J. R. Smith’s brain freeze in the final seconds of regulation was costly, denying the Cavaliers a shot at winning Game 1 of the NBA…
J. R. Smith’s brain freeze in the final seconds of regulation was costly, denying the Cavaliers a shot at winning Game 1 of the NBA Finals over the Warriors on Thursday night. While Smith claimed after the game that he knew the score, it was apparent he did not realize the game was tied. He dribbled out the clock after grabbing an offensive rebound rather than looking to pass to a teammate or take a shot.
But Smith isn’t alone in making a brutal gaffe. He’s just the latest one. Below are some of the more infamous ones:
When brain locks occur, Chris Webber immediately comes to mind. In the 1993 national championship game against North Carolina, Michigan’s Webber called timeout with Michigan down two points and 11 seconds left — except the Wolverines didn’t have any timeouts left. It resulted in an automatic technical foul, effectively ending Michigan’s title hopes.
It wasn’t in the playoffs, and his team still won, but the sheer absurdity of a player recovering a fumble and running for the wrong end zone deserves to make this list. On Oct. 24,1964, Jim Marshall of the Vikings recovered a fumble following a completed pass and returned it 66 yards the wrong way, resulting in a safety. Fortunately for Marshall, Minnesota still won, 27-22.
Unlike Marshall, Roy Riegels did cost his team the game — and earned the nickname “Wrong Way Riegels” for his blunder in the 1929 Rose Bowl. A two-way lineman, Riegels was playing defense for Cal when Georgia Tech’s Jack Thomason fumbled. Riegels reovered — but got turned around and went the wrong way. Quarterback Benny Lom turned him around, and Riegels was tackled by Georgia Tech players at his own 1-yard-line. It led to a blocked punt and safety. Cal would lose the game, 8-7.
New York Giants first baseman Fred Merkle was given the nickname “Bonehead” for a reason. On Sept. 23,1908, he failed to touch second base on a game-winning, ninth-inning hit as fans stormed the field in celebration. Cubs second baseman Johnny Evers noticed Merkle’s mistake and tagged him out — nullifying the winning run. The game was never resumed because order could not be restored, resulting in a tie. The Giants finished tied with the Cubs in the standings, and lost the makeup game.
In Game 7 of the 1986 Smythe Division Final against the Flames, the Oilers’ Steve Smith scored an own goal that interrupted Edmonton’s Stanley Cup run. The game was tied 2-2 with 14:46 left in the third period when Smith tried to clear the zone from behind his own net. However, the puck wound up in the net after ricocheting off goaltender Grant Fuhr.
Twenty-five years later, Super Bowl XXVII is still remembered for the touchdown that wasn’t, Leon Lett’s showboating that cost him six. The Cowboys’ big defensive tackle recovered a Bills fumble at the Dallas 35-yard-line and rumbled the other way. He slowed down the final 10 yards, looking up at the Jumbotron and holding up the ball as he reached the goal-line, thinking he was about to score. Except receiver Don Beebe knocked it away before the ball crossed the plane, resulting in a touchback. It had no impact on the game, as the Cowboys cruised to a 52-17 victory.
Pinch-runner Kolten Wong’s game-ending base-running gaffe deprived the Cardinals of a potential rally in Game 4 of the 2013 World Series. With Wong’s Cardinals trailing 4-2, Wong was picked off for the final out with Carlos Beltran representing the tying run at the plate. It allowed the Red Sox to even the series at two games apiece. Boston won the series it would go on to win it in six.
The Binder didn’t provide then-Yankees manager Joe Girardi with an answer to this one. In Game 2 of last year’s ALDS, Girardi failed to challenge a botched call, leading to a five-run sixth inning for the Indians in an eventual 9-8,13-inning victory.
Replays showed Cleveland’s Lonnie Chisenhall was not hit with a pitch, as had been ruled, but that Chad Green’s pitch hit off the end of his bat before being caught by Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez. Instead of Chisenhall being awarded first base, he should’ve been struck out to end the inning. The Indians would rally to pull even with five runs, and Girardi later admitted to the mistake. The Yankees did come back to win the series in five games.
