Tiger's greatest moments

I already miss Tiger Woods. He has only been out of commission, what, three days now? And, already, we are wondering what in the world golf is going to be like without him. Plus, all golf fans are still drunk from his incredible performance at the U.S. Open. Speaking of that performance, where exactly does it rank in a career full of incredible perfomances? Well, right at the top.

Here's a look at the top 10 moments (so far) in the career of Tiger Woods:

1. 2008 U.S. Open
Considering the knee surgery, doctor's orders to not play and the long layoff -- heck, the guy hadn't played a tournament in two months -- this has to top the list, especially knowing what we know now. He seemed out of the hunt heading into the back nine on Saturday. But two eagles and a birdie while limping and wincing in pain combined to make up one of the best and most dramatic nine holes in major championship history. As if all that wasn't enough, he overcomes the enormous pressure that he is supposed to win a playoff against a heavy underdog and does just that -- wins. And he did it with two fractures in his leg. Incredible.

2. 1997 Masters
This tournament officially announced Tiger intended on being one of the legends. At age 21, Tiger shot 70, 66, 65 and 69 for a Masters-record 18-under-par 270. He won the tournament by 12 strokes. CBS's Jim Nantz accurately called it "a win for the ages.''

3. 2000 U.S. Open
Tiger shot a U.S. Open-record 12 under at Pebble Beach. That's remarkable. Can you think of a word better than remarkable? Well, you should think of one to describe the rest of this story. Miguel Angel Jimenez and Ernie Els tied for second. They were 3 over par! Tiger;s score and margin of victory were U.S. Open records.

4. 2000 British Open
Tiger became only the fifth player -- and youngest, at 24 -- to win a career grand slam. And it was in grand fashion. He shot an astounding 19 under, the lowest score in regulation in the history of the Open. In fact, 19 under remains the lowest score in the history of all four majors. He won the tournament by eight shots over Els and Thomas Bjorn. British Open legend Tom Watson said, "He is something supernatural.''

5. 2001 Masters
Tiger shot a final-round 68 to beat David Duval by two strokes. When he put on the green jacket that April afternoon, he  was the current defending champion in all four majors, thus completing the "Tiger Slam.''

6. 2006 British Open
Tiger showed that he is human. Not because he played poorly, but because he broke down in tears after winning the Open. It was his first major victory after the death of the man who inspired him -- his father, Earl.

7. 2000 PGA Championship
Tiger beat Bob May in a three-hole playoff, but only after he birdied the 71st and 72nd holes to force the playoff. The victory came after he had won the U.S. and British Opens, making him the first since Ben Hogan in 1953 to win three majors in one year.

8. 1996 U.S. Amateur
Tiger trailed Steve Scott by five shots with 16 holes to go and needed a long birdie putt just to send it to a playoff. He won on the second extra playoff hole, his third consecutive amateur championship.

9. 2006 PGA Championship
At the longest course in major championship history, Tiger had rounds of 69, 68, 65 and 68 for an 18-under 270 and a five-stroke victory. The 18 under tied the PGA Championship record set by Bob May in 2000. Oh, and Tiger shot 18 under in 2000, too, then beat May in the playoff.

10. 2005 Masters
After Saturday rain stopped the tournament halfway through the third round, Tiger trailed Chris DiMarco by four shots. But helped by seven straight birdies, Tiger waged a duel with DiMarco that ended with Woods winning in a playoff for his fourth green jacket.

Broadcasting's best

Last week, we lost the best television sports broadcaster ever in Jim McKay. At age 86, McKay, the longtime host of the Olympics and Wide World of Sports, passed away. It got me thinking about the most notable and influential sports television broadcasters to ever look into a camera and talk into a microphone. They weren't known for one sport, but for their ability to cover any and all sports. But if they were there, you knew one thing for sure: This was the big event of the moment. Here is my list of the most notable TV sports broadcasters of all time.

1. Jim McKay
The gold standard. The Edward R. Murrow of sports broadcasting. His prolific work on ABC's Wide World of Sports alone sets him above all others because he wasn't calling just baseball or football. He was calling every sport known to man and a few man didn't know, such as barrel jumping or some such thing. Of course, he had no problem with the big event either. After all, does it get any bigger than hosting the Olympics? In fact, you could argue McKay helped make the Olympics what the Games are today, and his work covering the tragedy at the Munich Olympics in 1972 was legendary. Throw in his smooth, classy and comfortable work on golf and horse racing and you have the master.

2. Howard Cosell
Some of you out there will absolutely hate Cosell being this high on the list, or even on the list at all. But in the 1970s, if it was a big event, Cosell  was there. Let's face it, he WAS Monday Night Football. He WAS the World Series. He WAS boxing on TV, especially because of his playful interaction with  Muhammad Ali that not only helped make Ali famous, but helped advance Ali's social causes. You watched often not to see the game, but to listen to Cosell. You loved him or hated him, but you were never ambivalent. When you think about it, is there a better compliment than that?

3. Bob Costas
When it's all said and done, Costas likely will be at the top of this list. He has hosted just about every major sporting event from the Olympics to the Super Bowl to the World Series to the NBA Finals. He mixes humor with intelligence and he manages to pull off the difficult task of being a thinking man's broadcaster while relating to the common man. In other words, he appeals to those who read the New York Times and the New York Post. Best of all, he never makes himself bigger than the event he is covering. And he is the best interviewer in sports.

4. Al Michaels
Simply put, the absolute best play-by-play man there has ever been. Timing? Perfect. Emotion? Always just right. Mistakes? Rare, if ever. He's so good that it seems as if he is calling a game that he has already seen and he knows exactly what is going to happen. His call of the 1980 U.S.-USSR hockey game might be the single-best performance ever by a play-by-play announcer. Sure, we all know his signature line of "Do you believe in miracles?'' but go back and listen to that entire broadcast and just how good Michaels was. That was 28 years ago and he has only gotten better since.

5. Curt Gowdy
Maybe there wouldn't have been a Dick Enberg or an Al Michaels if it hadn't been for Curt Gowdy, whose work in the late 1960s and 1970s earned him the well-deserved tag of "the best announcer in the business.'' He had another nickname -- "Broadcast of Everything'' -- because of his ability to call any sport. He did it all, but saved his best for the World Series and Super Bowl. During the 1970s, Gowdy's football work on NBC -- calling classic showdowns involving the Raiders, Dolphins and Steelers -- helped turn football into America's favorite sport on television.

6. Dick Enberg
For a good chunk of the 1980s, Enberg seemingly called every sporting event on TV -- the baseball game of the week to the top football game each Sunday to the best college basketball games to Wimbledon to the Olympics. While he called a game, he made it sound as if there was no place he would rather be than watching this game with you. Nearly 30 years later, Enberg still can be found at many major events and he hasn't lost a step.

7. Brent Musburger
Wait, don't roll your eyes. Yes, I know Musburger has become the butt of jokes by fans and critics. But don't underestimate his work. "You are looking live at … '' has been a signature call for, don't look now, more than 30 years. And you know what? He's still around, calling ABC's top college football and basketball games, hosting big horse races, as well as major bowl games. With Musburger as host, CBS's NFL Today became the blueprint for the modern-day NFL pregame show. And, say what you will about his style, you cannot deny that Musburger sounds truly excited about whatever he is calling.

