The 10 Worst Losses in (Recent) Sports History by Jason Nehmer (my good friend)

As a huge Washington Capitals fan, and a fan of hockey in general, I sat and watched last night as one of the most dominant teams in NHL history fell in the first round of the playoffs to a team in the last-place playoff slot. The Capitals lost due to a number of factors: Jaroslav Halak was clutch in net, lack of defense at key points, failure to capitalize on scoring opportunities, and yes, even a questionable call from the referee (the disallowing of Ovechkin’s goal that would have tied the game). As I sit and mourn my favorite team, I realize that this may be the worst loss ever by a DC-area sports team. Ever. I tried to think of worse losses, and a few that came to mind were the heavily favored Redskins losing to the Raiders in the 1983 Super Bowl, the Orioles losing to the Yankees in the ALCS due to a 12-year-old interfering with play, the Maryland Terrapins blowing a 10-point lead over Duke in less than a minute, and, that same year, the Terrapins losing to Duke in the Final Four after being up by 22 points. Still, in each of those cases, the teams were able to go fairly far in their respective playoffs, and in some of the cases, reach the finals or equivalent. The Capitals’ epic choke job has to be the worst, because never before in the DC area has a team had such high expectations going into the playoffs and delivered such poor results.

So, keeping in mind that I was born in 1985, here is my list of the 10 Worst Losses in (Recent) Sports History (the major sports):

1. 2003 - Red Sox lose to Yankees in ALCS after being up 3-0 on Aaron Boone’s walk-off HR
2. 1986 – Ball goes through Bill Buckner’s legs and the Red Sox lose the World Series
3. 1992 – Kentucky loses to Duke after Christian Laettner’s buzzer beater
4. 2007 – Patriots fail to complete the “Perfect Season” by losing to the underdog Giants in the Super Bowl
5. 2010 - #1 Washington Capitals and their high-powered offense go 1/33 on the power play and lose in Game 7 of the first round of the playoffs to the underdog Montreal Canadiens
6. 1991-1994 – Buffalo Bills reach the Super Bowl 4 straight years and fail to win even once (I realize this isn’t one loss, but if you’re a fan of Buffalo, it’s just heartbreaking)
7. 2008 – Michigan football loses opener to Appalachian State
8. 2004 – USA Basketball settles for the Bronze in the Olympics
9. 1980 – Soviet Union’s superior hockey team falls to a bunch of college kids from the U.S. in the Olympics
10. 2001 – Maryland basketball loses to rival Duke after holding a 10-point lead with less than 1 minute on the clock

4/27/2010 Bird flies away with victory!
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Another packed house last night at Tin Roof. Drake was in town and we all now how rich white folk love their rap music. Anyway Tin Roof was off the chain. We had a maxed out tournament that featured some new teams and of course some regulars, all of which trying to capture the $100 cash prize. Bird (Wes and Charlie) showed up to play thats for sure. After a 5-0 start they found themselves in the championship game against Mike Pig (Matt and Kyle) who lost to Bird in the winners bracket championship game. The rematch was set but Mike Pig seemed to stall out when they really needed cups. Charlie and Wes' consistency proved too much and landed then the victory. It was another successful tournament in the books for kybeerpong. Thanks to everyone who is making this possible. I already can't wait til next week. I hope to see everyone back!

This is brought to you by www.kybeerpong.com

I bring this to your attention because the Kyle of Matt and Kyle (Mike Pig) is me. Matt being my buddy. great thing they have goin on at the Tin Roof and at kybeerpong.com Check it out and Ill keep ya updated on my participation.

Kevin Garent has been suspend for one game. The pushing match that happened at the end of game one may cost the Celtics there season. You don't want to give the other team and D-WADE xtra motivation. This was a close to call series in the first place and this moment could be the deciding factor. Personally Ive taken worst elbows while playing at the local YMCA. But the league doesn't put up with that stuff today, and KG knows this.

