Primary Country (Mandatory)

United States

Other Country (Optional)

Set News Language for United States

Primary Language (Mandatory)
English
Other Language[s] (Optional)
No other language available

Set News Language for World

Primary Language (Mandatory)
English
Other Language(s) (Optional)

Set News Source for United States

Primary Source (Mandatory)
CNN
Other Source[s] (Optional)

Set News Source for World

Primary Source (Mandatory)
AajTak
Other Source(s) (Optional)
  • Countries
    • India
    • United States
    • Qatar
    • Germany
    • China
    • Canada
    • World
  • Categories
    • National
    • International
    • Business
    • Entertainment
    • Sports
    • Special
    • All Categories
  • Available Languages for United States
    • English
  • All Languages
    • English
    • Hindi
    • Arabic
    • German
    • Chinese
    • French
  • Sources
    • India
      • AajTak
      • NDTV India
      • The Hindu
      • India Today
      • Zee News
      • NDTV
      • BBC
      • The Wire
      • News18
      • News 24
      • The Quint
      • ABP News
      • Zee News
      • News 24
    • United States
      • CNN
      • Fox News
      • Al Jazeera
      • CBSN
      • NY Post
      • Voice of America
      • The New York Times
      • HuffPost
      • ABC News
      • Newsy
    • Qatar
      • Al Jazeera
      • Al Arab
      • The Peninsula
      • Gulf Times
      • Al Sharq
      • Qatar Tribune
      • Al Raya
      • Lusail
    • Germany
      • DW
      • ZDF
      • ProSieben
      • RTL
      • n-tv
      • Die Welt
      • Süddeutsche Zeitung
      • Frankfurter Rundschau
    • China
      • China Daily
      • BBC
      • The New York Times
      • Voice of America
      • Beijing Daily
      • The Epoch Times
      • Ta Kung Pao
      • Xinmin Evening News
    • Canada
      • CBC
      • Radio-Canada
      • CTV
      • TVA Nouvelles
      • Le Journal de Montréal
      • Global News
      • BNN Bloomberg
      • Métro
HeatGear Compression Long-Sleeve T-Shirt Buy Now
Womens Originals Long Sleeve Cotton V-Neck T-Shirt Buy Now
Men's Straight-Fit Pant Buy Now
MAIBAOTA 8-Piece Men's Necklace Set Buy Now
Medicube Age-R Pro Glass Skin Massager Buy Now
Genuine Leather Dress Designer Belts for men Buy Now
Elastic High Waisted Wide Leg Dress Pants Buy Now
Men's Knit Blazer Buy Now
Echo Dot (3rd Gen) Charcoal Buy Now
KUYIGO Mens Henley T-Shirts Buy Now
Slim Fit Ripped Skinny Jeans Buy Now
Ayieyill Corduroy Tote Bag for Women Buy Now
Michael Kors Oversized Runway Watch Buy Now
Hisense 75 QD7 Series QLED 4K Smart TV (2024) Buy Now
Women's Stretch High Waist Ruched Bodycon Buy Now
BIODANCE Bio-Collagen Deep Hydrating Mask Buy Now
Musey Yoga Tank Top Buy Now
Mommy & Me Pajamas Buy Now
The Ultimate Fitness Journal Buy Now
Men's Ripped Jeans Buy Now
MoreBack to News Headlines
Remembering some strange coin tosses in sports

Remembering some strange coin tosses in sports

CBC
Wednesday, November 6, 2024 8:49 AM GMT

This is an excerpt from The Buzzer, which is CBC Sports' daily email newsletter. Stay up to speed on what's happening in sports by subscribing here.

One of the most contentious elections in memory will soon be over (we hope) as Americans go to the polls today to decide whether Kamala Harris or Donald Trump will be their next president.

By all accounts, it's pretty much a 50/50 race. Considering those odds, and the fact that everyone seems pretty stressed about what our neighbours might do, I thought it might be fun to look at some famous coin flips in sports.

Before we indulge our inner Anton Chigurh, a little background.

Coin flips have a regular place in a variety of sports. In tennis, for instance, they determine who gets first serve. In soccer, which team kicks first in a shootout. In cricket, the winner decides whether to bat or bowl to begin the match. 

Sometimes, a coin toss can even be used to settle a tie. A famous example came during soccer's 1968 European Championship, which happened before the adoption of the penalty shootout. With host Italy and the Soviet Union still knotted at 0-0 after extra time in the semifinals, a coin flip determined who would advance. The Italians won it, then defeated Yugoslavia to capture their first Euro title. (That matchup initially ended in a tie too. But, under the rules at the time for settling a final, the game was replayed a couple days later and Italy won 2-0).

Among the major North American team sports, football is the only one that uses coin flips regularly. The team that wins the referee's toss at midfield before the game can choose to receive the opening kickoff, kick the ball away, defend a certain endzone or defer their option to the second half.

I'm pretty sure this has never happened before, but the NFL's criteria for breaking a tie in the standings also include a coin toss. For that to happen though, at least 10 other tiebreakers needed to be exhausted first.

The NHL, NBA and MLB do not currently have a coin flip among their potential tiebreakers. But, in the past, the NBA used a toss to decide whether the Eastern or Western Conference would get the first pick in the draft. This resulted in Magic Johnson going to the Lakers in 1979 instead of Chicago, which had to settle for David Greenwood.

