Giving hope to a hopeless franchise is part of what makes season modes in sports video gaming so fun. But in FIFA, a side that comes up from nothing finds itself with new big-league obligations, and when the money runs out, can answer them only with heart.
The Atlanta Thrashers are no more. By this time next year, the franchise will be in Winnipeg, perhaps playing in the colors and logo of the Peggers' beloved Jets, and Canada will at last have more NHL teams than the Confederacy.
The Belmont Stakes runs today, and while there has not been a Triple Crown winner in horse racing since 1978, nor a triple crown winner in Major League Baseball's hitting categories (batting average, runs batted in, home runs) since 1967, we have seen six triple crowns over the past decade. They've just been in a…
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--W3G_4Ots--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_358,q_80,w_636/18j20meay7bxqjpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s----Esr6_m--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_180,q_80,w_320/18j20meay7bxqjpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--49ctZPUf--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18j20meay7bxqjpg.jpg, (large)])
Grand Slam tennis is known for matches of epic length, frequently spanning four hours or more. In video games, more than an hour on the sticks is enough to conjure memories of Borg-McEnroe at Wimbledon 1980.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--FtBFXE0p--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_358,q_80,w_636/18j21uml0djswjpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--OE4kLN53--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_180,q_80,w_320/18j21uml0djswjpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--WZJlrl5K--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18j21uml0djswjpg.jpg, (large)])
Memorial Day is Monday. Coincidentally, it was also the date of the next game waiting on the calendar in MLB 10: The Show when reader MSUHitman returned to the game this week after an eight-month hiatus spent playing Mass Effect, Dragon Age and other games.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--L800bmRJ--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_358,q_80,w_636/18j232wty9oobjpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--f5L0YLbb--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_180,q_80,w_320/18j232wty9oobjpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--4SiihqRK--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18j232wty9oobjpg.jpg, (large)])
The Boston Bruins are a tough bunch, having come back from a two-game deficit to open the first round of the NHL playoffs, and currently leading Tampa Bay 2-1 after losing the conference finals opener at home. Feeling confident, one bigtime B's fan decided to test their mettle online against a live opponent taking the…
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--cfAXmNcn--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_358,q_80,w_636/18j24bb0sz2iljpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--gcYi9mxH--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_180,q_80,w_320/18j24bb0sz2iljpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--IdIw0exL--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18j24bb0sz2iljpg.jpg, (large)])
The Major League Baseball record for home runs in a game is four. Always has been, always will be, evidently. This mark has stood since 1894, tied 14 times since. Only once has a batter ever come to the plate with a chance at hitting five, Seattle's Mike Cameron in 2002.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--fOXuOAH6--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_358,q_80,w_636/18j25h8flbk0mjpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--eExVC_ln--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_180,q_80,w_320/18j25h8flbk0mjpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--XwWF8iJM--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18j25h8flbk0mjpg.jpg, (large)])
2K Sports will give you a million bucks if you toss a perfect game, under a set of conditions that read like the terms of a hostage negotiation. So far, no one's claimed that prize. But Box Scores can verify its first perfect game submission, worth exactly $0 - because it was thrown on MLB 11 The Show.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--2wPe52Kf--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_358,q_80,w_636/18j268mz3gepxjpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--xYC28Tod--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_180,q_80,w_320/18j268mz3gepxjpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--1yL40zxG--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18j268mz3gepxjpg.jpg, (large)])
Playoff hockey has brought back Verizon's "Ovechtrick" commercial with the requisite saturation. For those not in the know, that would be nine goals in a game. (The NHL record is seven). One simulation pegs its real-world likelihood at 2 in 10,000.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--1FM78p8K--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_358,q_80,w_636/18j26ui8b5jepjpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--yGuZ02JZ--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_180,q_80,w_320/18j26ui8b5jepjpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--MjlbXAoF--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18j26ui8b5jepjpg.jpg, (large)])
Reader Joe Lindell couldn't believe his eyes. After whacking a three-run home run against the Tampa Bay Rays in MLB 2K11, the CPU actually - possibly even deliberately - hit his next batter. Oh, it's on like (trademarked by Nintendo)!
