Top Sports Events of 2016
In the long list of awful, horrible things that happened in the year of 2016, the events of the sports world can not be included. I personally experienced a brutal year of fandom, as was documented here, here and here. However, as an objective sports viewer, I can not deny the sheer quality sports held for the everyday fan this past year. Thus, I will do my best to take off my fan cap, and assume the role of the objective, uninvolved sports reporter. Here is my take on the top sporting events of the year.
First, a few noteworthy events that just missed the list:
-Army ends slump against Navy in thrilling game
-Seattle Sounders win city's first MLS Cup, making it 2 straight for the Pacific Northwest
-Alabama and Clemson play a phenomenal College Football Championship game
-Kentucky and North Carolina play a college basketball game for the ages
-Aaron Rodgers throws his second of two Hail Mary Touchdowns of the seasons, this time in the Playoffs
Now, the top 10:
10. Portugal Wins Euro 2016
I don’t think it’s too subjective to say it was hard to really pull for this Portugal team. They whine, they flop, and in this tournament, they played ugly, defensive football throughout (despite being blessed with a plethora of attacking talent). That being said, this was an incredible run. Portugal is a perennial contender, but with Ronaldo they probably sat behind 8 sides in odds. When their star went down 15 minutes into the Final match against favored hosts France, nobody could have expected that they would cling on to extra time, and end up winning the trophy in that stage. It was a remarkable testament to team play and perseverance that earned Portugal their first major international trophy.
9. Iceland’s Euro Run
That being said, the real story of this tournament was Iceland’s remarkable run to the quarterfinals. The tiny Scandinavian nation, competing in their first ever major tournament, was expected to finish fourth, maybe third in their group with Portugal, talented Austria and hard-nosed Hungary. Instead, they opened their account with a stunning 1-1 draw with the eventual champions, another draw with Hungary, and a thrilling late victory over Austria. You just read the word thrilling, now hear what that sounds like:
Iceland continued their unexpected success with what may go down as the biggest result in their history: a 2-1 Round of 16 victory over England. Though the clock struck midnight in the quarterfinals with a 5-2 demolition by France, Iceland’s endearing fanbase, complete with their thunderclap Viking cheer and hilariously hyperbolic newspaper, made for one of the more inspiring and heartwarming stories in sports.
8. “The Game”
If you’re a Michigan fan, if you’re an Ohio State fan, if you’re a college football fan— whatever. This is the best rivalry in the game, and this particular matchup was worthy of it. It had everything: prominent coaches! Hard-hitting defenses! Offensive stars! Officiating controversies! Overtime! At the end of the day, this was the moment that sent the Horseshoe into pandemonium and sent the Buckeyes into the Playoff:
7. Kobe’s Last Game
Ideally, a legend retires after leading his team to a championship, and rides off into the sunset amidst the confetti and trophy presentation. For Kobe, ending his storied career on a bad Lakers team that missed the playoffs seemed ill-fitting. But scoring 60 points and leading that team to a comeback win in front of a raucous home crowd, and then giving a signoff speech that concludes with “Mamba Out” ? That works all right.
6. Peyton’s Super Bowl Sunset
It was like Kobe retiring, except Peyton did ride off in glory, and his farewell speech was an odd unofficial endorsement of Budweiser. Though it’d arguably be more accurate to say the Broncos won the Super Bowl despite Peyton, rather than because of him, this victory was without a doubt about Peyton Manning winning his last game. He did, and got to do what so many greats couldn’t: retire a champion.
5. The US Performance at the Summer Olympics
I don’t often feel overcome with national pride, but when I do, it’s at the Olympics. The USA Olympic Team, by and large, took any sort of drama out of these games by winning a lot, and winning bigly. Phelps, like Peyton before him, retired a champion with a 4th straight incredible Olympic performance. Simone Biles and Katie Ledecky took the world by storm by dominating everything. Those were obviously not the only examples of athletic prowess in Rio, but those women’s performances were the kinds of times when you just feel blessed to watch athletes in their prime.
4. Villanova’s Buzzer Beater Championship
I didn’t watch the video. It still brings tears to my eyes and I’m not ashamed to admit it. But, removing my lifelong, agonizing Tar Heel fandom from the equation, even I have to admit that this was the best College Basketball Championship we have seen in many, many years and among the best ever. Two teams at the top of their game. A thrilling comeback capped off by a stunning equalizer 3-pointer. If that wasn’t enough, a full-court rush culminating in a buzzer-beating jumper for the underdog team. It just doesn’t get any better than that. Unless you’re a UNC fan.
3. Cleveland Gets Their Title
After decades of futility, Cleveland finally broke through and won a major sports championship. But the story’s not as simple as that: they won it in the most unlikely of circumstances. The Cavaliers trailed the record-setting Golden State Warriors, arguably one of the best teams ever 3 games to 1. Golden State had three chances, two of them on their home court, to close out the Finals. And yet, seemingly out of nowhere, the Cavs tied the series at 3 apiece, and fought tooth and nail in a thrilling Game 7 to snag the Finals in the final minute. It was an instant classic, and an enormous cathartic release for a city that had gone over 50 years without a championship.
2. Leicester— LEICESTER!— Wins The Premier League
In terms of pure unlikeliness, this may never be topped as the greatest Cinderella story ever. Yes, ever. In all of sports. In case you’re not familiar with the story or the context: Leicester had 5000 TO 1 odds to win the League preseason. 5000. TO. ONE. They weren’t even in the Premier League two years ago. This is a professional league that is ALWAYS dominated by big-money clubs like Chelsea, Manchester United, and Manchester City. And yet, Leicester took to the top of the Premier League Table early in the season and never relinquished their control. Nobody, not even the wildest Leicester fan, could have seen it coming.
1. Cubs Win!
Sure, it doesn't have the unlikelihood of the Leicester triumph as the Cubs were actually expected by many to be the best team this year, but still-- the CHICAGO CUBS WON THE WORLD SERIES. I mean, what?! Not in my lifetime did I think the most famous curse in all of sports would be reversed. And what a way to do it: trailing 3 games to 1, forcing a thrilling Game 7 (does this sound familiar), and just when it looked like they were going to blow it in the most classic Chicago Cub fashion, they rallied together and pulled off a nailbiting win for the ages. Game 7 has been billed by many as the greatest baseball game ever; and really, would you have the Cubs end years of misery any other way?
Watch this:
Then this:
I don't know about you, but I can't wait to see what 2017 has in store for us sports fans.