What the most costly mistake in sports?

[phillycavsfan]

Blowing the baton handoff is a good one. Nothing like waiting 4 years for you big chance, be faster than all your peers, and miss out because someone on your team can't pass a metal stick to another person.

False starts and hurdle mishaps are bad too. Felt sick to my stomach watching Lolo Jones crying after she screwed up in 2008.

 

[phillycavsfan]

missing a penalty in soccer.

1. the fact that you're in penalties means you're in the late stages of an important competition, or in a cup game, so if you lose you're OUT. you never lose in penalties and get a second chance.

2. the fact that you're taking a penalty pretty much means the game is on you, and if you miss your team is most likely gonna lose.

it's not really a 'mistake' but you can see it that way.

Ghanaians, don't click on the following video.

 

[phillycavsfan]

blown save

pitcher give u 8 innings and has a 2-0 lead and the closer comes in a gives up a 3 run homer

That's not how that game went down.

It was 5-2 late in the eighth and the Yankees had two men on base with no outs. Grady Little walked out to the mound, and everyone assumed he'd take Pedro out. Pedro is my favorite pitcher ever, but he was DONE at that moment, and with a lefty coming up in Matsui, it was the perfect time to bring in Alan Embree (a lefty), or least Mike Timlin, who hadn't allowed a hit all postseason. But Grady kept him in, and that (and bringing in knuckler Tim Wakefield in the 13th inning) probably cost Little his job a month later.

Matsui doubled, Posada singled, and all of a sudden the game was tied. An hour and change later, Aaron Boone finished the Sox off.

 

[heisenburrr]

hmmmm thread went this far with no mention of a kicker missing his field goal with the game on the line ?

 

[Mensch Fontana]

Blown save by far

 

[mr x]

• own goal in soccer as many have said. like seriously yall think those other options are worse than scoring in your own net in soccer?

bonus answer: dropping the baton in the 4x100 relay (or stepping on the line, or running out of the exchange zone)

 

[superunknown23]

i dont watch soccer but i know an own goal will get you killed by the coach and goalie

or by Colombian drug cartels (Andres Escobar, 1994 World Cup)