Here are the top five sports events of this year. Of course, it’s my list. Yours might be a little different.
5. The Texas Longhorns, led by an unstoppable Vince Young, won the national championship by defeating USC in the Rose Bowl.
4. The St. Louis Cardinals won the World Series. Take the whole Yankees starting line-up. Give me Albert Pujols.
3. The Lincoln Longhorns won the AISD 7th grade boys basketball championship despite giving up lots of size to most other middle schools.
2. The Key City junior league all-star team won district and then sectionals, earning a trip to Waco.
1. Jason McElwain, who is autistic, finally got into a game after serving for two seasons as a basketball manager for Athena high School and scored 20 points in the last four minutes. As the father of a child who was mentally challenged, I have to make this my #1 sports event of the year.
All right — your list may be different. Others?
Mike,
I like your list and while I might have different sporting events for 2-4 on my list, I have to agree 100% with your choice for number 1!
AZTAD
Let’s see. I ate some M&Ms at one of Julia’s soccer games a few months ago. That was pretty cool. Guess that’s about it for me.
I like to watch Tiger Woods sink that golf ball!
Just to keep everyone honest and the West Coast in sight too, I’d add a couple of events that tie for my first place:
2006 Chargers - Go Bolts!!
2006 Padres - Yeah, Friars!!
How about:
1. The Florida Gators win the NCAA National Championship in football, I mean basketball! Who would have “thunk” it?
2. The (a little prophesy) Gators achieve a “Tiger Slam” defeating Ohio State for the NCAA Championship in basketball, I mean football. I’m so confused.
I included both the Texas/USC game and the McElwain story in my ‘year in sports’. Both Vince and Jason were amazing.
Bobby Knight tied the all time wins for a college coach last week.
Whether you like him or not, he is a humble man about it.
For me, the top sports moment of 2006 would have to be the ecstasy and agony of the ACU men’s cross country team winning its first-ever NCAA Division II National Championship. (if you didn’t hear about, you’re not alone … )
Ecstasy because it was the first such title in school history, and junior Nicodemus Naimadu became just the 6th NCAA runner (in any division) to win 3 straight individual titles. (next year, he’ll most likely become the first NCAA runner to win 4 straight individual titles)
Agony because I covered the ACU XC team for six straight years, with the teams finishing no higher than second. The year I leave, they win it all. Go figure!
My vote is with Steve’s!!! ACU’s Nicodemus is an awesome athlete as well as an amazing Christian man. He is very humble and always willing to sign autographs and visit with young kids about running.
Cross Country doesn’t get alot of coverage, but this team as a whole was simply amazing. It took every individual running their very best race to win the overall team championship. Again, it was the first TEAM NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP in ACU HISTORY! Also,congrats to Coach Derek Hood~ in his second season as the Head Cross Country Coach he wins a National Championship and also gains honors as the Lone Star Conference, South Central Region and National Men’s Cross Country Coach of the year!
Go ACU!!! If you live in Abilene and haven’t seen a basketball game this year, go!! They are also doing very well ~~
Any sporting event that I did not have to attend or watch is at the top of my list! ;-D
your number one for sure was mine too..that was so amazing…it just made everybody shout and smile!
5. I’ll graciously give up a slot for a fellow Lincoln Longhorn, and, I’m still mourning the day the wrecking ball comes to Lincoln, despite the new middle school being named after a life-long friend of my folks.
4. VY running crazy in the Rose Bowl. A close second was watching Abilene area boy Colt McCoy lead the Horns over OU.
3. Tiger Woods - any of numerous moments, but most notably breaking down after winning the British because his dad was not there.
2. The passing of Byron Nelson - the greatest gentleman in the history of sport.
1. The road with Lufkin High football - flirting with a No. 1 national ranking, playing twice on TV - once in a Houston monsoon - and getting knocked out early by an upstart Round Rock team - still smarts.
Gotta love sports lists - can’t wait for 2007. Thanks Mike!
How about the top 5 feel-good sports stories?
5) 19 year old Clemson footballer Ray Ray McElrathbey taking custody of his 11 year old brother Fahmarr and moving him into the dorm with him - despite NCAA protests.
4) Austin Westlake offensive tackle Matt Nader collapsing on the sideline of a game, being revived by his doctor parents, and becoming a spokesman for each HS in Texas having a defibrillator on site.
3) Turkish women soccer team winning the Arthur Ashe ESPY.
2) Everson Walls donating a kidney to former teammate Ron Springs.
1) JMAC!!
I definitely have the Texas win towards the top of my list since I am a huge Texas fan, and will never forget that Vince Young TD run…
I cried when J-Mac won the ESPY- what a beautiful story!!
And even though many people do not consider NASCAR a sport, I am obsessed with it and loved this season…my driver, Jimmie Johnson won his very first NASCAR Nextel Cup championship ever and it was glorious!!
I will also add that watching the ACU football team beat WTA&M in Canyon (which was nationally televised) was AWESOME!! They had one heck of an incredible season and it was fun for all of ACU to get pumped about our football team!!
I am glad you have the Cardinals ahead of Texas!!
No. 5 - Missouri football finally having a decent season and getting back to a bowl game.
No. 4 - Cardinals, Cardinals, Cardinals.
No. 3 - The breakdown of the Yankees in the playoffs
No. 2 - Cardinals, Cardinals, Cardinals. I know, I already said the Cardinals. I like the Cardinals.
No. 1 - Buzz Ball breaking 80 over 18 holes of golf.
The Buckeyes will definitely beat the Gators!
How can you leave off George Mason’s run to the Final Four? I’m not a George Mason fan, but that was, absolutely amazing… once again proving that March Madness is always electrifying.
Also, although it didn’t mean that much to me, Zidane’s headbutt, may be the world’s all-time classic worst sports move.
Well, since everyone else’s list reflects their regional loyalties . . .
Numbers 5 to 1 (in chronological order):
5. The New Orleans Saints hire Sean Peyton as head coach.
4. The Saints 2006 draft produces at least three starters, AND Reggie Bush.
3. The Saints beat the Atlanta Falcons in their first game back in the Superdome after Hurricane Katrina.
2. The Saints beat the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football (A passing of the torch of “America’s Team”?).
1. The Saints beat the New York Giants to solidify their claim to a playoff spot and put them in a position for a first-round bye.
Of course, the team’s remaining achievements will have to go on the 2007 list.
Maybe not top of the list, but it was pretty cool hearing Al Michaels recently recognize the first Harding University football player in the NFL!
Go Tatonka!
Gary,
The Saints will have to do something before they are America’s Team. Like beat SOMEBODY in the playoffs or win, I don’t know, one superbowl. Team of the South, maybe, not America’s team.
#1 sports event, 4 and 5 with 26 seconds to go. VY runs to fame.
AHS beats CHS 42-0 gotta love that
Sorry coog fans
oops I guess that was in 05 this year was much closer AHS by only 10
46-36
Those of us in Tennessee are pretty excited about Vince Young’s turning of the tide for our wavering Titans! I must admit I wasn’t too fond of him last year, though.
The long, dark days of really medicore Alabama football (known unaffectionately as “Shula-ball”) are over. I’m sick of my beloved Tide almost winning and looking good while losing. Alabama’s oponent’s are supposed to do those things.
For me the Dodgers’ four-homer comeback was one of the greatest sports moments. Not that I’m a Dodgers fan, but how many times have we all seen our team down by 4 in the ninth and jokingly said, “Okay, all we need is four bombs and we’re right back in it!”?
Google is the best search engine
go tiger woods my home boy!!! stright up g!!! right there!!!
he the best!!!! peace stright up g!!!