What is the most disappointing single season for a pro sports team ever?

On PTI yesterday, Michael Wilbon called this year's Lakers team "the most disappointing team ever"

He probably has a point since most people thought as soon as the Nash and Howard trades happened that the Lakers were penciled in againt the Heat in the finals, or at least against OKC in the Western Conference Finals.

What other teams could enter this argument?

 

'86 Chicago Bears, maybe? They were good in the regular season, but early exit from the playoffs.

Sticking with Chicago, the '04 Cubs belong on that list, too.

I know they made the Finals, but what about the first Miami Heat team with LeBron? They took a long time to gel that season when everyone expected them to win 70 games, then tanked against the Mavs.

 

Last year's Marlins. Picked to win a bunch, finished last, had team torn up.

'92 Mets ("The Worst Team Money Can Buy")

 

I think the Mets you're thinking of are the '93 edition. That's the one that lost 103 games.

 

The late '80s A's teams of LaRussa. One World Series? Really?
The Eagles of the last couple years were pretty baffling.
Various USC teams.
90s Bills. Those guys were stacked on both sides of the ball.

 

I'll echo Dan with the 2011 Philadelphia Eagles.

Also, this past year's USC football team has to be near the top of the list. Preseason No. 1 to 7-6 and in the Sun Bowl.

And who could forget these guys?



They finished 61-101.

 

Klapisch wrote about the '92 version, which was supposed to win the pennant, but fell apart and won just 72 games in spite of considerable off-season spending. Since they already were losing, the '93 team didn't have that many high expectations. Little did anyone know they would manage to embarrass themselves further.

 

?

Maybe last year's Marlins were the most disappointing pro baseball team based in Miami. Definitely not the most disappointing pro sports team ever.

 

Not sure how a team that made the finals can be one of the most disappointing of all time. Although we do have a poster who thought the Heat should have traded Lebron after they got off to their slow start that year.

 

Yeah, it's a bit of an out-of-the-box pick, I admit. And I don't think you could apply it to any other sport, but in the NBA, the best team usually wins the title.

 

Any of the Braves teams from 91-05, except 1995.

 

Lots of recent entries. To continue that theme, last year's Red Sox shocked me - I thought they would win 100+ games & a title. On paper they were as stacked as any team in recent memory. I kept waiting for them to turn it on & storm into the playoffs.

On the flip side, I was not disappointed.