic. Then I found three loose dogs who got ripped out of
their harnesses. Other than that, the team and sled were intact about half
a mile down the trail, wedged into some trees.
6. Oversleeping Try only sleeping for two hours a day for four days while
working harder than ever—now cut that to one hour a day for the followSPORTSNET E-BOOK EDITION
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ing five days. In the 2007 Iditarod, I overslept 700 miles into the race, for
four hours. That was about 10 places or $15,000 in prize money—most expensive nap in my life. Ever since, I drink two litres before I lie down. Good
alarm clock.
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INDYCAR’S ALEX
TAGLIANI’S FAVOURITE
RACE TRACKS
Road course: Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wis. I’ve always been supercompetitive there. I really love fast corners and the mix of length, speed and
heavy breaking.
Oval: Indianapolis Motor Speedway It’s a really challenging track. It has everything. It’s tough not to love it because of the history and how difficult it is
to win it.
Street course: Toronto Indy As a Canadian, it’s tough to not be emotionally
connected to the fans and to the track.
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6
MOST INTIMIDATING
NHL PLAYOFF ARENAS
[according to Doug Weight]
The four-time all-star who won a Stanley Cup with Carolina in 2006 has experienced most of the NHL’s barns when it matters most.
1. Rexall Place, Edmonton The noise out of that building is just incredible.
2. Reunion Arena, Dallas You wouldn’t think it, but that old barn is wild.
3. Bell Centre, Montreal Some crazy fans there; it’s their livelihood.
4. PNC Arena, Raleigh The most underrated. I didn’t know what to expect,
but the NASCAR fans stood up for three periods and didn’t sit down.
5. McNichols Arena, Denver When they had Joe Sakic and Peter Forsberg
and Patrick Roy, they got great support.
6. Staples Center, Los Angeles I was in L.A. for the finals last year and that
building was electric.
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YOU KNOW YOU’RE
PLAYING MINI-TOUR
GOLF WHEN...
Golfer and Ottawa native Brad Fritsch spent nearly a decade on the Canadian tour and other mini-tours before earning his PGA tour card last year
9. Back in 2002 in Austin, Texas, we fit three players and a caddy into a room
at a Spring- Hill Suites for the week. We had the caddy sleep on an air mattress, underneath the desk. All the while paying the “Friends and Family”
rate of $44 a night.
8. W
hen I qualified for the 2006 U.S. Open, I had to make a decision about
who was going to caddy for me. The girl who carried my bag at sectionals was a good caddy, but I went with the guy who offered me $2,000 to
carry my bag for the week. I managed to get it bumped up to $3,000. Think
money was tight?
7. A
t the same U.S. Open, I had friends who lived less than five minutes from
the course. Hotels were in excess of $250 a night, so I decided that my girlfriend, my caddy, my coach and I would all stay at my friends’ apartment.
It was a two-bedroom place, and we had six people total. I slept on a mattress, and my caddy and coach slept on the floor in the hallways. I’m sure
Tiger’s entourage did the same.
6. I tried to qualify for the European Tour in 2004. The first stage was in
France, so the steering wheel on the rental car was on the correct side.
However, for the first four days I couldn’t figure out how to put the car
in reverse. I’d make sure to park the car so I could just drive forward to
leave the space, or I’d park on a slope so the car could roll backwards out
of the space.
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5. In 2011, the Canadian Tour had consecutive events in Calgary, Saskatoon
and Winnipeg. My buddy Justin had a friend who was an Audi dealer, and
he offered to let us drive a Q7 SUV for the three weeks, and he’d put it on
a truck back to Calgary when we were done. We packed four guys into the
car on the way from Saskatoon, with four duffles and four golf bags. We
couldn’t see the two guys in the back seat, but we were fine up front. The
car didn’t look very good after our GPS betrayed us and we cut through a
farmer’s field for about 15 minutes.
4. At the 2011 CanTour event in Kamloops, B.C., my buddy Scott’s volunteer
(for a $35-per-day fee) caddy must have been at least 75 years old, and she
needed a pullcart to get around. Every morning, she brought Scott a baggie full of freshly baked cookies. Sweet? Absolutely. Help? Not so much.
3. At the CanTour event in Victoria, B.C., a friend of mine always gets the same
caddy every year, and he’s going on his 10th year. He’s a decent caddy, a
nice guy... and he’s also homeless.
2. I bought a Chrysler Intrepid before I started playing the Canadian Tour
in 2001. I drove it for five years, put over 200,000 km on it, and made the
drive from Ottawa (my home) to Victoria (the start of the Canadian Tour)
three separate times in order to save money on flights and rental cars. I
sold it for $700, and it was just for parts. It was completely dead.
1. The Canadian Tour event in Edmonton always has a bevy of pro-ams and
clinics to participate in, and they pay $200 each. There was always a rush
to sign up for these because, hey, $200. I remember one guy doing an a.m.
and a p.m. pro-am one day, followed by a women’s clinic at 8 p.m. He was at
the golf course from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. the day before the tournament started.
BOOK OF LISTS
KAILLIE HUMPHRIES’S
FAVOURITE TRACKS ON
EARTH
Calgary’s Kaillie Humphries is the reigning Olympic and two-time defending world champion bobsleigh pilot
1. Whistler, Canada The fastest in the world, which makes it one of the most
challenging and fun. And the ice conditions are always spectacular.
