Who Feels the Most Pressure in Sports?

Is it the closer in the ninth inning of Game Seven of the World Series, three outs away from reaching his dreams? Or is it the kicker as he attempts a 50-yard field goal in overtime of the Super Bowl?

Perhaps it's the basketball star who needs to make two free throws to tie the game with two seconds left? Or would it be the goalie staring down the kicker in the World Cup shootout?

The most intense moment in all of sports will probably boil down to what sport you're playing. Whether you're playing for the World Series, the Super Bowl, or the World Cup, it WILL be the most intense moment of your life.

But, what about throughout a given season: Who feels the most pressure?

To answer this questions, my friends and I composed a list of why a given player feels more pressure. We focused mainly on kickers and closers.

The Case for Kickers

1) You only get one shot:  Kickers come into a game and they only have one option: perfection. Anything less and they will turn the ball over and, in the most intense situations, lose the game. Closers can make a bad pitch and not see any consequences.

2) It's 90 percent mental: Kickers in the NFL have already proven that they are physically capable of making a 50+ yard kick...But have they proven that they can do it with the game on the line? Can the kicker move on from the last time he missed a kick to lose the game for his team?

3) One loss is so much greater: Losing a football game on a kick during the regular season is more devastating than blowing a save. In 2008, the Angels' Francisco Rodriguez blew seven saves, but his team still finished with the best record in baseball.

Losing seven games as a kicker would at best put your team at (9-7) (In 2008, Arizona and San Diego were the only teams to make the playoffs with this record or worse).

4) One bad kick can ruin a career: In 2003, Mike Vanderjagt of Indianapolis had one of the best seasons a kicker has ever had: he never missed a field goal or a PAT. Two years later, he missed an important kick that ended up eliminating the Colts from the playoffs. 

After that kick, he played one more subpar season for the Cowboys but never returned to his previous form.

In the 2005 NLCS, Houston's Brad Lidge gave up a three-run home run to Albert Pujols to give the Cardinals the win. The Astros did make it to the World Series, but Lidge pitched poorly (0-2 with a 4.91 ERA). After two more poor seasons in Houston, he was traded to Philadelphia.

In 2008, he was not only a perfect 41-41 in save opportunities, but he helped the Phillies win their first World Series in almost 30 years.

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