How could one man's availability turn the NBA up-side down? Well despite the fact that the Lakers and Celtics are probably the two best teams in the league still, LeBron James signing with the Heat is the biggest thing to happen to the league since The Big Three was formed in 2007. Not only does LeBron make the Heat one of the league's elite teams for years to come, but his decision has given his peers the idea that their careers are in their own hands, and they can play wherever they want and with whoever they want.
Obviously that last statement only applies to those relevant enough to be coveted by both their current teams and their hopeful teams (cough Melo), but I think this move will create a trend in the league where superstars will align and create a greater gap between the good teams and the bad teams. I can't only credit LeBron for this. I'll get on Chris Bosh and call him a follower all day, but realistically he could've tried to be the man somewhere else and win a championship without two better players than him on his team, but he made a smart move and went where he thinks the championships are going to go...to LeBron and Dwyane Wade. (Note: Before making his decision, Chris Bosh said he wanted to go to a team where he would be "the man," as if that wasn't the situation in Toronto where he couldn't lead metal to a magnet, just saying).
LeBron and Bosh made what they believed to be smart business decisions, as did Amar'e Stoudemire and Carlos Boozer, but this past summer we read about Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, Tony Parker, and other All-Stars wanting to follow the trend. With collective bargaining coming up and the argument of whether the NBA is a Players league or an Owners league, it should be interesting to see how LeBron's decision effects the NBA on a greater scale than the success of the Miami Heat...which is already being felt (they're 15-1 in December).
2) Michael Vick...from Most Wanted to Most Valuable?
Some may know him as Ron Mexico, but in 2010 he's number seven in the playbooks and number one in your hearts...too soon? He loves animals, he loves watching film, and he's still unstoppable...what's not to love about Michael Vick? After letting Donovan McNabb go to a divisional rival, Philadelphia Eagles Coach Andy Reid must have really believed in his quarterback. That quarterback was Kevin Kolb. Kolb lead the Eagles to 2-3 in games he played in 2010, the Eagles are now 10-5, Vick has a 100.2 QB Rating, you figure the rest out. (Sometimes I feel like I'm writing Stuart Scott's script...)
Heading into the final week of the NFL season, it looks as if the Eagles will secure a home playoff game. They're one of the youngest teams in the league, but they're being lead by an MVP candidate (although Brady's pretty close to a shoe-in) and the best story in sports. I'm sure people are still rooting against Michael Vick, and it's tough to feel bad for a criminal, but it's awfully nice to see him taking advantage of his talents and surpassing the legacy he left behind before things went bad. I'm still rooting for the Jets, but if Vick wins a Superbowl the planet might explode.
3)Tootles to Brett Favre
To all of you cynics who can't understand the over-the-top Brett Favre coverage every time he sneezes, wake up! There's this much coverage for Brett Favre because he's been one of the main faces of sports for the last two decades almost. You know who gets the best ratings on Monday Night Football? Brett Favre's team. And not for nothing, but the Vikings made the NFC Championship last year, he flamed out with the Jets, but he made the NFC Championship with the Packers the year before that too. I know at times he seems washed up, but he's still been one of the most effective athletes on the planet. This year however, he's definitely seemed washed up and it seems he knows it.
Don't get me wrong, I'm sick of the guy like almost everyone else, but I think it's sad that this is his last season. I hope that his games played streak ending will be remembered more than this TMZ story involving Jenn Sterger (as guilty as he may or not be, he didn't have an affair, he didn't offend the person his actions were intended for, and he didn't commit a crime, let it go). I mean, I just find it so remarkable that this man played at the level he did in 297 straight games. I think that Cal Ripken Jr's consecutive baseball games played streak is impressive, but Favre has been knocked out of two games this season alone, and he's taken that kind of beating since 1992 and gotten up and come back to play the next week every time. He's 40, he's banged up, but he's also one of the all-time greats, and truly has played until he couldn't play any longer. Thanks for the memories Brett, now please don't make me write this again a year from now.
