Athletes can be some of the most successful people, dominating both on and off the field. However, they can also make some big blunders. Read on to find out which of these famous sports stars and teams fell flat…
Mike Tyson
Mike Tyson made waves as one of the biggest names in boxing. He was the youngest heavyweight fighter, had endless knockouts, and went up against some of the most brutal opponents in the ring.
Biting the Dust
Not everyone saw him as a hero though. Evander Holyfield certainly wasn’t a fan after Tyson bit his ear off in a match.
A New Low with Lewis
He also had a devastating loss to then-champion Lennox Lewis in 2002.
Battling Bankrupt
Worst of all, Tyson lost millions of dollars over the course of his profitable career. He eventually filed for bankruptcy.
Curse of the Billy Goat
Many years before their 2016 World Series, the Chicago Cubs were cursed with a 108 year losing streak.
Something Smells
The curse got its name after a tavern owner brought his Billy Goat to Wrigley Field but was promptly asked to leave because of the foul smell.
Unlucky Black Cat
Though close to a win in 1969, a stray black cat caused the team to lose against the Mets.
Born to Lead
Further lending to the legend, the coaches of the cursed Cubs all went on the lead other teams to substantially more victories.
Fred Merkle’s Mistake
In true Cubs fashion, the 1908 team was so close to a big win against the NY Giants. Unfortunately, Fred Merkle was about to make a huge mistake…
Home Runaway
When Fred got a hit, he sprinted for the bases. The only problem? He didn’t actually touch the bases, one of the most basic rules of baseball.
No Reason to Celebrate
Even worse, Fred made a big show of his big home run. He celebrated before learning about his big blunder.
Fred’s Legacy
Today, Fred is remembered as one of the biggest mess-ups of the Cubs already rocky history.
Cobb’s Curse
Ty Cobb of the Detroit Tigers got the team into some hot water in a 1912 game. A star player, the pitcher attacked a handicapped heckler.
Traitor of the Team
The Tigers didn’t sit well with this information and demanded that their teammate be replaced…
Ty to Travers
Enter Allan Travers, who allowed 26 hits, 24 runs, and 7 walks in Ty’s absence.
Record Breaker
Even worse, Allan also allowed a record-breaking 14 earned runs. Ouch.
A Ruin for the Bruins
The Boston Bruins hockey team once had a record-breaking season in 1930. They boasted a .875 winning percentage. Until the Stanley Cup Finals.
A Final Finish
After their incredible season, the team was not expecting such a brutal loss against the Montreal Canadiens.
Back-to-Back
The Canadiens scored against the team so badly in one game, that the Bruins didn’t even get a single point.
The End of a Streak
The Boston Bruins haven’t had a streak as impressive as that one since 1930, and it’s all because of two bad games against the Montreal Canadiens.
The Comeback Kids
In another Stanley Cup upset, the Red Wings were well on their way to a Stanley Cup Win. After winning 3 games, they only needed one more.
A Shocking Twist
Unfortunately, the Toronto Maple Leafs had other plans. Instead, they won that final fourth game. And another after that. And two more.
A Surprising Victory
The Stanley Cup 1942 winners were the Toronto Maple Leafs, ending the Detroit Red Wings nearly perfect win.
The First of the Worst
This was the first, but not the last, time in hockey history that the Stanley Cup went to seven games.
Other Side of 100
Wilt Chamberlain is known for his perfect 100 point game. Often forgotten is the man who was supposed to guard him.
Shoot and Swish
Darall Imhoff of the New York Knicks was the guard in the now iconic game. Although he had to go up against a legend, he felt very guilty for the way the game turned out for the team.
As Unseen on TV
Thankfully for Imhoff, the game was never televised, as basketball wasn’t popular to a mass audience at the time.
Darrall’s Death
Darrall passed away in 2017, his jersey #19 now retired as a cursed number.
The Phold of 1964
In the final two weeks of the Phillies baseball season, several players got injured, leaving almost an entirely new starting lineup.
An Epic Phail
The Philadelphia Phillies went from being the first place in the National League to a complete mess.
The Curse of Chico Ruiz
The Phillies final (or rather, phinal) tragedy came when Chico Ruiz stole home, and broke the spirit of the Phillies.
A Losing Streak
After Chico Ruiz’s run, the team went on to lose 10 games in a row.
