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Top 5 Most Devastating Detroit Sports Letdowns

By Dan Leach
@dtmleach

It's been a little over a day now since Lions fans faced the ultimate disappointment yet again when Detroit went down to the Cowboys after one of the worst calls in sports history. It's the tough part of why we love sports so much -- Because when you love something so much and so deeply, when things don't go your way or get stolen from you, it is total heartbreak. No matter how painful, how devastating a tough loss can be, it's why we love and are truly lucky to be sports fans at the deepest level.

Here's my picks for Top 5 Most Devastating Detroit Sports Letdowns:

#5 -- 2015 NFC Wildcard Game
Chris Christie and Jerry Jones conspire against the Lions

There wasn't as much on the line as the 92' NFC Title game, of course, but this one will go down in the annals of Detroit sports history as one of the most devastating. When you have to beat another NFL team on the road in the playoffs, as well as the officials, the deck is truly stacked against you. Then, when one of the most egregious calls/non-calls in the history of sports at a pivotal moment goes against you and literally prevents you from winning your first road playoff game since 1957....Well, you know the rest.
https://vine.co/v/OdpLdDFP3rW
#4 -- 1987 Eastern Conference Finals Game 5
Bird steals the ball! Bird steals the ball!

Try watching this play and not immediately having the pain and sadness not flood back like it happened yesterday. I was a 10-year-old just getting into sports when this happened and it gave me one of my first true tastes of both the beauty and the madness of sports. We were all watching the game at a family party in the living room and as soon as the play happened, my dad shut the TV off. Stunned, I asked him why and he simply told me, "Danny it hurts too much to watch anymore."

Larry Bird steal 1987 conference finals by johniful on YouTube

#3 -- 91' NFC Title Game 
Lions get sandblasted against Skins

Never were the Lions closer to the Super Bowl. It was a close game at the half and then out of the break, Washington could do no wrong. Erik Kramer couldn't stay upright, getting sacked five times, and Barry Sanders managed just 44 yards on 11 carries after over 1,500 yards during the regular season. It took 14 year-old Dan Leach no less than one month to get over the devastation. Still to this day it brings me right back to that dark time during my days at Warner Middle School when I see the highlights.

The Redskins are Unbelievable 1991 0001 by oldschoolwrfan on YouTube

#2 -- 93' NCAA Title Game
Webber calls non-existent timeout

Me and millions of other Wolverine fans shouted in unison "NOOOOOOOOOOO! He just did what?" A travesty the Fab Five never won a title and this a major reason why they didn't.

Chris Webber's Timeout (HD) by JMK473 on YouTube

#1 --  Sept. 24, 1994 Colorado Buffaloes VS Michigan Wolverines
The Miracle at Michigan

No single play has been or hopefully will be more devastating in my sports life.

Miracle In Michigan: Colorado Buffaloes' Kordell Stewart's Hail Mary Stuns Michigan Wolverines by GO BUFFS! on YouTube

Honorable Mentions

• Montreal Screwjob (Very reminiscent of Cowboys/Lions Wildcard Playoff game)

• 2009 Stanley Cup Finals Game 7 -- Penguins VS Red Wings

2009 Stanley Cup Final - Game 7 by vnvzech on YouTube

• 1988 NBA Finals Game 7 -- Pistons VS Lakers

1988 NBA Finals Game 7 Lakers vs. Piston - 4th Quarter by capitalddoubleu on YouTube

• 1993 NFC Wildcard Game -- Packers VS Lions

Favre to Sharpe by Yohan Valentino on YouTube

What are your top 5?

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