Top-rated
Sun, Apr 10, 2005
The top 5 reasons Steve Bartman shouldn't be blamed for the Chicago Cubs' meltdown during the 2003 National League Championship Series.
Spoiler text
Best of the Rest:
Top Five:
5. Moises Alou: His reaction incited the fans against Bartman. Plus, his unsanitary pregame rituals he later admitted to might have deterred fans from getting in his way.
4. Dusty Baker: He criticized Bartman in a postgame press conference, but Baker failed to go to the mound to settle his team down, until it was too late.
3. Alex Gonzalez's error: The Gold Glove-winning shortstop botched a double play ball that would have ended the inning.
Interlude: The Cubs probability of winning was only slightly decreased after the foul ball; it plummeted later in the inning.
2. Game 7: The Cubs had another chance, with ace Kerry Wood on the mound.
1. The Marlins were better: The slugging Marlins also slayed the Giants and Yankees that year; their firepower and sense of destiny were not to be denied.
Spoiler text
Best of the Rest:
- The Cubs were cursed.
- Bartman did nothing wrong: All the fans around him reached for the ball too; it's a natural fan reaction, especially for a ball that would be a souvenir from a presumed historic pennant-clinching game.
Top Five:
5. Moises Alou: His reaction incited the fans against Bartman. Plus, his unsanitary pregame rituals he later admitted to might have deterred fans from getting in his way.
4. Dusty Baker: He criticized Bartman in a postgame press conference, but Baker failed to go to the mound to settle his team down, until it was too late.
3. Alex Gonzalez's error: The Gold Glove-winning shortstop botched a double play ball that would have ended the inning.
Interlude: The Cubs probability of winning was only slightly decreased after the foul ball; it plummeted later in the inning.
2. Game 7: The Cubs had another chance, with ace Kerry Wood on the mound.
1. The Marlins were better: The slugging Marlins also slayed the Giants and Yankees that year; their firepower and sense of destiny were not to be denied.
Sun, Apr 17, 2005
Spoiler text
Best of the Rest:
Top Five:
5. Bill Belichick: His tone-deaf leadership hurt the team and weakened their case for a new stadium.
4. Al Davis and Robert Irsay: They set the precedent for moving franchises.
3. The Cleveland Indians: They overshadowed the Browns.
2. Modell's finances: The franchise was going broke.
1. Rock 'N Roll: The city of Cleveland spent millions on a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (plus an arena for the Cavaliers and stadium for the Indians) but nothing on a new stadium for the Browns, even while Municipal Stadium crumbled.
Best of the Rest:
- Al Lerner: He helped Modell arrange the move to Maryland (even though he was later celebrated for landing the Browns in Cleveland in 1999).
- John Elway: His playoff heroics, including The Drive, kept the Browns from the Super Bowl and seemed to change the fortunes of the franchise. Plus, had Baltimore originally convinced Elway to stay there after it drafted him, rather than trading him to Denver, it might have kept the Colts in Baltimore and kept the Browns from moving there.
Top Five:
5. Bill Belichick: His tone-deaf leadership hurt the team and weakened their case for a new stadium.
4. Al Davis and Robert Irsay: They set the precedent for moving franchises.
3. The Cleveland Indians: They overshadowed the Browns.
2. Modell's finances: The franchise was going broke.
1. Rock 'N Roll: The city of Cleveland spent millions on a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (plus an arena for the Cavaliers and stadium for the Indians) but nothing on a new stadium for the Browns, even while Municipal Stadium crumbled.
Top-rated
Sun, May 8, 2005
Best of the Rest
5) Jerry Krause: He repeatedly delivered several quality free agents and kept the team together.
4) Scottie Pippen: His departure to the Houston Rockets led to the breakup of the Bulls
3) Phil Jackson: He lost control of the team.
2) Jerry Reinsdorf: The owner failed to take leadership.
1) Michael Jordan: He could have come back for one more season and kept the team together.
- A Lust for Credit: Several players felt they deserved credit for contributing to the championships which resulted in different egos being exposed
- Attrition: 10 Chicago Bulls players became free agents after the season
5) Jerry Krause: He repeatedly delivered several quality free agents and kept the team together.
4) Scottie Pippen: His departure to the Houston Rockets led to the breakup of the Bulls
3) Phil Jackson: He lost control of the team.
2) Jerry Reinsdorf: The owner failed to take leadership.
1) Michael Jordan: He could have come back for one more season and kept the team together.
Top-rated
Sun, Oct 17, 1999
The top 5 reasons Bill Buckner shouldn't be blamed for the Red Sox' loss to the Mets in Game 6 of the 1986 World Series.
Spoiler text
Best of the Rest:
Top Five:
5. Roger Clemens' exit: There was confusion between Clemens and McNamera to why he left game in the 8th inning.
4. Calvin Schiraldi: The Red Sox reliever faltered in Games 6 and 7.
3. Rich Gedman and Bob Stanley: Their failure to communicate resulted in the wild pitch.
2. Mookie Wilson's speed (he may have beaten Buckner to the bag anyway).
1. John McNamara: The Red Sox manager made several questionable decisions in Games 6 and 7.
Spoiler text
Best of the Rest:
- missed opportunities (14 LOB)
- Oil Can Boyd's premature celebration
- Shea Stadium scoreboard (flashed 10th inning message "Congratulations Boston Red Sox 1986 World Series Champions")
Top Five:
5. Roger Clemens' exit: There was confusion between Clemens and McNamera to why he left game in the 8th inning.
4. Calvin Schiraldi: The Red Sox reliever faltered in Games 6 and 7.
3. Rich Gedman and Bob Stanley: Their failure to communicate resulted in the wild pitch.
2. Mookie Wilson's speed (he may have beaten Buckner to the bag anyway).
1. John McNamara: The Red Sox manager made several questionable decisions in Games 6 and 7.