November 3, 2016
It seems like the 2016 sports world is following the same script as late 1997.
That year, the NFL featured http://www.sbnation.com/2016/10/30/13471566/washington-cincinnati-bengals-london-tie">two ties in back-to-back weeks. The Philadelphia Eagles and the Baltimore Ravens ended in a 10-10 tie in week 12, and the Washington Redskins and the New York Giants ended in a 7-7 tie in week 13.
This year, the Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks ended in a 6-6 tie in week seven, and the Cincinnati Bengals and the Washington Redskins ended in a 27-27 tie in London, England. It seems interesting that the Redskins would be involved in both years.
Just like this year, http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/history/postseason/mlb_ws_recaps.jsp?feature=1997">1997 featured a great World Series between the Cleveland Indians and the Florida Marlins. That series went back and forth, with both teams battling to win a title.
The 1997 World Series came down to game seven, when the Florida Marlins were able to prevail 3-2 after 11 innings. It was the first World Series title for the Marlins in franchise history.
Unless you’re living under a rock, you know this year’s World Series featured the Indians against the Chicago Cubs. http://m.mlb.com/postseason-schedule">Cleveland jumped out to a 3-1 series lead and seemed ready to break a 68-year title drought.
Chicago won two straight games, forcing a game seven. The http://www.espn.com/mlb/playbyplay?gameId=361102105&full=0&inning=10">Cubs jumped out to a 5-1 lead heading into the bottom of the fifth inning.
Cleveland battled back and cut the Chicago lead to 5-3 after five innings. The Cubs then scored another run in the top of the sixth inning and went up to 6-3.
They were four outs away from a title in the bottom of the eighth inning. Cleveland scored three runs with two outs and tied the game 6-6 at the top of the ninth.
Neither team scored at that time, so the game headed to extra innings. Then the rain began to fall. Both teams were forced to wait through an 18-minute rain delay before the game restarted.
Chicago scored two runs in the top of the 10th inning and took an 8-6 lead and needed three outs to win. The Indians didn’t go quietly into the night, as Cleveland scored a run with two outs, cutting the lead to 8-7.
Cleveland hit a ground out to end the game and gave the Cubs a World Series victory for the first time in 108 years. It was the first title for the Cubs since 1908, when the franchise had won the second of back-to-back titles.
Just like the Redskins in the NFL, the spirit of 1997 swept up the Indians.
Way back in 1997, http://articles.latimes.com/1997/oct/12/sports/sp-42154">Louisiana State University hosted the number one team in the nation, but that year it was the University of Florida. This Saturday, Nov. 5, http://www.espn.com/college-football/preview?gameId=400869044">Louisiana State University hosts the No. 1 team in the nation now, which is the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Could the No. 1 team in the nation go down again as the sports world lives a weird déjà vu of 1997? It sure will be fun to find out this Saturday.
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID