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Biggest Choke In Sports History: A Poll

AxtellAxtell Posts: 10,037 ✭✭
in Sports Talk
Which letdown do you consider to be the biggest choke ever in sports?

Comments

  • ctsoxfanctsoxfan Posts: 6,246 ✭✭
    This is about as big a no-brainer as you can get. Too bad I couldn't predict the outcome of sporting events as easily as this - I'd be a rich man!
    image
  • AxtellAxtell Posts: 10,037 ✭✭
    I'll give you 3 guesses to guess who voted '2001 mariners', but you'll only need one!
  • Gemmy10Gemmy10 Posts: 2,990 ✭

    Where are the 1986 Choke Sox one might ask?
  • daddy43daddy43 Posts: 435
    I don't think there can be any bigger choke than the Yanks last year!
    Go Cowboys!!!!!!!!!! image
  • AxtellAxtell Posts: 10,037 ✭✭
    I'd have to suspect anyone who chooses the 2001 mariners over the 2004 yankees is either (a) under the influence of some very powerful delusion-inducing narcotics, or (b) a yankees fan.

  • iamthegreatcornholioiamthegreatcornholio Posts: 3,366
    or both
  • ctsoxfanctsoxfan Posts: 6,246 ✭✭
    Alright - a few under the influence Yank fans have now voted. Amazing!
    image
  • Gemmy10Gemmy10 Posts: 2,990 ✭

    Or maybe it's something against Harris polls. LOL
  • yawie99yawie99 Posts: 2,575 ✭✭✭
    Perhaps there are greater chokes in the annals of sport, but, given these choices, there's no way one cannot select the 2004 Yankees.
    imageimageimageimageimageimage
  • stevekstevek Posts: 28,996 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Linda Lovelace
  • AxtellAxtell Posts: 10,037 ✭✭
    wow 20-5.

    It looks like the public has spoken overwhelmingly!

  • goose3goose3 Posts: 11,471 ✭✭✭
    If the ChiSox give up the division to the Indians this week, that scenario could be quite a choke as well.
  • AxtellAxtell Posts: 10,037 ✭✭


    << <i>If the ChiSox give up the division to the Indians this week, that scenario could be quite a choke as well. >>



    I'm not sure how much of a choke it would be...given that no one expected the ChiSox to do that well...it's perhaps that they were playing at a level far beyond what their talent should have been.

    But yes, giving up 15 games in 2 months would be something, but that's more a matter of Cleveland playing out of it's mind in that span.
  • Gemmy10Gemmy10 Posts: 2,990 ✭

    I can't believe that the 1986 Red Sox are not part of this poll. 1 strike away from the World Series ring, and the TV network (I think it was NBC) was giving closing credits and a Roger Clemens had been named as the World Series MVP. You can't get any closer than 1 strike away from winning a World Series.
  • Coinhusker1Coinhusker1 Posts: 3,560 ✭


    << <i>I can't believe that the 1986 Red Sox are not part of this poll. 1 strike away from the World Series ring, and the TV network (I think it was NBC) was giving closing credits and a Roger Clemens had been named as the World Series MVP. You can't get any closer than 1 strike away from winning a World Series. >>



    Hey Spammy, do some posts under your five Alt-IDs!!! image

    Come on, stop being such a homer. Threre's no comparison. The Yank-mees had four chances to put them away. This was after they pasted the Red Sox 19-8 in game 3 at Fenway.

    Also, if your recall they way the Red Sox got to the 86 Series, the Angels were one strike away from going there themselves. Donnie Moore then gave up the homer to Dave Henderson. Then Donnie Moore killed himself a couple years later.

    Heck, if Donnie Moore killed himself, then Calvin Schiraldi (the real Game 6 goat, not Buckner) should have killed himself too! image



  • Gemmy10Gemmy10 Posts: 2,990 ✭
    I will post this again in case people miss it on the Sports Cards and Memorabilia board:

    And as far as the 2001 Seattle Mariners, I remember when the 1998 Yankees had won 114 games in the regular season, an AL record at the time, I couldn't help thinking what a choke job that would have been if they lost to the Cleveland Indians who were up 2-1 at one point in the ALCS. To me that would have been the Yankees biggest choke ever if it happpened, but luckily the Yankees went on to win a major league record breaking 125 games. Imagine that....125-50 for a .714 winning percentage. Babe Ruth would have liked that number very much.
  • coinkatcoinkat Posts: 23,101 ✭✭✭✭✭
    How can you limit those choices and call it Sports History?

