You can't experience the thrill of victory without the agony of defeat.
So, while you might find these heartbreaking pictures of devastated athletes unnerving, it's important to occasionally drudge through the darkness so you can one day see the light.
You see, sports are a microcosm of life.
Just like you (but with palatial estates and enormous salaries), athletes experience incredible highs and cataclysmic lows. Today, though, we explore the latter.**
If you're feeling particularly high or low on yourself right now, here's a subtle reminder that the pendulum of life will always swing in the other direction.
**Disclaimer: In order for this not to be a total buzz kill, we've re-imagined what actually happened in these pics. The commentary is a joke and is not actually the reason they are upset.
Eli Manning
Who: Eli Manning
What: Philadelphia Eagles at New York Giants
Where: East Rutherford, N.J.
After a regular-season loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in 2010, Eli Manning catches wind of a nasty smell emanating from an unnamed offensive lineman. But Eli has his suspicions.
Meghan Duggan
Who: Meghan Duggan
What: Olympic Women's Hockey Gold Medal Game (Canada vs. U.S.)
Where: Sochi, Russia
Shortly after losing a gold-medal game to Canada, Meghan Duggan of the U.S. women's hockey team remembers that she forgot to TiVo the season finale of True Detective.
Lorenzo Insigne
Who: Lorenzo Insigne
What: 2013 European U-21 Championships
Where: Jerusalem
Losing to Spain in the UEFA U-21 final was hard enough on Italy's Lorenzo Insigne. But when he learned that NBC would not be renewing Ann Curry's contract, the footballer could no longer veil his emotions.
Rafael Nadal
Who: Rafael Nadal
What: 2014 Australian Open
Where: Melbourne, Australia
After losing to Stanislas Wawrinka in the 2014 Australian Open, Rafael Nadal checks his Instagram account to see that his most recent #TBT still has zero likes.
Victoria Azarenka
Who: Victoria Azarenka
What: 2012 U.S. Open
Where: Queens, N.Y.
Victoria Azarenka reacts to the final scene of Armageddon, in which Harry Stamper (Bruce Willis) sacrifices his life to save humanity. Harry's selfless act of heroism, however, was not enough to inspire a victory against Serena Williams in the championship match.
Shaun Smith
Who: Shaun Smith
What: Baltimore Ravens at Kansas City Chiefs (2011 AFC Wild Card Game)
Where: Kansas City, Mo.
A hopeless romantic at heart, Kansas City Chiefs defensive lineman Shaun Smith reacts to a wedding proposal made over the Arrowhead Stadium Jumbotron.
Hadi Oshtorak
Who: Hadi Oshtorak
What: 2010 Asian Beach Games
Where: Muscat, Oman
After chugging a fishbowl of Blue Curacao, Iranian kabaddi player Hadi Oshtorak screams, "Spring break Muscat!" and immediately passes out.
Devon Travis
Who: Devon Travis
What: NCAA College World Series Baseball Game Against Arizona
Where: Omaha, Neb.
Despite camping in line for three days, Arizona State's Devon Travis is denied floor seats for Taylor Swift's Red Tour concert in Phoenix.
"I'm sorry. The show is sold out," he's told by an employee at the box office.
Steffi Sorensen
Who: Steffi Sorensen
What: 2010 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament Game (Florida vs. UConn)
Where: Trenton, N.J.
Florida Gators basketball player Steffi Sorensen loses all of her contacts and iTunes music after upgrading to iOS 7.
San Antonio Spurs Fan
Who: San Antonio Spurs Fan
What: NBA Regular Season Game (Oklahoma City Thunder at San Antonio Spurs)
Where: San Antonio, Texas
In the final seconds of a regular-season game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, DeJuan Blair misses an uncontested layup, capping the San Antonio Spurs at 99 points and denying the AT&T Center's bloodthirsty crowd free Big Macs.
