Let's apply today's sports rules to games 40 something years ago. How would the games turn out! 1- 1972 Would Franco Harris immaculate reception happen in today? Yes or No

2- 1975 NBA Finals Game 5 When Garfield Heard made his shot at the buzzer. In today's rules would that shot have tied or won the game?

3- 1980 USA Olympic hockey team wins the Gold Medal by defeating Russia 4-3. Yes or No 5- 1986 World Series Game 6 If Bill Bucker makes the play on the ground ball Boston wins the World Series? Yes or No

Answers in reverse order............

5- Maybe If Bucker makes the play the game goes to the Top of the 11th tied. Red Sox pitcher Stanley threw a wild pitch which tied the game. Then the ground ball to Buckner happen.

4- Maybe In today's rules umpire Don Denkinger blown call at first base would have been overturn. The situation then would have been 1 out nobody on. Steve Balboni hit a pop up over by the first base dugout that Jack Clark misplayed. If he would been playing back instead of holding the runner, he makes the play for 2 outs and the Cardinals win the game and series. However there are men on 1st & 2nd, a FC, a PB then a PH game winning single, yada, yada, yada Royals win the series in 7 games.

3- USA defeated Russia in the semifinals in the 1980 Olympics. They beat Finland 4-2 for the Gold Medal.

2- "Tied" Remember the NBA didn't have 3 pointers back then, just the ABA. That being said the shot came at the top of the key which is around 20 feet. Even in today's NB it would have tied the game. Every year the distance keeps getting further and further away, from where Heard shot the ball. From 20 feet to 25 feet. Soon it will get up to 30 feet!

1- 'NO' There is no way to really prove this but let me take a shot. Terry Brads haw on 4th and 10 threw to receiver John Fuqua. Defensive back Jack Tatum (who was known for his big hits) smacked Fuqua and ball sailed backward and the rest is history with Harris making the catch and scoring. If Tatum would have just gone after the ball (instead of the big hit) there would have been no deflection to Harris, Oakland wins the game. How'd you do?
 

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