The “informal” defnition of sad is “pathetically inadequate or unfashionable.” In sports, a sad franchise is one that has failed repeatedly to have any type of sustainable success. As part of our ongoing Decade Debate series, we chose the saddest franchise for the NFL, NBA and MLB, along with a DIShonorable mention. The criteria is simple: perennial failure. (Bonus points if the team has an out of control payroll and still loses.)

NFL

Detroit Lions
42-116 (.269), zero playoff apperances
Lion fans have been suffering a slow death since 2001. That was the year that William Clay Ford, Sr. made the worst hire in the history of mankind, appointing Matt Millen as the team’s GM and president. With Millen steering the ship, the franchise sank to the bottom of NFL purgatory and hasn’t been seen since. The misery started early in the decade when they became the only team in NFL history not to win on the road for three consecutive seasons (2001-2003). The streak of 24 games finally ended with a 20-16 win over the Bears in September of 2004, but by that time the Lions already had ownership of the horrendous record. Of course, the road steak would have been fine if it were the worst thing that the Lions owned this decade. But in 2008, the team did the unthinkable by becoming the first 0-16 team in NFL history. The only good thing that came out of their 0-16 losing streak was that Millen was finally fired, but the damage was already done. Over Millen’s seven seasons as the team’s GM and president, the Lions owned the NFL’s worst winning percentage at 31-81 (.277). They had just one winning season this decade (2001, one year before Millen’s tenure), have had seven different head coaches and one 0-16 season. Perhaps what’s worse than the 0-16 season, the road streak and all the head coaching changes, is that Millen left the team so devoid of talent that they once again had to rebuild from nothing this past offseason. A monkey could have crapped in his hand and threw it against a wall and picked out better prospects this past decade than Millen did. (Let’s hold a moment of silence for fans that actually bought Joey Harrington, Charles Rogers, Roy Williams, Kevin Jones and Mike Williams jerseys over the years.) Good luck pointing out a group of fans that have suffered more this decade than Lions fans. It’s shocking they’re not extinct by now. – Anthony Stalter

DIShonorable Mention:

Cleveland Browns
55-103 (.348), one playoff appearance
When it comes to the NFL, nobody touches the Lions as the saddest franchise this past decade, but the Browns come damn close. In 2000, Cleveland finished with a 3-13 record, but that’s not what infuriated fans the most. It was the fact that the Baltimore Ravens (the former Cleveland Browns) won the Super Bowl that year. Imagine rooting for a team for several years and seeing it get to the Super Bowl, yet as a completely different franchise. Talk about a kick to the marbles. Two years later in 2002, the Browns finished with a 9-7 record and made the postseason under head coach Butch Davis. But in the first round, they blew a 33-21 lead in under six minutes to lose to the Steelers, 36-33. It would be the last time the Browns would make the playoffs this decade, even though they finished with a 10-6 record in 2007 (they missed the postseason because of tie breakers). What’s worse, being a Lion fan and having zero expectations year after year, or being a Browns fan and seeing whatever little expectations you have crushed like a bug under a boot? – Anthony Stalter

NBA

Los Angeles Clippers
303-461 (.397), one playoff appearance
The Clippers had one winning season during the decade. One. It was in 2005-06 back when Elton Brand was an All-Star and Sam Cassell could still lead a team. Otherwise, the franchise has been completely pathetic. Elgin Baylor proved to be a far better player than general manager. He struggled in the draft, picking Darius Miles, Chris Wilcox, Melvin Ely, Shaun Livingston, and Yaroslav Korolev in the first round. Mike Dunleavy utilized that ’06 run to the Western Conference Semis to (somehow) convince owner Donald Sterling that he deserved an extension and a promotion, eventually replacing Baylor as a GM. Last summer, when it looked like the Clippers were on the verge of putting together an Elton Brand/Baron Davis duo, Brand pulled a 180 and signed with the Sixers. Then they win the #1 pick and the right to draft Blake Griffin, and the rookie goes down with a knee injury. For a multitude of reasons – ineptitude and bad luck, first and foremost – the Clippers just couldn’t win in the ‘00s. – John Paulsen

DIShonorable Mention:

New York Knicks
308-457 (.402), two playoff appearances
The Knicks actually had a pretty good team early in the decade; Jeff Van Gundy led the 2000-01 Knicks to their 14th-straight playoff appearance, but over the next eight seasons, the franchise would only make the postseason once (in 2003-04), in part because it made the disastrous mistake of hiring Isiah Thomas as its general manager. Zeke could draft, but he had zero trade sense and was routinely abused by other GMs. Given the fact that the Knicks had by far the biggest payroll during the ‘00s, their propensity for losing is inexcusable. Inexcusable. – John Paulsen

MLB

New York Mets
815-803 (.504), two postseason appearances
No team in baseball has given its fans so much hope, only to let them down. The organization is the consummate tease, leaving its fans with a Major League case of blue balls season after unsatisfied season. Even with one of the largest payrolls in the game and numerous All Stars on their roster, lesser teams consistently spoil their efforts. To think, their decade started out on a relatively high note. After capturing the NL wild card in 2000, they beat the San Francisco Giants and St. Louis Cardinals en route to the World Series against the New York Yankees. Although the Mets lost in five games, fans anticipated good things down the line. Nope. The Mets failed to make the playoffs the next five seasons, dealing with the uninspired play of acquired players (Mo Vaughn, Roberto Alomar), the toll on their farm system, a battle over team ownership, and the decline of franchise player Mike Piazza. Undeterred, the Mets had a marvelous 2006 under new GM Omar Minaya and new manager Willie Randolph. Nevertheless, despite boasting six All Stars (Carlos Beltran, Paul Lo Duca, Tom Glavine, Pedro Martinez, and newcomers David Wright and Jose Reyes), they once again cracked under pressure in the playoffs, surrendering Game 7 of the NLCS to the Cardinals. In both 2008 and 2009, they would be eliminated from playoff contention by the Florida Marlins in the season’s final game. This last season, 20 of their players were injured, combining for 1,480 days on the disabled list. The home opener at their new, beautiful ballpark must have been a sign of things to come. In front of a packed house filled with diehard fans, the Mets lost to the San Diego Padres. Now that is truly sad. – Christopher Glotfelty

DIShonorable Mention:

Pittsburgh Pirates
681-936 (.421), zero postseason appearances
The Pittsburgh Pirates are in the midst of a 17-year losing streak, a record in professional sports. That’s the only record they broke this past decade. If Robert Nutting isn’t one of the most selfish owners in baseball, then he is undoubtedly one of the most incompetent. Of course, he’s simply following the protocol established by previous owner Kevin McClatchy: ship out your young players coming up on big contracts. Aramis Ramirez, Jason Bay, Xavier Nady, Freddy Sanchez, Nate McLouth, and Nyjer Morgan all spent time and excelled in Pittsburgh. Yet, none completed more than five seasons before being traded. Under McClatchy and Nutting, the Pirates have become a glorified farm team instead of the decorated champions they once were. Pirates enthusiasts can’t attend a home game and expect to watch their favorite players – they might be gone. Instead, they arrive at PNC Park to either take in some sun, admire the opposition, or grab a Primanti Brothers sandwich. These are the fans that came up with the idea of having no expectations. That commands respect. If you see a person on the street wearing Pittsburgh Pirates paraphernalia, give them a hug. They are humility personified. – Christopher Glotfelty

Photos from fOTOGLIF

To betray is to “be disloyal to one’s country, organization, or ideology by acting in the interests of an enemy.” In the world of sports, a betrayal can refer to any number of things: a beloved star choosing to play for a bitter rival, someone who breaks the public’s trust or even a head coach who lies to his boss about where his loyalties lie. As part of our ongoing Decade Debate series, we chose the ten biggest betrayals of the last ten years. (By the way, we’re focused on sports business related betrayals only, so Tiger Woods, Mike Vick and Roger Clemens are safe. For now.)

