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Talk sports, pop culture and more with SI.com's Jimmy Traina.6/21/2006 06:55:00 PM Most painful loss
The NBA Finals and Stanley Cup wrapped up this week, and while both series provided excitement, neither had that "Oh my God, this can't be happening" moment.
Yankees fans were shocked when Arizona pulled off a comeback against Mariano Rivera in Game 7 of the 2001 World Series.Photo by Al Tielemans/SI
Edmonton did a valiant job of coming back against Carolina in the series, but Game 7 wasn't memorable. And Miami's title win will be remembered just as much for the bad officiating as it will for being Dwyane Wade's coming-out party. Plus, the series ended in six games and Dallas' collapse was slow and gradual.
The bottom line is Mavericks fans and Oilers fans suffered some pain, but not real pain. Not that feel-like-you-got-kicked-in-the-stomach pain. I'm talking about the losses that keep you tossing and turning after a game, giving you one of those nights when you get three hours of sleep.
As a fan of the Yankees, Jets and Knicks, I've had a few of those losses in my lifetime. John Starks' 2-for-18 performance against Houston in Game 7 of the 1994 NBA Finals made me nauseous. The Jets collapse in Denver in the 1998 AFC Championship game was another defeat that left me wondering what the hell happened, especially since they had a lead at halftime.
But the most painful loss, the one that I'm still bitter about, the one I still can't watch highlights from, is Game 7 of the 2001 World Series when Mariano Rivera blew a one-run lead against the Diamondbacks. The way they Yankees lost that game still has me shaking my head. New York took a 2-1 lead on Alfonso Soriano's homer off of Curt Schilling in the top of the eighth. But things came apart in the ninth. Tony Womack, who later caused even more pain for Yankees fans when he joined the team in 2005, hit a double, Rivera threw a comebacker into center field for an error and Luis Gonzalez hit a bloop that barely made it out of the infield to score the winning run. I'm shaking just from typing this paragraph.
So sports fans, let's commiserate. Let's relive some pain. It'll be cathartic. Tell me what has been the worst loss you've experienced. What's the game your friends still bring up to push your buttons? What's the one game you'll always remember for being your lowest moment as a fan?Comments:
Bartman.As a die hard raiderfan it would have to be the bad "tuck rule" call.Raidernation should have been the one beating the Rams in that superbowl"Mesa," means, "Table," in Spanish. So of course, when Jose, "Set the Table," Mesa came into the 7th game of the the 1997 World Series, we all just KNEW, that the game was over. For the eighth inning, we had felt what being a champion felt like, and it was pretty good to be a Cleveland Indians fan, but then in came Jose and up in smoke our hopes went. I really don't remember much of the rest of the game, because everyone in my living room knew that the game was over the moment that Jose came into the game. Jose began that season in court for allegedly raping a local woman and he ended the season by committing grand larceny on our dreams.Most Red Sox fans can't even say the name "Boone" without a lump in their throat and tear in their eye.Game 6 and 7 1991 World Series. What would have been had the Braves won game 6. I liked Kirby but I hated him that night and Charlie Leibrandt too.New York Football Giants collapse against the 49ers.I don't blame Bartman, but the Cubs collapse in 2003 still makes me sick to my stomach. They had the lead at least twice in game 7 and couldn't hold it. My wife made me shut off both games, becasue I started throwing things.Ohio State's loss to Texas last year in football. The only loss that ever made my stomach hurt and made me lose an entire night of sleep.Scott freakin' Norwood ....I am appalled to hear a Yank's fan talk about painful world series losses. I'll give you the J-E-T-S Jets Jets Jets (although I will spare the classic Sox Yanks retort of I see your Yanks and raise you the Pats) but anyways. I am too young to say i Truly felt pain in '86, so I will have to say the worst I can remember is 2003-Grady Little-Pedro-enough said.Two come to mind:
1. The Red Sox loss in Game 7 to the Mets in the 1986 World Series. Don't forget that the Sox blew a lead in that game, too.
2. Aaron Boone's HR off of Tim Wakefield in Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS.
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The pain of these lessened considerably when the Sox performed their miracle run in the 2004 playoffs culminating in their very sweet World Series victory.Reggie pushes Leinart into the endzone.1998 NFC championship game. Gary Anderson had not missed a field goal or extra point all year, during the Vikings 15-1 season. Until that fateful moment near the end of the game. Denny green didn't do us any favors by kneeling on the ball that game either.I have two:
Roger Staubach to Drew Pearson Hail Mary versus the Vikings...I still say it was offensive pass intereference.
1998 NFC Championship Game, Vikings-Falcons. Vikes were a lock for the Super Bowl. Unfathomable how we lost that game. Still have to look away or change the channel when that game is replayed.As a Miami Dolphin fan growing up, seeing the Fins lose to Oakland in the 1974 playoffs when Stabler threw the wounded duck pass to Clarence Davis in the end zone with about 4 defenders surrounding him. It still makes me sick more than 30 years later.What pain? That was the greatest momemt I've ever seen in sports. I loved that game and the entire series. Of course, I say that as a Diamondbacks fan. I was in pain when Soriano hit that homerun knowing that Rivera was going to come in to close it. Just glad you felt the same pain we did in games 4 and 5 when Kim gave up those homeruns in the 9th. That was painful, because we all thought we were going to be remembered for the largest collapse in world series history.
My most painful memory is watching the Raiders fail to show up for Superbowl 37 against their old coach John Gruden. A great season will always be remembered by a horrible showing in the biggest game of the year.The Pittsburgh Steelers' 1994 AFC Championship loss to the 14 point underdog San Diego Chargers."The Drive" and "The Fumble"
Enough said.So many. Game 6 of the 1986 World Series when the Sox were ONE STRIKE AWAY from winning it and gave up a 2 run lead and the game...then were leading game 7 as late as the 6th inning!
The Boone shot in 2003 ALCS sucked, although we were redeemed the next year (Giambi's two 'roid-induced HR's in that game piss me off, too).
The bogus traveling call against McHale and the Celtics that cost them the 1988 (I believe) Eastern Conference Finals against the Pistons.
The cheating Kent Hrbek PUSHING Ron Gant off of first base to tage him in the 1991 World Series Game 6, and that Kirby catch he had no business making.
The absolute jobbing of the Patriots last year against Denver with that bogus pass interference call in the end zone and then the wrong call on that fumble by Champ Bailey through the endzone.
