Greatest Performances by a Backup

Greatest Performances by a Backup

As if Boston fans didn't have enough to worry about, what with the Red Sox about to head back to the postseason and the Celtics prepping to defend their NBA title. But now Tom Brady is injured, and New England turns its lonely eyes to one Matt Cassel (no relation to Celts PG Sam Cassell). Perhaps Cassel can turn in a performance for the ages, and join the greatest performances by a backup in sports history...

1. Lou Gehrig: In 1925, Yankees first baseman Wally Pipp went down with a headache, and Gehrig filled in that day...then went on to play in every game for the next 14 years.

2. Tom Brady: During the 2001 season, after Patriots starter Drew Bledsoe was injured with internal bleeding, Brady stepped in, finished the season 11-3, and led the Pats to a Superbowl victory.

3. Robert Horry: Since the 1999-2000 NBA season, the most games Robert Horry has started in a season is 26, but he still always seems to come up big in crunch time.

4. Frank Reich: Most people forget that when the Bills came back from a 35-3 deficit to beat the Oilers, it was Reich, not Jim Kelly, who led the way.

5. Magic Johnson: OK, so Magic was really a starter (at point guard), but with the 1980 NBA Finals on the line, he filled in for an injured Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and posted 42 points, 15 boards and 7 steals and led the Lakers to the NBA title.

The Best Pro-Athletes to Wear the Numbers 00-25

THE BEST PRO-ATHLETES TO WEAR THE NUMBERS 00-25
Wilt Chamberlin #13 or Dan Marino, Terry Bradshaw #12 or Tom Brady, Gordy Howe #9 or Ted Williams?????? Those are just a few.

#25 Barry Bonds
Despite all of the controversy, Bonds is the best Home Run hitters ever. He is a 7-time MVP, 8-time Gold Glove award winner, 14-time All-Star, and has the most home runs ever (762).
Runner-up
Mark McGwire
First baseman
12-time All-Star selection
3-time Silver Slugger Award

#24 Willie Mays
A.K.A. The Say Hey Kid, Mays is a 21-time All-Star selection, 12-time Gold Glove Award winner, a World Series champion, and oh yeah in San Francisco, May 24th is known as Willie Mays day.
Runner-up
Kobe Bryant, G
2007–08 NBA MVP
10-time All-NBA Selection
8-time All-Defensive Selection
3-time NBA Champion
2-time NBA Scoring Champion

#23 Michael Jordan
No need for his resume!
Runner-up
Lebron James, F
2004 Rookie of the Year
2008 NBA Scoring Champion
2-time NBA All-Star Game MVP
4-time NBA All-Star

#22 Emmitt Smith
Smith is the NFL's alltime rushing leader, a 3-time Super Bowl champion, and a winner on the show Dancing with the Stars.
Runner-up
Elgin Baylor, F
11-time NBA All-Star
1959 NBA Rookie of the Year

#21 Roberto Clemente
As an outfielder for the Pitsburgh Pirates Clemente won four batting titles, 12-time Golden Glove award winner, 12-time All-Star selection, and finished his career with 3,000 hits.
Runner-up
Deion Sanders, DB
8-time Pro Bowl selection
2-time Super Bowl champion
9-time All-Pro selection

#20 Barry Sanders
While playing running back for the Detroit Lions, Sanders moved the crowd almost everytime he touched the ball. He was a 10-time Pro Bowl selection, and a 10-time All-Pro selection.
Runner-up
Mike Schmidt, 3B
12-time All-Star selection
10-time Gold Glove Award winner
6-time Silver Slugger Award w
World Series champion and MVP

#19 Johnny Unitas
Johnny "U" was a 10-time Pro Bowl selection, 9-time All-Pro selection, and was the first quarterback to throw for 40,000 yards.
Runner-up
Steve Yzerman, C
3-time Stanley Cup champion
10-time All-Star

#18 Peyton Manning
When his career is done Manning may be considered the best quarterback ever because he is on pace to break every record for a QB. He is already an 8-time Pro Bowl selection, 6-time All-Pro selection, Super Bowl Champion and MVP, and is the Indianapolis Colts All-time leader in passing touchdowns and passing yards.
Runner-up
Charlie Joiner, WR
3-time Pro Bowl selection

