It was the late Dale Earnhardt who popularized the phrase “second place is the first loser,” and there are many around us who have felt that way for the past 10 days or so.
No matter how you look at it, the Yankees had a successful season this year. You can't qualify for the World Series without feeling that way. First, it stands to reason that the Yankees can forever call themselves two-time champions of the American League and AL East. It's not everything, no, but it's not nothing.
However, not many Yankees fans would admit that at this point. It's not just because Yankees fans have been trained from the cradle to accept nothing less than a World Series victory as the measure of a successful season. The truth is, for any team, losing in the championship round is almost always a devastating pill to swallow. When you get this close, it's hard to feel anything but disappointment when you're embarrassed.
Interestingly, only Jets fans have been spared that problem over the years due to their 1-1 record in Super Bowl appearances. All the other players have served as bridesmaids at least once (Islanders, 1984) and up to 14 times (Yankees). Honestly, the fact that they lost 14 World Series games is just one of the more surprising numbers in a history that includes almost nothing. That's an amazing number).
How many of those “original losers” will really remain in your mind as happy memories after all these years? Of course, this is a completely subjective question, but here's a list of candidates: If I had to list them, I would probably include things like:
2014 Rangers: Twenty years after '94, there was an atmosphere at The Garden, and even after losing in overtime in Game 5 to the Kings, there was an air of hope surrounding the team. One of the most beloved teams by fans in recent memory.
2002 Nets: Jason Kidd's first year remains the best basketball show the New York area has witnessed since the Knicks of the '70s. There was no shame in losing to Shaq and Kobe the Lakers, even if it was a sweep.
2000 Giants: Most Giants fans I know prefer Mara's victory speech after defeating the Vikings 41-0 in the last big game played at old Giants Stadium to begin with, more than the Ravens buzzkill that followed. I remember it. Another loss in a finale that probably didn't require much sleep.
1999 Knicks: No Knicks fan in their right mind could have believed that the season would extend into five NBA Finals games, as it did when Allan Houston's floater left his hands in Game 5 of the first round against the Heat. Patrick Ewing's injury may have dampened his popularity, but even with him he would have been difficult to match against the Spurs. By June, it felt like all New Yorkers were in a good mood.
Islanders 1984: Sure, it was a shame that the Drive for Five hit the brick wall built by Gretzky & Messier, but a) four straight wins is a dynasty in anyone's book, and b) it finally ends the streak. needed a separate dynasty and this is not a typo — 19 straight Won the playoff series.
1976 Yankees: That team's return to the World Series after 12 years in the wilderness is a heartwarming story that still seems to linger warmly in the memories of fans old enough to remember it. Plus, the Reds are definitely the better team and they've proven that, so there's no lingering sense of what-if. It was the last Yankees team of that era, and its members were widely loved and remembered by their first names – Sahm, Sparky, Catfish, Billy, Mickey…
1958 Football Giants: Please ask about this matter. Not only did the Giants need Pat Summerall's kick in the snow to beat Cleveland in Week 12, but they also held Jim Brown to eight yards on seven carries in the play-in game the following week. It continued. The championship game was heartbreaking, but being part of the consensus “best game ever played” has to count for something, right?
1951 Baseball Giants: Six consecutive World Series losses to the Yankees that year were the ultimate home money situation after 1) overcoming a 13¹/₂ game deficit against the hated Dodgers in August and 2) winning the pennant and winning the pennant. It might have been. , about Bobby Thomson's Shot Heard Round the World.
Wack's Wack
Those of us who grew up obsessively following and later playing Long Island Catholic League hoops always thought we were looking into the center of the basketball universe. On Monday, when the Bulls welcome back Cavaliers and St. Agnes coach Billy Donovan to take on St. Anthony's Ken Atkinson (10-0 before meeting his old friend from Brooklyn on Saturday), we'll be back again. We'll be reminded: we were right.
I hope “Yellowstone” has the kind of bell wrap it deserves for a truly great show.
Felician College women's softball coach Phil Delgado hopes to carry on the legacy of late Mets public relations executive Shannon Ford. The Golden Falcons play their home games at Shannon Dalton Ford Field in Little Ferry, New Jersey, and Delgado said, “We hope to renovate the field and someday host NCAA Tournament games there.'' I think Shannon's story is one of inspiration, so we can spread that story to different parts of the country.”
Godspeed to Brendan McCann, son of Brooklyn, former Knick and St. Bonaventure Hall of Fame inductee who brought grace and dignity to all three.
hit back vac
Chris Salogub: To be fair, labeling Bob Lemon a “ham-and-egger who led the team to the end” is a huge undermining of his work in 1978, when he restored calm to the team after Billy Martin's departure. I think I'll do it.
vacuum: When you're right, you're right. From most perspectives, that wasn't entirely fair to Rem. I give myself a two-shot penalty.
George Colchia: The NFL sent the 2-7 Giants and 2-7 Panthers to Munich. some
It may be seen as an act of international aggression.
vacuum: This seems like an unfair deal considering Germany lent us the last few years of Franz Beckenbauer's prime.
@stoptwittweets: I hate to say it, but the Giants are a poorly coached team.
@Mike Vac: There were some concerns. I thought the way Brian Daboll managed the clock late last week against Washington was borderline medical malpractice.
Dick Kavanaugh: Surprisingly, “Dat” Freddie Fitzsimmons and “Bono” Newsome were also the first to cover it! Pay the person who does it 36 million yen. do not have Do you want to be a Yankee at this point?
vacuum: It's hard to argue with that, right?
