King Kamala 0 Report post Posted October 24, 2003 In recent years I have to say The Marlins are a top candidate. I remember in May or so- someone calling me crazy for saying that the Marlins might finish 3rd in the NL East. I knew that they might be a lot better than people expected after they signed Pudge Rodreiguz, but I never would have suspected them making the playoffs let alone the World Series. Last year's Anaheim Angels, who knew that a cast of moderately talented players(With the exception of Garrett Anderson who is uber-underrated) could win a World Series? 2001-02 Patriots they were expected to be a middle of the road 8-8 team but ended up with a few miracle wins and a Superbowl trophy. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
razazteca 0 Report post Posted October 25, 2003 This year Dallas Cowboys or any Bill Parcells or Dick Vermiel teams in general. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EVIL~! alkeiper 0 Report post Posted October 25, 2003 1969 New York Mets. From second to last, to 100 wins and a World Series title. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kahran Ramsus 0 Report post Posted October 25, 2003 1991 Atlanta Braves. Terrible in the late 80s and last place in 1990, they won the NL Pennant and have never missed the playoffs since. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MrRant 0 Report post Posted October 25, 2003 This year Dallas Cowboys or any Bill Parcells or Dick Vermiel teams in general. If you listen to Parcells talk about this team you wouldn't think that since he knows the combined record of the teams they have beaten is 10-27 I believe. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
razazteca 0 Report post Posted October 25, 2003 I think the Cowboys went 3 seasons of 5-11. Parcells is speaking the truth about the weakness of the team and his press conference seem to make the team improve at the problem areas. The WRs still drop the ball and the running game is questionable but its a work in progress. Its kind of like do your job or I will replace you with "my boys". Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
phoenixrising 0 Report post Posted October 25, 2003 A few teams I can think of... The 1999 St. Louis Rams - They'd been horrible for about a decade, then got Marshall Faulk and everyone thought they'd be decent, then Trent Green went down and everyone forgot about them until they started unloading on their opposition. I don't think anyone expected them to win a championship with an ex-Arena League QB. 2001 New England Patriots - A team that no one took seriously until Adam Vinateri's Super Bowl winning field goal. 1969 New York Mets - Even more amazing when you consider that they were really REALLY bad up until 1969. 1988 Los Angeles Dodgers - Talentwise probably shouldn't have beaten either the Mets in the NLCS or Oakland in the World Series, but they just found ways to win. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Red Baron 0 Report post Posted October 25, 2003 1993 Montreal Canadiens: Once Pittsburgh was done, Montreal was going to win the cup. 2003 Seattle Seahawks: 5-1, now, top of their division...Who says they aren't going to make the playoffs? 1961 Chicago Blackhawks: Sub-par team, sweeps Montreal in the semi's and defeats Toronto (I think) in the finals to win the stanley cup. 2002-2003 Anaheim Mighty Ducks: Who'd thunk that Giggy could lead the game, only to fall short Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest BobbyWhioux Report post Posted October 25, 2003 How about the 1981 49ers? Starting 3 rookies in the secondary, employing a running back-by-committee approach, coming off a 6-10 season (which came after two straight 2-14 seasons) starting a slow white guy drafted in the 10th round at wide receiver (Dwight Clark)? A team that had never won anything. Ever. Ever. And how about several years back (94 or 95 or so) when Northwestern's football team started winning all of a sudden after decades of being the Big 10's Jobber To The Stars? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vern Gagne 0 Report post Posted October 25, 2003 And how about several years back (94 or 95 or so) when Northwestern's football team started winning all of a sudden after decades of being the Big 10's Jobber To The Stars? That's the biggest one recent years for me. Northwestern was so unbelievably awful, to turn things around and make the Rose Bowl was remarkable. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Choken One Report post Posted October 25, 2003 2004-The REDS amazing season. Junior's return to glory by hitting 55 home runs, an incredible offensive surge by Dunn and lest us not forget Kearns remarkable 57 game hitting streak...WOULDA BEEN 58 IF IT WASN'T FOR THAT GOD DAMN FAN! Or Danny Graves incredible 1.21 ERA with 27 wins. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kkktookmybabyaway 0 Report post Posted October 25, 2003 2004-The REDS amazing season. Junior's return to glory by hitting 55 home runs, an incredible offensive surge by Dunn and lest us not forget Kearns remarkable 57 game hitting streak...WOULDA BEEN 58 IF IT WASN'T FOR THAT GOD DAMN FAN! Or Danny Graves incredible 1.21 ERA with 27 wins. Too bad they'll all be traded by August... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kahran Ramsus 0 Report post Posted October 25, 2003 2004-The REDS amazing season. Junior's return to glory by hitting 55 home runs, an incredible offensive surge by Dunn and lest us not forget Kearns remarkable 57 game hitting streak...WOULDA BEEN 58 IF IT WASN'T FOR THAT GOD DAMN FAN! Or Danny Graves incredible 1.21 ERA with 27 wins. Too bad they'll all be traded by August... To the Yankees. