×

‘What if?’ the (mostly) Michigan version

What if?” is a question that is asked a lot in life, especially when it comes to sports.

What if my team had run the ball instead of passing? What if they had tried to draw a foul instead of throwing up a long 3-pointer? Why did they trade that guy? Why did they keep that guy? These are the types of questions we ask ourselves, sometimes decades after they happened.

Is it depressing? Of course it is. However, it also can be fun wondering how things might have gone differently.

Sports Illustrated devoted the majority of one magazine to that topic, but barely mentioned any event involving Michigan sports. So I thought I’d put my own spin on it and look back on the moments that make us want to drown our sorrows in Ore Dock beer or use Vernors to stomach the pain. Let’s start off with the most tragic of Michigan franchises.

The Lions

It was hard for me to pinpoint a specific moment in the Lions history involving a “What if?” question. The team has had such little postseason success and went winless for an entire season.

Is there one moment that can top all of that? Well, after analyzing the possibilities, I came up with two.

The first is the retirement of Barry Sanders. What if he had waited awhile? Could the Lions have put together a good supporting cast for him and kept him on board?

I doubt it. Considering how many missteps they’ve made over the years when it comes to the NFL Draft, something tells me Sanders would’ve never gotten that Super Bowl appearance he deserved.

He probably would’ve moved on to a team like New England and would’ve given Tom Brady even more championships.

It would’ve been nice to see Barry have some playoff success, but you’d probably die a little inside watching Bill Belichick host the Lombardi trophy again and again.

The other option is the controversial pass interference call in the 2015 playoffs. Until the Lions forgot to play defense on Aaron Rodgers’ Hail Mary two seasons ago, that was the quintessential franchise moment, a chance for Detroit to get that long-desired second playoff victory disappeared like the world was stacked up against it.

As devastating, but not quite unexpected, as that moment was, it’s hard to say what might have happened next. My theory is that if the call had stood, the Lions would’ve had the ball near the Cowboys’ 30-yard line and eventually won the game. Matthew Stafford drives the Lions near the goal line, finds Calvin Johnson on a fade route in the end zone to take the lead and the defense stiffens on Dallas’ final drive.

The Lions then promptly get eliminated by the Seahawks in the divisional round, but their loyal fans are so elated with the first-round victory, they barely notice.

The Lions may be the most depressing Michigan pro franchise, but a certain baseball team has been more frustrating, so let’s take a look at them.

The Tigers

When looking for the Tigers’ “What i?” moment, one immediately jumped out — the famous 2009 one-game tiebreaker against my hometown Twins. I was ecstatic after that game was over, but six years later, I still can’t believe Detroit didn’t win it.

The Tigers had so many chances to win it, but mistakes burned them so many times and not just by the team. There was Rick Porcello’s error in the third inning; the botched call by the home plate umpire on Brandon Inge’s hit by pitch, a missed catch by Ryan Raburn and a misplayed ball by Placido Polanco.

And Jim Leyland left his closer, Fernando Rodney, in the game for three innings in a bizarre decision. You could look at any of those mistakes and if just one of those went the Tigers’ way, they would’ve moved on into the first round of the playoffs, but it wouldn’t have been worth it.

They would’ve been swept by the Yankees, just like the Twins were, and America’s most nauseating baseball franchise would’ve still won the World Series.

When it comes to horrible memories, you can’t just focus on the pros; you have to look at the colleges as well. Both of the big Michigan schools have dealt with massive disappointment, but I feel like that one in Ann Arbor has suffered a little more, so I’ll go with them first.

University of Michigan

The Wolverines have had their share of tough moments on the gridiron, like Colorado quarterback Kordell Stewart’s Hail Mary pass in 1994 and the botched punt against the rival Spartans a couple of years ago that helped make the “Surrender Cobra” position famous. A couple of months ago, I played the punt clip to a friend and she screamed at me to turn it off. I guess the moment is still fresh in some people’s minds.

