Biggest choke in the history of professional sports - Page 2 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

SportsJunky · 10-01-2007, 09:36 AM

Didn't Greg Norman choke on a Sunday with a decent lead to allow Nick Faldo to sneak in and take a major some years ago?

*edit* It was the 96 Masters and he had a 6 stroke lead going into Sunday's final day. ESPN called it the "greatest choke in Masters history".

*edit x2* sorry Dion I didn't see your post on this.

burn_baby_burn · 10-01-2007, 10:37 AM

The 2001-2002 Calgary Flames. They started the first 2 months of the season red hot. Then went on one of the worst losing streaks in NHL history. Since most of us didn't have our hopes to high to begin with, that may have softened the blow. But is was pretty pathetic.

Sylvanfan · 10-01-2007, 11:08 AM

^^^
The only thing is that 20 games into an NHL season is like 40 games into a baseball season or 4 games into a football season. Several teams have started out 25-15 in Baseball only to fade off in the last 120 games, or 3-1 in football only to go 8-8 or 9-7 type of thing. It's really not even worth noting except that the team had been so awful for so long, and usually becuase they had started so poorly. That team started well and than the real team showed up for the next 65 games.

burn_baby_burn · 10-01-2007, 11:13 AM

^^^Not so much a choke then. More of a free fall.

Bobblehead · 10-01-2007, 11:45 AM

There are a number of upsets listed here. I wouldn't consider many of those a choke.

To me a choke means a person or team has the game/championship/tournament firmly in their grasp and then give it away based on their opponent good play and their own poor play.

So it isn't enough that they were defeated, they must have already been in a position to close out their opponent.

ken0042 · 10-01-2007, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

To me a choke means a person or team has the game/championship/tournament firmly in their grasp and then give it away based on their opponent good play and their own poor play.

Agreed. And if you look up "choke" in the dictionary, there will be a Winnipeg Jets logo there. I think the Jets/Coyotes hold the NHL record for being up 3-1 in a series only to lose. In fact it's probably somewhat fitting that the team left Winnipeg in a bit of a choke as well; the insurmountable task of raising $100 million to keep the team, raising about $60 million in the first 3 weeks of the "Save the Jets" campaign, only to still lose the team because they/we were unable to come up with the rest.

octothorp · 10-01-2007, 12:33 PM

The 06-07 Oilers choking in their attempt to get a lottery draft pick:
On the verge of one of the most spectacular dives for a lottery pick, they lose 19 of 20 games and need only to lose their last game of the season to Edmonton to secure a lottery pick (which would turn out to end up winning the lottery for first overall). They get off to a great start by allowing Calgary to get a couple early goals, and then in one of the biggest chokes in draft lottery history, somehow score three late goals to win the game and lose their lottery draft pick.

Sainters7 · 10-01-2007, 12:49 PM

I still say none of these top Van de Velde on the 18th of the '99 British Open. All you need is a double bogey on the last hole to win a tournament youve been dominating, and you triple bogey it, and then lose in a playoff?? And thats AFTER a good tee off to start the hole too, unreal! It was right out of the ending of Tin Cup.

GirlySports · 10-01-2007, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sainters7

I still say none of these top Van de Velde on the 18th of the '99 British Open. All you need is a double bogey on the last hole to win a tournament youve been dominating, and you triple bogey it, and then lose in a playoff?? And thats AFTER a good tee off to start the hole too, unreal! It was right out of the ending of Tin Cup.

The best part was he made a 30 foot putt for triple bogey and gave it one of those fist pumps!

I'd aslo have to go with the Yankees blowing a 3 games to 0 lead and a 1-run lead in the 9th in game 4 with Rivera on the mound. Then losing game 5 in 14 innings then just bombing in Games 6 and 7.

Sainters7 · 10-05-2007, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GirlySports

The best part was he made a 30 foot putt for triple bogey and gave it one of those fist pumps!

I'd aslo have to go with the Yankees blowing a 3 games to 0 lead and a 1-run lead in the 9th in game 4 with Rivera on the mound. Then losing game 5 in 14 innings then just bombing in Games 6 and 7.

I remember the Yankees also being in that situation in game 7 of the 2001 World Series against Arizona, with Rivera on the mound, and he gave it up as well, with Luis Gonzalez knocking in the winning run. Once I saw Rivera walking up to the mound to start the bottom of the ninth, with the Yanks leading, I thought it was over, shocking!! btw that was the best World Series I ever saw. Poor Byung-Hyun Kim is games 4 and 5, but that was amazing!

CaptainCrunch · 10-05-2007, 02:08 PM

Team USA loses to the Russian team in basketball in the 1988 Seoul Olympics. A team that featured future NBA players David Robinson, Mitch Rochmond and others got drubbed 82-76 and settled for the bronze. This upset lead the way for the Dream teams and the destruction of Olympic basketball as any kind of event.

GirlySports · 10-06-2007, 03:32 PM

I've got a new one.

New Zealand All-Blacks.

Won the World Cup in 1987, are favoured in every event they enter and haven't won since. Crashing out of the tournament today again to France.

Flames in 07 · 10-08-2007, 07:03 PM

I remember a couple Saints wildcard games from the 80's vs Atlanta and again vs Philly that were huge chokes. Outclass them in the first half and find all kinds of strange ways to give up the game in the second half.

Sainters7 · 10-09-2007, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flames in 07

I remember a couple Saints wildcard games from the 80's vs Atlanta and again vs Philly that were huge chokes. Outclass them in the first half and find all kinds of strange ways to give up the game in the second half.

And they almost did it again, in 2000 against the Rams. Up 31-7 in the second half and end up hanging on for a wild 31-28 win. The Rams had a chance to win it too, as the Saints punted to them late in the game. But then (later Saint, and now Stampeder) Rams KR Az-Zahir Hakim bobbled the punt and it was scooped up by New Orleans who hung on to win their first ever playoff game. Man its tough bein a Saints fan sometimes...

pope04 · 10-10-2007, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snakeeye

The 87 Jays deserve a mention here.

Good one! Detroit swept them on the last weekend to sneak into the playoffs or something like that, right?

foofighter15 · 10-10-2007, 11:22 AM

How bout when the Saints did that circus play and got the touchdown they needed to get into the playoffs, but then the kicker missed it. 2 years ago I think

CaptainCrunch · 10-10-2007, 11:36 AM

The 1908 White Soxs . . . oh wait.

the_only_turek_fan · 10-10-2007, 11:37 AM

The biggest Flames chokes have to be:

1. 1991 Game 7 vs. Edmonton. Up 3-0 in game 7, they still end up losing 5-4 in OT.

2. 1994 series vs. Vancouver. Up 3-1 in the series we lose 3 straight in OT including 2 at home.

The Oiler one is was the worst.

CaptainCrunch · 10-10-2007, 11:40 AM

If your looking at the Flames for choke jobs, it has to be the 95 series against the Sharks, where we saw the worst display of goaltending in franchise history by Trever Kidd.

Sainters7 · 10-10-2007, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

If your looking at the Flames for choke jobs, it has to be the 95 series against the Sharks, where we saw the worst display of goaltending in franchise history by Trever Kidd.

I bought his jersey during that season and have never been able to wear it since that series. Hell I was in 7th grade when I got it and I'd still get beaked by adults at the Dome when I wore it.

btw not all-time worst choke job, but the fact we Flames fans had to go through three game 7 OT losses in five years('91, '94, '95), all at HOME, is beyond sickening.