The Difference Between Clutch and Choke is a Thin Line

Over the weekend we had two amazing examples of clutch vs. choke in the NCAA. On Saturday, Virginia continued their miracle run, something you wouldn't think to say of a 1 seed. But after their infamous loss to UMBC, and their results in past years, Virginia had been labeled a choker. Oh how things change. They've won their last two games by the skin of their teeth, and in improbable fashion. And now you can't call Virginia, and Kyle Guy, anything but clutch. He hit three straight free throws to win the game with less than a second to go. Auburn did everything they could, even trying to ice him after the second made free throw. But Guy would not be denied, he did not let the weight of moment crush him. The only ice was in his veins. And then you have the woman's championship game on Sunday. 1.9 seconds left, Arike Ogunbowale, the same woman who hit a buzzer beater last year to win Notre Dame the championship, could not do what Guy did, unable to hit both free throws to tie the game up. (Even more juxtaposition, both were 81% career free throw shooters.) Can what Arike did be called a choke? She performed well in the most (or at worst second most) important game of her career, clearly she was up for the moment as she lead both teams in scoring. But when it's all said and done, will people remember her 31 points, or 1 free throw? Will she be remembered as the clutch performer who hit a game winner in 2018, or a choker who couldn't hit the free throws in 2019? Fair or unfair, sports are a "what have you done for me lately" business. One moment turns you from a clutch MVP to a choker who can't handle the pressure. It's unfair that 1 point for both of these great players is the difference. But unfortunately that's how it is. The history of sports is littered with these career defining plays. Tony Romo could never shake the label after that infamous hold against the Seahawks. Bill Buckner had 2715 hits, good for 65th in the long and storied history of baseball. But no one remembers he had more hits than Ted Williams, people remember "between the legs." Lebron had to win a finals to get rid of his choker reputation, and people still crucify him for his series against the Mavericks. Steven Gerrard, one of the most clutch players in EPL history, may be more remembered for his title costing slip than any of his miraculous long shots. The difference between a choker and a clutch player is almost nothing. Yet that minuscule difference means almost everything. Whether that is right or not, I'm not sure. But boy is it entertaining.