10. NHL cancels the 2004-05 season.

After failing for months to come to an agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement, the NHL finally canceled the 2004-05 season in February of ’05. The dispute between the owners and the NHLPA covered a number of issues, but the biggest was the owners’ proposal of a salary cap that was tied to league revenues, similar to the NBA salary cap. The NHLPA rejected every offer that included a salary cap and the season had to be canceled. A majority of fans blamed the players due to their out-of-control salaries and unwillingness to accept a cap, which is something that both the NBA and NFL – two very successful leagues — have in different forms. Finally, in the summer of 2005, the players association ratified an agreement (which – surprise, surprise — included a salary cap tied to league revenue) and the lockout ended after 310 days. It marks the only time that a North American professional sports league ever canceled and entire season over a labor dispute. In the end, the NHLPA’s stubbornness was fruitless; the owners got their salary cap and the fans got screwed out of year of hockey. Way to go, guys. – John Paulsen

9. Damon skips Bean Town for the Big Apple.

There are some things in life that are just wrong. One is watching any of the “Twilight” movies alone as a single man. Another is flossing in public. Wearing sandals with a nice pair of slacks is also a terrible idea. Regardless of your opinion of these faux pas, we can all agree that a player jumping ship from the Red Sox to the Yankees (or vice versa) is a huge no-no. Babe Ruth never wanted to leave – he was sold. But guys like former Red Sox manger Ed Barrow (took over as Yankees GM), Wade Boggs, and Johnny Damon – they had a choice. Only one season removed from helping the BoSox capture their first World Series since 1918, Damon signed a four-year, $52 million deal with the Bronx Bombers. The Red Sox Nation cried “foul,” but Damon claimed his former team didn’t push further than their initial four-year, $40 million offer. Nevertheless, the fans felt slighted. Damon had flourished in Boston, racking up career numbers and gaining celebrity status. He hit the memorable leadoff homerun in Game 4 of the 2004 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals. The blast was all the Red Sox needed to extinguish the curse. (They would go on to win the game 3-0 and the World Series in a sweep.) But he was gone, ready to face the chorus of boos from former fans, and prepped to win a championship in pinstripes four years later. In the end, a t-shirt I saw at a Fenway Park merchant’s booth said it all. A crude picture of Damon adorned the front: “Looks like Jesus, throws like Mary.” – Christopher Glotfelty

8. Elton Brand woos Baron Davis to L.A., then signs with the Sixers.

Poor Baron Davis. In the summer of 2008, Brand recruited Davis to play for the Clippers, but once Davis signed, Brand decided to bolt to Philadelphia. Brand definitely got his in the end. His first year in Philly ended abruptly with a season-ending injury, and at the time of this writing, the Sixers are 5-18 and are riding a 12-game losing streak. Karma is a bitch. Meanwhile, the Clippers lucked into Blake Griffin in the draft, and although the rookie is sidelined with an injury, it looks like Davis will eventually get his power forward running mate after all. – John Paulsen

7. Manny sandbags the Red Sox, forces trade.

After forcing a trade from the Boston Red Sox to the Los Angeles Dodgers, Manny Ramirez’s image quickly went from “lovable goofball” to “selfish buffoon.” In 2001, Ramirez signed an eight-year deal with the Red Sox worth $160 million. It seemed like Manny and the BoSox were a match made in heaven. In the grand scheme of things, it was. Despite Boston’s current scorn, the Red Sox don’t capture the World Series in ’04 and ’07 without the Dreadlocked One — they don’t the break the Curse of the Great Bambino and the Red Sox Nation is just a pipe dream. Still, that scorn is understandable. In the weeks leading up to the 2008 trading deadline, Ramirez told manager Terry Francona he couldn’t play because of knee problems. The MRI revealed no damage, arousing suspicion. Was Manny trying to coax his way out of Boston? His teammates and the press seemed to think so. The signs were there. Earlier in the season, Ramirez refused to board a charter flight from Anaheim to Seattle, citing sore knees that should keep him out for three weeks. Later, he would shove 64-year-old traveling secretary Jack McCormick for failing to accommodate a 16-ticket request. On June 5, with tensions building, Ramirez and Kevin Youkilis got into a scuffle. For all his whining and duplicity, Manny finally got his wish. The Red Sox traded him to Dodgers in a three-way deal that landed them Jason Bay of the Pittsburgh Pirates. But can we really blame Man Ram? The guy just wanted more than $20 million per year, which is a pittance, really. (Sarcasm.) – Christopher Glotfelty

6. Carlos Boozer reneges on “verbal agreement” to re-sign with the Cavs.

What is it with power forwards from Duke? First Boozer, then Brand. We’re still not 100% sure what happened here. For his part, Boozer has steadfastly denied that there was ever any “handshake deal” in place with the Cavs, though it’s hard to believe they wouldn’t exercise the option on his rookie contract without knowing they could re-sign him. You see, the Cavs made the (horrible) decision to let Boozer become a free agent thinking that they’d be able to re-sign him on the cheap. They say that they had his word that he’d re-up for the team’s mid-level exception, but when he did become a free agent, the Jazz offered him a contract worth an additional $27 million. The Cavs couldn’t/wouldn’t match, so Boozer bolted. Common sense tells us that there was probably a verbal agreement in place with someone in Boozer’s camp (Rob Pelinka?), but since such a deal would be illegal under current NBA rules, neither side is eager to talk about it. Former Cavs owner Gordon Gund simply said this: “In the final analysis, I decided to trust Carlos and show him the respect he asked for. He did not show that trust and respect in return.” The whole thing is a shame, really. Boozer would have been a great sidekick for an up-and-coming LeBron James. – John Paulsen

5. Nick Saban lies to the Dolphins.

Following the 2004 season, Saban left LSU to become the coach of the Dolphins. In November of 2006, Alabama announced the firing of head coach Mike Shula and Saban’s name was immediately linked to the job opening. For over a month, Saban vehemently denied that he was leaving the Dolphins to coach at Alabama, but following Miami’s season ending loss to the Indianapolis Colts, he met with Crimson Tide officials and soon accepted a job as their head coach. But why is Saban ranked lower than the next guy on our list? Perhaps the only difference between Saban and one Bobby Petrino is that Saban was able to finish a full season before he betrayed his team. That’s not saying a whole hell of a lot. – Anthony Stalter

4. Bobby Petrino lies to Louisville and Arthur Blank.

If you looked up the word “snake” in the dictionary, you might find a picture of Bobby Petrino. When he was the head coach at Louisville from 2003 to 2006, he constantly talked out of both sides of his mouth. He’d tell the media that he wanted to coach at Louisville forever, and then he’d hold secret meetings with Auburn, LSU and the Oakland Raiders about their head coaching positions. In July of 2006, he signed a 10-year contract extension at Louisville. Just six months later in January of ‘07, he betrayed Louisville by accepting a five-year contract to become the next head coach of the Atlanta Falcons. But 13 games into his first season in Hotlanta (a losing season in which many of his players publicly criticized his methods), Petrino backstabbed the Falcons and owner Arthur Blank by accepting a deal to become the head coach at Arkansas. Just one day before leaving Atlanta for the Razorbacks, Petrino shook Blank’s hand and assured him that he was coming back in 2008. Loyalty clearly isn’t a word in Petrino’s vocabulary. – Anthony Stalter

3. Clay Bennett moves the Seattle Supersonics to Oklahoma City.

We’re supposed to believe that an Oklahoma City businessman was acting in good faith trying to secure a deal for a new arena in Seattle, but when that deal “falls through,” he only choice is to move the team to OKC? Riiiiiiight. This skepticism was confirmed when co-owner Aubrey McClendon told an Oklahoma City newspaper that the group “didn’t buy the team to keep it in Seattle; we hoped to come here.” Bennett, of course, claimed to know nothing about this, though emails obtained by the city of Seattle (as part of its lawsuit against the owner) proved that Bennett and his co-owners were talking about moving the team to Oklahoma City as early as April of 2007. But really, what’s worse – ripping a long-standing franchise out of Seattle or naming your team the Thunder? That’s a tough one. – John Paulsen

