A Press Democrat Blog

Old School

Robert Rubino connects current sports news with the past

Role models for NFC West, part 5

Saturday, at 10:03 by

Maybe you think the 49ers and the rest of the NFC West are pitiful. Maybe you’re outraged at the thought that the NFC West “champion” can make the playoffs, even with a non-winning record. OK, but there have been underachieving teams in pro sports that suddenly overachieved in the postseason and gave fans quite a show. For example: 1979 Los Angeles Rams. After making a change at quarterback from Pat Haden to Vince Ferragamo, the Rams won four of their… Read More »

Role models for NFC West, part 4

Saturday, at 1:01 by

Maybe you think the 49ers and the rest of the NFC West are pitiful. Maybe you’re outraged at the thought that the NFC West “champion” can make the playoffs, even with a non-winning record. OK, but there have been underachieving teams in pro sports that suddenly overachieved in the postseason and gave fans quite a show. For example: 1976 Phoenix Suns. After slouching into the playoffs with an unassuming 42-40 record, this team suddenly discovered its chemistry, melding rookie of… Read More »

Role models for NFC West, part 3

Friday, at 1:59 by

Maybe you think the 49ers and the rest of the NFC West are pitiful. Maybe you’re outraged at the thought that the NFC West “champion” can make the playoffs, even with a non-winning record. OK, but there have been underachieving teams in pro sports that suddenly overachieved in the postseason and gave fans quite a show. For example: 1973 New York Mets. This team barely broke .500 with 82 wins. Nevertheless, on the strength of pitching (Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman… Read More »

Role models for NFC West, Part 2

Thursday, at 11:59 by

Maybe you think the 49ers and the rest of the NFC West are pitiful. Maybe you’re outraged at the thought that the NFC West “champion” can make the playoffs, even with a non-winning record. OK, but there have been underachieving teams in pro sports that suddenly overachieved in the postseason and gave fans quite a show. For example: 1949 Toronto Maple Leafs. The only non-winners (.475 winning percentage) from the regular season in the four-team NHL postseason, the Maple Leafs… Read More »

Role models for NFC West

Thursday, at 11:57 by

Maybe you think the 49ers and the rest of the NFC West are pitiful. Maybe you’re outraged at the thought that the NFC West “champion” can make the playoffs, even with a non-winning record. OK, but there have been underachieving teams in pro sports that suddenly overachieved in the postseason and gave fans quite a show. For example: 1938 Chicago Black Hawks. Of the six teams in the NHL postseason that year, only the Black Hawks had a regular-season losing… Read More »