Without Futher delay, here are my top ten athletes of 2009:
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1) Santonio Holmes- Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers
2) Angel Cabrera- PGA Masters Champion
3) Sidney Crosby- Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins
4) Kobe Bryant- NBA Finals MVP Los Angeles Lakers
5) Jonathan Sanchez-No Hitter San Fransisco Giants
6) Mark Buehrle- Perfect Game Chicago White Sox
7) Alex Rodriguez- World Series Champion New York Yankee
6) Mark Buehrle- Perfect Game Chicago White Sox
7) Alex Rodriguez- World Series Champion New York Yankee
8) Mariano Rivera- World Series Champion New York Yankee
9) Brett Farve- Quarter Back, Playoff bound Minnesota Vikings
10) Peyton Manning- Quarter Back, Playoff bound Indianapolis Colts
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It looked like an Arizona Cardinal victory in Super Bowl forty-three. All of my family assembled in the Burger Palace, in down town Bloomington, were rooting for Arizona, and now a mild celebration had begun. Then in a stunning turn of events, Ben Rohelisburger charged is Pittsburgh Steelers offensive down the field. The Burger Palace grew silent. In one of the most impressive two-minute drills in Super Bowl history Big Ben had his team on the six-yard line, with a first and goal. Then on second and goal Big Ben lofted a pass into the far corner of the end zone. The lighting fast pass should have sailed out of bounds, and it should have bounced up against the first row of seats. As millions around the world watched Ben’s pass fly deep, two gloved hands emerged out of now where. They were the hands of Santonio Holmes. Holmes, the Steelers wide receiver, was a rising star in both Pittsburgh and the NFL alike. Santonio, caught Ben’s deep pass, showed possession, and then somehow some way dragged the tippy toes of both his feet onto the red painted end zone grass before falling out of bounds. With 35 seconds left in the game, the Steelers had scored the last touch down of Super Bowl forty-three. The catch by Holmes was the play of the season. It made him a Super Bowl Champion, and kicked off 2009’s sports calendar year.
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The 2009 Masters Tournament brought with it an excitment that hasn’t been seen in PGA golf for a long time. All day on Easter Sunday 2009, I kept running back and forth from my uncle’s living room to the kitchen. Pacing back and forth, I kept delivering updates of the action from Augusta to anyone who would listen. As the eighteenth hole approached for the leaders, two very different stories were playing out simultaneously. On one part of the course, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson where battling each other in attempts to make historic comebacks. While their combined efforts fell short, the other story on the course did not. Angel Cabrera, Kenny Perry, and Chad Campbell all battled for first place in Golf’s most coveted achievement. It was a three way dead lock rarely seen in golf period, let alone the Masters Tournament. As Tiger and Phil fell by the waist side, a three-way tie had emerged at the top of the leader board after 18 holes had been played. (The tie, largely due to the back-to-back bogies on 17 and 18 by Kenny Perry.) I had declared Kenny Perry the winner long before the tournament was over and as usual, when predicting things in the world of sports, I was wrong. As the sudden death extra play unfolded, it would be Angel Cabrera who would emerge on top. Cabrera picked off his linked foes one at a time! Campbell was the first to go on the first extra hole. His bogey on 19 dropped him to third place. Then on the second sudden death hole of the tournament Cabrera came out one shot ahead of Kenny Perry. The Green Jacket belonged to the 40 year old Argentinean. His low profile, unexpected path to victory at the Masters, makes him one of golf’s great stories of 2009.
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They absolutely deserve to win! The Pittsburgh Penguins were down 2-0 to the heavily favored Detroit Red Wings in the quest for the 2009 Stanley Cup. The Penguins muscled back to tie the series 2-2, only to fall again (down 3-2 in the series). But when they had to win a game seven on the road in Detroit, it was the Pittsburgh Penguins that had overcome tremendous adversity to win the Stanley Cup. The leader of a once proud historic franchise back on top, is no other then Sidney Crosby. Crosby desperately tried to return to the ice after a crippling injury forced him out of game seven. But the vision of Crosby lifting the Cup high over his head, while skating around Detroit’s Joe Louis Arena is one that will always stick with me in remembering the world of sports in 2009. Crosby, the 22-year-old captain of the Penguins has been pegged as the NHL’s next Wayne Gretsky. Weather or not he will become a Hall Of Fame hockey icon remains to be seen. However a Stanley Cup Championship in just his fourth year in the league, is a very good start.