8. Chris Schenkel
A pioneer in broadcasting. He might have been the original sports "host.'' For parts of five decades, Schenkel -- with his low-key, baritone, smooth style -- called it all, but is best known for his work on college football, the NBA and the Pro Bowlers tour. He was the voice of college football before Keith Jackson. He was the voice of the NBA before Marv Albert. And you can't even think of bowling on television without thinking of Schenkel.

9. Keith Jackson
The voice of college football. If Jackson was calling the game, you knew it was the game in the country on that particular Saturday. But often forgotten is Jackson was the original play-by-play announcer on Monday Night Football and called events such as the World Series, the Indy 500, the NBA Finals, the Olympics and even a few Evel Knievel jumps. His college football work was so outstanding that it overshadowed just how versatile he was.

10. Pat Summerall
Summerall isn’t known for covering the variety of events like the others on this list. He is best known for two things: the NFL and the U.S. Open tennis tournament. He called more Super Bowls (16) than any other broadcaster. He was the voice of the NFL at a time when the NFL on TV became the phenomenon that is today. Plus, he was a former NFL player, which leads us to this statement: Summerall is, by far, the best athlete-turned-broadcaster in the history of sports or broadcasting. That's why he's on this list.

Who will be the Lightning's next coach?

Who will coach the Lightning next season? Will it be John Tortorella or ESPN analyst Barry Melrose? The smart money is on Melrose. Yet it appears to be an either-or proposition. Why is that? If soon-to-be-Lightning owner Oren Koules is bent on making a change — and I'm not so sure that a change is in order — these are five others he should at least consider for a minute or two before deciding that his new favorite hairstyle is the mullet. I'm not saying any one of these guys should get the job, but don't you at least consider them?
1. Ron Wilson
The former Ducks, Caps and Sharks coach has a lifetime record of 518-446-127. Those 518 wins are eighth in NHL history. During the past three seasons, his Sharks went 187-97-38, but then again, they failed to get past the second round of the playoffs. Still, eighth most victories of all time?
2. Scotty Bowman
Hey, why not? He's the greatest coach in NHL history. Maybe the greatest coach in any sport ever. And, here's the kicker: He lives in Sarasota. You probably would have to give him a boatload of money and let him be in charge of the whole shebang, but, say it again, the greatest hockey coach of all time!
3. Pat Burns
Another local. He has a place on the other side of the Skyway. He has overcome cancer and appears a little more mellow these days. Was coach of the year with three teams and is a proven winner. And he's hungry.
4. Andre Savard
There's always some hot assistant coach floating around, and Savard, an assistant with the Penguins, is the hot name these days. He has been a head coach (back with Quebec in 1987-88) and is very well-liked by the players he coaches. Rumor is he could be the Panthers’ next head coach.
5. Paul Maurice
Fired after two seasons in Toronto, but he did take the Carolina Hurricanes to the finals in 2002. A young guy (he's only 40) who relates well to players.

What's up, Doc? Mike Emrick honored by Hall of Fame

The Hockey Hall of Fame announced Thursday that Mike "Doc'' Emrick will receive the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award for outstanding contributions as a hockey broadcaster. Emrick is pretty much the American voice of hockey, having called games on all the major networks, as well as primarily the Flyers and Devils over the past 30 years. Actually, I'm surprised Emrick is being honored this year. I would've sworn he had won this award years ago.
Here are my picks for the top five hockey announcers on television:
1. Sam Rosen, MSG (Rangers). Still the gold standard.
2. Bob Cole, CBC's Hockey Night in Canada. Some think he has slipped in recent years, but still feels like a special game when he's calling it. Expected to retire before next season, but here's hoping he still calls games now and then.
3. Rick Peckham, Sun Sports (Lightning). The locals know how professional this guy is. A class act off the ice, too.
4. Mike Emrick, MSG (Devils), Versus, NBC. Sounds like he's having the time of his life every second he is calling a game.
5. Jim Hughson, CBC's Hockey Night in Canada. Usually calls the second game of the Saturday night doubleheader and is expected to take over for Cole on the prime-time game.

Best and worst jobs in sports

Most jobs in sports are pretty good. But some jobs are better than others and some are way worse. So here’s a look at the best and worst jobs in sports.

Five best jobs in sports
Tiger Woods' caddie
Most caddies get about $1,000 a week plus 5 percent of the tournament purse, and even more for a top-10 finish or a victory. Tiger wins too much to pay out that kind of dough, but Forbes magazine once guessed Tiger's caddie, Steve Williams, makes more than $1-million a year. Not a bad gig for carrying around a bag of clubs and saying, "Nice shot, Tiger.''

Team owner, National Football League
There's a salary cap, so you can only spend so much. And the league practically prints money. The TV contacts alone pay the league more than $3.7-billion a year. That's billion with a B. And you get the same money whether you go 0-16 or 16-0.

First-base coach, San Diego Padres
Can you hold batting gloves? Work a stopwatch? Yell "Back!'' when a pitcher throws to first? Great, you're hired. When a guy named Stump Merrill was hired to be the Yankees first-base coach years ago, his wife asked, "What's a first-base coach do besides pat guys on the rear end?'' He said, "Nothing, let's practice!'' Why the Padres? They've had the fewest baserunners this season.

TV color analyst, any sport
I'm not suggesting they don't work hard and do homework and all that jazz. But don't all of us sit at home and yell out stuff at the screen? The only difference is analysts don't swear, don't have potato chip grease on their fingers and they usually have to wear a shirt with buttons. And, oh, yeah, they get paid.

Trainer of boxing contender
You only work a few hours a day, and by "work'' we mean "bark out orders to your fighter during training.'' You get to watch while they’re the ones taking punches in the face. Then you get paid when your guy wins. And if your guy gets knocked out, he doesn't remember what you did or didn't do, so he can't blame you. Then you get paid.

Five worst jobs
Public relations director, Cincinnati Bengals
For starters, there's a good chance of a weekly 4 a.m. phone call from a bail bondsman, followed by a hastily-called news conference to explain how another player has been arrested for domestic this or possession of that. And after all that, you have Chad Johnson. Lone perk is you’re on a first-name basis with all the local cops.

Head coach, Golden State Warriors
The Warriors have had nine coaches in the past 13 seasons, making it the most precarious job since Naomi Campbell's personal assistant. And you play in Oakland, which, sorry, isn't exactly San Francisco.

Director of ticket sales, Pittsburgh Pirates
Sure, you can market the swanky new stadium until you realize that it actually isn't all that new anymore. After eight years at PNC Park, Pittsburghers pretty much have seen all the downtown skyline there is to see. Now you have to sell a team that hasn't had a winning record since 1992 and looks like it's not going to have another one until 2092.

Commissioner, National Hockey League
An impossible job. Eighty percent of your teams play in a country where no one cares. The rest of the teams play in a country that invented the sport and likes to remind everyone, especially you, of it. Whatever you do, it's never good enough.

International soccer referee
If you a blow a call in an NBA or NHL game, you might get pelted with expletives from a few fans. Blow a call in some soccer stadium in Europe or South America and there’s a chance you'll get pelted with a few bullets. Here, bad referees live in infamy. There, bad referees can live, so to speak, 6 feet under.

