A “sporting choke” is when an individual/team taste certain victory before inexpliciably falling victm to the pressure and intensity of the situation around, which in turn finds them with an all expenses paid ticket into sporting infamy. Below are some of the criteria I looked at when selecting 5 of the best examples of sporting collapses.
Blame for the team relinquishing the lead must be level with the team performing the comeback.
The game must have important consequences, if Thurrock come from 3-0 down against Scunthorpe in a pre-season friendly, it doesn’t qualify.
It must be vividly remembered by both sets of supporters and neutrals, and be a landmark in their respective sports.
1) Newcastle United 4-4 Arsenal – Premier Division. February 5th 2011
Number 1 on our list is one of the most recent additions to the pantheon of sporting howlers. Just 9 days ago (5th February) Arsenal raced into a 3-0 lead at St. James Park leaving the “Toon Army” bemused, confused, and not that amused as the Gunners sliced them open like a hot knife through butter in the early proceedings. Dutch striker Robin Van Persie made it 4-0 after just 26 minutes, and with Arsenal looking in irresistible form, Geordies began spraying through the exits and back to the comfy surroundings of their sofas.
Arsenal were deservedly reduced to 10 men shortly after the break, but even with that less man, still held what would seem to be an unassailable lead.. The game looked like petering out into a less than entertaining second half until Joey Barton converted from the spot with 22 minutes remaining. With Newcastle selling Andy Carrol earlier in the week, Shola Ameobi being injured and them being down to the proverbial bare bones in the striking department, thoughts of a comeback seemed redundant.
Leon Best, by name, probably not by nature doubled Newcastle’s tally, reduced the deficit to 2, which in light of day, was a similar deficit to that of the American economy in the grand scheme of things. However when Barton slotted home his second penalty of the game with 7 minutes remaining, the Geordie faithful that had stayed to the end, were revelling in what to many seemed to be some sort of unfathomable twilight zone.
Shock and Euphoria arrived when Check Tiote sent Wosjech Szczeney sprawling across his line, beating him all ends up with a delightful 25 yard volley with still 3 minutes of regulation to be played. St James Park turned into a euphoric arena of jubilant barcodes all suffering from a concoction of shock and adrenaline. Arsene Wenger on the other hand didn’t see the red card incident, just for good measure.
2) Greg Norman 1996 Masters.
To many, Jean Van de Velde was the worst golfing collapse. The Frenchman needed only to card a double bogey 6 on the 18th green at Carnoustie to land the ’99 British Open. Van de Velde remarkably putted, eventually with a triple bogey, before losing to Paul Lawrie in 4 hole playoff. Although an unbelievable piece of gagging from Van de Velde, it was only one hole he managed to lose the plot on.
“The great white shark” Greg Norman, leading by 6 shots heading into the final round at Augusta in ’96 with a six shot lead, looking to just consolidate with a solid round then try on his new green jacket. As the old saying goes, “easier said than done”. For 8 holes, he was sailing along, with a victory almost seeming a formality. Then through holes 9-12, Norman dropped 5 shots (bogey, bogey, bogey, double bogey), to become a member of the pantheon of sporting collapses.
On hole 16, Norman’s tee shot found water, eliminating any chance of Norman winning the aforementioned jacket.
3) San Francisco 49ers 39-38 New York Giants – NFC Divisional Playoff 2002 season
To many, this is the second greatest comeback in the Nfl, behind the Oilers-Bills game in 1992. However with the lack of time left when the comeback began, I personally feel that this comeback showed the frailties in the Giants defence, and orchestrated a “choke” worthy of gracing any list like this.
The Giants, behind Quarterback Kerry Collins, were dissecting the 49er defence. Collins threw for 4 touchdowns in the first half alone, and amasses nearly 350 yards in the aerial domination they were experiencing in the early goings. At the half, the Giants led 28-14. 10 points unanswered to start the 3rd quarter had the Giants in an enviable position, roasting the 49ers in front of their home crowd.
With 3 minutes of the third (quarter) remaining, Jeff Garcia hit Terrell Owens with a 26 yard pass to make the score 38-22 (2point conversion) heading into the final quarter. The final quarter, Jeff Garcia demonstrated Montana-esque poise and presence, whether he was passing in the pocket or on the move. He even ran in for a 14 yard score before hitting Owens again (this is when he was actually good without being a d*ck). 38-30. Jeff Chandler hit a 25 yard chip shot to make it 33-38 with time rapidly running down.
