Michael Ventre

In 1978, the Boston Red Sox had a 14-game lead on the New York Yankees. They couldn’t hold onto it.

In 1996, Greg Norman entered the final round of the Masters leading by six shots. Then he collapsed.

The Russians allowed a bunch of American kids to shock them in ice hockey in the 1980 Winter Olympics. The 2004 Yankees blew a 3-0 series lead against the Red Sox in the ALCS. The New England Patriots had a perfect record and a perfect opportunity to win the Super Bowl against the Giants with a four-point lead with 2:42 left — until they succumbed.

Sports history is rife with spectacular losers. The club is an exclusive one — entry into it means a high level of achievement has to have been attained in the first place — but almost no one wants to brag about membership.

Into this dubious pantheon stepped the Dallas Mavericks two years ago. Actually, a case for their inclusion could have been made for years. But that particular season ended with the Mavs holding a 2-0 lead in the NBA Finals against the Miami Heat, only to lose four straight. Then, in an attempt to show the world that such a gag was a fluke, they instead proceeded to become the third No. 1 seed in NBA playoff history to lose to a No. 8 seed last spring when they rolled over against the Golden State Warriors.

Now, the Mavs have made a move to escape this type of ignominy when they agreed to a trade that would bring Jason Kidd to Dallas along with Malik Allen in exchange for Devin Harris and a collection of expiring contracts and throw-in players.

But although the Mavericks believe Kidd will bring glory, what he may promise instead is a higher level of disappointment and a more dramatic fall.

On the surface, this is one of those high-profile tectonic shifts in sports in which a major star changes uniforms and in the process alters the landscape. In reality, it probably will prove to be a minor improvement to a group that has deeper issues of mental toughness that need addressing.

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Kidd will surely help. He’s still one of the best point guards in the league. He’s an excellent passer and a fine floor leader. And he’s mentally stronger than anybody the Mavericks currently have on their roster. What he may not be able to do is teach the Mavs how to break through and win a title, simply because he has never done so himself and because the Western Conference pecking order is still intact even after this trade.

Calling a guy a “winner” or a “loser” is often misguided, because so much of an athlete’s legacy is determined by forces outside his control, such as the composition of the team he winds up on, or injuries.

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