Top Sports Moments of 2018
- Jan 5, 2019
- 11 min read
© Micah Veldkamp, 2018
After a 2016 that was the stuff of nightmares for this sports fan, and a 2017 that saw my favorite team of my life win it all, 2018 was (subjectively) a year of, "Eh." None of my favorites won titles this year; and in fact, no team I even really liked won. But, the only teams I really don't like that ended on top were Alabama football and Real Madrid, and I've just come to accept those two winning titles as annual events. Besides, there were enough results like North Carolina beating Duke twice, Liverpool beating Manchester City thrice, and Germany losing to Mexico and South Korea, to keep me sane this year.
However, my personal opinion doesn't matter all that much in the context of this piece. I will do my best to take off my fan cap, and assume the role of the objective, uninvolved sports reporter.
First, several noteworthy events that just missed the list (in chronological order):
Jordan Poole keeps eventual runners-up Michigan alive with this shot
Liverpool's Cinderella run to the Champions League Final
The Cavs and Warriors both rally in thrilling Conference Final Game 7s to set up Round 4 in the NBA Finals
England actually wins a penalty kick shootout in the World Cup
Alexander Ovechkin and Washington Capitals get first-ever Stanley Cup
Serena Williams reaches Wimbledon Final less than a year after giving birth
Cleveland Browns win their first game in 635 days
Red Sox and Dodgers play 18 innings in the World Series
Texas A&M and LSU play 7 overtimes
The emergence and dominance of Patrick Mahomes
Kyler Murray-- a baseball player -- wins Oklahoma's 2nd straight Heisman Trophy
Now, the true top 10:
10. Return of the Djoker
Last year saw the return of probably the two greatest ever to play tennis, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, who won all 4 of the Grand Slams. In 2018, those two split the first two majors, the Australian and French Opens. However, around the midyear point, the tide turned, and another member of the famed Big 4 had his resurgence: Novak Djokovic.
Djoko had completely fallen off the grid the year before, as his best result all year was a Quarterfinal finish in the French Open. Some theorized his career had fallen off completely, especially when the earlier majors once more did not go his way. However, after a marathon
victory over Nadal in the Wimbledon semis, the great Serb rolled to a victory in the Final, and then compounded that with a dominant dash through the U.S. Open a month later. It's a welcome return to form for another one of the all-time greats, and Djokovic moved into a tie with Pete Sampras for the 3rd-most Grand Slams of all time.
9. Loyola-Chicago reaches the Final 4
2018 saw one of the maddest March Madness tournaments we've ever seen-- more on that in a bit. Without a doubt, though, one of the best embodiments of that was little Loyola-Chicago's success.
The Ramblers, representing a school who likely tends to live in the shadows of Northwestern and the University of Chicago, were playing in their first tournament in 33 years. Not only were they underdogs as an 11-seed, they were dropped in what was universally accepted as the most difficult bracket. The South Region featured the #1 overall seed, Virginia, as well as trendy Final Four picks SEC champion Kentucky and Pac-12 champion Arizona. But, with the aid of their instant-Internet-sensation supporter, Sister Jean, Loyola reached the 2nd weekend of the tournament behind back-to-back buzzer beaters. In the Sweet 16 and Elite 8, they outmuscled Nevada and Kansas State (two Cinderella bids themselves) to become only the 4th double-digit seed to ever reach the Final 4. In the Final 4, they still asserted themselves quite well, taking a lead into halftime against heavy favorites Michigan, before eventually being overpowered. But even if the Ramblers came up short of the national title, they provided one of Sports' most thrilling runs this year.
8. Chloe Kim dominates
In a Winter Olympics full of juicy compelling storylines, none captured America's conscience like that of Chloe Kim. The Californian, at the old age of 17 years, actually had probably been the best female halfpipe snowboarder in the World for several years, but, despite getting a Silver medal at the Winter X Games in 2014, was too young (at 13) to qualify for the 2014 Olympics. So, the young'un patiently waited her turn and boy did it pay off:
Li'l Kim didn't just win the Gold Medal and become the youngest Halfpipe winner ever, she did so by absolutely demolishing her competition. Her run was so inspiring, it provoked a nationally-televised shoutout from Frances McDormand when the latter won her Academy Award for Best Actress. Kim then returned the favor in hilarious fashion when she went on to win Best Female Athlete at the 2018 ESPYs.
7. Super Bowl LII
Ever since Seattle's obliteration of Denver in 2014, we've been on another run of thrilling Super Bowls; few have been as fun as the most recent one, the 52nd Super Bowl. The two #1 seeds in the NFL met in Minneapolis' gorgeous new stadium, and with both team featuring high-octane offenses and talented-but-inconsistent defenses, the game promised plenty of fireworks. Boy, it did not disappoint.
