2009 Year in Review: Sports
Sports have always been a huge part of my life. From soccer to hockey to basketball, I've tried it all. At one point my dream was to be a sports agent, nowadays it's to be a sports journalist or to do public relations for a team. 2009 was once again a solid year for sports and these are some of the moments that stuck out in my mind (with a emphasis more on the NBA and Mixed Martial Arts since I just love those two sports too damn much).
Overblown Story of the Year: Brett Favre
Brett Favre retired last season from the Packers only to return with the Jets. After an unsuccessful season with the Jets, there were weeks of speculation on whether he would return to the team or retire. Favre decided to retire, and I thought the Brett Favre circus was finally over. However he decided to un-retire and play for the Minnesota Vikings. This soap opera lasted all of summer and I just about wanted to blow my brains out by the end of it.
Sports Team of the Year: The New York Yankees
Besides the Boston Celtics, there is no team I hate more than the New York Yankees. But as a sports fan you need to give credit where credit is due, and the Yankees had to have one of the most stacked baseball teams I've ever seen. Though they did buy the team, you can't hate on those who have the money for their dedication to winning. They were stacked from top to bottom; A-Rod had his best post season to date, CC Sabathia was one of the most dominant pitchers I have ever seen, and they stayed generally healthy throughout the season. There are sour grapes on my part because they did beat my Angels in the ALCS. It always felt kind of like a "David vs. Goliath matchup" but this time the bad guys won; they don't call them "The Evil Empire" for nothing. And as much as it pains me to say; they were the team of the year with how dominant they were. To commemorate this, here's a picture of A-rod kissing himself...
Knockout of the Year: Dan Henderson KOs Michael Bisping at UFC100
UFC 100 was a milestone for the company and along with it came one of the most explosive knock outs ever seen in MMA. I remember the collective grunt that came from the room like it was yesterday. Gotta love the insult to injury that Henderson adds once Bisping hits the deck.
Submission of the Year: Toby Imada with a "Inverted Triangle" in Bellator.
One of the sickest submissions I've ever witnessed and I have been watching MMA for a long while, what adds effect to the awesomeness that is this submission is the camera angle.
Fight of the Year: Bibiano Fernandes vs Hiroyuki Takaya at Dream.11
Takaya was a heavy underdog in this fight (not to mention the tournament) but it made for a really interesting match, it goes forgotten this year in Mixed Martial Arts because it didn't happen in the UFC, but it was one of the most memorable matches to me personally.
Playoff Series of the Year: Bulls vs Celtics
I don't recall a first round series ever being this intense and emotional. Everyone was at the edge of their seat for each one of these games and it was all around exciting series. Derek Rose made himself a household name and the Celtics willed their team without KG. Side note: KG is the most obnoxious asshole ever.
Dunk of the Year: Dwyane Wade on Anderson Varejao.
Kid you not, this dunk on Varejao made me drop Varejao from my fantasy basketball team. I couldn't bare to have someone on my team that got this emasculated.
Honorable Mention for "Dunk of the Year" Shannon Brown on Mikki Moore.
Let Shannon Dunk! I like to call him "Shamwow!"
Play of the Year: Devin Harris buzzer beater for the win.
I've seen this listed in a couple lists as the 2nd or 3rd best play of the year, but I don't see how that's possible. It's honestly one of the most amazing basketball shots I've ever seen, and I've seen a shitload of basketball in my life.
Mixed Martial Arts Fighter of the Year: Georges St. Pierre.
GSP started off 2009 by beating someone that many consider as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, my favorite MMA fighter B.J. Penn. GSP used his amazing wrestling to break Penn's will; forcing his corner to throw in the towel. Then GSP was featured as co-main event on MMA's biggest stage UFC100 where he dominated who many people considered the 2nd best welterweight in the world. He once again used his superior wrestling to break his opponents will and with that completely deadlocked the welter-weight division. No one even touches GSP at 170.
Individual Athlete of the Year: Manny Pacquiao.
Well it doesn't look like we're going to get our superfight with Mayweather anytime soon, but we definitely know who the best "pound-for-pound" fighter is! Manny came off a 2008 where he dominated legend Oscar De La Hoya in a "Dream Fight" to a great start in 2009 by completely outclassing and knocking out British boxer; Ricky Hatton. Then to end the year, Pacquiao fought and dominated the bigger Miguel Cotto to capture his historic 7th title in 7 weight classes.
Team Athlete of the Year: Kobe Bryant.
Yes, LeBron James captured the 2008-09 season's MVP title and deservedly so, however Kobe captured his 4th NBA Championship Ring as well as the NBA Finals MVP award. Was he content with that? No. Kobe went to work again, trained with ex-NBA center Hakeem Olajuwon to work on his post moves. That's what seperates Kobe from everybody else; he's got incredible work ethic, he wants to get better and better no matter how good people already feel he is, and he's played through injuries the past 3 seasons but he hasn't missed a game because of his will to win. Kobe ended 2009 with a couple incredible game winning shots as well. He won't stop 'til he's known as the greatest of all time and that's something that everyone has to admire.
Here is an epic Kobe video, highlighting his career the past 3 years.
