With the PGA Championship upon us, one can only remember how the last major ended. With the “Cinderella” story that was Tom Watson failing to end the story on a happy note. Thus one question comes to mind. Will there be another “Cinderella” this weekend?
Now this blog isn’t going to break down the dark-horses for the PGA Championship, it will however focus on the “Cinderella” stories of sports. The term gets thrown around alot, but recently has become an all too-often familiar ending with the under-dog failing to seal the deal. People what feel good stories that “Cinderella” teams, and athletes are, yet more often than not they leave us with a sour taste. Yes we try to remember the good times, however with almost each case lately there is a BUT.
We find several examples aside from Watson. Such as the case of the Arizona Cardinals. They were a great team, no doubt, in the 2008-’09 season, however no one expected them to be in the Super Bowl. When they made it, everyone for the most part was jovial that the Cardinals made it unexpectedly so far into the playoffs. BUT, then the Steelers happened.
The 2003 Cubs were destined to end the curse. An All-Star lineup, with Dusty Baker managing. They won the N.L. Central, then beat the Braves in the NLDS, and everything appeared to be heading right for the Cubs to make the feel good story and win the World Series. BUT, the wheels came off in game six, and the Cubs never recovered.
The 2006 George Mason Patriots caught everyone off guard by beating Wichita State, North Carolina, UConn, and Michigan State on their way to the Final Four. BUT, Florida happened. The 2008 Utah Utes football team went 12-0. BUT, the BCS happened. The 2007 Golden State Warriors wowed us all by, for the most part dominating, the Mavs and MVP Dirk Nowitzki. BUT, then the Utah Jazz came. The 2009 U.S. soccer team had it going in the Confederations Cup, even beating Spain in the semifinals, and even taking a 2-0 halftime lead over Brazil. BUT, Brazil scored 3 times in the second half to win. The 1995 Northwestern Wildcats football team amde an impossible run. Beating Notre Dame 17-15, in a game in which the Irish were 28-point favorites. The ‘Cats then beat Michigan, and Penn State, won the Big Ten Title, ended up in the Rose Bowl. BUT, USC happened.
These are just examples, but the evidence is quite clear. Feel good stories are great, but nevertheless in the back of at least my mind I know that somehow, someway, “Cinderella” will fail to deliver. The U.S. Hockey team in 1983 was a true “Cinderella”. BUT, back then “Cinderella” finished the deal. Today I’m left thinking during every feel good story, this will fall apart. Just as I figured Watson would run out of steam, even if it did take 71 holes, he did eventually run out of steam.
Such as will be the case with the next feel good story, and maybe many more after that. Until “Cinderella” kicks the BUT from the story.