Epic Fails: The 25 Worst Single-Game Performances in Sports History

Image via Complex Original

PLAYER: Ryan Leaf, San Diego Chargers
DATE: 9/20/1998
COMPLEX SAYS: In only his third professional start, the No. 2 pick of the '98 draft set a dubious record by having a passer rating of 0.0. That's right, the lowest passer rating you can possibly have. Leaf threw 1-15 with a total of four yards passing and two interceptions. Oh yeah, he also had three fumbles. Sidebar: Uploaders, YouTube doesn't give out best soundtrack Oscars for videos, and if they did, you wouldn't win one. So, FOH with these wackass songs that ruin highlight videos.

PLAYER: Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
DATE: 5/12/1997
COMPLEX SAYS: One thing you can say about the Black Mamba and his ball-hogging ways: He's never changed. In a series-deciding Game 5 of the Western Conference finals (Jazz were leading 3-1), rookie Kobe Bryant hoisted up four air balls to end the Lakers' season. Mamba lovers called his attempts "gutsy." Let us translate that for you: greedy.

PLAYER: Jason Kidd, Phoenix Suns
DATE: 11/17/2000
COMPLEX SAYS: Over his career, Kidd has recorded over 100 triple-doubles. So, why not take his game to the next elite level and record a quadruple-double. He did, but not in the way he would have liked. In a game against the Knicks, Kidd had 18 points, 12 boards, 10 assists while he tied the record for most NBA turnovers in a game (14). You're the best man, you diiid it. (Eli Porter voice)

PLAYER: Trevor Berbick
DATE: 11/22/1986
COMPLEX SAYS: Early in his career, Mike Tyson made many fighters look foolish but no one looked worse than Trevor Berbick in this WBC heavyweight championship bout. Iron Mike pretty much knocked Berbick down three times with one punch to become the youngest heavyweight champion in boxing history. Berbick learned a valuable lesson that night: It doesn't always pay to be persistent. Unfortunately Tyson would learn the same lesson a few years later. Word to Desiree Washington.

PLAYER: Tommy John, New York Yankees
DATE: 7/27/1988
COMPLEX SAYS: Most people know Tommy John for the revolutionary surgery named after him, but the pitcher actually had a decent career, racking up four All-Star selections his 26-year run. However, one distinction he'd rather forget is being one of only two players to commit three errors on one play. In a game against the Milwaukee Brewers John fumbled a grounder, threw past first base, then bobbled the relay throw from right field before throwing past the catcher. This was all done post-surgery. Medical malpractice, anyone?

PLAYER: Dick LeBeau (coordinator), Cincinnati Bengals
DATE: 1/22/1989
COMPLEX SAYS: In Super Bowl XXIII, Jerry Rice set a record for most receiving yards (215) in Super Bowl history while on his way to winning MVP honors. Years after Rice shredded the coordinator's defense, LeBeau would say: "That's the only time in my career I wish I was still playing." Somebody please run tests on this dude for dementia.

PLAYER: John Daly
DATE: 3/22/1998
COMPLEX SAYS:There's no one in the gentleman's sport of golf quite as badass as John Daly. At the Bay Hill Invitational, Daly added to his legendary status by shooting an 18 on a par five. Six of his shots ended up in the lake and Daly went on to shot an 85 for the day, ending any hope she had of winning the tournament. Badass? Nope. Just bad and ass.

PLAYER: Len Dawson, Kansas City Chiefs
DATE: 11/15/1964
COMPLEX SAYS:The Hall of Fame quarterback is best known for his Super Bowl IV MVP and three AFL championships, but he also holds the record for most fumbles in an NFL game (7). Dawson is lucky video of his epic fail of a performance occurred in a time before things went viral. Nowadays? Not so much.