I think I'll stop here before I have a stroke.I recognize that the CFL isn't a high profile league in the US (sometimes not here in Canada either), but for those of us born in the province of Saskatchewan, bleeding 'Rider Green is a given. As the only community-owned team in the CFL and one with the quintessential loyal fans, the Roughriders have only managed to win 2 Grey Cups ('66 and '89). In 1976 they were favored to win against Ottawa and I remember cheering wildly with my family (I was 12 at the time)throughout the first three quarters from the basement of our new east coast home three time zones away from Saskatchewan, believing we would win. With twenty seconds left and with Ottawa facing third down (the equivalent of fourth in the NFL)we were holding our breath waiting for the win. The sick feeling started with the commentator's excited words "Gabriel is open in the end zone..." and then shock when Tony Gabriel made the winning touchdown reception on a simple corner pattern. He became a hero (grudgingly, even to me)and I still remember the shock and the sinking feeling even prior to seeing how wide open he was.The Buffalo Trifecta: Scott Norwood, the Music City Miracle, and Brett Hull's No-Goal.1992 NLCS Pirates/Braves Game 7. Weak armed Barry Bonds couldn't throw out slow footed Sid Bream from short left. Not only was it a jolting end to the season, but the end of the Pirates as we knoew them. They have barely had 0.500 seasons since. I knew it was the Pirates last run for glory (maybe ever?), so it stung all the worse.It wasn't the Bartman game for me, it was the next game with Kerry Wood on the mound. It was obvious by the 3rd inning that, as hard as he was trying, there was no way for Wood to pull this one off. He even hit a hr to try and help himself out. But man, it hurt me to admit to myself that even the Cubs Savior Himself wasn't good enough to save this one.how could you 'a yankees fan' not include the collapse of the yankees in the 2004 alcs. worst thing that has ever happened in all of sports. too painfulI had a feeling people would ask me about the Yankees' collapse in 2004. I know it came against our mortal enemies, but it happened over four games. And once the Yankees lost Game 5, I knew it was over because Boston had Schilling pitching in Game 6 and New York had Kevin Brown going in Game 7. Don't get me wrong, that series is painful, but it didn't hurt the way Game 7 in Arizona hurt.I know seeing that I'm a Yankees fan I shouldn't be posting something because we are a little spoiled. However my hero growing up was Don Mattingly, so there was no more painful loss than game 5 of the 1995 ALDS versus Seattle. Donnie Baseball was so close to ALCS we could taste it and seeing that during the season the Yankees had dominated Cleveland, I thought for sure he would finally make it to the series. But between Black Jack McDowell's pathetic pitching performance in relief and Griffey's heroics, the game still stings even ten years later. I hope to God the Yankees can win just one more ring just for Donnie to have one.I'd have to say last year's Colts loss to the Steeler's in the playoffs. It was a game of unfathomable circumstances. The Colts fall flat on their offensive faces, but the defense contains the Black and Gold enough to keep it close. Peyton Manning waves off the punt crew. They can see the mountain top, and then the famed non-interception. At that point, I had officially given up hope. Then you have Jerome Bettis' fumble in the red zone, and Nick Harper's return, just a day after getting stabbed in the leg. Out of nowhere, Big Ben tackles him, but its okay, because we're still in field goal range, and we have Vandy ready to go. Three crappy downs later, Vandy goes so wide right that the Punt, Pass, and Kick kids are all saying, "I could have made that." And the Colts Fan inside me dies a little more.Kansas State's loss to Texas A&M in the 1998 Big 12 Football Championship game. That blew our one chance to win a national championship.Phi Slama Jama was beaten at the buzzer in the finals by NC State. Still crying about it!!!!2002 NFC Championship.
Last game in the Vet.
Ronde Barber picks off McNabb in the 4th quarter.
I know he returned it for a touchdown, but I've still never seen it.Game 4 of the 1996 World Series. Jim Leyritz. It's tempered by the fact that the Braves won the World Series the year before, as that 2001 World Series loss, Jimmy, should be tempered by the fact that your beloved Yankees won the World Series 4 out of 5 years before that.For every Bulls fan who remembers Jordan's shot to win the Championship over the Jazz, there's a Bryon Russell and Jazz fan who loathes watching that shot over and over again.1998 NFL Wildcard game. Packers vs Niners. First of all, Jerry Rice fumbled and the Packers recovered just plays before the whole T.O. catch and pitiful crying episode. Second of all that game ended an era for the Green and Gold. That marked the end of Mike Holmgren and Reggie White in Green Bay. It still makes me sick to see Steve Young almost fall down, then throw the ball in between three Packers right into "Mouth's" hands. Actually i'm sick right now writing about it. I'm done.1992 National League Championship series where the Atlanta Braves beat the Pittsburgh Pirates in the bottom on the 9th on Francisco Gabra's single to left, that Barry Bonds fielded, that scored Sid Bream from second base. I felt like the Braves pushed a dull knife into my stomach and celebrated while I died and agonizing slow deathAs a diehard Yankee fan, the 2001 WS hurt the most. Granted the 2004 was unbearable after the 8th inning of Game 4, who's to say the team would've beaten the St. Louis Cardinals? Credit to that year's Red Sox. It was an 8-game sweep of the top two teams in baseball that year!
Back to my point, the 2001 World Series was almost as if it was scripted that the Yankees would win, on the heels of a national travesty that occurred in NYC nonetheless. The team, although regarded as heroes already, would have been able to lift The City's spirits even more with another title. The four previous championships won for that dynasty were great, in their own respect. This one, to me, stood for much more than just baseball. I just remember watching the end of that game with my jaw dropped to the floor. It's something I will never live down.The fixed Game 5 of the 1994 Eastern Conference semifinals. Hue Hollins. Hubert Davis. Scottie Pippen.It isn't easy being a Bengals fan - and every Joe Montana retrospective makes it harder, particularly when I know two of his highlights are last minute drives against us in Superbowls. Watching Tim Krumrie's leg crumble still haunts me.Rick Monday's home off Steve Rogers to end the Expos shot at their first world series. And then of course the baseball strike that ended the season with Expos clearly the class of baseball....become a Phoenix Cardinals fan and learn to love the loss! There a handful of us out there (we have a support group that meets weekly) that can take on even the worst heartbreaks.game 6, 1985 world series, don denkinger's call.
i have yet to find closure.Kordell Stewart to Michael Westbrook in the Big House in Ann Arbor still makes me ill to watch highlights of that game.2003 Fiesta Bowl. The 'Canes had their second consecutive national championship about wrapped up until they fell asleep for a play and allowed Ohio St. to convert a 4th and 16 in OT. Oh yeah, and that bogus pass interference call a few plays later on another 4th down only worsens the pain.2002 World Series...5 run lead with 8 outs to go before bringing the first Giants championship to San Francisco...and the bullpen that had been one of the best in the majors fell apart. Felix Rodriguez, Scott Eyre, Tim Worrell, and Robb Nen couldn't combine to get 8 outs before giving up 6 runs. As a lifelong Giants fan, that was the toughest loss I ever had to watch.it is a bad sign when your first sports memory is a ground ball rolling through the legs of Leon Durham...or at least my family's reaction to it.
however, i was at game 6 in 2003 at Wrigley with a clear view of the Bartman play. the real fiasco was the botched double play by Gonzalez that is conveniently a footnote to the 8th inning. i have never seen 40,000 people try to clap for a team coming off the field...at least the ones that were not trying to kill Bartman as he was escorted from the stadium for his own safety.Without a doubt, the 2004 Louisville-Kentucky basketball game. My Cards (admittedly) blow a BIG halftime lead after freshman sensation Tello Palacios gets his eyeball raked out by Rajon Rondo, but the final 5 seconds are some of the worst officiating I have ever seen. Patrick Sparks, the man who torched the Cards the entire second half, receives an inbounds pass in the corner, OBVIOUSLY shuffling his feet more than once to get behind the 3-point line, then jumps INTO an airborne defender to draw a very questionable foul. Sparks sinks all three free throws and the Cards lose, 60-58.As a Texas Tech Red Raider the 05 Cotton Bowl was rough. First Alabama's TD should not have happened because the guys knee was down when he caught the ball. Then, the world's ugliest kick ever somehow made it's way through right in the endzone i was sitting. It was our chance to prove we could beat the big boys and now we have to try again.2005 NCAA Tournament, Kansas vs. Bucknell. KU started out the season ranked #1 but played tentatively all season, and never jelled. As the season drew on the team fell apart, coming to a head in the first round. To add insult to injury, Roy Williams won it all with UNC that year.The 1994 Michigan-Colorado game...I have never heard 106,000 fans so quiet after that oneA tie between Byner's fumble and Kirk Gibson's home run. Devastating, just devastating.Packers loss to Philadelphia on a 4th and 24.1967 NFL Championship. The Ice Bowl. Cowboys and Packers. As an avid Cowboys fan, when Bart Starr sneaked across for the winning touchdown, it was the 1st time I ever cried over a sporting event.'83 Orange Bowl, where the best team not to win a national championship went for two and missed. Nebraska beating Miami in 1995 in the same venue was sweet revenge, but couldn't take the sting away from that lost night in Florida.7 missed calls in one game. Result? Florida's loss to FSU in 2003. So shocking was the officiating that we, as Florida fans, stood in the stands for thirty minutes after the game was over in complete disbelief. Although, revenge was was taken the following year when Florida beat FSU in Tally on the night when Bobby Bowden field was unveiled.Kent Hrbek pulling Ron Gant's leg off the bag to tag him out. Also, David Justice being called out at home because he supposedly failed to touch third base...even though all the replays showed otherwise.Being a diehard soccer and football fan my two worst moments include: A))The US soccer teams pathetic display in the '06 World Cup, esp against the Czech Rep and Ghana. B)) How can anyone not say anything about Dwayne Rudd and his infamous helmet throw against the Chiefs as time expires. I'm a huge Cheifs fan, but still, I can only imagine a Dawg Pound fans pain.As a kid, pops would take me to the now demolished Caps Center...I was there 1995 losing to the Pens in the first round after being up 3-1, getting crushed at home to lose game 7. Still remember throwing popcorn at Jagr as they walked back through the tunnel after winning.January 2006 comes close. Mike Vanderjagt's missing so wide right that he MISSED THE NET against the eventual Super Bowl Champs notwithstanding, my most painful loss came 10 years earlier, also against the Steelers.