2. Tim Donaghy (allegedly) fixes NBA games.

Maybe he was a lone wolf, or maybe his claims are true and he’s just a small part of much bigger problem, but either way, Tim Donaghy betrayed our trust. An FBI investigation accused Donaghy of betting on games, manipulating games to fit within a desired point spread, and passing along confidential information to gambling cohorts. He has since accused the NBA, among other things, of extending the Lakers/Kings series in 2002 by putting two “company men” on the officiating crew of Game 6 in Los Angeles. (The Lakers shot 18 more free throws than the Kings in the fourth quarter, so there may be something to his accusations.) Regardless, as fans we know that, like the rest of us, officials are flawed human beings, but they’re supposed to be doing the best, most honest job they can. And Tim Donaghy was (allegedly) fixing games. What a dick move. – John Paulsen

1. Brett Favre retires his way to the Vikings.

After two or three years of flirting with retirement, Brett Favre (supposedly) hung ‘em up for good at a teary press conference in March of 2008. But his career wasn’t even close to over. A month later he tells the Packers that he wants to come back, so Mike McCarthy and Ted Thompson schedule a trip down to Mississippi to talk it over, but Favre cancels at the last minute. Enough is enough, they decide – the Packers move on. But Favre can’t understand (now that he wants to unretire, again) why the Packers won’t just release him. He really wants to play for the Vikings, so he can stick it to Ted Thompson, because Thompson didn’t want him (after he said Favre could come back, twice) but TT won’t have any of that. The savvy GM works out a deal that sends Favre to the Jets, but despite some MVP-caliber play over the first dozen weeks, he never really invests himself in the team. He injures his throwing arm and the Jets go into a tailspin, missing the playoffs. He retires again and the Jets grant him his release, so now he’s free to sign with the Vikings. Packer Nation throws up in its mouth. In two regular season games, Favre torches the Packers (throwing for 515 yards, seven touchdowns and zero interceptions) in the game in Green Bay, basically burning Lambeau Field down. In Favre’s dream scenario, the Vikings beat the Packers again in the playoffs en route to a Super Bowl win. Will it happen? God, we hope not. – John Paulsen

Photos from fOTOGLIF

There have been countless trades this past decade in the MLB, with some obviously more significant than others. But what were the most pivotal deals of the past 10 years? As part of our Decade Debate series, here are 10 trades in the past decade that turned out to be pivotal for one or both of the clubs involved. Keep in mind that the trades didn’t have to be blockbuster in order to be pivotal. So if you’re wondering why you see the Mets’ acquisition of Johan Santana in the honorable mention section, don’t forget that New York has yet to even make a playoff appearance since that trade.

10. Red Sox trade “No-mah.”

While many Boston fans were sad to see Nomar Garciaparra traded to the Cubs as part of a four-team deal that sent Orlando Cabrera and Doug Mientkiewicz to the BoSox, they can’t deny that the deal worked out in the end. Thanks to the contributions of Cabrera and Mientkiewicz during the year, the Red Sox went on to win the 2004 World Series – their first in 86 years. A groin injury derailed Nomar’s days in Chicago, although he did wind up getting a World Series ring for his half season in Boston. It was well-deserved recognition for a player that had meant a lot to the Red Sox organization.

9. Brewers land CC.

Did the Brewers win a World Series after unloading prospects Matt LaPorta, Zach Johnson, Rob Bryson and Michael Brantley for CC Sabathia in 2008? No, but that hardly takes away from Sabathia’s value that season. He virtually lifted Milwaukee into the postseason almost single-handily that year by posting an 11-2 record with a 2.70 EA. Granted, he was rocked for five runs in only 3.2 innings by the Phillies in Game 2 of the 2008 NLDS, but the fact that he finished sixth in the NL MVP award voting that year proves how much he meant to Milwaukee.

8. Mannywood is born.

Fed up with his sandbagging attitude, the Red Sox eventually decided to part ways with slugger Manny Ramirez in 2008 by sending him to the Dodgers in a three-team deal that also sent Jason Bay from the Pirates to the Red Sox. Ramirez immediately became a fan favorite in L.A. by helping lead the Dodgers to the NLCS and back into the postseason in 2009. Despite a long, dragged out negotiation process and a drug suspension, Manny remains a favorite in L.A. Meanwhile, Bay put up solid numbers for the Red Sox, although he doesn’t look long for Boston at the moment. As for the Pirates (who acquired prospects Andy LaRoche, Bryan Morris, Brandon Moss and Craig Hansen), they appear to have gotten the short end of the deal, but it’s still too early to tell what kind of an impact these players will have in the future.

7. Rays land two World Series components.

Nobody thought the Rays had any shot at making a World Series run in 2008, but they proved everyone wrong by making their first championship appearance in club history. One of the trades that many forget that aided Tampa in ’08 was the one that sent Delmon Young, Brendan Harris and Jason Pridie to the Twins in exchange for Matt Garza, Jason Bartlett and Eduardo Morlan. Bartlett went on to become the Rays’ MVP that season, which was chosen by local Tampa sportswriters, and was also named to the 2009 All-Star Game. Garza posted an 11-9 record with a 3.70 ERA in 2008 and earned series MVP honors for helping the Rays beat the Red Sox in the ALCS that year. He posted a sparklingly 1.39 ERA in two starts and also earned a victory in the decisive Game 7.

6. Expos trade away three young stars for Colon.

Back when they were still the Expos in 2002, Montreal GM Omar Minaya thought that the franchise was going to be contracted. With that in mind, he traded away his top three prospects (Cliff Lee, Grady Sizemore and Brandon Phillips) to the Indians in exchange for starter Bartolo Colon. But the Expos never made the playoffs that season and two years later they moved to Washington, D.C. to become the Nationals. Colon went on to sign with the White Sox in 2003, while Lee and Sizemore soon became stars for Cleveland. Phillips took longer to develop and was eventually traded to Cincinnati, where he is one of the Reds’ top performers. One traded affected three clubs in varying ways.

5. Phillies boost their shot at a repeat with acquisition of Lee.

Despite winning the World Series in 2008, the Phillies felt they needed one more piece in 2009 to ensure themselves of another run in 2009. So they sent prospects Carlos Carrasco, Jason Donald, Lou Marson and Jason Knapp to the Indians in exchange for ace Cliff Lee and outfielder Ben Francisco. Lee paid immediate dividends for the Phillies by compiling a 5-0 record with 39 strikeouts and a 0.68 ERA in his first five starts for Philadelphia. He also pitched a complete game in Game 1 of the 2009 World Series, earning a victory against the Yankees. He was also the winning pitcher in Game 5 of the Series, although the Phillies eventually lost to the Yankees in six games.

4. Schilling helps D-Backs win first World Series title.

In 2000, Curt Schilling was traded to the Diamondbacks for first baseman Travis Lee and pitchers Vicente Padilla, Omar Daal and Nelson Figueroa. He posted a 22-6 record with Arizona, as well as a 2.98 ERA in 2001 and also went 4-0 with a 1.12 ERA in the postseason that year. Along with teammate Randy Johnson, Schilling was named the 2001 World Series MVP for helping the Diamondbacks upset the Yankees in the championship. It would be the first of two times this decade that Schilling would help a club win a World Series after being acquired in a trade.

3. Red Sox fleece Diamondbacks for Schilling.

In what can only be described now as outright theft, the Red Sox acquired starter Curt Schilling from the Diamondbacks for Brandon Lyon and Casey Fossum. Schilling helped Boston win two World Series titles (2004 and 2007), while Fossum lasted just one year in Arizona before the D-Backs traded him to the Rays for outfielder Jose Cruz, Jr. While he wasn’t spectacular, Lyon turned out to be a bargain for Arizona. Of course, the impact he made for the D-Backs was nothing compared to what Schilling brought to the Red Sox.

2. Red Sox trade away a young stud, but acquire their ace.

In the fall of 2005, the Red Sox were looking to acquire an ace for atop their rotation, while the Marlins were looking to trim payroll. The clubs made solid trading partners as Boston acquired pitchers Josh Beckett and Guillermo Mota, as well as third baseman Mike Lowell from Florida in exchange for minor league prospects Hanley Ramirez, Anibal Sanchez, Jesus Delgado and Harvey Garcia. Beckett has been everything the BoSox had hoped for by helping the club win the 2007 World Series (with Lowell’s help), while Ramirez has become the face of the Marlins’ organization.