And here's a song that 'Lil Wayne made about Kobe if you've never heard it before. It's one of my pump up jams!
Stay gold.
-Juicy Justin.
Overblown Story of the Year: Brett Favre
Brett Favre retired last season from the Packers only to return with the Jets. After an unsuccessful season with the Jets, there were weeks of speculation on whether he would return to the team or retire. Favre decided to retire, and I thought the Brett Favre circus was finally over. However he decided to un-retire and play for the Minnesota Vikings. This soap opera lasted all of summer and I just about wanted to blow my brains out by the end of it.
Sports Team of the Year: The New York Yankees
Besides the Boston Celtics, there is no team I hate more than the New York Yankees. But as a sports fan you need to give credit where credit is due, and the Yankees had to have one of the most stacked baseball teams I've ever seen. Though they did buy the team, you can't hate on those who have the money for their dedication to winning. They were stacked from top to bottom; A-Rod had his best post season to date, CC Sabathia was one of the most dominant pitchers I have ever seen, and they stayed generally healthy throughout the season. There are sour grapes on my part because they did beat my Angels in the ALCS. It always felt kind of like a "David vs. Goliath matchup" but this time the bad guys won; they don't call them "The Evil Empire" for nothing. And as much as it pains me to say; they were the team of the year with how dominant they were. To commemorate this, here's a picture of A-rod kissing himself...
Knockout of the Year: Dan Henderson KOs Michael Bisping at UFC100
UFC 100 was a milestone for the company and along with it came one of the most explosive knock outs ever seen in MMA. I remember the collective grunt that came from the room like it was yesterday. Gotta love the insult to injury that Henderson adds once Bisping hits the deck.
Submission of the Year: Toby Imada with a "Inverted Triangle" in Bellator.
One of the sickest submissions I've ever witnessed and I have been watching MMA for a long while, what adds effect to the awesomeness that is this submission is the camera angle.
Fight of the Year: Bibiano Fernandes vs Hiroyuki Takaya at Dream.11
Takaya was a heavy underdog in this fight (not to mention the tournament) but it made for a really interesting match, it goes forgotten this year in Mixed Martial Arts because it didn't happen in the UFC, but it was one of the most memorable matches to me personally.
Playoff Series of the Year: Bulls vs Celtics
I don't recall a first round series ever being this intense and emotional. Everyone was at the edge of their seat for each one of these games and it was all around exciting series. Derek Rose made himself a household name and the Celtics willed their team without KG. Side note: KG is the most obnoxious asshole ever.
Dunk of the Year: Dwyane Wade on Anderson Varejao.
Kid you not, this dunk on Varejao made me drop Varejao from my fantasy basketball team. I couldn't bare to have someone on my team that got this emasculated.
Honorable Mention for "Dunk of the Year" Shannon Brown on Mikki Moore.
Let Shannon Dunk! I like to call him "Shamwow!"
Play of the Year: Devin Harris buzzer beater for the win.
I've seen this listed in a couple lists as the 2nd or 3rd best play of the year, but I don't see how that's possible. It's honestly one of the most amazing basketball shots I've ever seen, and I've seen a shitload of basketball in my life.
Mixed Martial Arts Fighter of the Year: Georges St. Pierre.
GSP started off 2009 by beating someone that many consider as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, my favorite MMA fighter B.J. Penn. GSP used his amazing wrestling to break Penn's will; forcing his corner to throw in the towel. Then GSP was featured as co-main event on MMA's biggest stage UFC100 where he dominated who many people considered the 2nd best welterweight in the world. He once again used his superior wrestling to break his opponents will and with that completely deadlocked the welter-weight division. No one even touches GSP at 170.
Individual Athlete of the Year: Manny Pacquiao.
Well it doesn't look like we're going to get our superfight with Mayweather anytime soon, but we definitely know who the best "pound-for-pound" fighter is! Manny came off a 2008 where he dominated legend Oscar De La Hoya in a "Dream Fight" to a great start in 2009 by completely outclassing and knocking out British boxer; Ricky Hatton. Then to end the year, Pacquiao fought and dominated the bigger Miguel Cotto to capture his historic 7th title in 7 weight classes.
Team Athlete of the Year: Kobe Bryant.
Yes, LeBron James captured the 2008-09 season's MVP title and deservedly so, however Kobe captured his 4th NBA Championship Ring as well as the NBA Finals MVP award. Was he content with that? No. Kobe went to work again, trained with ex-NBA center Hakeem Olajuwon to work on his post moves. That's what seperates Kobe from everybody else; he's got incredible work ethic, he wants to get better and better no matter how good people already feel he is, and he's played through injuries the past 3 seasons but he hasn't missed a game because of his will to win. Kobe ended 2009 with a couple incredible game winning shots as well. He won't stop 'til he's known as the greatest of all time and that's something that everyone has to admire.
Here is an epic Kobe video, highlighting his career the past 3 years.
And here's a song that 'Lil Wayne made about Kobe if you've never heard it before. It's one of my pump up jams!
Stay gold.
-Juicy Justin.
posted by justin xavier enriquez at
4:40 PM
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