"Harbaugh tosses the Hail Mary...Who has it?...It bounces arou...Aaron Bailey! Aaron Bailey! Wait...Oh no, Bailey couldn't hold on..."As a Jets, Mets, and Nets fan, I know as well as anyone that any loss is painful. However, when you're the underdog, at least you can say "Well we weren't even supposed to be here." That's how I got past the Jets/Broncos and Jets/Steelers playoff games, the 2000 World Series, and the NBA Finals in 2002 and 2003.
The 2001 World Series was definitely painful, and I've yet to see that bottom of the 9th since it happened live (I even have to change the channel on that HBO special on the Yankees playoff run post-9/11 after Game 5), but at least I got to share that pain with everyone who isn't an Arizona fan...
My "Macho Grande", however, is definitely the 2003 Fiesta Bowl...seeing my beloved Hurricanes stripped of their first back-to-back titles by a horrendous pass interference call is more than I can bear. When you're supposed to win, play as poorly as you can, and still have the opportunity to win, only to have it taken away by the refs is pretty rough...
At least I've gotten to enjoy every Ohio State loss, the smearing of the program, and the downfall of Maurice Clarett sinceIn 1990, Virginia was atop the college football polls for three weeks--quite an accomplishment for a program that less than ten years earlier was considered one of the worst college football teams. Their nationally televised home showdown against #2 Georgia Tech ended in the last seconds on a long GT field goal. The 41-38 loss was devastating to national title hopes and to an electric giddyness in Charlottesville. GT went on to a co-national championship, and Virginia lost three of its last four games, including a blown 16-0 halftime lead versus Tennessee in the Sugar Bowl.UK ("The Unforgetables) vs Duke, 1992 East Regional Final, Christian Laetner's shot on the pass from the end line by Grant Hill. What makes it worse is that Laetner should have been ejected earlier in the game for purposely stepping on Aminu Timberlake's chest.Jeffery Maier....little piece of....Bucky !@#$% Dent .. enough said.The Slide:
It was 1992. Game 7 of the NLCS. Sid Bream lumbering around third off a hit from Francisco Cabrera. Throw from Bonds at the plate. Sid slides under Spanky's tag. SAFE!
Francisco Cabrera... I hate that guy.Ernest Byner fumbling on the one yard line against the Denver Broncos! And the worst part was, no one really even touched him. To this day, Cleveland hates the name Elway!I'm a life-long Packers fan. For the some reason the loss that still sticks with me was the Pack's loss to Washington at the end of the '72 season. That year, the Packer’s offense featured a 1-2 running punch of John Brockington and McArthur Lane. It seemed that Washington was the first team they faced all season that realized the Pack COULDN'T PASS!! The Redskins went with a 4-4 defense, and completely shut the Pack down.Watching Carson Palmer on the ground in pain after a 60 yard bomb during the first offensive series against Pittsburgh in the playoffs. The whole house was stunned, even the dog. Here in Cincy, the playoffs don't come around too often.... we knew that was the end of the season for the Bengals.Personally I have to vote for the Bengals getting Joe Montanaed in Super Bowl XXIII2004 World Junior Hockey Championships. Canada vs. the U.S. Marc-Andre Fleury in the Canadian goal, one of the most highly touted goaltending prospects of his generation, starting at the time with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Lets in a weak wrister to tie a game Canada was winning 3-2. Then, puck coming in. Fluery goes to clear it. And then somehow contrives to... bungle it into his own net to allow the Americans to win 4-3. It made every Canadian (where this tournament is actually a big deal) want to grab a goalie stick and crack it over his head. A monumental choke and Fleury has never quite been the same since.1982 Big Game -- I was a manager for Stanford's basketball team. The team was listening to the game on the radio while preparing to practice (the game wasn't on free TV in the Bay Area). Elway had set up the go-ahead field goal and we were making plans for our 6-5 team to go to a bowl game. Then the kickoff and total chaos and confusion. I remember the head coach asking me to stay in the locker room to listen to the broadcast, so we could get an explanation of what happened. I listened for another 15 minutes trying to sort things out. When I got home later and saw the replay, I was almost sick. That play probably cost Elway the Heisman, too.Blue Jays/Tigers Final season series in 1987.
The Jays lost their final 7 games after loosing catcher Ernie Whitt to broken ribs in the next to last series of the season against the Brewers and Tony Fernandez broke his elbow on a sketchy Bill Madlock slide to break up a double play a few weeks before.
Manny Lee, who had taken Fernandez's place at shortstop, let a trickler go through his legs to blow the first game of the series,(for which I never forgave him) and Frank Tanana of the Tigers outpitched the Jays Jimmy Key in a 1-0 game on the last day of the year to clinch the AL East.
As a 12 year old lad, I actually cried.For all you New England fans whining about a phantom call on Kevin McHale in the 90's, or about last year's Denver game, and for all you New York fans complaining about the (fill in the blank) Yankees, Mets, Giants, Jets, Knicks losses--The Drive, The Fumble, The Shot over Craig Ehlo, Red Right 88, Game 7 in 1997, Games 3,4 and 5 in 1999, including Pedro's relief stint. To be a fan in Northeast Ohio is a series of gut shots.Oiler's collapse against Buffalo in '93. The day before, I got married, the day of the game, I was cruising to the airport with a 35 - 3 lead. Flew to Mexico for honeymoon. No TV, no newspaper, no communications of any kind. Come back to houston a week later expecting to be at Pittsburgh, only to find out, "WE LOST?!?!Game 6, 2002 World Series. Giants blow 5-0 7th inning lead, lose the game 6-5 and go on to lose the series in 7 games. I still can't stand the sight of the ralley monkey and the sound of thundersticks. And we don't even have a championship in the last 50+ years to dull the pain!SB XL. As a Hawks fan I cannot stand to watch any type of highlight...The bad calls, the dropped passes by TE Stevens..after talking trash before the game to Porter...Ugh, makes me sick to watch any highlights of it. Such a great season, yet played so poorly and out of character on the big stage...John Paxson's three pointer in Game 6 of the 1993 NBA finals...
