Let the countdown begin (please remove all nearby sharp objects and alcohol as you read this list):
10: Patrice Bergeron's Injury
The injury to Patrice Bergeron was severe. The hit-from-behind by Randy Jones forced the talented forward to miss the remaining 72 games and the 2008 playoffs. The young and promising forward has yet to return to the level that he was playing at before his concussion.
9: 4th and 2
The Patriots 2009 collapse in Indianapolis will be remembered by Bill Belichick's decision to go for it on 4th and 2 deep in their own end. The controversial play proved even more questionable when the referees gave a less than generous spot. The Colts took over in New England territory and scored easily as Reggie Wayne got the winning touchdown. The failed play wasn't the biggest disappointment of the game. The Patriots lost their grip on a 31-14 lead in the 4th quarter.
8: Bruins Lose Game 7 At Home
The Bruins 10-year absence from the second round of the playoffs had fans buzzing about the possibilities of being a Cup Contender. All of that was put to rest when Scott Walker batted a puck out of midair in overtime of Game 7 at the Garden. It was his first ever playoff goal. To further ignite the fire, many fans thought Walker should have been suspended for the game after his sucker punch on Aaron Ward in game 5.
7: David Ortiz Steroid Allegations
Say it ain't so Papi. The lovable slugger and hero of the 2004 ALCS tested positive for steroids in the spring of 2009. Unfortunately with the revelation that many of baseball's stars were doping, including Alex Rodriguez's admittance just weeks before, many in Boston were not surprised. The allegations came in the midst of Ortiz's biggest slump of his career.
6: 2006-07 Boston Celtics
The Celtics lost a franchise record 18 consecutive games spanning from 2006 into February 2007. Perhaps the worst moment of the losing streak came when Tony Allen injured himself while dunking the ball well after the whistle. The Celtics went on to win just 24 games while capturing the league's second-worst record.
5: Paul Pierce Stabbed
Paul Pierce was stabbed just as the decade was beginning. Weeks before the season was set to begin the forward was attacked at a night club. He was stabbed 11 times in the face and neck and had a bottle smashed over his head. Amazingly he didn't miss any games that season and the rest is history.
4: 2006 AFC Championship Game
Injuries, dropped passes and Dallas Clark led to the Colts' comeback against the Patriots in the 2006 AFC Championships game. The Colts comeback from 18 points down was the largest rally in Conference Championship play. The Colts put together an 80-yard game winning drive while the Patriots attempted to stop the bleeding with little-known players. Decimated by injuries Belichick was forced to play linebackers and defensive backs that were seeing playing time for the first time all season.
3: Joe Thornton Traded
The trade of Joe Thornton was the biggest head scratcher in the history of the Boston Bruins. The team had just resigned Thornton to a four year deal after he had secured 101 and 73 point seasons. Perhaps most shocking was not that the Bruins traded away the future of the franchise but what they got in return. From San Jose came Marco Sturm, Wayne Primeau and Brad Stuart. The GM that pulled the trigger on the deal, Mike O'Connell, later said the trade was a last chance effort to save his job. He also admitted that he did't discuss the possibilities of trading Thornton with any other teams. O'Connell was fired four months later and Thornton became the first player ever traded while winning the Art Ross trophy as the league's leading scorer.
2: Super Bowl XLIV
The road to perfection appeared unstoppable. The Patriots were set to become the first team to go 19-0 after Randy Moss' touchdown late in the 4th quarter of Super Bowl XLIV put New England on top. However a valiant drive by the Giants, an amazing catch by David Tyree and a missed-interception by Asante Samuel all led to one of the worst defeats in Boston history.
1: 2003 ALCS Game 7
Call it whatever you like but Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS between the Yankees and Red Sox was the hardest loss to swallow. With the Red Sox leading 4-1 in the 8th inning with one out the momentum shifted in favor of the Bronx Bombers. Red Sox Nation sat in horror as Grady Little chose not to take out a struggling Pedro Martinez who had thrown over 100 pitches. A Jorge Posada bloop double tied the game and forced extra innings. With Tim Wakefield on the mound in the 10th inning, a knuckleball that didn't flutter floated over the plate and off of the bat of Aaron Boone. Lasting moments from that game include Trot Nixon knocking over a Gatorade barrel in the dugout and the subsequent debate about Little's decision. He was fired a week later.
3 comments:
Joe Thornton being traded was worse than the Canes beating us in game 7 last year? I guess that might not have happened if JT was on the team. Great post.
-Middle Man Mike
Thornton traded at #3? Besides that being the douchey-est thing I've ever read, "Spy Gate" was not even in your top 10!
People talked about Thornton for like a week. "Spy Gate" completely changed the image of the Patriots. They fell from being the class of the NFL to every national pundit and players around the league questioning the legitimacy of ALL of their success! Some former Steelers, to this day, talk about it. It doesn't even matter if everyone is full of shit either, the Pats are HATED nationally.
Thornton at #3! I am still LAUGHING!!!!!
Well if former Steelers are still talking about then I better re-edit this list! How could I make such an error in judgement and forget that FORMER Steelers were still talking about it. Sure a Jets player can talk all he wants, but a Steeler! Whoa.
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