    1. 1969 Cubs

    2. Cotton Bowl- Houston- Notre Dame, the Montana comeback

    3. 1964 Phillies up 5 games with 6 left and lose to St. Louis

    4. 1947 Rosebowl- UCLA (10-0) would have been National Champs and instead they lose 45-14 to a 6-2-1 Illinois team that was a huge underdog. This game started it all between the Pac 8 (10) and the Big 9 (10) that was a great tradition until the BCS srewed this up.

    Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.

  • DirtyHarryDirtyHarry Posts: 1,917 ✭✭✭
    1986 RedSox. They were so dominant, that it was supposed to be a cake walk. They blew it. They were supposed to win. They choked on the cake. Hit a website and view the stats for that season and you will see how dominant they were. It was supposed to be a no-brainer, no-contest outcome. But....CHOKE.

    Yeah, Yanks losing to Boston in 2004 was a huge choke because they came out of the gate and won the first 3 games. If they had not, it would not have been viewed as such a huge choke. They were equally matched and it should have gone either way. And it did.
    Proud of my 16x20 autographed and framed collection - all signed in person. Not big on modern - I'm stuck in the past!
  • Gemmy10Gemmy10 Posts: 2,990 ✭
    Yup
  • AxtellAxtell Posts: 10,037 ✭✭


    << <i>1986 RedSox. They were so dominant, that it was supposed to be a cake walk. They blew it. They were supposed to win. They choked on the cake. Hit a website and view the stats for that season and you will see how dominant they were. It was supposed to be a no-brainer, no-contest outcome. But....CHOKE.

    Yeah, Yanks losing to Boston in 2004 was a huge choke because they came out of the gate and won the first 3 games. If they had not, it would not have been viewed as such a huge choke. They were equally matched and it should have gone either way. And it did. >>



    Good try.

    But the yanks losing 4 in a row is the very epitome of the word 'choke'. A choke of such epic proportions, it now defines the word. When someone want to convey an overwhelming choke, they will say 'they yankeed it'.

    It's funny to see all the so-called yankee 'supporters' come out of the woodwork when the memory of something they've sworn didn't happen is brought up.

  • DirtyHarryDirtyHarry Posts: 1,917 ✭✭✭
    In any 7 game series, in any sport....any team that won the first 3 and lost the last 4 would be viewed as failures or chokers. So, yeah, the 2004 Yanks choked big time. But putting it in perspective.... the '86 Sox choked, gagged, puked and then inhaled thier chunks and expired on their "championship season." There is no greater choke. And they choked in stellar fashion as well...one out away....Classic stuff that will go down in the ages. It is replayed over and over and over and over again on ESPN. I think Peter Gammons would also agree, but of course he will not admit it. Somebody call him up and ask him.
    Proud of my 16x20 autographed and framed collection - all signed in person. Not big on modern - I'm stuck in the past!
  • Gemmy10Gemmy10 Posts: 2,990 ✭

    <<the '86 Sox choked, gagged, puked and then inhaled thier chunks and expired on their "championship season.">>

    Please may we have some more adjectives?
  • stownstown Posts: 11,321 ✭✭✭
    You could say Buckner choked, but not the team as a whole in '86. On the other hand, the Yankees, as an entire team, choked in 2004.

    So basically my kid won't be able to go to college, but at least I'll have a set where the three most expensive cards are of a player I despise ~ CDsNuts
  • Gemmy10Gemmy10 Posts: 2,990 ✭

    <<You could say Buckner choked, but not the team as a whole in '86.>>

    LOL, can Buckner pitch also?!?! Too damn funny.

  • ctsoxfanctsoxfan Posts: 6,246 ✭✭
    DirtyHarry, normally you are right on the money with your posts - this time you are not. You cannot define a "choke" by using the expectations of a team for a given season - that's like saying a team heavily favored to win during the preseason ends up not winning it all that year, therefore they "choked". Nope, we are talking about pressure situations, in a short series with season ending implications, and the 2004 Yanks have defined for all time the word "choke".

    And, the forum agrees! 28-6 right now, but I'm sure Gemmy will even that up with his 15 alt ID's!
    image
  • stownstown Posts: 11,321 ✭✭✭


    << <i><<You could say Buckner choked, but not the team as a whole in '86.>>

    LOL, can Buckner pitch also?!?! Too damn funny. >>



    Huh?!? Care to elaborate?
    So basically my kid won't be able to go to college, but at least I'll have a set where the three most expensive cards are of a player I despise ~ CDsNuts
  • DirtyHarryDirtyHarry Posts: 1,917 ✭✭✭
    Ctsoxfan has collared my emotions on this.....BTY....which are simply inspired by the "O'Axtell Factor" steadfast dumping on this topic. I respect the Sox - have always. I must say this.....2004 was the biggest choke ever for the NY Yankees. Should '86 Sox be included on the list of this poll?......I think so.