Football Faux Pas
In 1964 as well, Hall of Famer Nick Dawson had his own football fail. He was the Super Bowl MVP and multi-championship winner. What could go wrong?
Butterfingers
At a total of 7 fumbles, Nick Dawson once held the record for most fumbles in a single NFL game.
Oh No Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles were the expected winners and fan favorites of the 1969 World Series. What they got was a little different…
The Miracle Mets
The Mets, up against the popular Orioles, came out victorious in the 1969 World Series, giving the Orioles an unexpected upset.
Winner, Winner, Winner
The Mets became the first expansion team to win a division title, a pennant, and the World Series.
A Very Super Bowl
In the third Super Bowl, the New York Jets were up against the Baltimore Colts. The odds were against the Jets.
Namath’s Promise
In an interview, legendary quarterback Joe Namath made a guarantee that his team, the Jets, would win the game.
A Man of His Word
Not one to break promises, the Jets created a historic upset for the Colts.
A Super Legacy
This game was previously called the AFL/NFL Championship Game, but after the intensity of the Colts vs. the Jets, the annual match became known as the Super Bowl.
A Win for the Wind
The year was 1970, and Doug Sanders was about to win there British Open. He only had one hold left. After the drive, he had a mere 74 yards to go.
In the Sandpit
Somehow, though he had only a short distance to the final hole and a victory, he used up all his extra shots just getting onto the green.
Poorly Putt
The seasoned player even missed an easy putt that would have clenched his win. He ended up losing the match.
Hands of Stone
Though more famously known as a boxing movie, Roberto “Rocky” Duran was once an impressive name in the ring. His life became the movie “Hands of Stone”.
No Más
After beating Sugar Ray Leonard six months prior, he couldn’t handle the heat in a later match. He is quoted saying “No más” to the ref, quitting the fight after eight rounds.
The Great Win
Wayne Gretzky is known by the Edmonton Oilers as “The Great One”, but probably not by the LA Kings, who have some ill feelings after a 1982 game.
Not Great for Grant
Grant Fuhr was a rookie goaltender who set the record for the longest undefeated streak in NHL history. That is…until Gretzsky.
Record Breaker
Gretsky made his mark by coming back against a 5-0 lead in the third period. Later, he scored an impressive 6 points to win in overtime.
Head Over (Tar) Heels
The NCAA Final Four championship game between Georgetown Hoyas and North Carolina Tar Heels was a real nail biter. With 17 seconds left in the game, Michael Jordan pushed ahead for the Tar Heels.
You Had One Job
Fred Brown had the task of setting up a shot to take back the win for the Hoyas.
Not Worthy
Instead, he passed the ball over towards James Worthy. The only problem was that James Worthy played for the other team.
Coach’s Counsel
After the game, Brown received a consolation from his coach, making the loss even harder to watch.
A Fútbol Fail
In 1982, the Brazilian soccer team was definitely going to win the World Cup. With 5 straight wins before their game against Italy, it seemed like a clear win.
It’s a Draw!
In the game against Italy, the first three matches were a draw. Eventually though, the tide shifted in one team’s favor…
An Apparent Win
Brazil started taking a 2-0 lead as the game started to end. The crowd cheered in anticipation, but the game wasn’t over yet.
Rossi Turns the Tide
Italy’s impressive striker, Paolo Rossi scored an unexpected 3 back-to-back goals against the near-champs. Italy finally won the match.
The Play
There were only 4 seconds left in the big game. What could possibly happen in 4 seconds? Well, the Stanford Cardinals California Golden Bears would tell you that a lot can happen in that time.
The Sound of a Mistake
It looked like Stanford was about to take home the glory, so the band came on the field, ready to play a victory song.
False Start
Though there are debates about who really won that day, the Bears scored a final touchdown, winning them the game.
World Series Sadness
The year 1986. The Mets were up against the Red Sox in the final inning. Boston was in the lead, but the Mets weren’t far behind. It was Mookie Wilson who tilted the scale.
Right Down the Middle
Mookie Wilson got a hit that went straight for Bill Buckner. It should have been an easy catch, but instead the ball rolled right between Buckner’s legs.
A Historic Defeat
The Mets came out of the game victorious, but the team redeemed themselves years later when they won the 2004 ALCS Championships in a first-time 0-3 deficit.
