Reunions We'd Like To See

SI Staff | Feb 16, 2007

Reunions We'd Like To See /

Reunions We'd Like To See

The Police

Sting, Stewart Copeland, and Andy Summers on the same stage? What in the Zenyatta Mondatta is going on here? The power trio that broke up in 1984 because it couldn't overcome creative differences (that's a euphemism for "couldn't stand to be in the same room together") performed at the 49th Grammys on Feb. 11 and announced a summer tour shortly thereafter. That got us thinking: If The Police can reunite, then anybody can. Here are the sports reunions we would like to see most, along with an appropriate reference to The Police's discography.

Danica Patrick/David Letterman

Danica Patrick spent two years with Rahal Letterman Racing in IRL without nary a victory. She jumped ship last fall (after contemplating a move to NASCAR) to join another IRL team, Andretti Green Racing, but there's no doubt the king of late-night comedy will be watching every lap she takes.

Glavine/Maddux/Smoltz

When they were with the Braves, every little thing they did was magic. This power trio lead Atlanta to nine of its 14 consecutive NL East titles. But with Glavine gone to the Mets and Maddux with the Cubs and Dodgers last season, Smoltz was unable to keep the Braves' division-winning streak going.

Dirk Nowitzki/Steve Nash

Two of the NBA's greatest players have yet to win championships, and Nash has emerged as a Demolition Man on the court since leaving Dirk and the Mavs after 2003.

Anna Kournikova/Martina Hingis

Anna Kournikova never won a singles title, but she was a top-ranked doubles player. She teamed with Hingis to win the 2002 Australian Open title and, at 25, is still young enough to attempt a comeback, though it may take all the Tea In The Sahara to convince her.

Kobe Bryant/Shaquille O'Neal

Kobe, you've made your point. Freed from having to share the ball with anybody, you can score a bazillion points a game. Shaq, you've made your point. You can win an NBA title without Kobe. Come back to the Lakers and their fans will be Walking On The Moon.

Roger Clemens/Andy Pettitte

Pettitte already is back with the Yankees and Clemens may not be far behind. They made World Series appearances in their last two stops together, the Yankees (1999,2000,'03) and the Astros ('05). You know some Yankees fans would be Driven To Tears of joy to see them both in pinstripes together.

Jerry Jones/Jimmy Johnson

They won two Super Bowls with the Cowboys before their ugly breakup. Although Dallas would win another Super Bowl (with Johnson's players), the franchise has yet to return to its former glory under Johnson's successors. It's almost as if there is a Ghost In The Machine.

Jeff Kent/Barry Bonds

They nearly won a World Series together in San Francisco back in 2002. Together they might have a decent chance at finishing the job, though it may be more likely that it ends up as a case of Murder By Numbers.

Ray Evernham/Jeff Gordon

Evernham was the crew chief for Gordon's first three Cup championships and 47 races before leaving to form Evernham Motorsports in 1999. Gordon may want to put on the red light for him, though, since he has won only one Cup since their breakup.

Joe Girardi/Jeffrey Loria

Despite winning NL Manager of the Year honors, Girardi was like a Canary In A Coalmine with the Marlins. Team owner Loria fired him shortly after the 2006 season even though Girardi had led the low-payroll Fish to the brink of playoff contention.

Jeff Bagwell/Craig Biggio

A bum shoulder made Bagwell into a King Of Pain on the field before he finally retired in 2006. Perhaps he should "unretire" for one day in 2007 so that he and Biggio can enter the Hall of Fame in the same year.

Ken Griffey Jr./Alex Rodriguez

They had the Sodo-Mojo going back in Seattle in the 1990s before leaving for richer contracts. As it is, though, neither one can say he has a World Series ring wrapped around his finger.

Randy Johnson/Curt Schilling

The Big Unit seemed So Lonely in New York, but now he's back in Arizona with an up-and-coming D'backs club that could really use another ace. That's where Curt Schilling, Johnson's co-MVP in the 2001 World Series, comes in.

Donovan McNabb/Terrell Owens

It's easy to picture McNabb telling his former teammate, Don't Stand So Close To Me. But together they took the Eagles to a Super Bowl in 2004. Apart, Owens has struggled in Dallas while McNabb has endured the humiliation of being outplayed by his backup, Jeff Garcia.

Terrell Owens/Jeff Garcia

If McNabb refuses, then perhaps the other quarterback T.O. burned bridges with wouldn't mind throwing him the football in Dallas next season. They were in Synchronicity back in San Francisco, when they led the 49ers to back-to-back playoff appearances.

Terrell Owens/Kim Etheredge

Was T.O. sending an S.O.S to the world with his reported suicide attempt (which he denied)? As his publicist, Etheredge stood up for T.O. after his reported suicide attempt by telling the media that he has "25 million reasons to be alive." Instead of a thank you note, she got a pink slip.

Ted Lilly/John Gibbons

Gibbons would have to have a Deathwish to agree to manage Lilly again. The two came to blows during a Blue Jays game last August. Lilly has since moved on to the Cubs.

Tim Hudson/Barry Zito/Mark Mulder

They once comprised The Big Three in Oakland, leading the A's to the playoffs four consecutive years, but now they are many miles away from each other. Zito will be pitching for the Giants this season, Mulder with the Cardinals and Hudson with the Braves.

Tiger Woods/Fluff Cowan

The shaggy caddy helped Woods win his first major, the 1997 Masters, but was dismissed a couple of years later as Tiger grew weary of his publicity-seeking ways. It's not like Fluff ended up with a Dead End Job though; he's currently the caddy for Jim Furyk.

Published Feb 16, 2007

SI STAFF