OT: Greatest comeback in the history of sports?

[jerseyhoya34]

This is a pretty good question. I know where I stand. Please discuss.

[TrueHoyaBlue]

Just curious... how would one decide between "don't know" and "unsure"?

[jerseyhoya34]

I have no idea. I just threw that "unsure" category in there. Don't know typically is an escape for those who simply do not know enough to select an option comfortably, whereas unsure is for those who simply cannot decide between yes and no in spite of knowing enough to evaluate the question at hand.

[YB]

Though I consider it my birthright to root for the Red Sox to lose every game they ever play, even I must admit this was the greatest comeback in the history of sports.

[RDF]

I'd change the Unsure/Maybe to Greatest in Baseball Postseason History?? To me that's how I'd identify it because it's never been done before and it happened in the postseason. I can't identify it as the greatest comeback ever because in Baseball you have to win the game and it doesn't end until you do--whereas in Basketball and Football you have to deal with a defecit and time limitations. So comebacks in those sports can be more amazing for the simple fact there is a clock to battle along with your opponent.

And regular season wise, I think there have been many comebacks that defy odds. Making up ground in standings, etc....but this is truly a great comeback. To me the way it would have to go down as the greatest of all time would be for a team to be down in Series 3-0 and come from behind in every game--in the 9th inning. This was a great comeback, but Sox dominated Games 6 and 7 and most of Game 5 minus that double by Jeter.

[Boz]

Personally, I'd nominate Lance Armstrong as the greatest comeback in sports history, but I don't think that's the spirit in which the poll is being taken.

I'd also nominate Lee Smith's "Dejected? Deject THIS!" and Jim Mora's "You think you know, but you just don't know...And you never will." as two of the greatest 'comebacks' in sports history, but I don't think we're talking verbal comebacks.

So, what the hey. Its a feel-good moment for the Sox, so why fight it? I'll vote this the greatest ever, why not.

Just bear in mind, the 1986 ALCS was a pretty memorable series too, but I don't think that's what too many people today remember about the '86 season. And the Buffalo Bills crafted the greatest playoff comeback in NFL history too. Sure, people still remember that game, but mainly they remember 0 for 4.

If the Sox win it all, this ALCS will become the stuff of legend. If they don't, it will almost certainly diminish -- somewhat -- over time.

[Joe Hoya]

Gotta vote yes on this one.

Here we have a team who gets dominated through the first three games of the series. They trail in the bottom of the ninth with the greatest postseason pitcher ever on the hill. They tie the game, and win in extra frames. The next night, they trail by two in the eighth, tie the game, and win in even more extra innings. Then they go to Daddy Stadium, where just a year before they lost in absolutely gut-wrenching fashion (and don't tell me the past doesn't matter, because in this case it most certanly does) in Game 7, and proceed to dominate their opponents in the final two games to move on to the World Series. I think the fact that they were three outs away from being swept (literally, on the edge of the cliff with the ground below them starting to crumble), then won four straight games on four straight nights (playing something like 20 hours of baseball) makes this just about unbeatable.

And John McKay, when asked about his 1976 Buccaneers' execution, said "I'm in favor of it". That's the best comeback I've heard. He also said, after a game, "We didn't block. We made up for it by not tackling." God I love those NFL Films documentaries.

[Deleted]

As far as a post-season series goes, this HAS to be the biggest comeback of all time, yes. But I don't think you can measure it against single game comebacks. Different beast altogether.

Greatest series comeback ever, yes. Greatest GAME comeback ever? I think I can safely say the 1992 AFC Divisional Playoff game between the Houston Oilers and my beloved Buffalo Bills. 28-3 to start the second half, 35-3 after a Frank Reich pick is run back for a TD. Now THAT'S a comeback (single game, of course).

GO HOYAS!!!