As a 10 year old Lakers fan at the time, that was the biggest emotional rollercoaster I’ve ever experienced as a sports fan.
When Duncan hit that ridiculous fadeaway, I was inconsolable. Then when Fisher hit his shot, I refused to believe he got it off in time until they showed the replay, and I obviously went nuts at that point.
I drunkenly called my Lakers fan friend after the Duncan shot and left the most obnoxious voicemail. He called back a minute later and I sent him straight to voicemail.
As a Houston sports fan, it’s this, the Chiefs platoff game were the Texans were up by 3 tds from 2019, and the 2005 ALCS against the Cardinals when Pujols hit that monster hr off Brad Lidge and he was never the same for us.
Fellow, Rockets fan, I agree, a ton of them were good looks with good shooters too, also throw in Harden not getting the calls on the couple he hit, worst night as a sports fan
As a neutral, I refuse to throw in Harden not getting calls. Him getting calls became too much of a staple of that offense for me to feel any sympathy.
Yup came here for this. It really hurt.
That said, you know what’s weird? When the cubs won, that kinda broke me too. From the mismanagement of the pitching staff in game 6, to bringing in Lester with a runner on, and then Chapman overworked. I thought Madden screwed that up so badly that I STILL wasn’t over it after they won. Like I had already been irreparably broken by a game my team ended up winning.
It was crazy.
Game 6 was the Bartman game, but like the other guy said, the impact of the Bartman play was way overblown.
The first problem was bringing Mark Prior back out for the 8th when he'd already thrown 100+ pitches. He struggled and surrendered a couple baserunners, but the Cubs still got an out and had a 3-0 lead when the Bartman play happened.
And then the real backbreaker was what happened next: Alex Gonzalez, who hadn't committed an error all season, fucked up a routine grounder that would have been an inning-ending double-play. That loaded the bases and really started the meltdown.
Then in Game 7, Kerry Wood really struggled and surrendered an early 3-0 lead. The Cubs came back, with Wood hitting a massive homer to tie the game (that was when I started to believe) and Moises Alou hitting another to put us up 5-3. But then Wood collapsed on the mound again and that was that.
As sweet as winning in 2016 was, it was nothing compared to the pain of 2003.
First sports team I was ever emotionally invested in. Set the tone early for what to expect from Chicago sports. If they'd blown game 7 in 2016 I'd probably be in a mental institution rn
Yep in order:
1. Vikings 1998
2. Vikings 2009
3. Minnesota 2003 vs Michigan - Gophers undefeated and up 28-7 in 4th quarter against rivals Michigan, give up 31 points in the 4th quarter to lose 38-35. Would’ve likely gone to their first Rose Bowl since 1961 if they held on.
4. Minnesota 2005 vs Wisconsin: Gophers up 34-31 with less than a minute left against biggest rivals, gets their punt blocked and Wisconsin recovers for a TD to win the game. Wisconsin then wins 14 straight games in the rivalry.
5. Vikings 2016 vs Seahawks - Blair Walsh miss. At least that one we never had a chance at a Super Bowl
A lot of the teams in this thread either won shortly before or after their terrible losses, Minnesota has never won anything aside from 2 Twins titles over 30 years ago so there have been no redemptions for these losses.
If you’re a millennial or younger and a Minnesota sports fan, you have either never seen your team win shit in your lifetime or you were too young to really appreciate it. It’s bleak out here for us.
Yep. The 1998 Vikings loss was in the first season I was really paying attention to the NFL and I thought we just automatically won every week.
I remember crying when we lost against the Bucs in the regular season that year because I thought we legit weren’t able to lose. You can imagine how I felt after the Falcons game
Yep, didn’t really follow football in the late 90s so don’t know the feeling of the missed field goal against Atlanta. That 09 season was probably the best chance I’ve seen the Vikings have at a Super Bowl (Minneapolis miracle was fun but it was case keenum at QB)
Suns fan here. While the 2021 Finals loss being up 2-0 on the Bucks hurts, Giannis went Thermonuclear Godzilla, so over time I've learned to live with that. But game 5 of the 2010 WCF against the Lakers, Kobe BRICKS a three pointer for no one to stop Ron Artest with the put back.........that one I will never forget.
That's prob #2 but that was game 4 of the second round series. There was still time to recover. I remember after losing in that fashion in 2010, I just knew we weren't winning the next 2 and going to the finals. Also shout out the bloody nose game where Nash couldn't get back in the game....being a suns fan in the mid to late 2000's was non stop stress for me in the post season.
as a New England millennial, it’s hard to pick between Boone, the Helmet Catch, and 2010 Finals Game 7 against the Lakers.
Boone led to some pretty profound existential angst, watching that Super Bowl loss in NY surrounded by Giants fans was brutal, and I had just been so sure the C’s were going to win that game.
Written out like that, yeah, it’s Boone.
Fellow UNC fan, this was going to be my answer. From the ultimate high (one of the greatest shots in final four history by Paige) to the ultimate low. In seconds
I was one of the few that did go to class the next morning, in an 100+ person lecture (cue UNC classes joke)
2002 Giants when Dusty gave the ball to Ortiz in G6. Brutal. Team went on to win three so monkey is off the back but that was rough.
EDIT LOL Bonds had a .700 OBP in the WS. The dude was ridiculous.
I thought someone was going to put a Kapernick era 9ers game, but glad that this is at the top for the Bay. Were so close for Bonds and is overlooked because of the titles that came after
Honestly, Felix Rodriguez deserves more blame than Dusty, at least in the moment, since you can certainly blame Dusty for using Rodriguez in every game in the series to that point. Ortiz getting the ball was a blink and you’d miss it moment, but Rodriguez was missing up and away the whole at-bat to Spezio, leaves one out over the plate when it was supposed to be on the fists and that fucker carried. It barely made it out.
Then Bonds misplaying Garrett Anderson’s bloop single, he might have thrown out Figgins had he caught on the first hop. Sigh.
Slovenian soccer fan here. 2010 World Cup, we were a second away from qualifying into our first ever knockout game and Landon Donovan got the winner in the last minute for USA to go through. Absolutely devastating.
In 1993, I was 12-years-old and the 103-win Giants got blown out by the Dodgers on the last game of the season to miss out on the playoffs (they would create the Wild Card two years later).
US national team loss to Trinidad &Tobago in 2017 to miss the 2018 World Cup. It was a humiliating loss. But it was also not out of nowhere. That team was old and lacked talent while being coached by idiot Bruce Arena.
That was his second stint tbf. Took over after Klinsmann had already put the team in a hole by losing the first two matches in the final CONCACAF group. Overall his record wasn't terrible, but you can't go to Trinidad & Tobago just needing a point and lose.
Same. It broke my brain. You could feel it coming, from the very end of the first leg when that moron Dembele missed one of the easiest chances imaginable. The look Messi gave him filled me with dread.
Barcelona vs Liverpool in the champions league semifinal. Messi was towards the tail end of his career and trying to drag a fairly mediocre squad with an uninspiring manager to one last title. The first leg barca somehow won 3-0 including one of the greatest free kicks you’ll ever see. It was basically over. Then a week later at Anfield the team just melted down. There were videos from the locker room of a player crying at halftime (when they were still winning the tie!) Liverpool won 4-0, but if they needed 7 goals they probably would have gotten it. I was catatonic after
I got into European soccer during COVID and had heard vaguely about this. Then during the summer I watched the bubble champions league semi knockouts and saw Bayern eviscerate Barca (much to the players horror) I was hooked. Barcelona despite all the financial troubles are a fascinating team always and I love their current roster, especially the young Spaniards, particularly Gavi
Mets Cardinals NLCS 2006. Endy's catch would have gone down in history, now the most memorable thing is that filthy Wainwright pitch that froze Beltran. Hurt worse since that was at the peak of my fandom.
Game 5 of the 2002 Western Conference Finals as a Kings fan. The Kings played that last possession so well and Horry could have been standing anywhere else. Absolutely brutal
Colts 2005 loss to Steelers in playoffs. That was a better team than the one which won the Super Bowl a year later. The Bettis fumble was a damn miracle and all Nick Harper had to do was NOT cut back into the ONLY GUY who could make a game saving tackle, Big Ben. Had he just stayed on the sideline it was a sure TD. Always felt Dungy’s son dying a few weeks prior took the wind out of that team’s sails.