    Question to Sox fans - was '86 the biggest choke year ever for the Sox? If not, what year then. Regards.

    Proud of my 16x20 autographed and framed collection - all signed in person. Not big on modern - I'm stuck in the past!
  • stownstown Posts: 11,321 ✭✭✭


    << <i>2004 was the biggest choke ever for the NY Yankees. >>



    Oh without a doubt. Wonder how they will spin this one image
    So basically my kid won't be able to go to college, but at least I'll have a set where the three most expensive cards are of a player I despise ~ CDsNuts
  • Skip2MyLou11Skip2MyLou11 Posts: 650
    CWebb at michigan, CWebb with the kings....CWebb with Tyra...CWebb with life.
    CWebb=The epitome of choke!
    Real recognize REAL
    image
  • ThrowdownThrowdown Posts: 189
    Anyone mentioned Latrell Sprewell yet?
  • Gemmy10Gemmy10 Posts: 2,990 ✭

    LOL
  • stownstown Posts: 11,321 ✭✭✭
    Perhaps defining the word "choke" would settle this...
    So basically my kid won't be able to go to college, but at least I'll have a set where the three most expensive cards are of a player I despise ~ CDsNuts
  • stownstown Posts: 11,321 ✭✭✭
    Unbiased Winkipedia - "Choke"

    ...................

    Fewer teams qualify for postseason play in Major League Baseball than in the NFL, so the "choke" label in baseball is more frequently appended to a team that blows a substantial lead late in a pennant race. Probably the two most prominent examples of this have been the Chicago Cubs (most notably in 1969 and 1973) and the Boston Red Sox (most notably in 1978, when they relinquished a 14-game lead in their division, ultimately losing a one-game playoff for the division title to the New York Yankees after they and the Yankees had ended the regular season tied for first place). The plight of both the Cubs and Red Sox has often been attributed to a "curse" — the Curse of the Billy Goat in the former team's case and the Curse of the Bambino in the latter, although the Curse of the Bambino is widely regarded as having been broken in 2004 when the Red Sox won the World Series for the first time since 1918; in what is regarded as a breathtaking role reversal, in the 2004 American League Championship Series against the Red Sox, the Yankees became the first team in professional baseball history, and only the third team in North American professional team sports history, to lose a best-of-seven series after having taken a 3-0 series lead. This "feat" has been recognized as one of the worst and most embarrassing chokes in sports history.
    So basically my kid won't be able to go to college, but at least I'll have a set where the three most expensive cards are of a player I despise ~ CDsNuts
  • Gemmy10Gemmy10 Posts: 2,990 ✭

    It doesn't mention the 1986 Red Sox choke against the Mets, and 2003, the year of the Boone.

    The Red Sox still have more incidences of chokedom then the Yankees do, by three fold I may add. image

    By the way, anyone can add to Winkipedia. This particular text was probably put there by some smart aleck Red Sox fan.
  • stownstown Posts: 11,321 ✭✭✭
    Hey, great job adding to the conversation, Spammy.

    Define "choke"
    So basically my kid won't be able to go to college, but at least I'll have a set where the three most expensive cards are of a player I despise ~ CDsNuts
  • StingrayStingray Posts: 8,843 ✭✭✭
    What about the 1992 Houston Oilers Wild Card game, blew a 32-point halftime lead and lost game.

    Stingray
  • stownstown Posts: 11,321 ✭✭✭


    << <i>What about the 1992 Houston Oilers Wild Card game, blew a 32-point halftime lead and lost game.

    Stingray >>



    Historic choke job by the players and coaches... Don't run the ball all game only to run 3 times at the end for a FG attempt??!? Not one pass?!?! :smacks head against wall:

    What about Tyson v Douglas? Undefeated with +/- 7 first round KOs in previous 9 fights? And a 50-1 dog?
    So basically my kid won't be able to go to college, but at least I'll have a set where the three most expensive cards are of a player I despise ~ CDsNuts
  • Coinhusker1Coinhusker1 Posts: 3,560 ✭


    << <i> the Yankees became the first team in professional baseball history, and only the third team in North American professional team sports history, to lose a best-of-seven series after having taken a 3-0 series lead. This "feat" has been recognized as one of the worst and most embarrassing chokes in sports history. >>



    imageimageimageimageimage

    This, after the Red Sox were pounded into submission 19-8 in Game 3 at Fenway!! Yanks had them in as huge a hole as possible, had 4 games to finish them off, and did'nt get the job done. After game 6 though, you knew the writing was on the wall, as the Yanks were playing scared and got creamed in Game 7!! image
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