Why can't Wisconsin sports fans have nice things?

[adambr2]

Conference championships, revisited:

 

Bucks/76ers:

Seems like forever ago, but the big 3 came closer to the Finals than this group -- and still came up short.

 

Packers/Giants:

Eli Manning's coming out party. A chance to face the 16-0 Patriots. A gift missed FG. A coin toss won. An interception...and another opportunity thrown away.

 

Packers/Seahawks chokejob:

I really don't need to go there. Everyone knows what happened.

 

Packers/Falcons:

A wonderful ending in Dallas only to be completely blown off the field by Atlanta and see our Super Bowl dreams come up short again.

 

Brewers/Cardinals:

Mark Kotsay. Shaun Marcum. Ron Roenicke. There isn't much of the 2011 NLCS worth remembering.

 

Brewers/Dodgers:

A long extra inning game in L.A. with a chance to go up 3-1, to have that moment....and they couldn't do it.

 

Bucks/Raptors:

I don't know what to say about a series in which you went up 2-0 in dominating fashion and proceeded to lose 4 straight after being 10-1 in the playoffs. It's another choke job. It absolutely is.

 

I don't need to tell you about the miserable Rose Bowls the Badgers have subjected us to, or the late game lead to Duke blown in the NCAA basketball championship.

 

Aside from the 2010-11 Packers, it's been a miserable century of heartbreaking Wisconsin sports teams -- good teams always right on the cusp, but who always seem to manage to escape that big moment to go from a good team to a historic one.

[pitchleague]

I suppose we could have had zero playoff contending teams for the last 20 years.

 

I mean, I GET what you're saying, and, YES, it is kind of depressing. But at least it's been competitive play from the Wisconsin sports teams (for the most part) during this 21st century. I, personally, would MUCH rather have had 20 years of fun games to watch, even with some disappointment rather than 20 years of sub .500 play from ALL the teams in the state and no playoff contention of any kind.

 

To each their own though. I am certainly not "right" and you are certainly not "wrong." It's just a friendly discussion.

[adambr2]

I am not saying it isn't "good" to at least witness competitive sports.

 

I am definitely saying they've made me a little more jaded and hard to trust across the board. I think people often wonder why Wisconsin sports fans seem excessively pessimistic...I think there's an expectation that of choking that has developed and it's not even limited to one organization.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

Some of these are borderline.

 

The 2014 NFCCG is the worst.

 

The 01 ECF probably doesn't belong. They lost to a 1 seed in 7 games.

 

Packers-Giants, meh, they beat the Pats. That team was good. A lot like the Packers team that won the SB.

 

Packers-Falcons, another instance of the Packers WAY overachieving with a pretty weak team and just running out of a gas against one that was a lot better.

 

2011 is a lot worst to me than 2018 for the NLCS. The Brewers had the best team in baseball in 2011, imo.

 

I can't call this Bucks series a choke. They had a blowout win a Game 1 win where the Raps really outplayed them and Lopez dropped 30. Once the Raptors settled in they really had their way. That roster is just so much more seasoned than ours, in hindsight, what unfolded just isn't a big shock to me.

 

We've had competitive teams. I'd rather have this than the Bucks 41-41 purgatory. Winning titles is hard. Oh well. I'm excited. I want a flex plan at Fiserv next year. At least NBA offseason is short.

 

But, I'll admit, the Packers are really underrated in terms of heartbreaking losses in the playoffs. Really an insane run of them for about 20 years. We did win a couple titles, but when we lost, man was it typically painful.

[adambr2]

Some of these are borderline.

I can't call this Bucks series a choke. They had a blowout win a Game 1 win where the Raps really outplayed them and Lopez dropped 30. Once the Raptors settled in they really had their way. That roster is just so much more seasoned than ours, in hindsight, what unfolded just isn't a big shock to me.

 

You said the series was in absolutely no jeopardy after Game 3 and anyone was basically nuts if they thought Toronto had 3 more wins in them. I'm just saying, it's hard to come back now and say it wasn't a shock to you.

