[Stumpage]

"All that said, the hardest game to lose is the one that was won....."

This damn-right quote from Dark Horse in another thread got me thinking: What is the most painful wager you ever made? In terms of watching a slam-dunk, about to win, no doubt about it victory suddenly go up in smoke...

As an example, 6 or 7 years ago I remember having the OVER in a game between the Pacers and Knicks. I even recall the dreaded number being 176 1/2. With just under 3 minutes left, 176 points had been tallied and I was on my way to certain victory. However, being a blowout, I listened in stunned horror as each team just went up and down the court, mostly launching 3 pointers and trying out "Show-time" plays. Anyway, suffice to say that the grand total of points scored in the remaining 170 or so seconds was zero, the game total fossilized at 176 and my sure victory became a loss which I recall from time to time even to this day, especially when I'm watching the last couple of minutes of any NBA match. There are a couple of others, and of course a few "dead in the water" plays that suddenly prove victorious, but for me this wager is etched in stone.

[digi]

Most recently ,Marlins 2-0 up and Phillies score 10 in the ninth to bust my under.

[Stumpage]

Yeah, I had a strange over-under horror a few years back. It was the playoffs and Robin Ventura hit a grand slam in extra innings to give the Mets a 7-3 win. But he was mobbed at first base by his team and couldn't continue round the bases, being carried off like a hero to the dugout instead. Anyway, the "official" final score was put into the books at 4-3 as a result, killing my Over 8 1/2 or 9 or whatever it was. Would have been a win, that much I know for sure.

[bigboydan]

i've had some real bad beats over the years. i guess the one that stands out to me the most right now is last years texas/tornoto baseball game.

toronto had a 8 run lead in the bottom of the 8th with 2 out and texas came back to come back not only to tie it up, but take the lead and win the game.

i'm sure you remember this one ILL. because you made me a true believer in curses after that loss

[Mudcat]

As an example, 6 or 7 years ago I remember having the OVER in a game between the Pacers and Knicks. I even recall the dreaded number being 176 1/2. With just under 3 minutes left, 176 points had been tallied and I was on my way to certain victory. However, being a blowout, I listened in stunned horror as each team just went up and down the court, mostly launching 3 pointers and trying out "Show-time" plays. Anyway, suffice to say that the grand total of points scored in the remaining 170 or so seconds was zero, the game total fossilized at 176 and my sure victory became a loss which I recall from time to time even to this day, especially when I'm watching the last couple of minutes of any NBA match.

Did that ever stir up some unpleasant memories for me. I remember experiencing the exact same thing on a ridiculous garbage time performance by a couple of NBA teams. I don't remember the precise details but I almost wonder if it was the same game. Probably not but I sure remember that WTF ARE YOU KNOBS DOING?? feeling.

[Dark Horse]

I have a short memory for things like this, but I do know I was on the wrong end of Tracy McGrady that night the Spurs were up 10 pts with 1 minute left in game. McGrady went crazy and Houston won the game.

When the gods decide differently all you can do is laugh. I think I posted an against all odds loss here earlier this year. The sequence that turned a winner into a loser was so ridiculous it was funny.

In the end it all evens out. One of my luckiest win was last September. Cowboys up 13-0, and Washington not in the red zone all game, just minutes left. I had won my wager. Then came the famous 14 points that turned the game into a Redskins 14-13 winner. I had lost my wager.

But wait a sec. Didn't I predict this score in that free contest? Better check. What was the password again? Sh*t. I did write it down somewhere. Yes, I sure DID! 14-13...! That crazy comeback had just won me 5 grant! lol.

[goldengoat]

bet illinois to win the ncaa 2 years ago at 7-1 for a decent chunk of change

was so close.....was gonna bet half of the winning on fedor to beat mirko crocop like a month later which he did and i bet next to nothing on that cause i was too gunshy


that and betting too much on the colts.....i even told myself it was too many units and i said ah hell lets go for it......even thought about taking the steelers at another book and take a small hit but didn't.....ouch, lol.....learning experience

[picantel]

missing a double superfecta for 100k when I had a 50/50 for the 4th horse and took the wrong one. The one I did pick got 5th.

[Stumpage]

Very old topic, buried in the forum history, but I was talking with a friend last night and felt compelled to add his tale...Anyway, he once was playing the horses at Woodbine and considered putting in a wager for a long shot trifecta. Was all ready to go, but then talked himself out of the bet while in the teller queue...Needless to say, he watched in horror as the result came in. Would have netted him $45,000.....So not really a losing wager as he was not out of pocket for anything, but you get the idea.....

[Sam Odom]

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[clonecat]

Arizona getting about 8 or 9 last year down 2 or 3 with under a minute to go and Lute Olson gets a double technical and they end up losing by 10 or 11. Don't remember the details in full as I have tried my best to wash that out of my mind.

[bubba]

i had cardnals moneyline agaisnt the bears. the mnf game this year. that one hurt pretty bad

[bigboydan]

You just had to revive this thread didn't ya Stumpage. I was trying forget about this bad beat, but since you revived the thread heres a bad beat for ya.

