One of the drawbacks of being a working stiff like me is the fact that you can't watch high class sporting events that take place during the normal work day.
Such was the case with the epic Man U v Chelsea grudge match the other day.
One of my friends kept me informed throughout with profanity laced tirades whenever Man U failed to convert or if Chelsea did convert. When he told me that the game was going to penalty kicks (probably the most cruel and arbitrary way to end a sporting event), I knew one thing for sure, the fans of the losing team were going to feel gut punched.
While I do not share their pain over this loss, I feel I should do something. So, in honor of all the Chelsea fans out there, I’m going to give you my top five worst sporting event memories. Anyone else can feel free to join in to show support to our Chelsea loving brothers and sisters.
5. 1998 NBA Finals, Game 6, Chicago at Utah. I don’t watch the NBA anymore, but back in the mid to late 90’s, I loved it. I was a particularly big fan of the Utah Jazz (I have no idea why). So, when Utah regained home court advantage by beating the Bulls in Chicago in Game five, I felt pretty good. With the Jazz up by three with less than a minute left, I felt really good.
Then it all came apart. Jordan makes a layup to cut the lead to one, and then steals the pass from Stockton to Malone. With the ball for the last shot, Jordan throws defender Byron Russell to the floor to create an open shot, which he makes. No foul, since he’s the best player in the league and Russell is some nobody. Let’s just say I was screaming colorful obscenities at the TV for many minutes.
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4. UEFA Euro 2004, Group B, France vs. England. I’m kind of strange when it comes to soccer. While I have no national allegiance to either team, I am a really big fan of the English national team and completely despise France, so I knew this game had the opportunity to hurt.
Things were going fine, nice flow to the match, and Lampard got a goal in the 38th minute to put England up 1-0. Good times. Then England decided to play not to lose and that always works out well. England was on the ropes most of the match after that, but kept France out of the net.
It was all good until stoppage time, when Zinedine Zidane made not one, but two stoppage time goals (91st and 93rd minute), leaving England fans confused, distraught, and angry. Well, more so than normal.
3. Super Bowl XX, Patriots vs. Bears. This would be higher, but I was young and didn’t know any better. Basically, you have the nearly unbeatable Chicago Bears against the plucky New England Patriots. Everyone knew the Bears were going to win, except delusional Patriots fans. The Bears even performed “The Super Bowl Shuffle” prior to actually playing the game.
The game, for Pats fans, was an utter debacle. Turnovers, sacks, negative offense plays, and even a safety typified the Patriots offense that day. The 36 point blowout left a young Trent Lane wondering where is all went wrong.
2. 1994 World Cup, Second Round, USA vs. Brazil. My father had always tried to get me interested in soccer, but I found it boring and confusing. However, when the 1994 World Cup game to the country, I finally understood it and loved it, especially the shocking US victory against Columbia.
The second round match featured the upstart American squad against the powerhouse that was Brazil. As a relatively new fan, I had high hopes. Those hopes exploded at the same time as Tab Ramos' cheekbone.
It’s late in the first half, and the US team is hanging around, harassing Brazil. Then, while Ramos is harassing Leonardo, he unleashed a vicious elbow that dropped Ramos like a sack of potatoes. Leonardo got the red card, but the damage was done. As I watched the main offensive weapon of the US get taken off the field, I knew it was only a matter of time.
That time was the 72nd minute, when Brazil finally got the only goal of the game. The game instilled a deep loathing for the Brazilian team in my heart.
1. 2003 ALCS, Game 7, Red Sox at Yankees. I’m not going to rehash this because then I might start sounding like Bill Simmons, and nobody wants that.
All I will say is that Pedro should have never come back out in the eighth. After the game, I was staring blankly at the TV, wondering how defeat was snatched from the jaws of victory. I wondered around the next day a little dazed, a little hallow, and a lot angry. Probably like Chelsea fans feel right now.
Sorry guys, its tough, but we’ve all been there. Buck up, you’ll get through it.
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3 months ago
Thanks but no thanks. I dont think ANY other sport can bring such agony and pain to someone as football does...
I am Inconsolable untill next season starts. Wont even bother watching Euro2008....
3 months ago
What! Your comment makes no sense. Sports are sports, brother! A die - hard fan of any sport suffers for there teams loss - Just because it isn't soccer your going to suffer less!
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from 3 months ago
yeah, that confused me too. I couldn't careless what sport it is, you can be inconsolable.
from 3 months ago
You lot are not understanding me! Had United won during the 120 mins, the pain would have been considerably less than the way we lost last night.
I cant think of another sport that settles games on penalty shoot-outs, other than maybe Hockey which im not sure about..
The very fact that Chelsea were ONE KICK away from becoming European Champions is killing me..
3 months ago
Ya I'm not sure how this list really compares to what transpired in Moscow last night. The pats, the sox, and england have all had their glory. Maybe not so much for the jazz or the team usa but they've all had their fair share of good things happen to them. While the same can be said for Chelsea, coming 1 goal away from their first ucl trophy I don't think this list really scratches the surface.
from 3 months ago
Sergei, I'm not trying to rank Chelsea's loss against random sports heartbreaks, I'm saying that every sports fan of any team has had some heartbreak, and that every sports fan should stand with Chelsea fans because we know what you're going through. My list was my own personal heartbreaks as a sports fan. Yeah, the Red Sox won the World Series in 2004 and 2007, but they gave it away in 2003. It's not about overall sports history of a team, its about that one moment in time. At those 5 moments listed above, I didn't care about the history of the team, I cared that the team I followed and rooted for had lost.
3 months ago
ah well. my mistake
3 months ago
Jordan's last shot? Do you have any idea how it actually happened?:D Jordan dropped Russell to the floor with a crossover so sweet that even Iverson wished he could be like Mike. Ive seen the tape so many times it's actually quite rediculous, so I know what Im talking about. Jordan simply wanted it more than his pitiful excuse for a defender, Russell.
from 3 months ago
Check out the below youtube link. At 0.55, you can clearly see Jordan push off.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WULyz1-OQc
3 months ago
man that has to be one of the funniest reads ive had on this site since i read my own article about jesus christ going to chelsea. the bitterness is absolutely brilliant.
i love 'the game instilled a deep loathing for the brazilian team in my heart', sorry but thats priceless. how did you enjoy them winning the world cup that year and the others since.hahahaha.
i can only laugh because i have bitter memories of my own. being a new zealander and watching the all blacks destroy everyone for four yearly periods and then inexplicably choke at every world cup is absolutely the worst thing to go through and even worse watching england aussie and the bloody saffas take out cup after cup.
ask any kiwi about the all blacks V france at the last world cup i swear it was an unofficial six months of mourning. its still going, attendances for the pro rugby over here are down and people dont talk about it, it has ceased to exist.
2 months ago
1993 Sugar Bowl where Alabama embarrassed University of Miami.
I have to put the Liverpool loss to Chelsea in this year's CL semi-finals in there.
Liverpool loss to AC Milan in last year's final.
I have a few more, but I'll have to think for a bit.
2 months ago
try looking at the "disallowed" goal of game six of seven in the 2004 nhl playoffs. tampa bay v calgary. As a flames fan it was heartbreaking considering we weren't supposed to make it past the first round. Tampa Bay ended up winning game seven. Also, i'm a staunch hater of anything man united. i really wanted chelsea to take it. I can empathise.
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