2. La Plagne, France A top choice because my driving skill/style matches
this track perfectly. Also a favourite of mine because it’s located right in
the mountains and feels like home.
3. Lake Placid, U.S.A. Another very technically challenging track. It demands
a lot of respect, focus, concentration and ability. Most people hate it, so I
choose to love it.
4. Altenberg, Germany One of the most dangerous tracks on tour. It can and
will eat you up and spit you out with no remorse, so respect is demanded
every single time you slide.
5. St. Moritz, Switzerland The birthplace of bobsleigh and the only allnatural track in the world. Built out of ice blocks from the lake, every year
it changes slightly. It feels unlike any other track: It’s super smooth and
has the least amount of force or pressure, and is the longest track we
compete on.
6. Konigssee, Germany Originally a luge-only track that bobsleigh has now
wormed its way on to. It’s the shortest track in the world for downtime and
offers some very unique corners: “S” curves that basically make or break a
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race. This track has names for its corners, not numbers. It’s fun and fairly
easy on the body.
7. Calgary, Canada Carries the most intense G-force for long periods of time
and the transitions from one corner to the next are very harsh.
8. Park City, U.S.A. Gets up to speed very quickly—120 km/h by corner six—
but doesn’t do much after that. It’s the highest altitude track in the world,
and kills us all aerobically every time.
9. Winterberg, Germany It’s 100 percent a finesse track and a lot of athletes
either love it or hate it. It’s easy to get down, but very hard to get down fast.
Weather can be a factor as most of this track is open, which can potentially
make for an unfair race. We call it sunny-berg because the chance of seeing sun is very rare.
10. Cesana, Italy Is now shut down, but was the site of the 2006 Winter Olympics. A long track with 19 corners that flowed back and forth. As a pilot it
was very easy to get lost going down.
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MIKE WEIR’S 10
FAVOURITE GOLF
COURSES
Who better to turn to than the greatest golfer Canada has ever produced—
the only one with a green jacket. Just don’t expect to play well on any of
these courses if you get the chance. Remember: Weir has 13 wins around
the world. You have zero.
1. Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, Ga.
For obvious reasons!
2. Pebble Beach Golf Links, Pebble Beach, Calif.
One of the most beautiful courses in the world, when the weather cooperates.
3. Riviera Country Club, Los Angeles, Calif.
History with Ben Hogan, and a very challenging course.
4. Old Course at St. Andrews, St. Andrews, Scotland
So much history; a course that requires imagination to play.
5. The National Golf Club, Woodbridge, Ont.
One of Canada’s finest courses. Very challenging from the back tees.
6. Hamilton Golf and Country Club, Hamilton, Ont.
Old, tree-lined, traditional golf course that has stood the test of time.
7. Royal Melbourne Golf Club, Black Rock, Australia
An Alister MacKenzie–designed course that I look forward to playing.
BOOK OF LISTS
8. Sand Hills Golf Club, Mullen, Neb.
Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore built a gem.
9. Muirfield Village, Dublin, Ohio
A beautiful Jack Nicklaus–designed course I enjoy playing every year.
10. Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club, Vancouver, B.C.
Tough tree-lined course right on the coast.
BOOK OF LISTS
17
ICONIC OLYMPIC
POSTERS
BOOK OF LISTS
BOOK OF LISTS
THE FINAL WHISTLE
MR. HOCKEY’S
GREATEST MEMORIES
G
ordie Howe is English Canada’s elder statesman of hockey, a face
and name representing all the sepia-toned memories of the Original
Six era. Over 26 seasons he played 1,767 NHL games, more than anyone in history, and his 1,850 points rank third. Of course, Howe didn’t
only play in the NHL—he came out of retirement in 1973 to join the World
Hockey Association’s Houston Aeros and played six WHA seasons (scoring 508 more points in 419 more games) before returning to the NHL for
one final campaign in 1979. He turned 51 that season and tallied 15 goals
and 40 points.
Howe tells his stories—from his fierce rivalry with Maurice Richard to
Detroit’s epic battles with the Toronto Maple Leafs—to anyone who asks.
And, like a grandfather, he gives life to days long gone. He shared some his
of favourite memories with us:
1. “ Meeting my future bride, Colleen, for the first time.”
2. “ The birth of our four children (I count this as one big highlight).”
3. “ Stepping on the ice with my sons the first time as teammates with the
Houston Aeros.”
4. “Winning the Avco Cup [WHA championship] with my sons.”
5. “ Playing in a charity game in Saskatoon at the age of 14 alongside a dozen NHLers on leave from the Air Force. One of my heroes, Harry Watson,
asked me how old I was. Then Mr. Watson said, ‘Well, I guess we’ll see you
in the NHL!’”
BOOK OF LISTS
6. “ When my parents stepped out of the car at centre ice on Gordie Howe
Night at Olympia Stadium [March 3, 1959].”
7. “My first game as a Red Wing.”
8. “My first goal as a Red Wing. That was the same night I also lost my teeth.”
9. “Being embraced on the street by Russian people during the Team Canada
series in 1974.”
10. “ When Michael Bublé and the rest of the stadium sang “Happy Birthday”
to me at the Palace in Detroit a few years back—and again in Vancouver
this year!”
ISBN 978-0-88896-658-2
www.rogerspublishing.ca
Contents copyright © 2013 by Rogers Publishing Limited,
May not be copied or shared without written permission
Like this eBook? Why not review it on the iBookstore, Amazon or Kobo?
Please send questions or feedback to [email protected]

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