The biggest losers -- great performances in losses

Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James poured in 45 points Sunday afternoon, but it wasn't enough as his Cavs lost Game 7 to the Celtics. It was one of the best performances ever in a loss. Over the years, there have been hundreds of great performances ever in a loss, but these are the first 10 that come to mind.

Dominique Wilkins
This performance came up quite a bit Sunday because it was 20 years ago that the Atlanta Hawks star scored 47, including 16 in the fourth quarter, in a Game 7 loss at Boston. In that matchup, the Celtics' Larry Bird had 34, including 20 in the fourth quarter.

Chuck Howley
The Cowboys linebacker was the MVP of Super Bowl V after intercepting two passes and recovering a fumble in a 16-13 loss to the Colts. It was the first time a defensive player won Super Bowl MVP honors and remains the only time a player from a losing team has won the award.

Harvey Haddix
Possibly the greatest pitching performance in major-league history was turned in by the Pirates southpaw, who tossed a perfect game for 12 innings in 1959 against the Milwaukee Braves. Haddix retired 36 consecutive batters, but the game remained scoreless headed to the 13th. An error, a bunt, an intentional walk then a double  resulted in a loss for Haddix and the Pirates.

Isiah Thomas
During the last 94 seconds of regulation in the fifth and deciding playoff game against the Knicks in 1984, the Pistons point guard scored 16 consecutive points on three jumpers, a 3-pointer, a driving three-point play and four free throws to send the game to overtime. And he drew three fouls on defender Rory Sparrow in a mere 30 seconds. Thomas fouled out in OT, and the Knicks won behind 44 points from Bernard King, who was playing with two dislocated fingers and severe dehydration as a result of  the flu.

Johnny Unitas
The numbers weren't that great, but this is remembered as one of the last great moments in the legendary career of Johnny U. In 1972, the Colts quarterback completed 26 of 45 passes for 376 yards and two touchdowns, but it wasn't enough to match the Jets' Joe Namath. What a day Broadway Joe had: 496 yards passing and six touchdowns, including TD passes of 65, 67, 79 and 80 yards in the Jets' 44-34 victory.

John McEnroe
In what might be the greatest tennis match ever, the brash 21-year-old reached the 1980 Wimbledon final against four-time defending champ Bjorn Borg. McEnroe trailed 2-1 in sets when the match went to a fourth-set tiebreaker. The incredibly intense tiebreaker lasted 20 minutes, and McEnroe saved five match points and won 18-16. Bjorg, however, would win the fifth set 8-6.

Bobby Richardson
The Yankees second baseman was a monster in the 1960 World Series, batting .367 with a grand slam, two doubles, two triples and 12 RBIs in seven games. But the Yanks lost to the Pirates on Bill Mazeroski's ninth-inning, Game 7 homer. Still, Richardson was named the MVP of the series and remains the only member of the losing team to win the World Series MVP.

Ron Hextall
The 23-year-old Flyers goalie won the 1987 Conn Smythe award, given to the MVP of the playoffs. Hextall played in all of the Flyers' 26 postseason games, winning 15 with two shutouts and a 2.77 goals-against average. But the Flyers lost the final in seven games to the powerful Oilers and Wayne Gretzky. Hextall is one of five players on a losing team to be chosen as playoff MVP, along with Detroit's Roger Crozier (1966), St. Louis' Glenn Hall (1968), Philadelphia's Reggie Leach (1976) and Anaheim's Jean-Sebastien Giguere (2003).

Billy Conn
The tough Pittsburgh boxer met the great Joe Louis on June 18, 1941, for the heavyweight title. Conn fought a masterful fight and led Louis on the scorecard after 12 rounds. But Conn tried to go for a knockout in the 13th round and ended up getting knocked out himself. After the fight, Conn said, "I lost my head and a million bucks.''

Lenny Dykstra
The scrappy Phillies centerfielder batted .348 in the 1993 World Series with four homers, including two in a 15-14 loss in Game 4. The Phillies eventually lost the series in six games, but Dykstra was the best player and probably would’ve been named MVP had the Blue Jays, thanks to Joe Carter’s Game 6 walkoff homer, not won the series.

Hanging 'em up -- athletes and retirement

First it was Annika Sorenstam, the best female golfer on the planet. Then it was Justine Henin, currently ranked No. 1 in women's tennis. Both announced retirements last week. Sorenstam, 37, will retire at the end of the year. Henin, 25, is walking away immediately. They join the list of athletes who walk away while on top. So we look at retirement. Those who left too early. Those who stayed too long. And those who need to walk away.

Five who walked away too soon
Jim Brown: Browns running back played only nine seasons and made the Pro Bowl every season. He retired at age 30 to become an actor and social activist.
Sandy Koufax: Dodgers pitcher , retired at 30 because of arm trouble, but in his final two seasons he went 26-8 and 27-9.
Barry Sanders: Lions running back abruptly quit at age 31 despite rushing for 1,491 yards in his final season and being just shy of the NFL's all-time rushing record.
John Elway: Broncos QB was 38 when he retired, but he quit after winning back-to-back Super Bowls and probably had another couple of seasons left in his powerful arm.
Rocky Marciano: The heavyweight champ was 32 years old and a perfect 49-0 with 43 knockouts when he retired from boxing.

Five who stayed too long
Willie Mays: Whenever at athlete hangs on too long, we are reminded of the great Willie Mays falling down in the outfield with the Mets and hitting just .211 in his final season.
O.J. Simpson: His body battered, he sadly played two years at the end of his career near his birthplace in San Francisco and rushed for only 460 yards in his final season.
Joe Namath: Hardly able to stand because of bad knees, Broadway Joe became L.A. Joe and played four forgettable games with the Rams.
Johnny Unitas: The greatest QB in NFL history traded in the classic Colts uniform for the ugly powder blue of the Chargers and played five games with three TDs and seven interceptions.
Dale Murphy: One of the great athletes in Atlanta sports history, a true legend. Final season stats? Batted .143 with no homers and seven RBIs. And, oh, yeah, he was wearing a Colorado Rockies uniform.

Five boxers who should've walked away before they did
Boxers are famous for overstaying their welcome, so they need a separate list. Here are five of many who went from great to tomato cans because they could not walk away.
Muhammad Ali: Perhaps the greatest boxer ever ended his career by losing three of his final four fights, including getting knocked around in his finale by Trevor Berbick.
Roberto Duran: The one-time best pound-for-pound fighter in the world lost four of his final nine fights, including to guys such as Omar Eduardo Gonzalez and William Joppy.
Joe Louis: Forced to fight for money because of IRS issues, his legendary career ended with a loss to Ezzard Charles, then an eighth-round knockout to Rocky Marciano.
Larry Holmes: At one point Holmes was 48-0 and compared to the great Rocky Marciano. He ended his career getting pummeled by Mike Tyson then fighting 24 more times, including his final one in which, at 52 years old and 254 pounds, he beat "Butterbean'' Esch.
Sugar Ray Leonard: He had several retirements and came back each time to have some success. Except the last two times. In 1991 at age 34, he was knocked down twice and lost a lopsided decision to Terry Norris.  In 1997, he was KOed for good by Hector "Macho'' Camacho in the fifth round.