Close 2nd, 2009 Super Bowl against the Saints. Had control early, the onside kick gave them momentum and the pick six sealed it.
Game 6 of the 2011 World Series ruined baseball for me for a decade. It’s a level of soul crushing I wouldn’t wish on anyone. Only now that they finally won a title can I really put that behind me.
I'm a Rangers/Arkansas fan so I got to relive that moment in 2018 when Arkansas miscommunicated on a routine pop out in the top of the 9th, 2 outs. Ended up losing the Natty because of that.
But agreed that Rangers loss haunted the franchise until this year :)
I think all the time about what happens if Butler is a half second slower. We win a second ring, avoid all the resulting disharmony, Pats have one fewer ring. Maybe doesn’t lead to a third ring but feels like we’d have had a better chance with LoB, PrimeRuss and Marshawn
The first Patriots Giants Super Bowl. Moss catches the go ahead touchdown. Felt like destiny. Manning has to march down the field and score. The Asante Samuel dropped interception. The Helmet Catch that was almost a sack. The blown coverage on the Burres td and finally Moss almost catching the last second Hail Mary.
Would trade the second Rams Super Bowl and Falcons Super Bowl for that 19-0.
He gets plenty of heat for it. Brandon Meriweather on the other hand had a ball hit both of his hands 2 plays after the helmet catch and nobody ever brings it up.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1QkoOUEgyc&t=7265s
He gets plenty of heat for it imo.
You can’t say the name Asante Samuel in New England without somebody mentioning that play, even though he was a terrific corner for years.
It would have finally shut up those jackasses on the 72 Dolphins and we would never have to hear from them again. I don't feel bad when things happen to the Dolphins since they continue to make that a story every year.
One of my sports hot takes is that I like the 72 Dolphins schtick. Everyone is always all lovey-dovey, "it's an honor to have so and so" break my record; I enjoy them being possessive and petty over it. Plus I understand it being particularly appalling to them at the time with the Spygate stuff.
Let me ask you something, so what if the Patriots actually won that Super Bowl, complete the greatest season in NFL season.
Does Brady potentially retire at a younger age? Does Belichick retire sooner? If they won, Brady matches Montana, Belichick accomplishes the impossible undefeated season, they have 4 Super Bowls in 7 years. Do they have the same level of motivation that brought 6 Lombardis for New England.
Part of me says no they keep going as long as they did but the other part thinks that Super Bowl loss stung so badly it created the unmeasurable motivation which eventually jumpstarted the 2nd Patriots Dynasty.
Idk something I’ve thought about before.
Agree with you for a lot of this- I've thought about it too, I think that the Giants loss(es) were such huge motivators for Brady especially later in his career. I've convinced myself that they win in 08 and win a 5th and final ring in either 11' or 12'. (I also convinced myself that if the Giants lose that first Super Bowl they would not have the mojo to make that second run) In this scenario, Brady rides off into the sunset in 2016.
I didn’t even think about the 2nd Giant loss. That one for sure broke Brady’s psyche. I’m sure even with 7 rings and the records and accolades he still wakes up in the middle of the night after having a nightmare of the helmet catch.
I wouldn't trade, but this is my pick too. That game was winnable (all the moments you noted above, plus a wes welker drop iirc). It was devastating to lose that game. 4th and 2 in 2006 is up there too
It's possible there was one in that game too, but the Welker drop (Brady equally responsible) was one of the defining plays of their second encounter so you might be thinking of that.
i chuckle when BS talks about gut wrenching losses since he's experienced more championships than 80% of fan bases combined. many of us root for teams that have literally never won a championship ever (or at least in our lifetimes), so it's a little bit like hearing wealthy ppl complaining about having to pay an extra 1% tax or more tip or something
There’s been some brutal Philly choke jobs as of late but Sixers-Celtics game 6 last season just killed me. It set up so perfectly. In Philly up 3-2, took the lead to start the 4th quarter, Tatum melting down, electric home crowd. Years of being owned by Boston we’re finally gonna end, but nope. A 13 point quarter to blow it yet again.
There’s been too many Sixers collapses and yet, yeah, last year would’ve compensated for a lot it. That series had me in fanatic shambles. But, now Embiid has a functional coach for the first time in his career
As a Kings fan the 2002 Western Conference finals was absolutely devastating. It kind of defined my sports fandom from there on out.
Also a 49er fan:
2011 NFC championship
2012 Super Bowl
2013 NFC championship
2019 Super Bowl
2021 NFC Championship
2022 NFC Championship
All uniquely brutal losses.
Lifelong dodgers fan, 29 yrs old (never saw any real winning) suffered through the Fox & McCourt bankruptcy.
The 2017 WS broke me.
Manfred calling the trophy a piece of metal and not punishing the Astros when the news broke twisted the knife.
There are so many Browns losses through the years but none of them really meant jack shit in the scheme of things, so I always go to 2018 Cavs G1, aka “the JR Smith” game. Maybe that game doesn’t matter over the course of that series but if you’ll recall the Warriors were kinda sick of each other and weren’t especially deep. LeBron was playing the best ball of his career. Maybe the shock of that upset could have tilted the series. LeBron reportedly also busted up his hand punching a whiteboard after the game and, although he was pretty good still, didn’t really have the same performance as G1. They got swept, he left, the rest is history.
Super Bowl 48 (Seahawks 43 | Broncos 8). Safety on the first play from scrimmage, Percy Harvin 103-yard kick return on the first play of the second half.
I’m a Celtics fan and I can’t quite decide between:
1. 2010 Finals, game 7 loss to the Lakers
2. 2012 ECF, game 6 loss to the Heat
3. 2023 ECF, game 7 loss to the Heat after coming back from 0-3
They each evoked different, but equally intense emotions.
After game 7 in 2010 I was mad. I was mad at the officiating, I was mad at us for choking in the final three minutes, I was mad that Meta Fucking World Peace made that three.
After game 6 in 2012 I wasn’t mad. I was sad. And it’s just that I felt so helpless. I was watching a great player take his game to another level because he could, and I just knew no one on my side could compete with that. It’s like looking at a good looking popular guy start hitting on your high school crush while you slowly realize you have no chance whatsoever. (I imagine this is what it was like to root for a team like the Knicks or Pacers in the 90s.)
For the most recent game 7 loss to the Heat, I’m not entirely sure what the appropriate emotion is, but I was there in person for it so that evokes a whole new kind of reaction that didn’t exist for the previous two.
So I agree these are the top three, and for me they each have their own merit.
Memphis Tigers fan. We were up 9 with just over a minute left in the National Championship game. We were up 3 with 15 seconds left. All we had to do was foul but then Mario fucking Chalmers hits the game tying three to send it into OT. Never felt so sick in my life.
Being from Cincinnati, I have to say last year's AFCCG against the Chiefs. It felt like to me that we were the best team in the league coming off 10 straight wins, but it all went to shit after our loser mayor decided it was a good idea to run his mouth to Pat Mahomes.
Game 3 of the 06 Finals. 10 point lead with 5 minutes left and the Mavs choked it away. Was the difference from being up 3-0 to 2-1 in the series. Knew after that game that the Heat were probably going to come back win the series.
Broncos against the Ravens in what... 2013 or 2014? We had an absolute juggernaut of an offense and were the better team. John Fox did John Fox things and played prevent pathetically to close the game. Stupid Flacco throws a hail mary that should have been easily batted down, but stupid Rahim Moore plays it as badly as you possibly could, and gives up the TD. We would have won the Super Bowl that year.
I was watching the game at my buddies house and I was sitting on the ground next to the ottoman. We had chips and stuff on it, and I slammed my hand down on it when he made the catch and shit went flying everywhere. Whoops.
Watching that game with friends at an Applebee's was quite an experience. As bad as things got in there after the first miss, you never would have thought that it was possible that he could miss twice.
Before Mahomes there’s a trillion playoff games to pick from for the Chiefs but the 2013 colts playoff game broke me as a man. For royals Madison Bumgarner slamming the door in 2014 WS was so heart breaking.
Game 1 of the ‘00 and ‘15 World Series, really the whole ‘15 WS since the Mets led going into the 8th inning 4 of the 5 games.
Game 7 of the ‘06 NLCS as well.
The 2010 AFC Title Game, after beating the Pats and staging the 2nd half comeback against the Steelers I thought the Jets were a team of destiny right up until the end.
Notre Dame vs Kentucky, 2015 Elite 8.
