Fell apart in 2023 after refusing to partner with ESPN or Fox and instead build isn’t own TV network, which generated much less money for schools than other conferences.
Johnny Manziel
In 2016, several off-field issues, including substance abuse problems, derailed his career.
Tower Records
In 2006, failed to identify the impending digital music revolution.
Clacker Balls
Invented in 1960, the fairly heavy and fast-moving balls would occasionally shatter & injure children upon striking each other.
Poke-A-Bone
In 1971, challenged players to “swing it up and poke the bone;” bones are labeled with a specific part of the body: knee, arm, leg, shoulder, neck, head, foot, ankle, back, and hip.
April O’Neil
In 2012, “Ravishing Reporter” action figure had a detachable skirt in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Oakley Thump
In 2004, Oakley created MP3-player sunglasses that people didn’t want to wear indoors.
Butcher Playset
In 2012, the trouble started when Jeffrey asked if we could disembowl a hog.
Seattle Pilots
The Seattle Pilots were a short-lived MLB team that played for just one season, 1969. The team’s demise was mostly due to financial troubles and poor stadium conditions. The team lost money rapidly due to low attendance in their small and incomplete stadium with only 18K seats. Ownership couldn’t find local buyers to keep the team in Seattle and finance a new stadium. Thus, they were purchased for $10.8M and became the Milwaukee Brewers, but MLB later returned to Seattle with the Seattle Mariners in 1977.
XFL & San Francisco Demons
In 2001, NBC dropped the XFL after one season due to dismal ratings. After an opening night with a 9.5 Nielsen rating which was 86% higher than the Saturday night average, by week 9 the XFL set the record for the lowest rated TV show in prime time. Although they branded themselves at the “extra fun league” (XFL) vs. the “no fun league” (NFL), poor onfield performance led to the significant drop in viewership. The league didn’t return for a second season.