10. Bears Lose to Dolphins and Ruin Undefeated Season

In 1985, the Bears were the best team in the entire NFL.  To this day that ‘85 team is considered one of the best teams of all-time.  They routed the Patriots in the Super Bowl after going 15-1 in the regular season.  That one loss was the only blemish on their otherwise perfect campaign.  On a Monday Night in December the underdog Miami Dolphins, the only team to ever go undefeated with a 14-0 record in 1972, shellacked the Bears in a game to forget.

9. “Dollar” Bill Wirtz Runs The Blackhawks…Into The Ground

Wirtz managed the Hawks for 41 years.  His tenure was marked by stinginess with the fans and the players.  His antics ranged from blacking out games in Chicago to trading away Savard, Chelios, and Roenick.  No one wants to speak ill of the dead, but since his son Rocky took over things have improved significantly.

8. The 6-time Champion Bulls Break up

I know some will think this should be higher on the list, but it was expected and that team did give us 6 championships.  To be honest, we were probably lucky it lasted as long as it did, considering the animosity between most of the players, coaches, and the front office.  Regardless, it was a sad day to see the greatest sports dynasty of our generation finally break up.

7. Cubs Lose 3-1 Lead in 2003 NLCS

The 2003 Cubs were definitely not the best team in baseball record-wise, but they sure were hot going into October.  Then they ran into the eventual world champion Marlins.  While people like to point fingers at different people for why the Cubs blew their 3-1 series lead, everyone can agree that the results were tragic.

6. Michael Jordan Retires After His Father is Murdered

Michael Jordan’s retirement from basketball at the peak of his game in 1993 shocked the entire sports world.  The tragic events surrounding his father’s death stirred emotions inside all Americans.  Jordan went on to have a short, unsuccessful stint in baseball before returning to the game he loved and that loved him back.

5. Chicago Bulls Legends Stormin’ Norman Van Lier and Johnny Red Kerr Die Within 24 Hours

On February 26, 2009, the unthinkable happened.  The two longest-running and most respected members of the Chicago Bulls franchise passed away on the same day.  Johnny “Red” Kerr, former player, coach, and announcer for the Bulls had been sick for some time.  “Stormin’” Norman Van Lier, player and studio analyst, died unexpectedly.  Both will be greatly missed by all true Bulls and basketball fans everywhere.

4. Cubs Blow 9.5 Game Lead in Mid-August to Lose 1969 Pennant

The Cubs had a 9.5 game lead in mid-August over the Mets.  But those damn Miracle Mets just wouldn’t quit, and with the help of the Cubs losing more than 20 games in September, they went on to win the pennant and the World Series.  Supposedly the collapse all started with that black cat in a two-game sweep by the Mets up in Shea Stadium.  The Cubs were heavy favorites to win the NL that year and their collapse will go down in history as one of the worst ever.

3. “Sweetness” Walter Payton Loses Battle With Liver Disease

Walter Payton was the best running back who ever lived.  He was a hard worker on the field and one of the greatest people off of it.  A true role model for everyone, he died far too young after a battle with a rare liver disease called primary sclerosing cholangitis at the young age of 45 in 1999.  His memory will always live on in those who were lucky enough to see him.

2. 1919 Black Sox Scandal

There is a good argument that this should be number 1.  It is definitely the most embarrassing moment in Chicago sports history.  In a city trying desperately to shake its reputation for corruption to this day, the Black Sox scandal was just about the worst thing that could happen.  The 1919 White Sox were considered the best team in all of baseball.  Unfortunately owner Charles Comiskey refused to pay his players decent value for their excellence.  The players decided to make an extra buck by throwing the World Series.  Oops.

1. The Curse of the Billy Goat

Maybe its not the most embarrassing moment, or even anything if you don’t believe in curses, but this moment lives in infamy nationwide.  When Billy Sianis, owner of the Billy Goat Tavern, tried to bring his goat into the park during the 1945 World Series, he was refused.  He ended up cursing the Cubs.  Whether or not its the curse or just mismanagement of the team (or some combination of both), that stupid billy goat comes up every single year that the Cubs don’t win the Series, which is about 102 by my count.

It’s simple yet elegant and does a good job of honoring Red and Norm.  I hope the Bulls can play the kind of inspired basketball that Red and Norm were known for all those years ago.

The ceremony that was held to honor him during halftime of the Pistons game a couple weeks ago can be found here.  A tear comes to my eye when I watch it, but we can all take comfort from the fact that Red lived a full life and touched so many people.  Don’t worry Red, we’ll play better defense, I promise.

Red was the voice of the Bulls for an entire generation, my generation.  I grew up listening to his calls on the radio.  Who can forget Red screaming “It’s Good!  It’s Good” after Jordan’s shot on Ehlo?  Or before every game how Jordan would throw dust from the resin bag all over Red? My memories of Red mostly have to do with his sound analysis and love of the Bulls.  Loved far and wide throughout the league, Red came to be associated with the Bulls more than any other personality during the franchise’s existence.

After leading the Fighting Illini to a Final Four in 1952, he was drafted into the NBA.  Known as one of the top centers in the league, he played most of his career for the Syracuse Nationals, which eventually became the Philadelphia 76ers.  He was known as one of the better centers in the league, dragging Chamberlain and Russell up and down the court on a nightly basis.  He made 3 all-star games and held the record for consecutive games played until 1983.

He came to be the Chicago Bulls first coach in the 1966-1967 season.  He was the first (and only) coach to take an expansion team to the playoffs.  He also won Coach of the Year in that first year as coach.  His famous line about that young expansion team was, “Bulls is our name. Defense is our game. Look in the Yellow Pages under Excitement.”

He then went on to coach the Suns briefly, but came back to provide commentary for the Bulls from 1975 until the end of last season.

Kerr was always known for his keen basketball mind and for his love of the game and the Bulls.  While in recent years his health was failing, he always had a key insight about the night’s game.  A tribute fit for a king was given to Red a few weeks ago during halftime of a Pistons game at the United Center.  Everyone came out to honor him, from Scottie Pippen to Barack Obama.  At least we can all take solace in the fact that he was properly honored for everything he has done for the community and the team.

Keep Red in your prayers and as Red would say “Stay on those boards!”