On Saturday night the journey begins. Some say the NBA playoffs are to long. Maybe a 2 1/2 month playoff is a bit long like the directors cut of Lord of the Rings but, it is one of my favorite sporting spectacles. Between TNT, ABC and ESPN there is a double header every night (and you usually pay double for that kind of action)! In the past I would simply give my round by round picks at the beginning and never revisit them, unless they make me look good. So this year I will give you a preview of each match up. I will go on the record of picking The Orlando Magic to beat the Dallas Mavericks in 6 games to win the NBA title. Not a popular pick but a pick none the less. We will start in the West...

Lakers v. Thunder
Interesting match up here. The duranchula in his first playoff series versus the champs. The Lakers are struggling as the playoffs begin. Kobe is banged up, Bynum will be a non factor if he even plays, and what is Ron-Ron doing with his hair? Phil Jackson has already started on the refs saying Durant gets to many calls. This will be a high energy entertaining series. But the Lakers will win in the end. Kobe is still Kobe but will be tested. The Lakers have a bunch of question marks but will escape in 6. Thunder would beat a lot of teams in these playoffs, just not Kobe. OKC is a team on the rise and will be a major factor in years to come.

Jazz v. Nuggets
The west gives us another great first round match up. Two great point guards with D-Will and some guy named Chancey. The Nuggets are the tougher team with guys like K-mart and Nene. Utah can fill it up with the best of them, and we all know when you play the (Carlos) Booze you lose! Normally Id take the defensive team with the former NBA champ point guard but....the Nuggets are also a team that can get out of control with the Birdman flying around out there. So Ill go with the slight upset, Utah in 7. Great series. Don't forget that Utah always gets beat by the Lakers in the playoffs and went to the Western Finals 2 years ago. Another disappointing playoff appearance by Melo. The lose of George Carl is to much to over come.

Suns v. Just-Blaze
Great story here with the Suns. Amare was out the door to Cleveland and the rebuilding process was to begin in PHX. Trades fell through and before you knew what hit ya the Suns are the 3 seed. I feel like Nash gave a "Major League" like speech, "Lets just win the whole f#cking thing" at some point in the season. Steve Nash with another MVP like season and Amare is one of the best 5 players in the league. The X-factor is the development of the bench. The Suns don't have the best parts but are one of the best and hottest teams at the end of the season. I cry for the Blazers. No Brandon Roy or Greg Oden and they still make the playoffs.I love there young talent and if they were healthy Id pick em in a second. But like Sam Bowie, the Blazers will be sitting at home watching Durant push the Lakers to the limit. Maybe next year Portland. I fell for ya. Suns n 5.

Dallas v. Spurs
I love Dallas this year. Adding guys like Sean Marion and Caron Butler to a second round team were the best moves all year. The Mavericks have everything you want in a team to make a run to the Finals. There arch rivals are there to welcome them in the playoffs and a lot of experts are putting the Mavs on up-set alert. I disagree big time! The Spurs are leaning on past successes. The Mavs have retooled and don't have that haze hanging over them from the D-Wade/Warriors years. Mavs spank the Spurs in a sweep.

Unlike the top to bottom greatness of the west, the east is chalk. The top 4 teams in the east are really good but the rest....not so much. Off to the East...

Cavs v. Bulls
LeBron and Shaq aren't messing around here. Just a better team top to bottom than the Bulls. Bulls pushed the Celtics to 7 last year in one of the great all time playoff series. But this year, no Ben Gordon to make the big shots. Bulls give it a good effort but get swept. Just not much to analyze here. Classic 1 v. 8 seed mismatch. Looking forward to Shaq back in the playoffs!

C's v. Heat
No doubt about it, this is the hardest to read series in the east. Are the Celtics really done that quickly after winning the title? On paper Miami doesn't have a chance. But much like the Spurs, Boston living on past successes here. If D-wade returns to his Finals self, Heat win. But like the sitcom "Joey" I just don't like the supporting cast and D-Wade will wait till next year when he gets a Chris Bosh to run with. Rondo with a few aging stars have just enough. C's in 7

ATL v. Fear the Deer
The ATL is a scary team for anyone to face in the playoffs. The most young talent in the league and now they have a few playoff years under there belt and home court. The Deer are excited to just be here. The injury to Boget was harder on the team than it was to watch ( and it was ugly). ATL in 5. Hawks are scarier than any Freddy Kruger remake.