I remember another one I had about 13 years or so ago during that Bulls drive for 72. The Bulls were playing the Jazz, and the Bulls were a 6 point favorite on the road and were up 4 points. With 3 seconds left in the game the bulls should just run out the clock right. Wrong!, Pippen throws up a meaningless 3 point shot that drops in the hoop and I lose the damn game

[Stumpage]

Sorry BBD for rehashing the ol' memories.....Revived some of my own, actually. Couple of years ago I had the Washington Capitals and somebody, maybe Carolina, to go Under 5 1/2 goals on the game...It was 0-0 with 5 minutes left. 5 bloody minutes to go!...And then 6 goals are scored and I lose...I have to remind myself from time to time that this actually happened, and that I did not imagine the entire incident, as looking back it seems almost impossible that such a thing could have occurred.....

[TexAg001]

OK I will throw out a couple for yall. I got on the rockets spurs game at the half and although the spurs were a solid favorite going into the game I needed them to just win the game. With 1 minute or so it appears the spurs are going to take care of business for me. Then weird shit starts happening and Tracy Mcgrady puts up like 13 points in 30 seconds and I wind up losing.

Remember last years alamo bowl between Michigan and Nebraska? I was convinced Mich would win this game. Had a moneyline wager on them and a large halftimne bet. If that guy gets into the endzone on the stanford band type play then its a $2500 difference...which for me is quite a big bet. While not a bad beat it was torture all the same.

[thezbar]

Early 90's,living and working in L.A. I listen to the Stardust line radio show on Sunday night and key in on a game I like.{san diego st.+15 at Oklahoma**.I love Oklahoma.At this point the only way I can get down is in TJ. Friday night I call the Caliente hot line to get the current line.Its moved to 16 pts.Figuring the line is going to move I wake up at 5am and drive 120 miles to mexico,hitting some traffic along the way.I arrive at the border book about 7:45 and the lines are 20 deep.I get to the teller and ask the teller for the line "OKLAHOMA -16 1/2".Knowing the line is going to move I pull the trigger $1100 to win 1000. BY game game at 11:00 am the line closes at 18 1/2. Oklahoma opens up a 35-0 halftime lead and I decided to walk back to the usa side and listen to the second half on the radio in my van.With 10 minutes left and the score 38-0 I turned the radio off and paid a dollar to ride a bus into downtown Tj and party and shop.Arriving at the downtown racebook 40 minutes later I handed my ticket to the teller."no good",he stated and I was quickly dismissed.Sitting dazed and confused in the back of this dingy racebook ,staring at a tv ,the score rolled across the bottom on the abc channel
OKLAHOMA 38 SAN DIEGO ST 22. I lost the bet by a half pt. SDS scored three touchdowns in the last seven minutes,plus a two pt conversion with under a minute to go to get within 16.This one I will never forget

[HAPPY BOY]

Damn thezbar ,that shit hurt me reading it. after all u went thru to lose like that truly sucks ass bro!

[JoshW]

Lost 6k when that pedofile Roman Polanski won best director Oscar several years back. Didn't see that one coming. Felt like punched in stomach.

[JDK192]

I've had a few worse beats and a few for more money lost, but the Chris Duhon shot is the most vivid because of the magnitude of the game. (It was the semi-finals, not the finals by the way, Uconn blew out GTech in the finals). But the half court shot was meaningless to the outcome of the game. Also right before that, Okefor missed the first of 2 free throws. If he makes them both we still cover with the Duhon shot and if he missed them both the time it would've taken to get the rebound off the 2nd miss would've ended the game. As it was he hit the 2nd, put them up by 4 and had enough time to inbound to an uncovered Duhon to launch a meaningless prayer.

[Scorpion]

"All that said, the hardest game to lose is the one that was won....."

This damn-right quote from Dark Horse in another thread got me thinking: What is the most painful wager you ever made? In terms of watching a slam-dunk, about to win, no doubt about it victory suddenly go up in smoke...

As an example, 6 or 7 years ago I remember having the OVER in a game between the Pacers and Knicks. I even recall the dreaded number being 176 1/2. With just under 3 minutes left, 176 points had been tallied and I was on my way to certain victory. However, being a blowout, I listened in stunned horror as each team just went up and down the court, mostly launching 3 pointers and trying out "Show-time" plays. Anyway, suffice to say that the grand total of points scored in the remaining 170 or so seconds was zero, the game total fossilized at 176 and my sure victory became a loss which I recall from time to time even to this day, especially when I'm watching the last couple of minutes of any NBA match. There are a couple of others, and of course a few "dead in the water" plays that suddenly prove victorious, but for me this wager is etched in stone.

wow
This almost happened to me tonight. I had Northwestern OVER 103. Its a blowout with 3+ minutes the teams had scored 103 points so I marked it as a win on my sheet and took a shower. 15 minutes later I checked the scores and I see they scored only 1 point in the reminminig 3+ minutes.

