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I think this could be a fun little discussion.... What is the biggest "What if...?" in sports?

Looking for:
- What you think is the biggest "What if...?" in sports history.
- If you have another that is more personal to you but might not be as big as what you consider the biggest ever.

For me:

The biggest "What if...?" in sports: Len Bias. Obviously this one is a local one, so it's easy for someone like me to point to almost immediately. But this one was BIG. By all accounts, he was MJ-level good, so how would his career have panned out? And not only did this have ramifications for the Celtics, Bird's career, and even Reggie Lewis, but also the NBA as a whole. Do the Lakers and Pistons win out the 80s? Does MJ get as many championships? Etc..


And much further down on the list, but hits home for me and likely many of us: What if UMass had won the NC in 1996? Does the "scandal" still come out? If so, how does the NCAA punish the Champion? Do Cal and/or Camby stay or go? How is recruiting and the program afterwards? How do things within the Department change?


What if?

What if the New York Jets had not beaten the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III in Miami. I believe it was technically called the AFL/NFL Championship. Colts were 18 point favorites and the Jets were not expected to challenge that number. Joe Namath guaranteed a win, with all the press people hanging out around the hotel's pool to capture the audacious bravado. The game brought swagger to the NFL and captured the tv audience, making the players more that just a bunch of big guys playing a game (and ending the notion that the game was just a championship game for the enjoyment of the the Packers fans). The game was not overly exciting (16-7 with three field goals from Jim Turner, one the last straight-on kickers) but it set out the blueprint for future Super Bowls. Off the top of my head, I don't recall who won Super Bowl IV, but the must-see future was set with Joe Willie Namath in Super Bowl III.

And on a personal note, what if Dr J stayed his last two seasons of eligibility at UMass and I would have been present for his senior season and I would have been absolutely astounded and amazed.

^ Sorry to burst your bubble, but Julius left after his junior season. He only lost one season.

Yaz a Yankee? Almost happened.

Here are the details of the near-miss:

The Negotiation Incident: In the late 1950s, while Yastrzemski was still in high school, Yankees scout Ray Garland met with Carl and his father, Carl Sr., to discuss a contract. When the elder Yastrzemski demanded a $100,000 signing bonus, Garland reacted with disbelief, famously throwing his pencil in the air and declaring that the Yankees would never pay that amount.

The Reaction: Offended by this act of "hubris," Carl Sr. kicked the scout out of their house and vowed that his son would never play for the Yankees.

What if: Bledsoe hadn’t been knocked out by Mo Lewis? Do the Pats still win the Super Bowl in 2001 which started the greatest 20 year run in sports? Does Brady become the GOAT or do him and Bledsoe battle to be qb1 as the season goes on? So many what ifs.

Quann wrote: Thu Mar 05, 2026 8:24 am What if: Bledsoe hadn’t been knocked out by Mo Lewis? Do the Pats still win the Super Bowl in 2001 which started the greatest 20 year run in sports? Does Brady become the GOAT or do him and Bledsoe battle to be qb1 as the season goes on? So many what ifs.

What if the refs made the right call and didn't invent the Tuck Rule? Would Brady still have the same success? Like you said, so many what ifs.

What if the work release convict didn't clear a path for a certain field goal attempt?

inthescoop wrote: Thu Mar 05, 2026 9:56 am

Quann wrote: Thu Mar 05, 2026 8:24 am What if: Bledsoe hadn’t been knocked out by Mo Lewis? Do the Pats still win the Super Bowl in 2001 which started the greatest 20 year run in sports? Does Brady become the GOAT or do him and Bledsoe battle to be qb1 as the season goes on? So many what ifs.

What if the refs made the right call and didn't invent the Tuck Rule? Would Brady still have the same success? Like you said, so many what ifs.

The tuck rule was not invented, that was the rule on the books at the time. If a QB's arm was moving forward even for an intended tuck and the ball came loose before touching the opposite hand, it was considered an incomplete pass, not a fumble. Dumb rule but the refs got it right

Quann wrote: Thu Mar 05, 2026 12:42 pm

inthescoop wrote: Thu Mar 05, 2026 9:56 am

Quann wrote: Thu Mar 05, 2026 8:24 am What if: Bledsoe hadn’t been knocked out by Mo Lewis? Do the Pats still win the Super Bowl in 2001 which started the greatest 20 year run in sports? Does Brady become the GOAT or do him and Bledsoe battle to be qb1 as the season goes on? So many what ifs.

What if the refs made the right call and didn't invent the Tuck Rule? Would Brady still have the same success? Like you said, so many what ifs.

The tuck rule was not invented, that was the rule on the books at the time. If a QB's arm was moving forward even for an intended tuck and the ball came loose before touching the opposite hand, it was considered an incomplete pass, not a fumble. Dumb rule but the refs got it right

That was 100% a fumble. I thought even Pats fans admit to that now

inthescoop wrote: Thu Mar 05, 2026 1:20 pm

Quann wrote: Thu Mar 05, 2026 12:42 pm

inthescoop wrote: Thu Mar 05, 2026 9:56 am

What if the refs made the right call and didn't invent the Tuck Rule? Would Brady still have the same success? Like you said, so many what ifs.

The tuck rule was not invented, that was the rule on the books at the time. If a QB's arm was moving forward even for an intended tuck and the ball came loose before touching the opposite hand, it was considered an incomplete pass, not a fumble. Dumb rule but the refs got it right

That was 100% a fumble. I thought even Pats fans admit to that now

By today's rules, yes. By the rules then, no. It also wasn't the only time the tuck rule was enforced. People hated it so much that it was removed. It's how things happen in rule books.

Anyone who is arguing that by the rules of the time it was a fumble simply just doesn't understand the rule and are going with the fact that they hated the result. Not liking the results doesn't mean it was inaccurate.

Two words:

Lenny Wirtz

harbo wrote: Thu Mar 05, 2026 3:08 pm Two words:

Lenny Wirtz

Worse
Worst
Wirtz

SignMan wrote: Thu Mar 05, 2026 3:48 pm

harbo wrote: Thu Mar 05, 2026 3:08 pm Two words:

Lenny Wirtz

Worse
Worst
Wirtz

Is that a "knock" on Lenny?

e_parade wrote: Thu Mar 05, 2026 2:35 pm

inthescoop wrote: Thu Mar 05, 2026 1:20 pm

Quann wrote: Thu Mar 05, 2026 12:42 pm

The tuck rule was not invented, that was the rule on the books at the time. If a QB's arm was moving forward even for an intended tuck and the ball came loose before touching the opposite hand, it was considered an incomplete pass, not a fumble. Dumb rule but the refs got it right

That was 100% a fumble. I thought even Pats fans admit to that now

By today's rules, yes. By the rules then, no. It also wasn't the only time the tuck rule was enforced. People hated it so much that it was removed. It's how things happen in rule books.

Anyone who is arguing that by the rules of the time it was a fumble simply just doesn't understand the rule and are going with the fact that they hated the result. Not liking the results doesn't mean it was inaccurate.

Fumblerookski.