A hearty congrats to the US 400-meter relay squad. Jason Lezak drove you to the most exciting race we’ve ever seen, shattered the world record, but let’s be honest: If France doesn’t choke, team USA don’t win.

Thus we make a list of some of great comebacks in recent history that, in reality, were collapses:

2007 National League East division title, Phillies/Mets: New York lost its last 63 games to miss the playoffs. Seriously. I looked it up.

1995 California .. wait, Los Angeles …. wait, Anaheim … what were you called back then? Angels: Blew the AL Western division title. Griffey got a stadium built, Angels got a monkey. Fair trade?

Hillary Clinton: Babe, you’ve got that last name yet lost to a guy who’s been in congress four years. Don’t tell me Obama didn’t fight fair: You were dealing with a Yankee-like advantage and got beat by the Royals.

Well, maybe the A’s. But you still got beat.

1998 South regional final, Duke vs. Kentucky: UK dubbed itself the comeback cats, but really, this was the choking Dukies - squad led by 18 points, 10 at halftime, yet couldn’t hold off a Wildcats squad that, while good, didn’t have the firepower of the ‘96 and ‘97 squads.

Of course, Duke did have that little ‘92 game in hand already.

Greg Norman: See lifetime (We’ll give you credit for the British Open this year: You just got outplayed there. AND you stole Chrissie Evert. Way to go!).

2007, The BCS : No, this isn’t piling on … well, ok it is. Remember how every BCS supporter said the system works because “Every week is a playoff!”. Then LSU lost. Then OSU lost. Then LSU lost. Yet they made the national title game.

Did we miss the memo on this being a round-robin playoff?

Ross Perot: You REALLY chose that guy to be veep? You had a chance to win, and you chose him?!?!

2007 New England Patriots: Damn you for letting Mercury Morris brag more!

1991 UNLV Running Rebels: Unbeaten in the regular season and up to the Final Four. Really, unchallenged until the Rebs lost to Duke. Which begs the question: Could you have made throwing the game a LITTLE bit less obvious?

The Fabulous Sports Babe: Anyone remember this woman’s show? She was Colin Cowherd before Colin Cowherd. Woman was national, linked up with ESPN, show live on ESPN 2(before EVERY radio show was live there), until she wrote a book. And suddenly it all came crashing down.

Judges at the 1988 Slam Dunk contest: Honestly, Jordan dunked twice from the free throw line, the first one was better, and you REALLY gave ‘Nique a 47 on the last one? Lame.

1990 Oakland A’s: Hehe, oh how sweet it is. Nice series there, Mark and Jose.

Red Sox vs. Yankees, 2004 American League Championship Series: Wait, you guys were up 3-0 and lost the series? Really? I don’t believe you. Get me the tape.

And finally … Colin Powell: You go from war hero to that? Man, speaking engagement fees must be high.