Just another lazy lonely New Years Eve for me!
No New Years toast, or midnight kiss.
No trip to Times Square, or party of friends.
No Cristal or Scotch or Slow Gin Fizz.
Just my laptop, my Sports Blog, and the ten best Games or Sports Events of 2007.
In chronological order:
1) The Indianapolis Colts Win Super Bowl XLI
With a light steady mist trickling down in Dolphins Stadium, Indianapolis and Chicago did battle in the early weeks of 2007. Billy Joel was done singing, Phil Simms was done analyzing, I was done eating Papa Johns pizza in my Washington Hotel room, and Super Bowl XLI was under way. Manning Vs Grossman, Dungy Vs Smith, Oprah Vs Letterman. Super Bowl XLI was very competitive thru the first two quarters, and at halftime, the Colts lead the Bears 16-14. But the second half was all Indy. MVP Peyton Manning lead his offense to victory scoring 13 more points in the second half winning 29-17.
2) Golden State’s Warfare
I had no idea who Bryon Davis was at the start of the 2007 NBA playoffs. After watching him thru a few quarters I thought of him as basketball’s version of Kirby Puckett. After watching him thru game six of the first round of the finals, I was stunned by him, and in awe of him! Davis, Stephen Jackson and head coach Don Nelson had shocked the NBA world! The Golden State Warriors were the number eight seed, (42-40 record) and the final team to make the 2007 post season, playing against Mark Cuban’s model franchise. The Dallas Mavericks, who were the NBA’s best team (67-15). This David Vs Goliath match up was suppose to be a laugher. But then Golden State won games three and four at home following a spilt in Dallas in games one and two. Up three games to two Golden State came back home for game six and hammered the Mavericks 111-86. Making it the greatest upset in 2007!
3) Lord Arthur’s Ducks
I can still see the brothers Scott and Rob Niedermayer skating around the ice in Anaheim California’s Honda Center with the Stanley Cup raised above both of their heads. In just five games of the 2007 Stanley Cup final, the Anaheim Mighty Ducks defeated the Ottawa Senators. It hardly compared to the seven game final from the year prior, which I had witnessed first hand. But none-the-less the Carolina Hurricanes passed the Stanley Cup on to The Mighty Ducks.
4) Old West over King Lebron
Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker, and of course Tim Duncan paved the way for the San Antonio Spurs to sweep Lebron James, and the Cleveland Cavilers in the 2007 NBA Finals. Although games one thru three were blowouts, Cleveland was desperately trying stave off defeat in game four. With a 81-79 Spurs lead in the closing seconds, Ginobili killed the clock before being fouled. He made both of his free throws and the Spurs completed the sweep. Players celebrated, fans went wild, and Eva Longoria mobbed Tony Parker. That may very well be my favorite sports moment of 2007. I am a big Eva fan.
5) Modern Day Homerun Proprietor
On Tuesday August 7th while playing at home against the Washington Nationals, Barry Bonds stepped up to the plate at AT&T Park. What he did next was history. For the 756th time in his career Bonds had hit a homerun. Bonds past the all time homerun record, held by Hank Aaron, to become baseballs new all time homerun king. The ball was hit into the right centerfield bleachers and set 43,154 Giant fans into a frenzy. Fireworks lit up the San Francisco night, and confetti poured town from the upper deck. His family and teammates mobbed Bonds at home plate. Baseball’s most prestigious record had its new chapter. Despite my well-documented feelings on Bonds, Major League Baseball has recognized Barry's record and holds it to be true.
6) Tiger’s Decree
Winner of the Fed Ex Cup, Woods won his first PGA event of 2007 (Torre Pines) and his last (East Lake). There were also a few in-between! Tiger continued to solidify his place as the best golfer in the games history in 2007. Now I have received lots of criticism for my less then professional obsession into Tiger’s athleticism. And so, in my attempt to be a nonbiased impartial blogger, I will write nothing further of the tremendous accomplishments of Woods in 2007.
7) Rocky Mountain High
In arguably the greatest streak of games ever won by an organization, the 2007 Colorado Rockies won 28 of their final 29 games to capture the National League Pennant. From September 16th until October 24th the Rockies lost only one single game. (A regular season loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks.) From September 16 up to the World Series, Colorado won 20 of 21 regular season games, a one game playoff in extra innings against the San Diego Padres, a sweep in the Division Series of the Philadelphia Phillies, and a sweep in the Championship series of the rival Diamondbacks. Lead by the calm and witty Clint Hurdle the Rockies captured baseball fans everywhere and made them believers of the Denver dream. Sadly for Rockies fans (and Red Sox haters) the dream ended when the World Series began. Colorado was no match for Boston and lost the series in four games. However the remarkable streak of victories couldn’t be out done by any other baseball story in 2007.
8) The New Malevolent Empire
Lead by the table setters Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis, and followed by power producers David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez, the Boston Red Sox bashed their way to another World Series title. In four World Series games Boston out scored Colorado 29-10. The Sox made quick and easy work of the Rockies. By a final of 13-1 in game number one, it was clear that Boston would over match the Rockies. Josh Beckett continued his post-season dominance in game one. The first game told the tale. And the book was easily judged by the cover. Boston won its second Championship in four years. The only consolation I take from the whole miserable experience as a Red Sox hater, is that the Sox won it all on the road away from Fenway Park. WOOP-DEE-DOOO!!!
9) Celtic Pride
In the mid summer of 2007 the Boston Celtics acquired Kevin Garnett from the Minnesota Timberwolves. The nine-player deal solidified Boston’s place among the top teams in the NBA's Eastern Conference going into the start of the season. As I type Boston is the best team in the NBA with an astonishing 26-3 record. In just under a third of a season, the Celtis have already surpassed their total win record from a year ago. Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett have almost insured Boston it's first NBA title since the Larry Bird era.
10) Paragon Patriots
With a victory over the New York Giants this past Saturday night, the New England Patriots have completed a perfect season, and has become the first team to ever go 16-0 in the regular season. However this sports story remains incomplete with the dawn of the New Year. Now as 2008 commences, the Patriots will start where I began this blog, trying to win the Super Bowl to become the first big sports story of 2008.