I was in Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix when he hit the shot. You could have heard a pin drop in the place (except for the two Bulls fans who where jumping around)
Ugh...Illinois' dream hoops season in 2005 stripped away by a Raymond Felton steal with seconds left. Ranked #1 for 15 consecutive weeks, finished 37-2. Best team not to win a title.As a graduate of the University of Missouri, at times there seem to have been too many tough losses to count. The 5th down play at home against Colorado and "The Catch" at home against Nebraska come to mind. I was sitting on the Nebraska 20 for that one. But the one that is the worst is the Tyus Edney play when UCLA advanced to win the national championship. That play runs over and over in my head. To make it worse, come tournament time, CBS always makes it part of their opening credits or it winds up in some damn Pontiac commercial or something. My wife tries to distract me so I don't go into a tirade every half hour.My most painful loss was in 1960 when the Pirate's beat the Yankees in the 7th game (I was 10 years old and lived in the NY area at the time). I can still see Yogi Berra looking at the ball go over the wall in left field and Bill Mazaeroski practically sprinting around the bases with a big smile on his face. That was so painful.
When your team loses a close game such as Mr. Traina's Yankees in the 2001 Series, remember there is incredible joy on the other side. As a Diamondback fan, myself and 2 of my young teenage children were literally jumping for joy.The Drive and The Fumble. Any other entry doesn't compare.Do college sports count? For me it's a toss-up between the 1987 NCAA basketball final when the last-second 3-pointer fell to beat the 'cuse (the pain is tempered somewhat by the fact that they managed to prevent the same thing from happening when they won the tournament in 2002), and the 1991 tournament when the first time a #15 seed beat a #2 seed occurred, again with my beloved Orange on the losing end. Hurts even more that Richmond still has a recap on their website.College Football 2005, Northwestern 28, Iowa 27. Iowa blows a 13 point lead with 3 minutes to go (a week after blowing a home game to Michigan). When the game ended, I took all my Iowa gear (hats, shirts, etc...), tossed it in a wheel barrow with a half gallon of gas, lit it up. Haven't worn or bought anything with Iowa on it since.My most painful game that hasn't yet been mentioned was Ohio State-Michigan in 1996. Heisman winner Eddie George was the best back in the country, but on that day the Silver Bullets let that putz Tim Biakabatuka run for 314 yards in further proof of John Cooper's incompetence (like we needed it at that point). Biakabatuka, by the way, exceeded that total in but 3 of his professional SEASONS. His name was practically a swear word in my family for years after this. To throw a little more salt in the wound, Cooper finally decided to not completely blow his bowl game that year, which left us with a #2 ranking and yet another season of wasted championship-level talent.Derek Fisher's ability to either slow time down or move faster than any human being ever could. Who can catch, turn around and shoot in 0.4 seconds...maybe Speedy Gonzalez or Flash Gordon (the comic book hero...not D-Wade). Kill the clock operator for robbing the Spurs!I am die-hard Yankees fan and I too was devasted when they lost Game 7 to the Diamondbacks (besides the heartbreaking manner in which they lost, it made it all the more painful that they lost to a team that wears PURPLE!).
However, the loss to the Mariners in game 5 of the 1995 Division series was even more painful. To see Donnie Baseball go out like that was the worst!Leaf fans will recall in horror the night that Wayne Gretzky led the Kings to a victory over the Leafs in Game 7 of the 1993 Western Conference Final right in Maple Leaf Gardens, thus denying the now impossible scenario of a Montreal/Toronto Stanley Cup final. It was also my birthday that night, giving me an extra excuse to down a few too many Molsons after the game....Game 7 of the 1992 National League Championship Series - I will always hate Barry Bonds for making my mother cry that night.1980 Florida-Georgia game...Buck Belue-to-Lindsay Scott...Ouch!!!Ohio State's 17-16 loss to USC in the 1980 Rose Bowl. It was the first OSU team in the post-Woody era...they weren't supposed to be that good...yet they went undefeated! Then they lost by one point to one of the most awesomely-talented college teams ever (Ronnie Lott, Joey Browner, Charles White, head coach John Robinson). I still can't watch that game.Immaculate freaking reception. Raiders have the game won and Franco comes out of nowhere to catch an illegal ball that has already touched another Steeler. My dad is still rolling over in his grave over that one.1987 - the baggy - Kent Hrbek - the Metrodome.
If there is a lottery to see who gets to push the plunger on the dynamite that destroys that abomination of a stadium - sign me up.
No way the Twinkies beat the Tigers that year without the Metrodome.The league leaning for the Lakers to Threepeat. A more talented Kings team at home.... Game 7, Western Conference Finals, 2002. When Peja airballed at the end for the lead, my stomach still turns thinking about it.My most painful loss was the loss of my SuperBowl XL ticket and hour before the game. Still do not know if I dropped it, was pick-pocketed, or what. Never got it. Still lose sleep over it.Game 7, 2000 Western Conference Finals. After falling down 3-1 (including both games 3 and 4 at home), Portland guts out game 5 and 6 victories and is leading the Lakers in LA by 17 freakin points with a minute gone in the fourth quarter.
And then, just like that, I watched the greatest single game gag job in the history of basketball. 2000 miles from home. In a common room on an army base filled with nothing but Laker fans.
I couldn't show my face in there for a month. Neither the Blazers or myself have been quite the same since."The Shot". I fell to the floor in pain just like Craig Ehlo and I've never watched the NBA since. Thanks Jordan.Eagles vs. Bucs in the NFC Championship Game. The script was perfect - it was the last game at the Vet, it was freezing cold, and we just OWNED the Bucs (beat them earlier that season and in the previous two playoffs).
Brian Mitchell almost took back the opening kick and then we scored on the next play. They game was over. They couldn't score on us.
Just thinking about it still makes me sick to my stomach.Worst loss? Losing a playoff game 3 years ago to the Eagles with less than 2 minutes left and the Eagles on 4th and 26...and they got it. I still feel like throwing up just remembering it!All the Red Sox disappointments were painful, but 2004 wiped them away...no...mine's a hockey disappointment:
92-93 playoffs...Kings vs Canadiens...the Kings are leading in game 2 and have completely owned the series...then McSorely gets called for an illegal stick...Habs score on the powerplay to tie...win in OT...and take the series on a few more OT wins...denying my Kings their first title in team history...friggin John LeClair and Patrick Roy....as a rams fan, 2002 superbowl vs the pats. we were a dynasty in the making, yet we lost to a team that we were clearly better than in my mind (heck, we beat them earlier in the regular season at their place). i can still see that FG going through the uprights in the waning seconds.Game 1 of the Knicks-Pacers 1995. Reggie Miller's 8 points in 9 seconds & the worst push off never calledI have been heartbroken by the Gator chokes vs our state rivals in the past few years...1994, Choke at Doak, blew a 31-3 lead against the Noles in the 4th quarter (and then lost the rematch in the Sugar Bowl). In 2003, we led the Noles in the Swamp with a minute left and gave up a 60 yd touchdown pass (by Chris Rix of all people) to lose. And finally in 2003 had a 23 pt lead agst the Hurricanes in the Orange Bowl and gave up 4 TD's (by traitor Brock Berlin who left Florida cause he couldn't win the QB job) in the 2nd half and blew it.Mazeroski's homer in the 1960 world series.Scottie Pippen's phantom foul against the Knicks in 1994. Note to Hue Hollins: You're still not welcome in Chicago.Christian Laettner - who should have been ejected for stomping on Aminu Timberlake - hits the game winner in the greatest basketball contest ever. I want to puke every time a CBS video montage comes on.The 1993 Phillies scratch and claw their way to a World Series behind hustle and grit, then Vile Thing Williams serves up a meatball to that overpaid fatcat leader of the overpaid fatcat Blue Jays, and it's all over.1979 Orioles -- losing game 7 in Baltimore and the Series after leading 3-1Most of you guys wont know anything about this one, but in the English Premiership (soccer) my team Tottenham Hotspur were tied at 0-0 with Manchester United with just minutes to go. Tottenham had not won in Manchester for over 15 years and were huge underdogs in this game. As the seconds ticked away, our midfielder Pedro Mendes launched a shot from all of 50 yards towards the goal, which the Man United goalkeeper fumbled over the goal line, only to scoop it out again. We were all celebrating like mad at the pub until we realised that the referee had not given the goal. With just seconds to go, Tottenham surely would have had a famous victory; instead they had to settle for a draw. Video of that 'goal'- which the Man-United-loving British media enjoy playing over and over again still makes me mad, as do the snide remarks from United fans which will continue until that tape wears out!Blue Monday. Dodgers beat the Expos on Rick Monday's 9th inning home run. The Expos would have likely gone on to win the World Series and the franchise would probably still be in Montreal.How about the 1986 ALCS when the ANGELS were a strike away from beating the Red Sox. Mauch replaces Witt, Lucas hits a batter then poor Donnie Moore writes his life's sad coda.UConn is on teh verge of making it to the big time in basketball and playing Duke in the Meadowlands: winner goes to teh Final Four. The Huskies are up by one. Duke has the ball, the ball is thrown in Tate George tips it away, if he recovers it, it is over. Instead it goes out and freakin' Laettner hits a winning shot.
