Sportz Almanac’s Blog
In 2003, Baltimore Ravens’ running back Jamal Lewis became the fifth player in NFL history to crack the 2,000 yard club. The 5’11”, 245 lb. power back was built like a tank, however he also possessed the breakaway speed to outrun defenders. 2003 was a sensational season for Lewis but it was a nightmare for …
Running to daylight in the NFL’s biggest game will always lead to immortality. Here are five (plus a bonus pick) of the best rushing performances in Super Bowl history. 5. Emmitt Smith in Super Bowl XXVIII With the Dallas Cowboys in position to capture a second straight Super Bowl win, 1993 NFL MVP Emmitt Smith …
As football’s biggest game of the year continues to grow, more eyes are on the team’s most important position: Quarterback. These five QBs (plus a bonus pick) played the best under the brightest lights. Here is our top five Super Bowl Performances from the QB position. 5. Doug Williams in Super Bowl XXII Probably the …
Nicknamed the Tyler Rose, Earl Campbell punished his opponents on his way to a Hall of Fame career. The 5’11” 230 lb. tank was a hard man to tackle. The 1977 Heisman Trophy winner out of Texas brought his bruising running style to the NFL as the top pick in the 1978 NFL Draft by …
Brett Favre was a rising star in the NFL in 1996. Coming off of his 1995 NFL MVP season, the Green Bay Packers were once again one of the top teams in the league. A 1991 second round pick out of Southern Miss, Favre didn’t see much time with the team that drafted him, the …
In 1994, Steve Young was considered one of the elite quarterbacks of the 1990s. He had quite the journey to get to this point, from the USFL to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to being a backup to one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time Joe Montana up until 1991. In 1992, Young won his …
O.J. Simpson is one of the greatest running backs in NFL history. Drafted number one by the Buffalo Bills in 1969, the 6’2″ 215 lb. Heisman Trophy winner from USC was billed as the next great running back. In his first three years in the league, Simpson wasn’t living up to the lofty expectations of …
Joe Montana is arguably the best quarterback to ever play in the NFL. As time passes and the league continues to throw more and more, fans of yesteryear see their image of Montana diminishing under the weight of gaudy stats and instant gratification. However, since Montana retired, only one QB has come close to reaching …
In 1991, Hall of Fame running back Thurman Thomas and the Buffalo Bills were coming off of their heartbreaking Super Bowl XXV loss to the New York Giants. They were a kick away from being NFL champions. This season was all about redemption for the Bills and Thomas, considered one of the top five running …
His nickname was “Sweetness” and there was nothing sweeter than watching the great Walter Payton run the ball. Don’t get it confused, within those lines, Payton’s running style was often rugged. He didn’t shy away from tacklers; instead he embraced the physicality. Payton would run over or around defenders on any carry. And sometimes over …
One of the most unlikeliest success stories in sports history was witnessing Kurt Warner go from undrafted to Hall of Fame. It has been well documented how he once was bagging groceries in an Iowa supermarket and then in a few years became Super Bowl champion. However, his 1999 season not only made him a …
Although the Dallas Cowboys underwent some tremendous changes since their last Super Bowl win, there were also many things that stayed the same heading into the 1995 NFL season. And one of them was Emmitt Smith. The Cowboys’ 1st round draft pick out of Florida in 1990 was entering his sixth season in the NFL. …
Widely regarded as one of the most dominating players in all of sports history, the physical presence of Shaquille O’Neal on the basketball court will forever be unmatched. At 7’2” and 320 lbs., the NBA had never seen a player of that size be as skilled as he was. His legend began at LSU when …
Wilt Chamberlain, much like Babe Ruth, is a mythical figure in the sports world. This is due to his astronomical numbers and unreal domination over the sport when he played. He was a man amongst boys with his 7’1” 275 lb. frame back in the 50s and 60s. Wilt was so dominant that some of …
There was no denying the talent of Tracy McGrady. Nicknamed “T-Mac”, the 6’8” small forward had an immense skill set along with the height that made him a 1997 NBA lottery pick out of high school. The Bartow, FL product, however, saw his career gain little traction in the first few years as a Toronto …
