These things you see can also be a result of an over-load of pressure. Pro players are human beings and have a certain threshold or tolerance for pressure....if that pressure is exceeded a multitude of "side-effects" can occur....most of them negative.
Let's see what made the Buddy Hall match have more pressure than "normal".
1) They were playing ONE race to 7 for $50,000 (which is much more by today's standards) - in this scenario 2nd place got 00.00 *(unless there was a saver, but that's another issue entirely)
2) The balls were usually freshly polished/waxed by ESPN and played unpredictably. They were only interested on how the balls looked on TV, not how they performed.
3) The TV lights sometimes make the arena feel like it's 100 DEGREES+ - They also were required to wear shirts supplied by the show that were not even close to taylor made.......another seemly small thing, but I'll testify it makes a huge difference at times.
4) Buddy's opponent was a 20/1 shot and he knew he HAD to play well or "people" would think he had done something terribly wrong.......this pressure would be brutal!!!
5) Buddy was not in the greatest of health and may have been drinking so there's no way we can tell what his physical condition was at the time....I know from experience there's days I just can't "put it together" mentally/physically to play world class speed.
6) Buddy was NOT the crowd favorite and probably felt like everyone and their mother wanted him to lose........including his friends in the audience.....another brutal factor.
If anyone wants to chastise and slander Buddy and Mike's name to feel morally superior, that's your prerogative....just remember, if you're right you get to enjoy rubbing a good man's name in the dirt.....but if you're wrong are you willing to allow life to punish you (?) .....it's only fair.
'The Karma is the Teacher'
