sportsbarWho are Sport's Ultimate Chokers; Named and Shamed
October 20th 2007 06:11
In sport, players and teams get dogged with the Chokers tag. Are they unlucky? Are they cursed? Or do they simply buckle under the pressure? Some people are destined to achieve everything, and others it seems are destined to under-achieve and fail. As cruel as that may sound… This is not meant to target or single anybody out, more of a fun look at some of sports most tragic and consistent chokers.
Also, we will look at some people who were unfairly branded chokers, those who may have been outcast for one bad mistake.
Let’s look at the chokers… The perennial failures… the people and teams who seem they have had failure thrust upon them.
No list would be complete without the Cronulla Sharks!! Never won the big one. Normally don’t get anywhere near it either. They carve the first half of the season, giving their fans false hope. And then, predictably, they fall away when other teams start to get a hint of September. A ten match losing sequence and a seven match losing sequence respectively have killed their last two charges (I mean flops) towards err… Annual premature Mad Monday celebrations. Somebody should tell them that football is a job that you actually want to work four more weeks a year…
North Sydney Bears also need to be shamed in this area. A team that was there and there abouts throughout the 90’s in particular. The Bears suffered some of the most heart-breaking defeats of all time in semi final football. They seemed destined never to win the important matches… Just look at their Jersey Flegg match this year. They snatched defeat from the jaws of victory, literally, and poor David Peachey went out a loser. With 3mins to play Joe Williams kicked a field goal to seemingly win the game for the Bears. But in an extraordinary finish, the Eels scored a try on the siren to rob the fairytale finish. As one journalist in the media box exclaimed; “That is Vintage North Sydney!”
The All Blacks… Undisputedly the best rugby team ever… (not on results mind you…) they don’t win when it counts, but outside tournaments they are indestructible. They have dominated World Rugby, but only have 1 cup to show for it… hmm…
South African cricket team!! There is that obvious head explosion in the semi-final against the Aussies. To paint the picture, a place in the world cup final up for grabs the Proteas need 9 runs off the last over with one wicket in hand. Lance Klusener is undoubtedly the batsmen of the Cup and is on strike after decimating all that has come before him. He cracks the first two balls of the over for four! They need just 1 run to knock Australia out with four balls remaining. A simple task you would think. But under pressure they crack and a bizarre run-out breaks South Aftrica’s hearts. The Aussie fans rejoiced… A common point of conjecture and banter at any pub.
There was also the unfortunate choke where the Proteas forgot how to count. I know a World Cup can be stressful, but surely you should still remember a basic task like adding. To set the scene; rain was threatening to end a match and the game was obviously going to be decided by the Duckworth Lewis system. The South Africans were well in control and sent out a message to their batsmen to simply block out the final few balls of the over, problem was they had miscalculated and blocked their way out of the cup by 1run. How embarrassing!
(SOCCER) The Netherlands,
The English (bit harsh considering they have actually won a world cup)
and the Spaniards – on paper these teams should be right up there on the pecking order… strong league’s and player rosters that ooze class, but when it counts you can be guaranteed to see them leaving early… As the saying goes what’s the difference between England and a tea bag? The tea bag stays in the cup longer.
England look like missing qualification for Euro 2008 as well after Gus Almighty plotted Russia to an unlikely win. Is there anything that man can’t do? Well, I don’t see him putting his hand up to coach England any time soon, it would be suicide.
Greg Norman – bit harsh, but the Great White Shark has a history of choking…Actually if you need one person to lose the un-losable, Norman is probably your man.
Tim Henman – Again, pretty harsh considering the amount of Wimbledon Semi finals he made. Usually knocked out by the eventual winner, either Pete Sampras or a Rodger Federer. But you have to think he’d win one of the semi’s…. eventually…, he was playing at home after all and always had the home-crowd advantage. Poor Tim Henman, not even good enough to be a Bridesmaid.
I’d add Pat Rafter to the list, but I am biased and he did win a Grand Slam. Also, there is no shame in being beaten by Pistol Pete Sampras, or losing to Goran ‘I’m a frickin legend’ Ivanisevic in 5 sets, in one of the best matches ever to be played at the All England Club.
