Great chokers through history...

[trustbutverify]

Choking is an important part of sports- an underrated part imo.

Certain players (and teams) tend to shrink away in pressure situations. Some lose their aggression, some hide, some just start playing like garbage.

I love watching Dirk play-but Wade is right. He's a classic big time choker.

C-Webb is one of the great all time chokers.

[Tchocky]

In all fairness, this was a 1st time meeting. I would bet large on Dirk & the Mavs if they meet the Heat again in the NBA finals.

[Mudcat]

I gotta name the Atlanta Braves during the era when they won all those consecutive division titles (~1990-2006 ??). I know they did win 1 World Series, but they lost so many series as favorites during those years.

Obviously you can't totally blame something like that on one guy but it remains a mystery to me how Bobby Cox kept his job all that time. He was also the manager of the Blue Jays in 1985, the first time they made the post-season. They went up 3-1 in the ALCS but then choked away the last 3 games.

Cox seems like a nice guy but there can be no denying that he's been at the helm for a lot of choking.

[onlooker]

You can throw the Buffalo Bills name in there too. 4 straight Super Bowls and no Championships. That has to hurt.

[bigboydan]

What about the Detroit Redwings.

They were basically the same way Mudcat.

[trustbutverify]

In all fairness, this was a 1st time meeting. I would bet large on Dirk & the Mavs if they meet the Heat again in the NBA finals.

I don't see the mavs as a choke team- and they have a good shot at the ring this season. But- I've watched dirk alot throughout his career. You probably have too. Dirk chokes. He showes a very strong choke trend. Some players tend to improve performance in clutch situations(Stockton), and some tend to decay in those same positions(Malone). Trends reveal themselves in the long term, over hundreds and thousands of similar situations.

I think clutch players perceive pressure situations as golden opportunities to succeed, while chokers perceive these situations as nightmarish danger zones. The Sac Kings of the late 90's were a great choke team with multiple classic choke players.

Dirk may very well turn things around. He's shown a propensity to improve throughout his career- maybe he can improve his mindset.

[Sean]

January 3, 1993 ... Rich Stadium .. AFC Wild Card Game ... Houston Oilers blow a 35-3 3rd quarter lead over Buffalo to lose the game.

[jjgold]

TMAC
GARNETT
Ewing
A-Rod
Mickelson
Love
Mattingly

[begolf25]

A few come to mind...

1. 2004 Yankees
2. Scott Norwood
3. Any FSU Kicker
4. Greg Norman

and the biggest choker of all....Latrell Sprewell

[onlooker]

and the biggest choker of all....Latrell Sprewell

Very nice.

[Bill Dozer]

Not the biggest choker but off to a great start...

[Willie Bee]

Jean van de Velde, 1999 British Open.

[Mudcat]

Jean van de Velde, 1999 British Open.

Van de Velde has to be the classic example. In some circles, his name has become a synonym for choking (specifically, choking due to mental error/poor judgement).

Just last week I was watching Jeopardy and this kid was leading going into final Jeopardy. A win meant he would advance to the finals of the Teen Tournament and a shot at 75K. Big pressure situation for him - but he was in the driver's seat and all he had to do (other than answer the question correctly of course) was risk enough money.

The second place guy got the answer right and doubled up. The leader also answered correctly. All he needed to do was risk enough so he would end up with at least a dollar more but he messed up his calculation and ended up losing by ~ $100.

I felt bad for him. He is just a kid and he'll probably be haunted by that moment his whole life. But I couldn't help myself.

"Oh my gawd, he pulled a Van de Velde," I said.

[Sean]

Was Linda Lovelace a "choker"?

[Mudcat]

You can throw the Buffalo Bills name in there too. 4 straight Super Bowls and no Championships. That has to hurt.

I know a lot of people like to pile on those Bills but I can't say I totally agree with labelling them a choke team. They lost to some awfully good teams. I think they may have been a slight favorite in their first Bowl against the Giants but after that, they were supposed to lose. The NFC was dominant in those days.

The Norwood thing had to hurt for sure but wasn't that a 40+ yard field goal attempt? Missing that isn't quite the same as this year's Romo thing.

[SBR_John]

Danny White - throw the ball!

Don Meridith (ice bowl)

Dan Marino - stats baby

[trustbutverify]

Mickelson is an amazing choker. Not just the last few well publicised chokes, but going back his entire career.

Was Mattingly a real choker? Did his personal performance decline sharply in tight situations?

[jjgold]

Yes Donnie never hit in the clutch

Donnie also played when Yanks did not even come close to winning

Donnie was very overrated

[hanco21]

I love Mickelson. Won me a ton of money in the last tournament. I shorted him at 10/1 odds after the 15th hole on Sunday.

[trustbutverify]

I love Mickelson. Won me a ton of money in the last tournament. I shorted him at 10/1 odds after the 15th hole on Sunday.

You, my friend, are a sharp choke capper.

[Stumpage]

Yes Donnie never hit in the clutch

Donnie also played when Yanks did not even come close to winning

Donnie was very overrated

Are you thinking of the Don Mattingly who played for the Yankees or some other guy in an alternate universe? Mattingly never hit in the clutch?? I can't think of a Yankee who terrified me more whenever he came up against the Red Sox in a late inning situation, especially in the latter part of the 1980's.

Incidentally, the Yankees not winning during his day was despite the fact that he played for them, not because. Think "Yankee pitching staff" during that era.

Mattingly made the post-season once, his last year I believe. Batting average: .417 / Slugging percentage: .708. Drove in 6 during the 5 game series versus the Mariners, which the Yankees would have won had David Cone not been left in for 230 pitches or something in the final match.

[trustbutverify]

Are you thinking of the Don Mattingly who played for the Yankees or some other guy in an alternate universe? Mattingly never hit in the clutch?? I can't think of a Yankee who terrified me more whenever he came up against the Red Sox in a late inning situation, especially in the latter part of the 1980's.

Incidentally, the Yankees not winning during his day was despite the fact that he played for them, not because. Think "Yankee pitching staff" during that era.

Mattingly made the post-season once, his last year I believe. Batting average: .417 / Slugging percentage: .708. Drove in 6 during the 5 game series versus the Mariners, which the Yankees would have won had David Cone not been left in for 230 pitches or something in the final match.

Yea- that was my point. Im a mets fan, yankee hater but mattingly always seemed to be a real clutch player.

[pags11]

add this year's USC basketball team to the list...I love this team, but they can't close a game out to save their lives...this is going to cost them come tourney time...