Could Have Been Great But...

[calamity]

The 1986 Mets. What stopped them from winning more WS? The 1986 Mets stopped them. With the talent on that team they should have won at least 2 more WS.. And been in 1 or 2 more over a 6-8 year period.

Funny how we remember things. I still remember reading that Gooden missed the WS parade after the Mets won. And I remember thinking. 'That's not good, at all.' Sure enough it came out later he was too stoned to show up, and that was the beginning of the end for that team.

Hell they only made the playoff 1 more time(1988) let alone win anymore WS.

Yep. They were the Cocaine Team. Strawberry and Gooden being their best players ended up the two who were the most addicted.

 

[SenorXm/Sirius]

Yep. They were the Cocaine Team. Strawberry and Gooden being their best players ended up the two who were the most addicted.

Also Hernandez was and still is an ass. I think that lead to some big divides with the team in the locker-room. And he had a cocaine problem too. Though I don't think Hernandez's habit was a reason for that team failures.

But yeah Gooden's and Strawberry's were the biggest reason that team was one and done. Both threw away HoF careers too.

 

[calamity]

Also Hernandez was and still is an ass. I think that lead to some big divides with the team in the locker-room. And he had a cocaine problem too. Though I don't think Hernandez's habit was a reason for that team failures.

But yeah Gooden's and Strawberry's were the biggest reason that team was one and done. Both threw away HoF careers too.

Both threw their lives away.

I was at just about the right age at the time to learn from their mistakes. I can honestly say that I looked to MJ as a role model in my early career--his example of giving it a relentless push to be all you can be every single day served me well during my 20's. On the flip side, watching Strawberry and Gooden slide down into the gutter served as a tremendous warning to me. I looked to them whenever I got a bit too cocky and believed I was invincible.

 

[Bucky]

Both threw their lives away.

I was at just about the right age at the time to learn from their mistakes. I can honestly say that I looked to MJ as a role model in my early career--his example of giving it a relentless push to be all you can be every single day served me well during my 20's. On the flip side, watching Strawberry and Gooden slide down into the gutter served as a tremendous warning to me. I looked to them whenever I got a bit too cocky and believed I was invincible.

The Seahawks could have been a dynasty however the Patriots stopped them. Ever since that loss, they have never been the same. The Patriots mentally outplayed them that game.

According to interviews with numerous current and former Seahawks players, coaches and staffers, few have taken it harder than Richard Sherman. He has told teammates and friends that he believes the Seahawks should have won multiple Super Bowls by now. And with just one trophy and the window closing fast, he has placed responsibility for that failing on the two faces of the franchise: Wilson and Carroll. Sherman, who like Wilson declined comment for this story, thinks Carroll hasn't held Wilson or many young Seahawks to the defense's championship standard. He's been disillusioned not only by that single play more than two years earlier but also by his coach's and quarterback's response to it.According to interviews with numerous current and former Seahawks players, coaches and staffers, few have taken it harder than Richard Sherman. He has told teammates and friends that he believes the Seahawks should have won multiple Super Bowls by now. And with just one trophy and the window closing fast, he has placed responsibility for that failing on the two faces of the franchise: Wilson and Carroll. Sherman, who like Wilson declined comment for this story, thinks Carroll hasn't held Wilson or many young Seahawks to the defense's championship standard. He's been disillusioned not only by that single play more than two years earlier but also by his coach's and quarterback's response to it.

Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman won't let go, and it's a problem - NFL 2017

 

[calamity]

The Seahawks could have been a dynasty however the Patriots stopped them. Ever since that loss, they have never been the same. The Patriots mentally outplayed them that game.



Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman won't let go, and it's a problem - NFL 2017

Fair point, although I believe they stopped themselves. I think it's more accurate though to say that the Patriots, Brady in particular, stopped Peyton Manning from being GOAT. Take away his two SB losses to inferior teams and the two times the Pats eliminated the Colts from the playoffs, and PM has 6 rings.

 

[Bucky]

Fair point, although I believe they stopped themselves. I think it's more accurate though to say that the Patriots, Brady in particular, stopped Peyton Manning from being GOAT. Take away his two SB losses to inferior teams and the two times the Pats eliminated the Colts from the playoffs, and PM has 6 rings.

The Seahawks were inferior to the Broncos? Lol. The Seahawks would have beaten the Broncos with Rex Grossman at QB. The Seahawks defense enforced their will agains the Broncos.

 

[calamity]

The Seahawks were inferior to the Broncos? Lol. The Seahawks would have beaten the Broncos with Rex Grossman at QB. The Seahawks defense enforced their will agains the Broncos.