Magic v. Bobcats
Well I have the Magic winning the NBA title so of coarse I have them beating the Bobcats. Charlotte is a fun team to watch but its just not happening. Magic aren't the one seed but are just as good as Cleveland. Ill give Larry Brown and MJ a game, Magic in 5.

Brandon Knight will be the John Wall of next year. He signed his national letter to go to the University of Kentucky today. He is a great fit for the CATS and the first big signing for the 2010-2011 season. Much to replace in the bluegrass with 4 freshman leaving early. I will update as this roster fills out. Exciting times for college hoops fans.

Brandon Marshall to the Dolphins. Looks like the Jets aren't the only AFC East Team that sees the Patriots as vulnerable. The Broncos received two 2nd rnd picks for the WR. I love Marshall for my fantasy team, but for my real life NFL team....no thanks. WR are the most replaceable position on the field. Ultimately we will all have to wait to see who the Broncos get with those picks before we can really see who came out on top of this deal. I think both teams will be better. If I'm Marshall, I'm not sure about Chad Henne as an upgrade from Kyle Orton. Very interesting off-season for the NFL continues. Draft week from Thursday. Twitter me!

So the big question today is what will and what should Roger Goodell do with Big Ben. Most people are expecting a Dean Warmer "Double Secrete Probation" punishment. For you unfamiliar with what "Double Secrete Probation" means, well you need to read a different blog. Originally I thought if he doesn't get charged then he doesn't get suspended or fined. I don't think Big Ben is a terrible person that is 100% guilty of sexual assault in either of these cases. But Ben is guilty of stupidity and putting his team, league and fellow players in a bad situation. I would suspend him for 2 games and fine him around half a mill. The only way you get through to guys like Big Ben is to hit is wallet and playing time. Take his $$$ and take away the reason anyone knows his name, football, he will get it. For the record I don't think this is a race issue. Santonio Holmes was let go for off the field issues. I think this is the biggest punch to the gut of Big Ben. He now know he is expendable. I'm convinced that if the Steelers had a viable option right now, they would dump Ben. He is meeting with Goodell today so we will know soon.

I'm not a big NHL fan. But theres nothing more exciting than a OT NHL playoff game. There is always a few 5 OT games that go into 4am. I'm mildly excited! Picks....I'm go Caps beat Buffalo to win East. Chicago over PHX to win the West. Y is Chicago in the west? I don't know. So I have Washington Capitals beating the Chicago Blackhawks in 6 games to win the CUP! My reasons for these picks? I own a Capitals shirt my college buddy bought me and Ovie is the man. So there.

Well Ive been MIA for a few days so time to catch up! Masters was "full-philing" for sure. Lefty went crazy on Sunday to walk away with his 3rd green jacket. Theres not a more like able guy in sports than Phil Mickelson. But I'm not making the wide sweeping comparisons that a surprising amount of journalists are. What I'm talking about is the comparison of Phil being the ultimate family guy v. Tiger Woods, the anti- family representative. I'm not going there. 6 months ago every ones opinion of Tiger would of been 180 degrees from today. It just reminds me that just because we watch these guys compete for a few hours, doesn't mean we know them. I'm not saying I think Phil isn't what he appears. I love me some Lefty. But you just don't know. So before we prop up another guy in to Tiger like greatness. Take a step back and remember its just a golf tournament. But having said that, Lefty is a true champion and I wouldn't mind him winning a major every time out. Great 4 days of golf from everyone.

