Sports Misconceptions

[KGB 0]

Misconception: Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens never met in the playoofs since 67.

 

Fact: Only once did these two teams meet. Montreal defeated Toronto in four games in 77.

 

Misconception: Montreal has 23 Stanley Cups

Actually, they played each other in the semifinals '78, and again in the 2nd round of the '79 playoffs, the Habs sweeping the Leafs both times.

[treble 0]

Another one I got from reading an ESPN.com article on Javier Vazquez. The author, Eric Neel, I think, mentioned that Vazquez had a good year on the '03 Expos, who he called 'woefull', despite the fact they finished the year over .500 and were in the wildcard chase up until the last month or so of the season.

 

That got me to thinking, I think the majority of casual fans pretty much assume that the Expos were a horrible team outside of '94, which really isn't true. They did have some really bad seasons, but they won at least 90 games 4 times and finished .500 or better 16 seasons out of 35. Not the Yankees or anything, but it's not like they were the Washington Generals of baseball.

[CanadianGuitarist 0]

Misconception: Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens never met in the playoofs since 67.

 

Fact: Only once did these two teams meet. Montreal defeated Toronto in four games in 77.

 

Misconception: Montreal has 23 Stanley Cups

Actually, they played each other in the semifinals '78, and again in the 2nd round of the '79 playoffs, the Habs sweeping the Leafs both times.

A lot of people will tell you that's the Montreal Canadiens with 24 Cups. The Montreal AAA won it in 1893 and 1894.

 

That's why Jodi Vance can get away with saying 1915 in that Quizno's commercial, when the Canucks started play in the 1970-71 season. It was the Vancouver Millionaires in 1915, of the PCHL.

[Carnival 0]

Tom Osbourne was a Hologram.

I must have been wrong about this. Since i just held the door open for him at the local taco place.

 

He looks more like skeleton.

[Guest Redhawk]

It's a misconception that the Heisman Trophy goes to the best player in college football, because that never seems to happen anymore.

[CanadianChris 0]

It's a misconception that the Heisman Trophy goes to the best player in college football, because that never seems to happen anymore.

There's a big difference between the best college player and the best pro prospect.

[CanadianGuitarist 0]

It's a misconception that the Heisman Trophy goes to the best player in college football, because that never seems to happen anymore.

There's a big difference between the best college player and the best pro prospect.

You're right an awful lot, man.

 

This, for example, is one of those times.

 

Cheers.

 

And, what the hell,

[Guest Redhawk]

It's a misconception that the Heisman Trophy goes to the best player in college football, because that never seems to happen anymore.

There's a big difference between the best college player and the best pro prospect.

I wasn't even talking about pro prospects, actually. I seriously think there have been more deserving college players shafted for the Heisman a lot recently.

[Vasarian_Brandy 0]

Misconception: The '97 World Series... Game 7... Jose Mesa did blow the save, and starter Charlie Nagy did take the loss in relief, costing the Cleveland Indians their first World Championship since 1948.

 

Fact: 1) Jose Mesa wasn't a big saves guy in 1997. While we could've hoped to get the "Joe Table" of '95, the reality of the situation was that Jose Mesa was (we thought) on a decline.

 

2) The success of starters coming out of the bullpen in pressure situations is spotty at best. We know that those of the ilk of one future HOFer but the name of Randy Johnson could probably pitch whenever, wherever... The likes of a Charles Nagy, whose last (and only) bullpen appearance in his career (to that point) was in his ROOKIE SEASON, 7 seasons before! Frankly we shouldn't have expected major results from him.

 

Reality: These 2 pitchers didn't pitch bad, considering the situations they were placed in. And given an extra inning or two, the Indians offense (while not as potent as the '95 version) would have brought them back in the extra frames.

 

The real 'goat' of the game was one Tony Fernandez, second baseman for the Cleveland Indians. In the 11th inning, with one out and a none-too-speedy Bobby Bonilla on first, a ball hit by Craig Counsell absolutely ate Fernandez up... And rather than the inning-ending double play, or even the force at first... Counsell wound up on first, Bobby Bo on third. Mike Hargrove was forced to call for the intentional walk to try again for the double play, and Nagy pitched from high pressure from then on. Counsell finally comes around to score and that, as they say, is that.

 

Just my opinion.

[nl5xsk1 0]

Misconception: Wayne Gretzky was a pansy that was allowed to skate around players and score goals (or assist on them) with minimal resistance from defenders or goaltenders, just because the league had hand-picked him to be their poster child.

 

Reality: Wayne Gretzky is the greatest hockey player of all time.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

2) The success of starters coming out of the bullpen in pressure situations is spotty at best. We know that those of the ilk of one future HOFer but the name of Randy Johnson could probably pitch whenever, wherever... The likes of a Charles Nagy, whose last (and only) bullpen appearance in his career (to that point) was in his ROOKIE SEASON, 7 seasons before! Frankly we shouldn't have expected major results from him.

 

I could actually find quite a few examples of starters coming out of the bullpen. Grover Alexander is the most famous example, but teams did not carry specialized relievers in those days. It used to happen all the time, and the only reason it stopped was because of the rise of the closer's role.

[CanadianGuitarist 0]

Misconception: Wayne Gretzky was a pansy that was allowed to skate around players and score goals (or assist on them) with minimal resistance from defenders or goaltenders, just because the league had hand-picked him to be their poster child.

 

Reality: Wayne Gretzky is the greatest hockey player of all time.

CI's the only one who thinks this. You tore a strip off him already, and you were right to. Let it be.

[Vasarian_Brandy 0]

I could actually find quite a few examples of starters coming out of the bullpen. Grover Alexander is the most famous example, but teams did not carry specialized relievers in those days. It used to happen all the time, and the only reason it stopped was because of the rise of the closer's role.

You're also talking about the bye-gone era where any starter that didn't throw 8+ wasn't worth the cup of coffee the team was paying him.

 

I can understand you point... But yes, I am talking about recent era (AKA within the 28 years I've been alive)

[Guest Mosaicv2]

Misconception: Mets being the backstory team in the New York papers.

Conception: Mets have a good team this year, but not proving it.

[nl5xsk1 0]

Misconception: Wayne Gretzky was a pansy that was allowed to skate around players and score goals (or assist on them) with minimal resistance from defenders or goaltenders, just because the league had hand-picked him to be their poster child.

 

Reality: Wayne Gretzky is the greatest hockey player of all time.

CI's the only one who thinks this. You tore a strip off him already, and you were right to. Let it be.

Sorry, CG, I was just on a role ... and more angry than I really had a right to be. That post will be my last one about the whole debacle.

 

I can't say future debacles won't occur. But I do apologize if I went too far by dragging the argument into this thread. I don't want to fuck up anyone's enjoyment of the board.

 

And having said all that, I really disagreed with barron saying we have to "deal" with you ... I've never had any issues with your posting, which is something that I can say about very few posters on TSM.

[Carnival 0]

It's a misconception that the Heisman Trophy goes to the best player in college football, because that never seems to happen anymore.

There's a big difference between the best college player and the best pro prospect.

I wasn't even talking about pro prospects, actually. I seriously think there have been more deserving college players shafted for the Heisman a lot recently.

Starting with Eddie George winning it, when Tommie Frazier was clearly the best quarterback college football has ever seen.

 

But Eddie was better suited for the pro game.