Before TV Sports Became Big, The Biggest Choke Job Shown on Television was The Godfather's Luca Brasi

scene from "The Godfather" - 1972

After a weekend full of what many sports fans know as a "CHOKE," I decided to search online for some of the most memorable Choke jobs in sports history. I first came across a list of 10 that must've been put together in England. On that list there were mostly Soccer and Golf chokes from Europe. Funny that two names on that list, who won't be forgotten in the U.S., were NFL kicker Scott Norwood and boxing great Roberto "No Mas" Duran. 

Duran, nicknamed "Hands of Stone" prior to his 1980 fight against Sugar Ray Leonard, came in at a whopping number 4 on the European list. Even today, when I choose to quit doing something, I use the term made famous by Duran, "No Mas." (No More). 

As for Luca Brasi, played by former professional wrestler Lenny Montana, his garroting is probably the best "whack job" on film to date. You may remember what the message of a dead fish wrapped in Luca's bullet proof vest conveyed to the Corleone Family? "Luca Brasi Sleeps with The Fishes." But that's another story for another time. 

Here's a list of five memorable Choke Jobs in sports that will probably need updating real soon: 

1993 HOUSTON OILERS: In the AFC Wild Card, Buffalo scored four touchdowns in the third quarter and rallied from a 35-3 deficit to down the Oilers 41-38 in overtime, marking the greatest comeback in NFL history. Backup quarterback Frank Reich led the charge. 

1994 LSU BASKETBALL: Kentucky completed its greatest comeback in school history, rallying from 31 points down in the final 15:34 to defeat LSU, 99-95. The Wildcats hit 11 three-pointers and outscored the Tigers 62-27. 

1996 GREG NORMAN: Nick Faldo won his third Masters golf tournament with a 67 on the final day after Norman shot a startling 78 to lose a 6-stroke lead in the worst collapse in Masters history. 

1997 LATRELL SPREWELL: As if a 1-12 start wasn't bad enough, the Golden State star grabbed first-year coach P.J. Carlesimo by the neck and tried to choke him after the coach asked the player to leave practice early. Sprewell was suspended for one year by NBA commissioner David Stern. 

2004 NEW YORK YANKEES: The Yanks led the Boston Red Sox three games to none in the AL Championship Series before the hated Sox rallied to become the first team in baseball history to rally from such a deficit. - GREG AUMAN and KEITH NIEBUHR [Last modified November 17, 2004, 00:03:19]