1. Michigan State: 75 Indiana State: 64 (March 26, 1979): The game that changed basketball. It began the rivalry between Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. Their popularity and skills changed the NBA as they joined the two most important franchises. Before Magic and Larry, the NBA Finals were played on tape delay at midnight. A decade later, it was in prime time and the NBA and NCAA experienced amazing growth.
2. American League: 6 National League: 4 (July 13, 1971): The 1971 All Star Game. At Tiger Stadium, six Hall of Famers homered in the game, Mickey Lolich, Bill Freehan, Norm Cash, and Al Kaline all played for the AL. Johnny Bench, Hank Aaron, Roberto Clemente, Frank Robinson, and Harmon Killebrew homered. Reggie Jackson’s homer hit the power transformer.
3. Tigers: 5 Yankees: 1 (June 28, 1976): The Bird Game. On Monday Night Baseball, Mark Fidrych dominated the Yankees. Rusty Staub homered in the victory. The Bird would win the Rookie of the Year, 19 games, start the All-Star Game, finished 2nd in the Cy Young voting, led the majors in ERA, pitched into extra innings five times, and then blew his arm out in 1977 while playing in the outfield.
4. USC: 17 Michigan: 10 (January 1, 1979): Charles White scored a touchdown while on the 1 yard line on a fumble recovered by the Wolverines and Michigan lost another Rose Bowl in bizarre fashion.
5. UM: 10 Ohio State:10 (November 24, 1973): Both teams entered the game unbeaten. The winner went to the Rose Bowl. They tied 10-10. Big Ten Athletic Directors gave the Rose Bowl to Ohio State. Bo howled. UM quarterback Denny Franklin was injured and the Big Ten wanted to send the team most likely to win, so OSU went. Michigan blamed MSU for this, but the balloting was secret.
6. A’s: 2 Tigers:1 (October 12, 1972): ALCS Game 5. Billy Martin benched Willie Horton and a bad call led to an Oakland run. It was a farewell for this generation of Tigers. All that remained was to play out their careers, reach milestones, and wait for Morris, Parrish, Gibson, Whitaker, and Trammell.
7. Orioles: 5 Tigers: 4 (September 24, 1974): Al Kaline got his 3000th hit. Too bad the team couldn't win for him.
8. Cowboys: 5 Lions: 0 (December 26, 1970): Detroit went 10-4 and won the Wild Card. The Lions had a great defense, but their offense could not score against the Cowboys. Dallas went to the Superbowl and the Lions went home for over a decade.
9. Red Sox: 8 Tigers: 6 (September 9, 1977): The Tigers rapped out 16 hits in a 8-6 loss. Oh yeah, Lou and Tram made their debuts.
10. Lions: 17 Broncos: 14 (Thanksgiving 1978): The Doug English Game. English sacked Craig Morton 4 times and the Lions defense dominated the defending AFC champs.
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