We knew it would happen, but we still couldn't believe that Michigan was snubbed by the BCS even though USC lost on Saturday to UCLA, opening up the door to give the Wolverines a spot in the National Championship game. Instead, Florida, who won the SEC Championship on Saturday, will meet Ohio State in the National Championship game. So we at the Daily decided to look into other snubs in sports history.
10. Ivan Rodriguez over Pedro Martinez, 1999 AL MVP. Pedro posted one of the best statistical seasons in history for a starting pitcher, going 23-4 with 313 strikeouts and a frighteningly low 2.07 ERA as he led the Red Sox to the ALCS. Yet Rodriguez, who had a good year for a catcher but only hit 35 homers, got the award.
9. Charles Barkley over Michael Jordan, 1993 NBA MVP. Michael averaged 32.6 points per game that year, leading the Bulls to a 57-25 record and a division title. But voters gave the award to Sir Charles whose Suns won 62 games while he totaled 25.6 points and 12.2 rebounds per game. Jordan got the last laugh though, as the Bulls downed the Suns in the NBA Finals, 4-2.
8. Steve Nash, 2005 or 2006 NBA MVP. We can't wait to see an angry Phoenix blogger denounce this, but how can a point guard do more than Shaq (22.9 PPG, 10.4 RPG) in 2005 or LeBron (31.4 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 6.6 APG) in 2006? Nash isn't that great defensively, and he can't even play that much because of his back. He needs to grow the hair back.
7. Boston College, Virginia Tech and Miami rejecting the Big East for the ACC, 2003. Suddenly the Big East lost three highly touted football and basketball programs, leaving the conference with the likes of Rutgers, St. John's and Seton Hall, as BC, VA Tech, and Miami bolted to join North Carolina, Duke, Wake Forest, and the rest of the ACC.
6. Isiah Thomas left off of the original Dream Team, 1992. He may be one of the worst executives ever, but he's one of the top NBA players of all time, and there's speculation that Michael Jordan had a hand in keeping him off the roster while Chris Mullin got a spot.
5. Mo Vaughn over Albert Belle, 1995 AL MVP. Nobody likes Albert Belle, but the guy hit 50 home runs in 1995 to Vaughn's 39 and had a .690 slugging percentage to accompany his 126 RBI. But in Vaughn's defense, he incredibly stole 11 bases. That must have put him over the top.
4. J.D. Drew snubbing the Phillies, 1997. This jerk refused to play for the Phillies when they wouldn't appease the monetary demands of Scott Boras and decided to sit out the 1997 season. He was drafted the next year by the Cardinals and has helped add to the legend of the booing Philadelphia fans when they pelted him with batteries in 1999.
3. John Elway snubbing the Baltimore Colts and New York Yankees, 1983. The prolific quarterback set the precedent for players snubbing teams in the draft. He threatened to quit football and play baseball for the Yankees after the Colts drafted him first overall, and forced a trade to Denver, thus snubbing two teams.
2. Joe DiMaggio over Ted Williams, 1941 AL MVP. Sure, DiMaggio might have had a 56-game hit streak, but Williams hit .406 ... for the season. That was 154 games back then. And for good measure, he added a .553 OBP and a .735 slugging percentage, which is seventh all-time in OPS, and will be higher after a few asterisks are placed next to the name "Barry Bonds."
1. Ozzie Guillen over Mike Scioscia, Manager of the Year, 2005. We just don't like Ozzie.
- by Alex Bloom and Evans Clinchy