Brady Quinn
Who: Brady Quinn
What: 2008 NFL Regular Season Game (Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns)
Where: Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland Browns coach Romeo Crennel reprimands Brady Quinn for playing beer pong on the sideline.
After the game, Brady describes Crennel's attitude as "very un-swaggy."
Serena Williams
Who: Serena Williams
What: Mideast Emirates Dubai Tennis Championships
Where: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
While scrolling Twitter, Serena Williams inadvertently stumbles across a Breaking Bad spoiler.
"I'm still on season four," she'd lament afterwards.
Claudio Caniggia
Who: Claudio Caniggia
What: 1994 FIFA World Cup (Argentina vs. Romania)
Where: Pasadena, Calif.
After losing to Romania in the '94 FIFA World Cup, Argentina fans take the national team to task for starting David Lee Roth at forward.
"I'm a huge fan of Van Halen," head coach Alejandro Sabella said after the game, "and today I let my fandom get the best of me."
John Elway
Who: John Elway
What: NFL Regular Season Game (Los Angeles Raiders at Denver Broncos)
Where: Denver, Colo.
For the second time during the '94 season, John Elway is pranked by teammates who have soaked his jockstrap in fiery habanero salsa.
UConn Men's Basketball Team
Who: 1999-00 UConn Men's Basketball Team
What: 2000 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Game (Tennessee vs. UConn)
Where: Hartford, Conn.
The UConn men's basketball team is disappointed to learn that there's an hour-long wait at the local Applebee's.
Martin Rancik
Who: Martin Rancik
What: 2001 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Game (Hampton vs. Iowa State)
Where: Boise, Idaho
Iowa State loses to 15th-seeded Hampton in the first round of the 2001 NCAA men's basketball tournament, and—consequently—Cyclones forward Martin Rancik will never eat an entire White Castle Crave Case before tip-off again.
Jim Leavitt
Who: Jim Leavitt
What: 2007 NCAA College Football Game (University of South Florida vs. Rutgers)
Where: New Brunswick, N.J.
Unable to find his car keys, a frustrated Jim Leavitt is forced to drive his mom's lipstick-red Honda Fit for the evening.
Urban Meyer
Who: Urban Meyer
What: 2014 Big Ten Championship Game (Michigan State vs. Ohio State)
Where: Indianapolis, Ind.
For the fifth time in two quarters, the production team at Lucas Oil Stadium plays "Cotton Eye Joe" by Rednex during a TV timeout.
Kyrie Irving
Who: Kyrie Irving
What: 2013-14 NBA Regular Season Game (Milwaukee Bucks at Cleveland Cavaliers)
Where: Cleveland, Ohio
Kyrie Irving goes to pick up his lunch order from Nate's Deli only to learn that the establishment is "cash only." Unfortunately, Irving is only carrying a debit card.
Brandon Weeden
Who: Brandon Weeden
What: 2012 NFL Regular Season Game (Buffalo Bills at Cleveland Browns)
Where: Cleveland, Ohio
In an effort to save money, the Cleveland Browns franchise substitutes Axe body spray for smelling salts with predictably painful results.
Indiana State Men's Basketball Team
Who: Indiana State Men's Basketball Team
What: 2011 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament (Indiana State vs. Syracuse)
Where: Newark, N.J.
Members of the Indiana State men's basketball team watch The Human Centipede on Blu-ray.
Asdrubal Cabrera
Who: Asdrubal Cabrera
What: 2010 MLB Regular Season Game (Los Angeles Angels at Cleveland Indians)
Where: Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland Indians shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera steps in a large pile of discarded chewing tobacco, effectually marring his cool new cleats.
Faceless, Bummed out Kansas Basketball Player
Who: Faceless, Bummed Out Kansas Basketball Player
What: 2009 NCAA Men's Tournament (Michigan State vs. Kansas)
Where: Indianapolis, Ind.
Confused by Indy's public transit system, a Kansas basketball player arrives to the stadium four hours late and misses the team's NCAA tournament game against Michigan State.