1. Yankees trade for A-Rod.

In 2004, Alex Rodriguez appeared to be heading to Boston and had the players union signed off on a trade that would have diminished the value of his record $252 million contract, he may still be there today. Instead, the BoSox’s most hated rival swooped in with a blockbuster deal that sent Alfonso Soriano and prospect Joaquin Arias to the Rangers in exchange for A-Rod. While it took years for the trade to pay off for the Yankees in terms of championships, A-Rod played a key role in helping the Bombers win the 2009 World Series.

Honorable Mention:

- Mets acquire Johan Santana
- Mariners trade Ken Griffey to Reds
- A’s trade Mark Mulder to the Cardinals for Dan Haren and prospects
- A’s trade Tim Hudson to Braves
- Tigers acquire Miguel Cabrera
- Dodgers trade Paul LoDuca to Marlins for Brad Penny and Hee Seop Choi
- Giants trade Joe Nathan, Francisco Liriano and Boof Bonser for one year of A.J. Pierzynski
- Roy Halladay to the Phillies? Cliff Lee to the Mariners?

The term upset is simply defined as “an unexpected defeat,” but in sports it can mean so much more. For the favorite, it’s about the pressure that comes with heightened expectations. For the underdog, it’s about using those expectations as motivation. As part of our ongoing Decade Debate series, here is a list of the ten biggest upsets of the last ten years. Remember, the magnitude of the stage is just as important as the perceived disparity between the two parties involved, so extra points are given to upsets that occurred in the postseason or in a title game.

10. Federer beats Sampras at the 2001 Wimbledon

By 2001, the sports world had begun to question Pete Sampras’ ability as a dominant tennis player. The man was just 29 years old and the owner of 13 Grand Slam titles, but critics predicted an oncoming collapse. Since winning the Australian Open in 1997, Pistol Pete’s Grand Slam championships curiously only came at Wimbledon. In fact, Sampras had captured all but one Wimbledon championship since his first appearance in 1993. Naturally, if he was a sure bet anywhere, it was at the All England Club. While most will remember this time period as the declining stage of Sampras’ career, it also marked the beginning of Roger Federer’s success as a professional. After winning the Wimbledon juniors in 1998, Federer was often viewed as the likely heir to Sampras’ throne. Still, nobody expected the 19 year-old and the Grand Slam record holder to clash at Wimbledon in 2001. Furthermore, if they did happen to meet, Federer wasn’t supposed to win. Making his Centre Court debut, Federer defeated Sampras 7-6 (7), 5-7, 6-4, 6-7 (2), 7-5, thereby snapping Sampras’ 31-match winning streak at Wimbledon. Sure, it was only a fourth round match, but it symbolized so much more. This is one of the greatest upsets of the decade not simply because Sampras was favored, but because of everything that followed. Sampras would retire in two years and Federer would eventually live up to those wild expectations. And forget about Sampras getting any revenge – the two would never again face each other on the professional level. – Christopher Glotfelty

9. Edmonton upsets Detroit in 2006 Stanley Cup Playoffs

Detroit was a heavy favorite in the quarterfinals, as the top-seeded Red Wings were coming off a terrific 124-point regular season in which they captured the President’s Trophy. Meanwhile, the Oilers squeaked into the playoffs as an #8-seed after a 95-point regular season. The Red Wings won Game 1 in Detroit, but dropped Game 2. The two teams also split the next two games in Edmonton. The Oilers then closed out the series winning Game 5 in Detroit and Game 6 at home, both by one-goal margins. The series featured two double-overtime games (Game 1 & Game 6) and all six games were decided by two goals or less. – John Paulsen

8. Puerto Rico stuns Team USA at the 2004 Olympics

What an embarrassment. Even with some of the NBA’s best players — Tim Duncan, Allen Iverson, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James — the 2004 squad lost by an astounding 19 points to Puerto Rico in the first game of the Olympic tournament in Athens. It was only the third Olympic defeat ever for the U.S. team and the first since professional players were included. And it’s not like Puerto Rico snuck up on the Americans — the two teams had faced each other five times in the previous 13 months and the U.S. won all five contests. The most glaring problem with that team was outside shooting. The Americans shot a dreadful 3 of 24 from three-point range in the game, while Puerto Rico hit 8 of 16 from distance. Team USA also turned the ball over 22 times, which is evidence that the team had very poor chemistry. For the Americans, the entire tournament was a wake-up call; international basketball wasn’t catching up, it had already caught up. Team USA scrapped the old formula and went with a new program that required long-term commitments from all of its players. They also hired Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, one of the most well-liked and player-friendly coaches in the country. The result? Gold in 2008.

7. Yang upsets Tiger at 2009 PGA Championship

This one is a no-brainer. In 2006, Y.E. Yang first held off Woods to win China’s HSBC Champions Tournament. The victory pushed Yang up the rankings and allowed him to play in larger events. In August of this year, the 37-year-old Yang entered the PGA Championship ranked 110th in the world. In pursuit of Tiger Woods, Yang played a remarkable final round, eventually beating the World No. 1 by three strokes to sneak away with the title. For much of the final back nine at the 2009 PGA Championship, Woods and Yang matched each other shot for shot. But it was at 14th hole where the tide shifted in Yang’s favor. Just short of the green, Yang’s 75-foot pitch glided into the hole for an eagle. Tiger would never regain his composure, earning bogeys on the 17th and 18th holes. Putting the icing on the cake, Yang played the 18th hole beautifully for par. On that day, Yang became the first Korean to claim one of golf’s four major championships. As for Tiger, the loss stung harder than others. It ended Woods’ run of winning every major when entering the final round with the lead. Also, 2009 marks the first year Woods has failed to win a major since 2004. All because of that pesky Yang! – Christopher Glotfelty

6. Warriors shock the Mavericks in 2007 NBA Playoffs

Since the NBA moved to a seven-game series in the first round, no #8 seed had ever beaten a #1 seed, but the Golden State Warriors didn’t care. They dismantled the Dallas Mavericks, clinching the series with a 111-86 Game 6 victory. Stephen Jackson played out of his mind – 33 points, 7-8 from 3PT, 13-straight in Golden State’s 18-0 third quarter run – while the soon-to-be MVP Dirk Nowitzki had one of his worst games of the season (2-13, eight points). The Warriors’ frantic, up-tempo style gave the Mavs fits, and the smaller Jackson did a nice job of harassing Nowitzki in the high post. But it was the raucous Oracle Arena crowd that put the Warriors over the top. – John Paulsen

5. #11 George Mason stuns #1 UConn to go to the 2006 Final Four

When the Patriots were given a bid to the 2006 NCAA Tournament, many pundits (including the always irritating Billy Packer) criticized the selection. The #11-seed went on to beat perennial powers Michigan State (#6-seed) and North Carolina (#3-seed) before upending a highly ranked Wichita State squad. But three upsets weren’t enough for the Patriots. In the Elite Eight, with a trip to the Final Four on the line, George Mason faced #1-seed Connecticut, one of the year-long favorites to win the title. Playing in front of a lively, partisan crowd just 20 miles from campus, the Patriots fell behind by 12 points in the first half and nine in the second, but never got rattled. They hit six straight threes in the second half and hit 5 of 6 shots in overtime to eek out a two-point win over the mighty Huskies. That UConn team had four future NBA players in the starting lineup, but it was the Patriots who advanced to the Final Four. It was just the second time in history that a double-digit seed made it that far. Stories like these are what make March Madness so much fun. – John Paulsen

