Sorry Red Sox Nation, It Just Didn't Hurt That Much

As a New York sports fan, my rooting interests rest with the Yankees, Giants, Knicks, and Rutgers University, though not in that order. I'm also an Islanders fan, but who knows when we'll see NHL hockey again. Unlike many (perhaps most?) Yankee fans, the loss to the Red Sox in the AL Championship Series was not that crushing to me. As much as it pains me to admit it, it was the greatest sports choke of all time. That I was actually in Boston for Games 5 and 6 (in the city, not at the games) and watching them with Red Sox fans was not the dystopia I might have thought it would be. So I thought about what were the most crushing sports defeats I have experienced as a fan, inc chronological order.

1. 1993 NBA Eastern Conference Finals. The Knicks have home court advantage agaisnt the Jordan-Pippen Bulls, and in Game 5, Charles Smith fails at four consecutive layup attempts. Granted, Jordan and Pippen helped defend, and no fouls were called. But Smith has to make the layup or draw a foul. This hurt more than Hakeem blocking Starks in Game 6 of the 1994-5 finals, or John's 2-18 in Game 7. This was their best chance to beat MJ in his prime, and they failed.
2. 2001 World Series, Yankees at Diamondbacks, Game 7. Just weeks after the terror attacks of 9/11/2001, the DBacks and Yanks stage an epic World Series that has caught the attention of the nation and actually humanized the Yankees. The story is chronicled well by HBO in NINE INNINGS FROM GROUND ZERO. After rallying in the 9th inning of Games 4 and 5 with home runs off B.Y. Kim, the Yankees lead 2-1 in the bottom of the ninth with Mariano Rivera on the mound. Trhough a series of hits, poor defensive plays, and some broken bats, the DBacks defeat Rivera and the mighty Yankees.
3. January 5, 2003, NFC Divisional Playoff game, NY Giants at SF 49ers. Giants enter playoffs red-hot on offense, as Collins is clicking with Toomer and Shcokey. G-Men are up 38-14 with four minutes remaining in the 3rd quarter (should be 42-14 but Shockey drops easy TD pass). 49ers go on to score next 25 points, as Terrell Owens cannot be covered by Jason Sehorn and cohorts. Trey Junkin, a long-snapper signed out of retirement to replace the injured Dan O'Leary, executes a bad snap on a potential game-winning field goal, only the Giants one thousandth special teams gaffe of the year. On the ensuing play, the officials blow the call on what was holding on the 49ers, which would have at least given the Giants another field goal attempt.

Perhaps I am still in denial. But the Red Sox were the better team, and they deserved to win. Yanks had both Game 4 and 5 where they wanted them - a lead and Gordon/Rivera. Only Gordon couldn't handle the pressure, and Sox got to Mariano as they have done with some frequency the last few years. Now, I didn't watch the end of that game or the eventual Sox World Series celebration...