Biggest Choke in New England Sports History?

Saturday, May 29, 2010

Scott Cordischi, GoLocalProv Sports Editor

New England sports fans have lived through their share of monumental collapses or “choke jobs” by their local sports teams over the years. The 2010 Boston Celtics made sure not to add their team to that dubious list.

After dismantling the Orlando Magic in game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals last night at the Garden, the Celts have punched their ticket to the NBA Finals. Just as important, they avoided a trip back to Orlando for a pressure-packed 7^th and deciding game which would have put them dangerously close to making history for all the wrong reasons.

Only four American pro sports teams have blown a 3-0 lead in a best-of-seven series and we were wondering if the Celtics might be the fifth. Who could blame us?

We just witnessed the latest addition to that list thanks to the Boston Bruins gag job against the Philadelphia Flyers in the NHL’s Eastern Conference Semifinals. The B’s not only blew a 3-0 series lead to the Flyers, they blew a 3-0 lead in game 7 to Philadelphia. Ouch!

Of course, we all remember with great pleasure one of the other four teams to accomplish this not-so-great feat. The 2004 New York Yankees became the first, and still the only, Major League baseball team to blow a 3-0 lead in a best-of-seven series by losing to the Red Sox. It was the moment when the Sox finally exorcised the “curse of the Bambino.”

The two other teams to lose a seven game series after leading 3-0 are both from the NHL. The 1942 Detroit Red Wings and the 1975 Pittsburgh Penguins are the guilty parties.

But back to New England sports teams. While we have certainly enjoyed many a championship season over the years, we have also suffered our share of heartbreak. So the question is simple: which do you consider the biggest disappointment/collapse/choke job in New England sports?

Some might say the Bruins recent collapse ranks up there and that would be hard to argue since they are on a very short list of 4 teams to have ever done the dirty deed.

But how about the 2007 New England Patriots? After steamrolling the competition on their way to the NFL’s first-ever 16-0 regular season, the Pats won the AFC title to enter Super Bowl XVII at a perfect 18-0. One win over the New York Giants would make them the greatest team in NFL history and only team to go 19-0. Only the 1972 Miami Dolphins had finished an entire season unbeaten and they went 17-0 that year.

For whatever reason, the Pats didn’t get it done. Questionable coaching decisions by the master Bill Belichick, poor execution by the players, a miraculous catch by David Tyree, take your pick. The bottom line is that it was all right there for them and they failed to get it done. A choke? Maybe. But, at the very least, a massive disappointment.

How about the 1978 Boston Red Sox? This was a team that held a 14 ½ game lead over the New York Yankees in mid July. At the end of 162 regular season games they were all even. Then, on October 2^nd, Bucky “bleeping” Dent put an entire Nation out of its misery. Painful!

The 1986 Boston Red Sox? Or maybe it should just be Bill Buckner. Holding a 3-2 series lead and a 5-3 lead in the bottom of the tenth inning, the Sox were about to win their first World Championship in 68 years. After retiring Wally Backman and Keith Hernandez, the Sox were one out away! Singles by gary Carter, Kevin Mitchell and Ray Knight made it a one-run game and then disaster struck. Facing Mookie Wilson, Bob Stanley uncorked what was ruled a wild pitch that Rich Gedman couldn’t handle. Mitchell scored from third and the game was tied at 5.

With Shea Stadium going wild, Mookie Wilson stepped back into the batter’s box and hit a weak ground ball up the first base line. Boston’s Bill Buckner let the ball slip under his glove allowing Knight to score the winning run.

There would be a game 7 in which the Red Sox would take the lead. But everyone knew that the series was over when the Sox blew game 6. Absolutely excruciating!

So take your pick. But don’t add the 2010 Boston Celtics to the list because they got the job done.

Repeat after me, “beat LA!” “Beat LA!” “Beat LA!”