 Classic SI photo by Peter Read Miller |
The Ultimate Underdog
The Diamondbacks upset the three-time defending champion Yankees to win the 2001 World Series, one of the most exciting Fall Classics in history, in only the franchise's fourth season of existence. Behind Series co-MVPs Curt Schilling (above) and Randy Johnson, Arizona prevailed despite dramatic, last-at-bat wins by New York in Games 4 and 5.
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GREATEST ATHLETES |
Jim Palmer, Scottsdale
Scottsdale High basketball and baseball star; eight-time 20-game winner and three-time Cy Young winner for Orioles.
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Charlie Hickcox, Phoenix
Won three golds and a silver swimming at 1968 Olympics; set eight world records within 16 months in '67 and '68.
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Curley Culp, Yuma
All-America defensive lineman and NCAA wrestling champion at Arizona State; six Pro Bowls in 14 NFL seasons.
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FLASHBACK |
2001: Desert Classic
In a scintillating World Series, marked by amazing comebacks, the Diamondbacks outdueled the Yankees to win their first championship
In the seventh inning of the seventh game of the 97th World Series a strange desert wind arose as gently as a whisper inside Bank One Ballpark in Phoenix and quickly grew in strength.
FULL STORY
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THE SI POLL |
Who do Arizonans root for? SI asked the Grand Canyon State residents to weigh in* on sports.
Favorite major league baseball team
Arizona D-Backs | 60% |
Chicago Cubs | 6% |
Favorite NFL team
Arizona Cardinals | 10% |
San Francisco 49ers | 8% |
Dallas Cowboys | 8% |
Green Bay Packers | 8% |
Denver Broncos | 7% |
Favorite NBA team
Phoenix Suns | 42% |
Los Angeles Lakers | 7% |
No favorite | 27% |
Favorite NHL team
Phoenix Coyotes | 38% |
No favorite | 37% |
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Favorite pro team
Arizona D-Backs | 40% |
Phoenix Coyotes | 6% |
Favorite collegeto root for
Arizona State | 29% |
Arizona | 21% |
Greatest athlete who ever lived in or played for a team in your state
Randy Johnson | 18% |
Barry Bonds | 12% |
Charles Barkley | 10% |
Danny White | 9% |
State's biggest rival
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More a fan of college or pro sports?
Pro | 65% |
College | 14% |
Equal | 22% |
Favorite sport to play
Golf | 16% |
Baseball/softball | 13% |
Hiking | 13% |
Basketball | 10% |
Favorite sports to watch on TV**
Football | 70% |
Baseball | 66% |
Basketball | 48% |
Winter Olympics | 42% |
Summer Olympics | 40% |
**Multiple responses allowed. | |
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*Harris Interactive poll, conducted online, of 403 Arizona residents who identified themselves as sports fans. Margin of error +/- 5.0%.
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Sports Illustrated's 50th Anniversary |
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STATITUDES |
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4 Age, in years, of Arizona Diamondbacks franchise when it won the World Series.
35 Age, in years, of Phoenix Suns franchise, which has never won an NBA title.
1969 Year the Suns lost a coin flip to determine the top choice in the draft. They selected Neal Walk after the Bucks took Lew Alcindor.
June 4, 1976 Date of three-overtime Game 5 of NBA Finals between Suns and Celtics, considered by some the greatest game ever played. Boston won the game and the series.
15 Number of seasons the Cardinals have played in Arizona.
1 Number of winning seasons the Cardinals have had in Arizona.
7 Number of seasons the Coyotes have played in Arizona.
5 Number of winning seasons the Coyotes have had in Arizona.
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ENEMY OF THE STATE |
Bill Bidwill
The Cardinals' owner has pulled off quite a feat: He's the top Enemy in both the state from which he moved his NFL team (Missouri) and the state to which he moved it. Respondents' most hated opponent: the San Francisco Giants (20%).
Bill Bidwill | 36% |
Barry Bonds | 18% |
George Steinbrenner | 7% |
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FAST FACTS |
Admission to statehood: Feb. 14, 1912 (48th state)
Area: 114,006 square miles
Bird: Cactus wren
Capital: Phoenix
Economy: Agriculture -- Cattle, cotton, dairy products, lettuce, nursery stock, hay. Industry -- Copper and other mining, electric equipment, transportation equipment, machinery, printing and publishing, food processing, electronics, tourism.
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Flower: Saguaro cactus blossom ( Carnegiea gigantea)
Nickname: Grand Canyon State
Population: 5,130,632 (20th)
Pro sports teams: Arizona Cardinals, Arizona Diamondbacks, Phoenix Coyotes, Phoenix Mercury, Phoenix Suns
Major college programs: Arizona Wildcats, Arizona State Sun Devils, Northern Arizona Lumberjacks
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