Over the past week or so, all I've seen is people wanting 2016 to just go away, mainly because of the number of celebrities that have died this year (to which I say, don't a lot of celebrities die every year?). I don't want 2016 to end, though. Because 2016 has been a great year in sports. Some have called it the best ever, which is high praise. I'm not willing to go that far, but 2016 was pretty memorable. For a number of reasons.
Let's start with the remarkable championship moments. For the first time ever, we saw two different teams come back from 3-1 finals deficits to win a title. And both titles were historic. LeBron delivered his promise to bring a championship to Cleveland...after the Cavs completed their comeback against a Warriors team that set a record for wins. The other championship comeback also involved Cleveland. This time it was the Indians blowing the lead against the Cubs, who snapped their 108-year curse in one of the most memorable World Series in quite some time.
The NCAA championship game was also one we're going to remember for a long time, as Villanova's Kris Jenkins hit that winning three-pointer at the buzzer to give the Wildcats the title. Breanna Stewart, meanwhile, finished her outstanding UConn career with a fourth straight national title, making her the first basketball player (men or women) ever to do that. Then she was taken No. 1 in the WNBA Draft and won Olympic gold in Rio. Not a bad summer.
Speaking of Rio, the Olympics that were destinend to be "a disaster" according to anyone you asked prior to the Games happened, and they went off successfully. The Russian doping crisis loomed over the Games (then took on a life of its own in the ensuing months). But no one caught Zika and no one was a victim of a crime (despite what Ryan Lochte would've had you believe).
In Brazil, Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt further confirmed their status as two of the greatest Olympians of all-time, while Simone Biles and Katie Ledecky look primed to step right into the shoes of those two legends. There were plenty of other inspiring stories that came out of the Rio Games, none more so than the presence of the Refugee Olympic Team. And Rio also saw the successful reintegration of rugby and golf into the Olympic program.
All of the pre-Olympic talk about the return of golf centered around how many of the top players were withdrawing and "didn't care." Justin Rose quickly dispelled anyone of that notion. So did the U.S. Ryder Cup team, which had that dominant victory to reclaim the Cup for the first time since 2008. "Dominant victory" also applies to Jimmie Johnson, who captured his seventh NASCAR Cup title, joining legends Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt for the most ever.
Euro 2016 gave us the great stories of the little guys like Iceland, Wales and Northern Ireland going head-to-head with Europe's traditional powers and, for the most part, coming out on top. In the end though, it was one of those traditional powers, Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal, that emerged victorious. Throw that in with Real Madrid's Champions League crown, and it was a pretty good year for the world's best player (I now concede that distinction to him after Messi choked in the Copa America final). Real Madrid's Champions League crown was far more expected than Leicester City's Premier League title. The unlikeliest of champions, they started the season as a 5,000-1 longshot to finish atop the table.
Of course, there were plenty of off-the-field stories that caught our attention. The Russian doping situation took on a life of its own, and it claimed another victim when Maria Sharapova received a suspension for using Meldonium at the Australian Open. We can't forget about the embarrassment that was Ryan Lochte's lies, a story that hijacked the second week of the Olympics, either. All the news surrounding the NFL, whether it be Colin Kaepernick's anthem protest to concussions or TV ratings, seemed to be negative. Although, we did also get to celebrate football's return to LA, as the Rams came home after 21 years in St. Louis. And we had the NBA and MLB reach new labor deals without work stoppages.
We also said goodbye to some legends in 2016. Muhammad Ali, Arnold Palmer and Gordie Howe, arguably the greatest of all-time in their respective sports, passed away. We also lost Pat Summitt, possibly the greatest women's basketball coach of all-time, as well as eccentric broadcasters Craig Sager and Bud Collins. And Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez was taken way too soon.
A number of legends said another form of goodbye in 2016, as there were a number of high-profile retirements. Peyton Manning won the Super Bowl, then called it a career. Meanwhile, Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan both hung it up, guaranteeing a packed house when they go into the Hall of Fame together in five years. Three if Kevin Garnett is inducted with them. David Ortiz, the greatest DH in history, won't torment the Yankees anymore, either. Tony Stewart ended his NASCAR career, too. And Michael Phelps officially ended his remarkable career with six more Olympic medals.
Two legendary sportscasters went out in style, as well. After 67 years as the Voice of the Dodgers, Vin Scully called his final game on the last day of the regular season...and he went out with a farewell message that exemplified everything about what make him such a revered figure and the gold standard. Verne Lundquist was given a similar sendoff, as the red carpet was rolled out at every SEC school throughout the season. And rightfully so. Because Verne Lundquist is just as beloved by college football fans as Vin Scully is by baseball fans.
What does 2017 have is store? I have no idea. But I can't wait to find out. What I do know, though, is that after what the last 12 months have given us, 2017 has a lot to live up to if it has any hope of matching 2016's excellence.
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