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Dave Golokhov / AskMen.com Disney movies typically have happy endings, but sports careers often have more tragic conclusions. Just take a look at Patrick Ewing, Ryne Sandberg and Steve Largent; they all wished upon a star for a championship season and none of them were able to accomplish such a dream.
There is only one titleholder in each major sport per season and a number of reasons can prevent a great player from winning it. A group of lackluster teammates, a failure in execution, falling to a superior squad or simply bad luck are just a few factors that keep professional athletes from their winning goals.
The reality in sports is that sometimes the beauty goes home with the beast and sometimes she goes home with the prince.
Here's my list of the top 10 athletes without championships and who have an empty mantle at home:
10. Charles Barkley — NBA
The Round Mound of Rebound earned his nickname for two reasons: he is a burly fellow and he is one of the best rebounders in NBA history. Sir Charles has many accolades on his resume but "NBA Champion" remains absent. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame, was a member of two U.S. Olympic Dream Teams and was the league MVP in 1993. In fact, 1993 was the only season that he ventured to the NBA Finals. As a member of the Phoenix Suns, he helped them to the league's best record and a Western Conference Championship. At the game he told Michael Jordan, his rival in the title round, that it was the Suns' destiny to win the title.
The Suns lost in the '93 Finals and Barkley never had another shot.
9. Warren Moon — NFL
Warren Moon is one of the most prolific passers in NFL history: He threw for more than 50,000 yards and ranked third all-time in passing yardage at the time of retirement. Moon polished his skills with a successful stint in the CFL and signed with the Houston Oilers in 1984. He immediately became an impact player in the NFL and set an Oilers franchise record with 3,338 passing yards in his first season. Moon broke this record four more times during his career. He led the NFL in passing yards in 1990 and 1991 while becoming only the third quarterback in NFL history to throw for 4,000 yards in back-to-back seasons.
Moon went to the NFL playoffs seven consecutive times, but his most memorable appearance is a bitter recollection. In 1992, Moon led the Oilers to a 35-3 third-quarter lead over Frank Reich and the Buffalo Bills only to see his team permit one of the biggest comebacks in NFL history and lose 41-38 in overtime.
8. Barry Sanders — NFL
Leaving so soon? That's the question many NFL fans asked when 10-time Pro Bowl running back Barry Sanders called it quits in the prime of his career. At the time, he was just 1,457 yards short of Walter Payton's all-time rushing record. Sanders had five 1,500-yard rushing seasons and in 1997 he became the third player in NFL history to rush for more than 2,000 yards. But even as he perennially carried the offense — regardless of who did or didn't block for him — the Lions failed to put together a strong enough supporting cast to help him get to a Super Bowl.
In his prime, Sanders was mired by mediocre quarterbacking and a sub-par defense, which are the main reasons why he never won more than a single playoff game.
7. Carl Yastrzemski — MLB
From 1918 to 2004, The Curse of the Bambino kept countless members of the Boston Red Sox from winning the big one — Carl Yastrzemski included. Yaz, a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, is the last American League hitter to hit for the Triple Crown. The 18-time all-star gave his blood, sweat and tears to the Red Sox for 23 seasons and was the franchise leader in RBI's, runs, hits, doubles, total bases, games played, extra base hits, and at-bats when he retired.
Along with the Red Sox, he had opportunities to win, but sour memories of three losses to MVP Bob Gibson in the 1967 World Series, four stinging come-from-behind wins (if you count Game 5) by the Cincinnati Reds in the 1975 World Series, and the bitter recollection of Bucky "Bleeping" Dent ruining the Red Sox playoff hopes in 1978, meant that heartbreak reigned over triumph.
6. Eric Dickerson — NFL
Eric Dickerson's name always comes up in a discussion involving the best running backs in NFL history. He retired as the runner up in NFL history with regards to total rushing yard and he is well-remembered for setting the single-season rushing record at 2,105 yards. And while that hallowed benchmark still stands undefeated, Dickerson's impeccable individual accomplishments never led to an opportunity to play in the Super Bowl. Dickerson's teams had two playoff wins, one in his 1983 rookie season and one in 1985. He didn't get another shot in the postseason after 1987.
5. Elgin Baylor — NBA
Elgin Baylor was aptly named after his father's favorite watch and he was in fact as dependable as time. He averaged 27.4 points per game, third best all-time, in his 13 NBA seasons. In 1958, Baylor was the first pick overall in the NBA Draft and he saved the Minneapolis Lakers franchise, which was struggling to attract fans and make money. He immediately turned their fortunes around and led the team all the way to the Finals after they finished with the NBA's worst record in the previous season.
The Lakers went on to make eight Finals appearances in the following 12 seasons, only to lose each time. Seven of those losses were to the Boston Celtics, and the road to the magnificent Celtics-Lakers rivalry was paved.
Ironically, Baylor retired nine games into the 1971-72 season and the Lakers went on to win the Championship that season.