Kobe Bryant
Who: Kobe Bryant
What: 2008 NBA Finals (Los Angeles Lakers at Boston Celtics)
Where: Boston, Mass.
For the third time in as many weeks, Kobe Bryant sees his name spelled "Coby" on a Starbucks cup.
Thomas Sander
Who: Thomas Sander
What: 2008 NCAA Men's Tournament Game (Davidson vs. Kansas)
Where: Detroit, Mich.
After a semester's worth of hour-long phone calls and Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Thomas Sander's dorm hall crush tells him, "You're totally, like, a brother to me."
Davidson basketball coach Bob McKillop comforts the friend zone's latest inductee.
Peyton Manning
Who: Peyton Manning
What: 2008 NFL Playoff Game (San Diego Chargers at Indianapolis Colts)
Where: Indianapolis, Ind.
During a press conference, a brazen sports reporter tells Peyton Manning that he prefers Digiorno's Original Rising Crust to Papa John's.
An awkward silence falls on the room.
Sad Michigan Fan
Who: Sad Michigan Fan
What: 2007 NCAA Football Game (Appalachian State at Michigan)
Where: Ann Arbor, Mich.
The glory of last night's beer pong championship is short-lived, as one young Michigan fan struggles to rally for an 11 a.m. kickoff time.
Mike Vanderjagt
Who: Mike Vanderjagt
What: 2006 NFL Playoff Game (Pittsburgh Steelers at Indianapolis Colts)
Where: Indianapolis, Ind.
After losing a string of quarterbacks to food poisoning, Mike Vanderjagt takes the reins under center for the Indianapolis Colts.
He finishes the game with six fumbled snaps, 11 interceptions and is ejected in the fourth quarter for throwing a haymaker at Steelers linebacker Larry Foote.
Neil Wagner
Who: Neil Wagner
What: Cricket Test Series (West Indies at New Zealand)
Where: Wellington, New Zealand
Cricket player Neil Wagner tires of the incessant invitations to play Mafia Wars on Facebook with people he hasn't seen or talked to since high school.
Kevin Durant
Who: Kevin Durant
What: 2012 NBA Finals (Oklahoma City Thunder at Miami Heat)
Where: Miami, Fla.
Kevin Durant stares at the Jumbotron in American Airlines Arena, unimpressed by a young Miami Heat fan's rendition of "Gangnam Style."
Allan McGregor
Who: Allan McGregor
What: United States National Soccer Team vs. Scotland
Where: Jacksonville, Fla.
After spending 20 minutes solving a proof, a confident Allan McGregor flips to the back of his geometry textbook to see that he still has the wrong answer.
Omar Vizquel
Who: Omar Vizquel
What: 1997 MLB World Series (Cleveland Indians vs. Florida Marlins)
Where: Miami, Fla.
Omar Vizquel, now in his fourth day alone on the bench, wonders if a bus will ever pick him up.
Jamari Traylor
Who: Jamari Traylor
What: 2014 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament (Stanford vs. Kansas)
Where: St. Louis, Mo.
Members of the Kansas basketball team react to Juan Pablo picking Nikki over Clare on the season finale of The Bachelor.
Sarah Davis
Who: Sarah Davis
What: 2014 NCAA Women’s Ice Hockey Championship (Clarkson vs. Minnesota)
Where: Hamden, Conn.
Minnesota hockey player Sarah Davis watches helplessly as an unconscious Goldy Gopher is carried off of the ice on a stretcher following a freak Zamboni accident.
Goran Dragic
Who: Goran Dragic
What: 2013-14 NBA Regular Season Game (Cleveland Cavaliers at Phoenix Suns)
Where: Phoenix, Ariz.
Goran Dragic forgets to pepper his jock with Gold Bond Medicated Powder, which leads to painful chaffing and an uncomfortable itch on the court.
Olivia Gaines
Who: Olivia Gaines
What: 2014 SEC Women's Basketball Tournament (Kentucky vs. South Carolina)
Where: Duluth, Ga.