Five who should retire
Michael Strahan: The Giants defensive lineman can still play, but aren't we all sick of hearing about his threats to retire? He has become football's version of Roger Clemens. Just quit and become a broadcaster already, would you?
Floyd Mayweather Jr.: Perhaps the best boxer of his generation, he is 39-0, 31 years old, has all his faculties and has nothing left to prove. Yet he is still looking for another fight against Oscar De La Hoya, a man he already has beaten. Why not walk away now?
Tim Tebow: A national title followed by the Heisman Trophy. His life can't get any better, can it? Quit while you're ahead, kid.
The Williams Sisters: Are you tennis players or fashion designers? Venus and Serena seem to always have one foot in tennis and one foot out. It would be nice to see both feet in the same place, whether that is tennis or fashion.
Bud Selig: Not an athlete, but you get my drift. Time for some fresh blood in baseball's commissioner office.

Five who should not retire
Brett Favre: Forget the last pass, he almost quarterbacked the Packers to the Super Bowl last season.
Jaromir Jagr: Outstanding postseason proved Rangers forward nowhere close to being done.
Joe Paterno: Penn State football coach built legendary program. He can stay as long as he wants.
Bobby Bowden: See: Joe Paterno.
Bob Knight: Arrogant. A bully. A brute. Despite all this, he makes college basketball fun and interesting.

Special guest Marc Topkin gives us his five best baseball towns

This weekend, the Rays make their first-ever visit to St. Louis, which many claim is the best baseball town in the country. So Two Cents decided to bring a special guest who knows a thing or two about baseball towns. I might be a little biased, but I don't think you're going to find a better baseball writer around than the St. Pete Times' Marc Topkin, who has covered baseball since 1987. So Marc gives us his five best baseball towns. Take it away, Marc:

1. St. Louis: A college football atmosphere around the diamond.
2. Boston: Everyone's into the Sox, though some do it for show.
3. New York: The fans know a lot about the game; just ask them.
4. Baltimore: That's why it's so sad to see what's happening now.
5. Cincinnati: Traditionally among the best; but what's up with that chili?

Pride of the Yankees

The Yankees are in town this week, so here's a look back at the greatest franchise in the history of sports. They've won 26 championships, and their all-time roster is loaded with a who's who of baseball superstars. Here are the best moments in Yankees history and my picks for the top 10 players to ever wear the pinstripes and an all-time Yankees 25-man roster.

10 GREATEST MOMENTS IN YANKEES HISTORY
The curse luck of the Bambino
The Yankees had never won a world title when they purchased Babe Ruth, the best player in baseball at the time, from the Red Sox before the 1920 season. That all changed with Ruth. During Ruth's 15 seasons with the Yankees, he led the league in homers 10 times and the Yankees won seven pennants and four world titles.

King George buys the Yankees
In early 1973, ship-builder George Steinbrenner led a group of investors that bought the struggling Yankees from CBS for a mere $10-million. With free agency on the horizon, not only did Steinbrenner change the Yankees, he changed Major League Baseball by spending whatever it took to field a winner. Love him or hate him, the Yankees continued to be a premier sports team under his ownership.

56 straight games
On May 15, 1941, Joe DiMaggio went 1-for-4 against the White Sox and thus began, perhaps, the greatest record in the history of baseball. Not until 56 games later, on July 17, did DiMaggio play in a game and not get a hit -- and it took two stellar defensive plays to snap the streak. How impressive is DiMaggio's streak? Only 23 players have had a streak of at least 30 games since then and the closes anyone has got is Pete Rose with 44 games -- still a dozen games shy -- in 1978.

Reggie, Reggie, Reggie
Facing three different pitchers. Taking three swings. Crushing three home runs. The controversial Reggie "Straw That Stir The Drink'' Jackson capped the zany 1977 Bronx Zoo season and helped deliver the Yankees' first world title since 1962 with three homers in the deciding sixth game of the World Series against the Dodgers.

Deep to left
The Yankees trailed the rival Red Sox by 14 games in July of 1978. They they caught the Sox, went ahead and then had to duke it out in a one-game playoff at Fenway Park. Trailing 2-0 in the sixth, light-hitting shortstop Bucky Dent, who would hit only 40 homers in 12 seasons, lifted a three-run homer over the Green Monster to spark the Yankees to the victory and, ultimately, their second straight world title.

The perfect game
Don Larsen was a mediocre pitcher. He was 81-91 with seven teams over 14 seasons. But on Oct. 8, 1956, he delivered what must be considered the greatest pitching performance of all-time. He is on of 17 pitchers to ever throw a perfect game, But Larsen is the only one to do it on baseball's biggest stage -- the World Series. Seeing catcher Yogi Berra jump into Larsen's arms after the final out is one of baseball's lasting images.

It could be .. it is ... gone
The great Yankees had gone 12 years without reaching a World Series -- their longest drought since before they acquired Babe Ruth -- when they played the Royals in the fifth and deciding game of the 1976 American League Championship Series. In the bottom of the ninth, Chris Chamliss laced a Mark Littell pitch into the rightfield stands and sent the Yankees to the World Series for the first time since 1964.

61*
I n 1961, the American League expanded from eight teams to 10 and from 154 games per team to 162. All season, teammates Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris chased Babe Ruth's record of 60 homers in a season. Mantle eventually faded, hitting 54, but Maris continued his assault. After 154 games, Maris had 59 homers. Finally, in the final game of the season, Maris hit No. 61. Commissioner Ford Frick announced that an asterisk would be placed next to Maris' record because he didn't break it in 154 games.

Today, I consider myself the luckies man on the face of the earth
Those 13 words are not only the most famous ever spoken in baseball history, but showed the courage of one of baseball's true greats. Lou Gehrig spoke those words on July 4, 1939 not only as he was ending his baseball career but dying from the disease that would claim his life and bear his name less than two years later.

The dynasty
Okay, so it's not really one moment, but how can you put together a list of the best Yankees moments and not talk about winning five consecutive World Series titles from 1949-53? Think of the names -- Mickey, Yogi, Whitey. And remember this: no other team has ever won five consecutive World Series.

10 GREATEST PLAYERS, IN ORDER, IN YANKEES HISTORY
1. Babe Ruth: Founding father of greatest team in sports history.
2. Joe DiMaggio: They wrote songs about the guy.
3. Lou Gehrig: A lifetime .340 batting average. Ridiculous.
4. Mickey Mantle: Three MVPs and 16 all-star appearances.
5. Derek Jeter: Heart and soul of current dynasty. Has never missed the postseason!
6. Yogi Berra: Three MVP awards and 10 World Series titles.
7. Bill Dickey: Won seven World Series and caught record 38 World Series games.
8. Whitey Ford: Best starting pitcher in franchise history.
9. Mariano Rivera: Most dominant closer in baseball history.
10. Reggie Jackson: Only five seasons but earned Mr. October nickname with postseason heroics.