 

And yes, as hard as this is it is certainly better than being a perennial 7/8 seed.

[OnTheBlack]

The Brewers loss last year to the Dodgers hurt, but I think their chances were low to win the World Series anyway.

 

The 2001 ECF's hurt because I thought we were better than them and should have won the series, but again, we were waiting for a Juggernaut in the finals.

 

The Packers blown NFCCG's hurt, the Seahawks in particular. The loss to the Giants with the halftime hail marry stung. The loss to the Falcons hurt, but we had just nobody who could cover.

 

 

This ECF's hurts as much as any of them. Within 15 minutes of the loss there were articles about Giannis potentially leaving Milwaukee if we don't give him the best chance to get to the finals based on "reporting" from his camp...which I basically take as "he really cares about going to the finals and being a winner" and then being twisted around.

 

But they had the Raptors on the ropes several times. They were WAY less experienced and they made a lot of mistakes, but they still had big leads they blew in multiple games and they lost in OT when multiple Raptors fouled out.

 

The Bucks were a few shots away from probably putting the Raps away in game 3(and then they likely come out flat in game 4) and they let it slip through their fingers. Ever great team has to go through it and every great player has to deal with it, but it doesn't make it any easier to deal with as a fan.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

What I thought doesn't make something a choke or not. I thought the Packers could beat the Rams one year and Favre threw six picks. I'm just some guy.

 

In the emotion of being up 2-0 I thought the Bucks had this thing. But in hindsight look at the battles on Kawhi's resume. On Gasol's, on Lowry's. Years of these situations. What did we have? George Hill? We coulda won, sure. Should've maybe. But I can't really call it a choke. In retrospect we never really had control, ever, outside of the second game.

[nodakfan17]

I think (most) Wisconsin sports fans are pretty well-adjusted as a result of the aforementioned disappointments. I’ll never fully understand the people who constantly bag on the Packers. I’m not suggesting the team is immune from criticism, but they’ve given me two of my best sports memories. Let’s not forget how ridiculously difficult it is to win a championship (as evidenced by the Bucks’ and Brewers’ eternal struggles).

[pacopete4]

Boy, this thread is pretty ridiculous. Wisconsin has been spoiled lately.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

I think (most) Wisconsin sports fans are pretty well-adjusted as a result of the aforementioned disappointments. I’ll never fully understand the people who constantly bag on the Packers. I’m not suggesting the team is immune from criticism, but they’ve given me two of my best sports memories. Let’s not forget how ridiculously difficult it is to win a championship (as evidenced by the Bucks’ and Brewers’ eternal struggles).

 

They've been immensely successful in broad terms. But it's just a fact.

 

 

2003

2007

2009

2011 they're 15-1 and go one and done

2013

2014

2015

 

I would call all of those losses heartbreaking. Pretty weird.

[jerichoholicninja]

You have the Packers. That's a lot more than the majority of sports fans have.

[adambr2]

Boy, this thread is pretty ridiculous. Wisconsin has been spoiled lately.

 

This thread is about the heartbreak that Wisconsin sports fans have endured this century in coming up short numerous times in having a team that took that next step from great to championship caliber. It isn't saying they've just all sucked.

 

If you think the discussion is ridiculous, no one forced you to participate in it.

[MrTPlush]

Please direct my to the city that doesn’t have constant heartbreak outside of San Francisco and Boston.

 

I will wait.

[pacopete4]

Boy, this thread is pretty ridiculous. Wisconsin has been spoiled lately.

 

This thread is about the heartbreak that Wisconsin sports fans have endured this century in coming up short numerous times in having a team that took that next step from great to championship caliber. It isn't saying they've just all sucked.

 

If you think the discussion is ridiculous, no one forced you to participate in it.

 

One can have a differing opinion. This thread comes off poor. Only one teams fan base ends up happy at the end of the season.

[adambr2]

Please direct my to the city that doesn’t have constant heartbreak outside of San Francisco and Boston.

 

I will wait.