You mean that year they went 13-3 and whipped the snot out of Tom Brady and your Patriots in the AFC Conf Championship? :roll:

Peyton Manning threw for close to 500 yards that game. :lol:

The B's laid an egg in the Super Bowl, starting with the fumbled snap for safety on their first play. Everyone knows that.

 

[calamity]

Premature, I know, but I am going to predict Durant will be denied an NBA ring by LeBron, who will stop him again and results in Durant opting out of his GS contract and joining the Wizards in the next couple years.

 

[PoS]

Good one. Doping aside (they all doped), Armstrong crushed Jan's soul.

They were both dopers. Pretty much almost all the top riders were and still probably are.

 

[calamity]

They were both dopers. Pretty much almost all the top riders were and still probably are.

yeah. I know. They couldn't even find a winner for all those Lance Armstrong years because the top 15 riders were all dope cheats. That's why I don't hate on Lance. He was the best rider and cleverest doper in a field of dopers.

 

[calamity]

The early 2K, Detroit Pistons have a pretty good case for being the ultimate "could have been great but..."

After being eliminated in the Eastern Conference Finals by Jason Kidd and the NJ Nets in 2003, Detroit bounced all teh way back in 2004. They destroyed the Los Angeles Lakers four games to one in the Finals. And, it wasn't even that close. Margins of victory were: 12, 20, 8 and 13. Yes, that was a Shaq and Kobe Laker team. And, they were good--they beat the Garnet led Timberwolves to destroy the hopes of another "could have been great but..."

Rumbling their way through the league in 2005---remember the night of the fight, when the artist formerly known as Ron Artest stormed into the crowd to attack a fan? that was in Detroit---the Pistons ran into a wall in their repeat bid during the NBA Finals called Tim Duncan, who led the San Antonio Spurs to victory in 7 games. The following year, Shaq finally got them, but it was in the conference finals, while wearing a Heat uniform and partnering with Duane Wade instead of alleged rapist Kobe Bryant. Good times. That Heat team rocked.

So, now we have a Pistons team that won a title, lost a repeat bid in the finals, and was eliminated the following year by a Shaq-Wade Miami team that was on a roll. And, we haven't even reached the climax of crushing blows yet.

2007 Eastern Conference Finals, or should I say the year of LBJ? I know one thing for sure, it was the year most Pistons wish to forget. LBJ single handily eliminated the Pistons.

Believe it or not, the Pistons had enough juice to come back for more. In 2008, they reached the Conf finals for the 6th straight time...but fell short when Boston's Big Three: Garnett, Allen and Pierce took them down in six games.

Man, if that ain't a "could have been great, but..." story, nothing is. :lol:

 

[Bucky]

The early 2K, Detroit Pistons have a pretty good case for being the ultimate "could have been great but..."

The Pistons failed simply for their own foolishness. Joe Dumars drafted DARKO over Carmelo, Bosh and Wade.

Furthering the pain, they had a player named Mehmet Okur who actually was better than Darko. Okur became an all-star with the Jazz.

2003 Pistons win a championship

ADD: Darko Miličić (bust), Rasheed Wallace
COULD HAVE HAD: Carmelo Anthony (all-star) Mehmet Okur (better than Wallace)

That probably cost the Pistons 2 rings at minimum. Maybe 3-4.

 

[calamity]

The Pistons failed simply for their own foolishness. Joe Dumars drafted DARKO over Carmelo, Bosh and Wade.

Furthering the pain, they had a player named Mehmet Okur who actually was better than Darko. Okur became an all-star with the Jazz.

2003 Pistons win a championship

ADD: Darko Miličić (bust), Rasheed Wallace
COULD HAVE HAD: Carmelo Anthony (all-star) Mehmet Okur (better than Wallace)

That probably cost the Pistons 2 rings at minimum. Maybe 3-4.

Excellent analysis. Why a team that already had Ben Wallace would draft a frail, 7-footer from Serbia beats the hell out of me. Hell, if you're going to go there, at least pick Bosh. But, clearly the #2 that year was Anthony. Only an idiot would pass on him.

 

[Bucky]

Excellent analysis. Why a team that already had Ben Wallace would draft a frail, 7-footer from Serbia beats the hell out of me. Hell, if you're going to go there, at least pick Bosh. But, clearly the #2 that year was Anthony. Only an idiot would pass on him.

Or Dwayne Wade, Or David West. Even Chris Kaman would have been a better pick.

 

[calamity]

When I think of the Buffalo Bills of the early 90's, I think great team. However, a lot of people seem to think different. Of course, much of that has to do with the fact that they lost four straight Superbowls. And to think, that losing streak was launched by one wide right, game winning field goal attempt.