4)Cliff Lee doesn't go to the Yankees...twice
It's hard to complain about anything when you're a Yankees fan, and I'm not making any case for me or my people, but Cliff Lee reportedly being traded to the Yankees in July (obviously didn't happen) only to be really traded to the Rangers, and then signing with the Phillies in December are two of the most impactful things to happen to baseball this year. Lee helped lead the Rangers to the World Series, and will most probably be a part of the Phillies dominance in 2011. It's hard to imagine one player being so important to the whole MLB, but in this case Cliff Lee really was and is.
5)Jimmie Johnson's Five-Peat/Zenyatta's Quest for Perfection
Here's one that I doubt anyone reading will care about, but two stories that must get some sort of acknowledgment as far as big stories in sports go. I think in order to fully understand how important these two stories were, we have to put them in context with their own sport.
Jimmie Johnson had won four-straight Sprint Cup Championships (the NFL Playoffs, World Series, Stanley Cup - of NASCAR) heading into this season, and it looked like his dominance was coming to an end in 2010. Johnson failed to finish four races last season, but won six and finished in the top five in 17 races. He trailed Denny Hamlin for pretty much the whole season, including heading into the the Final Race of the Sprint Cup, but a second place finish secured Johnson his fifth-straight championship. Five-straight titles is the NASCAR record (it was previously three), and Johnson only needs one more title in his career to tie Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty with seven championships. This is GREATNESS people.
From great racing to...great racing. Zenyatta entered November's Breeder's Cup Classic a perfect 19-0, looking for her second straight Breeder's Cup win. To the countries disappointment, the Philly came up a head short in her quest for perfection. A female who absolutely blew away her male counterparts the past two years, Zenyatta was named to O Magazine's 2010 O Power List, and was featured in W magazine, on top of the national recognition she received from sports media. If she would have won her last race this story would be slightly more impressive, but in a sport where dominance isn't prevalent, this story must be recognized and Zenyatta's significance will be felt in the future like that of other great horses.
6)Tiger Woods held Winless
For the first time in his 15-year PGA Tour career, Tiger Woods failed to win at least one PGA tournament this past season. Woods streak at Number 1 in the golf rankings also came to an end in November...after 281 weeks at the top. Woods has lost his number one ranking five times in his career, and hopefully for Tiger, number six will be approaching sometime in the future.
I didn't want to discuss Woods off the course drama, but it's hard to imagine that it didn't play a roll in his drop-off. Technically the S hit the fan (like that?) around Thanksgiving of 2009, and I'm not too into the gossip aspect of sports coverage. Tiger's been battling injuries for the better part of the last couple of years, and it seems he has a psychological injury that much like his knee injuries, will just take time to heal. It's not like his work ethic has gone down the tube and the talent around him is passing him by. Tiger had a couple of chances to win in 2010, but his lack of focus and inconsistencies failed him when we're used to seeing him come up big.
Tiger has already stated that he plans on playing in more tournaments in 2011, and I fully expect him to make a recovery and get back that number one ranking sometime sooner than later. And I'm sure he'll end his dry spell too (no pun).
7)Saints go Marching In
This is a feel good story. It's great to have diversity in the NFL, but seeing the Saints go from below average to league's elite under Sean Payton is so incredible after everything the city of New Orleans has been through since August of 2005. Not only did the Saints play incredible football in 2009, but they overcame Peyton Manning and his destiny to be one of the all-time greats, and proved they really were the best the NFL had to offer last season.
Aside from their regular season feats, the Saints played such a great game in the Superbowl. From the offsides kick to start the second half, to the interceptions of Manning, to Drew Brees's execution of Payton's masterful offense, what more do you want out of a Superbowl team? The Saints brought home their first ever Superbowl championship, New Orleans partied, and then New Orleans partied some more. Oh yeah, and the Saints are back at it again in 2010. Who Dey?