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--nyWSLr7w--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_358,q_80,w_636/18j27klf3eu91jpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--HngUj8Bm--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_180,q_80,w_320/18j27klf3eu91jpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--8F5elczg--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18j27klf3eu91jpg.jpg, (large)])
The rarities of professional basketball - the 100-point game, the quadruple-double - are almost taken for granted in video game hoops. Then someone pulls off both feats with the same player, in the same game.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--Mkj4A3pQ--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_358,q_80,w_636/18hcyni2r6lz9jpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--QSHdP4LY--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_180,q_80,w_320/18hcyni2r6lz9jpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--lYj7tWCm--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18hcyni2r6lz9jpg.jpg, (large)])
Twenty-five penalty minutes, multiple fight challenges. Tripping and a short-handed goal in the third period. There were any number of opportunities to ragequit out of this online multiplayer game of NHL 11. But for some reason, perhaps stubbornness, both sides played through.
Reader t0ddd prevailed, but it took…
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--oz6-R-5A--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_358,q_80,w_636/18j29b8nba111jpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--HB7PzTH4--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_180,q_80,w_320/18j29b8nba111jpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--VAgJmi0E--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18j29b8nba111jpg.jpg, (large)])
We're on just the third day of the Major League Baseball season, so it's impossible to say anyone is really in a hitting slump. MLB 11 The Show has been out for about a month, though, and one reader found his rookie struggling to get a hit, until he ended the slide the old fashioned way.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--zPw-5yNT--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_358,q_80,w_636/18j29zervkurxjpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--FdH5IUcU--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_180,q_80,w_320/18j29zervkurxjpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--ELJbsbOZ--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18j29zervkurxjpg.jpg, (large)])
When the Chicago Bulls' Brian Scalabrine checks into a game, the contest is over. It was over long before he entered it, too. The definition of a trash-time mop-up sub, Scalabrine has appeared in 18 of the Bulls' 71 games this year, averaging four minutes. Reader ultimateado decided to see if he could make Scalabrine…
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--pYDNtDXg--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_358,q_80,w_636/18j2ar55pk7bdjpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--qoIrW8go--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_180,q_80,w_320/18j2ar55pk7bdjpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--q8pOJB5t--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18j2ar55pk7bdjpg.jpg, (large)])
The longest Major League Baseball game ever played remains the 25-inning marathon between the Chicago White Sox and the Milwaukee Brewers back in 1984. One devotee of MLB 11 The Show and his brother broke that mark on Monday, playing nearly a triple-header's worth of baseball.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--OYuNETv6--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_358,q_80,w_636/18j2b75aq0rgrjpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--j90PUOcU--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_180,q_80,w_320/18j2b75aq0rgrjpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--bjYfoOBA--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18j2b75aq0rgrjpg.jpg, (large)])
The Rays and the Red Sox had an old-fashioned bad-blood rivalry early last decade, one that cooled off in animosity as the talent gap between the two clubs has narrowed. When these two American League East franchises meet, three big name players will be facing their former team.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--OmI6W3ky--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_358,q_80,w_636/18j2d79vdquxijpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--d5QLsptq--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_180,q_80,w_320/18j2d79vdquxijpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--c4tAxov---/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18j2d79vdquxijpg.jpg, (large)])
After alienating himself from the team and driving the NBA's longest-tenured coach into retirement, Deron Williams was traded by the Utah Jazz to the New Jersey Nets. What better way to say "You can't win without me," than to do all the scoring yourself?
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--plXlAfNL--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_358,q_80,w_636/18j2ipkh44uwgjpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--vjTza33x--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_180,q_80,w_320/18j2ipkh44uwgjpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--UkbyOoYP--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18j2ipkh44uwgjpg.jpg, (large)])
Only four NBA players have recorded a quadruple double - double figures in four statistical categories in the same game. All but one were centers. None was a point guard.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--TYHHrZxd--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_358,q_80,w_636/18j2jvhvpv08mjpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s---LOosHfE--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_180,q_80,w_320/18j2jvhvpv08mjpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--vP4aqEBO--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18j2jvhvpv08mjpg.jpg, (large)])
"Sports games are really the best RPGs," writes reader ACES11, who inserted into the NHL a Finnish Elite League team that hasn't won squat in 45 years, drafted smartly and played well, and made it to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals against Montreal.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--Z5x8obKy--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_358,q_80,w_636/18j2launppo14jpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--ph9oTJCw--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_180,q_80,w_320/18j2launppo14jpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--m9yZMElk--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18j2launppo14jpg.jpg, (large)])
On Dec. 2, the Cleveland Cavaliers were 7-10 when they faced LeBron James. Since then, they've gone 1-32, tying an NBA record with 23 straight losses. Only in NBA Jam could this team turn its season around.