 

San Antonio, Chicago, Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Miami, New York, and St. Louis have all had varying degrees of success this century from their professional sports teams. Most of the above have had 3 or more championships and/or numerous other championship appearances.

[adambr2]

Boy, this thread is pretty ridiculous. Wisconsin has been spoiled lately.

 

This thread is about the heartbreak that Wisconsin sports fans have endured this century in coming up short numerous times in having a team that took that next step from great to championship caliber. It isn't saying they've just all sucked.

 

If you think the discussion is ridiculous, no one forced you to participate in it.

 

One can have a differing opinion. This thread comes off poor. Only one teams fan base ends up happy at the end of the season.

 

Wisconsin sports teams are 1-7 in conference championships this century. 4 of those losses were as the higher seeded team. That's certainly a drought worthy of being frustrated about.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

I imagine if we compared results with most places we'd be in the upper half of most cities if you took 50 years or something.

 

But the ways in which the Packers have lost playoff games since about 1997 has been pretty ridiculous. I won't concede that or believe it's bias from being a fan. They've been ripping our hearts out in January for quite some time. They rarely get run out of the building but are almost always on the wrong end of a future NFL films special. The Dallas game is the only one I can remember winning. Well, and the we want the ball and we're gonna score game. We all know what happened the week after.

[adambr2]

I imagine if we compared results with most places we'd be in the upper half of most cities if you took 50 years or something.

 

But the ways in which the Packers have lost playoff games since about 1997 has been pretty ridiculous. I won't concede that or believe it's bias from being a fan. They've been ripping our hearts out in January for quite some time. They rarely get run out of the building but are almost always on the wrong end of a future NFL films special. The Dallas game is the only one I can remember winning. Well, and the we want the ball and we're gonna score game. We all know what happened the week after.

 

1) 4th and 26

2) Seattle choke

3) OT heartbreaker to Giants

4) OT heartbreaker to 49ers

5) OT heartbreaker to Cardinals

6) OT heartbreaker to Cardinals (again)

 

That's 6 soul crushers, then 5 instances (Rams, Falcons, Vikings, Giants, Falcons) of just having our rear ends handed to us. It's been brutal. Fortunately we had one year where all the stars aligned or it would make this era look even more miserable in regard to championships.

[OldHeidelberg]

I imagine if we compared results with most places we'd be in the upper half of most cities if you took 50 years or something.

 

But the ways in which the Packers have lost playoff games since about 1997 has been pretty ridiculous. I won't concede that or believe it's bias from being a fan. They've been ripping our hearts out in January for quite some time. They rarely get run out of the building but are almost always on the wrong end of a future NFL films special. The Dallas game is the only one I can remember winning. Well, and the we want the ball and we're gonna score game. We all know what happened the week after.

 

We have been making the playoffs a lot, there are multiple heartbreaks(ask Saint and Chief fans) every year in the playoffs so you are going to have a few if you get there enough. Only the Philly and 2014 NFCC games really stick with me but I just remind myself of the Viking collapses against the Falcons and the Saints and it brings a smile to my face.

 

But every Wisconsin team other than the Packers is at a competitive disadvantage. You sure don't hear about KD or Kyrie coming to Milwaukee to form a superteam and the Brewers will always be outspent by 2 teams just in their own division. But they both came close in the last year, just frustrating to watch those chances pass by.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

4th and 26 and the debacle in Seattle are all-timers. For those to happen to the same team in a fairly short period of time, I still think is remarkable. Somehow, I think they outdid 4th and 26 with that Seattle game. I've never seen anything like that. 10 things had to go wrong in 5 minutes and every one of them did.

 

Toss in Rodgers kicking a fumble into a DL's hands in 09 and then completing a hail mary to essentially lose on the first play of OT, I have a hard time believing anybody in the NFL can a hold a candle to those 15 years. We got one, and good thing we did or else our ineptitude would be a bigger story than it is.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

And speaking of real heartbreak, Bart Starr has passed. What a life and a great man.

