On Thursday’s show of Big Blue Insider, Dick Gabriel will be asking “What If”. Some of our biggest sports legends, triumphs and failures where altered due to solitary events. One sharp turn and everything’s different. Dick will have his own list later on tonight (Big Blue Insider, 6-8pm, tell your friends) but I wanted to share some of mine and get your thoughts: 
 
Rick Pitino never took Kentucky’s offer? 
 
The Chargers and Colts switched QBs?  
 
Len Bias didn’t overdose? 
 
Dale Earnhart hasn’t crashed? Could he have at least passed Dave Pearson for #2 all time wins behind Petty? 
 
David Stanley never was kicked off SMU’s football team due to injuries and a substance abuse problem, which lead to him losing his stipend and then giving a damning interview to a Dallas TV station? How much longer would the violations have continued?  
 
The Malice In The Palace never happened? Do the Pacers win a championship? Does Ron Artest change to his stupid new name? 
 
Drew Bledsoe didn’t get creamed by Mo Lewis? Tom Brady never gets a start, team may not reach the Super Bowl, and Brady could have floated around the league.  
 
The Rick Pitino Led Celtics wind up with the 1997 First Pick – Tim Duncan, instead of the third and sixth pick – Chauncey Billups and Ron Mercer, both of who would soon be traded? 
 
Anthony Davis doesn’t shoot up in height when he was a junior in high school?  
 
Devery Henderson never caught the deflection on LSU’s Marcus Randell’s Hail Mary pass? 
 
Rich Brooks turned down UK? 
 
Dick Gabriel never shaved his beard?