4. Patriots beat the Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI

Back before the Patriots became the only team to go 16-0 in the regular season, they were actually underdogs. In 2001, the Rams still had the “Greatest Show on Turf” led by Kurt Warner and the “Mad Scientist” Mike Martz. They were a 14-point favorite over a Patriots team that had made a miracle run to the postseason with a backup quarterback named Tom Brady. But surely Brady and the Patriots’ luck had run out. They weren’t going to beat St. Louis, not with Warner and his bevy of weapons. But after getting shutout in the first quarter, Ty Law intercepted a Warner pass and took it 47 yards to give the Pats a 7-3 lead. Then Brady found David Patten on an 8-yard touchdown pass to give New England a surprising 14-3 lead. The Pats took a 17-3 lead into the fourth quarter, but then Warner rushed for a 2-yard score early in the final period and then found Ricky Proehl on 26-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 17-17. With no timeouts left for their final drive, Brady completed three passes to running back J.R. Redmond, which moved the ball to their own 41-yard line with 33 seconds left. Brady then found Troy Brown on a 23-yard pass and Jermaine Wiggins on a 6-yard pass to the Rams’ 30-yard line. Wiggins’ reception set up kicker Adam Vinatieri’s 48-yard field goal as time expired, marking the first time in Super Bowl history that the game was won on the final play. – Anthony Stalter

3. Diamondbacks upset the Yankees in 2001 World Series

The Arizona Diamondbacks reached the World Series in remarkable fashion in just their fourth season of existence. Too bad for them as they would have to take on the three-time defending champion Yankees, who were trying to become the first club to win four straight titles since the ’49-’53 Yankees won five consecutive titles. But surprisingly, Arizona extended the series with a 15-2 win in Game 6 and need just one more win to pull off an improbable upset. In Game 7, the D-Backs found themselves down 2-1 heading into the ninth when Yankees’ manager Joe Torre turned to the usually automatic Mariano Rivera. There was no way Arizona would scratch together a run on Rivera, one of the greatest closers in baseball history, right? Mark Grace led off the ninth with a single, then Rivera committed a throwing error on a bunt attempt by Damian Miller. The error put runners on first and second with no outs. Rivera then retired Jay Bell on a bunt by getting a force out at third, but third baseman Scott Brosius held the ball instead of throwing to first to complete the double play. The next batter, Tony Womack, drove a double down the right field line to tie the game 2-2. Rivera beaned Craig Counsell to load the bases and then on a 0-1 pitch, Luis Gonzalez lofted a single over shortstop Derek Jeter’s head to score the game-winning run. The Yankees’ streak was over. – Anthony Stalter

2. Giants shock the Patriots at Super Bowl XLII

Super Bowl XLII featured a tale of two teams, literally. The Giants finished the regular campaign 10-6 but on a roll than included a near-upset of unbeaten New England in Week 17. The Patriots went on to beat Jacksonville and San Diego to reach the Super Bowl at 18-0, and were primed for the perfect season. The Giants upset Tampa, Dallas, and Green Bay (all on the road) to make this a somewhat improbable match up. As two-touchdown underdogs, the Giants kept hearing about how they had no chance against this Patriots’ team, which not only had an explosive offense, but one of the league’s top defenses led by mastermind head coach and former Giant’s defensive coordinator Bill Belichick. But something funny happened. Call it divine intervention, a team on a serious roll, pure destiny, or a game plan that was spot on — whatever it was, the Giants made it one of the all-time great upsets, not just in the Super Bowl, but in all of sport. The G-men did what nobody had done before that season — held the Pats to just two touchdowns, harassed Tom Brady into making mistakes, and did just enough offensively to stay in the game. The key play, however, was on the game-winning drive in the final minute. Giants’ QB Eli Manning somehow avoided a game-ending sack and threw a bomb down the middle of the field that WR David Tyree caught pinned to his helmet with Rodney Harrison draped all over him. When NFL Films legend Steve Sabol immediately calls it the greatest play in Super Bowl history, who are we to argue? – Mike Farley

1. Appalachian State stuns Michigan, 2007

Upsets happen every year in college football, but until 2007 they had never happened between a Division I FCS (formerly Division I-AA) program and a Division I FBS school. That was the year that FCS powerhouse Appalachian State went into Ann Arbor and shocked then-ranked No. 4 Michigan on its home turf. It was supposed to be a tune up game for the Wolverines – a live practice for Jake Long, Chad Henne and Mike Hart, all of whom decided to return for their senior seasons in order to lead Michigan to a Big Ten title and possibly even a national championship. Instead, quarterback Armarnti Edwards put little known Appalachian State on the map by totaling 289 yards of offense and three touchdowns in the Mountaineers’ 34-32 victory. Perhaps the best part about this upset was its thrilling finish, as App State blocked Michigan’s game-winning field goal attempt and Corey Lynch rank the kick back to the Wolverine 5-yard line as time ran out. The fact that no FCS team has ever beaten a ranked program in the Top 25, Appalachian State’s win over Michigan is arguably the biggest upset in sports history. And given that the feat came at the Big House in front of 100,000-plus Michigan fans against the winnigest program in college football history only adds to the accomplishment. – Anthony Stalter


Photo #1 from fOTOGLIF

The word comeback is defined as “a return to a former position or condition (as of success or prosperity).” In the world of sports it refers to the act of wrenching victory from the jaws of defeat. As part of our ongoing Decade Debate series, here are the top eight comebacks of the last ten years. Keep in mind that, to us, the actual size of the comeback isn’t quite as important as the size of the stage. In other words, the “greatest” comebacks happened in big games.

8. Capriati over Hingis at 2002 Australian Open

Jennifer Capriati and Martina Hingis led very similar careers. Both set several “youngest-ever” records before a combination of drug charges and nagging injuries challenged their potential. While Hingis chose to bow out at the height of her turmoil, Capriati soldiered onward. In 1994, Capriati was busted for marijuana possession. After a feeble return to the game, she retreated for 15 months. But never say die. By February of 1996, she finally meant business. Over the next two years, Capriati would earn three Grand Slam championships, blossoming into a dominant player during a particularly competitive era in women’s tennis. Of those wins, her match against Martina Hingis in the 2002 Australian Open final is a shoe-in for any list of ultimate comebacks. Down 6-4, 4-0, Capriati miraculously saved four match points, a Grand Slam record. The merciless sun blaring, Capriati kept fighting and fighting. As her opponent wavered, Capriati capitalized, eventually winning the match 4–6, 7–6, 6–2. – Christopher Glotfelty

7. Kings over Red Wings in 2001 Stanley Cup Playoffs

This was a great series comeback as well (Detroit led, 2-0), but the Kings’ rally in Game 4 was one for the ages. Trailing in the series, 2-1, and down 3-0 with just six minutes to play in the third period, the 7th-seeded Kings didn’t look long for the playoffs. But goals by Scott Thomas and Jozef Stumpel trimmed the Red Wings’ lead to one, and Bryan Smolinski’s game-tying goal with 0:53 remaining sent the Staples Center into a frenzy and the game into overtime. There, the rookie Eric Belanger capped off the “Stunner at Staples” with the game-winning goal. The Kings went on to win the series, 4-2. – John Paulsen

6. Liverpool over Milan in 2005 UEFA Champions League Final

The Champions League is the top football competition in Europe, so the Final is akin to the NFL’s Super Bowl. Milan built a 3-0 lead in the first half and looked to be well on its way to its seventh European Cup. But Liverpool erased the lead with three goals in a six-minute span in the second half, and after a scoreless overtime, Liverpool won its fifth European Cup on penalty shots (3-2). The match was dubbed the “Miracle of Istanbul,” for good reason. – John Paulsen