However, I feel like the Wolverines basketball team outdoes football when it comes to “What if?” moments, the biggest involving some guy carelessly calling a timeout in a championship game.

Back in 1993, Chris Webber etched his name in NCAA Tournament lore in the closing seconds in the title game against North Carolina. With the Wolverines down by two points to the Tar Heels, Webber took the inbounds pass and clearly traveled, but managed to not get called for it.

He may have gotten around that mistake, but he couldn’t do it again as he dribbled into the corner, got trapped, panicked and called timeout. A lot of players would’ve done the same thing, but unfortunately for Webber, Michigan didn’t have any timeouts left and a technical foul was called. North Carolina made their two free throws and then two more on the next possession to clinch the national title.

What would’ve happened if Webber hadn’t had a huge brain cramp? It’s hard to say, but my theory is that they still would’ve lost. Webber was clearly overwhelmed by the moment and when I watched the replay, the rest of the Wolverines were as well. After getting stuck in the corner, I think Webber fights his way through the trap, but he throws it to somebody at a bad angle. They rush the shot, it clangs off the rim, Eric Montross outduels Juwan Howard for the rebound and the Heels run out the clock.

The outcome still would’ve been bad for the Maize and Blue, but it wouldn’t have been as tragic as Webber’s brain lock.

Now that I’ve covered some of the depressing Michigan moments, I would feel like I’ve done a poor job as a columnist if I didn’t mention that team across the border. I can’t stand them, but this is the Upper Peninsula, so let’s look at the Cheeseheads.

The Packers

Green Bay is one of the NFL’s most recognizable franchises and one of its most successful. It’s hard to argue with that, considering the Packers’ four Super Bowl titles and its successful run of NFL championships under Vince Lombardi.

However, that doesn’t mean that Green Bay hasn’t had its share of tragedy. There’s the 1998 Super Bowl, when the Packers decided to let Denver’s Terrell Davis score the winning touchdown, but couldn’t tie it up in the closing minute.

There’s Terrell Owens (Green Bay seems to have issues with Terrells) making that amazing last-second touchdown catch for the 49ers in a 1998 wild card game. You could also add in Green Bay’s two crushing overtime losses to the Cardinals in the playoffs along with the epic collapse against the Seahawks in 2015 NFC title game. The Packers seem to have lots of issues with NFC West teams in the playoffs for some reason.

However, the biggest “What if?” moment lies with the quarterback who just couldn’t figure out when to retire. As Packers fans and sigh … Vikings fans … know, when it comes to Favre, you’re going to end up seeing a miracle or a crushing pick.

In the 2008 NFC Championship, it was the latter. After getting lucky with Giants kicker Lawrence Tynes embracing his inner Scott Norwood on his last-second field goal, the Packers got the ball first in overtime. On the second play of the extra session, Favre did what he does best and promptly threw an interception. Four plays later, Tynes turned into Adam Vinatieri, drilled the game-winning kick and sent New York to the Super Bowl where they upset the undefeated Patriots.

So what would’ve happened if Favre hadn’t pulled a Favre? The Packers still would’ve lost. Favre had a tough time dealing with the Giants’ pass rush as did New England in the Super Bowl and their secondary had been playing fairly well.

Not only that, but the temperature got colder as the game went on and it was starting to have an effect on the players. Even if Green Bay managed to get past the NFC title game, they’d have to play against the powerful Patriots in the Super Bowl and the Packers didn’t have the caliber of defense to pressure Tom Brady, which was a huge factor in the Giants’ victory. So basically, Packer backers would’ve been horribly disappointed either way.

Wondering “What if?” will most likely hurt you, and if you’re a fan of one of the teams I’ve mentioned, you’re probably searching for some antacids. However, it also is an entertaining way of looking at the past and it helps you realize that some things were just meant to be.

Now if you’ll excuse me, it’s time for me to wonder “What if?” I picked a different team to cheer for when I was younger.

Ryan Stieg can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 252. His email address is rstieg@miningjournal.net.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today