When the hype never lived up- Overhyped sporting events

[SabresRule]

I put this up on DBSForums last fall, so I'd like to see how you guys react.

Sometimes, big-time and anticipated sporting events (single games or series) get a lot of hype and they can either live up to the hype (USC/Texas, USC/Notre Dame 2005, Patriots/Colts) or fail miserably

I'd like to hear your choices for "hyped games or series that never lived up to the hype."

BTW, let's try and keep a lid on Super Bowls- it's too easy.

My choice:

1996 Fiesta Bowl- Florida/Nebraska.

#1 vs. #2- great passing vs. great running, both undefeated.

All the hype of a Goliath/Goliath matchup, and what did we get??

A butt-kicking, to put it mildly.

 

[jwfgeol]

Three of the last four BCS national championships:

LSU 38, Ohio State 24 (was 31-10 at one point after a 31-0 LSU run)
Florida 41, Ohio State 14
USC 55, Oklahoma 19 (why wasn't Auburn in this game again?)

 

[SabresRule]

USC 55, Oklahoma 19 (why wasn't Auburn in this game again?)

A Tennessee fan defending an SEC rival in Auburn?

Wow...

 

[jwfgeol]

A Tennessee fan defending an SEC rival in Auburn?

Wow...

Once the bowls start it's SEC vs. everybody else

There are a few fans who think that if an SEC rival does well in the bowl games that it will hurt recruiting, but I cheer for the conference.

 

[SabresRule]

Once the bowls start it's SEC vs. everybody else

BTW,

how did the 2004 Vols fare in their bowl game?

 

[jwfgeol]

BTW,

how did the 2004 Vols fare in their bowl game?

They put the spank down on Texas A&M 38-7 in the Cotton Bowl.

 

[jwfgeol]

Speaking of overhyped sporting events...does anyone remember in 1997 when Michael Johnson and Donovan Baily raced a 150m head-to-head race to find out the fastest man in the world. Then Michael Johnson pulled a quad halfway through. Talk about not living up to the hype.

Bailey-Johnson 150-metre race - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[mdonnelly]

Dan O'Brien and Dave Johnson, supposed to meet at the Barcelona Olympics in '92. Reebok hyped it big time for months in an ad campaign, then Johnson whiffed on three pole vault attempts in the US qualifying, and missed the Olympics.

 

[jwfgeol]

Dan O'Brien and Dave Johnson, supposed to meet at the Barcelona Olympics in '92. Reebok hyped it big time for months in an ad campaign, then Johnson whiffed on three pole vault attempts in the US qualifying, and missed the Olympics.

That's a good one. Reebok played it well though by having Dan sit in a lounge chair relaxing while Dave was training in the later commercials.

 

[SabresRule]

Dan O'Brien and Dave Johnson, supposed to meet at the Barcelona Olympics in '92. Reebok hyped it big time for months in an ad campaign, then Johnson whiffed on three pole vault attempts in the US qualifying, and missed the Olympics.

You're on the right track, but you had the wrong guy.

O'Brien was the one who whiffed.

 

[jwfgeol]

You're on the right track, but you had the wrong guy.

O'Brien was the one who whiffed.

You're right. Johnson went on to win bronze in 1992. O'Brien redeemed himself by winning gold in 1996.

 

[JamesJ]

There was a De La hoya fight (I think against Hopkins) that was VERY bad and then De la Hoya got taken out with a punch to the kidney, that was a bad one for me because I paid 49.95 for it

 

[mdonnelly]

You're on the right track, but you had the wrong guy.

O'Brien was the one who whiffed.

Oops!

 

[Kevinw]

Sorry have to say a SB game- Bears- Indianapolis..game was over before the half.

 

[SabresRule]

Sorry have to say a SB game- Bears- Indianapolis..game was over before the half.

If you're going to mention a SB game, you could have done better.

How about Broncos/49ers, Chargers/49ers or Cowboys/Bills?

Those were REALLY lopsided.

 

[Kevinw]

If you're going to mention a SB game, you could have done better.

How about Broncos/49ers, Chargers/49ers or Cowboys/Bills?

Those were REALLY lopsided.

But my family is Bears Fans ecept for me- the lonely LIONS man.

 

[Jimbo]

Ohio State bowl games the last few years, before that Oklahoma's bowl games.
Still can't figure out why Auburn was not in that game.

Hey,
Maybe if they are both top teams again, Oklahoma should play Ohio State !!!!!
Except for the fact that many of the media have Ohio State in the MNC game ALREADY and I doubt that Oklahoma will be the one on the other side, unfortunatly.

Ohio State has a HUGE game with USC coming up early in the year, this game WILL be hyped and it should live up to it.

On a side note:
The most over hyped athlete this year will be Terrelle Prior ....
I just pray that he's as good as they say and that the hype doesn't bother him, from what I've seen he's a real cool customer and that stuff doesn't bother him, let see what happens when he gets to the college level.

I hope we don't hear about every incomplete pass he throws all year.
Every QB throws his share.
As far as I'm concerned, I hope Tim Tebow plays well then some of the media hype will go his way instead.

Jimbo

 

[jwfgeol]

Ohio State bowl games the last few years, before that Oklahoma's bowl games.
Still can't figure out why Auburn was not in that game.

Great?? minds think alike.

Three of the last four BCS national championships:

LSU 38, Ohio State 24 (was 31-10 at one point after a 31-0 LSU run)
Florida 41, Ohio State 14
USC 55, Oklahoma 19 (why wasn't Auburn in this game again?)

 

[BillD1984]

If you're going to mention a SB game, you could have done better.

How about Broncos/49ers, Chargers/49ers or Cowboys/Bills?

Those were REALLY lopsided.

Don't forget Pats-Bears.

 

[BillD1984]

I put this up on DBSForums last fall, so I'd like to see how you guys react.

Sometimes, big-time and anticipated sporting events (single games or series) get a lot of hype and they can either live up to the hype (USC/Texas, USC/Notre Dame 2005, Patriots/Colts) or fail miserably

It still amazes me that the Pats-Colts rivalry is must see. It would be like someone telling me a Lions-Cardinals game would be must see 10 years from now.