Or was it in Miami when UConn's Donyell Marshall in the free throw line with two shots and one second to play. Score tied. He makes one it is over. He misses both. UConn loses to Florida, who goes on to the Final Four,in overtime.
Fortunately two national championships have eased the pain a little.NFC Championship in San Francisco. As a 49ers fan there was a nearly invioable belief that Joe Montana, in the playoffs, could do little wrong and led the team to victory. Especially after back to back Super Bowls in 1988 and 1989, I was sure we were going to get past the Giant to reach the 1990 Superbowl. But then Montana rolled out and was crushed. As he was taken out of the game the sense of invincibility dissipated and I just knew deep in my gut that we were not going to win. And that sense that such a close game was going to be lost before the clock hit zero just made my heart sink.Super Bowl Tennessee and St. Louis. Dyson gets hit on the 1 yard line and the game ends. i have never lost so much sleep over a game.1988 - Clemson vs. Florida State. The score was tied and Clemson had just stopped the 'Noles on third down. That moment is still the loudest I ever remember it being in Death Valley. Florida State sent on the punting unit with less than three minutes to play. The Tigers were going to get the ball back with an opportunity to set up for a game winning field goal. What happened was one of the greatest executed fakes in the history of college football. “The Puntrooskie” fooled me. I thought there was a bad snap and Clemson was running to recover the ball in the end zone for a touchdown. I did not pick up Leroy Butler until he was on the Clemson 30 yard line. To say I was stunned is selling the emotion short. To this day, I have a hard time believing that Bowden had the nerve to make the call that eventually beat the Tigers.October 26, 1996...West Virginia was 7-0 and hosting the hated Miami Hurricanes. A defensive struggle seemed to be won by the Mountaineers, as they were up 7-3 with 26 seconds to go...But instead, Miami blocks the punt, and Tremain Mack scoops it up and runs it back for a TD...WVU never recovers, finishes the season 8-4. Ugh, what a punch in the stomach.As a Dallas Cowboy fan the toughest loss was the 1981 NFC championship game vs Frisco(aka, the catch). I was 12 at the time, and I don't know if I've ever completely gotten over it.Back to back years - Avalanche game 7 against the Stars. Both series we had a 3-2 lead, game 6 at home. We were the better team. Except for Eddie faakin Belfour. And all the clutching grabbing illeagal play that is now verboten.
Ray Bourque's shot that Adam Deadmarsh deflected off the post - CLANG!!! It was like someone stabbed me in the eye.
Only time it was worse was the Broncos' collapse against an upstart wildcard Jacksonville team in 1996. 13-3 - how the heck could that happen????As a Redskins fan I would have to say the loss to the Raiders in Super Bowl XVIII still stings the worst. The Redskins tore through the rest of the NFL that year and just flat out got outplayed by Marcus Allen and company. I still can't stand to watch old NFL Films replays of Allens big run or the interception thrown by Theismann while backed up to his own end zone. I still shudder at those 2 plays.Brett Hull's skate in the crease was the worst call in the history of sports. Dallas' victory in game six on a NO GOAL has led property values in Buffalo to decrease, job losses, pollution in Lake Erie, increased snowfall, and THE SPREAD OF BAD WINGS!
- Well maybe not but that game was too much to take after four straight Superbowl losses a few years earlier.I really think I can top everyone. Most of the other postings, though no doubt painful, don't really do it for me because in all those cases "there's always next year" (especially for Yankee fans - are you kidding me?). My most painful loss came when I was 15 years old, on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to the World Cup in Italy. The Azzurri, whom I supported with all the passion of a 15-year-old diehard, had advanced to the semifinal without conceding a goal, and had an early lead against Argentina in the semis. Then, in an hour of madness, it was all over. A chintzy goal resulting from a horrible goalie error (so horrible in fact that the goalie, Walter Zenga, basically had to leave the country after a few years to get away from the incessant abuse), followed by a scoreless extra time and elimination on penalty shots. And that was it. It will probably be another 60 years before Italy gets to host another World Cup, and the chance of celebrating an Azzurri World Cup win in Italy is, for me, gone forever.Grant Ledyard falls down, Todd Marchant races around his lifeless body, cuts to the front of the net and roofs one over Andy Moog. Edmonton wins Game 7 in OT, in Dallas over a strong Dallas Stars team just learning to play in the playoffs. God that sucked.Pain is defined by "The Catch" to we Cowboys fans. Doomsday Defense has Montana running for his life. He throws it up. Ball is snagged out of thin air by Dwight "I hate your guts" Clark. To make matters worse, Dallas is driving for the go-ahead field goal only to fumble it away near mid-field. I use to pray for the 49'ers team plane to go down. See ya, I have to go throw up...as a die-hard oakland a's fan for over 30 years, i still have nightmares of mr. hobble - kirk gibson - trotting around the bases after his pinch-hit, game winning homer off of one of the game's best closers of all time.
and as a boxing fan, i still gripe about Oscar de la Hoya's loss against Trinidad in September 1999. Yes, he took the latter rounds off, but do you all remember how bloodied and bruised Tito was? Everyone who knows about boxing agrees that Oscar won and Tito lost, yet history and the scorecards will forever show a different outcome...Charles Woodson stealing Peyton Manning's Heisman trophy in 1997.
(Special thanks to ESPN for over-hyping Woodson all year just to keep what should have been a runaway race interesting)Miami Hurricanes vs. Ohio State Buckeyes. How much was that referee paid to throw that flag that denied the 'Canes back-to-back championships? The way I look at it it's simple, "if you can't beat us, cheat us." That's just what they did in that game and don't get me started with Maurice Clarett. They should take that Buckeye Championship away and give it to the rightful owners the Miami Hurricanes!The 1993 Notre Dame- Boston College football game, the week after Notre Dame beat then #1 FSU to take over the #1 ranking. Boston College won on a last second field goal at Notre Dame Stadium. FSU won the national championship later that year.It's not even close...
January 3, 1993.
Have a 28-3 lead at Halftime. Quickly take a 35-3 lead following an INT returned for a touchdown.
Then Don Beebe steps out of bounds on his supposed TD catch.
Then the wheels fall off, and we have to scramble to get to overtime...
then Ernest Givens is held while Moon throws the game-ending INT.
