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Who's the best replacement?
Page 2 staff

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Since the lockout of NFL referees is coming to an end, we've decided to honor the work of the replacement referees who worked Week 1.

Before these substitute zebras become a dim memory of this NFL season, Page 2 compares their work with some other famous replacements

Check out our candidates below, then vote for the one you believe was the best replacement -- or replacements -- of them all.


The Replacements, the film

Hollywood's take on the 1987 NFL strike and all the misfits that were brought in to replace pros. Keanu Reeves plays a scab quarterback and Gene Hackman plays a fiery coach.

The Replacements, the band

Influential and underappreciated punk-alternative rock band of the 1980s fronted by Paul Westerberg and known for drunken and wild behavior. The band was originally called the Impediments, but they changed their name after they were banned from a Minneapolis club because of disorderly behavior.

Replacement NFL referees

Were they better than the usual on-field officials? That's up to you to decide.

Lou Gehrig

Yankees first baseman Wally Pipp suffered his famous headache on June 2, 1925, allowing future baseball immortal Lou Gehrig to grab the job for the next 2,129 games. (Gehrig pinch-hit the day before so his consecutive games streak ended at 2,130).

Ringo Starr

Before The Beatles made their official recording debut, the Fab Four fired original drummer Pete Best in 1962 and replaced him with the more capable Ringo Starr.

Matt Cameron

Pearl Jam has had more trouble keeping drummers, though not with tragic consequences of Spinal Tap. By the time their hit debut album "Ten" came out in 1992, Dave Abbruzzese had replaced Matthew Chamberlin, who briefly replaced original drummer Dave Krusen. Abbruzzese was fired in 1994 and replaced with Jack Irons, who bowed out in 1998 because of health problems. Formerly of Soundgarden, Cameron has finally brought some stability.

Kurt Warner

Warner was an Arena League and World League star expecting a backup job with the St. Louis Rams in 1999. But a season-ending injury to Trent Green thrust Warner into the starting job and all he did was lead an aerial assault on the NFL, culminating with a victory in Super Bowl XXXIV.

Sean Connery

Barry Nelson first played James Bond in 1954's "Casino Royale." But Connery, who's still the best of the many Agent 007s, gave the role life in the next six Bond movies, beginning with "Dr. No" in 1962.

Dick Sargent

Producers of the ABC TV show "Bewitched" thought nobody would notice when they found a new Dick to play uptight mortal Darrin Stephens opposite good witch Elizabeth Montgomery. Sargent portrayed Darrin from 1969-72 after taking over for Dick York (Darrin from 1964-68), who had fallen ill.

Rose McGowan

What is it about TV shows about witchcraft that can't keep cast members? Difficult co-star Shannen Doherty "decided to seek other opportunities" and left the WB series "Charmed" after last season. Rose McGowan, who knows scary behavior well as an ex-girlfriend of Marilyn Manson and her role in "Scream," will step in this season as the long lost sister of Alyssa Milano and Holly Marie Combs.

Lester Patrick

In Game 2 of the 1928 Stanley Cup finals against the Montreal Maroons, Rangers goalie Lorne Chabot took a puck to the head and was knocked out in the second period. Teams didn't carry backup goalies then, so Rangers coach Patrick -- who was a star defenseman before retiring in 1926 -- went in net. Patrick, 45, allowed just one goal to lead the Rangers to a 2-1 overtime victory. Patrick's Blueshirts then won two of the next three, with rookie Joe Miller in net, to win the Stanley Cup.

Steve Fisher

When Michigan men's basketball coach Bill Frieder accepted a job at Arizona State at the end of the 1988-89 season, assistant Fisher was elevated to the Wolverines' top spot on an interim basis. That helped spark an NCAA Tournament run that culminated in the national championship with an 80-79 overtime victory over Seton Hall. Michigan eventually took the interim off his title, and he helped recruit the famous Fab Five freshman class of 1991.

Harrison Ford

In 1990, Alec Baldwin played Jack Ryan in the film version of Tom Clancy's novel, "The Hunt for Red October," about a Soviet rogue submarine. But by 1992's "Patriot Games," Ford's Ryan was 16 years older and didn't have the wet look.

Jimmy Smits

Smits joined "NYPD Blue" in 1994 for its second season. Smits' detective Bobby Simone replaced detective John Kelly, who had been played by David Caruso in the first season. The show continued to flourish despite the departure of Caruso, whose contract dispute became one of the biggest career mistakes in showbiz history.




ALSO SEE:
Real refs are back after accepting NFL's offer





 
    
 
 
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