PLAYER: Darrall Imhoff, New York Knicks
DATE: 3/2/1962
COMPLEX SAYS: Darrall Imhoff was selected third overall behind Oscar Robertson and Jerry West in the 1960 NBA Draft. Unlike Robertson and West, Imhoff ended up being a total bust. But Wilt Chamberlain made sure Imhoff would always be remembered by dropping 100 points on the poor fella who was given the task of guarding him on that historic night. Afterward, Chamberlain got on is BasedGod steez and fucked Imhoff's bitch. We kid. Could've happened though...

PLAYER: Tim Hardaway, Golden State Warriors
DATE: 12/27/1991
COMPLEX SAYS: In a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Hardaway set an NBA record by going 0-17 from the field. Surprisingly, his team still went on to win 106-102 in OT. Embarrassing? Yeah, but an epic fail later on in life would have much greater consequences though.

PLAYER: Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks
DATE: 5/4/2007
COMPLEX SAYS: As the 2007 playoffs got under way, few thought the No. 1 seed Mavericks would have any trouble with the No. 8 seed Golden State Warriors. After all, the Mavs had the MVP. Well, Nowitzki was nowhere to be found in a decisive Game 6 as he shot 2-13 from the field. We'd like the German translation for: "MVP? My ass!"

PLAYER: Geoff Jenkins, Milwaukee Brewers
DATE: 6/8/2004
COMPLEX SAYS: Hitting a baseball is supposedly one of the hardest tasks in all of sports. That being said, if you were getting paid $8 milli to do so like Jenkins was, you'd probably find a way. We sure as hell would. In a game against the Anaheim Angels, Jenkins became one of only eight players in MLB history to strikeout six times in a game. Is it really that hard to put balls and wood together? Pause.

PLAYER: LaTroy Hawkins, Chicago Cubs
DATE: 9/29/2004
COMPLEX SAYS: From the Billy Goat to Steve Bartman, Cubs fans have had a few subjects to direct their hate toward during the 103-year championship drought. Somewhere between those infamous figures is closer LaTroy Hawkins. During a tight Wild Card race, the reliever, who they picked up mid-season, gave up a three-run homer to the Mets with two outs in the ninth. With a shot at redemption only a few days later, Hawkins blew another save giving up a run to the Cincinnati Reds in the ninth and essentially eliminating any hopes of a Wild Card berth for the Cubs. *Cues Lex Luger beat* I think I'm L Hawkins, Armando Benitez...

PLAYER: Jake Delhomme, Carolina Panthers
DATE: 1/10/2009
COMPLEX SAYS: In one of the worst performances in NFL playoff history, Delhomme threw five interceptions and lost one fumble in the Panthers loss to the Arizona Cardinals. Oh yeah, and it was his birthday. Well, at least dude's advertising game is on point. Kinda.

PLAYER: Luis Guevara Mora, El Salvador
DATE: 6/15/1982
COMPLEX SAYS: In El Salvador's second appearance in a World Cup, just making it to the big stage was an accomplishment in itself. But no one imagined the beat down that Hungary would hand them. In their first match, Hungary scored a World Cup record 10 goals on Salvadoran goalkeeper Luis Guevara Mora. We can't blame homie, with all those balls coming his way he didn't know what to do (Ayo!). These girls do, though.

PLAYER: Allan Travers, Detroit Tigers
DATE: 5/18/1912
COMPLEX SAYS: In 1912, the Detroit Tigers players went on strike to protest their teammate Ty Cobb's indefinite suspension for beating a handicapped heckler (WTF?). As a result, the team's owner was forced to find replacement players, one of which was Allan Travers. In his one-game MLB appearance Travers pitched and  allowed 26 hits, 24 runs, and an MLB-record 14 earned runs in a complete game. Travers later went on to become an ordained Catholic priest. He's the only priest to ever play in the MLB. Thank you, BasedGod!