Yeah, it sucks to be an Oilers fan.Dude, you're a Yankee fan. You shouldn't even have written this blog entry. With that said I have three words for you:
Bucky F'ing Dent.2001 division series. A's v. Yankees.
Everytime I see the play where Jeter nails Jeremy Giambi at the plate, I scream "SLIDE! FOR THE LOVE OF GOD! SLIDE!"1994 Eastern Conference Finals - Devils vs. Rangers. Stephane Matteau's overtime goal. As a Devils fan, I still can't stand to hear that name.Jeffrey #$%#ing Maier. How could the only people responsible for making the correct call be the only ones that didn't see the play?Growing up in KC I know a bit about losing, especially since I was born after 85. But 97 hurt the worst. Im a huge Jayhawk basketball fan. 97 we Pierce, Lafrentz, Vaughn, Pollard. We wre the best in the country. Losing to Arizona was bad enough. I was ten years old and I cried. But then to watch the wildcats go on and win the title man that still hurts everytime I think about it.1998 - Arkansas V Tennessee. Both teams are 8-0. Arkansas leading late in the 4th with the ball. Stoerner, the QB, stumbles and gently sets the ball on the ground. Tennessee scores seconds later. Arkansas loses 2 of its next 3, Tennessee wins the national championship. Oh yea, on my BIRTHDAY.Old School - Nothing worse than 1971 AFC Championship game - longest ever played between the Chiefs and Dolphins. Jan Stenerud misses two field goals and one of the greatest games ever played by Eddie Podolak goes for naught. Even to this day, when I watch replays, I think there is a chance that Jan will make it this time...1984 NLCS, Game 4, Steve Garvey. Excuse me now, I have to go throw up!It's got to be when John Paxson hit the three to beat the Suns in the 1993 NBA finals. I was about 8 years old when that happened and I can still feel how empty I felt after that shot fell. I still to this day wonder "what if" that shot had bounced out and there had been a game 7 in the purple palace.Speaking of the J-E-T-S. I was at the Dan Marino fake spike game.....they never won another game that year and then they brought in Kotite. That one play ruined 3 years of my life.Keith Smart's shot to beat Syracuse in the NC in 1987. Still always shown on NCAA coverage to rub it in.1996 World Series...Mark Wohler throws a curve to Jim Leyritz and the ball proceeds to fly over the outstretched glove of Chipper Jones in left and clears the wall. Why did flamethrower Wohlers throw a curve?! What should have been back-to-back World Series titles for ATL instead sent the Braves vaulting toward more post-season misery.kenny rogers with that walk!!! as mets fan, that was easily my toughest!!!Watching Vince Young beat the USC Trojans single handily in this year's Rose Bowl. I mean he walked in on every touchdown. Then when we actually have the chance to keep the lead and the win by punting. We can convert on 2 yards. He took the lead all by himself because the trojans couldn't tackle.Joe Montana, Super Bowl XXIII
The Bengals were less than 2 minutes away from the crowning moment in franchise history, and Joe Montana ripped our hearts out . . . again.1995 NBA Finals, Nick Anderson going 0-4 at the Foul line, needing only to make 1 to secure a victory, and the Magic continuing the trend by going 0-4 altogether.O boo hoo to the Yankees. Its not like they don't have 26 other world championships to celebrate. You want painfull? Well, here ya go...
"The shot"
"The drive"
"The fumble"
And Mesa blowing it in the '97 series.
Why do I do this to myself?Charles Smith not being able to sink a layup on multiple shots against the Bulls in the playoffs.1984. Texas Longhorns rated #2 behind #1 Nebraska. Cotton Bowl against #7 Georgia. Texas had a 9-3 lead with 4 minutes left. A win here would give UT #1 if Nebraska lost to #3 Miama in the Orange Bowl game. Georgia punted to a nonstarter at punt return Craig Curry. He fumbled the ball away at the 23 yard line. Georgia later scored their only touchdown and UT lost 10-9. Later that night Nebraska DID lose to Miami and since Texas lost as well Miami catapulted to the #1 spot! That loss still pains me to think about it! Instead Texas had to wait another 21 years before UT could do it for real.Gotta Agree w/ Matt0... Kirby Puckett (R.I.P.)back in '91 against the Braves. That started the ripple effect which had the Braves known as the "Buffalo Bills of Baseball!"As a Florida State fan, pick any "Wide Left" or "Wide Right" loss vs. Miami.Kentucky alum here, so Laettner's last shot is a little taste of hell for me each time it appears on highlight shows. Years later, seeing Laettner's name in the NBA injury reports never failed to make me smile, wishing him a long and painful recovery.Reggie Jackson hitting three homers in one World Series game against the Dodgers in 1977. That one still brings pain to me. The pain was salved a little in 1981 when the Dodgers beat the Yanks.1979 World Series--the Orioles lost to the Pirates after racing out to a 3 games to 1 lead in the series. The series loss would have been bad enough, but to have to deal with the incessant playing of "We are family" and listening to Omar Moreno's wife "cheering" was just too much.
And pretty much every Orioles' season since 1997 (all losing seasons--THANK YOU, PETER "THE TROLL" ANGELOS!!)I am a huge Browns fan, the only team I like better is the Ohio State Buckeyes. When OSU lost to Texas last year not only did I not sleep that night I found no interest in the Browns game the next day and the sick feeling in my stomach didnt go away until the Buckeyes beat Notre DameThe Los Angeles Rams losing in the NFC championship game in 1975 to the Dallas Cowboys 37-7, after going 12-2-0 behind the strongest defense in the NFC, allowing only 135 points in 14 games. The Cowboy defense limits the Rams to only 22 yards rushing and intercepts the Rams 3 times. I remember going to school the next day and facing the taunting from my friend Randy, who was a big Cowboy fan.the '71 divisional playoff game between KC and Miami, being a KC fan it was terrible, Stenerud missing 3 fgs, the game goes into double OT, still the longest game in nfl history, CRUSHING!!!!! It took KC years to get back in the hunt for the playoffsAfter beating the Raiders 37-35 in the regular season, the Redskins' 38-9 Super Bowl loss to that same Raider team still makes me cringe.97 Game seven world series. Tony Fernandez boots a routine grounder after not having an error in 88 straight games that set the table for the Marlins to tie the game. Then to watch a busted up Charles Nagy come in and lose the game was just crushing. A real punch in the stomach, kick in the face loss. And you as a Yankee fan don't have the right to a heartbroken loss because of the number 26- the number of championships they've won, so shut up1985 NLCS, Ozzie Smith hits a homerun off of Dodger closer Tom Neidenfurer, LEFT-HANDED!!! The Wizard hadn't hit a homerun left-handed since he played for the Padres, or at least a really long time.Edmonton Oilers Steve Smith scoring on his own goalie (Grant Fuhr) in a game 7 vs Calgary Flames in 1986.Notre Dame vs. USC, 2005...almost killed myselfHow the heck does a Jet fan like the Yankees? We're Met fans!
