Dr. Giganto

Inspired by a column on SI.com, what's the worst loss that one of your teams has suffered. I can think of a few in reent memory that were a real kick in the nuts.

1. Yankees vs. Diamondbacks, Game 7, 2001 World Series. I've always said I would trade the 4 World Series championships in my lifetime if we could have only won that game. Less than 2 months after 9/11, it would have meant so much to NYC had the Yankees won. We of course had the magical games 3-5 at Yankee Stadium to remember, but it's a little tarnished by the Yankees losing this game. Not to mention the fact that it set off a string of terrible, impulsive free agent signings on Steinbrenner's orders.

2-4. Yankees vs. Red Sox, Games 4-6, 2004 ALCS. If Jorge Posada throws out Dave Roberts, the Yankees sweep and play the Cardinals in the World Series (match-up of the two winningest MLB teams).

If Torre sends a runner in extra innings of Game 5, with Jason Varitek feebly attempting to catch Tim Wakefield, the Yankees win on one of Varitek's two passed balls. Instead, Gary Sheffield is stranded on 3rd, and Ortiz wins the game for the Red Sox once again.

Also, if the Yankees had tried to bunt and make Curt Schilling field his position in Game 6, perhaps they would have had a few more baserunners, and taken Curt Schilling off his game. Instead, Schilling throws a gem, and at that point the Yankees didnt even have a chance against the Red Sox.

5. Giants vs. 49ers, 2003 NFC Wild Card playoffs. Jeremy Shockey drops a TD in the end zone which would have put the game out of reach. Then, the Niners move T.O. to the slot, and the Giants are too stupid to adjust, putting washed-up Jason Sehorn on him. Then, the Giants lose the game when long-snapper Trey Junkin (signed specifically to help solve the special teams problems) makes only like the second bad snap of his career. And, there's a non-call on obvious pass interference at the end of the game.

6. Giants vs. Panthers, 2006 NFC Wild Card playoffs. This was especially tough because I was at the stadium for this game. I was so pumped up for the game, and it was so disappointing. Giants look poor on offense, poor on defense, and they lose 23-0.

7-8. Knicks vs. Heat, Games 6 and 7, Eastern Conference semifinals, 1998 (I dont remember exactly what year it was). The Knicks were cruising along, about to go up 3-2 on the archrival Miami Heat in Game 5. Then, Charlie Ward and PJ Brown get tangled up during a free throw attempt, and Brown literally picks Ward up and body-slams him. Several of the Knicks players stand up and walk two or three feet away from the bench, and are forced to sit out Games 6 and 7 because of a rule in basketball that says you recieve an automatic suspension if you leave the bench during a fight. Even if you dont get involved and just take two steps off the bench. Which is all Patrick Ewing did. Even if you try to break it up, which is what Allan Houston and Larry Johnson did. God, that was such bullshit, and I've hated PJ Brown ever since.

9. Knicks vs. Rockets, Game 7, 1994 NBA Finals. John Starks: 2-18. 'Nuff said.

10. St. Johns vs. Gonzaga, 2nd round, 1999 NCAA Tournament. The Johnnies, led by Ron Artest, were a #2 seed that year, having won the Big East conference. Gonzaga was just an upstart team that nobody had heard of, except for the fact that John Stockton went there. The Johnnies squeaked by Northern Arizona in the first round, and then were upset by #10 seed Gonzaga in round two. With a team of Ron Artest, Erick Barkley, Bootsy Thornton, Anthony Glover, and Lavar Postell, this was St. John's best chance to win the NCAA championship during my adult life. After this game, Artest left for the NBA, and the Johnnies went on a downward spiral, both in quality of play and off-court events.