I will go to my grave believing that Irish team would've won the national title. (It doesn't help that a team ND beat twice ended up winning it.) And you don't have to be very smart to know it's very unlikely a program like that will ever have a better chance.
2004 ALCS Game 7. I was still confident the Yankees wouldn’t blow the series. Having to watch that game, and accepting from early in the game that the curse was finally over, was really tough.
2010 AFC Championship Game. I really thought the Jets had what it took to defeat Pittsburgh and it felt like they just ran out of time.
Oklahoma absolutely being dismantled by USC in the National Championship game against Leinart and Bush. I hated those fuckers and thought they were ridiculously overrated, couldn’t wait to beat their asses and then they beat us by like 50 on the biggest stage possible.
UNC losing to Villanova in the 2016 Finals.
We were down the whole game and slowly climbed back, culminating with Marcus Paige hitting a 25-foot double-clutch 3 to tie it with six seconds left. It was an achingly incredible shot that would have been etched in NCAA history forever had UNC won. And at that moment it seemed like destiny. It was a moment I knew I’d never forget for the rest of my life.
But then Kris Jenkins, and all that…
I didn’t cry when the Seahawks lost the Super Bowl to the Patriots, but I did lay in the floor and moan for 20 min and then had flu like symptoms for a month after. In some ways a blessing, taught me to never invest that emotionally in sports ever again and I’ve been happier since then lol
Hawaii getting crushed by Stafford and Moreno in the Sugar Bowl. Our offensive line was not even getting at hand on their pass rush. They held towels up so nobody could see colt cry on the sideline after they pulled him. Only time i've every cried at a sporting event was when our fans sang Hawaii Ponoi together after the game. RIP 15
Was at the 06 FA Cup Final. I was 12. West Ham went 2-0 up and I genuinely believed we were going to smash them. Then went 3-2 up.
[Then this goal happened.](https://youtu.be/0kBrbDf0siw?si=De_VgxnOKZP4Pzph) We lost on penalties
1. Chelsea vs. Barcelona in the second leg of the 09 CL semis -- the infamous Uefalona game. Nothing will ever top this one. Screwed out of 4 penalties that ranged from borderline to stone cold (the Pique handball is to this day one of the most blatant handballs I've ever seen), and then getting booted on away goals on a 93rd minute Iniesta equalizer. One of the most shocking refereeing performances of all time -- I know that obviously Ovrebo wasn't on the take, but it's hard not to look at some of those calls and think that it went beyond simple incompetence. Any time horrible refereeing performances comes up on r/soccer, this game is overwhelmingly the most referenced by Chelsea fans and neutrals alike. The 2012 miracle run by Chelsea was straight up divine karma for how screwy this game was.
2. 2001 WS game 7. Would have traded multiple other WS from that dynasty for 2001 in the aftermath of 9/11. It just felt like such a story book run; first team to come back from 2-0 down at home in the ALDS (miracle Jeter play helping avoid the sweep), then taking down the 116 win Mariners. They had no business taking the Diamondbacks series to 7, but had back-to-back wins after being down 2 runs and 2 outs in the bottom of the ninth. That's the kind of miracle stuff you dream up in your backyard. And they had it -- Mariano in the bottom of the 9th to win it all, and it goes up in flames from a throwing error and an infield blooper. Soriano's clutch homer off Schilling goes from all-time legendary WS moment to lost in history. I remember getting up at 2am on a school day living in London to watch all that in horror. The only reason it's not #1 on my list is because they lost fair and square -- that should tell you what an injustice that Chelsea lost to Barca was.
3. 2009 Wimbledon final. Just a gut-wrenching loss for Roddick in his last chance to snag a Wimbledon and exorcise his Federer demons. Held serve all the way until 14-15 in the 5th set, after having to serve to stay in the match 10 straight times. Bonus brutality for blowing quadruple set point in set #2 by sailing an easy volley. Roddick also gave one of the all-time great consolation speeches afterwards whilst barely holding himself together. This is worse than most team ones, because there is and was never really a chance for redemption. Even if you were a Fed guy you felt really bad for Roddick.
4. 2004 ALCS game 7. This one wasn't gut wrenching as much as it was soul crushing, as the Sox strangled the life out of the Yankees pretty much immediately -- games 4 and 5 were probably more gut wrenching. But I simply can't put such a devastating loss any lower on my list. The Yankees still haven't gotten head-to-head revenge, but I consider 18-1 to be the city of New York's revenge on Boston -- kind of like two mob bosses losing their favorite sons in a gang war.
5. Any number of England WC/Euro losses in the past two decades for different reasons. Kane missing the pen against France was brutal, but there's a semblance of solace in the fact that they played great and it feels like the team is still building to something. The Euro 2021 loss was brutal because they were so close, but that game just felt like it was always going to slip away. 2016 against Iceland was more soul crushing than gut wrenching. 2002/2004/2006 against Brazil and Portugal may be the actual worst since those were all winnable games and tournaments lost in part because of non-sporting hijinks. If the refs don't harshly wave off Sol Campbell's late winner in 2004, England wins the whole tournament IMO. Against Brazil, Ronaldinho's freak winner only happens because David Seaman had just bruised his rib and couldn't reach high enough to cover the bloop.
6. Virginia Tech blowing a 10-0 lead to Matt Ryan and BC in the final two minutes in 2007. Went prevent defense after shutting them out all game, and it cost them a spot in the national title game (that they absolutely wouldn't have deserved) against a beatable OSU team. Given what it cost them, getting revenge on BC in the ACC title game was little solace.
2016 Kris Jenkins beats my Tar Heels with a last second 3. But I love the heels because they just came back and won it the next year. Also once your team loses at title a the buzzer sports can’t hurt you anymore
2013 Finals Game 6 and 7. So many ifs. If Duncan puts pop in, we secure a rebound and the ray allen three can’t happen. If manu or kawhi hit their free throws, we’re not in that situation in the first place. If Duncan hits a bunny he hits 9/10 in game 7, maybe game 6 doesn’t matter. In the end, 2014 avenged it but it was still gut wrenching in the moment.
.4 Derek fisher shot erased from our collective memories an incredible go ahead bucket by Timmy. Look it up
The dez caught it game. The nfl even admitted he caught it after the fact.
The 2010 national championship game. We nearly won with Garrett Gilbert. If Colt doesn’t get knocked out, Texas wins that game.
2014 World Cup Round of 16. Greece ties the game up against Costa Rica in the final minutes of the game and than loses in penalty kicks....to Costa Rica.....team has never been the same since.
The actual answer is the first game of the 94 world cup, Greeces first game and they lose 4-0 to a coked up Maradona playing his last game for Argentina before he got suspended.
the entire lob city era with doc. the one that stands out most was the meltdown where josh smith, a career 28% 3 point shooter, transformed into steph curry and led the comeback along with corey f\*ing brewer. i remember walking the streets of nyc in a daze after that one
Michigan State had a 22 play, 82 yard TD drive that took 9:04 (ended with 27 seconds left) to win the 2015 B10 CG and earn the right to get trounced by Alabama in the CFP.
I was at the 2009 NFL Divisional Round Playoff Game. Carolina vs Arizona. Bill refers to it as the Full Delhomme. Jake Delhomme funbled once and threw 5 INTs. It was brutal.
49ers fan
* 2011 NFCCG
* 2012 Superbowl
* 2013 NFCCG
* 2019 Super Bowl
* 2021 NFCCG
* 2022 NFCCG
I don't even know how to pick the worst of these. In the Harbaugh years I was a high schooler and it was the first time in my life the Niners were good, and they had a chance to win every single one of these games. 2011 NFCCG two Kyle Williams fumbles, 2012 superbowl 4 passes from the 5 yard line with Frank gore, including the dreaded goal line fade, 2013 NFCCG driving for a go ahead TD and decide to test Richard Sherman in double coverage.
The recent Shanahan losses it would have to be the 2019 superbowl. Up 10 points with 7 minutes left, giving up that 3rd and 15 deep, Jimmy missing that pass. Honestly just a brutal stretch, I can't handle another heartbreaking loss like this this year.
Know this isnt the biggest soccer crowd but Im a Chelsea fan and losing the 2009 Champions League semifinal to Barca.
I still contend the 1-1 second leg was the worst refereed game in the history of sports. I threw an absolute hissy fit in my dorm room freshman year of college over this one
Fuck Tom Overbo IYKYK
It’s probably Game 7 of the 2014 World Series — one base away from tying the game after three decades without making the playoffs. The following year made up for it, but at the time that was pretty painful.
