North Carolina made its claim to history in the Final Four on Saturday: Who misses four free throws in the final six seconds of a game — while nursing a one-point lead — and lives to tell the tale?
The Tar Heels, that’s who. Kennedy Meeks clanked a pair of free throws, but Theo Pinson tapped it back to point guard Joel Berry, who was fouled with four seconds left. He missed both, and this time, Meeks hauled in his 14th rebound of the night. He found Pinson outside the arc to burn the remaining time on the clock.
Roy Williams’ thoughts while watching the debacle?
“Oh, jump off the building. Something like that,” he said.
UNC got away with the missed free throws, on top of not making a field goal in the last 5:53, securing the 77-76 win with one of the oddest, most anticlimactic endings in sports history with millions watching in the Final Four.
Here are some of the other oddest finishes in sports history:
North Carolina vs. Michigan, 1993 NCAA national championship: The Tar Heels have a knack for this kind of thing. Chris Webber came down with a crucial rebound with 20 seconds left to play and the Wolverines trailing by two. He traveled in the backcourt, but officials missed it. He couldn’t get the ball to a guard, and he dribbled into a corner, picked up his dribble and called timeout. The Wolverines didn’t have any, which meant UNC got the ball and Webber earned a technical foul, along with a spot in college basketball infamy.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbeloXcLfbw?ecver=1]
Colorado vs. Missouri, 1990: Colorado was trying to mount a late, game-winning drive and needed to stop the clock. Quarterback Charles Johnson spiked the ball, but officials failed to flip the down marker. The Tigers denied the Buffaloes entrance into the end zone twice before Johnson spiked it again. It should have been a turnover, but no one realized the mistake. Johnson plunged into the end zone on “fifth” down for the win, keeping alive a season that eventually ended with a national title.
Orlando vs. Houston, 1995 NBA Finals: Nick Anderson wishes he had North Carolina’s luck, but the Tar Heels did channel his late-game free-throw skills. The Shaq and Penny-led Magic had defending champion Houston on the ropes at the O-Rena in Game 1 of the Finals. With less than 10 seconds left, Anderson headed to the line to shoot two free throws. He missed both but came up with his own rebound. After missing his third, he could only smile as he bricked his fourth consecutive free throw. Houston took advantage with a three from Kenny Smith — a North Carolina grad! — to push the game to overtime. The Rockets won and ended up sweeping the Magic for the title. (Skip to 8:30 mark for Anderson’s free throws.)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVYob04jjxk?ecver=1]
Colorado vs. Missouri, 1990: Colorado was trying to mount a late, game-winning drive and needed to stop the clock. Quarterback Charles Johnson spiked the ball, but officials failed to flip the down marker. The Tigers denied the Buffaloes entrance into the end zone twice before Johnson spiked it again. It should have been a turnover, but no one realized the mistake. Johnson plunged into the end zone on “fifth” down for the win, keeping alive a season that eventually ended with a national title.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuGlPG6Vie4?ecver=1]
Cowboys vs. Seahawks, 2006 NFC wild card: Dallas was a chip-shot field goal away from taking a 23-21 lead with just over a minute to play. Martin Gramatica lined up for the kick, but Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo bobbled the snap. He scooped it up and had a clear path to the end zone but got tripped up from behind just short of the goal line, giving the Seahawks the victory.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gk_VL2UHqE?ecver=1]
Tyson-Holyfield II, 1997: Seven months after Holyfield defeated Tyson, the two squared off a second time. Holyfield dominated the first two rounds, and in Round 3, a frustrated Tyson took out his frustration on the cartilage in Holyfield’s ear. He bit off a one-inch chunk and spit it on the mat. While the move was undoubtedly metal, it was also very illegal. The fight ended, though Tyson still raged in the ring, swinging at members of Holyfield’s circle while a packed ring kept the fighters separated. Tyson had his boxing license revoked for a year and faced a $3 million fine, but both fighters earned a place in history as dueling sides of one of the most bizarre fights in boxing history.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JznLJhMMDLM?ecver=1]
Michigan vs. Michigan State, 2015: Jim Harbaugh had rival Michigan State beaten in his first year in Ann Arbor. All the Wolverines had to do was get off a punt with 10 seconds left in its own territory to preserve a two-point win. It’s on this list, and you probably remember: It didn’t happen. Blake O’Neill mishandled the punt and desperately tried to heave it as Spartan defenders swarmed. It landed right in Jalen Watts-Jackson’s hands. He raced 37 yards for the dramatic win, dislocating his hip as he dived into the end zone. The Spartans won, kept winning and eventually landed in the College Football Playoff.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBlgN85wB6U?ecver=1]
Seahawks vs. Packers, 2012: Monday Night Football is the biggest regular season stage in the NFL, and the league’s replacement referees during the officials’ strike provided a legendary gaffe. Down five, Russell Wilson launched a Hail Mary, but the Packers’ M.D. Jennings clearly came down with the football on top of Golden Tate. Two officials rushed in. One signaled the play dead. The other signaled touchdown, providing an iconic photo. The Fail Mary stood. The Packers somehow lost. Two days later, the NFL and its officials reached an agreement to end the lockout.
Baylor vs. UNLV, 1999: The cellar-dwelling Bears were hoping first-year coach Kevin Steele could turn around the program after just eight wins in their first three years in the Big 12. In his home opener, the Bears led the Rebels by three but Steele said he wanted to “create an attitude.” That meant trying to score from the eight-yard line with a three-point lead in the final seconds. Running back Darrell Bush fumbled while churning his legs trying to get in the end zone. Kevin Thomas scooped it up and raced 100 yards for the win. By the way, a week earlier, Baylor lost in overtime on a missed extra point. Welcome to Waco, Coach! (Go to 4:25 in the video in case you think this story is too crazy to be true.)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUNaarTm7n4?ecver=1]
Saints vs. Jaguars, 2003: The Saints used three laterals to score a 75-yard touchdown with no time left in what became known as the River City Relay. John Carney’s extra point wasn’t a formality. He pushed it right and it never had a chance, costing the Saints the game and officially knocking them out of playoff contention at 7-8.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4ZBT3BWaj4?ecver=1]
USA vs. USSR, 1972 Olympics: The United States had never lost a basketball game in the Olympics, rolling up a perfect 63-0 record from 1936 until the ’72 Games in Munich. Between game-tying and go-ahead free throws from Doug Collins, there was confusion about a Russian timeout, but it wasn’t realized until the U.S. went ahead 50-49. Russia got to replay a botched inbounds play, but there was more controversy with a second inbounds play and a mistimed horn. The U.S. team celebrated the win, but officials cleared the floor and offered the Soviets got a third attempt and took advantage. Alexander Belov hauled in a full-court pass and put in the game-winning layup. The Americans protested, refusing to sign the official score sheet and refusing to accept their silver medals, but no appeals ever changed the result.
Watch all five minutes. It’s one of the most surreal endings in sports history.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTGYcCLVMuY?ecver=1]
Royals vs. Cardinals, 1985 World Series Game 6: The Cardinals were three outs from a World Series title, but Don Denkinger inexplicably called Jorge Orta safe at first base on a chopper between first and second. No one overruled the call, and the Royals rallied for a 2-1, come-from-behind victory. The Cardinals never recovered, losing Game 7 11-0.
[“Source-sportsonearth”]