(and agreed the 98 Champ game loss was painful, but it unfolded over 30 minutes so you could see it coming like a train on the tracks you just couldn't get out of the way) But how does Doug Brien miss the second kick against Pittsburgh???!! btw, that was my weddding reception, and too many of my friends are Steeler fans. Talk about mixed emotions!All Redskins fans can relate to this one: 1984, Superbowl XVIII, Raiders 38-Skins 9, Marcus Allen breaking John Riggins Super Bowl record for longest rush from scrimage record, Theisman's ill fated screen pass to Joe Washington that ended up as 6 for the Raiders...22 years later, it still hurts.January 25, 1998 - SB XXXII - Packers vs. Broncos. I would've saved myself the $3,000 for 2 tickets, that ended up being in the absolute last row of the "Q" (in the end zone no less), if I knew that Mike Holmgren's last game of actually "COACHING" the Packers was 2 weeks before in the NFC Champ. game. I guess if I was day dreaming about Paul Allen's money my mind would be elsewhere too.The only time I have ever cried that didn't involve someone I loved dying was the after game 7 of the 2003 ALCS when the Red Sox lost to the Yankees.I agree with Jimmy. The '01, especially after the two homers, 9/11, and 4 of 5 championships...it was surreal to lose. It bothers me more than the collapse against Boston.As a die-hard Cleveland sports fan, there are so many painful memories...
"The Fumble", "The Drive", Jordan over Ehlo, Mesa blowing it in the World Series, etc. etc...
I'm sorry Cubs fans, but you have the Bulls and the Bears (and the Sox, I guess...)Puke University stole it from UK when Christian Laetner it the shot. We have to watch it every time I watch a March madness game, this highlight is played. It makes me want to go smack somebody.Bobby Thompson's infamous home run!!!!!I have no sympathy for NY Yankees fans. How many World Series' have you won? In San Francisco, we are still waiting. Game 6 of the 2002 World Series still stings. Dusty should have left Russ in the ballgame. Nen had nothing left. Did he not know that? We blew a big lead and we weren't competitive in Game 7.
As a kid, I remember crying when the Cowboys came back and beat the Niners in 1972. We were up by 15 at the start of the fourth quarter. Staubach came in and finished us off.K-State vs. Texas A&M in the 1998 Big 12 Championship. K-State led by 15 in the fourth quarter. After watching UCLA lose earlier in the day, a victory would have secured an undefeated season and a trip to the national championship game. Of course they lost in overtime.Gary Anderson's first missed field goal of the year in 1998 against the Falcons in the NFC championship game"The Catch" by Dwight Clark from Joe Montana to propel San Francisco over Dallas in the 1981 NFC championship game is my most painful moment.
A close second is Duke's loss to UCONN in the 1999 NCAA championship game...1989 NCAA Sweet Sixteen. NC State Wolfpack down by a point against Georgetown and Alonzo Mourning with time running down. Chris Corchiani for the Pack drives the lane and throws up a running one-hander as he knocked to the ground for a foul. Should be Corchiani going to the line for a 3-point play. Instead, the whistle blows and TRAVELING is called, even though replays clearly showed that, not only did he not take two steps, he didn't even take ONE step! Worst call ever. And I had tickets to the Final Four that year. Argggghhh.The only pain in the 2001 World Series is that the D-Backs didn't sweep the Yankees. Kim threw two gopher balls. That was really painfulThe biggest lost fan can suffer is to lose is favorite team. I lost my baseball team, the Montreal Expos to money, stupid people and ignorant baseball fans that know nothing about Montreal and I lost my hockey team , the Quebec Nordiques for the same reasons. Can anyone beat that....?2003 Boone.
Too young to remember 86 (born 85). My first real sports induced heartbreak.Lakers vs. Kings when (ugh) Robert Horry hit that three. Can't watch that again, not if you paid me.1995 Chiefs/Colts Playoff Game.
Chiefs secured home field with 13-3 reg season record. Ended in an unforgiveable 10-7 loss resulting from 5 (yes, 5) missed FGs.A Yankee fan complaining about losing. Now I know that "The Curse" was Reversed. Go Sox!Losing every darn game by 1 or two runs to the yankees in 2000...game 1 was especially bad (benitez stinks)
why does every closer the mets get end up stinking? franco, benitez, looper and now wagner!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!SC and Texas Rose Bowl...I HATE VINCE YOUNG!!!!A Yankee fan complaining about losing. Now I know that "The Curse" has been Reversed. Go Sox!Gibson, 1988 World Series Game OneOh by far has to be the 1992 NLCS Pittsburgh Pirates vs The Atlanta Braves. Tell me who is slower than Sid Bream at that time and why in the heck couldnt we throw him out at the plate. I wonder what Francisco Cabrera is doing right now. Way to crush a franchise buddy!!!You're an ass. A Yankee loss as the most painful? Cry me a river over all those titles. There's a franchise called the Cubs, and they and their fans know pain that Yankees can never understand. The Cubs' most painful loss can't even be calculated, but try the Bartman game for starters.1996 World Series. Braves up 8-5. Mark Wholers pitching for the Braves vs Jim Leyritz at the plate for the Yanks. 2 men on. Mark refuses to pitch his near 100mph fast ball, so Leyritz gets a breaking pitch that he takes over the wall to tie the game. Yanks win in extra innings and take the series in 6. Up to that point the Braves had dominated the series and looked to win their second straight. My only question: Since Leyritz admits to using performance enhancers (HGH i think), can we get our trophy back?1972 US Men's Olympic Basketball loss to Russia. Ouch!Packers vs. Eagles when McNabb threw the ball to Mitchell for a first down when it was 4th and 26. After that game, Sherman fired the defensive coordinator, starting a defensive collapse for the Packers.Duke's biggest heartbreaks for me far outweight our championships: 1986, 1993, 1994, 1999, 2002 (Boozer was fouled), 2004 and 2006. The biggest was prob 1999 against UConn, we got a taste of what UNLV fans went through in '91.
Now the Eagles:
of all the losses, the one to tampa bay 4 seasons ago hurt for me the most....ronde barber on the interception.To the Yankee fan who commented about Boone - You don't know what you're talking about. I don't know any Red Sox fan who even thinks about Boone. You want to evoke emotion, say Grady Little.Blue Monday and Strike
Expos to win National league; Steve Rodgers on the mount; Rick Monday homerun and Jeff Reardon in the bullpen...still hurts
Also, Expos leading division by a mile; players strike...never were the same after mortal trades next spring1984 Orange Bowl, Osborne goes for 2, Huskers lose to Miami... Still painful.From a Bills, Sabres, and Yankees fan, in order of heartbreak:
1. Game 7 vs. D-Backs
2. Titan over Bills "Music City Miracle"
3. Wide Right
4. No GoalTwo words "The Catch"
I have hated the 49'ers since that day and still cringe whenever it is replayed.I never cried so hard when the Packers lost to the Broncos. My gosh, we were favored by like 13 points. We should have smoked them. From this day, friend who loves Denver pokes in a few words such as Elway or Davis at me.I'm a Pirates fan, so that means lots of pain. But the worst was game 7 of the NLCS, I think in '91...Sid Bream scoring on Barry Bonds' candy arm...curse you Stan Belinda! Francisco Carbrera?!? Are you freaking kidding me?!?Jim Leyritz in Game 4 of the 1996 World Series. The Braves could of went went to win Game 4 and the World Series if it wasn't for Leyritz and his game-tying 3-run homerun off Mark Wohlers.1992 Final Four- Indiana-Duke. Hoosiers had a BIG half-time lead, only to see the dookies cut it to under 10 by half-time. then 4 of the 5 Hoosier starters fouled out in the second half, thanks to some of the most ridiculous officiating I've ever seen (I've watched that game several times since then, and objectively think the officiating was one-sided... in the dookies favor of course). still, Todd Leary hit 3 threes in the final minutes to pull us within 3 points, and we had an open look at one last 3 to tie the game with a few seconds left- but it wasn't Leary. Jamal Meeks' shot rimmed out and the comeback fell short. oh what might have been.I still cringe when I think about how my football