If you could back in time and change 1 event, what would it be?

[Neurotic Guy]

Magic Johnson misses hook with 2 seconds left in 1987 Game 4.

OR

Celtics win the lottery in 1995.  Select Tim Duncan #1 and Tracy McGrady #6.

[ejk3489]

I would go back in time and slap some sense into my naive 18 year old self and tell 'em that it's not worth it to take out a ridiculous amount of money for a subpar college education just so I could experience living in the city of Boston. Why didn't anyone tell me that student loans were the devil?

[Moranis]

Wow. Too heavy of a topic!

Lots of things from insignificant and selfish (but not world altering) to significant and world changing. The problem with the latter, is what else changes?

If I stop MLK's assasination, or Hitler's rise to power, or Adam and Eve's eating of the apple, what else changes? And how do I know it will change things for the better?

Versus, if I change the numbers of a certain lottery ticket that I buy, I win and become rich, but the world doesn't really change much...

That is really examined in the book I cited in the opening post.  It really is a fascinating read.

[Roy H.]

I mean, yeah, it's got to be stopping Hitler.

Or, thinking more cosmically, stopping the worldwide Great Depression, which contributed to Hitler's rise.

[Redz]

I mean, yeah, it's got to be stopping Hitler.

Or, thinking more cosmically, stopping the worldwide Great Depression, which contributed to Hitler's rise.

Changing one moment in time, especially a major event would have trickle down effects that would likely have altered the population of the earth drastically.  And I'm not even talking population by numbers, but the actual set of humans on earth.  In all likelihood very few people of the same exact would have been conceived if their parents did anything different a millisecond  different in the altered scenario.  Much less if they'd never met.

[SparzWizard]

I do have a whole bunch, but in a smaller scale...related to this blog nation...

The Celtics preventing the LA Lakers from winning Game 7 of 2010 NBA Finals. Yes, the Boston Celtics celebrating their championship AT Staples Center would have been perhaps the most amazing thing I've ever witnessed in sports.

[hwangjini_1]

Try this one. Genghis khan dies 10 years later. That means the mongo,armies and allies roll over Europe forever changing European history, the rise of capitalism, the catholic church's power, and more.

[Moranis]

I mean, yeah, it's got to be stopping Hitler.

Or, thinking more cosmically, stopping the worldwide Great Depression, which contributed to Hitler's rise.

Changing one moment in time, especially a major event would have trickle down effects that would likely have altered the population of the earth drastically.  And I'm not even talking population by numbers, but the actual set of humans on earth.  In all likelihood very few people of the same exact would have been conceived if their parents did anything different a millisecond  different in the altered scenario.  Much less if they'd never met.

Yeah that was the premise of the book.  Basically the world was in such bad shape that the long in the future generations decided that anything would be better and thus went back in time to hopefully make a better future.

[angryguy77]

Al Gore, that way I wouldn't have the internet around to distract me from work.

[wahz]

I like the Hitler idea but Id go with having it clearly stated in the Declaration of Independence that all me are created equal and slavery wasn't allowed.

[slamtheking]

good topic -- TP.

tough call.  On a large scale, I'd consider bringing some technical/scientific knowledge back about 5000 years to see if the advancement of man would improve.    maybe decrease the division of mankind over religion and/or personal possessions/status.

On a personal level, either pick the numbers for the drawing prior to largest powerball jackpot so far (that way I get it all rather than share it with the person who picked the right numbers when it was actually hit--it also wouldn't stop that other person from winning on the next drawing, they just don't get as much-->would really like to become a big time philanthopist) OR go back to the time of Jesus and experience what happened with him first hand.  neither would be a big change in history but would be personally fulfilling (at least I think it would)

[TripleOT]

Basketall-wise - Len Bias not snorting coke on draft night, or Rondo not throwing that alley oop to KG in Utah where he hurt his knee. 

[BballTim]

Basketall-wise - Len Bias not snorting coke on draft night, or Rondo not throwing that alley oop to KG in Utah where he hurt his knee.

  Pretty sure you're officially the first time traveler ever. I think it was PP that threw the alley-oop.

[manl_lui]

personal topic

back 5 years ago, switch out of my major early so it wouldn't have took me 5 1/2 years to graduate, get an internship early to build up experience to get a job right out of college

basketball topic

gee where do I begin. KG never getting hurt in 09? Perk never getting hurt in 2010? Shaq never getting hurt in 2011? Green never getting hurt in 2012 so we probably would've beaten the Heat in 2012. Definitely Sully, Barbosa and Rondo's injury this year.

Len Bias, slap him and say "no coke for you!"

[CelticConcourse]

Not blowing the massive lead to Atlanta... then there'd be no Rondo ACL tear