4. Ted Williams — MLB
The Kid Ted Williams is often considered the best all-time hitter in MLB history. He finished with two AL MVP awards, two Triple Crowns and is the last player to bat over .400 in a single season. Unfortunately, the only type of champion Teddy Ballgame would become would be a six-time AL batting champion. Like Yaz, Williams was part of the Red Sox's lengthy Championship drought. He only played in one postseason and only managed five singles and one RBI in 25 plate appearances during the Red Sox's 1946 World Series loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.
3. Marcel Dionne — NHL
As Vince Lombardi once said: "Winning isn't everything, but the will to win is everything." Marcel Dionne, one of the greatest hockey players to never win a Stanley Cup, definitely had the fire and determination, but he never managed to succeed.
Little Beaver was a star from the beginning of his career. He set a new rookie record for scoring in his first NHL season, and while he would earn more than 90 points in 12 of the following 13 seasons, including a scoring title in 1979-80, his teams were never a factor in the postseason.
Dionne made it known to Detroit management that he wasn't happy with losing, and he forced a trade to Los Angeles. There he formed the Triple Crown Line with Dave Taylor and Charlie Simmer, one of the most famous lines in NHL history, but still never ventured past the second round of the playoffs. He forced another trade to New York, but never moved any closer to his goal.
2. Karl Malone — NBA
The NBA's Mailman, Karl Malone, was the exact opposite of Seinfeld's mailman, Newman. Malone was in impeccable shape throughout his 19-year NBA career and was a model of consistency. His pick-and-roll magic with fellow Hall of Famer and Utah Jazz teammate John Stockton, posted the Jazz as a perennial Western Conference contender in the 1990's. They eventually made the Finals in 1997 and 1998, but fell to Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls.
Malone left the Jazz for a stacked Los Angeles Lakers squad in his 19th season, but fell short once again in the Finals; this time in five games to the Detroit Pistons.
Along with Stockton, he is among the best NBA players never to win a ring.
1. Dan Marino — NFL
Dan Marino was held hostage in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective for not holding the laces out, and he's frequently held hostage by many NFL media types and fans for never winning a Super Bowl. Marino, whose name sits by most NFL passing records, took the Dolphins to the Super Bowl in his second season, but he lost to Joe Montana and the San Francisco 49ers.
After the defeat, Marino assumed he would be back and have another crack at it. Unfortunately, the only crack Marino ever saw was that of his center.
It wasn't for a lack of trying: Marino led Miami to the playoffs in 10 of his 17 seasons, and the Dolphins had eight playoff wins, but Marino never brought them back to the Championship round.
Winning isn't everything ...
When opportunity comes knocking, you have to be ready to answer. Many athletes on this list missed their chance to win a championship and, thus, to be remembered differently. Maybe the opportunity wasn't lost — their challengers just stepped up to ensure that they were remembered as victors and the guys on this list were remembered as the "ones who let the big one get away."
There is only one titleholder in each major sport per season and a number of reasons can prevent a great player from winning it. A group of lackluster teammates, a failure in execution, falling to a superior squad or simply bad luck are just a few factors that keep professional athletes from their winning goals.
The reality in sports is that sometimes the beauty goes home with the beast and sometimes she goes home with the prince.
Here's my list of the top 10 athletes without championships and who have an empty mantle at home:
10. Charles Barkley — NBA
The Round Mound of Rebound earned his nickname for two reasons: he is a burly fellow and he is one of the best rebounders in NBA history. Sir Charles has many accolades on his resume but "NBA Champion" remains absent. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame, was a member of two U.S. Olympic Dream Teams and was the league MVP in 1993. In fact, 1993 was the only season that he ventured to the NBA Finals. As a member of the Phoenix Suns, he helped them to the league's best record and a Western Conference Championship. At the game he told Michael Jordan, his rival in the title round, that it was the Suns' destiny to win the title.
The Suns lost in the '93 Finals and Barkley never had another shot.
9. Warren Moon — NFL
Warren Moon is one of the most prolific passers in NFL history: He threw for more than 50,000 yards and ranked third all-time in passing yardage at the time of retirement. Moon polished his skills with a successful stint in the CFL and signed with the Houston Oilers in 1984. He immediately became an impact player in the NFL and set an Oilers franchise record with 3,338 passing yards in his first season. Moon broke this record four more times during his career. He led the NFL in passing yards in 1990 and 1991 while becoming only the third quarterback in NFL history to throw for 4,000 yards in back-to-back seasons.
Moon went to the NFL playoffs seven consecutive times, but his most memorable appearance is a bitter recollection. In 1992, Moon led the Oilers to a 35-3 third-quarter lead over Frank Reich and the Buffalo Bills only to see his team permit one of the biggest comebacks in NFL history and lose 41-38 in overtime.
8. Barry Sanders — NFL
Leaving so soon? That's the question many NFL fans asked when 10-time Pro Bowl running back Barry Sanders called it quits in the prime of his career. At the time, he was just 1,457 yards short of Walter Payton's all-time rushing record. Sanders had five 1,500-yard rushing seasons and in 1997 he became the third player in NFL history to rush for more than 2,000 yards. But even as he perennially carried the offense — regardless of who did or didn't block for him — the Lions failed to put together a strong enough supporting cast to help him get to a Super Bowl.