Philadelphia jumped on New England early, and never looked back, widening their lead just before halftime thanks to a gutsy trick play. The defending champs punched back throughout the 2nd half, though, eventually taking their first lead with 9 minutes left in the game. It was the Eagles who got the last laugh, though, with a touchdown with 2 minutes left to reclaim the lead, and a sack-fumble of Tom Brady that essentially sealed it. Philadelphia secured their first ever Super Bowl title, and was a deserving champion. Their win was a cathartic one for everyone suffering from Patriot fatigue, but the game itself was also a win for every neutral fan just hoping for a wonderful game of football.
6. Atlanta United conquers the MLS
In Major League Soccer's 22-year history, I'm not sure there's been a bigger success story than Atlanta United. The expansion club, who joined in April of 2017, was seemingly dead upon arrival. 'Why?', American soccer fans wanted to know, 'Why would the MLS put a new team in the one corner of the U.S. that doesn't have strong soccer fandom, in a city that's already notorious for having bad sports fans?' Add in an uninspiring team name and crest, and it appeared the South's first major soccer team in 16 years was doomed to fail. Then, the 2017 season happened, and Atlanta United captivated the nation by smashing attendance records, featuring raucous crowds and appearances by Atlanta rappers, and oh by the way, playing some really good soccer. Their dream debut season ended in disappointment in the MLS playoffs, but in 2018, United showed they were not a one-year wonder. Thanks to the the leadership of decorated manager Tato Martino, veteran experience in defense, and a young, exciting attack, Atlanta soared through the regular season, finishing 2nd-best in the league. Young Venezuelan forward Josef Martinez was named MLS MVP and broke the regular-season scoring record. This momentum carried over to the postseason, where the Five Stripes blistered through the Eastern Conference to set up an MLS Cup Final at home.
I love the Portland Timbers, but was there any doubt how the Final match was going to go? True to form, Atlanta controlled proceedings, and in front of an absolutely electric crowd of 73,000+, won 2-0 to bring home the trophy in the club's 2nd year of existence.
5. Croatia in the World Cup Final
Just edging Atlanta out for the best soccer story of the year, though, is Croatia. The 2018 World Cup was chock full of upsets and Cinderella stories, including stunning quarterfinal runs by Sweden, and by hosts Russia. But nothing from this summer, not even some of the breathtaking goals and saves on display, was as memorable as seeing, Croatia, a nation with the approximate population of Los Angeles, in the World Cup Final. It's not as if 'The Blazers,' or Zatreni, lack the talent to make such a run impossible. Midfielders Luka Modrić and Ivan Rakitić star for Real Madrid and Barcelona, respectively, and forwards Ivan Perisić and Mario Mandzukić are stars in Italy's Serie A. But, even before taking into account the years of that very talented core underachieving in major tournaments, you don't expect a nation of Croatia's size to be good enough to reach a level such heavyweights as Brazil, Germany, Argentina, Spain and Portugal wouldn't reach. Nevertheless, that's exactly what the men in the checkered jerseys did, in incredible fashion. First, Croatia soared through the Group of Death, dispatching Nigeria, Iceland and Argentina by a total score of 7-1. Then, they progressed through the knockout stages in thrilling victories over Denmark, over Russia, and finally, over England in one of the matches of the tournament.
Sadly, Croatia's magical run didn't have the fairytale, as they fell to the ridiculously talented young France team in the World Cup Final, 4-2. Still, as you can see in the video above, it meant enough to the small country just to even be on that stage.
4. The 2017-18 College Football Playoff
Despite the entire regular season taking place in 2017, all college football playoff games were played last calendar year. On New Years Day 2018, Big XII Champions Oklahoma and SEC Champions Georgia played one of the greatest football games in recent history. In the Rose Bowl semifinal, Heisman winner Baker Mayfield and his Sooners looked like they were going to blow the doors off of Georgia, blazing to a 31-14 halftime lead. But whatever juice the Bulldogs drank at halftime seemed to work, as they scored 24 unanswered to take a 4th quarter lead, then rallied after two straight Oklahoma scores to tie the game with a minute left. One overtime wasn't enough to settle things between the #2 and #3 teams, because of course it wasn't, but in double overtime, the Bulldogs' special teams and backup Runningback proved to be the difference.
