Cinderella (sports)

In sports, a Cinderella refers to a team or player who advances much further in a tournament than expected, any of them are lower seeds during tournaments or playoffs. 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 popular fairy tale Cinderella, and its idea that one can unexpectedly achieve success after a period of obscurity.

Recent Examples of "Cinderellas"

Football

• Pittsburgh Steelers (2005)
• Carolina Panthers (1996, 2003)
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1979, 2002)
• New England Patriots (1985, 2001)
• New York Giants (2000)
• St. Louis Rams (1979, 1999)
• Atlanta Falcons (1991, 1998)
• Denver Broncos (1977, 1997)
• Jacksonville Jaguars (1996)
• Indianapolis Colts (1995)
• Detroit Lions (1991)
• San Diego Chargers (1981, 1994)
• Houston Oilers (1992)
• Seattle Seahawks (1983)
• San Francisco 49ers (1981)
• Oakland Raiders (1980)
• Los Angeles Rams (1979)
• New York Jets (1968)

Basketball

• Detroit Pistons (2004)
• Georgia Tech (2004)
• Indiana Hoosiers (2002)
• Boston Celtics (2002)
• San Antonio Spurs (1999)
• New York Knicks (1999)
• Denver Nuggets (1994)
• Loyola Marymount University (1990)
• Houston Rockets (1986, 1995)
• Villanova University (1985)
• North Carolina State University (1983)
• Kansas City Kings (1981)
• Los Angeles Lakers (1980)
• Portland Trail Blazers (1977, 1990)
• Phoenix Suns (1976)
• Texas Western College (1966)
• Milan High School (1954)

Baseball

• Chicago White Sox (1983, 2005)
• Boston Red Sox (2004)
• Chicago Cubs (2003)
• Anaheim Angels (2002)
• Florida Marlins (1997, 2003)
• San Francisco Giants (1987, 1993, 1997)
• Seattle Mariners (1995)
• Colorado Rockies (1995)
• Philadelphia Phillies (1993)
• Atlanta Braves (1982, 1991)
• Cincinnati Reds (1990)
• Baltimore Orioles (1989)
• Los Angeles Dodgers (1988)
• Minnesota Twins (1987, 1991)
• Houston Astros (1986, 2005)
• Kansas City Royals (1985)
• San Diego Padres (1984)
• Milwaukee Brewers (1982)
• Oakland Athletics (1981)
• Pittsburgh Pirates (1979)
• New York Mets (1969, 1973, 1999)
• New York Giants (1951)

Hockey

• Tampa Bay Lightning (2004)
• Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (2003)
• Minnesota Wild (2003)
• Carolina Hurricanes (2002)
• San Jose Sharks (1994)
• Los Angeles Kings (1993)
• Edmonton Oilers (1990)
• 1980 American national men's hockey team

References

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