Those Tragic Moments

The Chicago Blackhawks' Steve Smith retired last week after 13 seasons as a top-flight defenseman. A former All-Star with three Stanley Cup rings, Smith nevertheless will always be defined by one momentous miscue he made while playing for the Edmonton Oilers in Game 7 of the 1986 Smythe Division finals. A third-period pass by Smith went into his own net, giving the Calgary Flames a 3-2 victory and interrupting an Oilers dynasty that yielded four Cups between '84 and '88. Many other athletes also have had disappointing moments, but only a few have made a mistake so crucial and costly that it has obscured an otherwise outstanding career. Here are some.

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