History Main / PickedLast

[[folder:Poetry]]
* In the poem ''Tich Miller'' by Wendy Cope, the narrator and the eponymous Tich are always the final two left to choose between when it comes time to choose teams, with neither being particularly wanted and their classmates often engaging in extended debates about which of the two to settle for. More often than not, though not always, the narrator is the one who ends up being reluctantly selected, while Tich is left to go to the other team by default -- but that's little comfort, as the narrator is fully aware that it's only because they're deemed ''slightly'' less of a "dud" than Tich, not because anyone actually ''wants'' them.
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** While not picked ''last'' in the draft, Creator/TomBrady was picked in the sixth round in 2000 and was almost unknown before breaking out as the most accomplished quarterback in pro football history; he has frequently cited his resentment of being picked last as a major motivator for his success and longevity.

** The last player actually ''picked'' in a given year's NFL Draft is dubbed "Mr. Irrelevant", who gets invited along with his family to a week's worth of festivities in Newport Beach, CA, and gets the "Lowsman Trophy", which mimics the Heisman Trophy given to the best player in college football but depicts a player fumbling the ball. Most of these players are only known for this "accomplishment", though kicker Ryan Succop (2009) has had a very strong career as one of the league's best.[[note]]It's worth noting that kicker is a position that's generally picked later in the draft anyway (if at all -- many of the best kickers in the NFL have been undrafted free agents), so it's not as surprising as it would be for other positions.[[/note]] Quarterback Brock Purdy (2022) finally smashed the "Mr. Irrelevant" narrative when he came off the bench due to extensive injuries to the San Francisco 49ers' quarterback roster, leading his team as far as the NFC Championship Game[[note]]he might have taken them all the way to the Super Bowl had he not seriously injured his elbow in the first quarter of said championship, rendering him unable to throw the ball[[/note]] and finishing third in balloting for Offensive Rookie of the Year.

* In the poem ''Tich Miller'' by Wendy Cope, the speaker and the eponymous Tich are always the final two left to choose between when it comes time to choose teams, with neither being particularly wanted and their classmates often engaging in extended debates about which of the two to settle for. More often than not, the speaker is the one ultimately, reluctantly selected as the "lesser dud", while Tich is left to go to the other team by default.

* In the poem ''Tich Miller'' by Wendy Cope, the speaker and the eponymous Tich are always the final two left to choose between when it comes time to choose teams, with neither being particularly wanted and their classmates often engaging in extended debates about which of the two to settle for. Ultimately, the speaker is usually the one reluctantly selected as the "lesser dud", while Tich is left to go to the other team by default.

-->''Quina:''' Ah, Zidane. You want go with me!\\

* Given a positive spin in ''FinalFantasyIX'', when the eight party members split off into teams of two to tackle the elemental shrines (as their guardians all needed to be defeated at the same time to achieve the party's objective). In the end, Zidane was left with [[BigEater Quina]], admitting that they weren't exactly his first choice. Quina took this in their stride, however, thanks to Zidane's choice of words:

* In the poem ''Tich Miller'' by Wendy Cope, the eponymous Tich and the speaker, a classmate whose name is only ever given as "[[EmbarassingNickname Tubby]]", are always the final two "left standing by the wire-mesh fence" as their classmates debate which of them to settle for. As the speaker notes, more often than not, they are the one reluctantly selected as the "lesser dud", and Tich the one left to absolute last.

** The last player actually ''picked'' in a given year's NFL Draft is dubbed "Mr. Irrelevant", who gets invited along with his family to a week's worth of festivities in Newport Beach, CA, and gets the "Lowsman Trophy", which mimics the Heisman Trophy given to the best player in college football but depicts a player fumbling the ball. Most of these players are only known for this "accomplishment", though kicker Ryan Succop (2009) has had a very strong career as one of the league's best.[[note]]It's worth noting that kicker is a position that's generally picked later in the draft anyway (if at all -- many of the best kickers in the NFL have been undrafted free agents), so it's not as surprising as it would be for other positions.[[/note]] Quarterback Brock Purdy (2022) finally defied the "Mr. Irrelevant" odds when he came off the bench due to extensive injuries to the San Francisco 49ers' quarterback roster, leading his team as far as the NFC Championship Game[[note]]he might have taken them all the way had he not seriously injured his elbow in the first quarter[[/note]] and finishing third in balloting for Offensive Rookie of the Year.

** The last player actually ''picked'' in a given year's NFL Draft is dubbed "Mr. Irrelevant", who gets invited along with his family to a week's worth of festivities in Newport Beach, CA, and gets the "Lowsman Trophy", which mimics the Heisman Trophy given to the best player in college football but depicts a player fumbling the ball. Most of these players are only known for this "accomplishment", though kicker Ryan Succop (2009) has had a very strong career as one of the league's best and quarterback Brock Purdy (2022) came off the bench due to extensive injuries to the San Francisco 49ers' quarterback roster, getting as far as the NFC Championship Game and finishing third in balloting for Offensive Rookie of the Year.

** The last player actually ''picked'' in a given year's NFL Draft is dubbed "Mr. Irrelevant", who gets invited along with his family to a week's worth of festivities in Newport Beach, CA, and gets the "Lowsman Trophy", which mimics the Heisman Trophy given to the best player in college football but depicts a player fumbling the ball. Most of these players are only known for this "accomplishment", though kicker Ryan Succop has had a very strong career as one of the league's best.

* The very last scene of ''Loser'' by Jerry Spinelli sees the main character, whose only defining attribute is the fact that he always loses, being picked last. Ironically, he isn't supposed to be picked at all, as the two teams are even, and the antagonist is actually taking pity on him by allowing him on the team.

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** Happens to Rachel in the episode "The One With the Football".
--->'''Ross:''' ''(after Monica passed her over Joey and Phoebe, and Ross himself picked Chandler)'' Sweetie, now I pick you.\\

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* In a ''Machinima/RedVsBlue'' Special, where teams are picked new to match the new location, Sarge's first pick is Simmons who blurts out, in the most happy way imaginable, "First! I've never been picked first!"

** On the other hand, generations of British schoolchildren have come away convinced that Picking On The Fat/Nerdy/Weird Kid is a core module taught to trainee PE teachers at their training colleges.

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Compare TheBenchwarmer.

* Mentioned in the Music/WeirdAlYankovic song "That Boy Could Dance", whose title character is totally inept at everything in life except dancing.