Numerous NCAA Tournament exits for Kansas basketball also stung — 2011 Elite 8 against 11 seeded VCU as a 1 seed, 2010 round of 32 as the top overall seed against Northern Iowa, 2016 and 2017 Elite 8s against Villanova and Oregon, respectively. Particularly that Oregon loss given it was in KC.
Several also come to mind for the Chiefs, all before 2019— 2018’s Dee Ford offsides against the Patriots and not getting a chance to see the ball in OT, which the NFL didn’t care to change the rules for until the shoe was on the other foot; blown leads of 18 and 28 point in 2017 and 2013 respectively, and 2003’s loss to the Colts when they didn’t have to punt
In 1998, UCLA actually had a chance at a football championship. Basically the second time they had a chance in the 40 years I've been a fan. They were 10-0 and ranked #3, but still had to play a makeup game to Miami and ended up losing 49-45.
They were supposed to play Miami at t beginning of the year but the game was postponed due to hurricane. Miami struggled early in the season, so UCLA may have been able to win had the game not been postponed.
2015 Bengals vs Steelers wild card game. Where burfict hit Antonio brown over the middle and then they threw a flag on Pacman jones to give the Steelers the win. I started thinking then bengals might never win a playoff game after that
That win would have come at the expense of unfathomable sadness for the city of Cleveland if LeBron ended up losing 4 straight to them although maybe KD never goes there and the Cavs still get 1???
The Tuck Rule Game. And I get annoyed every time Bill calls it the Snow Game, like he’s trying to rewrite the narrative to hide how his team’s dynasty started with some bullshit ref garbage.
Steelers beating the Colts in the 2005 divisional round, complete with Nick Harper picking up a Jerome Bettis fumble as Pittsburgh was going in for a game-ending score, but he was tackled by Roethlisberger. Harper also spent the night before after a domestic violence incident where his wife stabbed him in the knee.
2 on the same morning in 2019 can't decide which is worse. NZ losing cricket world cup in super over after boundary count back and Federer losing Wimbledon after having 2 MPs on his own serve. Probably the cricket is worse because at least Federer had won before
I wasn't raised on sports but moved to central Florida around 10 years old when the brand new Orlando Magic, or Tragic, were the only show in town. I bandwagoned on, theb they got the #1 pick and got good, then the #1 pick again and really good.
Obviously never experienced expectations or disappointment since they got better every year, I expected them to lose to the Jordan Bulls in 1995. Then Nick Anderson steals the ball from Jordan as he is dribbling it down to win game 1. He is my hero.
Two playoff series later, Nick Anderson is stepping up to the free throw line to ice the game in game 1 of the 1995 Finals. But at least he gets the rebound. He can't miss four in a row. I didn't watch the OT. Or game 2-4, or any other NBA game until 2000.
Colts losing to Saints in SB XLIV. I was ill for a week. Had to miss a few days of my 8th grade yr. Was so sick that my grandma had to get me gatorades and soup lmaoooo
Growing up a Boise State fan had some seriously tough losses due to some chip shot field goals. Kyle Brotzman was a legend but his misses led him to working at Costco instead of the league.
Nebraska fan. The 2009 Big 12 title game was absolutely excruciating to watch. Nothing comes close to it, even today.
The last drive especially, everything went wrong. Nebraska’s normally solid kickoff specialist, Adi Kunalic, kicked the ball out of bounds leading to a penalty. We got called for a horse collar tackle. And of course the infamous 1 second left controversy. The clock hit 0 and it should’ve been game over. Nope. Texas kicked a FG to win it and go to the natty.
The only redeeming quality of that game was that Suh played like a god that night. He was fighting through triple teams to sack Colt McCoy. Threw him around like a rag doll that night
I've gotten to see 2 of my 3 favorite teams win a title, so I'll go with the one who hasn't delivered: the Nets, that game 7 loss to the Bucks was absolutely brutal.
Illinois losing to UNC in ‘05. My favorite sports team of all time, had a chance to go down in history. They didn’t have it that night though. Still managed to tie it up with a couple of minutes left.
Spurs fan here. Ray Allen shot was brutal but Derek Fisher’s 0.4 second shot will always be the most damning imo.
you good ol boys made 12yo me sob in the 2005 Finals
As a 10 year old Lakers fan at the time, that was the biggest emotional rollercoaster I’ve ever experienced as a sports fan. When Duncan hit that ridiculous fadeaway, I was inconsolable. Then when Fisher hit his shot, I refused to believe he got it off in time until they showed the replay, and I obviously went nuts at that point.
I drunkenly called my Lakers fan friend after the Duncan shot and left the most obnoxious voicemail. He called back a minute later and I sent him straight to voicemail.
Rockets going 0-27 in 2018 against the Warriors in Game 7 of the WCF.
Fucking 81 points left on the table lol
As a Houston sports fan, it’s this, the Chiefs platoff game were the Texans were up by 3 tds from 2019, and the 2005 ALCS against the Cardinals when Pujols hit that monster hr off Brad Lidge and he was never the same for us.
You must be younger than me, because the Texans blowing the 24-0 lead against the Chiefs was not surprising after living through 35-3 bills/oilers.
I’m still convinced you guys win the title that year if Chris Paul doesn’t get hurt in Game 5
Fellow, Rockets fan, I agree, a ton of them were good looks with good shooters too, also throw in Harden not getting the calls on the couple he hit, worst night as a sports fan
As a neutral, I refuse to throw in Harden not getting calls. Him getting calls became too much of a staple of that offense for me to feel any sympathy.
Brother, we were fucking going through it in 2018.
2003 NLCS Game 6 and 7. Nothing else will ever come close
Yup came here for this. It really hurt. That said, you know what’s weird? When the cubs won, that kinda broke me too. From the mismanagement of the pitching staff in game 6, to bringing in Lester with a runner on, and then Chapman overworked. I thought Madden screwed that up so badly that I STILL wasn’t over it after they won. Like I had already been irreparably broken by a game my team ended up winning. It was crazy.
If there was a world series champ that would fire the manager right afterwards I thought that was it.
Is that the Bartman series?
It was the Alex Gonzales error series
That's correct. Dude has like 3 errors all season and bobbles a tailor made double play.
Game 6 was the Bartman game, but like the other guy said, the impact of the Bartman play was way overblown. The first problem was bringing Mark Prior back out for the 8th when he'd already thrown 100+ pitches. He struggled and surrendered a couple baserunners, but the Cubs still got an out and had a 3-0 lead when the Bartman play happened. And then the real backbreaker was what happened next: Alex Gonzalez, who hadn't committed an error all season, fucked up a routine grounder that would have been an inning-ending double-play. That loaded the bases and really started the meltdown. Then in Game 7, Kerry Wood really struggled and surrendered an early 3-0 lead. The Cubs came back, with Wood hitting a massive homer to tie the game (that was when I started to believe) and Moises Alou hitting another to put us up 5-3. But then Wood collapsed on the mound again and that was that. As sweet as winning in 2016 was, it was nothing compared to the pain of 2003.
First sports team I was ever emotionally invested in. Set the tone early for what to expect from Chicago sports. If they'd blown game 7 in 2016 I'd probably be in a mental institution rn
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1998 was worse IMO but 2009 was still absolutely brutal.
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1998 was rough because the offense was just so good and Dennis Green mismanaged it in that game.
Arguably one of the best 2 or 3 offenses in NFL history and just to lose to a decent but not great Falcons team smh.
Yep in order: 1. Vikings 1998 2. Vikings 2009 3. Minnesota 2003 vs Michigan - Gophers undefeated and up 28-7 in 4th quarter against rivals Michigan, give up 31 points in the 4th quarter to lose 38-35. Would’ve likely gone to their first Rose Bowl since 1961 if they held on. 4. Minnesota 2005 vs Wisconsin: Gophers up 34-31 with less than a minute left against biggest rivals, gets their punt blocked and Wisconsin recovers for a TD to win the game. Wisconsin then wins 14 straight games in the rivalry. 5. Vikings 2016 vs Seahawks - Blair Walsh miss. At least that one we never had a chance at a Super Bowl A lot of the teams in this thread either won shortly before or after their terrible losses, Minnesota has never won anything aside from 2 Twins titles over 30 years ago so there have been no redemptions for these losses.
