1/2/09
2008: The Year That Was
Happy new years to all the faithful reader out there. I couldn't let 2008 go by without recapping everything that happened. Some say it was the greatest year in sports ever, maybe. That's quite a profound statement to make, though. Either way, it certainly was a great one with ups and downs and everything in between. So read up, and see who won what in 2008.
(A moment of your time to plug this column)
2008 saw the beginning of this column, and hopefully in 2009 we'll see this column sprout some wings and take off. If you've enjoyed the articles and the posts, spread the word. Email the page, tell people about it, do whatever. Also, following the blog (through email subscription is the best), and commenting on the blog lets me know what you like and don't like. But most importantly, thanks for your readership. But enough about me.
Innovation of the Year
Runner-Up: The Uno
It's described as a one-wheeled motorcycle (“uno” roughly translates to “one” from Spanish) that might change the future of transportation, when in fact it has two wheels and hasn't made it over speeds of 15 mph. But the real reason it makes this list is because it looks so eerily similar to this mode of transportation.
Winner: The Wildcat Formation
The Dolphins came into 2008 having gone 1-15 and nearly no expectations for this year. But when they realized Chad Pennington had the same arm strength as anyone else on the team, they decided to get creative and we were introduced to the Wildcat at the NFL level. Not only did the Wildcat help springboard the Dolphins into the playoffs, but it also meant this man might actually get another shot in the NFL.
Storyline of the Year
Runner-Up: Summerville High School Basketball Team
I first heard this story as an Outside the Lines report on Sportscenter. You can find it on Youtube in two parts here and here. The story is just begging to be made into a movie. It's like Coach Carter and Glory Road had a baby while on emotional steroids. But in all seriousness, watch it and you might just cry non-stop, except for the ten or so seconds where you need to go from part one to two.
Winner: Michael Phelps going for 8 Golds in Beijing
Sure, we all know by now that Phelps did it. But on August 8 during the opening ceremonies, no one knew if he could defeat the record set by the man with one the world's greatest mustache. Then we saw how dominant he was, and just when we thought Phelps winning eight was a given and that the real question would be if he could win eight AND set eight new world records, we get treated with this doozie of a finish. Easily some of the most exciting moments of the summer. Now the only question is how he'll do in London in three-plus years.
Scandal of the Year
Runner-Up: Male Politicians
To be fair, not all of them were naughty this year, but three come to mind that really lit-up the news feed for poor behavior this year. Eliot Spitzer, John Edwards, and Rod Blagojevich should all be happy that 2008 is in the past. First, Spitzer's prostitution controversy (and great headlines like this one) became so widespread it became the premise of the Law and Order season finale, then we find out Edwards had been cheating on his wife (who is sick with cancer), and finally Illinois Governor Blagojevich tries to sell the vacated seat of President-elect Barack “The Rock” Obama to the highest bidder. These bad apples were almost enough to make us forget about one of the greatest Presidential races in recent memory. Almost, but not quite.
Winner: China
Maybe the biggest question heading into the 29th Olympiad, aside from how quickly Phelps could film a Rosetta-Stone commercial (less than a minute!) was if China could clean up their act in time to play host for best athletes in the world. No one could have predicted the absurd stories that would come up over the next 17 days. China couldn't even get out of the $300 million opening ceremonies scot free. There was the uneasy flexing of China's manpower muscles with their version of a drumline, then the “theatrical animation” (read: fake) walking fireworks through the city of Beijing, and then China showed the world what they do to ugly children when they went all Wife Swap on us with the singing girl and another prettier girl. Then the games started, and we find out a number of China's gymnasts may or may not have been of age to compete. I think it was this girl or maybe this girl. It was so long ago I have trouble remembering now.
Team of the Year
Runner-Up: The Housing Lenders
I'm grouping together all the banks that gave out bad loans, the insurances corporations (think AIG), and Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac because together, as a team, they sent America into the worst financial tailspin since the Great Depression. If I'm Jerry Jones, I hire all those guys as “special assistants” for the Cowboys to teach my players the benefits of teamwork.