Would you hire Geno Auriemma to run your men's basketball program? This is the question I'm thinking after he won his 7th national title last night. The guy is straight brilliant at Uconn. I heard an interview with him on the DP show and he said he's a women's coach and it's been 4 years since he has been contacted about a men's job. He didn't name the school. My question to a school like Boston College or DePaul, who just hired new coaches, is why not go after this guy. 15 years of 30 wins or more! Id hire the guy in a second. I live in Cincinnati where you have a prideful fan base of a once great program under Bob Huggins. The Cincinnati Bearcats or a school needing a fresh new start should hire this guy. I think he would leave for a big east coast job. I don't think his ultimate goal is to over take Pat Summit as the greatest women's coach of all time. Id hire him that's all I'm saying. Congrats to Geno and his 7th title. Id love some feed back! Don't forget to follow me on twitter!

Well, its over and the hated DUKE has won there 4th national title. As a UK fan everyone is probably expecting me to rant and rave on how I and most college basketball fans hate DUKE. I'm not. This DUKE team won 6 games in a row and nobody else did. The title game was as great as the tournament was as a whole. I'm 24 years old..so I was about 7 when Christian Laettner hit the famous shot against UK. I don't remember the shot. I have been a die hard UK fan since I can remember. I don't remember that shot. Since then UK and DUKE have played 3 times, and haven't played since 2001. So I'm supposed to hate this team that has a similar success over the years because of a shot a guy made over 20 years ago I don't even remember? It doesn't make since. I will be the first to admit, I don't like DUKE. They have an undefined quality that most people don't like. It might be there success, there ugly co-eds, there academic reputation, or that they always have white guys, I don't know. I don't like that DUKE won but I'm not ganna let the fact that they won a title ruin what was a great tournament. Its not the first or last time Ill see DUKE win a title. Basically there are to many haters out there. I actually feel like I can relate to DUKE as a UK fan. People hate UK and now that we added Calipari to it. Everyone is drinking the Hater-aid. Great season Coach K, I don't like you but congrats none the less. Just show some class people. Its a basketball team, get over it.

Opening Day was yesterday! In Cincinnati this is a huge deal. Everyone watches Opening Day. For you who don't know, the Cincinnati Reds were the first professional baseball team ever. So Cincinnati is a great baseball city. Now off to this years product. Like most Reds fans you like the moves the team made in the off season, signing guys like Orlando Cabrera to mix in with the young guns like Bruce and Votto. The vibe around this team was a optimistic one, which is amazing because they haven't made the playoffs since 1995. So I was cautiously optimistic as the season approached. Then I hear Aroldis Chapman (who we gave 30 mill too and was awesome in the WBC against a ton of Major Leaguers) will start in the minors. Last time I checked the Reds don't give out 30 mill very offen, like the Yankees. This doesn't happen. Then Aaron Harang will pitch Opening Day. I'm told he is (and did) because hes the elder states men on the staff. Well the guy has won 12 games the last 2 years and has only had one good year as a red (2007 16-6). A guy like this would never of lasted on a team like th Yankees, Red Sox or Cardinals. Any Baseball guy will tell you two things about the Reds. 1st they have a ton of young pitchers ( Cueto, Volquez, Homer, Champman etc..) and B, Dusty Baker is the terrible in managing a pitching staff. Just ask Cubs fans, Kerry Wood, and Mark Prior. Harang is in reality the 4th best pitcher in the starting rotation. As long as the Reds are making decisions like this they will not compete with championship teams like STL. Opening Day starters are aces. Chris Carpenter is an ace. Harang is not. Harang goes 5in, 5 hits, 4 walks, 2 homeruns, 2 hit batters, 2 k's. Those are 4th or 5th starter numbers. I'm a Reds fan and will follow the team like I do every year, but they always find away to rip the optimism away from a loyal fan base.

Donovan McNabb to the Skins! Say what? So the Eagles actually traded McNabb.Following year after year of rumors they pull the trigger. I personally was still surprised. I thought McNabb and Andy Reid would be together forever. I really like this trade for the Skins. McNabb will have a Kurt Warner like finish to his carrer. I think the Eagles take a step backwards next year. Maybe in the long run it helps...but the Skins will have a better team the next 2-5 years. McNabb has alot left and you just don't replace a guy like that. Could be a Rodgers and Favre situation. I wont miss those Skins v. Eagle games next year. I do think trading a guy in the division is a bad move for Philly. You are just giving McNabb extra motivation.