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“Yeah, but can he do it without Shaq?” “Where would he be without the big man?”
“Until he gets his own Championship, he will forever be in O’Neal’s shadow.”
They are all quotes that had to drive Lakers Point Guard Kobe Bryant crazy.
The feud between Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal has been well documented, since Shaq’s departure from the Lakers in 2004. O’Neal quickly won another NBA title as part of the Miami Heat. However Kobe went on a title-less drought after the 2002 season.
From 2002 to 2009 Kobe remained among the leagues very best players, but could never attain Championship greatness. He tried to force a trade, his antics played out on ESPN. Then finally in 2009 all the pieces of the puzzle finally came together for Kobe and the Lakers. The Lakers plowed through the 2009 playoffs and found themselves in a Championship match up with the underdog Orlando Magic.
In just five games Kobe and the Lakers dominated an over matched Orlando Magic team.
In 23 playoff games in 2009 Kobe averaged 30.2 points a game. He scored 162 total points in the Finals, and was quickly named the finals MVP.
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“Until he gets his own Championship, he will forever be in O’Neal’s shadow.”
They are all quotes that had to drive Lakers Point Guard Kobe Bryant crazy.
The feud between Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal has been well documented, since Shaq’s departure from the Lakers in 2004. O’Neal quickly won another NBA title as part of the Miami Heat. However Kobe went on a title-less drought after the 2002 season.
From 2002 to 2009 Kobe remained among the leagues very best players, but could never attain Championship greatness. He tried to force a trade, his antics played out on ESPN. Then finally in 2009 all the pieces of the puzzle finally came together for Kobe and the Lakers. The Lakers plowed through the 2009 playoffs and found themselves in a Championship match up with the underdog Orlando Magic.
In just five games Kobe and the Lakers dominated an over matched Orlando Magic team.
In 23 playoff games in 2009 Kobe averaged 30.2 points a game. He scored 162 total points in the Finals, and was quickly named the finals MVP.
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He had absolutely no business even starting on July 10th 2009. With absolutely no notice before a Friday night home start against the San Diego Padres, manager Bruce Bochy gave Giant’s pitcher Jonathan Sanchez a shot. Bochy had to scratch the scheduled starter, Randy Johnson, due to shoulder soreness. But as I wrote: Sanchez had absolutely no business starting on the July 10th Giants game. Surely Bochy could have found a better starter. Sanchez had been demoted to the bullpen almost three weeks prior to this emergency spot start. He had not started a game since June 22nd and he had not won a game since May 25th. His 2-8 record, and 5.30 ERA were among the worst on the team. Yet for some unknown reason manger Bruce Bochy went with Sanchez. In another strange turn of events, Jonathan’s father had just flown in from Puerto Rico. Sigfredo Sanchez had never seen is son pitch at the Major League level, and when he boarded his flight there was no guarantee he would see his bullpen occupying son pitch either. All the little variables lining up for Sanchez, spoke to something bigger: his fathers unique appearance, Randy Johnson’s ailing shoulder, Bruce Bochy’s hunch. But just then fate stepped in. Sanchez dominated the San Diego Padres. In a remarkable 110-pitch outing (77 for strikes) Jonathan Sanchez fell just one error short of a perfect game. He faced just 28 batters and picked up the only no-hitter of 2009. After the game he embraced his father who finally saw his son make good on a dream. He also just happened to see him make history too!