THE YANKEES ULTIMATE LINEUP AND 25-MAN ROSTER
Starting lineup
Catcher: Yogi Berra
First base: Lou Gehrig
Second base: Tony Lazzeri
Shortstop: Derek Jeter
Third base: Graig Nettles
Rightfield: Babe Ruth
Centerfield: Joe
DiMaggio
Leftfield: Mickey Mantle
Reserves
Catcher: Bill Dickey
Infielders: Don Mattingly, Joe Gordon, Phil Rizzuto, Alex Rodriguez
Outfielders: Reggie Jackson, Dave Winfield, Bernie Williams
Starting rotation
Whitey Ford
Ron Guidry
Lefty Gomez
Red Ruffing
Andy Pettitte
Bullpen
Goose Gossage
Sparky Lyle
Dave Righetti
Mariano Rivera
Manager
Casey Stengel

50 best things anyone has ever said in sports

Maybe it was a quote after a game. Maybe it was a slogan. Maybe it was an announcer's signature or memorable call. Whatever it was, if you're sports fan, you know it. And I give a nod to a couple of local coaches and their most famous sayings. It is what it is. (That cliche did not make the list). So enjoy my selections of the 50 best things anyone ever said in sports. There certainly have been more than 50. Some were left out. Which favorite of yours didn't make the list?

"Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.'' (boxer Muhammad Ali)

"You can run, but you can't hide.'' (boxer Joe Louis)

"Let's get ready to rumble.'' (ring announcer Michael Buffer)

"It ain't over till it's over.'' (Yankees' Yogi Berra)

"The Giants win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant!'' (baseball broadcaster Russ Hodges)

"Today, I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth.'' (Yankees' Lou Gehrig)

"Havlicek stole the ball!'' (Celtics announcer Johnny Most)

"We're gonna win the game. I guarantee it.'' (Jets QB Joe Namath before Super Bowl III)

"I don't believe what I just saw.'' (announcer Jack Buck after Kirk Gibson’s homer in 1988 World Series)

"We talking about practice.'' (former 76er Allen Iverson)

"Playoffs? Playoffs?'' (former Colts coach Jim Mora)

"Gentleman, start your engines.'' (late Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Tony Hulman Jr.)

"Win just one for the Gipper.'' (Notre Dame football coach Knute Rockne, quoting George Gipp)

"Don't look back, something might be gaining on you.'' (pitcher Satchel Paige)

"Let's play two.'' (Cubs shortstop Ernie Banks)

"Do you believe in miracles?'' (Olympic hockey announcer Al Michaels)

"The thrill of victory, and the agony of defeat.'' (Wide World of Sports)

"One minute remaining in the period.'' (PA announcer at every hockey game)

"How about that?'' (announcer Mel Allen)

"You da man.'' (unknown golf fan)

"Just give me the damn ball.'' (NFL receiver Keyshawn Johnson)

"Fore!'' (bad golfers)

"Play ball!'' (baseball umpires)

"Down the stretch they come!'' (PA announcers at horse races)

"Goooooaaaaaaaallll!!!!'' (Spanish soccer announcer Luis Omar Tapia)

"He shoots, he scores.'' (late Hockey Night in Canada announcer Foster Hewitt)

"Say it ain't so, Joe.'' (child to Shoeless Joe Jackson after 1919 Black Sox scandal)

"I had a better year than he did.'' (Yankees’ Babe Ruth on making more money than President Hoover)

"Nice guys finish last.'' (baseball manager Leo Durocher)

"No mas.'' (boxer Roberto Duran)

"There's no 'I' in team.'' (unknown)

"Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing.'' (sort of said by Packers coach Vince Lombardi)

"Yes! And it counts'' (announcer Marv Albert)

"Time for a T.O. babeee.'' (announcer Dick Vitale)

"A tie is like kissing your sister.'' (former Navy football coach Eddie Erdelatz)

"It's not whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game.'' (sports writer Grantland Rice)

"Turn out the lights, the party's over.'' (former Monday Night Football announcer Don Meredith)

"Holy cow!'' (former Yankees announcer Phil Rizzuto)

"You cannot be serious!'' (tennis player John McEnroe)

"Juuust a bit outside.'' (announcer Bob Uecker in the movie Major League)

"Just do it!'' (Nike)

"Just win, baby.''(Raiders owner Al Davis)

"Down goes Frazier! Down goes Frazier!'' (boxing announcer Howard Cosell)

"Shut your yap!'' (Lightning coach John Tortorella)

"Pound the rock!'' (Bucs coach Jon Gruden)

"If you ain't cheatin', you ain't tryin'.'' (unknown)

"There's no crying in baseball.'' (Tom Hanks in the movie A League of Their Own)

"Da Bears.'' (Spoof of Chicago Bears fans on Saturday Night Live)

"Upon further review … '' (NFL referees)

“Hi, mom!’’ (unknown origins, but an appropriate way to conclude this post)

Most underrated things in sports

A couple of weeks ago, I listed the most overrated things in sports, things such as the Kentucky Derby, the Indy 500 and ESPN's Around the Horn. The e-mail reaction ranged from disagreement to downright anger. Mostly, I was criticized for being too crotchety, too mean-spirited, too negative.  So just to prove that I'm not always the grouchy old man who yells at the kids when they hit a Whiffle ball into his yard, I give you some things I truly love about sports but are not appreciated as much as they should be. Here are the most underrated things in sports.

Pit stops
When you think about it, a pit stop in auto racing is really just a timeout. In every other sport, a timeout is a chance to run to the bathroom, make a sandwich or change the channel to see what else is on. But in auto racing's little timeouts, we are glued to the screen, waiting to see if someone drops a tire or starts a fire. And even if you have watched a million races, you can't help but shake your head and say to yourself, "Man, I can't believe they change all four tires and fill the car with gas in 11 seconds.'' You know you do.

The semifinals
They always take a backseat to the championship, but the semifinals are usually better. Conference championship Sunday in the NFL is more fun than the Super Bowl. The League Championship Series in both leagues are better than the World Series. Saturday at the Final Four is better than Monday night. You can have the finals. I'll take the semis.

Batting practice
Sort of a mini-Home Run Derby without having to listen to Chris Berman yell "Baack, baaack, baack.'' Kids can catch homers off the bats of stars: A-Rod, Big Papi, Ichiro, below, and so forth. Look at it this way: You go to a game and maybe you'll get to see A-Rod or Manny swing the bat three or four times. Maybe they'll get a hit. If you're really lucky, they'll hit a homer. But show up early for BP and you might see them crank six, seven, eight homers in a row. And then you still get the game afterward. Also, add to this list the PGA driving range — golf’s version of batting practice.

Fake punt
Football is full of dipsy-doodle plays, from the flea-flicker to the reverse to the hook and lateral to the old Statue of Liberty. But no play sticks it to the other team more than the fake punt. When you think about it, it's really quite mean. The defense has held the opponent. The opponent is giving up, essentially saying, "Okay, you stopped us, we're going to give the ball back to you. Go way down there and we'll kick it you.'' But then the offense lies and keeps it, giving the cameraman back spasms as he tries to find the ball. It is impossible not to yell out: "It's a fake'' when you see what is happening. Anything that gets you to yell out at the screen is a good thing.

Olympic decathlon
Ten track and field events combining speed, power and endurance over two grueling days, and in the end you have the "Greatest Athlete in the World.'' Time was, decathlon champs were lauded as such: Jim Thorpe, Bruce Jenner, Rafer Johnson, Bob Mathias. Today? Bet you can't name the current decathlon champ. It's Roman Sebrle of the Czech Republic. Doggone it, he should be a household name.

High school state championships
Doesn't matter what sport. Could be football or girls volleyball. Could be a humongous 6A powerhouse or a tiny 1A underdog. To see a bunch of kids, most of whom truly play for the love of the game and practice in between biology tests and student council meetings, celebrating a championship is a special sight. They practice and play for months, often cramming in homework late at night on the bus while coming home from a game that maybe only their parents watched. They are celebrated for only a few days. But they have memories that will last a lifetime.

