The Top 5 Reasons You Can't Blame...

The Top 5 Reasons You Can't Blame... is a sports series that debuted in 2005 and aired on ESPN2 and ESPN Classic. The show ran from April 2005 to April 2007. The show was canceled when ESPN Classic phased out the production of original programs. Some episodes were planned[1] but never completed.

Format

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Hosted by Brian Kenny, the series examines controversial figures and events in the history of sports that featured figure(s) involved in the event later being labeled as a scapegoat. In each episode, the show defends the accused by presenting evidence to separate fact from fiction, and then explaining why the accused cannot be held accountable from experts and witnesses.

Several reasons that didn't make the list (called "The Best of the Rest") are discussed first, followed by the actual top five reasons.

The first episode aired in April 2005 and examined The Top 5 Reasons You Can't Blame Steve Bartman for the Cubs' 2003 playoff collapse. Bartman was excoriated by Cubs fans as the reason for the Cubs' 8th inning collapse against the Florida Marlins in the sixth game of the 2003 National League Championship Series. He unwittingly became the focus of the derision of long-suffering Cubs fans and the butt of many jokes.

Schedule history

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When the show moved to ESPN Classic late in 2005, the show debuted at 9 p.m. Eastern time. The following year, it was moved back to 10 p.m. In both cases, new episodes debuted on Tuesday and were repeated on Thursday. In late 2006, The Top 5 Reasons... was pulled back to Thursdays only, with the RM Classic Car Auction shown on Tuesdays. Reruns continue to air from time to time; for example, the episode in which Barry Bonds is exonerated aired on August 8, 2007, one day after his 756th career Major League Baseball home run established the new record.

Seasonal overview

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Season 1

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After the first episode, the topics in the 1st season covered The Top 5 Reasons You Can't Blame...

Season 2

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In September 2005, a new line-up of episodes was created. Season 2 examined The Top 5 Reasons You Can't Blame...:

Season 3

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Season 3 examined The Top 5 Reasons You Can't Blame...

Season 4

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The following programs aired in Season 4:

References

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  1. ^ Kinsley, John R. (August 22, 2018). "Remember ESPN's "The Top Five Reasons You Can't Blame..."?". Music City Miracles.
  2. ^ "PRESENTS A REBUTTAL TO ESPN'S "TOP FIVE REASONS WHY YOU CAN'T BLAME ART MODELL FOR MOVING THE CLEVELAND BROWNS TO BALTIMORE" (...AND THE TOP FIVE REASONS WHY YOU CAN BLAME HIM.)". Angelfire. Archived from the original on April 17, 2019.
  3. ^ David Pietrusza (2005-11-01). "Top 5 Reasons You Can't Blame Ralph Branca". Davidpietrusza.com. Retrieved 2019-01-17.
  4. ^ "More Top Five Reasons". Archived from the original on 2008-04-18. Retrieved 2008-02-03.
  5. ^ "Foreman's Loss, Top 5 Reason You Can't Blame". BoxingScene.com. August 17, 2006.
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