FanPost

Worst Loss



Most of us here at LSB are hardcore baseball fans. However I'm sure it doesn't stop there for many of us either. Many of us also cheer for an NBA or NFL team. Perhaps even an NHL or soccer team. A lot of us are also big fans of our alma maters. As sports fanatics we invest so much of our time and energy into our teams. We get involved in ways that many people can't understand. We push aside other obligations with friends or family to watch a big game. Let our spouses know not to bother us tonight because of what is at stake. Lie our asses off to our employers to get time off or call in sick. Our world revolves around sports.

I started thinking about what was the worst loss I've experienced as a fan. What game had me near (or in) tears, made me throw something at the wall, or put me in a bad mood for a week. Now my wife would probably say I act like that over at least 6 or 7 Rangers games every year, but I was thinking about that absolute lowest point of fandom. That heartbreaking moment that makes you feel like you are going to hurl. That loss that keeps you from sleeping at night for two weeks because you just keep replaying everything in your head, over and over again. I came up with 3 answers:

1) 1998 - I was a sophomore in college. And although I didn't have the time to fully invest myself in sports like I do now because I was working full-time and had a full load of classes, this was huge. My Utes had made it to the NCAA basketball championship game against Kentucky. They went deep in the tourney the year before (Van Horn's senior year) and this year had shocked many by getting to the title game. Led by Andre Miller they upset #1 Arizona in the elite 8 and had an 10 point lead at halftime against Kentucky. I couldn't believe what was going to happen. Then the bottom fell out. Kentucky was too deep and pounded them in the second half. I was crushed. It was the toughest loss I've ever experienced.

2) 2003 - Super Bowl XXXVII. Raiders v. Bucs. No need to re-hash this game. The Raiders got their asses handed to them. This loss began the process of sending my interest in the NFL straight down to the depths of Hades. I haven't really cared about the NFL since.

3) 1996 - The Rangers had finally made it. Their first playoff appearance was against the hated Yankees. Again, we all know what happened. I just remember being so excited after they won the first game. Only to have my hopes and dreams of a WS destroyed after that. This could have easily been #1 on my list, but I gave the slight edge to the other two since they were in championship games and this was the first round of a playoff series and not a single game. It was very tough to swallow at the time though, and still is to this day.

So, what say you LSBers. Let's bring back some of those horrible memories. What's the worst loss you've ever suffered through as a fan?