04/20/24
February 06, 2006
Reliving near misses: Can any of you guys think of a time where your team was a game, drive, play, call, shot, pitch, out, run, or goal away from making a championship, winning a championship, or in a rivalry game?
posted by Clevelander32 to general at 02:34 PM - 36 comments
Wide right. Wide ****ing right.
posted by grum@work at 03:12 PM on February 06, 2006
Me, I think near-misses are overrated.
posted by Jeff Friesen at 03:12 PM on February 06, 2006
LOL. Too funny DrJohn.
posted by NoMich at 03:17 PM on February 06, 2006
grum@work, you have got to be talking about the Buffalo Bills and poor Scott Norwood. That has got to be the most agonizing miss in NFL history. Dyson's one-yard-short stretch is a close second though... Personally, I remember missing the winning shot with a second left in the basketball homecoming game my senior year to lose to our arch-rival. That literally affected, oh, 10 or so people. hahaha. Although we did get them back later on in a do-or-die game for the playoffs, so it all worked out in the end. As for MY teams, I will never forget Danny Ainge going coast-to-coast, past all five players, to make the winning layup and deny Notre Dame a spot in the final four in the late 70s. Being about 8 or 9 at the time, I was crushed. I hated that Ainge for years after that. Come to think of it, I still do, that pesky little piece of work.
posted by donnnnychris at 03:23 PM on February 06, 2006
The typo in the link description has since been fixed, but I was trying really hard to think of any team that was a pitch-out away from the championship. The 2004 Yankees may have come the closest.
posted by DrJohnEvans at 03:40 PM on February 06, 2006
As a Cub fan, I try to push 2003 out of the ol' memory banks, but I can never quite do it. They were a mere four outs away from a National League pennant, but then all hell broke loose. And I don't want to hear anything about a certain Steve Bartman. He did not cause the Cubs to choke. They certainly didn't need any freakin' help in that department.
posted by NoMich at 03:50 PM on February 06, 2006
1992 NLCS...Francisco Cabrera (curse him!), Sid Bream and the Atlanta Braves outlast Stan Freakin' Belinda, Barry Bonds, Bobby Bonilla, Andy Van Slyke and the rest of the Pittsburgh Pirates, game 7, bottom of the 9th rally. Still think Bream was out at home plate. (Recap)
posted by rosey8810 at 03:58 PM on February 06, 2006
This might be a good time to introduce myself as a Red Sox fan to Clevelander and just let that speak for itself.
posted by jerseygirl at 04:10 PM on February 06, 2006
That's easy for me. 1994 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Eastern Conference Finals, Rangers vs Devils Game 7, OT. All the Devils needed was one goal to go to the finals.
posted by njsk8r20 at 04:15 PM on February 06, 2006
Red Sox. Answer's yes. My mother is short a family heirloom due to it.
posted by yerfatma at 04:16 PM on February 06, 2006
All the Devils needed was one goal to go to the finals. Oh, they got that goal eventually.
posted by DrJohnEvans at 04:19 PM on February 06, 2006
Although us Sox fans are still a bit traumatized by the events of 1986, let's not forget what happened to the Angels that year in the ALCS. One freaking strike away from the franchise's first World Series, and closer Donnie Moore coughs up a home run to Dave Henderson. The Sox were given new life (only to have it choked out of them later on) and the Angels utterly collapsed. Moore was psychologically damaged for life. Brutal. One strike away.
posted by Venicemenace at 04:40 PM on February 06, 2006
T.O.? No, no, no, not that T.O.
runs and hides from likely onslaught of that T.O. comments. posted by redsnare at 04:45 PM on February 06, 2006
The final minutes of the Steelers Colts game this year (although that kick doesn't deserve to be a "near miss").
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 04:46 PM on February 06, 2006
I think immediately of Wayne Gretzky high-sticking Doug Gilmour in the '93 Conference Finals and getting away with it. Best chance the Leafs had in my lifetime. Fuck, fuck, fuck.
posted by chicobangs at 04:48 PM on February 06, 2006
Gary Anderson's first miss of the season for the 1998-99 Vikings.
posted by cobra! at 04:49 PM on February 06, 2006
I'm from Philadelphia. Where do I start? Phillies:Mitch Williams-Joe Carter, 'nuff said;Eagles:last years superbowl's infamous "2minute drill"(dripping with sarcasm);Flyers:Up 3-1 in Conference Championships against New Jersey, only to lose three straight;Sixers:the flop against the Lakers a few years back. Wow, I'm going to go cry now.
posted by GoBirds at 04:53 PM on February 06, 2006
I think immediately of Wayne Gretzky high-sticking Doug Gilmour in the '93 Conference Finals and getting away with it. Seconded. Also, I'm not that big of a basketball fan, but Carter missing that last second jump shot against the 76ers in the second round of playoffs killed too. Not as painful as the Gretzky non-call, but still. (Also version 2: several non-calls against the Flames in Game 6 of the finals against TB. They deserved that cup. Same referee as the Gretzky non-call too, I think.)
posted by mkn at 05:19 PM on February 06, 2006
T.O.? No, no, no, not that T.O. posted by redsnare at 4:45 PM CST on February 6 Funny guy, I remember that game.
posted by Folkways at 05:30 PM on February 06, 2006
Dallas Cowboy Jackie Smith, all alone in the end zone, dropping the soft little pass right into his belly in Super Bowl 13 in 1979. Cowboys lose to Steelers by 4. I can still see it and while I know it happened I don't know how.