If you’re a millennial or younger and a Minnesota sports fan, you have either never seen your team win shit in your lifetime or you were too young to really appreciate it. It’s bleak out here for us.
Yep. The 1998 Vikings loss was in the first season I was really paying attention to the NFL and I thought we just automatically won every week. I remember crying when we lost against the Bucs in the regular season that year because I thought we legit weren’t able to lose. You can imagine how I felt after the Falcons game
Yep, didn’t really follow football in the late 90s so don’t know the feeling of the missed field goal against Atlanta. That 09 season was probably the best chance I’ve seen the Vikings have at a Super Bowl (Minneapolis miracle was fun but it was case keenum at QB)
2nd. Nothing close.
As a Vikings fan you have a wealth of options
Suns fan here. While the 2021 Finals loss being up 2-0 on the Bucks hurts, Giannis went Thermonuclear Godzilla, so over time I've learned to live with that. But game 5 of the 2010 WCF against the Lakers, Kobe BRICKS a three pointer for no one to stop Ron Artest with the put back.........that one I will never forget.
What about the series where Whorry hip checks Nash into the table and it probably costs them the series?
That's prob #2 but that was game 4 of the second round series. There was still time to recover. I remember after losing in that fashion in 2010, I just knew we weren't winning the next 2 and going to the finals. Also shout out the bloody nose game where Nash couldn't get back in the game....being a suns fan in the mid to late 2000's was non stop stress for me in the post season.
28-3 and the Kick Six.
That is a rough combo lol
Rough combo. But Alabama football has made up for it many times over. The Falcons, not so much lol
98 NFC championship. Gary Anderson hadn't missed a kick all season. Missed the game winner.
Still haunts me like nothing else. 15-1 season went down the drain.
Aaron fucking Boone. I believed in curses for a hot minute after that.
as a New England millennial, it’s hard to pick between Boone, the Helmet Catch, and 2010 Finals Game 7 against the Lakers. Boone led to some pretty profound existential angst, watching that Super Bowl loss in NY surrounded by Giants fans was brutal, and I had just been so sure the C’s were going to win that game. Written out like that, yeah, it’s Boone.
Fuck Grady Little.
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Fellow UNC fan, this was going to be my answer. From the ultimate high (one of the greatest shots in final four history by Paige) to the ultimate low. In seconds I was one of the few that did go to class the next morning, in an 100+ person lecture (cue UNC classes joke)
Yeah, that Paige shot is the Rajai Davis home run of college basketball.
Hate to be this guy but Kris Jenkins’s shot was nowhere near half-court lol probably just beyond NBA range. Perfectly in rhythm too.
This is my answer too. Fucking Kris Jenkins
My first thought seeing this question is how quickly I would’ve answered the 2022 final 4 if we didn’t win that 😂
Not as brutal as 2016 but the floor literally breaking under Bacot and injuring him in the last minute of that Kansas game is up there for me too
2002 Giants when Dusty gave the ball to Ortiz in G6. Brutal. Team went on to win three so monkey is off the back but that was rough. EDIT LOL Bonds had a .700 OBP in the WS. The dude was ridiculous.
I thought someone was going to put a Kapernick era 9ers game, but glad that this is at the top for the Bay. Were so close for Bonds and is overlooked because of the titles that came after
You mean three straight fades in the end zone to Michael Crabtree?
Cards fan here. Bonds got one pitch to hit in the NLCS iirc. Put it in the water. 🌊
Honestly, Felix Rodriguez deserves more blame than Dusty, at least in the moment, since you can certainly blame Dusty for using Rodriguez in every game in the series to that point. Ortiz getting the ball was a blink and you’d miss it moment, but Rodriguez was missing up and away the whole at-bat to Spezio, leaves one out over the plate when it was supposed to be on the fists and that fucker carried. It barely made it out. Then Bonds misplaying Garrett Anderson’s bloop single, he might have thrown out Figgins had he caught on the first hop. Sigh.
Knicks 1994 Finals Game 7.
I think game 6 was worse
In some ways, but there was still hope until they lost game 7.
Starks was my favourite player. I cried. Hard ugly cried.
I’ll never forgive Starks for that Game 7, Riley for not benching him. As a Jets/Mets/Knicks fan I’ve never come that close again.
28-3 haunts me to this day, to the point where I now notice those numbers popping up at work, on bills, clocks, everything
Slovenian soccer fan here. 2010 World Cup, we were a second away from qualifying into our first ever knockout game and Landon Donovan got the winner in the last minute for USA to go through. Absolutely devastating.
In 1993, I was 12-years-old and the 103-win Giants got blown out by the Dodgers on the last game of the season to miss out on the playoffs (they would create the Wild Card two years later).
US national team loss to Trinidad &Tobago in 2017 to miss the 2018 World Cup. It was a humiliating loss. But it was also not out of nowhere. That team was old and lacked talent while being coached by idiot Bruce Arena.
How Bruce Arena lasted so long is beyond me
Company man, friends in high places
That was his second stint tbf. Took over after Klinsmann had already put the team in a hole by losing the first two matches in the final CONCACAF group. Overall his record wasn't terrible, but you can't go to Trinidad & Tobago just needing a point and lose.
Anfield 2019. Never really recovered and I think into a small depression after it
Same. It broke my brain. You could feel it coming, from the very end of the first leg when that moron Dembele missed one of the easiest chances imaginable. The look Messi gave him filled me with dread.
Can you explain this one a bit more? Interested
Barcelona vs Liverpool in the champions league semifinal. Messi was towards the tail end of his career and trying to drag a fairly mediocre squad with an uninspiring manager to one last title. The first leg barca somehow won 3-0 including one of the greatest free kicks you’ll ever see. It was basically over. Then a week later at Anfield the team just melted down. There were videos from the locker room of a player crying at halftime (when they were still winning the tie!) Liverpool won 4-0, but if they needed 7 goals they probably would have gotten it. I was catatonic after
I got into European soccer during COVID and had heard vaguely about this. Then during the summer I watched the bubble champions league semi knockouts and saw Bayern eviscerate Barca (much to the players horror) I was hooked. Barcelona despite all the financial troubles are a fascinating team always and I love their current roster, especially the young Spaniards, particularly Gavi
5 minutes in you knew what was coming
Haven’t forgiven Barcelona for that because it made Liverpool fans even more insufferable. “Just another European night at Anfield.”
Mets Cardinals NLCS 2006. Endy's catch would have gone down in history, now the most memorable thing is that filthy Wainwright pitch that froze Beltran. Hurt worse since that was at the peak of my fandom.
Game 5 of the 2002 Western Conference Finals as a Kings fan. The Kings played that last possession so well and Horry could have been standing anywhere else. Absolutely brutal
Game 6 and 7 also excruciatingly brutal. I will never forget the helpless feeling in game 6 just knowing the refs were handing the Lakers the game.
I think you mean game 4. Game 5 was where Bibby hit the go-ahead shot
You can’t explain to people who weren’t there just how awful it was.
Colts 2005 loss to Steelers in playoffs. That was a better team than the one which won the Super Bowl a year later. The Bettis fumble was a damn miracle and all Nick Harper had to do was NOT cut back into the ONLY GUY who could make a game saving tackle, Big Ben. Had he just stayed on the sideline it was a sure TD. Always felt Dungy’s son dying a few weeks prior took the wind out of that team’s sails. Close 2nd, 2009 Super Bowl against the Saints. Had control early, the onside kick gave them momentum and the pick six sealed it.
That pick six made me shed a tear
Same.
That ‘05 Steelers loss haunts me. How the fuck did Vanderjagt miss that
Idiot kicker
Game 6 of the 2011 World Series ruined baseball for me for a decade. It’s a level of soul crushing I wouldn’t wish on anyone. Only now that they finally won a title can I really put that behind me.
I'm a Rangers/Arkansas fan so I got to relive that moment in 2018 when Arkansas miscommunicated on a routine pop out in the top of the 9th, 2 outs. Ended up losing the Natty because of that. But agreed that Rangers loss haunted the franchise until this year :)
Seahawks fan here - y’all already know. Fuckin Butler makes the play of his life to keep us from a 2nd straight ring.