Buckner’s Legacy
Bill Buckner is remembered as one of the worst mistakes in baseball history. He passed away in 2019.
A Winning Loser
Tim Hardaway had an epic fail that still landed him on a winning team. Playing for the Golden State Warriors against the Minnesota Timberwolves, he set a terrible record.
Freethrowing
In his game, Hardaway missed 17 shots against the Timberwolves.
Trash Talkin’
Much worse though was his trash talk off the court. He made some horrible comments throughout his career, and they follow him to this day.
The Tale of Tommy John
Tommy John is probably best known for his tendon surgery, a procedure to which he gave his name. He was also a four time All Star pitcher. But stars don’t always shine bright…
Error Message
Unfortunately, he once made a record number of three errors in one single play.
Stay Grounded
First, TJ missed a ground ball, fumbling it a few times as he went for it.
Look up!
Next, once he finally managed to grab hold of the runaway ball, he threw it right over the first baseman’s head.
Can’t Catch a Break
Finally, he fumbles the right field relay and throws it past the catcher. People were amazed at his terrible mess-ups.
The Timeout
The 1993 NCAA Championship between Michigan and North Carolina was a close game between the Wolverines and Tar Heels. Chris Webber had the ball, and 15 seconds to shoot it.
Travels and Timeouts
He took the ball and travelled with it. Although no one saw it, he panicked and called timeout, but the team didn’t have any left. Instead, he just wasted the last 15 seconds and lost the game for Michigan.
The Biggest Comeback
During the AFC Wild Card game, Warren Moon led the Houston Oilers into an early 35-3 lead in the third quarter. The Buffalo Bills were using backup QB Frank Reich and backup running back Kenneth Davis.
A Boost For the Bills
In a stunning and unprecedented twist, the Bills ended up winning by three points in overtime.
4 Free Throws
Nick Anderson’s job was simple. A single free throw shot would win the game. With 4 chances to do so, he had good chances. Sadly he missed and lost all of them, losing the game for the Orlando Magic.
Masters Meltdown
Greg Norman played nearly perfectly for three days in 1996. However, on the last day, he shot three straight bogeys, a double bogey on 12, and no coveted green jacket.
Fighting Back Tears
In a 1997 rematch between Lennox Lewis and Oliver McCall, tensions were high. McCall had been in trouble outside the ring, with law problems and drug addiction, things weren’t going great. He refused to fight, and cried before the match.
Airballin’
Kobe Bryant, while now a popular player, was once a struggling rookie. In Game 5 of the Western Conference finals, he shot four air balls to lose the game for the LA Lakers against the Utah jazz.
One Kick
In 1998, the Minnesota Vikings were up against the Atlanta Falcons. Vikings kicker Gary Anderson hit every single field goal over the course of the season. He lost the streak on what would have been a goal-winning kick.
Choked
Jean Van De Velds needed a double bogey to win, and somehow he left with a triple bogey. The engraver had already started etching his name into the trophy, but had to scratch it off after the meltdown.
Buffalo Blocks
The Tennessee Titans were up against the Buffalo Bills. The Bills were winning with 16 seconds left. Their only task was to block a touchdown, which is rare, but not this time! They succeeded and won the game.
Cricket Choke
Scott Boswell’s performance at the 2001 C&G final earned him a spot on the fail list when he bowled a 14-ball that was one of the worst overs ever.
A Golden Sombrero
The term “Golden Sombrero” refers to when a player strikes out 4 times in a single game. In a game against the Anaheim Angels, the Milwaukee Brewers’ Geoff Jenkins did exactly that, plus two more strikeouts. He is one of 8 plays in history to ever get a Golden Sombrero and then some.
Foul Play
In the 2008 NCAA Championships, with less than 2 minutes on the clock, the Kansas Jayhawks started fouling the Memphis Tigers to slow down the game. It worked. The Jayhawks won in overtime after the Tigers missed all their free throws.
Favre’s Farewell
Brett Favre earned quite a reputation during his football years. In the 2009 NFC Championship, his last game ever, he threw two interceptions, losing the game.
Kyle’s Killer Kicks
Boise State was undefeated when they went up against Nevada. Kyle Brotzman missed his shot on a 26-yard simple field goal, sending the game into overtime. Then he missed a 29-yard field goal, losing the national title. Epic Fail.