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest FrigidSoul Report post Posted October 25, 2003 2004-The REDS amazing season. Junior's return to glory by hitting 55 home runs, an incredible offensive surge by Dunn and lest us not forget Kearns remarkable 57 game hitting streak...WOULDA BEEN 58 IF IT WASN'T FOR THAT GOD DAMN FAN! Or Danny Graves incredible 1.21 ERA with 27 wins. Too bad they'll all be traded by August... Kearns and Dunn make nothing I wouldn't be surprised to see Griffey and Graves traded... Peter Angelos tried to get Griffey last off-season, if he doesn't get Vlad this off-season I bet he presses hard for Griffey Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AlwaysPissedOff 0 Report post Posted October 25, 2003 The 96 Carolina Panthers and Jacksonville Jaguars. I don't think ANYBOY thought either expansion team would make the playoffs in only their second year, let alone as far as both teams got in the post-season that year. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kkktookmybabyaway 0 Report post Posted October 25, 2003 You know what's strange? Everyone makes fun of the 1976 Tampa Bay Bucs because during that first season they were winless, but this team was only one game, and 9 points, away from the 1979-1980 Super Bowl... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Slayer 0 Report post Posted October 25, 2003 You know what's strange? Everyone makes fun of the 1976 Tampa Bay Bucs because during that first season they were winless, but this team was only one game, and 9 points, away from the 1979-1980 Super Bowl... Speaking of 1979-1980 NFL, the team that beat the Bucs in that NFC title game, the '79 Rams, would have to be on this same list... the only team so far with a single digit regular season record (9-7) to ever make it to the Super Bowl, and they nearly beat the same Steeler team that had won 3 SBs in the previous 5 years... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bored 0 Report post Posted October 25, 2003 The match-up in Super Bowl XVI was fairly surprising since the 49ers were 6-10 the previous year and before that had back-to-back 2-14 seasons. The Bengals were also 6-10 in 1980 and before that had back-to-back 4-12 seasons. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JangoFett4Hire 0 Report post Posted October 25, 2003 1967 Boston Red Sox- The Impossible Dream Team The 2001 New England Patriots, a team no one to the west of the Connecticut River gave a chance, especially after the first two games were dropped and Bledsoe was hospitalized with a life-threatening injury. The Angels last year, the Marlins this year. MAybe even give the Royals a nod, nobody thought they'd be relevant come September. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Crazy Dan Report post Posted October 26, 2003 1999 Rams - Boy did this team come out of the blue. All of sudden this team had speed. And boy did they luck out with Warner. Who'd a thunk it. 2000 - Oklahoma Sooners. From unranked to National Champ. 2003 - Syracuse Orangemen. From unranked to National Champ. Carmelo Anthony has the best Freshman year I have ever seen. And the Cuse get on that all important run. 2002 - Anaheim Angels - Talk about every one having a career year in the same year. These guys hit everything in front of them. And boy did they take it to anyone that got in their way. And they won with a very weak starting pitching staff. 2003- Marlins. Boy was I wrong about this team. Kinda reminds me of the Angels of last year. 2001 - Patriots. I think Bill Simmons was the only one to think that the Patriots were going to beat the Rams. 1995 - Villanova. The perfect game. 1987 - Twins. This team was unbeatable in the Dome, and horrible out of it. Guess what team was stoked to realize that the American League got home field advantage that year in the World Series. 1997 -Giants. Picked by about every writer to finish dead last in the West, the Giants won the West, in a very good pennant race with the Dodgers. Unfortunately they got the eventual World Champs in the Divisional Playoffs, and lost 2 close ones, and one blowout. But this started a very good string of success for the Giants. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vern Gagne 0 Report post Posted October 26, 2003 Since about 1999 the major sports have seen alot of suprise, and "I can't believe they actually won" champions. This year alone Tampa Bay, Florida, Ohio St., and Syracuse come to mind. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mr. S£im Citrus 0 Report post Posted October 26, 2003 2003 Detroit Shock. Went from league-worst to league champions in one season. ... What do you mean you don't watch the WNBA? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kkktookmybabyaway 0 Report post Posted October 26, 2003 Thanks to my boy Laimbeer... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vern Gagne 0 Report post Posted October 26, 2003 Fuck Laimbeer. Cheap bastard. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dr. Tom 0 Report post Posted October 26, 2003 The 1989 Baltimore Orioles. In 1988, they set the record for most losses to start the season, losing an absurd 21 games in a row. No one thought they'd do anything the following season, but they hung with the Blue Jays until the last weekend of the season. "Why Not?" Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Spaceman Spiff 0 Report post Posted October 27, 2003 1995 - Villanova. The perfect game. I think you mean 1985. I'll throw in 1993 Phillies. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
alfdogg 0 Report post Posted October 27, 2003 I expected the '94 Pacers to be shite after trading Detlef Schrempf. But they would up getting to the conference Finals. Would have been the NBA Finals, but we were cheated in game 7. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HurriShane 0 Report post Posted October 27, 2003 How about Virginia Tech when they had Vick at QB and he carried them all the way to the championship game against Florida State. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest jpclemmons Report post Posted October 29, 2003 99 Rams, from shit to super bowl in one year. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest undisputedjericho Report post Posted October 30, 2003 '03 Twins...they fell out of it late in August only to win the division. Everyone was pegging them for dead. '01 D'backs...quickest expansion team to win a championship. '96 Yankees...my favorite all time team, I don't think was favored too well that year, especially against mighty Atlanta. '94 Expos...crushed by the strike. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