What could have been had that kick gone just a wee bit straighter? Would that have set for them a little different tone, one which maybe gets them to play more loose against Denver and the Boys in the proceeding years? We'll never know. But, a less tight Jim Kelly offense would have been nice to see in those games.

Either way, I gotta say, the Bills were Great. Perhaps the greatest team ever to not win a ring.

 

[Henrin]

Definitely the most exciting to watch. Without a doubt.

The dude got five years a carry and rushed for 15,269 yards in ten years. No one touches that.

Walter Payton played thirteen years, rushed for 16,726 at 4.4 a carry. If Barry kept playing he would have passed him by probably the next year.
Emmitt Smith played for fifteen years and rushed for 18,355 at 4.2 a carry. Barry would have killed his total in way less years if he kept playing.

Considering that both of those dudes got less yards a carry, had better lines, and got more playing time, it should be obvious who is better.

 

[JamesBY]

Sanders, then flip a coin for Emmett or Walter.

 

[calamity]

The Atlanta Braves of the 1990's. Only one World Series victory (and that only because they faced Cleveland, another team that could have been great but....) for a club loaded with perhaps the best pitching staff ever assembled: Maddux, Smoltz, Glavine, Avery, Wohlers...

Like the Bills, many will argue this team was actually great. I'm not sure of all the details, but it seemed to me that they were in the playoffs almost every year during the decade. I do know they went to 5 World Series though during that stretch, loosing to the Twins, Jays and Yanks, twice.

IMO, from 1990 through 1999, the Braves could have been great, but they just could not win enough of their roughly 30 World Series games to leave a mark.

 

[calamity]

Several times in the past 20-30 years, the Indiana Pacers could have been great, but they kept running into Michael Jordan and Lebron James, who both prevented them from achieving greatness by burying them in with the other also-rans in the Eastern Conference. And, the one time they did reach the finals, they ran into Shaq and Kobe. So much for that.

 

[Binary_Digit]

When I think of the Buffalo Bills of the early 90's, I think great team. However, a lot of people seem to think different. Of course, much of that has to do with the fact that they lost four straight Superbowls. And to think, that losing streak was launched by one wide right, game winning field goal attempt.

What could have been had that kick gone just a wee bit straighter? Would that have set for them a little different tone, one which maybe gets them to play more loose against Denver and the Boys in the proceeding years? We'll never know. But, a less tight Jim Kelly offense would have been nice to see in those games.

Either way, I gotta say, the Bills were Great. Perhaps the greatest team ever to not win a ring.

That's exactly the team I was going to mention. The 4 consecutive SB losses are vastly overrated; 4 consecutive SB appearances says all that needs to be said. That team was historically good.

 

[Binary_Digit]

Hingle McCringleberry could have been great if he didn't draw so many penalties.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGJb2iLvOKE

 

[calamity]

Hingle McCringleberry could have been great if he didn't draw so many penalties.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGJb2iLvOKE

:lol:

 

[poweRob]

Barry Sanders, the Detroit Lions happened to him.

Bo Jackson. Until the leg injury.

 

[poweRob]

Something argued in a previous thread got me thinking. How many teams (or players for that matter) out there, in any sport, could have been one of the all time greats but something stopped them?

We can look at anything. But, I am focusing the op on teams or athletes that fell short due to bad timing. They ran head long into another competitor that was consistently better than them. So, instead of now being remembered as an all time great, they didn't even reach the championships because a "great" wiped them out in the playoffs. Or, we can look at competitors that did reach the finals, Superbowl or World Series but lost--perhaps several times-- because a "great" had their number.

Examples: Phil running into Tiger during the early 2k's, Becker seeing Lendl or vice versa for that matter (there's actually a case of two "greats" cancelling each other out since they split victories almost 50/50), David Robinson era Spurs running into Kobe-Shaq Lakers, 1970's Blackhawks slamming into two walls called the Canadians and Bruins, Red Sox catching the Reds at the wrong time and then finding the Yankees in their path...that sort of thing.

No need to get serious here. The idea is just to discuss some good or bad sports memories.

George Foreman, before he became famous for his grill and middle age comeback. The man was at the top of his game, and he looked invincible. He had just beaten Frasier for the title and defended it against Norton to go 39-0. And, then along came Ali. Boom! No more hearing about George Foreman.

George foreman won the heavyweight belt in 1994 as the oldest to ever do so. I wouldn't say he wasn't heard from again after Ali. Although he did get shut down pretty hard for some time.

I'd go more with Marvelous Marvin Hagler. He beat Sugar Ray in that fight but the judges rooked him. And he just quit after that.

 

[poweRob]

Could have been great, but...

Bo Jackson. That guy had the talent to be even greater than Barry Sanders. Bad luck in the health department.

beat me to it