Special Teams

This week we take a look back at the last World Series title for the New York Yankees. 2009 began with off-season fireworks and huge changes for the team, which were then dwarfed by the shocking Alex Rodriguez revelations. How close was Joe Girardi to being fired before he even got started? How unlikely was A-Rod’s redemption story? And what former Evil Empire nemesis did they have to conquer - once again - to hoist the trophy?

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In our second installment of March Cinderellas, this week we look back at three teams whose NCAA tournament runs were not only unexpected, but full of star power and trend-setting. The 1987 Providence Friars were led by head coach Rick Pitino and senior point guard Billy Donovan, well before either of them started winning NCAA titles behind the bench. Their tournament success could’ve been sunk by a single free throw. 

George Mason set the bar as high as it could be for mid-majors in THE most unlikeliest of Final Four appearances, and Florida Gulf Coast brought Dunk City into the mainstream, doing it all with a roster of players who didn’t even show up on many recruiting sites. The three incredible stories of Providence, George Mason and FGCU.

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We continue our special month of college hoops ‘Special Teams’ with the first of two shows spotlighting some of the great Cinderella teams of all time. In 1986, David Robinson led Navy all the way to the Elite Eight as the Admiral became a mythic figure in college basketball. Before becoming a yearly power, Gonzaga hit the radar screen in 1999 with a first-round tournament win wracked with controversy, and qualified for the Elite Eight with some last second magic. But the real crazy thing for the Zags happened after the tournament. 

And finally, the 2008 Davidson Wildcats, who introduced the world to Steph Curry. His regular season video-game numbers brought them from behind in a huge comeback, as Curry became a collegiate superstar whose name was on everyone’s lips. Maybe most remarkable is how their run ended in the Final Four - and how the final play of their elimination game against Kansas went down.

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After years of living in the shadow of John Wooden’s dynasty, UCLA returned to glory with their first national championship in twenty years by beating Arkansas in 1995. The Bruins needed one of the greatest buzzer-beaters in NCAA history - that was aided by a critical mistake - the surprise help of two freshmen, and the leadership of Ed O’Bannon, who became famous for much different reasons after his playing days. We also get into why UCLA didn’t become another dynasty after that title - and it all had to do with a dinner and an over-reaction.

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To kick off the Madness of March, on Special Teams we look back at the last Duke team to win the national championship. Possibly one of the most unexpected titles of Coach K’s career, it came with a questionable coaching decision that nearly cost the Blue Devils the title against the ultimate Cinderella Butler Bulldogs. 

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KD. Russ. The Beard. The Oklahoma City Thunder of this century’s second decade looked like they would be the dominant team in the NBA for years, but failed to win it all despite the massive talent of their big three. In this episode of ‘Special Teams,’ we look back at the year the Thunder came the closest to winning it all as they ascended to a legendary battle with the “other” big 3 of the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals. So what happened? How did it nearly go so right, and then how did it all start to come apart? Here’s a hint: HOW DO YOU TRADE JAMES HARDEN?

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Imagine a world where the New York Knicks not only were a threat, but they were positioned to be great for years to come. In 1999, smart trades (!) helped fortify a team for an NBA Finals run that no one saw coming. Full of big personalities and historic moments, New York went from the barely-qualifying 8th seed in the East all the way to the game’s biggest stage, overcoming a devastating injury in their playoff chase.

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There was no roller-coaster ride more fun than the 2009 Minnesota Vikings, who went as far - and fell as suddenly - as Brett Favre's arm would carry them. The entire world expected a Super Bowl, but what we got was potentially more entertaining - and controversial. And yeah, the NFL completely changed a huge rule because of Favre and the Vikings. The second act to the Favre career drama brought all the thrills you could possibly want. Relive it with us here.

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The last ‘Special Team’ the Los Angeles Lakers had was in 2009-2010, when Kobe Bryant led them to their most recent championship - in thrilling fashion over the Boston Celtics. This week, we look back at the final title on Kobe’s resume. Yes, the Lakers had to overcome injuries and get surprising clutch production from improbable places in order to win, but this was about Kobe. How when he played ‘poorly', he was still great. How he became so beloved after his early years - as the answer isn’t what you think it is. And how his legacy would be different had the Lakers lost to the Celtics again.

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By 1993, the world had seen the Bills play in four straight Super Bowls, winning none. Despite the lack of a signature win, their place in NFL history is secure. In this episode, we re-live the last of their Super Bowl seasons - and defeats. You'll learn plenty of new things about one of the most legendary 'losing' teams in sports history. Why couldn't they get over the hump? Were they as great as we remember them? And what do they have in common with Tiger Woods?

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