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On Thursday, July 23rd 2009, White Sox ace Mark Buehrle pitched a perfect game against the Tampa Rays. With 28,036 fans at U.S. Cellular Field, on the South side of Chicago Buehrle made Tampa’s hitters look lost at the plate. Working mainly with his fastball, and mixing in the occasional curve, changeup and slider, Buehrle needed just 116 pitches to attain perfection. The game lasted just two hours, and three minutes, as Buehrle became just the 18th pitcher in Major League history to retire all twenty-seven batters in a game. Two very honorable mentions go out to Buehrle’s perfect game, are his manager and center fielder. Manager Ozzie Gullien substituted defensive Center Fielder Dewayne Wise in the top of the ninth inning. Wise made a spectacular catch for the first out in the ninth inning, robbing Gabe Kapler of a certain extra base hit. Two batters later Buehrle had achieved “baseball immortality” to quote Yankees radio announcer John Sterling. The win propelled Buehrle to an 11-3 record on the year. But unfortunately for Mark and the sox, it would prove to be the last highlight in a disappointing season. Mark’s perfect game was one of the legendary moments of 2009.
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On May 8th, Alex Rodriguez stepped into a batters box for the first time in 2009 in Camden Yards in town down Baltimore. Alex had missed the Yankee’s first 28 games recovering from hip surgery. Originally, the Yankees feared A-Rod’s hip surgery would to cost him the entire 2009 season. Orioles starting pitcher Jeremy Guthrie had two runners on base, with one out as A-Rod began his season. Guthrie’s first pitch was an 89 MPH fastball, about belt high on the inner half of home plate. A-Rod swung at the pitch with tremendous speed and force. The ball was launched high and deep to left. It landed in the left field stands. It was Rodriguez’s first hit, first homerun, and first three RBI’s of the year. It was just the start of a magical season for A-Rod, who finally became the most dependable and clutch hitter in baseball. Alex hit .286, with 30 homeruns and 100 RBI’s. He homered in his first at bat of the regular season, and in his last at bat as well. But his post-season numbers are the real reason for his appearance on my list. He hit .387 with 6 homeruns and 18 RBI’s in 15 games that mattered most. All the more remarkable is that 5 of his 6 homeruns came in games that the Yankees were losing at the time. They went on to win five of the six games. He is baseball’s highest paid player, the highest profile athlete in New York, and now in 2009 he is finally a World Series Champion.
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All September long I was growing more and more concerned about the post-season reputation of Mariano Rivera. His surgically repaired shoulder, it receding hair line, his frail looking body to go with his 37 year old life all scared me moving forward to October’s playoff baseball. After all, Mo and I are the exact same height, yet he weighs 50 pounds less then me. So what did Mo do in 2009? He remained the iconic figure in professional sports he has always been. Revolutionizing a sports position that remains in its infancy, Mo is without a doubt the Babe Ruth of relief pitchers. I might have been scared for Mo, but he put all my fears and all Yankee fan fears to bed with awesome ease.
Joel Sherman, in his book, Birth of A Dynasty, called Mariano Rivera the weapon no other team in baseball can match. Tom Verducci wrote in Sports Illustrated “Mo’s blessed right arm is like the hammer of god.” And teammate Alex Rodriguez said of Rivera: “To me, he's the greatest modern day weapon I have seen or played against. He has been the heart and soul of the New York Yankees dynasty."
I could sit here and write up stats until I’m blue in the face, about Rivera’s 2009 season. But here are the only two that really matter: Mo closed out the 2009 All-Star game in July, insuring an American League victory yet again. And he gave up just a single run in 12 post-season games versus the Twins, Angels and Phillies combined. Rivera picked up five saves in his 16 innings of playoff work. Just after the World Series Rivera said he plans on pitching another five years. I will continue to worry, but the Sandman seems to always put my worries to bed.
Joel Sherman, in his book, Birth of A Dynasty, called Mariano Rivera the weapon no other team in baseball can match. Tom Verducci wrote in Sports Illustrated “Mo’s blessed right arm is like the hammer of god.” And teammate Alex Rodriguez said of Rivera: “To me, he's the greatest modern day weapon I have seen or played against. He has been the heart and soul of the New York Yankees dynasty."