Australian Men’s Hockey team has a history of choking. The women seem to do just fine.
Mike Tyson is a choker - literally – he bit off more than he could chew against Evander Hollyfield… hmm… That was a little earie… haha bad pun… had to be said…
Damyn Martyn was unfairly labeled a choker and was the scapegoat for Australia’s shock loss to South Africa. The result, he was thrust into cricket obscurity for years. In the wilderness he waited, left out in the cold. Eventually he would prove his worth and overcome all the critics who had callously put the boot in.
So who else is a perennial choker? Is it a team, or an individual? Who deserves to be named and shamed?
Also, we will look at some people who were unfairly branded chokers, those who may have been outcast for one bad mistake.
Let’s look at the chokers… The perennial failures… the people and teams who seem they have had failure thrust upon them.
No list would be complete without the Cronulla Sharks!! Never won the big one. Normally don’t get anywhere near it either. They carve the first half of the season, giving their fans false hope. And then, predictably, they fall away when other teams start to get a hint of September. A ten match losing sequence and a seven match losing sequence respectively have killed their last two charges (I mean flops) towards err… Annual premature Mad Monday celebrations. Somebody should tell them that football is a job that you actually want to work four more weeks a year…
North Sydney Bears also need to be shamed in this area. A team that was there and there abouts throughout the 90’s in particular. The Bears suffered some of the most heart-breaking defeats of all time in semi final football. They seemed destined never to win the important matches… Just look at their Jersey Flegg match this year. They snatched defeat from the jaws of victory, literally, and poor David Peachey went out a loser. With 3mins to play Joe Williams kicked a field goal to seemingly win the game for the Bears. But in an extraordinary finish, the Eels scored a try on the siren to rob the fairytale finish. As one journalist in the media box exclaimed; “That is Vintage North Sydney!”
The All Blacks… Undisputedly the best rugby team ever… (not on results mind you…) they don’t win when it counts, but outside tournaments they are indestructible. They have dominated World Rugby, but only have 1 cup to show for it… hmm…
South African cricket team!! There is that obvious head explosion in the semi-final against the Aussies. To paint the picture, a place in the world cup final up for grabs the Proteas need 9 runs off the last over with one wicket in hand. Lance Klusener is undoubtedly the batsmen of the Cup and is on strike after decimating all that has come before him. He cracks the first two balls of the over for four! They need just 1 run to knock Australia out with four balls remaining. A simple task you would think. But under pressure they crack and a bizarre run-out breaks South Aftrica’s hearts. The Aussie fans rejoiced… A common point of conjecture and banter at any pub.
There was also the unfortunate choke where the Proteas forgot how to count. I know a World Cup can be stressful, but surely you should still remember a basic task like adding. To set the scene; rain was threatening to end a match and the game was obviously going to be decided by the Duckworth Lewis system. The South Africans were well in control and sent out a message to their batsmen to simply block out the final few balls of the over, problem was they had miscalculated and blocked their way out of the cup by 1run. How embarrassing!
(SOCCER) The Netherlands,
The English (bit harsh considering they have actually won a world cup)
and the Spaniards – on paper these teams should be right up there on the pecking order… strong league’s and player rosters that ooze class, but when it counts you can be guaranteed to see them leaving early… As the saying goes what’s the difference between England and a tea bag? The tea bag stays in the cup longer.
England look like missing qualification for Euro 2008 as well after Gus Almighty plotted Russia to an unlikely win. Is there anything that man can’t do? Well, I don’t see him putting his hand up to coach England any time soon, it would be suicide.
Greg Norman – bit harsh, but the Great White Shark has a history of choking…Actually if you need one person to lose the un-losable, Norman is probably your man.
I’d add Pat Rafter to the list, but I am biased and he did win a Grand Slam. Also, there is no shame in being beaten by Pistol Pete Sampras, or losing to Goran ‘I’m a frickin legend’ Ivanisevic in 5 sets, in one of the best matches ever to be played at the All England Club.
