Top 10 Sports Dynasties That Never Were

When the Thunder lost in the 2012 Finals to the Heat, we all thought it was only the beginning for them. "They'll definitely be back. Don't feel bad for them," we all said.

However, that Finals loss turned out to be their peak. I would feel bad for them, but this is the same franchise that screwed over a great basketball town in Seattle for no good reason. They deserved this catastrophic failure.

Three future MVPs, three trips to the conference finals, and one trip to the NBA Finals. Yet, Oklahoma City was not able to bring home a championship.

The losses of Harden, Durant, and now Westbrook have officially marked them as a dynasty that never was.

I have always felt an enormous amount of sympathy for the Bills. They're a small-market team that had four straight opportunities to achieve immortality, but they came up short all four times.

This was such a great team filled with very likable players. It's a real shame that they couldn't win the big one.

The Buffalo Bills reached four Super Bowls in a row and lost each time. Even though they went 0-4, their resilience and ability to return without quitting has to be commended and respected.

You kind of have to feel bad for them. The fact that they lost four Super Bowls in a row is insane.

They were a Norwood field goal away from winning one of the games.

Cleveland had two chances to win the World Series in the '90s. In 1995, they lost to the Braves. Then, in 1997, they were three outs away from victory but were unable to get by the Florida Marlins.

To make matters worse, the Yankees dynasty came to life shortly after.

Definitely No. 1. As good as Westbrook is, he can't win no matter what if he is the leader. This team had the best all-time single-season percentage, and yet they STILL couldn't win.

Shaq, Penny, and the rest of the Magic appeared ready to reach dynasty status. However, from 1994 to 1996, the Magic were eliminated by way of a sweep in the playoffs.

The hardest loss came in 1995 when the defending champion Rockets swept them to repeat as champions. By the end of 1996, Shaq was a Laker, and Penny's career would take a downhill turn.

The breakup of this core could have easily been avoided if Orlando didn't blatantly disrespect Shaq and had paid him what he deserved.

The Mariners had the best player of the 1990s in Ken Griffey Jr. They reached two ALCS series but never played in the World Series.

This includes a 2001 team that won 116 games but still lost in the playoffs.

Not to mention having (during that period but not at the same time) Randy Johnson, Alex Rodriguez, and Ichiro Suzuki.

Similar to the Indians, the Mariners won 116 games but lost 3-1 to the Yankees in the first round.

The Rockets upset the defending champion Lakers in 1986 to reach the NBA Finals. While they lost to the dominant Celtics in six games, their future was bright, especially with the Twin Towers of Hakeem Olajuwon and Ralph Sampson.

However, injuries and drug-related suspensions ended all hopes of a title run in the following seasons. It wouldn't be until 1994 when Houston finally won a title.

Before the Buffalo Bills lost four Super Bowls, there were the Minnesota Vikings. In a ten-year span, they dominated NFL competition with a fierce defensive line and incredible mobility from Fran Tarkenton.

However, they fell in four Super Bowls. Perhaps it was because the weather was warmer when they appeared in each one.

With all the talent and fantastic seasons that the Vikings have had over the years, they should definitely have at least a couple of Super Bowls by now. The fact that they don't is mind-boggling.

They are probably the most successful sports franchise in North America that hasn't won a championship.

The Flyers had the Legion of Doom line led by captain Eric Lindros during this period and produced championship-caliber contenders in a span of six years. Yet, they managed just one Stanley Cup Finals appearance in 1997, losing in four straight to the Red Wings.

The duo of Lindros and LeClair was great, but in '97, no one who came out of the East was beating the Red Wings. Detroit finally vanquished their Colorado foes, and nothing was stopping them when they reached the Finals.

Unfortunately, we were the ones that got in their way.

Pittsburgh had three chances to reach the World Series between 1990 and 1992. But they lost each time in the NLCS.

Twice, they played in a winner-take-all Game 7, and twice they lost, including a heartbreaking finish in 1992.

That loss to the Braves in 1992 caused the franchise to become arguably the worst team in the major leagues for the next two decades.