Olivia Gaines receives some last-minute tax advice from her costumed friend.
"I list my cat as a dependent," Cocky whispers with a smile and a wink, "and I don't even have a cat."
Jaromir Jagr
Who: Jaromir Jagr
What: 2013-14 NHL Regular Season Game (New Jersey Devils at Detroit Red Wings)
Where: Detroit, Mich.
New Kids on the Ice, a pop group from New Jersey, waits patiently for an opportunity to audition on season nine of America's Got Talent.
Kyle McGrath
Who: Kyle McGrath
What: 2013 Men's College World Series (Louisville vs. Oregon State)
Where: Omaha, Neb.
A college baseball player is wrought with emotion as he watches a baby giraffe take its first steps.
Tiger Woods
Who: Tiger Woods
What: 2014 Dubai Desert Classic
Where: Dubai
After walking the mall parking lot for almost an hour, a frustrated Tiger Woods begins to suspect that his car was stolen.
"I swear it was right here," says an exasperated Woods.
Michael Jordan
Who: Michael Jordan
What: 1997 NBA Finals (Chicago Bulls at Utah Jazz)
Where: Salt Lake City, Utah
A bummed out Michael Jordan is summoned to jury duty in the middle of the NBA Finals.
Hulk Hogan
Who: Hulk Hogan
What: Wrestlemania V
Where: Atlantic City, N.J.
Kyle Hart
Who: Kyle Hart
What: 2013 Men's College World Series (Indiana vs. Oregon State)
Where: Omaha, Neb.
After being permanently disfigured by a line drive to the nose, an Indiana pitcher opts to show some school spirit with his face transplant.
Adam Morrison
Who: Adam Morrison
What: 2006 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament (UCLA vs. Gonzaga)
Where: Oakland, Calif.
Gonzaga basketball star Adam Morrison has a hard time coming to grips with Justin Bieber's recent DUI arrest.
Amedeo Della Valle
Who: Amedeo Della Valle
What: 2013 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament (Wichita State vs. Ohio State)
Where: Los Angeles, Calif.
Ohio State's Amedeo Della Valle begins eating what he thinks is a pack of seedless grapes, only to discover that these particular grapes do, in fact, have seeds.
Baily Harris
Who: Baily Harris
What: 2011 NCAA Softball Super Regional (Missouri at Washington)
Where: Seattle, Wash.
Baily Harris and a Washington teammate lament their matching abstract art face tattoos.
Heartbroken HS Football Player
Who: Heartbroken HS Football Player
What: 2010 Ohio D-III State Football Championship (Columbus Watterson vs. Akron Buchtel)
Where: Massillon, Ohio
More like Friday night bites, amirite?
Dwyane Wade
Who: Dwyane Wade
What: 2011 NBA Finals (Dallas Mavericks at Miami Heat)
Where: Miami, Fla.
Sometimes, you can't help but feel sorry for a guy who makes more than $19 million per season and dates Gabrielle Union.
Silke Spiegelburg
Who: Silke Spiegelburg
What: 2007 World Track and Field Championships
Where: Osaka, Japan
"I'm just going through a really hard time right now, OK!?"
Tony Romo
Who: Tony Romo
What: 2012 NFL Regular Season Game (Chicago Bears at Dallas Cowboys)
Where: Arlington, Texas
With AT&T Stadium streaming the series finale of Buffy the Vampire Slayer on its big screen, Tony Romo purposely throws an interception so he can get back to the bench and see what happens when Hellmouth finally opens up.
Grief-Stricken Little Leaguer
Who: Grief-Stricken Little Leaguer
What: 2009 Little League World Series (New York vs. Iowa)
Where: Williamsport, Pa.
Despite winning the tournament, a cash-strapped Little League coach informs his players that they will not be going to Dairy Queen to celebrate.
"You guys should be very proud of yourselves," he told the team afterwards, "but we're in a recession and waffle bowl sundaes ain't cheap."
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