There may have been a Blue Wave last night, but it did not extend to the University of Kentucky. The Wildcats’ men’s basketball team was trounced by Duke in the “Champions League” tournament in Indianapolis, 118-84. This following a disappointing loss last Saturday for the football team against Georgia.
My sources say the bourbon and fried chicken were unharmed.
Yesterday’s loss for my hometown (and still first-place) Redskins was far from the worst sports moment I’ve ever witnessed. That distinction belongs to Game Seven of the 2001 World Series, described in last Friday’s post.
Over the weekend I thought some more about “bad” sports moments I’ve experienced. Here’s the rest of the top five from this century, in chronological order.
On September 2, 2001, on a Sunday night at Fenway Park, Yankees pitcher Mike Mussina was nearly perfect. He ended up with a shutout, 13 strikeouts and no walks. His game score was 98, for those of you interested in such things. He faced 28 batters. The second-to-last (pinch hitter Carl Everett) was the only man to reach base. Nine days later was September 11 and everyone forgot about Mussina’s near perfect start (he had several near no-hitters in his career but never completed one). But not this guy.
On July 19, 2009, Tom Watson had a chance to make history. He was in search of his ninth major championship, and his sixth British Open. It would have been his first such victory in 26 years.
Did I mention he was 59 years old?
This would have been the sports moment of the century, but it was not meant to be. Par on Watson’s final hole would have done it, but he finished with a bogey, then lost in his four-hole playoff with Stewart Cink.
Number four is Butler losing to Duke in the 2010 NCAA Championship. Jim Nantz’s final call of “it almost went in!” pretty much sums up that game.
And number five? That would be Super Bowl LI, from February 2017, when the upstart Atlanta Falcons lost to the blueblood New England Patriots (the Butler and Duke of the NFL). Seriously, did anyone want New England to win that game? Atlanta had it won, but blew a 25-point second-half lead and lost in overtime.
Kind of puts that mid-season ‘Skins loss in perspective, doesn’t it?
This weekend marks the 17th anniversary of the most disappointing sports moment I ever witnessed. The days of the week line up this year too. It was Sunday, November 4, 2001, that the Arizona Diamondbacks completed their seven-game series win over the three-time defending champion New York Yankees. Following September 11 everyone was rooting for New York, but despite the many heroics in that series, the final result was not meant to be.
It would be eight more years until they won another championship.
And they haven’t won another since.
Many people I know consider Halloween their favorite holiday, and their favorite day of the year.
Personally I respect the original intent of Halloween, as the eve of that most hallowed of days…
Discount candy day!
First, read my post from Oct. 17.
Now repeat with the following changes.
Change Carolina to the Giants and delete “didn’t.”
Change Pittsburgh to Navy and 7-0 to 8-0.
That is all.
If there was ever any question how one should live his life, consider that of Bill Mayhugh, D.C.-area radio host, musician, sportsman, impresario, and philanthropist.
Some days you wake up, read the obits, and end up jealous of a dead guy.
Except for the whole phone bill thing. That was just weird.
But here’s to Mr. Mayhugh.
Game One of baseball’s World Series last night turned up pretty much everything I would have expected, for better or worse. The Red Sox won, 12 pitchers were used, and the game ended after midnight.
Basically this is 2013 all over again. My only question going in was, “Who’s going to be the Ortiz this year?”
Would you have guessed Eduardo Nunez?
Yeah, that guy. Former Yankee hitting the first World Series pinch-hit home run since a certain Mr. Matsui in 2009. Broke the game open.
Guess those reports about his being unable to play were a bit off.
Said that about Gibson for Game One in ’88 as well.
Loudoun County sunk down a few inches about 7:30 last night, as jubilant, then disillusioned, then ultimately jubilant Redskins fans jumped about their living rooms.
I’ll admit, I was one of them.
Thank God for silly penalties. That potential game-tying field goal (which, let’s face it, would have meant certain defeat in OT) went from a 47-yard attempt to a 52-yard attempt, and yeah, it seemed to make all the difference. I’m no mathematician (wait, yes I am!), but I know that 52 is more than 47. And a kick that sails through at 47 yards hooks off the goalpost when it reaches 52.
Oh that was sweet.
My friends at the post office are at it again. In the face of declining sales and decreased revenue, the USPS is raising the price of a first-class stamp from 50 cents to 55.
Yup, that’s what you want to do when people aren’t buying your product: raise the price. That’ll make ’em want to buy more of it.
Of course, most other products don’t have a legal monopoly on their enterprise.
Pardon my not posting on Monday. I was just too busy celebrating the Redskins’ win over Carolina the previous afternoon. Didn’t expect that one but I’ll take it.
And speaking of things I did not expect, I did not expect Notre Dame’s win Saturday against Pittsburgh to be so nerve-racking. Nevertheless, a win is a win.
Don’t look now, but the Redskins are in first place and Notre Dame’s 7-0.
Here we go again.