8)Cinderella goes Prime Time (Butler)
A five seed out of the Horizon conference was three points away from winning the NCAA Men's National Championship title. As the line between mid-majors and big six programs is fading out, Butler had an unforgettable run that landed them in their backyard, playing for the National Championship. Duke was too much for the Bulldogs, but the run that team made etched its way into tournament history, and will not be forgotten anytime soon.
9)Belichick and Brady...Works Every Time!
"You're kidding me, these guys again?" - Jared Mintz, December 6th. They're 13-2, they're beginning to embarrass their opponents like it's 2007, and Brady's looking like the MVP of the league. Can I get one year to think maybe my team is better? Was that last year and the Jets just didn't take advantage? Damn. I'm not throwing in the towel as a Jets fan, but this team looks completely unbeatable. If they were to get another shot at Cleveland, it would probably be a bloodbath.
10)Cam Newton/College Football Rant
I'll go in order. I don't think we've ever really seen anyone do what Cameron Newton has done this year. That may sound ignorant, but the Auburn star ran for 1,409 yards and 20 scores (10th in the nation) while throwing for 28 touchdowns (10th in the nation) and posting a 188.2 Quarterback Rating (1st in the nation), and he's going to be the reason his team wins the National Championship. Heisman Award? Check. Nike Deal? On the way. First-round draft-pick money? Most likely. Why not definitely?
Because winners have the brains and the talent, and Newton may be lacking the brains. That's not me calling Newton an idiot, I just don't think he has the personality traits to succeed as an NFL Quarterback. This isn't the hate on Cam Newton parade, but his awful career as a student athlete has been in the spotlight all year, and you can't tell me you really believe he's going to keep his newly acquired Heisman trophy. He's attended three institutions, has been in trouble with the law, and it seems that either he or his family have violated NCAA regulations involving money. How many of these guys translate well to the professional level? Have you heard him speak? Tell me a successful quarterback that speaks like him?
This isn't the least bit racially-charged either. It is incredibly difficult to be a successful quarterback in the NFL. Michael Vick had the talent prior to his suspension, but he's more focused on being a team player now and has a better attitude, low and behold we have an MVP candidate. I think Auburn will defeat a very good Oregon team, because it's the SEC's world and we're just living in it. Hate him or love him, Cam Newton has been the biggest story in the NCAA by far this season, but it's been a season I remind you that was missing namebrands like Florida, USC, Texas, Ohio State and Oklahoma.
Which leads me to my next point...is this the season that nobody really minds the BCS? Alabama flopped, nobody emerged from the PAC-10 or Big 12, and even Boise St. lost a heart breaker. Auburn and Oregon coasted to the championship game for the most part, and it doesn't seem that anybody minds that TCU and Wisconsin get to duke it out for the bronze. Sorry to speak so figuratively, but I'm disappointed that the uproar against the BCS is gone this year even if the parity isn't as great as it was the last few seasons.
Maybe if there's a tournament Boise St. gets a chance to redeem themselves and beat a couple of good teams earning themselves legit notoriety. Or maybe Oregon and Auburn each win a playoff game after a bye and play the inevitable championship game. It just seems so much better for the game to open up their postseason. Single-elimination is the way to go; 8 teams, no 6 would even be fine. Six teams, top two get a bye, three rounds, one team emerges, college football becomes beloved by the whole country the way March Madness is embraced.
It could happen...
*Honorable mention goes to the UConn Huskies Women's Basketball team for breaking the UCLA Men's Basketball consecutive wins record. The Huskies actually just lost to Stanford last night, oddly enough the Cardinals were also the last team they lost to before beginning their streak. It was a 90-game win streak that stretched over two years, and it will most likely not be touched by either gender for a very, very long time.
I hope you guys enjoyed the 2010 sports year as much as I did, and stay tuned for a Top 10 storylines to follow heading into 2011. Happy and a Healthy New Year to all...
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