In honor of the unluckiest date we may ever experience — Jan. 3, 2013, which is full of 13s — we figured we would concentrate on some of the negatives from New England sports in 2012.
Unfortunately, Boston fans experienced a lot of bad luck in the last 12 months. Of course, New Englanders are so spoiled as sports fans, a year without a championship constitutes as bad luck. Cleveland sports fans may have a different definition of “unlucky,” altogether.
The Patriots’ luck stopped on Feb. 5, 2012 when they lost to the Giants in Super Bowl XLVI. The unluckiest play of the day came when the normally sure-handed Wes Welker let a pass clang off his hands with 4:06 left in the contest. New England had ample opportunities after that 2nd-and-11 play, but they couldn’t convert and lost to New York 21-17.
New England basketball fans may say the Patriots were lucky to even get to the Super Bowl. The Celtics lost in Game 7 of the conference finals after leading the series 3-2. Boston had two chances to knock off LeBron James and the Heat, but didn’t even come close, losing 98-79 and 101-88 in the final two games of the Celtics’ season.
Of course, the Patriots and Celtics could be considered lucky for even making it to the postseason. The Red Sox finished in the basement of the AL East thanks to injuries, down play from usually consistent players and a divide in the clubhouse. It was early in the season, but it seemed the team never fully recovered after Bobby Valentine called out Kevin Youkilis for a lack of effort.
The Red Sox were bad, and the Celtics and Patriots’ seasons ended in disappointment, but at least the NFL, NBA and MLB had seasons. The NHL lockout could be considered the unluckiest of all in 2012. News of a possible lockout started early in 2012, but surely no one thought the NHL and NHLPA would still be fighting into 2013. The Bruins had a post-Cup hangover in the 2011-12 season, and they may not even be able to rebound for a 2012-13 season.
So what do you think was the unluckiest thing to happen to New England sports fans in 2012? Was it a Super Bowl loss? A loss to the most-hated player in the NBA? A last place finish for the Red Sox? Or a season that may never start? Vote in our NESN Daily poll below.