The triple
The crack of the bat, the ball scooting into the gap, the runner racing around the bases and turning on the jets as he gets ready to round second base. Your eyes dance between the runner, the ball, the outfielder and the relay man, trying to judge which will arrive at third base first — the ball or the runner. Simply the most exciting play in baseball. (Well, it's a tie with stealing home.) Anyway, the triple might be more fun than a homer because it is so few and far between. For example, the Rays had exactly 1,500 hits last year. Only 36 were triples.

British Open
Underrated because most consider it fourth in golf's Grand Slam, behind the Masters, U.S. Open and the PGA Championship. But this is the best. Crummy weather, an international field, links courses, the place where golf was invented and the fact that you have to get up really early to watch on TV makes this special.

Arguments and ejections
Slow grounder. The shortstop bobbles the ball. The runner is busting it to first. Here comes the throw. The runner is … out! And here comes Lou Piniella — mouth foaming, arms flailing — flying out of the dugout. You know the next three minutes are going to be beautiful. It could be any sport and any coach, but it's fun to see a grown man turning into a cranky, spoiled 2-year-old while wearing a tailored suit or pristine uniform. You might see anything — thrown bases, thrown chairs, thrown hats, kicked dirt, stomping, spitting, finger-pointing. It's  hypnotic.

I AM IRON MAN!

Iron Man, the live-action film starring Robert Downey Jr. and based on the old Marvel Comics, opens Friday. So what better time for the Two Cents to look at our favorite iron men of all time.

Cal Ripken Jr.
His dogged pursuit to become baseball's king of consecutive games played is considered by many to be the sport's most inspiring story and made Ripken a larger-than-life figure. Deservedly so. We all know it, but need to remind ourselves just how incredible his streak was. It spanned 2,632 games and lasted 17 seasons. Think of those 17 years in terms of a child — being born, learning to walk and talk, going to preschool, elementary school, middle school, high school, graduating. Think how long that takes. And then remember that during all those years, the Orioles infielder never, ever missed a game.

Lou Gehrig
Cal Ripken Jr.'s streak became an American celebration in part because he broke the record of an American legend. Gehrig, called the Iron Horse, didn't miss a game over a 15-year span. The Yankees first baseman played 2,130 consecutive games and it ended tragically as he became disabled with the neuro­muscular disease that would take his life just two years later.

James J. Jeffries
The early days of boxing were full of what were called "iron men'' — bruisers who would fight 20, 30, 40 rounds in a match. Jeffries was the epitome of an iron man. In fact, he was called "The Iron Man of the Roped Square.'' He once beat Tom Sharkey in a 25-round match despite a shoulder injury that left him nearly defenseless. Another time, he survived and won against Bob Fitzsimmons in one of the most brutal boxing matches ever. Allegations were made that Fitzsimmons "loaded'' his gloves. Jeffries' nose was broken. His cheeks were cut to the bone. Both eyes were badly gashed. Yet Jeffries knocked out Fitzsimmons in the eighth round, solidifying his reputation as boxing’s greatest "iron man.''

Jeff Feagles
The current true iron man, though it pains me to refer to a punter as an "iron man.'' Still, the Giants punter's streak is at 320 consecutive games — an NFL record.

Jim Marshall
The Vikings defensive end played from 1960 to 1979 on the icy turf in Minnesota and once held the NFL record by playing in 282 consecutive games.

Brett Favre
Favre's streak of starting 253 consecutive regular-season games seems more impressive than Jim Marshall and Jeff Feagles. While Marshall played on the line and Feagles punts, Favre played quarterback — a position that not only is the target of opposing players, but a job a player can lose with a few subpar performances. Just look how rare it is for one quarterback to start every game in one season. Yet the Green Bay QB played well enough, sturdy enough and long enough to set a QB record that is unlikely to be matched.

Ironhead Heyward
This former NFL running back has what we think might be the greatest nickname in the history of sports. Born Craig William Heyward, he became Ironhead, reportedly, by playing pickup football games in the street as a child and lowering his head into defenders. One kid told him his head must be made of iron. He played 11 NFL seasons and made the 1995 Pro Bowl. Sadly, he died in May of 2006 at the age of 39 from a brain tumor.

Barry Wagner
Wagner defined the iron man concept of Arena football, dominating on both sides of the ball as a wide receiver and linebacker for Orlando and San Jose during his 16-year career. He's the only player to win the Ironman of the Year award more than twice — he won it six straight years from 1992-97. Take almost 1,000 catches, more than 13,000 yards receiving and 265 touchdowns, mix in 825 tackles, and 47 interceptions, and you have an iron man legend.

A.C. Green
No NBA/ABA player played more consecutive games than the former Lakers forward, who played an amazing 1,192 games. Maybe someday, someone will break that record. But Green holds another impressive streak, one certainly never to be matched in NBA history. Green claimed he entered the league in 1985 and retired in 2001 as a virgin. That's having an iron will.

Ozzy Osbourne
I AM IRON MAN!
If you know your Black Sabbath, then no explanation needed here.

Doug Jarvis
My vote for the second most-famous hockey player from Brantford, Ontario (First would be a guy named Gretzky.) Jarvis broke into the NHL on Oct. 8, 1975, and retired Oct. 10, 1987. In between, he never missed a game. He played 964 consecutive games to become hockey's iron man. What makes it truly impressive is Jarvis was a checking center who stood only 5 feet 9 and weighed a mere 170 pounds.

Grant Kenny
Did you know there is a sport called Ironman? And, no, I'm not talking about the famous triathlon. Ironman was developed in Australia in the 1960s and combines surf-life-saving skills — swimming, board paddling, ski paddling and running — into a race. Kenny is the legend, having won the 1980 Australian Junior Open and Australian Open within a span of half an hour. And he was only 16.

Paula Newby-Fraser
Who says an iron man has to be a man? Newby-Fraser holds the record by winning eight Ironman Hawaii triathlons — the Super Bowl of ironman triathlons.

Dave Scott and Mark Allen
These two legends share the record for most Ironman Hawaii triathlon championships for a man. Both won six.

Jeremy Irons
Okay, so the English-born actor hardly seems to fit on a list with guys such as Ironhead Heyward and Jim Jeffries. But just thinking out loud: shouldn't a guy named Irons be in a movie called Iron Man? Plus, I dug him as the voice of Scar in The Lion King, so he makes the list.

Nine best songs about baseball

The Rock-And-Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland opens an exhibit on Saturday called Take Me Out: Baseball Rocks, celebrating baseball and music. Check out the details here.

This calls for a list. Here are my top nine songs about baseball. Why nine? Nine innings, of course.

1. Centerfield -- John Fogerty
Favorite line: Just to hit the ball and touch 'em all -- a moment in the sun/(crack) It's gone and you can tell that one goodbye!

2. Catfish -- Bob Dylan
Favorite line: Used to work on Mr. Finley's farm/But the old man wouldn't pay/So he packed his glove and took his arm/An' one day he just ran away.

3. Joltin' Joe DiMaggio -- Les Brown Orchestra
Favorite line: From coast to coast that's all you'll hear/Of Joe the one man show/He's glorified the horsehide sphere/Joltin' Joe DiMaggio.