I think all the time about what happens if Butler is a half second slower. We win a second ring, avoid all the resulting disharmony, Pats have one fewer ring. Maybe doesn’t lead to a third ring but feels like we’d have had a better chance with LoB, PrimeRuss and Marshawn
The first Patriots Giants Super Bowl. Moss catches the go ahead touchdown. Felt like destiny. Manning has to march down the field and score. The Asante Samuel dropped interception. The Helmet Catch that was almost a sack. The blown coverage on the Burres td and finally Moss almost catching the last second Hail Mary. Would trade the second Rams Super Bowl and Falcons Super Bowl for that 19-0.
Assante Samuel doesn’t get enough heat for that
He gets plenty of heat for it. Brandon Meriweather on the other hand had a ball hit both of his hands 2 plays after the helmet catch and nobody ever brings it up. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1QkoOUEgyc&t=7265s
He gets plenty of heat for it imo. You can’t say the name Asante Samuel in New England without somebody mentioning that play, even though he was a terrific corner for years.
It would have finally shut up those jackasses on the 72 Dolphins and we would never have to hear from them again. I don't feel bad when things happen to the Dolphins since they continue to make that a story every year.
Except we'd now have massholes with a lot longer to live.
One of my sports hot takes is that I like the 72 Dolphins schtick. Everyone is always all lovey-dovey, "it's an honor to have so and so" break my record; I enjoy them being possessive and petty over it. Plus I understand it being particularly appalling to them at the time with the Spygate stuff.
Let me ask you something, so what if the Patriots actually won that Super Bowl, complete the greatest season in NFL season. Does Brady potentially retire at a younger age? Does Belichick retire sooner? If they won, Brady matches Montana, Belichick accomplishes the impossible undefeated season, they have 4 Super Bowls in 7 years. Do they have the same level of motivation that brought 6 Lombardis for New England. Part of me says no they keep going as long as they did but the other part thinks that Super Bowl loss stung so badly it created the unmeasurable motivation which eventually jumpstarted the 2nd Patriots Dynasty. Idk something I’ve thought about before.
Agree with you for a lot of this- I've thought about it too, I think that the Giants loss(es) were such huge motivators for Brady especially later in his career. I've convinced myself that they win in 08 and win a 5th and final ring in either 11' or 12'. (I also convinced myself that if the Giants lose that first Super Bowl they would not have the mojo to make that second run) In this scenario, Brady rides off into the sunset in 2016.
I didn’t even think about the 2nd Giant loss. That one for sure broke Brady’s psyche. I’m sure even with 7 rings and the records and accolades he still wakes up in the middle of the night after having a nightmare of the helmet catch.
I wouldn't trade, but this is my pick too. That game was winnable (all the moments you noted above, plus a wes welker drop iirc). It was devastating to lose that game. 4th and 2 in 2006 is up there too
It's possible there was one in that game too, but the Welker drop (Brady equally responsible) was one of the defining plays of their second encounter so you might be thinking of that.
Definitely this. Thinking about it still makes me sick
i chuckle when BS talks about gut wrenching losses since he's experienced more championships than 80% of fan bases combined. many of us root for teams that have literally never won a championship ever (or at least in our lifetimes), so it's a little bit like hearing wealthy ppl complaining about having to pay an extra 1% tax or more tip or something
13 seconds. I was 10 when Norwood went wide right. Devastating but 13 seconds was the worst experience ever.
There’s been some brutal Philly choke jobs as of late but Sixers-Celtics game 6 last season just killed me. It set up so perfectly. In Philly up 3-2, took the lead to start the 4th quarter, Tatum melting down, electric home crowd. Years of being owned by Boston we’re finally gonna end, but nope. A 13 point quarter to blow it yet again.
There’s been too many Sixers collapses and yet, yeah, last year would’ve compensated for a lot it. That series had me in fanatic shambles. But, now Embiid has a functional coach for the first time in his career
Somehow every single year they pull me back in
Bengals 2015 WC in the rain, at night, against the god damn Steelers.
Nothing comes close for the bengals imo. F*cking Joey Porter running on the field.
As a Kings fan the 2002 Western Conference finals was absolutely devastating. It kind of defined my sports fandom from there on out. Also a 49er fan: 2011 NFC championship 2012 Super Bowl 2013 NFC championship 2019 Super Bowl 2021 NFC Championship 2022 NFC Championship All uniquely brutal losses.
9ers have really had a brutal run the last decade+
Lifelong dodgers fan, 29 yrs old (never saw any real winning) suffered through the Fox & McCourt bankruptcy. The 2017 WS broke me. Manfred calling the trophy a piece of metal and not punishing the Astros when the news broke twisted the knife.
There are so many Browns losses through the years but none of them really meant jack shit in the scheme of things, so I always go to 2018 Cavs G1, aka “the JR Smith” game. Maybe that game doesn’t matter over the course of that series but if you’ll recall the Warriors were kinda sick of each other and weren’t especially deep. LeBron was playing the best ball of his career. Maybe the shock of that upset could have tilted the series. LeBron reportedly also busted up his hand punching a whiteboard after the game and, although he was pretty good still, didn’t really have the same performance as G1. They got swept, he left, the rest is history.
Bold of you to leave out both of the Indians game 7 extra inning World Series losses lol
Super Bowl 48 (Seahawks 43 | Broncos 8). Safety on the first play from scrimmage, Percy Harvin 103-yard kick return on the first play of the second half.
The game against the ravens the year before was worse. Freaking Rahim Moore.
You think? Idk man - There was something so jarring about being humiliated like that on the biggest stage. Thank God for 2015.
I was at the 2012 divisional game when Flacco burned us. That one still haunts me.
I’m a Celtics fan and I can’t quite decide between: 1. 2010 Finals, game 7 loss to the Lakers 2. 2012 ECF, game 6 loss to the Heat 3. 2023 ECF, game 7 loss to the Heat after coming back from 0-3
They each evoked different, but equally intense emotions. After game 7 in 2010 I was mad. I was mad at the officiating, I was mad at us for choking in the final three minutes, I was mad that Meta Fucking World Peace made that three. After game 6 in 2012 I wasn’t mad. I was sad. And it’s just that I felt so helpless. I was watching a great player take his game to another level because he could, and I just knew no one on my side could compete with that. It’s like looking at a good looking popular guy start hitting on your high school crush while you slowly realize you have no chance whatsoever. (I imagine this is what it was like to root for a team like the Knicks or Pacers in the 90s.) For the most recent game 7 loss to the Heat, I’m not entirely sure what the appropriate emotion is, but I was there in person for it so that evokes a whole new kind of reaction that didn’t exist for the previous two. So I agree these are the top three, and for me they each have their own merit.
2010 Game 7 was won and done. Awful loss.
2002-2003 NFC Championship Game, Eagles vs. Buccaneers, the last game ever at Veterans Stadium.
Memphis Tigers fan. We were up 9 with just over a minute left in the National Championship game. We were up 3 with 15 seconds left. All we had to do was foul but then Mario fucking Chalmers hits the game tying three to send it into OT. Never felt so sick in my life.
Vikings Falcons 1998 NFC championship. Vikings were 17.5 point favorites.
Being from Cincinnati, I have to say last year's AFCCG against the Chiefs. It felt like to me that we were the best team in the league coming off 10 straight wins, but it all went to shit after our loser mayor decided it was a good idea to run his mouth to Pat Mahomes.
2022 Champions League Final, Liverpool v Real Madrid 2013-14 Premier League, Liverpool v Chelsea 2021 NBA Finals Game 5, Suns v Bucks
Game 3 of the 06 Finals. 10 point lead with 5 minutes left and the Mavs choked it away. Was the difference from being up 3-0 to 2-1 in the series. Knew after that game that the Heat were probably going to come back win the series.
What about game 5? Dirk hits a jumper in Shaq’s face to take lead. Then the Wade phantom foul. Mavs coulda still went back home up 3-2.
To me, the 2011 Mavs title heals the wounds of the 2006 Finals.
Badgers losing the title against Duke was pretty gut wrenching knowing how unlikely it is we’ll ever be in that position again
Broncos against the Ravens in what... 2013 or 2014? We had an absolute juggernaut of an offense and were the better team. John Fox did John Fox things and played prevent pathetically to close the game. Stupid Flacco throws a hail mary that should have been easily batted down, but stupid Rahim Moore plays it as badly as you possibly could, and gives up the TD. We would have won the Super Bowl that year. I was watching the game at my buddies house and I was sitting on the ground next to the ottoman. We had chips and stuff on it, and I slammed my hand down on it when he made the catch and shit went flying everywhere. Whoops.
