The kicker for NFL Seattle missed a 55-yarder a few minutes ago, and time ran out. In ’91, NFL Buffalo waived their kicker after he missed one that cost the Super Bowl.
It’s the dream scenario, but in dreams, they make the field goal. Bob Etter, my friend at bridge tables, kicked for WFL Memphis and NFL Atlanta. He said “it’s the greatest job in the world, as long as you make them”.
I see what he means. Kickers don’t even work as hard as the relief pitchers assigned with getting one batter out (before the rules changed). They have one job, so even though 40 teammates made the score that close at the end, the kicker is the goat on wide right.
Parenthetically speaking, there goes another dumb accomplishment by young people: redifining the word “goat”. The old definition of “goat” as “kicker who missed at the end” is turned around. Now it describes Michael Jordan.
There are no such specialty positions at basketball, there’s no one specifically tasked with last-second performance. In peoples’ minds, it’s only the last shots that matter, given the relative weight of their importance.
For example, Lindsey Harding in a 2007 regional semifinal, with Duke trailing by one and 0:01 remaining. I apologize, but that’s what I remember about Lindsey Harding.
Then there’s Utah wing Jenna Johnson, who, as a sophomore, also needed to make one in order to keep Utah alive in the 2023 round of 16.
Coach Roberts is the face of Utah while they deal with the crushing expectations that follow a newly-elite program. Coach got here gradually, so she’s used to steadily-rising expectations.
Jenna, on the other hand, might feel the weight of the world, following the post-game wrath of the Internet. She’s started the season slowly, and it’s hard to overlook 1-of-4 FT%.