4. D-O-D-G-E-R-S (Oh Really? No, O'Malley) -- Danny Kaye
Favorite line: Maurey Wills draws a walk in the coach's box/Leo Durocher, Leo Durocher starts to wiggle and to twitch/A signal? No, an itch.

5. Right Field -- Peter, Paul and Mary
Favorite line: Playing right field can be lonely and dull/Little leagues never have lefties that pull/I dream of the day, when they will hit one my way/They never did, but still I would pray.

6. Glory Days -- Bruce Springsteen
Favorite line: Yeah, just sitting back trying to recapture/a little of the glory of, well time slips away/and leaves you with nothing mister but/boring stories of glory days.

7. The Ball Game -- Sister Wynonna Carr
Favorite line: Jesus is standin' at home plate/Waitin' for you there/Life is a ballgame, but/You've got to play it fair.

8. A Dying Cubs Fan's Last Request -- Steve Goodman
Favorite line: Do they still play the blues in Chicago/When baseball season rolls around/When the snow melts away/Do the Cubs still play/In their ivy-covered burial ground.

9. Take Me Out to the Ball Game -- The Hold Steady
Favorite line: Well, the whole thing is great when it's The Hold Steady version.

Best of the old stadiums and arenas

Thinking about grand old ballparks and stadiums today. Ebbets Field, the longtime home of Da Bums from Brooklyn, had an anniversary of sorts last week. The stadium, which was demolished in 1960, opened 95 years ago last week. And, of course, this is the final season at Yankee Stadium.

So all this has me thinking about the greatest stadiums and arenas in history — the ones that have long since been replaced by swankier, state-of-the-art stadiums with plush suites and high definition scoreboards and all the bells and whistles. Only a few of the historic ballparks remain. Wrigley Field. Fenway Park. Soldier Field. Maybe another one or two. That's about it.  So here's a look back and the best old ballparks and stadiums and arenas -- the ones no longer in use -- of the four major sports. Maybe you agree. Maybe you disagree. You can weigh in, too, in the comments section.

Baseball
1. Yankee Stadium, 1923-1973
For starters, let's be clear. This Yankee Stadium I'm talking about is not the current Yankee Stadium. The so-called House That Ruth Built is not the same place where Derek Jeter plays today. That's the "new'' Yankee Stadium. The original Yankee Stadium, the one that was home to Ruth, DiMaggio, Gehrig, Mantle and Yogi, was built in the early 1900s for about $2.5-million and opened on April 23, 1923. It housed some of baseball's greatest dynasties, from Ruth's teams of the 1920s to DiMaggio's teams of the 1930s and 1940s to the teams of Mantle and Maris of the 1960s. As well as being the home of the baseball's most storied franchise, Yankee Stadium also was the home of the NFL, college football and some of the biggest prize fights in history. The old ballpark finally closed in 1973 to undergo major renovations and the new Stadium opened in 1976.
Most famous characteristics: Monuments of great players in centerfield.
Most famous moment: Lou Gehrig’s “Luckiest man on the face of the earth’’ speech on the Fourth of July, 1939.
2. The Polo Grounds, New York.
3. Ebbets Field, New York.
4. Forbes Field, Pittsburgh.
5. Tiger Stadium, Detroit.

Football
1. Orange Bowl, 1937-2008
Built by the city of Miami in the early 1930s as a home for the University of Miami football team. While the Hurricanes filled the stadium with fans and memories — just think names such as Bernie Kosar, Vinny Testaverde, Warren Sapp, Michael Irvin and so on — the Orange Bowl is just as famous for hosting the Miami Dolphins from 1966 to 1986 and five Super Bowls. The Hurricanes won an NCAA record 58 straight games there from 1985 to 1994 and the Orange Bowl was home to the NFL's only undefeated team — the 1972 Dolphins. In fact, the Dolphins won 31 straight home games (including playoffs) from 1971 to 1975.
Most famous characteristics: Open end zone to reveal swaying palm trees.
Most famous moment: Perhaps the greatest NFL game ever as Chargers beat Dolphins in overtime of 1982 playoff game.
2. Cleveland Stadium.
3. Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, Minn.
4. Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
5. Memorial Stadium, Baltimore.

Basketball
1. Boston Garden, 1928-1995
The place felt like a closet ... with no air conditioning ... and no air vents. Rats roamed the rafters and the basements. The court had dead spots. Some seats were directly behind pillars, making it practically impossible to see the action. In short, the place was a dump. And awesome at the same time. Supposedly the Celtics would turn up the heat in the opposing locker room in the spring and crank up the AC in the winter. Showers? Nothing but cold water. Whatever they did, it worked because the Celtics would win 16 NBA championships. Then again, maybe Bob Cousy, Bill Russell, John Havlicek and Larry Bird had something to do with all those championships.
Most famous characteristics: The parquet floor, the championship banners.
Most famous moment: “Havlicek stole the ball! Havlicek stole the ball!’’
2. The Great Western Forum, Los Angeles.
3. Chicago Stadium.
4. The Spectrum, Philadelphia.
5. Cobo Arena, Detroit.

Hockey
1. The Montreal Forum, 1924-1999
Usually, it's the team that makes a building a special place. That's the case here. And you only need to know one number: 24. That's how many Stanley Cups the great Montreal Canadiens at the Montreal Forum. Everywhere you looked, you saw bleu, blanc et rouge — the famous colors of Les Habitants. From Jacques Plante to Rocket Richard to Jean Beliveau to Guy Lafleur to Ken Dryden to Larry Robinson to Patrick Roy. The list of greats who called this place home could fill two of these pages. If there is such a thing as an arena being a church, the Montreal Forum was it.
Most famous characteristic: There is no glass between the home bench and the fans.
Most famous moment: The Richard Riot in 1955 when league president Clarence Campbell suspended Rocket Richard for the playoffs and was pelted with debris. The riot spilled out into the streets.
2. Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto.
3. Boston Garden.
4. The Olympia, Detroit.
5. Chicago Stadium.

What do you think?
Have a favorite memory of a great old ballpark? Do you disagree with our rankings? Did I leave out one of your favorites? Give me your two cents.

Upset specials

So the Giants come into the Super Bowl nearly two-touchdown underdogs against the Patriots. In fact, they're one of the biggest underdogs in the championship of any sport. But they do have tales of inspiration to draw upon. We could include some of the biggest upsets in sports history, but upsets could happen anywhere, especially when the favorite is looking past its opponent to another game. The pressure of pulling off an upset is at its highest when you're playing for all the marbles. So let's look at the greatest upsets in championship history. That means the 1980 U.S. hockey team doesn't count. Yes, it beat the Soviets in perhaps sports' greatest upset, but it didn't happen in a championship game. Same with Duke's big upset over UNLV in the 1990 Final Four and Man o' War's loss to a 100-to-1 shot in the Sanford Memorial Stakes in 1919. By the way, do you know the name of the horse that handed Man o' War his only loss? Upset. That's believed to be where the term comes from. Anyway, here's our take on the 10 greatest upsets in championship history. And you might not even know No. 1.