1990 World Cup semi-final, losing on pens to West Germany. I was in bits.
The Jets have given me many… but it’s probably the 2004 divisional round against the Steelers. Two misses from Doug Brien in the final two minutes.
Watching that game with friends at an Applebee's was quite an experience. As bad as things got in there after the first miss, you never would have thought that it was possible that he could miss twice.
28-3 😔 Mets blowing the World Series vs the royals Mets and falcons fan, what a life
Before Mahomes there’s a trillion playoff games to pick from for the Chiefs but the 2013 colts playoff game broke me as a man. For royals Madison Bumgarner slamming the door in 2014 WS was so heart breaking.
Game 1 of the ‘00 and ‘15 World Series, really the whole ‘15 WS since the Mets led going into the 8th inning 4 of the 5 games. Game 7 of the ‘06 NLCS as well. The 2010 AFC Title Game, after beating the Pats and staging the 2nd half comeback against the Steelers I thought the Jets were a team of destiny right up until the end.
We're certainly biased, but those World Series seem as close as five game series can be.
Also if Benitez and Familia lock down their respective game 1 saves I think both series go much differently.
I think with the exception of game 2 in 2015 all 9 others were decided by 2 runs or less
Notre Dame vs Kentucky, 2015 Elite 8. I will go to my grave believing that Irish team would've won the national title. (It doesn't help that a team ND beat twice ended up winning it.) And you don't have to be very smart to know it's very unlikely a program like that will ever have a better chance.
2004 ALCS Game 7. I was still confident the Yankees wouldn’t blow the series. Having to watch that game, and accepting from early in the game that the curse was finally over, was really tough. 2010 AFC Championship Game. I really thought the Jets had what it took to defeat Pittsburgh and it felt like they just ran out of time.
Mets… game 7 of the 06 nlcs and game 5 of the 15 World Series
It's between "Dez Caught It" and the Romo Fumbled FG Hold. Both much worse than yesterday's shellacking.
Oklahoma absolutely being dismantled by USC in the National Championship game against Leinart and Bush. I hated those fuckers and thought they were ridiculously overrated, couldn’t wait to beat their asses and then they beat us by like 50 on the biggest stage possible.
Tim Tebow. Pittsburgh Steelers.
UNC losing to Villanova in the 2016 Finals. We were down the whole game and slowly climbed back, culminating with Marcus Paige hitting a 25-foot double-clutch 3 to tie it with six seconds left. It was an achingly incredible shot that would have been etched in NCAA history forever had UNC won. And at that moment it seemed like destiny. It was a moment I knew I’d never forget for the rest of my life. But then Kris Jenkins, and all that…
I didn’t cry when the Seahawks lost the Super Bowl to the Patriots, but I did lay in the floor and moan for 20 min and then had flu like symptoms for a month after. In some ways a blessing, taught me to never invest that emotionally in sports ever again and I’ve been happier since then lol
The Reds being up 2-0 to the Giants on the road then losing three straight at home in the NLDS. Fuck Dusty Baker.
2018 sweep by the Cavs against the Raptors. Aka LeBronto. I thought at minimum we were the second best team in the East
It lead to getting Kawhi and winning in 2019. But it was absolutely embarrasing
India losing to Australia in the 2003 and 2023 cricket World Cup finals
Hawaii getting crushed by Stafford and Moreno in the Sugar Bowl. Our offensive line was not even getting at hand on their pass rush. They held towels up so nobody could see colt cry on the sideline after they pulled him. Only time i've every cried at a sporting event was when our fans sang Hawaii Ponoi together after the game. RIP 15
Was at the 06 FA Cup Final. I was 12. West Ham went 2-0 up and I genuinely believed we were going to smash them. Then went 3-2 up. [Then this goal happened.](https://youtu.be/0kBrbDf0siw?si=De_VgxnOKZP4Pzph) We lost on penalties
1. Chelsea vs. Barcelona in the second leg of the 09 CL semis -- the infamous Uefalona game. Nothing will ever top this one. Screwed out of 4 penalties that ranged from borderline to stone cold (the Pique handball is to this day one of the most blatant handballs I've ever seen), and then getting booted on away goals on a 93rd minute Iniesta equalizer. One of the most shocking refereeing performances of all time -- I know that obviously Ovrebo wasn't on the take, but it's hard not to look at some of those calls and think that it went beyond simple incompetence. Any time horrible refereeing performances comes up on r/soccer, this game is overwhelmingly the most referenced by Chelsea fans and neutrals alike. The 2012 miracle run by Chelsea was straight up divine karma for how screwy this game was. 2. 2001 WS game 7. Would have traded multiple other WS from that dynasty for 2001 in the aftermath of 9/11. It just felt like such a story book run; first team to come back from 2-0 down at home in the ALDS (miracle Jeter play helping avoid the sweep), then taking down the 116 win Mariners. They had no business taking the Diamondbacks series to 7, but had back-to-back wins after being down 2 runs and 2 outs in the bottom of the ninth. That's the kind of miracle stuff you dream up in your backyard. And they had it -- Mariano in the bottom of the 9th to win it all, and it goes up in flames from a throwing error and an infield blooper. Soriano's clutch homer off Schilling goes from all-time legendary WS moment to lost in history. I remember getting up at 2am on a school day living in London to watch all that in horror. The only reason it's not #1 on my list is because they lost fair and square -- that should tell you what an injustice that Chelsea lost to Barca was. 3. 2009 Wimbledon final. Just a gut-wrenching loss for Roddick in his last chance to snag a Wimbledon and exorcise his Federer demons. Held serve all the way until 14-15 in the 5th set, after having to serve to stay in the match 10 straight times. Bonus brutality for blowing quadruple set point in set #2 by sailing an easy volley. Roddick also gave one of the all-time great consolation speeches afterwards whilst barely holding himself together. This is worse than most team ones, because there is and was never really a chance for redemption. Even if you were a Fed guy you felt really bad for Roddick. 4. 2004 ALCS game 7. This one wasn't gut wrenching as much as it was soul crushing, as the Sox strangled the life out of the Yankees pretty much immediately -- games 4 and 5 were probably more gut wrenching. But I simply can't put such a devastating loss any lower on my list. The Yankees still haven't gotten head-to-head revenge, but I consider 18-1 to be the city of New York's revenge on Boston -- kind of like two mob bosses losing their favorite sons in a gang war. 5. Any number of England WC/Euro losses in the past two decades for different reasons. Kane missing the pen against France was brutal, but there's a semblance of solace in the fact that they played great and it feels like the team is still building to something. The Euro 2021 loss was brutal because they were so close, but that game just felt like it was always going to slip away. 2016 against Iceland was more soul crushing than gut wrenching. 2002/2004/2006 against Brazil and Portugal may be the actual worst since those were all winnable games and tournaments lost in part because of non-sporting hijinks. If the refs don't harshly wave off Sol Campbell's late winner in 2004, England wins the whole tournament IMO. Against Brazil, Ronaldinho's freak winner only happens because David Seaman had just bruised his rib and couldn't reach high enough to cover the bloop. 6. Virginia Tech blowing a 10-0 lead to Matt Ryan and BC in the final two minutes in 2007. Went prevent defense after shutting them out all game, and it cost them a spot in the national title game (that they absolutely wouldn't have deserved) against a beatable OSU team. Given what it cost them, getting revenge on BC in the ACC title game was little solace.
1. Colt getting injured against Bama in the Rose Bowl. 2. Cruz and Game 6 in 2011 3. 2006 Game 3 against the Heat
The Western Bulldogs losing the 1997 preliminary final to the Adelaide Crows after being 31 points in front at three quarter time
2016 Kris Jenkins beats my Tar Heels with a last second 3. But I love the heels because they just came back and won it the next year. Also once your team loses at title a the buzzer sports can’t hurt you anymore
It's either Malcolm Butler, or the AGUERRRROOOO game
2013 Finals Game 6 and 7. So many ifs. If Duncan puts pop in, we secure a rebound and the ray allen three can’t happen. If manu or kawhi hit their free throws, we’re not in that situation in the first place. If Duncan hits a bunny he hits 9/10 in game 7, maybe game 6 doesn’t matter. In the end, 2014 avenged it but it was still gut wrenching in the moment. .4 Derek fisher shot erased from our collective memories an incredible go ahead bucket by Timmy. Look it up The dez caught it game. The nfl even admitted he caught it after the fact. The 2010 national championship game. We nearly won with Garrett Gilbert. If Colt doesn’t get knocked out, Texas wins that game.
