After Florida beat Ohio State for the national championship in college basketball and football during the same calendar year, there was talk that Florida “owned Ohio State. They had Ohio State's number.”
Ever since then, Ohio State athletics has been trying to fight past that. They don't want to be “Gator bait” or anyone's victim in 2008.
However, if one looks back into the history books of the NBA, NFL, and NHL, things are not really as bad as they seem for the Buckeyes. Other professional sports teams have been “owned” a lot worse over the years.
Below is a ranking of the four, most uneven, NBA, NFL, and NHL championship series - based on the difference in wins, and amount of wins by the losing team.
1. Montreal Canadians 7, Boston Bruins 0
Who doesn't love a classic match up? These original six NHL members have squared off a total of seven times in the Stanley Cup Finals, and Boston just can't manage to get the job done. Montreal earned victories in 1930, 1946, 1953, 1957, 1958, 1977, and 1978. The Canadians lead all teams with 21 wins since the Stanley Cup has been controlled by the NHL.
2. Boston Celtics 8, Los Angeles Lakers 2
Two historical hardwood giants, but only one has truly prevailed. The Celts have topped LA eight times (1958, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, and 1983), while the Lakers have just been able to rebound with two championships (1984 and 1986) against the men in green. It should also be mentioned that when Boston beat the Lakers in 1958, the Lakers were located in Minneapolis, which is where their nickname derives from. Some may argue that this match up should be at the top of this list, but they must remember that the Bruins have not been able to answer to Montreal, period.
3. Toronto Maple Leafs 6, Detroit Red Wings 1
Yes, another old school hockey rivalry. The Red Wings have had trouble kicking it into gear against Toronto when it really counts. The Maple Leafs captured victories in 1942, 1945, 1948, 1949, 1963, and 1964. Detroit won just once in their first Stanley Cup meeting back in 1936.
4. Dallas Cowboys 2, Buffalo Bills 0
Only a two-win difference, so what's the big deal? This was all part of a very memorable Buffalo Bills losing stampede. From 1991 to 1994, Buffalo lost four consecutive Super Bowls two to Dallas in 1993 and 1994. The Bills are the only team to ever do this. The Minnesota Vikings are also 0-4 in Super Bowl competition, but not in consecutive appearances. Perhaps, a fragment of this curse still lingers in Buffalo. Earlier this season, Monday Night Football took center stage at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Guess who came to town? Yep, the Dallas Cowboys, and they left Buffalo with somewhat of an improbable comeback win, after scoring 9 points in the final 20 seconds.