A bunch of rumors are floating around the University of Kentucky basketball program. Before everyone freaks out, ill set yea straight. First off its about who's going pro and who isn't. I would be surprised if any of the 5 players in question are on the team next year. Those 5 being Patterson, Cousins, Bledsoe, Orton and Wall. Player by player here, Ill start with Patterson. Patterson is the poster boy for the NCAA. He will be a top 15(or Better) pick. He graduated this year from school and only came back this year to win a title. So unless more than just him come back to give it another shot, he gone. Cousins and Wall are easy because they both will be top 5 picks. So I would be surprised if they are even entertaining the idea of returning. I know they haven't announced what they are doing yet, but don't read into it UK fans. Wall and Cousins are only delaying there decision because they enjoy college and want to enjoy the weeks they have left with there friend. Surprisingly Orton is the guy who has made his choice most public. Hes currently on the west coast training for work outs. He tweeted that "he hasn't made a decision" but his action speak louder. But it doesn't look like he will hire an agent so who knows.I will say I believe Orton was the one guy who wasn't a great fit off the court with Wall and co. There was little stuff throughout the season that hinted at it. Orton didn't dance before the game like the rest of the team as an example. So rumors coming out that he was jealous of Cousins don't seem that crazy to me. Theres a reason hes already off campus training and the rest of the team is just enjoying there time at UK. Cousins, Wall and Bledsoe were all hanging out at the McDonald's game without him too. Then theres Bledsoe who one would think should return for one more year and be the John Wall on next years team. The problem is all his freshman friends are leaving and this is a weak point guard draft so...hes gone. As a UK fan I would never blame a guy for striking while they are a hot commodity and getting paid. Getting paid means taking care of your family and the ones you love so I wish them all the best. Having said that, Orton and Bledsoe should come back for one more year. They both would be lotto picks next year. Anyone worried about next years team with all these players leaving, stop. If you watched the Mcd's game, there were 7 unsigned players. UK will get 4 if not more. Last thing, all these Coach Cal to the NBA rumors are dumb. I wont even address it because its so ridiculous. Weather they all come back or all leave. It was a great season and I thank these players for there play and wish them the best!

Such a nice day here in southern Ohio! Def the day that lets you know the bad weather is behind us and baseball and yard work is ahead of us. I mentioned yesterday how slow the sports world is currently, unless you are really in to college basketball recruiting and coaching carousel. But starting Saturday the calendar is filled yet again. I'm stuck at work all day but took a few minutes to watch the DP show. They were talking about foul ball stories and if they have ever caught one. So this inspired me to tell my own story. I was at a Reds game and I believe it was 2000 and Dante Bichette hit a grand slam down the left field line. My friends and I had moved seats just in case of this situation. Not that we liked Dante, or anyone did for that matter. This was a line drive shot. The stands weren't crowded and the ball was coming right at me. So being known for my defense on the field, I got in my stance and kept my eyes on the ball. I wasn't nervous because, well I have great hands. I'm not an athlete but catching a ball was one thing I knew I could get done. "The vacuum" is what I was called. Anyway, as the ball approaches my friend Jason who well was a bigger, stronger, taller guy than I hip checks me out of the way to get the ball himself. Of coarse he doesn't get it and it hits off the seats in front of us right in the lap of a kid that had to been around 5 years old. Now Id rather see a kid get the ball but I was about 14 at the time. So The kids Dad who was nowhere to be seen quickly runs over to his son and congratulates him. So this story has a good ending and Bichette was a bum in my eyes anyway. As for my friend Jason I was pretty angry but more so laughing as I got off the ground. At least the fans didn't yell throw it back at the kid. I hate that. Well I hate Cubs fans in general. The only Cubs fan in history I like is Henry Rowengardner (from the movie Rookie of the Year). But if I had an arm injury that allowed me to throw the ball on a frozen rope to home plate, Id throw it back too. Back to work for me. Twitter me!