5. 49ers over Giants in 2002 NFL Playoffs

There have been some thrilling NFL comebacks this past decade, from the Jets’ Monday night miracle over the Dolphins in 2000, to the Bears’ “they-are-who-we-thought-they-were” rally over the Cardinals in 2006, to the Colts’ 21-point OT thriller over the Bucs in 2003. But none of those had the magnitude of the 49ers’ comeback over the Giants in the 2002 playoffs. Facing a 38-14 deficit late in the third quarter, Jeff Garcia hit Terrell Owens on a 26-yard touchdown pass, and again on the 2-point attempt. After forcing a three-and-out, San Fran cut the deficit to 38-30 five seconds into the fourth quarter when Garcia rushed for a 14-yard touchdown and Owens again caught a 2-point conversion. The 49ers added a field goal midway through the quarter to cut the Giants’ lead to 38-33, but New York responded with a drive to the San Fran 24-yard line. With 3:01 remaining, the Giants lined up for a field goal attempt that would have given them an eight-point advantage, but Mark Bryant missed a 42-yard attempt to give the Niners hope. Garcia took advantage by finding Tai Streets for a 13-yard touchdown pass and even though their 2-point conversion attempt failed, the 49ers had the lead at 39-38 with just two minutes remaining. What happened next is pure misery for Giants fans. Kerry Collins led New York to the San Fran 23-yard line with just six seconds remaining and put the G-Men in position to win with a field goal. But newly signed long snapper Trey Junkin botched the snap and after a desperation pass by punter Matt Allen fell incomplete, the Niners began celebrating. The Giants’ sideline immediately started screaming for a flag because on the play, guard Rich Seubert (who became Allen’s intended receiver) was yanked down by 49ers’ defensive end Chike Okeafor. But the officials called Seubert for illegally being down field and San Fran held onto the victory. One day later, NFL Vice President of officiating Mike Pereira admitted that pass interference should have been called on Okeafor because Seubert was a legal receiver, which would have given the Giants another field goal attempt. Instead of winning a playoff game and advancing to the next round, the Giants were sent home as victims of one of the greatest playoff comebacks in NFL history. – Anthony Stalter

4. Heat over the Mavericks in the 2006 NBA Finals

Heading into Game 3 in Miami, the Dallas Mavericks led the series, 2-0. They played well through three quarters, and held a 13-point lead with just over six minutes to play in the final period. No team had ever come back from an 0-3 deficit to win the Finals, so had the Mavs held on in Game 3, they were almost certainly going to clinch the title. Unfortunately for Dallas, it was at this point that Dwyane Wade decided he was going to become a superstar. He attacked the rim relentlessly, scoring 12 points in Miami’s ensuing 22-7 run, which gave the Heat the unlikely 98-96 victory and new life in the series. The Mavs never recovered. They were blown out in Game 4, lost at home in overtime in Game 5 and lost another tight one in Game 6. During that four-game run, Wade averaged 39.3 points, capping off one of the best Finals performances of all time. Sure, he got a lot of help from some whistle-happy refs, but it’s still one of the greatest “from the brink” comebacks in the history of sport. – John Paulsen

3. Texas over USC, Rose Bowl, 2006

The 2006 Rose Bowl will arguably go down as the greatest national championship matchup ever, as USC and Texas had been ranked 1-2 for the entire season. With just under four minutes remaining, the Trojans held a 38-26 lead, but the Longhorns cut the deficit to five when Vince Young scrambled for a 6-yard score. On their ensuing possession, the Trojans threatened to run the clock out by marching methodically up the field. Facing a 4th-and-2 at the Texas 45-yard line, USC was set to use battering ram LenDale White to pick up the first down and effectively end the Longhorns’ chances at a comeback. White had already scored three touchdowns in the game, so it would make sense to give him the ball in order to pick up the critical first down. But the Longhorn defense adjusted at the line of scrimmage and stopped White one yard shy of the marker. With 2:09 left to play, Young would embark on a drive that would make him a college football legend. On that critical drive, Texas faced a 3rd-and-12, but converted thanks to a seven-yard pass pickup and a 15-yard USC facemask penalty. With the ball at the Trojans’ 46-yard line, Young rushed once for seven yards and threw two passes totaling 26 yards to receiver Brian Carter to move the ball to the USC 13-yard line. After moving the ball to the 8-yard line on the next three plays, Texas faced a 4th-and-5 and it would appear that their comeback would fall short. But after taking a snap from shotgun, Young scrambled toward the right sideline and thanks to a crucial block by offensive lineman Justin Blalock, the fleet-footed quarterback scored to give Texas a one-point lead. Young then converted on a two-point conversion to push the score to 41-38. Matt Leinart and the Trojans got the ball back, but could only drive the ball to the Texas 43-yard line before time expired. USC’s 12-point lead had vanished in a matter of four minutes. – Anthony Stalter

2. Kansas over Memphis to win 2008 National Championship in OT

Memphis had a nine-point lead with 2:12 to play, but had been battling poor free throw shooting all season. In fact, the Tigers’ accuracy from the charity stripe came up earlier in the tournament, when they almost blew a win over Mississippi State. After that game, John Calipari even called into a radio show to say that he wasn’t all that worried about it. (He did have a point – this late in the season, what are you going to do about poor free throw shooting? If you talk to your team about it, it’s just going to make them tighter when they go to the line.) Anyway, as the Jayhawks started their comeback, Memphis missed four straight free throws that could have iced the game. The Tigers still led by three with just 0:10 to play when Mario Chalmers nailed the game-tying bomb. Memphis was shellshocked. In overtime, Kansas jumped out with a 6-0 run and eventually outscored Memphis 12-5 in the extra period to seal the 75-68 win. – John Paulsen

1. Red Sox over Yankees, 2004 ALCS

The phrase, “never say never” fits perfectly with the 2004 ALCS. The Yankees had built a 3-0 lead rather easily, so with the Red Sox trailing 4-3 in the ninth inning of Game 4, a sweep seemed imminent. But after a Dave Roberts steal, a Bill Mueller single and a game-winning, extra innings home run by David Ortiz, Boston had finally earned a victory. So what? They were still down 3-1 and no team in MLB history had ever come back to win a series after being down 3-0. The Yankees had complete control and certainly wouldn’t allow the BoSox to mount a comeback, right? Wrong. That’s exactly what happened. Ortiz also won Game 5 with a single in the fourteenth inning and then Curt Schilling and his now-infamous bloody sock pitched seven strong innings to help lead the Red Sox to a series-tying Game 6 victory. Suddenly, Boston had all the momentum and was now just one win away from pulling off the greatest comeback in ALCS history. In the deciding game, Boston shocked the Yankees by crushing them 10-3 in front of a stunned Bronx crowd. David Ortiz was named series MVP, Boston went on to win their first World Series in 86 years, and Red Sox fans actually became the Red Sox Nation. – Anthony Stalter

Judging which college football player was the best over the past decade can be a tricky endeavor. Do you rank a player that has won a Heisman higher than one that has not? Do you penalize a player if he played in a pass-happy system that allowed him to put up lofty numbers? Do you judge his performance based on the talent around him or the difficulty of his competition? As part of our ongoing Decade Debate series, here is a top 15 ranking of the best college football players of the past decade. Perhaps more than any of our lists in this decade series, this one could be debated the most given the factors that surround it.

15. C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson

If you want to be entertained, try turning on a Clemson game and watching Spiller for three-plus hours. He’s a terrific runner, an electrifying return man and one of the deadliest weapons in college football. He is the only player besides Reggie Bush to post 2,500 yards rushing, 1,500 yards in kickoff returns, 1,000 yards receiving and 5,000 yards in punt returns. He’s also tied a NCAA record for most kickoff returns for touchdowns with six. If it weren’t for a lackluster junior season, he’d probably rank higher on this list.

14. Dan LeFevour, QB, Central Michigan

If you don’t know who Dan LeFevour is or scoffed at him being ranked on this list, then you haven’t been paying attention to college football the past couple years. LeFevour hasn’t received the attention that Tim Tebow, Colt McCoy or Sam Bradford have, but he’s posted better numbers than each of the three in almost every category. In 2007, he became only the second player in D-I history to pass for over 3,000 yards and rush for over 1,000 yards in a single season (Vince Young was the first). He also is the MAC’s all-time leader in total offense and currently holds the conference record for career completions, attempts, passing yards, passing touchdowns, total touchdowns and total offensive yards. He has totaled more touchdowns than any player in college football history and is third all-time in total offensive yards. Has he faced the talent that Tebow, McCoy and Bradford have over his career? No. But consider this: He doesn’t have the same talent around him either. Imagine what LeFevour could have accomplished playing with a defense the likes of Florida, Texas or Oklahoma’s.

13. Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech

Did Crabtree play in a system that allowed him to rack up tons of numbers? Absolutely. But he was always a phenomenal player, one capable of single-handily taking over a game with his skill level. He was a two-time All-American, a two-time Biletnikoff Award winner and a two-time Paul Warfield Trophy winner. He also played a huge role in Texas Tech’ upset over No. 1 Texas two years ago while hauling in 10 receptions for 127 yards and one touchdown – which happened to be the game-winner late in the fourth quarter. Had he played more than just two seasons, he might have topped all other receivers on this list.

12. Pat White, QB, West Virginia

Even though some will argue that he had things easy playing his career in the Big East, nobody can deny what White accomplished on the field. He racked up 6,051 passing yards and 56 passing touchdowns, while also compiling 4,480 yards and 47 rushing touchdowns. He accounted for a whopping 10,531 yards and 103 touchdowns over his career and also finished sixth in the NCAA among the most career victories as a starting quarterback with 34. Along with Steve Slaton, White helped put West Virginia on the map in terms of national title contention.

11. Troy Smith, QB, Ohio State

Smith’s college career didn’t end well, as he completed just four of 14 passes for 35 yards along with an interception, a fumble and five sacks (uh, just to be clear, he was the one being sacked) in an embarrassing 41-14 loss to the Gators in the 2007 national title game. But Smith was a solid college quarterback, racking up 5,720 passing yards and 54 touchdowns over his career. He threw only 13 interceptions and also completed 62.7% of his passes while compiling just under 8,000 total yards and 68 total touchdowns. In 2006, he beat out Darren McFadden and Brady Quinn to win the prestigious Heisman Trophy and even though they lost, he led the Buckeyes to one of their three national title appearances of the decade.

10. Adrian Peterson, RB, Oklahoma

Peterson’s freshman season at Oklahoma was absolutely phenomenal and was almost good enough to get him on this list on its own. He broke the NCAA freshman rushing record with 1,925 yards and also led the nation in carries with 339. He was a finalist for the 2004 Heisman Trophy Award, which was the highest finish ever for a freshman player. Due to an ankle injury, he finished with only 1,208 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2005. A collarbone injury also took away most of his junior season, but he managed to finish with 1,112 rushing yards for a total of 4,045 rushing yards for his career. He finished just 73 yards shy of passing Billy Sims as Oklahoma’s all-time leading rusher.

9. Eric Crouch, QB, Nebraska

Consider this: Since Crouch graduated, no Nebraska team has finished in the top 10. The last of the great Cornhusker option quarterbacks, Crouch finished with a 21-4 record as a starter and helped lead a Nebraska offense that finished as the nation’s best in 2000 and 2001. The 2000 squad still holds the mark for the highest team rushing average of the decade with 349.3 yards per game.

8. Calvin Johnson, WR, Georgia Tech

Johnson’s Yellow Jackets never contend for any national titles, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t deserving of this ranking. He finished just shy of 3,000 yards for his career with 28 touchdowns, racked up 13 100-yard receiving games, and won the Biletnikoff Award in 2006. He was usually a one-man wrecking crew for GA Tech and virtually impossible to cover one-on-one. Despite facing double and even triple teams at times, he routinely made highlight reel plays and wound up being the highest player ever drafted out of Georgia Tech when the Lions selected him with the No. 2 overall pick in 2007.

7. Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas

McFadden was so good at Arkansas that the team essentially didn’t even need to have a quarterback on the field. The original Wildcat back, McFadden rushed for 4,590 yards in his career, which ranks him second all-time in career rushing yards in the SEC behind the great Herschel Walker (Georgia). McFadden also ranks seventh all-time in the SEC for career rushing touchdowns with 41 and holds most of Arkansas’ rushing records. He wound up throwing seven passing touchdowns out of the Wildcat formation and totaled 51 touchdowns in his three-year career. He capped off his collegiate career by helping the Razorbacks beat No. 1 LSU in triple-overtime in 2007.

6. Matt Leinart, QB, USC

Even though the man (Carson Palmer) he replaced was pretty damn good, Leinart is arguably the greatest passer in USC history. For his career, Leinart finished with 807 of his 1,245 pass attempts for a competition percentage of 64.8. He racked up 10,693 passing yards and 99 touchdowns to just 23 interceptions, making him the Trojans’ all-time leader in career touchdown passes and competition percentage. He ranks only second behind Palmer in completions and yardage and averaged nearly 8.6 yards per attempt while compiling an impressive 37-2 record as a starter. Ah yeah, he also won a Heisman Trophy, led USC to a BCS national championship in 2004 and an AP national championship in 2003.

5. Colt McCoy, QB, Texas

It would take an hour to list the many records McCoy has set in his career, but here are just a few: He holds UT’s record for most total touchdowns, most touchdown passes in a career, most passing completions in a game, most consecutive passing completions in a game and most career passing yards in a season. He also holds the NCAA’s highest single season completion percentage at 77.6% and most wins by a starting quarterback with 44. McCoy was the runner up in last year’s Heisman race and before it’s all said and done, he might have a national title under his belt as well. Considering who took the snaps before him at Texas, his feats are nothing to scoff at.

4. Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Pittsburgh

Fitzgerald won the Biletnikoff award for the best receiver in college football in 2003 and was a unanimous All-America selection that year as well. He also came in second for the Heisman in 2003, which was the closest a wideout has come to winning the prestigious award since Desmond Howard won it in 1991. For his career, Fitz caught 161 passes for over 2,600 yards and set a school record with 34 receiving touchdowns. He was also the only player in PITT history to notch consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons and he set a NCAA record with at least one touchdown catch in 18 straight games. At times, he was almost un-guardable – much like he is now in the NFL.

3. Reggie Bush, USC

Bush was an absolutely electrifying open-field runner and one of the most dangerous athletes while playing for USC. He won the Heisman Trophy in 2005 by averaging 8.7 yards per carry, while also rushing for over 1,700 yards and scoring 16 total touchdowns. He ranks 10th in college football Division I-A history with 6,551 all-purpose yards and was one of the most thrilling athletes to ever play in the NCAA. During his Heisman season in 2005, he led the nation with more than 220 all-purpose yards per game and was almost unstoppable with the ball in his hands. Unfortunately, his career will also be associated with the possibility that he accepted cash and prizes under the table.

2. Vince Young, QB, Texas

Talk about a winner: Young posted a 30-2 career record while at Texas. His .938 winning percentage as a starting quarterback ranks sixth best in Division I-A history and places him No. 1 in wins by UT signal callers. His 6,040 career passing yards ranks him fifth in school history, while his 44 touchdowns ranks him fourth. His 3,127 rushing yards makes him UT’s all-time leading player in that category and his 37 rushing touchdowns places him fifth. Young will be best known for what many consider to be the greatest performance in Rose Bowl history after he rushed for 200 yards and threw for 267 yards in a thrilling come-from-behind 41-38 victory over USC.

1. Tim Tebow, QB, Florida

Perhaps the greatest thing about Tebow is that he’s more than just records – and yes, he has those too. He holds the SEC record for rushing touchdowns and points scored and was the first player to compile 20-plus touchdowns rushing and passing in the conference’s history. He’s also been apart of two national championship teams, is a two-time Maxwell Award winner, a three-time First-team All-SEC winner, the 2007 Davey O’Brein Award winner and the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner. But on top of that, perhaps no player outside of Vince Young has willed his team to victory this past decade more than Tebow has. He epitomizes what college football is all about: Passion, pride and determination. He might not make a great NFL quarterback some day, but he has been one hell of a college football player this past decade.

Honorable Mention: Colt Brennan, QB, Hawaii; Graham Harrell, QB Texas Tech; LaDainian Tomlinson, RB, TCU; Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma, Carson Palmer, QB, USC; David Pollack, DE, Georgia; Ken Dorsey, QB, Miami; Eric Berry, S, Tennessee; A.J. Hawk, LB, Ohio State; Ed Reed, S, Miami; Andre Johnson, WR, Miami; Jamar Fletcher, CB, Wisconsin; Terrence Newman, CB, Kansas State; Tommie Harris, DT, Oklahoma; Jason White, QB, Oklahoma, Ndamukong Suh, DT Nebraska.