#17 John Havlicek
As a member of the Boston Celtics "Hondo" was a 8-time NBA champion, 13-time NBA All Star, and is considered the best sixth man of all-time.
Runner-up
Mark Grace, 1B
3-time All-Star selection
4-time Gold Glove Award winner
World Series Champion

#16 Joe Montana
A.K.A. Joe Cool, is regarded as the best quarterback of all-time. A 4-time Super Bowl champion, 3-time Super Bowl MVP, 8-time Pro Bowl selection, and a 7-time All-Pro selection.
Runner-up
Brett Hull, RW
8-time NHL All-Star
Scored 50 goals in 50 games twice
Led the NHL in goals scored 3x's

#15 Earl Monroe
Earl "The Pearl" Monroe a.k.a. Black Magic, and his hometown (Philadelphia) nickname, Black Jesus. As a guard for the Baltimore Bullets and New York Knicks, he was a four-time NBA All-Star, won a NBA championship in 1973, won the NBA Rookie of the Year in 1968 and is a member of the NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team.
Runner-up
Bart Starr, QB
4-time Pro Bowl selection
4-time All-Pro selection
3-time NFL champion
2-time Super Bowl champion

#14 Pete Rose
As an outfielder in Major League Baseball Pete Rose was a 17-time All-Star, a three-time World Series champion, two-time Gold Glove Award winner, and owns the major league record for most hits (4,256), games played (3,562), and at bats (14,053).
Runner-up
Ernie Banks a.k.a. Mr. Cub, SS/1B
11-time All-Star selection
2-time NL MVP
Gold Glove Award winner
Member of the Baseball Hall of Fame

#13 Wilt Chamberlain
He was one of the most dominating players in the history of the NBA. A two-time NBA champion, four-time NBA MVP and a 13-time NBA All-Star. Wilt "The Stilt" Chamberlain a.k.a The Big Dipper, and Chairman of the Boards also claimed he was intimate with 20,000 women.
Runner-up
Dan Marino, QB
9-time Pro Bowl selection
8-time All-Pro selection
Holds 31 Miami Dolphins records
Holds Numerous NFL records

#12 Tom Brady
Despite being a three-time Super Bowl champion, 80-25 as a starting quarterback for the New England Patriots and leading his team to a 18-1 record, Tom Brady became a pop icon for his relationship with Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen.
Runner-up
Terry Bradshaw, QB
4-time Super Bowl champion
4-time All-Pro
3-time Pro Bowl selection
2-time Super Bowl MVP

#11 Isiah Thomas
Forget about his tenure as the New York Knicks head coach. Isiah Thomas was one of the best players in NBA history. Thomas was a 12-time NBA All-Star, three-time All-NBA First Team, and a two-time NBA Champion.
Runner-up
Mark Messier, C
15-time All-Star
6-time Stanley Cup Champion
2-time Hart Memorial Trophy Winner

#10 Pele
Pele is the most famous soccer player of all time. He led three teams to World Cup championships and helped breath life into the sport in the U.S.
Runner-up
Walt Frazier, G
7-time All-Star selection
4-time All NBA First team
2-time NBA champion

#9 Gordie Howe
Played right wing for the Detroit Red Wings. Was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1972 and inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame in 1975.
Runner-up
Ted Williams, OF
17-time All-Star
2-time AL MVP

#8 Cal Ripken Jr.
Mr. Ironman a.k.a Cal Ripken Jr. played in a record 2,632 consecutive games for the Baltimore Orioles. Ripken was also a 19-time All-Star selection, a two-time Gold Glove Award winner, and won a World Series championship in 1983.
Runner-up
Kobe Bryant, G
2007–08 NBA MVP
10-time All-NBA Selection
8-time All-Defensive Selection
3-time NBA Champion
2-time NBA Scoring Champion

#7 Mickey Mantle
If George Costanza wanted to name his first born son "Seven" as a tribute to Mickey Mantle, why wouldn't he be the best No. 7 ever?
Runner-up
John Elway, QB
2-time Super Bowl Champion
9-time Pro Bowl selection

#6 Bill Russell
Played center for the Boston Celtics and won 11 NBA Championships in 13 years. He is also a five-time NBA MVP.
Runner-up
Julius "Dr. J" Erving, F
11-time NBA All-Star
Won the NBA Championship in 1983
2-time ABA Champion
3-time ABA MVP