Considered one of the top five greatest centers to play in the NBA, Hakeem Olajuwon had no limits to his game. Playing in the era of the big men, ‘The Dream‘ as they called Olajuwon held his own. the 7’0″ 255 lb. sensation entered the league in 1984 as the top pick out of Houston. …
David Robinson entered the 1994-95 season with the reputation as one of the best big men in NBA history. Nicknamed ‘The Admiral“, Robinson played the game with the stoic nature and class of any person who was in the Armed Forces. An All-American center playing for the Navy Midshipmen, Robinson’s play in college made him …
Simply put, Hall of Fame QB Dan Fouts was before his time. In the 1970s, the NFL was much more run heavy than it is now. When the San Diego Chargers unleashed the Air Coryell offense, a vertical passing system based on timing and big plays in the late 1970s, it was truly a marvel …
Terrell Davis entered the 1998 season as the reigning Super Bowel MVP. Coming off of his 157 yard, 3 TD performance in Super Bowl XXXII, Davis was considered one of the top running backs in the game alongside Barry Sanders and Emmitt Smith. His rise was meteoric at the time, especially from where he came …
When people talk about the top five greatest running backs to ever play in the NFL, Barry Sanders will always be in the conversation. The 5’8″, 200 lb. shifty back from Oklahoma State burst onto the national scene during his junior year in college. He set a NCAA record rushing for 2,628 yards during that …
Entering his second year in the NFL, Miami Dolphins’ QB Dan Marino was looking to improve on his solid rookie season. He finished his first year with a 9-3 record, completing 173 of 296 passes for 2,210 yards and tossing 20 TDs. He showed promise of being a good starting quarterback after year one, but …
Drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers in 1984, Charles Barkley wasn’t the prototypical Power Forward. at 6’6″, he wasn’t the average height for his position. At 250 lbs., he wasn’t the leanest or the most muscular as well. However, there was no denying Barkley was a great basketball player. Whether you called him too short or …
By 2007, there was no doubt about Randy Moss’ greatness. The 6’4” 210 lb receiver is considered one of the greatest ever at his position. His blazing speed made him a mismatch for any defensive back one on one. So what did anyone think would happen when one of the best receivers in his prime …
One of the most unlikeliest of events happened on March 23rd when the Kansas City Chiefs agreed to trade 6x Pro Bowl, All World WR Tyreek Hill to the Miami Dolphins. In exchange, the Dolphins gave up five draft picks (2022 1st, 2nd, 4th and 2023 4th and 6th). The deal also included Hill accepting …
There’s no secret Tom Brady is one of the most competitive athletes to ever play American professional sports. It’s also very well known that he’s 44. On February 1st, 2022, Tom Brady announced he was stepping away from the NFL, retiring after a legendary 22 year career. However, the ageless wonder couldn’t stay away and …
A couple of years ago, the thought of Russell Wilson playing for a team other than the Seattle Seahawks was unfathomable. However, it became a reality this past week when the Seahawks sent their winningest QB in team history to the Denver Broncos in a monster trade. In exchange for Wilson, the Seahawks received two …
Whether you call him ‘The Answer’, ‘AI’ or even ‘Bubba Chuck’, there’s one thing everybody can agree on when it comes to Allen Iverson: Transcendent. Lived Up to the Hype The top pick in the 1996 NBA Draft, Allen Iverson lived up to expectations during his legendary Hall of Fame career. A tenacious scorer, the …
Peyton Manning’s 2013 season completed one of the most unbelievable stories the NFL has seen. Not only because of the insane numbers he put up, but who he put them up for and why. In 2012 Manning, who had already established himself as one of the games’ greatest field generals, was cut from the only …
No running back burst onto the NFL stage with a splash like Eric Dickerson. After having a successful college career at SMU, he was taken 2nd overall by the Los Angeles Rams in the 1983 NFL Draft. The smooth runner stood out with the curl and goggles but make no mistake, he came to dominate. …
First QB to pass for over 40,000 yards in NFL history. Led the Baltimore Colts to the first Super Bowl win post merger in Super Bowl V Learn more about the legendary Hall of Fame QB Johnny Unitas
The unofficial start of the 2019-20 NBA second half is under way. In a league where the past few years have been very much predictable, certain changes, including free agent signings and a legendary team’s fall from grace has made this NBA season very different. Here’s a quick recap of the season so far: …