Shark bites from the past

Greg Norman is in contention at the British Open, and isn't it a shame that he is often remembered more for the big tournaments that got away. Anyway, it got me to thinking about some of the bitter sports defeats I've been associated with as a player or fan.

I do not remember the year, but yes the Detroit Lions were actually in a playoff game some time in my childhood. Kicker Eddie Murray missed a field goal late in San Francisco and it was all over. I went and pouted in the fort made of blankets for what seemed like hours.

1986 NCAA basketball tournament Michigan State vs. Kansas, Sweet 16: The Spartans were on a crazy good run and had the game in hand in Kansas City. Then time stood still late in the game and as play was going on the clock did not run for what seemed like forever (it was double digit seconds) and the correction was not made by the officials. A few missed free throws later and it was tied up at the end of regulation (after time should have expired), and then we lost in OT.

1987 ALCS Tigers vs. Twins: We had tickets for the world series, and we were going to go...until the home run hankies got in the way, and the Twins crushed us in five. I had never been so sad to see money in my life, when we took the tickets back to Ticketmaster for our refund. At least I still had my memories from attending game three of the 1984 World Series in Detroit!

8th grade: city soccer semifinal. We were the regular season champion and our coach was so confident he had already filled out his lineup chart for the championship match. We played terrible and lost on penalty kicks-to the other team from our school. I wanted to have a chance with my foot, but I wasn't one of the five selected to take a shot in the PKs.

1990 High School sectional final: I was a statistician for our boys basketball team that pulled an upset for the ages and sent shockwaves through the state a couple of nights earlier, but we turned around and lost to a team we had defeated in the regular season. Sweet 16 and "state appearance" denied.

1990 NCAA basketball tournament Michigan State vs. Georgia Tech, Sweet 16: The Spartans were in a tight game with Georgia Tech, and Kenny Anderson went up for a shot for the Yellow Jackets, down two, stepped on the three point line, went in teh air, ball still in his hand, buzzer went off-ball STILL in hand, then he let it go and it went in. It was ruled a two pointer and another bitter OT loss followed. The CBS replay showing that State was jobbed did not make me happy!

My first real golf tournament, all city C flight: Despite taking a 10 on a par four in round three, I had a one shot lead going to the 72nd hole of the tournament. Put my approach shot in the bunker and took a double bogey. The other guy chasing me made par. Lost by one shot. (did come back and win it the next year!)

Michigan State football, take your pick. I've been a fan, student and alumnus of Michigan State for as long as I have memories, and there are too many bitter defeats to mention. hopefully Coach Dantonio and company plan on changing that soon!

There are others, but that's enough for now! Good luck Shark, and at least you're leading the one major you have won twice before, besides Nick Faldo is not in the field!