The chokers

While it's likely not politically correct to call them such, there's seems to be a lot of chokers in the sports world.

Last February the Atlanta Falcons had a twenty five point lead in the Super Bowl over the New England Patriots. They choked it away and lost.

The US men's soccer team are perennial chokers. How can it be that a country like the United States, with over 300 million people to choose from, finds their best soccer players coming up short against the likes of Trinidad and Tobago -- which only has about a million and a half people?

It seems odd that the American ladies' team is always world class, but the guys stink. Maybe it's just as well the gents failed to qualify for the World Cup. Good grief, if T and T can knock them off, how bad would the likes of powerhouses such as Brazil, Germany, or England blister them on the pitch? Coach Bruce Arena has left the arena. Outta here.

Once again the Washington Nationals choked. Of course they did. It happens every year. This, despite being loaded with talent. The Nats have arguably the best one-two starting pitcher combination in all of baseball with Stephen Strasburg and Max Scherzer (though Houston gets honorable mention for Dallas Keuchel and Justin Verlander). They also have Bryce Harper, arguably the best all-around player in the game not named Mike Trout.

Ten times in a row they've faced a close out game, and ten times in a row they've lost it. It appears manager Dusty (Toothpick) Baker just can't get them over the hump. Considering it's Washington DC, perhaps term limits (impeachment?) are in order for Baker. Either that or off with his head, though that would be a bit drastic.

And you just know the NHL's Washington Capitals will choke when the Stanley Cup playoffs roll around, because they also do it every year. They'll pile up the points during the regular season, often winning the President's Cup, but gag like chihuahuas on chicken bones when the pressure amps up.

Maybe it's something in the air of the nation's capital causing this phenomenon. One needs only look at Congress. Every time something needs fixing through legislation -- they choke too.

Fans of the Detroit Lions know about choking. Their beloved puddy-tats are notorious for it. Show them a playoff game and they'll show you a loss. If anything, the fans themselves have probably choked back more frustration over the decades than they deserved in ten lifetimes. The poor lost souls have been in a form of purgatory since the Eisenhower administration.

Chokers everywhere. Alas.