Winner: Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Lose a prefix, gain a pennant. Yes, I know that they dropped the “devil” in their name, but I hear that every time they hear themselves referenced in the media as the “Devil Rays” they send out a letter requesting that that media source refer to them as the Rays. If I get that letter in the mail, 1) I'll feel good knowing the Devil Rays consider me as a member of “the media” and 2) I will, within seconds of opening the letter, scan and post that letter to this column.
Punchline of the Year
Runner-Up: The $700 Billion Bailout
In 2008, how many times do you think you've heard the bailout used as a joke for anything, from the Yankees to the Detroit Lions to every Top 10 on Letterman, since the bailout passed? Not sure? Probably about 700 billion times. (Ba-Zing!)
Winner: Barry Bonds
Apparently Barry Bonds still believes he can get a job with a major league team. I use the word “apparently” because despite all the negativity surrounding Barry Bonds and all the media circus he would bring with him to any team (and the ridiculous rocks it would take for an owner or GM to sign him), ESPN still decides to run him on the Bottom Line and their list top stories. I wonder if I could tell ESPN I was still looking to be signed by a major league team and get the same media coverage. I think we have about the same chance. Also, this man is looking for public speaking gigs, preferably weddings.
Ass of the Year
Runner-Up: Al Davis
One of the biggest flaws in today's NFL is that there are no checks and balances for owners in the league. The NFL is run like a mini-government, but the owners have near ultimate control over their own teams, especially when it comes to the coaching staff and non-player personnel. It's too bad because you end up with good coaches (Mike Shanahan, Eric Mangini, Rod Marinelli) getting fired while bad owners keep their jobs and continue to make bad mistakes. None were worse this year than the way Grim Reaper-in training Al Davis fired Lane Kiffin, then lambasted him on Sportscenter. Doing that interview with Davis must have been one of Trey Wingo's top ten worst TV experiences. The look on his face was a cross between the first time someone watches 2 Girls 1 Cup and when someone finds out this guy was just in the bathroom stall before you.
Winner: Brett Favre
In 2008, Brett Favre has personally burned the following people: The Packers organization, the Packers fan base, the Jets fan base, the Jets players, Patriots fan base, and the couple from Florida who named their twins Brett and Favre. I'm glad someone on the Jets finally spoke out about how bad Favre was playing. No other player, at any other position, would still be on the field after consistently making that many turnovers over so many games. How quickly would Reggie Bush or Adrian Peterson be taken out of the game if he fumbled and turned over the ball three times a game over the last three weeks of the season?
Letdown of the Year
Runner-Up: Big Brown's Trainer Rick Dutrow
Runner-Up: Big Brown's Trainer Rick Dutrow
When describing his horse's chances of winning the Belmont Stakes and consequently the Triple Crown, we were treated to such memorable quotes as, “I feel like it's a foregone conclusion”, and “It's even possible that the couple of days [he missed] will work to our advantage,” and even, “I like my horses chances in the water against the Phelps guy.” Hm...
Winner: Chicago Cubs
After the Red Sox and White Sox both broke their curses before their 100th anniversaries, every Cubs fan must have thought this really was their year. The Cubs may even have thought it too, after they stormed out of the gate, through the season, and into the playoffs with the best record in the NL. But then they disappeared in the playoffs. I can't remember the last time I saw a team come out so flat with so much riding on their performance. Perhaps thinking that this was the BCS and finishing with the best record meant you were automatically in the World Series. Oops.
Underrated Story of the Year
Winner: The US Ryder Cup Team
After the euphoric high of the US Open and the news of Tiger's injuries, it seemed like America had had its share of golf. Lost in the wake of this was the bi-annual Ryder Cup tournament. The big news was that Tiger wasn't there, but the real story was because of his absence, the US team could finally gel to become a real team and win for the first time since 1999. Led by Paul Azinger and a mix of veterans like Phil Mickelson and Stewart Cink, and then virtual unknowns like Bubba Watson and (ahem) Anthony Kim, the US finally brought back the trophy in the greatest moment in American history since Joey Chestnut first beat Kobayashi back in 2007.
