Discontinued sporting events that would be fun to see today…

Some of these would never happen for obvious reasons, but were unique and fun in their day.

NFL v CFL: Six games were played between NFL and CFL teams. They used hybrid rules and were all played in Canada. The NFL won each game. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats did beat the Buffalo Bills in 1961 in the only CFL-AFL matchup. On a similar note, the Packers and Raiders played a preseason game on an 80 yard field in Winnipeg because of safety concerns over goal post anchor points.

College All Star Game: From 1934-1976, a college all star squad took on the defending NFL champs. The college group managed to win 9, most recently in 1963.

American Bowl: No reason for this, as regular season games are being played internationally. I always thought it was cool to see my Cowboys play in Estadio Azteca. Let’s not forget Steve Spurrier’s Redskin offense going off against SF in the Osaka Dome.

McDonald’s Championship: This fun international contest featured an NBA team (eventually the reigning champ) against league champs from Europe, Australia, and South America. I remember seeing my Spurs dispatch the Varese Roosters and Vasco da Gama to win the final edition in 1999.

Super Series: These were exhibition games between Soviet league teams and NHL teams. The first edition featured Moscow Central Red Army and the Soviet Wings. The Soviets went 5-2-1. The most famous game was in 1976 when the Philadelphia Flyers bullied the Red Army en route to a 4-1 win, the first loss by the powerhouse Red Army. The game is remembered for the physical style imposed by the Broad Street Bullies.