Whether you are a sports fan, or not, you have probably noticed all of the "choke jobs" by professional sports teams in a championship series, or game, in the past year. But why hasn't the madness stopped?
It all started this past summer, when the record-breaking Golden State Warriors blew a 3-to-1 game lead to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2016 NBA Finals. For the first time in NBA history, the Cavs were able to come back from this deficit and claim the title.
But in the fall, just a few months later, it happened again. The Cleveland Indians appeared to have the series under control over the Chicago Cubs after four games in the MLB World Series.
After being down 3 games to 1, the Cubs won the series 4-3. For the first time in 108 years, the World Series title was brought back to the city of Chicago, and it was done in a spectacular fashion. This time for the city of Cleveland, the shoe was on the other foot.
On Sunday night, the Atlanta Falcons and the New England Patriots faced off in the biggest game in professional football, the Super Bowl. The stage was set in Houston for a battle between two of the strongest offenses in the league.
So, when the Falcons took a 28 to 3 lead in the third quarter, the one thing on everyone's mind was, don't blow it – because if 2016 taught us anything it was to never count on a huge lead.
Well, in the largest comeback in Super Bowl history, the Patriots scored an astounding 25 unanswered points to force overtime, where they eventually won 34-28.
Perhaps, it is because of the talent of the victorious team, or maybe it is their heart. Maybe the other team just choked because they tasted victory way too soon. Either way, why do these professional sports teams keep coming so close to victory, only to have it stolen from them when they least expect it?
How could the Falcons just start to relax, when they were up against an extremely talented Tom Brady and the Patriots? A race car driver doesn't take his foot off the gas before he crosses the finish line. No, he finishes strong, and with authority.
Hopefully, the professional sports world has learned its lesson. It is not over until it's over.
In the mean time, it has made for some unbelievable sports entertainment and some priceless internet memes.