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These were the best regular season teams in each respective league of all time by the number of wins (Mariners tied the 1906 Cubs with 116) but their regular season dominance proved to be folly as they all lost in the championship chase. All fell.
The 2001 Mariners won 116 games in the regular season, the 2007 Patriots won all 16 games of the regular season, and finally the 2016 Warriors set the NBA record for regular season wins at 73. All three teams fell way short.
Which one was the worst of the three in failing to win a ring? All three were bad, but which one stung the most? Why?
I choose the Mariners because they chose to coast. They treated the postseason like a coronation.
The 2007 Patriots and 2016 GS Warriors at least played to the wire. The Mariners, after taking out the Indians, blew the first two games in the ALCS and then lost in New York. Just no excuse with Piniella at the helm and the talent they had.
I was about to pick the Mariners, but I think it's the Warriors by default.
The 2001 Mariners: Much like hockey, the best team doesn't usually win. This was back in the old playoff format where: A) There was only 1 Wildcard and B) The Wildcard could never play a team from your own division. 2001 was a pretty big year in the AL. I'm pretty sure the Red Sox finished with 95 wins last year, and the Angels finished with 93 wins................and only finished 3rd in their division because Seattle won 116, Oakland won 102 and the Yankees won about 97 or 98. So, it's not like the AL was a bunch of creampuffs like the NL was. For 2001 if we use the current playoff format: The Wildcard would be: Boston (95 wins) @ Oakland (102), with the winner going on to play Seattle. I think Seattle is in trouble anyways. Boston would've had Derek Lowe with an in his prime Pedro while the A's would've had the 3 big 3 lined up. As it stands the A's should've beaten the Yankees anyways that year (if Giambi slides he's definitely called safe, even though he was probably safe regardless). But the AL that year was a minefield (and I think Cleveland was a pretty good team as well). I still think the 01 Mariners are the only team to not use more than 5 starting pitchers in a season, but their top starters: Jaime Moyer & Freddy Garcia weren't nearly as good as the A's top (Mark Mulder, Tim Hudson, Barry Zito), the Red Sox top (Pedro Martinez, Tim Wakefield, Derek Lowe) or even the Yankees top (Andy Pettitte, Roger Clemens, David Wells), so them losing isn't terrible.
The 07 Patriots were the best team in football.......................but the football playoffs are 1 game. If you have a bad game, or get nipped, you can lose.
The Warriors hadn't lost I think more than 2 games in a row all season, and they lost 3 in a row when they were up 3-1 in the series and at home. LeBron cemented his legacy that series, but up 3-1 in the series you have to close that out, MJ's Bulls would have closed that out.
It's not a fair comparison to put a football team with baseball and basketball. One and done is nothing like a series where you can adjust.
The Warriors were the biggest disappointment of the 3. Taking the most wins ever into the playoffs, and being up 3-1 in the finals. But, to flip it maybe LeBron just wasn't going to lose and he willed his team onto victory. Even though up 3-1, maybe GS never had a chance.
The Mariners are definitely 2nd... 116 wins and nothing to show for it. 2001 was also the last season they made the playoffs and they remain the only AL team to never have played in the World Series. I'm reminded of it every time I attend a game and see the banner... LOL
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