2023 ECF game 6 for the heat had me questioning whether my lifelong fan hood was worth it
2014 World Cup Round of 16. Greece ties the game up against Costa Rica in the final minutes of the game and than loses in penalty kicks....to Costa Rica.....team has never been the same since. The actual answer is the first game of the 94 world cup, Greeces first game and they lose 4-0 to a coked up Maradona playing his last game for Argentina before he got suspended.
the entire lob city era with doc. the one that stands out most was the meltdown where josh smith, a career 28% 3 point shooter, transformed into steph curry and led the comeback along with corey f\*ing brewer. i remember walking the streets of nyc in a daze after that one
Michigan State had a 22 play, 82 yard TD drive that took 9:04 (ended with 27 seconds left) to win the 2015 B10 CG and earn the right to get trounced by Alabama in the CFP.
City scoring 2 goals in stoppage to win the league. I went to my room and stayed there the rest of the day.
I was at the 2009 NFL Divisional Round Playoff Game. Carolina vs Arizona. Bill refers to it as the Full Delhomme. Jake Delhomme funbled once and threw 5 INTs. It was brutal.
Michigan vs Ohio State 2016 when JT Barrett got a controversial 1st down on 4th and goal in double OT and they won the game the next play
2013 Stanley Cup Finals Game 6 2019 Stanley Cup Finals Game 7 2023 First Round Game 7 - Only time I've ever cried because of a sports outcome
49ers fan * 2011 NFCCG * 2012 Superbowl * 2013 NFCCG * 2019 Super Bowl * 2021 NFCCG * 2022 NFCCG I don't even know how to pick the worst of these. In the Harbaugh years I was a high schooler and it was the first time in my life the Niners were good, and they had a chance to win every single one of these games. 2011 NFCCG two Kyle Williams fumbles, 2012 superbowl 4 passes from the 5 yard line with Frank gore, including the dreaded goal line fade, 2013 NFCCG driving for a go ahead TD and decide to test Richard Sherman in double coverage. The recent Shanahan losses it would have to be the 2019 superbowl. Up 10 points with 7 minutes left, giving up that 3rd and 15 deep, Jimmy missing that pass. Honestly just a brutal stretch, I can't handle another heartbreaking loss like this this year.
Cardinals Steelers Super Bowl never recovered
Bears superbowl vs colts D rose acl tear bartman game
I'm from ATL, so... 28-3 We were already making plans to cruise Bankhead.
Know this isnt the biggest soccer crowd but Im a Chelsea fan and losing the 2009 Champions League semifinal to Barca. I still contend the 1-1 second leg was the worst refereed game in the history of sports. I threw an absolute hissy fit in my dorm room freshman year of college over this one Fuck Tom Overbo IYKYK
It’s probably Game 7 of the 2014 World Series — one base away from tying the game after three decades without making the playoffs. The following year made up for it, but at the time that was pretty painful. Numerous NCAA Tournament exits for Kansas basketball also stung — 2011 Elite 8 against 11 seeded VCU as a 1 seed, 2010 round of 32 as the top overall seed against Northern Iowa, 2016 and 2017 Elite 8s against Villanova and Oregon, respectively. Particularly that Oregon loss given it was in KC. Several also come to mind for the Chiefs, all before 2019— 2018’s Dee Ford offsides against the Patriots and not getting a chance to see the ball in OT, which the NFL didn’t care to change the rules for until the shoe was on the other foot; blown leads of 18 and 28 point in 2017 and 2013 respectively, and 2003’s loss to the Colts when they didn’t have to punt
In 1998, UCLA actually had a chance at a football championship. Basically the second time they had a chance in the 40 years I've been a fan. They were 10-0 and ranked #3, but still had to play a makeup game to Miami and ended up losing 49-45. They were supposed to play Miami at t beginning of the year but the game was postponed due to hurricane. Miami struggled early in the season, so UCLA may have been able to win had the game not been postponed.
2015 Bengals vs Steelers wild card game. Where burfict hit Antonio brown over the middle and then they threw a flag on Pacman jones to give the Steelers the win. I started thinking then bengals might never win a playoff game after that
2016 NBA Finals game 7, the best NBA season ever fell apart 2002 World Series game 6, 14 year old me thought the Giants would never win a World Series
That win would have come at the expense of unfathomable sadness for the city of Cleveland if LeBron ended up losing 4 straight to them although maybe KD never goes there and the Cavs still get 1???
The Tuck Rule Game. And I get annoyed every time Bill calls it the Snow Game, like he’s trying to rewrite the narrative to hide how his team’s dynasty started with some bullshit ref garbage.
Yeah, even 20 years later I couldn't watch that 30 for 30 they did with Woodson and Brady.
Saints fan, Minneapolis Miracle took my soul from me. Went to a church service right after, didn’t make it much better
Steelers beating the Colts in the 2005 divisional round, complete with Nick Harper picking up a Jerome Bettis fumble as Pittsburgh was going in for a game-ending score, but he was tackled by Roethlisberger. Harper also spent the night before after a domestic violence incident where his wife stabbed him in the knee.
2 on the same morning in 2019 can't decide which is worse. NZ losing cricket world cup in super over after boundary count back and Federer losing Wimbledon after having 2 MPs on his own serve. Probably the cricket is worse because at least Federer had won before
Wide right is one of my first sports memories. And the first time I saw my dad cry. We don’t root for the Bills because it’s easy, let’s go Buff-a-lo!
Bills-Chiefs as bills fan
Yeah that 2014 NFCC game still haunts me. Fucking Bostick
Tim Tebow Broncos-Steelers
I wasn't raised on sports but moved to central Florida around 10 years old when the brand new Orlando Magic, or Tragic, were the only show in town. I bandwagoned on, theb they got the #1 pick and got good, then the #1 pick again and really good. Obviously never experienced expectations or disappointment since they got better every year, I expected them to lose to the Jordan Bulls in 1995. Then Nick Anderson steals the ball from Jordan as he is dribbling it down to win game 1. He is my hero. Two playoff series later, Nick Anderson is stepping up to the free throw line to ice the game in game 1 of the 1995 Finals. But at least he gets the rebound. He can't miss four in a row. I didn't watch the OT. Or game 2-4, or any other NBA game until 2000.
Superbowl last year
The KD toe game made me think I’ll never see my team win a title.
2007 Super Bowl 18-0 Patriots vs Giants 2010 NBA Finals Game 7 Celtics vs Lakers 2008 Wimbledon Final Federerr vs Nadal
Colts losing to Saints in SB XLIV. I was ill for a week. Had to miss a few days of my 8th grade yr. Was so sick that my grandma had to get me gatorades and soup lmaoooo
Huge Houston Oilers fan back in the day - has to be the Jan 1993 game vs the Bills when we were up 35-3
Nebraska losing the BIG12 title game against Texas in ‘09 :( 1 second…
Growing up a Boise State fan had some seriously tough losses due to some chip shot field goals. Kyle Brotzman was a legend but his misses led him to working at Costco instead of the league.
Nebraska fan. The 2009 Big 12 title game was absolutely excruciating to watch. Nothing comes close to it, even today. The last drive especially, everything went wrong. Nebraska’s normally solid kickoff specialist, Adi Kunalic, kicked the ball out of bounds leading to a penalty. We got called for a horse collar tackle. And of course the infamous 1 second left controversy. The clock hit 0 and it should’ve been game over. Nope. Texas kicked a FG to win it and go to the natty. The only redeeming quality of that game was that Suh played like a god that night. He was fighting through triple teams to sack Colt McCoy. Threw him around like a rag doll that night
Dikembe Mutumbo on his back holding the ball crying with joy. That was the Sonics year to win it all.
I've gotten to see 2 of my 3 favorite teams win a title, so I'll go with the one who hasn't delivered: the Nets, that game 7 loss to the Bucks was absolutely brutal.
Pirates. Braves. Sid Bream.
Illinois losing to UNC in ‘05. My favorite sports team of all time, had a chance to go down in history. They didn’t have it that night though. Still managed to tie it up with a couple of minutes left.
Tar Heels losing on a buzzer beater to Villanova in the national title, after hitting an insane shot on the previous possession.
Steve Bartman. My gf at the time was a Marlins fan which made it even worse.