posted by Termite at 05:40 PM on February 06, 2006
T.O.? No, no, no, not that T.O. That's pretty funny, snare. There's an awesome chicken and biscuits joint in Chapel Hill called Time Out. It's the best 3am meal in the world. They have a giant poster of Webber calling the infamous time out.
posted by NoMich at 05:43 PM on February 06, 2006
Phillies:Mitch Williams-Joe Carter, 'nuff said; Technically, it wasn't a "make it and win" for the Phillies. They still had to win Game 7 if Mitch had not imploded on the mound in Game 6. I think immediately of Wayne Gretzky high-sticking Doug Gilmour in the '93 Conference Finals and getting away with it. It's probably the only time I can remember actually HATING Gretzky. It's not his fault, but I just couldn't stand looking at him for the next year or so...
posted by grum@work at 05:47 PM on February 06, 2006
jerseygirl...You gotta be kidding! At least Boston has won a World Series(and Super Bowl and NBA championship and the Stanley Cup). Try being Nolan Ryan, and needing only one out to secure a World Series berth for his hometown team. Or....Mike Renfro, who caught a touchdown that would have probably sent the Oilers to their only Super Bowl,only to have it ruled out of the end zone. Or...Akeem Olajuwon lose thee NCAA basketball championship while watching helplessly while a No. Carolina St. player tips in as time expires.Then there is...Brad Lidge as he watched Jim Edmonds home run in last seasons playoff! And don't even remind me of how bad my home team got their collective asses kicked in the Series! Houston can at least match Boston in humility!
posted by nflhou02 at 05:56 PM on February 06, 2006
That's easy for me. 2004 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Finals, Lightning vs Flames Game 6, OT. All the Flames needed was one goal to clinch the Cup. /building upon two other comments.
posted by gspm at 06:07 PM on February 06, 2006
I'd have to say 1986 ALCS, Angels/Red Sox. Donnie Moore. Nuff said. That absolutely KILLED me, and him too, eventually.
posted by daddygehrs at 09:13 PM on February 06, 2006
NoMich, I'm a Lions fan, so I don't have any football near misses to talk about....
posted by wingnut4life at 09:49 PM on February 06, 2006
Blue Monday, October 19, 1981. I can't be the only former Expo fan here ... ... can I?
posted by Amateur at 10:19 PM on February 06, 2006
Bucky F***ing Dent.
posted by geomike78 at 10:26 PM on February 06, 2006
I only have to go back to Saturday. Colgate University hockey was 39 seconds away from going into overtime against rival Cornell when those dang ***clowns scored a totally unimpressive goal to snatch first place away from the Raiders in the ECAC. But in the realm of sports people actually follow, the only one I can think of that's missing is Mariano Rivera, 2001 WS.
posted by BullpenPro at 12:55 AM on February 07, 2006
Keith F***ing Smart from the left corner for three. Play some defense Howard Triche. I still turn off the TV when its coming on for march madness promos. Freaking Triche
posted by ormistoncoyote at 07:45 AM on February 07, 2006
Someone will have to supply the specifics, but I remember watching the end of a college football game where Kentucky (when Jared Lorenzon was QB) took a lead against... Tennessee? ... with a few seconds to go and the team dumped Gatorade on the coach. The other team had time for one desperation heave and it went off a DB and the receiver took it 75 yards for the winning touchdown. Only time I've ever seen a team lose AFTER soaking the coach.
posted by ajaffe at 08:05 AM on February 07, 2006
Reggie Miller 1994 25 point fourth quater 1995 8 points in final 8.9 seconds I stopped watching basketball for four years after the 1995 playoffs (too much agida) Sometimes I wake up drenched in sweat after having nightmares about those two games.
posted by HATER 187 at 09:15 AM on February 07, 2006
1980-something. Maybe '82. Orange bowl. Huskers-Miami. Our T.O. (Tom Osborne) going for 2 to win the game and the National Championship outright, rather than the almost sure thing extra point, and sharing it with Miami. (No o.t. in those days.) Didn't make it. Was sad for years until we went back down there in '94 and won!
posted by gac at 10:35 AM on February 07, 2006
Someone will have to supply the specifics, but I remember watching the end of a college football game where Kentucky (when Jared Lorenzon was QB) took a lead against... Tennessee? ... It was against LSU and it would have been the first time in a long long time that UK beat a ranked opponent in football (yes, they actually play football in Lexington, play may be inaccurate, they have a team though) and there were seconds left and all LSU could do is heave one long and pray for a miracle. Well the prayer was answered, the ball bounced off of a UK defender and into the hands of an LSU wideout who then jogged the remaining five yards for the win. All while the UK faithful stormed the field thinking they had victory in hand... UK fans need not be too upset however, in 94 I believe, LSU was leading the Cats by 32 or 34 points in the 2nd half of a basketball game only to have UK climb back and win it. Still one of the greatest comebacks in NCAA history
posted by ampto11 at 02:26 PM on February 07, 2006
Speaking of Kentucky, my most hearbreaking moment as a fan had to be the regional final in 1992 when Duke's Christian Laehtner? scored a last second basket completing a perfect night shooting from th field and the free throw line to keep UK out of the final four. What makes this one so hard is that earlier in the game, Leattner deliberately stomped on a UK player as he lay defenseless under the basket. The refs should have ejected him at that point and Kentucky may have earned an additional title in the 90's. DUKE SUCKS!!
posted by ampto11 at 02:29 PM on February 07, 2006
Not my team, but I'll always remember the poor Tennessee Titans coming up a yard short to tie the Rams in Superbowl 34 as time ran out. I wonder if Kevin Dyson still has nightmares over that play.