Photo from fOTOGLIF

Teams expect to find someone who can contribute in the first round of the NBA Draft, but once the second round arrives, general managers have to dig through the leftovers, hoping to find a diamond in the rough. And seemingly every year, a second round pick emerges as a quality starter. Sometimes he even develops into a star. As part of our Decade Debate series, here is a list of the NBA’s top 10 second round picks of the last ten years.

10. Chris Douglas-Roberts (2008, pick #40)

Not only was CDR (the player, not the recordable compact disc) one of the most efficient scorers in the nation during his junior year at Memphis, he was also a consensus first team All-America selection and the C-USA Male Athlete of the Year. He hit 54% from the field and 41% from long range. Yet this wasn’t enough to convince an NBA team to pick him in the first round. The biggest knock on him was his lack of strength, but he has gained 10 lbs since college and after a quiet rookie campaign, he’s averaging 17-5-2 and has started 15 of 17 games for the Nets. Yes, the Nets suck, but still. At the very least it looks like he’s capable of being a sixth man for a contender, and that’s a great find in the second round.

9. Marc Gasol (2007, #48)

Marc was the “bag of peanuts” in the now infamous trade that sent his brother from Memphis to the Lakers for Javaris Crittenton, Kwame Brown’s expiring contract, and a bag of peanuts. (This trade eventually led to Kobe’s first title without Shaq, so he no longer has to tell Shaq how his a** tastes.) In his second season for the Grizzlies, Gasol is averaging 15-10, 61% shooting and 1.6 blocks per game. When he was drafted, scouts complained about his lack of athleticism and the fact that he was a little overweight. No one is going to confuse him with his brother, but Marc is a good player in his own right.

8. Trevor Ariza (2004, #44)

Say what you will about Isiah Thomas the GM, but he did have an eye for talent in the draft. Ariza turned pro after a single so-so season at UCLA (12-7-2); the biggest knock was his sketchy jumper. In the middle of his second season with the Knicks, Thomas traded him to Orlando (along with Penny Hardaway) for a washed up Steve Francis. Ariza showed some promise with the Magic, but was shipped to the Lakers for Maurice Evans and Brian Cook. There, he blossomed into a strong defender and solid spot up shooter, posting 11-4-2 and hitting 48% of his three-point attempts during the Lakers’ 23-game playoff run this past spring. Oddly enough, when he hit free agency this summer, his agent overplayed his hand and the Lakers elected to sign Ron Artest instead of re-signing Ariza. Now with the Rockets, Ariza is averaging 18-5-4 but is shooting just 38% from the field.

7. Paul Millsap (2006, #47)

Is the 24 year-old Millsap destined to be a star? Given the fat contract they signed him to this summer, the Utah Jazz sure think so. And considering his stats as a starter last season (16-10-2 and 54% from the field in 38 games), he looks every bit the part. At Louisiana Tech, he became the only player in history to lead the NCAA in rebounding for three straight seasons (12.8 rpg), and since rebounding is one stat that translates really well to the NBA, why would he last until the second round? Well, scouts were down on his size (6’7″ – 6’8″) and didn’t think he’d be able to score inside on bigger players. Needless to say, they were wrong. Millsap is bound for a breakout season once Carlos Boozer signs elsewhere next summer.

6. Monta Ellis (2005, #40)

If not for the boneheaded moped accident that ate up most of his 2008-09 season, Ellis might be higher on this list. He won the Most Improved Player in his second season and is currently averaging 25-5-4 on 46% shooting plus 2.4 steals per game. He entered the draft straight out of high school, and although scouts said he was a very gifted offensive player, they thought he was a shooting guard in a point guard’s body and there were those that wondered about his basketball IQ. In fact, DraftExpress compared him to Dajuan Wagner. Well, as it turns out, Ellis is a shooting guard in a point guard’s body, and he’s a lot better than Dajuan Wagner. At just 24, he has a great chance to move up this list, assuming he stays off the mopeds, that is.

5. Mo Williams (2003, #47)

The Jazz drafted Williams and subsequently traded him to the Bucks. At Alabama, he was a shoot-first point guard who couldn’t shoot all that well (41% FG, 32% 3PT), but during his time with the Bucks, he developed into one of the best scoring guards in the league. In the 2006-07 season, he averaged 17-4-6 and shot 48% from the field and 39% from long range. The Bucks traded him to Cleveland (for Luke Ridnour, of all people) in a salary dump. There, he posted an 18-4-4 season and made the All-Star Game as an alternate. Now he’s the perfect sidekick for LeBron — he’s a great long-range shooter (43%+ 3PT since joining the Cavs) and he can carry the offense when LeBron needs a break.

4. Mehmet Okur (2001, #38)

Scouts wondered if Okur could defend in the post and were worried about his lack of athleticism. When he started getting big minutes as part of Detroit’s talented front line from 2002 to 2004, he proved he could hang. Okur’s best statistical season came in his second season after signing with Utah, when he averaged 18-9-2. But he was actually named to the All-Star Game in the following season (’07). He’s a seven-footer with legit 3PT range; over the past year and a quarter, he has nailed better than 44% of his three-point attempts. This accuracy means that he’s able to draw opposing centers away from the basket, which opens things up for Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer. Sure, he looks like one of your old college buddies who never went to class and ate too many Twinkies, but the guy can ball.

3. Michael Redd (2000, #43)

Redd was a productive scorer at Ohio State, but he has never been a great athlete, and he didn’t develop his dead-eye jumper until joining the Bucks. He had a nice three-year run from 2003 to 2006 where he averaged 23-4-3 and only missed nine games. The key is that last stat: nine missed games. Because over the next three seasons, he missed 88 games, and he has been sidelined much of this season. He was an All-Star and All-NBA 3rd Team in the same season (2004). Needless to say, with all the injuries, his stock has taken quite the hit, and he has now turned into one of those overpaid, underperforming franchise players who can’t carry their franchise. But in his heyday, he could score. In 2006, I saw him drop 45 points on Kobe to help the Bucks upset the Lakers in L.A. He averaged 30.4 points that month, which also included a 57-point game against Utah. Redd’s release is about as quick as they come.

2. Carlos Boozer (2002, #35)

Of the ten players on this list, the Jazz drafted two and signed two as free agents. Boozer falls into the latter category. How did a future two-time All-Star and All-NBA 3rd Team player slip into the second round? Scouts were down on his size, athleticism and lack of a jumper while at Duke. But as the league continued to get smaller in the mid-’00s, Boozer was right at home at power forward. It didn’t hurt that he developed a killer 15-footer or that his release was high enough that he could get it off over bigger defenders. He peaked in 2007-08 with a 21-10-3 season that gave him his second All-Star nod and his only All-NBA (3rd Team) honors. Cleveland fans remember Boozer as the one who got away. It’s rumored that the Cavs made an (illegal) under-the-table verbal agreement with Boozer’s camp that would release him from the final year of his rookie contract so they could sign him to a longer deal. After becoming an unrestricted free agent, the Jazz essentially doubled the Cavs’ (alleged) offer and Boozer took it. To this day, Boozer denies that there was an (illegal) deal in place. It’s a shame, because a LeBron-Boozer combo might have already brought a championship to the city of Cleveland.

1. Gilbert Arenas (2001, #31)

Simply stated, Arenas is one of the best offensive combo guards to ever play the game. But it was that “combo” status that drove him out of the first round. Scouts didn’t think he was big enough to be a shooting guard and lacked the playmaking skills to be a true point guard. In a sense, they were right. But Arenas is so good that his talent trumps his lack of a true position. He handles the ball for the Wizards and turns it over a lot, but he also scores a ton. His best year was in 2005-06, when he averaged 29-4-6 and shot 45% from the field and 37% from 3PT. He has received All-Star and All-NBA honors three times each, and before a knee injury derailed his career in 2007, he was one of the most electrifying (and quirky) players in the league. After missing almost two full seasons rehabbing that knee, he’s back with the Wizards averaging 20-4-7 but shooting under 40%. Hopefully, we’ll be soon able to see the Gilbert of old once again.

Photos from fOTOGLIF