PLAYER: Grant Fuhr, Edmonton Oilers
DATE: 4/10/1982
COMPLEX SAYS: In the biggest comeback in NHL playoff history, the Los Angeles Kings overcame a 5-0 deficit entering the third period to defeat the Oilers 6-5 in overtime. Those were five goals with Hall of Fame goaltender Grant Fuhr in front of the net and The Great One on the Oilers. #nuffsaid

PLAYER: Ray Allen, Boston Celtics
DATE: 6/8/2010
COMPLEX SAYS: From his kicks, to his down-to-earth personality, we got love for Ray Ray. There's no doubt that his record-setting performance in Game 2 added to his legendary status. But Allen has off days just like the rest of us, such was the case in Game 3, homie shot 0-13, one miss shy of the worst Finals shooting performance in NBA history (0-14 by Dennis Johnson in 1978). If dude were any more humble, we'd swear he did this on purpose.

PLAYER: Ali Dia, Southampton
DATE: 11/23/1996
COMPLEX SAYS: In one of the biggest frauds in sports history, Senegalese footballer Ali Dia duped Southampton manager Graeme Souness into believing he was the cousin of George Weah and that his resume included impressive national performances for the Senegal national football team. Souness signed Dia to a one month contract. However, when he took the pitch it was immediately realized that his level of play wasn't anywhere near the level it was perceived to be. In his one-game Premier League career, Dia's performance against Leeds United was described as "like Bambi on ice; it was very, very embarrassing to watch." Dia played for total of 52-minutes and was released shortly afterward. Sounds pretty damn similar to our version of a draft bust.

PLAYER: Tom Glavine, New York Mets
DATE: 9/30/2007
COMPLEX SAYS: With playoff hopes hinging on his performance, Glavine gave up seven runs in the first-inning in the last game of the season. Homie pretty much single-handedly clinched a playoff berth for the Philadelphia Phillies. Biggest Mets Fail of All Time? You already know.

PLAYER: Nick Anderson, Orlando Magic
DATE: 6/7/1995
COMPLEX SAYS: When Anderson, a 70% free throw shooter, went to the line to seal Game 1 of the Finals for the Magic everyone knew it was pretty much over. Then he missed both! But he was fouled again, surely he can't go 0-4, right?! It's alright Orlando fans, that day is long gone and a bright future with Dwight Howard is ahead. Oh wait...

PLAYER: Greg Norman
DATE: 4/14/1996
COMPLEX SAYS: Sure, Rory McIlroy shot an 80 in the last-round of this year's Masters but he's a young'n, and they tend to crack under pressure. Norman, on the other hand, was a vet with two majors under his belt when he shot a 78 and lost his five stroke lead to Nick Faldo. We thought Crocodile Dundee performs best under pressure, guess not...

PLAYER: Oliver McCall
DATE: 7/2/1997
COMPLEX SAYS: By the time McCall faced Lennox Lewis in a rematch of their 1994 WBC Heavyweight Championship bout, McCall's several run-ins with the law and battle with drug addiction had robbed him of his prime years. But no one expected a meltdown of this magnitude. McCall simply refused to box and began crying midway through the fight. Referee Mills Lane put McCall out of his misery by stopping the fight in the eighth round. The "SMH" face on the cornerman at 5:54 tells the whole story.

PLAYER: John Starks, New York Knicks
DATE: 6/22/1994
COMPLEX SAYS: In sports it doesn't get any bigger than Game 7 of the NBA Finals. Some players rise to the occasion, while others crack under pressure. Then there's the select few who just fuck everything up a.k.a. the John Starks. Homie didn't just have a bad game, he went 2 for 18, including 0-10 in the fourth during the Rockets 90-84 victory over the Knicks.

PLAYER: Craig Morton, Denver Broncos
DATE: 1/15/1978
COMPLEX SAYS: As Super Bowl XII approached, Morton was still had the bitter taste of losing the big game seven years earlier when he was playing for the Dallas Cowboys. Morton's nerves and eagerness ended up leading to the worst QB performance in Super Bowl history. He threw an astonishing 4-15 for 39 yards and had four picks before being pulled in the third quarter. Everyone has failures in life, few or none of us actually have those fails watched by millions though. #noshots #justsayin'