Australian Men’s Hockey team has a history of choking. The women seem to do just fine.
Mike Tyson is a choker - literally – he bit off more than he could chew against Evander Hollyfield… hmm… That was a little earie… haha bad pun… had to be said…
Damyn Martyn was unfairly labeled a choker and was the scapegoat for Australia’s shock loss to South Africa. The result, he was thrust into cricket obscurity for years. In the wilderness he waited, left out in the cold. Eventually he would prove his worth and overcome all the critics who had callously put the boot in.
So who else is a perennial choker? Is it a team, or an individual? Who deserves to be named and shamed?
| 88 |
| Vote |
Add To: 
Subscribe to this blog
Comment by DuskDevi
Rugby World Cup 2007
Here's a joke for you.
What's the difference betwen the All Blacks and a tea bag?
The tea bag stays in the Cup longer!!
Hope you're having a good weekend Andy.
Dusk
Comment by sportsbar
Sports Bar
Fret X
What do you call a New Zealander at the World Cup Final?.... Ref...
actually, stuff it is sounds to me like a new post...
lol, watch this space
Comment by football pharaoh
All-Blacks ... epic encounter this year with France -no choking involved. Should have won in '91 though ... have usually not been dominant team since WC began in '87
Tim Henman - made the most of very limited talent/physical attributes
England soccer- I would say that the pressure put on England's soccer team has no analogue in Aussie sport (tho of course I couldn't be sure, and come to think of it the pressure on the cricket team must be similar). Teams like the '90 WC team, the '96 Euros team, the '00 WC team had very modest talent but still did well (SF,SF, QF)
But how' about these...
Soccer- Eric Cantona was a choker: always disappeared in the big games (for Man Utd)
France Rugby - Always fluff their lines when the going gets tough
Snooker (pushing it...) -- Jimmy White never won the world championship. was once something like 8 frames up with nine to go, and still lost
England Rugby 1992 (I think) only had to beat a shocking Scotland team at Twickenham to win 5-nations Grand Slam. Blew it big-time, despite being a very good team.
AC Milan Championbs League final 2005 - 3-0 up at half time against Liverpool, panicked when Liverpool fought back and lost the cup on penalties
Comment by LukeS
Athletics News
Comment by Stanley
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
Pop Culturist
Pop Rock Factory
Comment by sportsbar
Sports Bar
Fret X
did they choke however? 92/93 beaten by the Broncos... no shame there.
96, Beaten by the Eagles, the dominant team for three years... no shame there..
Probably should have beaten the Storm... Still, to make 4 GF's you'd think you would snag at least one of them.. surely...
Perhaps the bigger choke came later, they had a 3-4 year window where they had the best team on paper... year after year they squandered their chances... How could a team with such talent keep doing this? Some blamed the coach, others, fate...
Breathe boys, just breathe!
Comment by ChrisB
Formula 1
The Social Centre
Such a simple job, but he squandered it first with a dumb move on his teammate, then with a bad strategy.
Yes he did co gearbox issues, but strage how mclarens reliability is bulletproof until just then...someone caused something to go wrong there...
Comment by Matt Poynting
Footy Week
I'll mention one that not many Aussies may know. (I am Australian fyi). There was a guy called Ryan Leaf who was set to be picked up either 1 or 2 overall in the NFL National Draft of 1999. He was taken number 2 overall after a stellar college career. Who beat him to number 1? Peyton Manning. Anyway, this Leaf guy was supposed to be - along with Manning - cream of the crop that year. So he started his NFL career pretty ordinarily having an average rookie season - not completely unexpected. What was unexpected was how he would fare in the next 5 years. Leaf sucked bad. He blew it with his first team, the San Diego Chargers, then went to Dallas and blew it there. He attacked journos and threw wayward passes. Eventually he retired at only 26 years of age and went back to be a quarterbacks coach at a Division II college.
No. 1 on ESPN's 25 biggest chokes or disappointments or something.