Giants blew a 24 point lead to the 49ers in the playoffs a few years back. I think I'd rather dine out with my ex-wife than watch those highlights they occasionally show on NFL Channel. Well, maybe not, but it's close. I WILL NEVER forget that feeling. Luckily those 2 Super Bowl titles help ease the pain a bit, just a little bit, though.Jeremy Giambi's no slide. What the hell was Jeter doing over there anyway? The series momentum shifted 180% on that one play.Dave Henderson homers off Donnie Moore in 1986.The most pain I have ever felt at the end of a game was the AFC Divisional Playoff game between the New England Patriots and the Oakland Raiders. The infamous "tuck rule" will forever be a source of bad feelings for me and a loss that to this day still makes me feel like kicking the officials that stole the game away from the Raiders!!Rose Bowl: Arizona St. vs. Ohio St. To see Ohio State come back down the field after we thought Jake the Snake had won it for us ripped my heart right out of my chest. To be beaten by a guy (Joe Germaine) who was actually from the Valley and ruined our national championship and team of destiny.2002 NFC Championship Game. The VET was going to go out in style. Duce Staley scores after 1 minute of play. Then it all went downhill...Minnesota Vikings vs. Atlanta Falcons NFC Championship game 2000 when Gary Anderson was perfect all year and missed with just over a minute left to seal the game....Vikings fans have had 4 Super Bowl losses and many an embarrassing experience, but man my buddies and I took off from work monday to drink our sorrows awayFor me, it's still Game 7 of the 1997 World Series. I still remember the sinking feeling as I watched the ground ball go by Tony Fernandez's outstreched glove. If only Roberto Alomar had come to Cleveland that year, if only.....As a fan of the Colts and Pacers, can't even count how many in just the last decade plus. Game 7 of the 94 EC Finals...you think foul at the end of game 5 the other night was horrible, how about the bogus intentional foul called on Reggie w/ just seconds left. Or Larry Johnson's phantom 4-point play in the 99 EC Finals. Decisive game 5 against the Nets in 2002, when we lost even after Reggie banked one in from half court (sigh). And the Colts have been just as heartbreaking. From Peyton's failures at Foxboro, to the playoff loss this year with Vandershank's fg (he did the same thing against Miami in OT in 2000). The lowest of all though has to be the 95 AFC Championship game, watching Quentin Coryatt drop a game ending interception, then see Neil freaking O'Donnell convert a 4th down pass and drive down the field for the winning TD. As if losing the game wasn't bad enough, you had the Harbaugh hail mary at the end, with Phil Simms screaming on the air that Aaron Bailey caught the ball and we were going to the Super Bowl. Then you see the official and the replay, with Bailey letting the ball harmlessly roll off his lap onto the turf, talk about getting punched in the stomach.Jordan's famous escape dribble. Known to Jazz fans as "The Push-off" (of Bryon Russell) in the NBA Finals. Both the '97 and '98 Finals, when the Jazz lost to Chicago, were terribly heartbreaking. Especially after watching Stock and Malone chase the ring for what felt like decades. Jordan scores 38 with the flu. Malone doesn't try to foul out Rodman. Jordan hits game-winners. Jazz score a total of 54 points (to Chicago's 96) in one of the games. Although Utah did repeat as Western Conference champions, it's not very meaningful to Jazz fans. They should have won at least one of those.There I was, Denver--the 1987 playoffs, and this year the Browns were the ones who were going to come from behind to win. Then, and I can still see this in my minds eye, Earnest Byner FUMBLES going into the end zone for the go ahead score. Oh the pain, Oh the misery, Oh will I ever live to see my beloved Browns make it to the Super Bowl?Stan Belinda throws. Francisco Cabrera hits. David Justice scores. Barry Bonds throws. Sid Bream scores. Pirates lose. A 13-year old cries. Ouch.College football, UW vs. UCLA, 1990, 25-22. We went 3 and out 8 straight times, and lost Greg Lewis to a knee injury. The game cost UW two straight uncontested national championships. The first would have been in 1990, as UW would have be number one with a win that week, and was dominant the last few games. The following year they went 13-0, but split the championship with Miami. Had they won in 1990, it would have been Miami chasing UW in the polls, not the other way around. Costliest college football loss ever, for one of the best teams ever.game 6 of 1986 world series. as bad as 2001 was for the yanks, they still were not ONE STRIKE AWAY from winning it all. i'm not sure a yankee fan could ever understand this...maybe in 2004, but the yanks' COLLAPSE IN 2004 WAS GRADUAL, WHEREAS THE SOX COLLAPSE IN 1986 WAS STARK AND IMMEDIATE. the yanks were never ONE STRIKE AWAY in either 2001 or 2004........ btw, I still don't think Buckner is at fault AT ALL. never have. taking clemens out in favor of calvin schiraldi / bob stanley was much more reprehensible! THE SOX WERE ONE OUT AWAY FOR A HANDFUL OF METS BATTERS! IMAGINE THAT!As a die hard North Carolina Tar Heel fan it has to be the 1998 Final Four loss to Andre Miller and the Utah Utes. UNC was undoubtedly the best team in the nation that year and had the best player in the nation in Antawn Jamison and absolutely rolled to the Final Four. Nobody should have ever beaten them. Unfortuneately, neither Antawn nor the rest of the team played worth a hoot that night and an undeserving Utah teamed knocked off the should've been champs.Dan Fouts' Chargers lose in the playoffs (AT HOME) to an Oilers team that had lost their starting quarterback (Dan Pastorini) and Earl Campbell to injury. I still cannot believe it. THEIR LEAGUE IS RIGGED!!!The Yankees have won one quarter of the World Series played in the last 100 years. How dare you whine about the 2001 series. Pathetic.In 1993, the Maple Leafs are an OT away from their first Stanley Cup final in my 17 year old life. LA's Wayne Gretzky high-sticks Doug Gilmour, on a face-off, but the referees see nothing, even though Gilmour is bleeding. Within a couple minutes, Gretz scores the winner, and follows up with a hat trick in game 7. First time my heart had ever been broken.1993. Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Los Angeles Kings. First, watching Wayne Gretzky high stick Doug Gilmour in the chin with no penalty was disappointing. But watching Gretzky bank a shot in off of Dave Ellett sealed the deal. Mind you, I won't take anything away from Gretzky because of who he is, but as a life long Leafs fan who's never won the Cup, that's likely the closest we'll ever come.I've had many painful moments as a packer fan in the postseason but nothing and i mean NOTHING could make you feel worse than 4th and 26. And THEN watching Favre throw that interception in OT. And what amazing receiver caught that pass? Freddie Mitchell. And Bartman isn't pain, Bartman didn't blow the series the CUBS blew the series. YOU WERE UP 3-0 AND IT WAS ONE OUT! I agree it was a painful game, but it wasn't Bartman's fault.I was there. I was almost nine years old. My dad had just promised to take me to the Super Bowl two weeks later. We were up by seven with only a couple of minutes left. 83000+ Browns fans were in old Municipal Stadium all cheering on Bernie & crew. Thats when Elway took over. To this day I still believe the field goal in overtime was no good. Still no Super Bowl for the Browns.2003 NFC Championship game. Last game at the Vet. Eagles big favorites over a team they'd dominated over the previous 3 years, including a dominating win earlier that season at the Vet. 25 degree weather. 10-point lead 3 minutes into the game and the Vet was about to crumble. Then Joe Jurevicius started running all over the place. With Donovan marching them deep into Tampa Bay territory to try and cut the lead to 20-17, Ronde Barber steps in front of a pass and takes it the distance. Gut punch.Game 4 Western Confence finals Vlade tips the ball toward half court as the Kings are about to go up 3-1 against the hated Lakers and reserve their spot in the foregone conclusioned NBA finals against the overmatched the Nets. Robert "look what I found" Horry... well you know thr rest of the story. Kings fans have not recovered.Got something to say?
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