[OldHeidelberg]

4th and 26 and the debacle in Seattle are all-timers. For those to happen to the same team in a fairly short period of time, I still think is remarkable. Somehow, I think they outdid 4th and 26 with that Seattle game. I've never seen anything like that. 10 things had to go wrong in 5 minutes and every one of them did.

 

Toss in Rodgers kicking a fumble into a DL's hands in 09 and then completing a hail mary to essentially lose on the first play of OT, I have a hard time believing anybody in the NFL can a hold a candle to those 15 years. We got one, and good thing we did or else our ineptitude would be a bigger story than it is.

 

I think those Viking losses I mentioned above are right there with our 2 great debacles. Their kicker misses his first FG all year for a 15-1 juggernaut and then The Gunslinger pulls one last miraculous loss out of his ass in New Orleans(still LMAO). They have a had a few other painful losses as well, a missed chip shot FG a few years ago and then of course the last play loss in Arizona that led to our debacle against the Eagles. At least we have our SB's to ease our pain, those fans think they are cursed.

[homer]

Yeah we think we've got it bad, we've at least been in the title game in recent-ish memory in pro football. Minnesota hasn't made an appearance in a pro sports title game since 1991 I believe.

[nodakfan17]

On the subject of Packers’ playoff heartbreaks:

 

They’ve certainly had their fair share, but some fans act like they’ve left a dynasty on the table. In the last 30 years, the Packers have arguably been the best team in the league four times - 1996, 1997, 2011, and 2014 (I’m not counting the 10-6 wild card team from 2010). Two championships in that span isn’t bad. It could easily be zero. But calling Packer fans spoiled also seems like a stretch.

[HiAndTight]

On the subject of Packers’ playoff heartbreaks:

 

They’ve certainly had their fair share, but some fans act like they’ve left a dynasty on the table. In the last 30 years, the Packers have arguably been the best team in the league four times - 1996, 1997, 2011, and 2014 (I’m not counting the 10-6 wild card team from 2010). Two championships in that span isn’t bad. It could easily be zero. But calling Packer fans spoiled also seems like a stretch.

 

 

Why wouldn't you count the team that won the Super Bowl? The team that they played in the NFCCG was a team that lost THREE times all year long. All to the Packers.

 

And the reason Packers fans act like they've left a dynasty on the table is because...they've left a dynasty on the table. There's no question about that. They had an unstoppable offense, a couple DPOY candidates, and they blow their chance at winning back to back titles in 2011.

 

And with 30+ years of having HOF QB's, two titles is absolutely unacceptable. Count how many times in there has NE had the best team in football? It's not any more than that. They've just managed to be ONE of the best and then found ways to win.

 

The Packers last 3 decades have been great, but like Wolf said about that 90's team, it should have been a dynasty, but ended up like a fart in the wind.

 

 

Also, we've suffered our fair share major injuries. If Finley stays healthy, we've got a weapon like KC has right now in Kelce, like the Eagles have in Ertz. People forget how good he WAS, not how good he was going to be. I THINK he still has the record for most yards in a playoff game(unless Nelson beat it in the Superbowl in 2010).

 

Then you factor in Nick Collins injury, a guy who a possible HOF talent. He was just a half step away from playing at that level and then he'd have had to do it for several years, but in any event, a great player and he goes low against a big back in Stewart and what looks like the slightest brush of his leg against Collins neck ends up ending his professional career.

 

You also have Terrance Murphy, a WR'er who was more talented physically than any of the studs the Packers have had and similar to Jordy in size/speed, just faster and as he's on the precipice of making that next jump, he suffers a career ender.

 

And of course, you have the Sam Shields injury. The Packers didn't just lost talented players, they lost talented players at positions they couldn't afford to lose them. At positions that became black holes after they left, save for Murphy.

 

 

But bottom line, when you have Aaron Rodgers, the most physically gifted QB to ever play the game IMO...a player who's almost as smart as he is talented and you win but ONE SB and you blow several other shots, that's' devastating.

 

Especially since there's a very good chance to expect that the Packers, post-Aaron Rodgers could end up being a team that struggles for years.