I have lost at least 10 wagers in the last 3 days by .5 or 1 point or teams scoring 18 points in 1+ minute

[Hoja Verdes]

here's a good article about the chris duhon shot's effect on the gambling industry:
ESPN.com - SPORTSBUSINESS - For bettor or worse: Duhon's 3 worth $100M?

[Seattle Slew]

1982 NCAA basketball final. After Jordan's jumper put UNC up 62-61, Freddy Brown tossed the ball to James Worthy who was fouled with one second left. The line was 1.5 and he had two free throws and missed them both.

I think I lost $75, but I was only a freshman in high school. I don't even remember who I placed the bet with.

Also had UConn in a pick-em with Duke when Christian Latenner hit the jumper at the buzzer in the regional final. Can't recall the year. I think it was his sophomore season.

[Dark Horse]

Note that most of this suffering is related to the game of basketball and watching the game live. We would probably live longer if we watched fewer basketball games. I know I would.

Few days ago I had PHX Suns for 1H. My team was up by 15 pts with about 5 or 6 minutes left in the half. I only needed 3 pts, so this one was in the can. I was Mr. Nice guy himself. Just one problem. As some of you may know, PHX has given up 0-16 runs in almost every game it played this season. Only three minutes later, they were behind by a point... It would have been better if I had not seen this scenario unfold before my eyes basket by f*cking basket. I'm normally calm and collected, but I was cursing my heart out. It hardly even mattered that PHX did pull out the win in the final two minutes.

[Sam Odom]

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[Kaps]

I remember my first trip to las vegas like it was yesterday. I was 22yrs old and had to borrow 1000 dollars from my older brother to go.
Land on thursday and immediately start going on a nice two day run at the craps table. I turn that dime into 10 dimes and im thinking im about to conquer the world.
Its now saturday afternoon, walk up to the sportbook and I see that C.Fla is +13 against Gtech. As im waiting in line I get distracted by the hot waitress handing me my drink so I decide to hit on her. While that was taking place a man steps in front of me and bets C.Fla+13 for 5dimes.
I then decide to also go for the big hit but when I asked for the line in that same game they got suspicious that I was with that other gentleman and moved the price on me to +12.5.
At that point I figured no big deal let me get 5dimes on C.Fla+12.5, reeling of the benjamins.
I then take the little cocktail waitress and go hang out by the pool getting wasted and starting to gamble like a fool. Before you know it my bankroll reaches zero with only my 5dime ticket on C.Fla. on hand.
I then get to the sportbook to see how my game is going because I figured it to be in the 4th qt.
With 1min left in the game the score is tied and gtech lines up to kick a game winning field goal. They miss the kick and game goes in O.T.
Im thinking no big deal its in the bag.
After Gtech immediately scores and goes up 7, C.Fla is now facing a 4th and goal from the 6yrd line, as im standing by the teller getting ready to cash my ticket I watch Gtech intercept the pass in the end zone and return it for a touchdown, 102yrds to win by 13.
Agonizingly I watched the man who bet the line at 13 getting back his money since he pushed.

[Dark Horse]

Hurts just to read that. But it's beautiful too. In a rock'n'roll kind of way. Sometimes I wonder if gambling isn't about the stories just as much as it is about winning or losing. There's no greater rollercoaster ride than what we're doing. Period.

[Sam Odom]

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[rocketron]

First time betting Greyhounds in USA,my dog was ahead of all @ down he went with a broken leg ,Them,s the breaks in boston! Harness Racing SD. NS. CAN. 1980,s icy track my horse a long shot was on top which i had wheeled to win on a triactor he slipped, went down and took 5 horses @ drivers with him! Them,s the breaks! RocketRon! ALL THE BEST!

[cobra_king]

Very old topic, buried in the forum history, but I was talking with a friend last night and felt compelled to add his tale...Anyway, he once was playing the horses at Woodbine and considered putting in a wager for a long shot trifecta. Was all ready to go, but then talked himself out of the bet while in the teller queue...Needless to say, he watched in horror as the result came in. Would have netted him $45,000.....So not really a losing wager as he was not out of pocket for anything, but you get the idea.....

I was there that night when this happenned to the poor fellow....he was sick for a week! Oh wait....that poor fellow would be me! And i actually made the bet but cancelled it 2 seconds before the start of the race as my horse (a trotter) was a length or two off the gate! The first 4 favorites in order proceeded to break stride and my 20-1 shot (that i had wheeled with the field for 1st and 2nd) trotted away with the win with a 60-1 horse second! I kept torturing myself for the rest of the night looking at that cancelled bet in my account!

[cobra_king]

More recently in the Boise St. Oklahoma Bowl Game....I had a perfect middle during live betting. Under 64 at Bet365 and over 61.5 at pinny. Needless to say 4th and 18 at midfield with 15 seconds to go with the game at 63 points. I never want to see another hook and ladder again in my life!

[beetman]

Last night I bet $500,000 to win $250 that Pinnacle wouldnt be the next book to close to US customers.

[Tchocky]

I've lost several 8 team parlays this past year by being wrong on 1 or 2 games. Probably cost me about 30k to 40k.