For the past 20 seasons, the NBA, NHL, NFL and MLB teams that finished as runner-ups to the champions in each league have had a difficult time finding success during the following season. While there are several reasons to explain this phenomenon, like free agency, untimely injuries, etc., it seems nearly implausible that only two teams lost in the finals one year, and came back to win a championship the following season. Inexplicably, it hasn't happened in any of the four major sports since 1988.
The Detroit Tigers couldn't overtake the Cleveland Indians for the AL Central title and failed to outfinish the Yankees for the Wild Card berth making them the latest victim. While only seven teams missed the playoffs altogether after losing the World Series, only the Braves lost two straight Series appearances. Five other times, the Series loser from the prior year dropped the league championship the next year.
In the NHL, the landscape is much worse for the runner-up. On paper, it would appear the Ottawa Senators are capable of rebounding from their loss to Anaheim in June, but closer inspection reveals that no NHL runner-up has returned to the Stanley Cup Finals the subsequent season since 1987. Five times the runner-up missed the playoffs altogether and eight times they were bounced in the first round. Those facts don't bode well for the Senators this season.
The loser of the NBA championship hasn't fared well either. Only twice since 1989 has the runner-up returned to the NBA Finals. The Nets lost two finals series in a row in 2002 and 2003, and the Utah Jazz did the same losing to the Bulls in 1997 and 1998. However, only the Lakers (2004) failed to make the playoffs after reaching the Finals the prior year. As we look at the upcoming 2007-08 NBA season, we can easily make a case for Cavaliers to return to the playoffs and then get beat before reaching the Finals again.
The only losing team that has returned to the Super Bowl in consecutive seasons in the NFL are the Buffalo Bills, who reached the big game and lost four straight times from 1990-93. Super Bowl losers have missed the playoffs the next season 10 times since 1987 and none other than the Bills reached the Conference Championship game. That means we must stamp the Chicago Bears as the next bridesmaid to bow out quickly this year.
Please help me explain this oddity. You would think that when a team nearly reaches the summit of their sport one year, they'd be even hungrier to attain it the next. As recent history shows, that simply hasn't been the case. If you can't explain it, then tell me which were the two teams that lost the championship and came back to win it all the next season. There is a prize package waiting for you if you're right. And if more than one of you is correct, I'll draw a name out of a hat!