The Biggest "What Ifs" in Sports History

Check out what could have been for many of your favorite athletes of the past and present.

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Complex Original

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In sports the difference between a team or player being a champion can be as small as one misstep or dropped pass. Franchises, players, and referees have altered both their own and the histories of others by one bad decision or bad call. What would Mike Tyson's boxing legacy be like if he hadn't gone to prison for rape? What would Len Bias have done for the Celtics if he didn't die just a day after the 1986 NBA Draft? What if Drew Bledsoe never got hurt?

In light of these questions, we've created a list of the most polarizing stories that could have been and run through how we think it would have went down based on what we know now. These "What Ifs" have come from draft decisions, bad calls from the refs, substance abuse and the injury bug with players, and even a couple premature retirements. Enjoy, The Biggest "What Ifs" in Sports History.

RELATED: The Greatest Mysteries in Sports History

What if Darryl Strawberry and Doc Gooden never used drugs?

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What if Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao fought?

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What if Grant Hill and Penny Hardaway stayed healthy?

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What if the Red Sox never comeback from 3-0 against the Yankees?

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What if the Pistons drafted Carmelo, Wade, or Chris Bosh instead of Darko Milicic?

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What if the Malice at the Palace never happened?

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What if Shaq and Kobe stayed together?

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What if Wayne Gretzky stayed in Edmonton?

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What if Babe Ruth never left Boston?

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What if the Blazers drafted Michael Jordan instead of Sam Bowie?

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What if the 2007 Patriots went undefeated?

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What if Barry Bonds never used PEDs?

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What if Mike Tyson didn't go to prison for three years?

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What if Drew Bledsoe never got hurt?

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What if Chris Webber didn't call timeout?

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What if Maradona got called for "The Hand of God?"

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What if Michael Jordan didn't retire in 1993 and 1998?

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What if Bo Jackson never got hurt?

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What if the referees never altered the 2002 Western Conference Semifinals?

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What if Barry Sanders didn't retire so early?

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What if the Blazers drafted Kevin Durant instead of Greg Oden?

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What if Michael Vick never gets caught for dog fighting?

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What if LeBron never did "The Decision?"

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What if the Tuck Rule was not?

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What if Len Bias didn't die after the 1986 NBA Draft?

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