With an Elway like 2 minute drill, 9 plays, 68 yards, Garcia had the Giants defence chasing shadows as he sprayed the ball around, before the drive ended with former 1st round draft choice Tai Streets catching a 13 yard pass. The 2pt attempt failed, leaving the score 39-38.
When I watched this game live on my T.V, staying up until past midnight like a rebellious pre-teen, I remember the Giants final drive being somewhat of a blur. All I remember is the Giants having a field goal attempt, it missing, and me feeling the relief , like when your playstation crashes, but recovers, that relief.
The 49ers rallied off 25 unanswered points to win, landing the Giants defence a spot in “choking” folklore.
4) Tottenham Hotspur 3-4 Manchester City – FA Cup 4th round 2004
This is my favourite ever football match as a neutral, to clear that up early. At half time I was tempted to switch channels and watch some generic cartoon on Nickelodeon. However, not doing that, to this day, remains near the tope of great decisions I’ve made.
Two minutes in, Ledley King (pre-knee troubles) opened the scoring. Just before the 20 minute mark Robbie Keane doubled the lead and put Spurs well and truly in the drivers seat. Just before half-time, Christian Ziege scored a truly wonderful free-kick to all intents and purposes, kill the game off. The first half had been a total mismatch, and too make matter worse, on the stroke of half-time, Joey Barton was dismissed for dissent.
Three minutes after the restart, Sylvain Distin gave City a glimmer of hope. For 20 minutes the game seems to have fallen into a lull. Paul Bosvelt then kep people tuning in to the telecast as his shot took a wicked deflection to make the game 302 with just over 20 minutes to go.
With 10 minutes to go Shaun Wright-Phillips scored a magical goal to level the scores and force White Hart Lane into stunned silence, a kind of silence at a aprty when someone tells an distasteful joke and everyone reacts with shock and are clueless how to respond.
The final nail in the coffin for Spurs was deep into stoppage time when Jonathan Macken, who usually was as useful as Ledley King’s knees propped up to a header away before wheeling off in ecstasy and securing Man City’s path to the next round fo the cup and making them comeback kings at the same time.
5) Boston Red Sox 4-3 New York Yankees – 2004 ALCS Best of 7 series
Take into account he contrasting fortunes of these two hated rivals. The Yankees have 27 championships, the Red Sox hadn’t won one for 86 years. The Yankees spent tens of millions more than any other franchise. The Yankees beat the Red Sox at the same point of the season 1 year previous.
With all that said, across a 7 game series, there are only so many times you can watch Aaron Boone’s grand slam before wanting him to get hurt. Only so many times you can listen to Joe Buck form a love-in for Derek Jeter. Watching A-Rod cheat in various ways, on and off the field. Eventually fortunes had to change.
The first two games of the series were what Yankees called the usual. Build a lead, inning wind down. Rivera gets a save. Game three was 19-8 to the Yankees. ‘Nuff said. 3-0 down to the Yankees, no way back , right? Bob Ryan thought so.
“They are down, 3–0, after last night's 19–8 rout, and, in this sport, that is an official death sentence. Soon it will be over, and we will spend another dreary winter lamenting this and lamenting that”
To quote the monstrosity that is the Farrelly brother “fever pitch”. This is the story of what happened next as the Yankees tried to close game 4 and the series, through until the end.
“Rivera walks Millar.. Roberts pinch runs and steals second..Mueller drives him in. Ortiz in extra Innings. Ortiz in extra innings the next night. Schilling’s bloody sock in New York…Lowe and Pedro find their form..Damon grand slammy in game 7..bye bye Bambino”
To be 3-0 up in games, and then reel off 4 sub-par performances, and losing 2 at home to end it undoubtedly is the worst choke job of all time. It was such a bad gag that if it had to be given a face, it would be Luca Brasi in his death scene in “The Godfather” (see picture)
Those are the five sporting collapses I see as the most iconic/embarassing/noteworthy.
Over a course of a season however, Newcastle blowing their 10 point lead in the Premier League would be considered to be entered instead, and Keegan would “love it, love it”
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