Here are some other great coin-toss moments:

Tails fails for Jerome Bettis

When a 1998 game between Bettis' Pittsburgh Steelers and the Detroit Lions on U.S. Thanksgiving went to overtime, the big running back was asked to call the coin flip for first ball. Bettis said "tails," but referee Phil Luckett thought he heard "heads." The coin landed tails, Luckett awarded Detroit the ball (over protests from Bettis and his teammates) and the Lions promptly won the game on a field goal.

Embarrassed by the high-profile mess-up, the NFL quickly changed its rules so that heads or tails must be called before the flip, not while the coin is in the air. And two other members of the officiating crew must also be present.

Joe Namath jumps the gun

Read full story on CBC
Share this story on:-
Run 3 Space | Play Space Running GamePlay Run 3, the ultimate space tunnel running game with 300+ challenging levels!Adv.
Traffic Jam 3D | Online Racing GameTraffic Jam 3D is a game where you’ll be driving through heavy traffic.Adv.
Duck Hunt | Play Old Classic GamePlay the classic 1984 light gun shooter game Duck Hunt on your browser.Adv.
More Related News
Women's sports are booming. Why now? 

In July 2020, about five months into the global pandemic, 144 WNBA players gathered in Bradenton, Fla., to play a 22-game condensed season in empty arenas.

Liverpool soccer player Diogo Jota, his brother killed in car accident

Liverpool player Diogo Jota and his brother were killed in a car accident in Spain when the Lamborghini they were in veered off a road and burst into flames, police said Thursday.

New Steve Prefontaine biography reveals man behind mythic distance runner

The late American distance runner Steve Prefontaine never won an Olympic medal, a world championship, or even held a world record. Yet, half a century after his untimely death in a car wreck at the age of 24, "Pre," as he came to be known, remains an iconic, almost saint-like figure, of track and field. 

Canada's Gilgeous-Alexander agrees to record 4-year, $285M US extension with Thunder: reports

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder have agreed on a record-setting 4-year, $285 million US extension that would give him the highest single-season average salary in NBA history, a person with knowledge of the agreement said Tuesday.

Maple Leafs move Marner to Golden Knights in sign-and-trade: reports

Mitch Marner appears set to call Sin City home.

Parking Slot | Free Parking GamePlay Parking Slot, the best online 3D car driving and parking game.Adv.
Slope Ball Run - Play OnlineSlope Game takes you on an exciting journey of a ball on special paths.Adv.
'I have 9 lives': Canadian diver reflects on terrifying cliff fall, overcoming near-death experience

After a near-death experience slipping off a 22-foot diving cliff, Canadian diver Molly Carlson says she'll celebrate the next time she gets on the diving board again.

Eugenie Bouchard to retire from tennis at home in Montreal after National Bank Open

Canadian tennis player Eugenie Bouchard, who reached No. 5 in the WTA rankings in a breakout 2014 season, is retiring from tennis at this year's National Bank Open in Montreal.

Even with her iconic performances, swim coach says Summer McIntosh is only getting started

Canadian swimming star Summer McIntosh has already had her name etched into the history books for her record-smashing swims and a trio of Olympic gold medals from Paris 2024, but her coach Fred Vergnoux believes she still has more to give. 

FIFA says applications for 1st World Cup ticket draw will open Sept. 10

Soccer fans looking to take in the 2026 World Cup will be able to apply for FIFA's first ticket draw starting Sept. 10, soccer's world governing body announced Tuesday in a release.

Canadians with deep pockets get first crack at 2026 World Cup deluxe ticket packages

Tickets to the 2026 World Cup are now available for Canadians, although only for those willing to pay a premium.

Sinner beats 2-time defending champion Alcaraz to win 1st Wimbledon title

Jannik Sinner insisted early on at Wimbledon that he put an excruciating loss to Carlos Alcaraz in their epic French Open final behind him. Sinner was sure that one defeat wouldn't haunt him, wouldn't prevent a quick recalibration and certainly wouldn't mean a thing at the All England Club.

What does Penny Oleksiak's withdrawal mean for Canada's relay chances at swim world championships?

Less than a month ago, just days before her 25th birthday, Canada's most decorated female Olympian stood on the pool deck of Commonwealth Place in Victoria with a smile stretching across her face.

Iga Swiatek claims 1st Wimbledon title with 6-0, 6-0 win

For years, Iga Swiatek never quite felt comfortable on Wimbledon's grass courts, never thought she could add a trophy there to her other Grand Slam triumphs. Oh, did that turn out to be wrong. And how.

The World Aquatics Championships start Friday, but swimming fans have to wait

This is an excerpt from The Buzzer, which is CBC Sports' daily email newsletter. Stay up to speed on what's happening in sports by subscribing here.

American sprint star Noah Lyles's surprise outdoor season debut comes later than expected — but right on time

I'll admit I felt underwhelmed when I first perused the start list for the men's 200 metres at this Friday's Diamond League track meet in Monaco.

Canada's Savannah Sutherland is moving fast and breaking records

For the last year, Savannah Sutherland has been moving fast and breaking records.

Penny Oleksiak withdraws from swimming worlds citing whereabouts case with World Aquatics

Canada's Penny Oleksiak has withdrawn from the upcoming world aquatics championships due to a whereabouts issue under anti-doping rules, she announced on social media Friday.

© 2008 - 2025 Webjosh  |  News Archive  |  Privacy Policy  |  Contact Us