The Biggest Sports Blunders: Mistakes that Have Lived in Infamy

Throughout sports history, fans have agonized over many plays: that one critical mistake that soured an otherwise sweet season; that All-American who made one boneheaded play by which they became defined; one crucial miss that becomes a man's legacy. Unfortunately, for some, for every last-second, game-winning shot, there is an infamous sports blunder. Here are some of the most famous, or infamous, sports blunders.

Brett Favre's Overtime Interception in 2008 NFC Championship- Through his 18 year NFL career, Brett Favre built the resume of a Hall of Famer. He is the NFL's career leader in touchdowns, but his very last pass as a professional was an interception. On a third down play, well in Green Bay territory, Favre simply threw a bad ball. It was intercepted and the New York Giants won the NFC championship with a field goal a few plays later. The interception was not only heartbreaking to Green Bay fans, but also to NFL fans hoping to see Favre square off against Tom Brady's New England Patriots in the Super Bowl. Favre would retire from the NFL just weeks after this game.

Nebraska's Missed Two Point Conversion in 1983 Orange Bowl- Tom Osborne ended his coaching career with three National Championships. On January 2, 1984, he began the day with zero and ended the day with zero. After a late touchdown pulled the Cornhuskers within one point, Osborne elected to go for a two point conversion. It was risky, especially considering that Nebraska could have tied Miami and still won the National Championship. Nebraska quarterback, Turner Gil's pass fell incomplete and the Huskers were defeated. The play would haunt Nebraska football fans for years. Osborne would redeem himself by winning three National Championships in the nineties.

Grady Little Not Pulling Pedro Martinez in 2003 ALCS Game 7- The Boston Red Sox endured what has been named 'The Curse of the Bambino.' It was an eighty-plus year World Series Championship drought. In 2003, the Red Sox had the New York Yankees on the ropes and were about to win the American League Championship. The Yankees began storming back against Red Sox ace Pedro Martinez. Boston's manager Grady Little went out to the mound multiple times, but did not remove Martinez. The Yankees rally continued and they would go on to win the game. Grady Little was at fault for the collapse. It is the coach's responsibility to remove the player. Competitive instincts won't allow the player to remove themselves. The Red Sox would redeem themselves with World Series Championships in 2004 and 2007.

Chris Webber's Ill-Advised Timeout- In the 1993 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship, Michigan's Fab Five faced off against North Carolina. It was a classic back and forth game. With 20 seconds to go and Michigan trailing by 2 points, Webber calmly grabbed the rebound off a missed free throw; the rest of the play was anything but calm. Webber tried to call a timeout immediately but the refs didn't see it, he traveled but the refs didn't see it, he dribbled up the court and he finally called time out. The Wolverines were out of timeouts, however, and a technical foul was called. North Carolina went on to win the game. Webber would declare for the NBA Draft and go on to have an All Star career.

Bill Buckner's World Series Error- In 1986, the Boston Red Sox appeared poised to finally win a World Series title. They had been title-less since 1918 and were squaring off against the New York Mets. In perhaps the most infamous sports gaffe of all time, Buckner misplayed a ground ball in the tenth inning of Game 6. The Mets would go on to win Game 7 and leave Boston feeling cursed. Bill Buckner would wrap up his career in 1990. He would return to Fenway Park on opening day of 2008 to throw out the first pitch.