Thursday, February 05, 2004
What is the greatest comeback in the History of Sport?
In light of the Manchester City versus Spurs cup tie last night I want to know from you the readers what in your opinion the greatest comeback in the History of Sport has been....
Kevin Keegan certainly thinks that the comeback of his team deserves the award but then again "he was babbling away like the Keegan of old, happiness smeared all over his chops like a five-year-old on Christmas morning." Man City go into the tie not on the best of form. With a goalkeeper making his debut his first task was to take the ball out of the back of his net after Ledly Kings goal. By half time there were a number of problems. They were 3-0 down, the most in form striker in the premiership (Anelka) had limped off injured and they were down to 10 men. Come the second half and we all expect a few more spurs goals but rather we get no less than 4 goals from Man City to send them through happy and put manager Kev into ecstasy. Even if we wouldn't want him managing our team it is sometimes nice to see him in a delighted mood.
So that was a good comeback but surely there are better than that. What we have to think about is context. There are many. Maybe you wouldn't call the 1999 champions league a comeback but it was a remarkable victory. From being 2 minutes from defeat Manchester United turned the game round and won the champions league. That's impressive.
Football however has one great comeback that I feel wont be beaten. The Wayman family will be particularly delighted that it involves their team Charlton.
In 1957 they were playing Huddersfield and were 5-1 down with half an hour to go. Down to ten men as well they managed to come back and win the game 7-6. Now that has to be a great achievement and certainly a thrilling game to watch. Unfortunately it was just your bog standard division 2 match.
In June 1922 warwickshire were playing Hampshire in a game of cricket. 208 runs behind they were still made to carry on. Warwickshire were bowled out for 158 whilst Hampshire went on to score a mighty 521. Hampshire are also known for Headingly in 1981. Having been bowled out for a measly 15 runs they went on in the end to beat Yorkshire by 155 runs.
Athletics is represented by Lasse Viren a finnish policemen. In the 1972 Olympics he was racing in the 10,000 metres. Not really being in contention he was tripped by the Tunisian competitor in the final. However, he calmly got up and went to win in world record time. What a man....
Denis Taylor, how could we forget the cheeky small Irishman who won the 1976 snooker world championship against Steve Davis in the final frame on a respotted black having been earlier 7 frames to nil down...
Rugby World Cup Semi Final 1999. New Zealand All Blacks against France. The favourites at half time are 24-10 but the French put up a great struggle and go on to win in a momentous match 43-31. Fortunately the Aussies beat them in the final.
I have to mention Golf in here... Gary Player "the man in black" from SA was in the World matchplay championships at Wentworth in October 1965. After 19 holes (36 played in total) he was 7 down. Then playing remarkable golf he steadily came back. With three holes to play he had to win all of them to win the match. Guess what? He did :-)
In my opinion however, the greatest almost comeback goes to Jon Mackenzie whilst playing me at match play on the Keswick Pitch and putt. With it being only nine holes I was confident I could thrash him. After going 4 up after 4 holes it seemed a foregone conclusion. But no, the man from Winterly battled back winning the next four holes. With me shaking at the knees in the light of a possible "Giantkilling" I recovered myself on the 9th. However, we played that hole 3 times with Jon holing a monster putt from almost a mile away to halve the hole the first time. What a legend... Oh the memories :-)
Now you can give me some more examples of great comebacks in the Sporting World.
Kevin Keegan certainly thinks that the comeback of his team deserves the award but then again "he was babbling away like the Keegan of old, happiness smeared all over his chops like a five-year-old on Christmas morning." Man City go into the tie not on the best of form. With a goalkeeper making his debut his first task was to take the ball out of the back of his net after Ledly Kings goal. By half time there were a number of problems. They were 3-0 down, the most in form striker in the premiership (Anelka) had limped off injured and they were down to 10 men. Come the second half and we all expect a few more spurs goals but rather we get no less than 4 goals from Man City to send them through happy and put manager Kev into ecstasy. Even if we wouldn't want him managing our team it is sometimes nice to see him in a delighted mood.
So that was a good comeback but surely there are better than that. What we have to think about is context. There are many. Maybe you wouldn't call the 1999 champions league a comeback but it was a remarkable victory. From being 2 minutes from defeat Manchester United turned the game round and won the champions league. That's impressive.
Football however has one great comeback that I feel wont be beaten. The Wayman family will be particularly delighted that it involves their team Charlton.
In 1957 they were playing Huddersfield and were 5-1 down with half an hour to go. Down to ten men as well they managed to come back and win the game 7-6. Now that has to be a great achievement and certainly a thrilling game to watch. Unfortunately it was just your bog standard division 2 match.
In June 1922 warwickshire were playing Hampshire in a game of cricket. 208 runs behind they were still made to carry on. Warwickshire were bowled out for 158 whilst Hampshire went on to score a mighty 521. Hampshire are also known for Headingly in 1981. Having been bowled out for a measly 15 runs they went on in the end to beat Yorkshire by 155 runs.
Athletics is represented by Lasse Viren a finnish policemen. In the 1972 Olympics he was racing in the 10,000 metres. Not really being in contention he was tripped by the Tunisian competitor in the final. However, he calmly got up and went to win in world record time. What a man....
Denis Taylor, how could we forget the cheeky small Irishman who won the 1976 snooker world championship against Steve Davis in the final frame on a respotted black having been earlier 7 frames to nil down...
Rugby World Cup Semi Final 1999. New Zealand All Blacks against France. The favourites at half time are 24-10 but the French put up a great struggle and go on to win in a momentous match 43-31. Fortunately the Aussies beat them in the final.
I have to mention Golf in here... Gary Player "the man in black" from SA was in the World matchplay championships at Wentworth in October 1965. After 19 holes (36 played in total) he was 7 down. Then playing remarkable golf he steadily came back. With three holes to play he had to win all of them to win the match. Guess what? He did :-)
In my opinion however, the greatest almost comeback goes to Jon Mackenzie whilst playing me at match play on the Keswick Pitch and putt. With it being only nine holes I was confident I could thrash him. After going 4 up after 4 holes it seemed a foregone conclusion. But no, the man from Winterly battled back winning the next four holes. With me shaking at the knees in the light of a possible "Giantkilling" I recovered myself on the 9th. However, we played that hole 3 times with Jon holing a monster putt from almost a mile away to halve the hole the first time. What a legend... Oh the memories :-)
Now you can give me some more examples of great comebacks in the Sporting World.
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