But the story doesn't end with the 2018 Rose Bowl. Because later that night, #4 Alabama upset #1 Clemson in the Sugar Bowl to set up an all-SEC affair for the National Championship. Alabama and Georgia were neighbors, rivals, conference foes, and 2 of the best teams in America, yet they were meeting for the fist time...in Atlanta. It was too perfect. And the final game didn't just live up to the hype, it exceeded it. Following in the manner of the previous year's Super Bowl LI, the red-and-black team from Georgia dominated proceedings for the first 3 quarters. Then, just like the Patriots before them, the dynasty team (Alabama) began to assert themselves in the 4th quarter, and like the Falcons before them, Georgia began to stumble and take their feet off the gas. A chip-shot field goal by Alabama would have won them the title at the buzzer, but the kicker's stunning miss provided further drama. If you're not a college football fan, I won't spoil the ending for you, but enjoy the 2nd batch of highlights from the sport's most entertaining postseason in years:
3. Ogunbowale at the buzzer....x2
Few sports in America have seen autocratic rule the way Women's College Basketball has. The University of Connecticut has won 10 national titles since the turn of the century, and has only missed the Final Four 3 years during that stretch as well. But, one year removed from a massive upset loss in the Final Four thanks to a buzzer beater, the Huskies would face dejá vu in 2018, thanks to top-seeded Notre Dame and more specifically, Arike Ogunbowale:
That moment was incredible, and very well might have cracked the Top 10 on its own. But there was still a championship to play, and two nights later, Notre Dame faced a top-seeded Mississippi State side determined to avenge their Championship loss the year prior. The two dueled to a classic back-and-forth affair, much like the Irish had done with Connecticut previously. But, just like they had done already, in a tied game late on, Notre Dame found their Junior star Ogunbowale in the corner. Once more, she did this:
Incredible.
2. Las Vegas Knights play in Stanley Cup Final in their 1st year of existence
Much of what was written about Atlanta United could be written as well about the Las Vegas Golden Knights. When the NHL announced their first expansion team in 17 years, one would not think of Las Vegas as the destination. After all, ice hockey is not exactly synonymous with the desert. Yet, people (including myself) were unprepared for how ready Sin City was to host a professional sports team. The Knights played consistently to roaring crowds at the T-Mobile Arena, and why not? As it turns out, the brand new team was pretty damn good. But before we get there, we have to acknowledge the Knights' start. The new team played their home game just 9 days after the tragic Las Vegas shooting that was the deadliest such event in American history. I don't think it's inappropriate to say sports are often a source of relief and inspiration to a grieving community, and the entire NHL season wouldn't see as remarkable a moment as when the Golden Knights took the floor in Paradise, Nevada for the first time. That emotional support, along with, you know, a very talented team, took Vegas to uncharted territory: the first expansion side in history to play in a Stanley Cup Final in their first season ever. That they fell short against the Capitals in the final stage was a disappointment, sure, but do you think the Vegas faithful were any less excited about their new beloved team? If so, you'd be incorrect.
1. UMBC beats Virginia
There's a very simple reason the most recent Men's Basketball Tournament was considered the maddest of Marches. It wasn't seeing two #13 seeds in the second round. It wasn't seeing two #9 seeds in the Elite Eight. It wasn't seeing #11 Syracuse take down title favorite Michigan State. It wasn't even just seeing Loyola-Chicago in the Final Four. No, the moment that will reign forever took place on the tournament's second day, when 16th-seeded UMBC took down #1 Virginia.
Perhaps you might need some context on how momentous this was. In the 33 years of the 64-team tournament, a 16-seed had never taken down a 1-seed. There were some close calls, to be sure, but at the end of the day, 1-seeds were 135-0 coming into 2018. In my lifetime, I'd seen the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs win World Series, I'd seen Cleveland win a professional title, I'd seen the Philadelphia Eagles win the Super Bowl, I'd even seen Leicester City win the Premier League. But I can confidently say I never expected to see this happen; this was the final frontier in sports.
And it didn't just happen. It happened BIG TIME. Virginia may not have the name recognition of bluebloods like Kansas, North Carolina, Kentucky and Duke, but there was little doubt they were the best team in America last year. They were the top overall seed in the tournament, and one of the only teams in the country that had showed virtually no weaknesses, combining their typically stifling defense with sharpshooting from players like Kyle Guy and Devon Hall. UMBC wasn't one of these upstart 16-seeds we've seen in recent years; they were one of the weakest teams in the field. They finished 2nd in the America East conference, relying on a conference tournament upset to even get in the Big Dance, and just a month before the Virginia matchup, lost by 30 points to Albany. Yet, on March 16th, the teams were equal....for one half. Then, in the 2nd half, the Retrievers of UMBC showed they were more than just equals, positively wiping the floor with the shellshocked Cavaliers. Everyone from the fans, the commentators, to the teams themselves seemed to be waiting for the moment everything would click back to normal and Virginia would close the gap and pull out the win. But that moment never came, and sports history is forever changed because of it. It's worth reliving, obviously:
I can't wait to see what 2019 has in store for us. Like most years before it, it sure has a tough act to follow!
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