2008 in review

It has been a week and you have probably heard all these stories before...but just in case you haven't these are my top stories for 2008. I guess I can go chronologically...

February...The New York Giants win the Super Bowl over the New England Patriots. I guess you could talk about David Tyree and the catch. But I would rather talk about how the Giants were the underdog and the Patriots were the godsends. Everyone thought the Patriots could do no wrong, well everyone...they can!

March...Brett Favre retires (this story will come back to haunt him, the Jets organization, and Green Bay).

March and April...March Madness. As college basketball is my favorite sport and I love to follow it. This time of year is the best in sports. With Stephan Curry and Davidson going through the #2 and #3 seeds. It does help that they were playing close to home. But Curry became a household name and all basketball lovers can see his talent. It was fun to watch Western Kentucky become the Cinderella of the tournament. But in the end, for the first time ever all four #1 seeds reached the Final Four. I loved to watch Kansas beat UNC and then Memphis.

May...Jon Lester of the Boston Red Sox throws a no hitter. In September 2006, Lester was diagnosed with a form of lymphoma. He battled cancer, beat it, and returned the baseball. In May he threw a no hitter against the Royals. I guess you could say this is a heart string story but I think that we spend too much time looking at Lance Armstrong and should realize that their are others who persevere.

June...a pretty exciting month in the US but also in Richmond, VA. Tiger Woods battled Rocco Mediate in the U.S. Open. It took 91 holes to beat him, but Tiger showed again that he is one of the greatest golfers of all time. Tiger said that it was one of his greatest rounds of his career. He had been out of golf for two months prior to the event with a knee injury and you could tell. He limped throughout the weekend, including wincing on big swings and using his clubs as a cane. (Scary thought: Tiger says he is stronger than ever going into 2009).

Also in June, Richmond-native Amir Sadollah wins UFC's reality TV show The Ultimate Fighter. He went on the show as a no-name with no foreseeable chance to win. He surpassed every one's expectations and beat numerous people using his work ethic and refusal to quit. It was fun to watch this Richmond native (and someone that I served at Champps) win.

July...a momentous event in the world of sports, Wimbledon. Nadal and Federer were forever battling and made tennis fun to watch again. I will admit that I did not watch any other match besides theirs but I was excited about this final match up.

August...the Olympics. Everyone will look back at the 08 Olympics and think about Michael Phelps. But there are a few stories that can be talked about with significance in the world and the US. First and foremost, it was a very successful Olympic games though there were many, many naysayers and boy cotters. But all in all China was successful. First...athletics/track and field. While the Jamaicans ruled the short distance races (Usain Bolt setting two world records while slowing down at the end), the US men dominated the 400 sweeping all three medals. The US floundered opportunities in the 4x100 both for men and women, both teams with errors on the exchange of the baton. The US also won gold in the beach volleyball (both men and women) with wins over dominating China (women) and Brazil (men). Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh continued their great success on the beach. Gymnastics was also successful for the US (team silver for the women, team bronze for the men, and all around gold and silver for Nastia Liukin and Shawn Johnson). Lastly, the US men's and womens' basketball teams win gold medals in impeccable fashion. The men dominated their opponents and proved that the single minded athletes of the NBA can play together and be one unit...unlike years in the past.

Oh yeah...also in August...remember that story about Brett Favre retiring, he signs with the New York Jets and Chad Pennington goes to the Miami Dolphins (advantage Dolphins).

September...Tom Brady hurt, Matt Cassel takes the reigns of the Pats, Yankee Stadium closes with no playoffs (the end of the two franchises I love to hate...hahaha)

October...Phillies win the World Series-- noone outside Philly cares.

November...a fun month in college football. With the changing of the rankings each week with Oklahoma, Florida, Texas Tech, Alabama, and Texas putting in their efforts. It was fun to watch and wait for the ranked opponent to lose.

December...back to that Brett Favre story, Favre and the Jets don't make the playoffs, the Packers don't either, but Chad Pennington led Dolphins do. Lions finish the year at 0-16. Completely terrible, hate to see who has to try to lead them next year. The last game in Cowboy Stadium is played, similar to Yankee Stadium it was nice to see a franchise that I hate not make the playoffs. Plaxico shoots himself. De la Hoya loses.

So all in all it was a year to remember in sports...