#5 Joe DiMaggio
Played center field for the New York Yankees, was a 13-time All-Star and nine-time World Series champion. And the love of his life? Marilyn Monroe.
Runner-up
Johnny Bench, C
14-time All-Star selection
2-time World Series champion
10-time Gold Glove Award winner

#4 Brett Favre
One of the best quarterbacks in NFL history, Favre is a three-time MVP with one Super Bowl title, and owns almost every record that a quarterback can have.
Runner-up
Bobby Orr, D
8 straight Norris trophies
2 Stanley Cups
Inducted into the Hockey HOF

#3 Babe Ruth
Arguably the best baseball player in the history of the game, Babe Ruth won seven World Series championships and is third all-time in home runs (714).
Runner-up
Dale Earnhardt
NASCAR
Seven-time Winston Cup Series Champion
NASCAR Sprint Cup Rookie of the Year
2002 Motorsports Hall of Fame Inductee
2006 International Motorsports HOF Inductee

#2 Derek Jeter
As a shortstop for the New York Yankees he has won four World Series championships, three Gold Glove Awards, and is a nine-time All-Star.
Runner-up
Secretariat (Belmont)
Won 16 of 21 races
Won the Triple Crown in 1973

#1 Oscar Robertson
"The Big O" was a 12-time All-Star, a NBA MVP, and also won an NBA Championship.
Runner-up
Warren Moon, QB
9-time Pro Bowler
Pro football HOF inductee

#0 Gilbert Arenas
One of the best shooters in the NBA. With a nickname like "Agent 0" he has to be the best to wear the number.
Runner-up
Al Oliver, OF
7-time All-Star

#00 Robert Parish
As a center for the Boston Celtics, Parish was a four-time NBA champion, and became a member of the NBA's 50th Anniversary team.
Runner-up
Jim Otto, OL
12-time Pro Bowl selection
13-time All-Pro selection

The Impossible has just Happened: The New York Giants just defeated the New England Patriots to win the Super Bowl

A fairly boring game through 3 quarters of play. 7 to 3 and both of those scores were done in the first 2 quarters. New England just could not get away from the Giants defensive pressure. Randy Moss was a non-factor in the 1st half. Plaxico Burress was also a non-factor in the first 3 quarters. Eli Manning was consistent and Tom Brady was on his toes feeling the pressure. I did get to see Brandon Jacobs run over another defensive back. So, I guess we could say that the first 3 quarters were not only boring, but also, what is wrong with the Patriots? I'll tell you what was wrong with them, the New York Giants defense!

And then it happened! The Giants were winning 10 to 7 with 9:00 minutes left in the game and Tom Brady decided to get Randy Moss involved in the offense and led them down the field to a score by Moss. 14 to 10 Patriots with 2:09 to go in the game! Well, there it is, the perfect season 19-0 because there is no way fait will let Eli Manning drive down the field and score against history. Really? Guess what? He did just that and to his brother's delight in the stands, Eli made his own mark on history. Manning executed the 2 minute offense perfectly capping it off with a touch down pass to Plaxico Burress with 32 seconds left in the game. (the same passplay they were practicing before the game) The play of the game would have to be when Eli Manning looked like he was going to be sacked and somehow escaped and managed to heave the ball downfield to a double covered David Tyree. Tyree made a leaping catch and gripped the ball away from both defenders as he fell to the ground.

Remember, there was still 32 seconds and Tom Brady was coming onto the field. Did you honestly think that they would go 4 and out? Me either, but they did and cudos to the Giant's defense.

17 to 14 the Giants win the Super Bowl! That's right! They did it and did it on both sides of the ball. I don't want to hear tomorrow morning that the Patriots just did not play very well. The New York Giants deserved this win and played like they wanted it. They were flat out the better TEAM. And let's quit saying how Eli Manning came to age before our eyes. He has been of age for quite some time now!

Did you hear that? It sounded like thunder coming from Miami. Oh, that is the Dolphins popping the corks to their wine bottles. Sorry Belechik! No history, no win and a lot of questions left to answer for spy-gate!!!!!

Eli Manning 2008 Super Bowl MVP!