Performance of the Year
Runner-Up: Randy Pausch's Last Lecture Speech
So the well-read followers (or those who check Wikipedia) may know that Randy Pausch delivered the famous “Last Lecture” speech in September 2007. But still, Pausch passed away in 2008 (and I didn't find out about the speech until this summer) so I'm putting him in this year. Not much else I can say about the speech that hasn't already been said. Watch it here on Youtube.
Winner: Tiger Woods at the U.S. Open
The box score at the end of the third round showed Tiger in the lead at -3, but it didn't show it took Tiger two eagles and a birdie to get there. Then it took a swirling put on the 72nd hole to force Rocco Mediate to a 18-hole playoff, and the rest is vintage Tiger. (If I had a separate category for it, I'd give Mediate the award for “Least chance of winning despite holding a lead”. He'd be right up there with The Mets anytime they turned it over to the bullpen and the Buffalo Bills in any game they held a lead at one point). As if the golf itself wasn't good enough, we later find out Tiger played the tournament struggling a bum leg, bum knee, Evian bird flu, and whatever disease Benjamin Button has. Remarkable.
Game of the Year
Runner-Up: World Series Game 5
Bud Selig must really enjoy the spotlight. In 2002 he cemented the MLB All-Star game's reputation as meaningless when he called the game in the 11th inning as a tie. Then with the Philadelphia Phillies a win away from clinching the World Series, Selig allows play to continue through weather not seen since the Perfect Storm, until finally suspending play when the Rays tie the game The game would be restarted 2 days later. Playing a mini-3 ½ inning game was cool, but my only question for Bud Selig is this: If he knew he wasn't going to call the game early and award the game to either team, why did he wait for Philly to blow its lead and let the Tampa Bay Devil Rays (there it is again!) tie it up? I can understand not wanting to end a World Series because of rain, but Cole Hamels must have felt slighted when they finally stopped play. All was made good though as Philly ended up winning the game and the series.
Winner: Federer vs. Nadal at Wimbledon
Every sport has a few stars, which hopefully develop into rivalries, that will impact the younger generation of the time and get them hooked on a sport. Basketball had it back in the 80s with the Celtics-Lakers rivalry fueled by Bird vs. Magic. Baseball always has Boston-New York, and hockey is hoping that Crosby-Ovechkin will materialize into something good. Federer-Nadal is one of those rivalries that can springboard the popularity of a sport, and especially when they play each other in such epic fashion. Just when it looked like Rafa would beat Federer easily in three sets, we realize why Federer was ranked #1 for 237 consecutive weeks and he battles back to a fifth set (with two tiebreak sets!) and it all culminated in classic win-by-two fifth set. I don't care whether you consider yourself a fan of tennis or not. If you're a fan of sports, you have to be able appreciate the magnitude of that match.
Biggest Question Mark for 2009
Winner: What will happen to the superstars in 2009?
Can Sydney Crosby and LeBron James become to the new Gretzky and MJ of their leagues by winning a championship? Can Peyton and Eli carry their teams through the playoffs and doom us with an all-Manning Super Bowl, which will likely destroy all television sets just days before the transition to DTV (Get ready! The DTV-transition happens on February 17, 2009!). Will Tom Brady or Tiger Woods recover from their season-ending injuries and return to their all-world form? Who will make more public appearances this year: Michael Phelps or Miley Cyrus? Will the writers of Lost really pull a fast one on us and end the series saying it was all just a dream Jack had while sleeping on an otherwise ordinary plane ride? All that and more in 2009!
0 Have an opinion? - Click Here to Comment!: to “ 2008: The Year That Was ”
Post a Comment