Wales against France in the rugby World Cup semi-finals for starters. A mouth-watering, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity became just another glorious failure full of regrets over what might have been.
But, hey, it was only breakfast time. Next up was the juggernaut collision of England's greatest football teams. In the red corner, legendary Liverpool boasting 18 league titles and five European Cups. In the other red corner, mighty Manchester United — 19 league championships and three European Cups.
Forget that oval ball squabble, this was Anfield. But what did we get? A virtual non-event. An anti-climax of cataclysmic proportions. A game that would have had global viewers switching off from Kuala Lumpur to Canada, Singapore to Senegal (please take note Liverpool MD Ian Ayre.)
Here were two teams putting the emphasis on cancelling each other out rather than knocking each other out. Yet oddly, despite this tame, tepid tussle, both seemed pretty content. But it just didn't seem real. Fergie all sweetness and light afterwards — even though his side had just handed noisy neighbours Man City the chance to go clear at the top.
While King Kenny couldn't even work himself up into a proper rant about an ignored penalty claim and a missed red card for Rio Ferdinand. It was all a far, far cry from days gone by when the rivalry of the teams and the managers was as bitter and bad-tempered as it comes.
So what the hell's going on?
Well, Liverpool v Manchester United doesn't actually matter that much any more. These days it's just another game sandwiched between the international break and the Champions League.
"Some people have described this as the biggest game of the season but I don't agree as I don't view any match in the Premier League as being bigger or smaller than any other. It's another fixture where the reward for winning is three points."
Read those two sentences again. Could you ever believe Kenny Dalglish saying such a thing? He now sees Liverpool v United as on a par with playing Wigan, Blackburn or Norwich.
The depressing thing is he's telling it as it is. So why had Ferguson gone into the game singing another tune completely, claiming this match puts Real Madrid-Barcelona to shame? The answer's simple — he was just kidding.
Which is why we saw United's finest players — Wayne Rooney, Nani and Javier Hernandez — warming the bench. So a once important, proud fixture is now reduced to something that's almost petty and parochial for all concerned.
Well, everyone apart from the fans. It still means everything to them — and you know what? They're right to expect so much more.