1.Rulon Gardner over Alexander Karelin
2000 Olympics
You don't have to follow Greco-Roman wrestling to understand what a major upset this was. Russian Alexander Karelin was the Michael Jordan/Babe Ruth/Tiger Woods of his sport. Simply the best. Going into the gold-medal match of the 2000 Olympics, Karelin hadn't lost in 13 years and had not even given up a point in 10 years. But Gardner won 1-0. To this day, Karelin, known as "The Russian Bear,'' "The Experiment'' and "The Meanest Man in the World,'' won't even talk about Gardner or the famous super-heavyweight match.

2. New York Jets over Baltimore Colts
Super Bowl III
People sometimes forget how improbable it was for a team from the old AFL to beat an NFL team. And not just any NFL team, but one that went 13-1 and beat the Browns 34-0 in the NFL Championship Game. In fact, if the Colts had beaten the Jets, they might be considered one of the greatest teams in NFL history. Behind the guarantee of quarterback Joe Namath, above,  and Matt Snell's 121 rushing yards, the Jets stunned Don Shula's Colts 16-7.

3. Buster Douglas over Mike Tyson
1990 heavyweight fight
Iron Mike Tyson was 37-0 with 33 knockouts, easily the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world and on his way to becoming, perhaps, the greatest heavyweight ever when he climbed into the ring in Tokyo to face Buster Douglas an okay boxer who had lost four times. Oddsmakers made Tyson a 42-1 to favorite, but Douglas scored an upset for the ages by knocking out Tyson in the 10th round.

4. Villanova over Georgetown
1985 NCAA championship
Georgetown, with legendary center Patrick Ewing, was the defending NCAA champ. Villanova was a No. 8 seed and a 10-point underdog going into the final. But the Wildcats of Rollie Massimino shot 79 percent for the game, including an incredible 90 percent in the second half to pull off a 66-64 shocker. By the way, the basketball game was played on April Fools' Day. The 1985 Villanova team is still the lowest seed to ever win the NCAA men’s tournament.

USSR over USA
1972 Olympics (basketball)
We have the Miracle on Ice. The Russians have the 1972 Olympic basketball tournament. Sure, the game ended in controversy and maybe the USSR had help from the referees, who added seconds to the clock that allowed it to win the gold  51-50. Still, it was an upset that the Soviets even had a chance late in the game, considering the USA was 63-0 in Olympic basketball competition. The U.S. players have never accepted their silver medals, but the Soviets did accept the gold because, well, officially they won.

6. North Carolina State over Houston
1983 NCAA championship
The only reason N.C. State, which had lost 10 regular-season games, made the NCAA Tournament was because it won the ACC tournament. Meantime, Houston's Phi Slama Jama, led by Clyde Drexler and Hakeem Olajuwon, entered the final with a 26-game winning streak and looked invincible. But a desperation shot followed by Lorenzo Charles' dunk gave N.C. State a 54-52 victory that was so shocking coach Jim Valvano raced around the court not believing what had just happened.

7. New York Mets over Baltimore Orioles
1969 World Series
There is a reason they were called the Miracle Mets. Just seven years earlier, the expansion Mets might have been the worst team in baseball history. Even in 1969, the Mets needed the Cubs to choke away a 9 1/2-game lead on Aug. 13 to get into the playoffs. Few gave them a chance against a Baltimore team that had won 109 games in the regular season and a pitching staff that had two 20-game winners, plus Jim Palmer. The Mets not only won, but they needed just five games to take the best-of-seven series.

8. Los Angeles Dodgers over Oakland A's
1988 World Series
The Dodgers only won 94 games that season and didn't have one players hit 30 homers or bat .300. The mighty A's won 104 games, led by Bash Brothers Mark McGwire and Jose Canseco and a pitching staff that was first in the American League in ERA, wins and saves. But thanks to the "I don't believe what I just saw'' homer by Kirk Gibson in Game 1, the Dodgers rolled to a shocking five-game upset of Oakland.

9. Jack Fleck over Ben Hogan
1955 U.S. Open
Jack Fleck was a virtual unknown in golf, having joined the PGA Tour full time just six months earlier. Ben Hogan was a legend, having won nine majors. Yet Fleck, in the biggest round of his life, shot 69 to beat Hogan in an 18-hole playoff by three strokes. Fleck would win only twice more on the PGA Tour. Neither he nor Hogan would win another major.

10. Hickory over South Bend
Indiana high school basketball championship
See, you thought we were going to say the 1954 Milan basketball team that was the inspiration for the movie Hoosiers. Yes, it's true the Milan team that was from a 161-student school beat a Muncie Central school that had an enrollment of 2,200. But you might not know that Milan had reached the state semifinals the year before and, with four returning starters, was picked by many to win the title. So that's why we go here with Hickory. Besides, if Coach Dale, Shooter, Ollie and Jimmy can't inspire the Giants then no one can.

Bucs ring of honor

The Bucs do not have a ring of honor at Raymond James Stadium. Maybe now with the retirement of Mike Alstott and Warren Sapp and other stars drawing close to the end of their careers (John Lynch and Derrick Brooks come to mind), the Bucs might need to start contemplating a ring of honor to celebrate the greatest players in franchise history.

What if they did have a ring of honor? Who would be on it? We took the question to you in a Times online poll. We asked which member of the organization should be first to go on the ring and we gave you 10 choices. We received more than 2,500 responses. Here are the results.

Lee Roy Selmon, DT, 1976-1985
1,436 votes, 56 percent
The overwhelming winner and no surprise, really. Still the only player to go into the Hall of Fame after spending all (or even most) of his career with the Bucs. And still the only player to have his number (63) retired. He remains the franchise’s all-time leader in career sacks (78.5).

Derrick Brooks, LB, 1995-present
320 votes, 12 percent2
A 10-time Pro Bowl player who made the game every year from 1997 to last season. A shoo-in for the Hall of Fame. When it's all said and done — and it appears as if a rejuvenated Brooks has a lot more to say and do — he likely will be known as the best football player in Bucs history, if he isn't already.

Tony Dungy, Coach, 1996-2007
219 votes, 9 percent
Isn't it interesting that a coach who didn't win a Super Bowl in Tampa Bay is more worthy for your ring of honor than a coach who did? Dungy took over, arguably, the worst franchise in the NFL and turned it into a perennial playoff team. The Bucs made the playoffs four times under Dungy. He never got to the big game but, as many of his backers will tell you, his team did.

Mike Alstott, FB, 1996-2007
213 votes, 9 percent
A true fan favorite, and one of the most beloved athletes in the history of Tampa Bay sports. He made the Pro Bowl six times and was named All-Pro four times. But forget all that. It was his bruising, straight-ahead, no-nonsense, take-a-hit-but-deliver-a-bigger-hit style that made him such a favorite. Two words perfectly describe Alstott: football player.

John Lynch, S, 1993-2003
77 votes, 3 percent
Intelligent. Good looks. Funny. Charismatic. Lynch is all of those things. Bucs fans always loved that about him. But what did they love most of all? His bone-crushing hits to ballcarriers who dared to run his way. What Alstott was to the Bucs offense, Lynch was to the defense. What stings around here is the guy keeps on ticking in Denver long after the Bucs thought his time was up.

Warrick Dunn, RB, 1997-2001
72 votes, 3 percent
Dunn's football ability is impressive: NFC offensive rookie of the year and two Pro Bowls with the Bucs. But it was his off-the-field efforts that earned such high respect. His foundation helps build homes for families with single parents and, to date, has helped nearly 50 single parents and more than 120 children.