Biggest chokes in sports history?

[Galway Eagle]

I've got the 2007 New England Patriots, 2001 Seattle Mariners and the 2016 Golden State Warriors. 

Any others that you'd put on that level?

[Skitch]

How about the undefeated UNLV team that lost to Duke in 91?

[Mutaman]

Don't think losing to a team with LeBron James on it can be considered a choke.

[brandx]

Don't think losing to a team with LeBron James on it can be considered a choke.

I agree.

[Skitch]

When you're up 3-1 with 2 more at home I think it is

[wadesworld]

When you're up 3-1 with 2 more at home I think it is

When your starting 4 gets suspended for one of the home games and then your only rim protector against the 2 best finishers at the rim in the NBA/starting 5 gets injured in game 5 and is out for the series it changes things.

[Silkk the Shaka]

When your starting 4 gets suspended for one of the home games and then your only rim protector against the 2 best finishers at the rim in the NBA/starting 5 gets injured in game 5 and is out for the series it changes things.

Word.

[Skitch]

When your starting 4 gets suspended for one of the home games and then your only rim protector against the 2 best finishers at the rim in the NBA/starting 5 gets injured in game 5 and is out for the series it changes things.

That's fair but I also think Green getting suspended was part of the choke. It's something he did himself, not like the Bogut situation

[Skitch]

I hate to say it, but the Packers probably need to be included for Super Bowl 32. Pretty sure they were 14 point favorites.

[wadesworld]

I hate to say it, but the Packers probably need to be included for Super Bowl 32. Pretty sure they were 14 point favorites.

Within a single game the Packers at Seattle 2 years ago. Or 15-1 Packers who didn't even win a single Playoff game.

[Skitch]

Within a single game the Packers at Seattle 2 years ago. Or 15-1 Packers who didn't even win a single Playoff game.

Good lord I had completely blocked out that Seahawks game but you're right.  If we're talking about within a game then I think the biggest might be Oilers losing to the Bills in early 90's after leading 35-3 at halftime.

[WarriorFan]

I think it's not a choke when your team loses in 7 to a team that has the best player in basketball.  As a huge GSW fan, I have to say well done to Cleveland. 

[Eldon]

Good thread.

Related: Best teams not to win the championship

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/photos/top-10-best-teams-failed-000000317/warriors-1466391998210.html

[CTWarrior]

I've got the 2007 New England Patriots, 2001 Seattle Mariners and the 2016 Golden State Warriors. 

Any others that you'd put on that level?

Yanks blowing 3 games to none lead to Red Sox and a 4-3 lead heading into the 9th of game 4 with Mariano Rivera ready to close. 

[tower912]

This wasn't a choke.    Cleveland earned it.   Having Green miss a game and Bogut out certainly helped the momentum shift to the Cavaliers.   But remember, without Irving and Love, Cleveland took GS to 6 last year.    Time to acknowledge that LeBron is an all-timer.    Losing to an all-timer, with all of his teammates healthy, while not having all of your pieces every game, is not a choke. 

[MUfan12]

This wasn't a choke.    Cleveland earned it.   Having Green miss a game and Bogut out certainly helped the momentum shift to the Cavaliers.   But remember, without Irving and Love, Cleveland took GS to 6 last year.    Time to acknowledge that LeBron is an all-timer.    Losing to an all-timer, with all of his teammates healthy, while not having all of your pieces every game, is not a choke. 

Preach.

[Galway Eagle]

You go 73-9 and are up 3-1 it's a choke. I don't care if it's against the 96 Bulls, you have that type of regular season you're expected to win or else you choked.

That isn't taking anything away from lebron, not a fan of his persona or demeanor but he is an all time great.

[warriorchick]

You gotta have the 2012 U.S. Ryder Cup team on the short list.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

I've got the 2007 New England Patriots, 2001 Seattle Mariners and the 2016 Golden State Warriors. 

Any others that you'd put on that level?

2001 Mariners wasn't a choke either.  The Yankees were just a way better team despite Seattle's inflated record.

[GGGG]

I don't view it as a choke for many of the reasons stated here.  Bogut was more important than people realized.  Green being suspended too.

Packers giving away the NFCCG was a far bigger choke IMO.  I guess I view chokes as more immediate than that.

[Spotcheck Billy]

Choke? Lebron failing to even acknowledge Bill Russell after Russell handed him the Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award

[StillAWarrior]

Green being suspended too.

Now that it cost his team a championship (according to Green and plenty of others), I wonder if Green will get those spastic limbs under control so that they don't involuntarily flail and cause him to get suspended.

[wadesworld]

Now that it cost his team a championship (according to Green and plenty of others), I wonder if Green will get those spastic limbs under control so that they don't involuntarily flail and cause him to get suspended.

At the same time, do we get to hear how lucky LeBron and the Cavs are to have had Bogut go out with injury like we heard about the Warriors all year?  Losing Love was addition by subtraction.  Losing Irving hurt.  Losing Bogut hurt this year.

[StillAWarrior]

Absolutely losing Bogut hurt.  I knew it as soon as it happened.  It was one of the things that happened in the series -- that happen in many series (most? all?)  -- that had an affect.  It's absolutely not in the same league as the Cavs losing two starters last year, but definitely it had an impact on the series.  Maybe changed the outcome...maybe not.  Hard to know.  Incidentally, I'd say the same thing about Iving and Love last year.

I just think a lot of people made too many apologies for Green -- "it was involuntary."  BS.  He's a world class athlete and a hell of a player.  He could control those things if he wanted to.  I suspect in the future he'll want to.

[Benny B]

Davidson, 2013.

Yeah, I said it.

Or if it makes you feel better, Northern Iowa, 2016.