Illini,
No offense, but your examples are no different than anyone elses. You are simply justifying what is a bad beat in your mind.
The definition is completely arbitrary.
I consider the Milwaukee/Dodgers Under 9.5 game the other night a bad beat. 3-1 top of 9th. Milwaukee ties it a 3-3 and anything but a GS and I win and Either hits a slam.
While you may not agree with it as a bad beat, but having a 5.5 run lead going into the 9th in my book constitutes a bad beat.
Do I know that it can happen going in? Off course. Some people like to complain, but like most bettors/gamblers, we like to discuss the ones that got away. Why do you think we remember loses more than the wins. This past Friday I got lucky when the Tigers and Indians were rained out and I had Under 9.5 and they score 13 runs in the first 4 innings. To me that is pure good luck, it is the opposite for the over bettors.
Regarding the bold, I would ask you, as a gambler aren't you aware that somestimes calls can go against you. Aren't you also aware in College hoops teams can make a flurry of 3s in no time. I am not suggesting that they aren't bad beats, but to me how are your examples any NO different than anyone elses. As for Doug's example, the only thing that beat him was mother nature, if the game was indoors, he wouldn't have lost. So, yes that is a bad beat.