In his prime, Sanders was mired by mediocre quarterbacking and a sub-par defense, which are the main reasons why he never won more than a single playoff game.
7. Carl Yastrzemski — MLB
From 1918 to 2004, The Curse of the Bambino kept countless members of the Boston Red Sox from winning the big one — Carl Yastrzemski included. Yaz, a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, is the last American League hitter to hit for the Triple Crown. The 18-time all-star gave his blood, sweat and tears to the Red Sox for 23 seasons and was the franchise leader in RBI's, runs, hits, doubles, total bases, games played, extra base hits, and at-bats when he retired.
Along with the Red Sox, he had opportunities to win, but sour memories of three losses to MVP Bob Gibson in the 1967 World Series, four stinging come-from-behind wins (if you count Game 5) by the Cincinnati Reds in the 1975 World Series, and the bitter recollection of Bucky "Bleeping" Dent ruining the Red Sox playoff hopes in 1978, meant that heartbreak reigned over triumph.
6. Eric Dickerson — NFL
Eric Dickerson's name always comes up in a discussion involving the best running backs in NFL history. He retired as the runner up in NFL history with regards to total rushing yard and he is well-remembered for setting the single-season rushing record at 2,105 yards. And while that hallowed benchmark still stands undefeated, Dickerson's impeccable individual accomplishments never led to an opportunity to play in the Super Bowl. Dickerson's teams had two playoff wins, one in his 1983 rookie season and one in 1985. He didn't get another shot in the postseason after 1987.
5. Elgin Baylor — NBA
Elgin Baylor was aptly named after his father's favorite watch and he was in fact as dependable as time. He averaged 27.4 points per game, third best all-time, in his 13 NBA seasons. In 1958, Baylor was the first pick overall in the NBA Draft and he saved the Minneapolis Lakers franchise, which was struggling to attract fans and make money. He immediately turned their fortunes around and led the team all the way to the Finals after they finished with the NBA's worst record in the previous season.
The Lakers went on to make eight Finals appearances in the following 12 seasons, only to lose each time. Seven of those losses were to the Boston Celtics, and the road to the magnificent Celtics-Lakers rivalry was paved.
Ironically, Baylor retired nine games into the 1971-72 season and the Lakers went on to win the Championship that season.
4. Ted Williams — MLB
The Kid Ted Williams is often considered the best all-time hitter in MLB history. He finished with two AL MVP awards, two Triple Crowns and is the last player to bat over .400 in a single season. Unfortunately, the only type of champion Teddy Ballgame would become would be a six-time AL batting champion. Like Yaz, Williams was part of the Red Sox's lengthy Championship drought. He only played in one postseason and only managed five singles and one RBI in 25 plate appearances during the Red Sox's 1946 World Series loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.
3. Marcel Dionne — NHL
As Vince Lombardi once said: "Winning isn't everything, but the will to win is everything." Marcel Dionne, one of the greatest hockey players to never win a Stanley Cup, definitely had the fire and determination, but he never managed to succeed.
Little Beaver was a star from the beginning of his career. He set a new rookie record for scoring in his first NHL season, and while he would earn more than 90 points in 12 of the following 13 seasons, including a scoring title in 1979-80, his teams were never a factor in the postseason.
Dionne made it known to Detroit management that he wasn't happy with losing, and he forced a trade to Los Angeles. There he formed the Triple Crown Line with Dave Taylor and Charlie Simmer, one of the most famous lines in NHL history, but still never ventured past the second round of the playoffs. He forced another trade to New York, but never moved any closer to his goal.
2. Karl Malone — NBA
The NBA's Mailman, Karl Malone, was the exact opposite of Seinfeld's mailman, Newman. Malone was in impeccable shape throughout his 19-year NBA career and was a model of consistency. His pick-and-roll magic with fellow Hall of Famer and Utah Jazz teammate John Stockton, posted the Jazz as a perennial Western Conference contender in the 1990's. They eventually made the Finals in 1997 and 1998, but fell to Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls.
Malone left the Jazz for a stacked Los Angeles Lakers squad in his 19th season, but fell short once again in the Finals; this time in five games to the Detroit Pistons.
Along with Stockton, he is among the best NBA players never to win a ring.
1. Dan Marino — NFL
Dan Marino was held hostage in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective for not holding the laces out, and he's frequently held hostage by many NFL media types and fans for never winning a Super Bowl. Marino, whose name sits by most NFL passing records, took the Dolphins to the Super Bowl in his second season, but he lost to Joe Montana and the San Francisco 49ers.
After the defeat, Marino assumed he would be back and have another crack at it. Unfortunately, the only crack Marino ever saw was that of his center.
It wasn't for a lack of trying: Marino led Miami to the playoffs in 10 of his 17 seasons, and the Dolphins had eight playoff wins, but Marino never brought them back to the Championship round.
Winning isn't everything ...
When opportunity comes knocking, you have to be ready to answer. Many athletes on this list missed their chance to win a championship and, thus, to be remembered differently. Maybe the opportunity wasn't lost — their challengers just stepped up to ensure that they were remembered as victors and the guys on this list were remembered as the "ones who let the big one get away."
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