I could sit here and write up stats until I’m blue in the face, about Rivera’s 2009 season. But here are the only two that really matter: Mo closed out the 2009 All-Star game in July, insuring an American League victory yet again. And he gave up just a single run in 12 post-season games versus the Twins, Angels and Phillies combined. Rivera picked up five saves in his 16 innings of playoff work. Just after the World Series Rivera said he plans on pitching another five years. I will continue to worry, but the Sandman seems to always put my worries to bed.
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I hate Brett Farve!!! “I’m retired, I’m not retired, I’m retired, and I’m not retired!” Those of are the wondrous quotes from the two-year saga known fondly as the Brett Farve show. This is the kind of off the field nonsense that infuriates me! What a player does when he is not performing should never ever make a headline in sports, unless its charitable work! Yet for the last two NFL off-seasons the Brett Farve show, of no substance or content has kept ESPN busy, and fans annoyed. Then this past August came Farve’s signing with the Minnesota Vikings. All I kept thinking about was Fave’s interception in the NFC Championship game against the Giants two years ago. It was his very last play as a Green Bay Packer. I figured there were many more plays just like that one in store for Farve in Minnesota. Boy was I wrong! I hate to admit it but I have to give credit where credit is due. Farve has lead an above average Minnesota team to near Super Bowl contention. Brett led the Vikings to an 11-2 start through the first 13 Minnesota games. Only two teams were better through 13/16th of the NFL season (The two other teams: The 13-0 New Orleans Saints and the 13-0 Indianapolis Colts.) Brett has passed for over 3,800 yards this season. He has thrown 29 touchdowns with only 7 interceptions. (Stats valid through December 27th.) Weather you love him or hate him, (I’m sticking with the hate) Brett Farve’s ability to lead an offense and quarter back, remains at the top of the NFL. Brett turns 41 this October, but I wouldn’t rule out a return for his 20th season in professional football. But first Brett will likely retire a few more times.
I hate Brett Farve!!! “I’m retired, I’m not retired, I’m retired, and I’m not retired!” Those of are the wondrous quotes from the two-year saga known fondly as the Brett Farve show. This is the kind of off the field nonsense that infuriates me! What a player does when he is not performing should never ever make a headline in sports, unless its charitable work! Yet for the last two NFL off-seasons the Brett Farve show, of no substance or content has kept ESPN busy, and fans annoyed. Then this past August came Farve’s signing with the Minnesota Vikings. All I kept thinking about was Fave’s interception in the NFC Championship game against the Giants two years ago. It was his very last play as a Green Bay Packer. I figured there were many more plays just like that one in store for Farve in Minnesota. Boy was I wrong! I hate to admit it but I have to give credit where credit is due. Farve has lead an above average Minnesota team to near Super Bowl contention. Brett led the Vikings to an 11-2 start through the first 13 Minnesota games. Only two teams were better through 13/16th of the NFL season (The two other teams: The 13-0 New Orleans Saints and the 13-0 Indianapolis Colts.) Brett has passed for over 3,800 yards this season. He has thrown 29 touchdowns with only 7 interceptions. (Stats valid through December 27th.) Weather you love him or hate him, (I’m sticking with the hate) Brett Farve’s ability to lead an offense and quarter back, remains at the top of the NFL. Brett turns 41 this October, but I wouldn’t rule out a return for his 20th season in professional football. But first Brett will likely retire a few more times.
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He is quickly becoming one of the game’s most idol figures of all time. The only thing that eludes him is multiple Super Bowl rings. He is smart and inventive. His reflexes are inspiring, and his adaptability is like no other. But his results are what make him the very best. He is of course Indianapolis Colts Quarter Back, Peyton Manning. The last week of 2009 was not exactly a great one for Manning. It was only the second time in 2009 that a Peyton Manning took a lost on a football field. No other team or sportsman can say that, but in the calendar year that was 2009, Manning only lost two games!!! *(First loss was January 3rd in the AFC playoffs to the San Diego Chargers. The second loss was last Sunday to the New York Jets. Manning was removed from the game in the third quarter.) Moving forward Manning’s Colts will be the top seed in the AFC, and he will be in a great position in 2010 to pickup another Super Bowl ring. But his accomplishments in 2009 make him a top figure!
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Thats It! Now I'm going to bed! Wake me up in 2011!
