Cinderella

In American and Canadian sports, a Cinderella refers to a team or player who advances much further in a tournament than expected. Cinderellas tend to gain much media and fan attention as they move closer to the championship game at the end of the tournament. The term comes from the end of the fairy tale Cinderella, and its idea is that one can unexpectedly achieve success after a period of obscurity. The usage was popularized by Bill Murray in the 1980 hit movie Caddyshack where he pretends as the announcer to his own golf fantasy: "Cinderella story. Outta nowhere. A former greenskeeper, now, about to become the Masters champion."^[1] Murray is said to have improvised the scene in one take from two lines of stage direction. This movie quote has been named to AFI's Top 100, one of only a few that are sports related.

In the United Kingdom, by contrast, a Cinderella team is one which usually underachieves (for example the Spanish football team), or is overshadowed by more successful neighbours (for example, Tranmere Rovers by Liverpool and Everton). This refers to the early part of the Cinderella fairy tale, where the heroine is downtrodden. A U.S.-style Cinderella team would be a surprise package or surprise packet, and their success would be termed a fairy-tale run.

A related concept is the giant-killer, which refers to a lesser competitor who defeats a favorite. The name reflects such stories as David and Goliath, and Jack the Giant-Killer.

Examples of (North America-style) "Cinderellas"

Ice hockey

• 1980 American national men's hockey team - The American team, consisting of only amateur and collegiate players, won the Olympic Gold medal, beating the Soviet Union in the process.

American football

• Pittsburgh Steelers (2005) - The Steelers become the first 6th seed to win a Super Bowl, defeating the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XL.
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2002) - After years in the doldrums, including 14 consecutive losing seasons, the Buccaneers won Super Bowl XXXVII.
• New England Patriots (2001) - The Patriots lost star quarterback Drew Bledsoe in week 2, previously unknown Tom Brady came in and led the Patriots to victory in Super Bowl XXXVI.
• St. Louis Rams (1999) - After ten consecutive losing seasons the Rams lost starting quarterback Trent Green in the preseason, Kurt Warner tookover and won Super Bowl XXXIV, with Warner picking up the NFL MVP and Super Bowl MVP in the process.
• New York Jets (1968) - the AFL Jets beat the heavily favoured NFL champions the Baltimore Colts.

College Football

• Northwestern Wildcats (1995) — after years as one of the perennial laughingstocks of college football, won the Big Ten title
• Boise State Broncos (2006) — finished unbeaten after using several trick plays to shock favored Oklahoma in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl
• Wake Forest Demon Deacons (2006) — won Atlantic Coast Conference title after being picked by media to finish last in their division, and after losing their top two quarterbacks, starting running back, and starting left offensive tackle to injuries
• University of Arizona defeated the Miami Hurricanes 29-0 in the 1993 Sunkist Fiesta Bowl.
• Appalachian State Mountaineers defeat the Michigan Wolverines 34-32 in what is known as of the the biggest upset in college football history. Michigan is the first team from the FBS to lose to a team from the FCS.

Basketball

• Milan (Indiana) High School (1954; see also Hoosiers, a classic 1986 movie loosely based on this team's story)
• Wichita Southeast High basketball team defeated Wichita South in the 1995 substate final to advance to state. South had previously won state in 1991, 1993, and 1994.
• North Carolina State University Wolfpack defeated heavily favored Houston Cougars 54-52 to win the 1983 NCAA Men's Tournament.
• Portland Trail Blazers 1977, The new NBA franchise led by Bill Walton came through the playoffs in their first appearance and beat the highly favored Julius Erving and the Philadelphia 76ers.

Football

• Denmark (Euro 92 champions) – Denmark won the tournament, having only qualified as replacement team for Yugoslavia.
• Greece (Euro 2004 champions) – Greece were underdogs who were heavily favoured to go out in the first round, yet they went on to win the final.
• Iraq (2007 Asian Cup champions) – Iraq's unexpected run to the crown was widely viewed as either a respite or a beacon of hope for a country torn by war and divided by bitter ethnic and religious feuds.

• Once Caldas (Copa Libertadores 2004) – After taking out giants Vélez Sársfield , Santos and São Paulo, they went on to the finals against defending champions Boca Juniors, after a 0-0 tie in the first leg at La Bombonera, they went on to a 1-1 draw in the second leg, and shockingly winning 2-0 the penalty shoutout.

References

• http://people.howstuffworks.com/march-madness5.htm
• http://www.gazette.uwo.ca/2004/March/26/sports2.asp

See also

• Underdog (competition)
• Dark horse

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