The Greatest?
After watching one of (if not) the greatest Wimbeldon finals in the history of tennis this past weekend, I now have to ask, “is this the greatest sports year of our generation?” Think about it. Has there ever been a more compelling sports year than 2008 in terms of classics and sentiment? And we’re still only half way through the year! Here’s a brief rundown of some of this year’s highlights:
- February 3rd. The NFL’s greatest Super Bowl ever features the greatest Super Bowl catch ever. The New York Giants pull off one of the greatest upsets in Super Bowl History by defeating the record setting duo of Tom Brady (most TD passes in a season) and Randy Moss (most TD receptions in a season) as well as their (almost) undefeated New England Patriots 17-14. Greatest. Super. Bowl. Ever.
- March 5th. After setting almost every significant passing record in the NFL, including most career passing yards and touchdowns this past year, Brett Favre finally retires after 17 years.
- April 19th. Danica Patrick wins the Indy Japan 300 and becomes the first female to win a major auto racing event. (insert your own women driving joke here).
- June 16th. Tiger Woods wins the U.S. Open in a sudden death playoff against a journeyman fan favorite named Rocco. Not only does Tiger birdie the final hole in regulation to force a playoff, he wins the tournament with a torn ACL in his left knee. A tear bad enough that a few days after his win he undergoes reconstructive surgery on the knee, thus ending his 2008 season.
- June 17th. The Boston Celtics beat the Los Angeles Lakers. Let’s just say I have the moustache to prove it.
- June 28th (a.m.). I birdie the 17th hole and par the 18th to win the last four skins against Matt Gross, Nick Gross, and my mom. A Filipino rejoices.
- June 28th (p.m.). The entire nation of the Philippines rejoices as Manny Pacquiao wins the lightweight title by demolishing David Diaz. A national hero in his homeland, the phenom known as “Pacman” cements his place as the world’s best pound for pound boxer by becoming the first Asian to win a title in four different weight divisions.
- July 7th. Rafael Nadal defeats Roger Federer in an epic five set match in what they are calling the greatest final in Wimbeldon’s history. Nadal becomes the first player since Bjorn Borg in 1980 to win both the French Open and Wimbeldon titles in the same year. Not only does Federer’s quest for a sixth straight Wimbeldon championship end, but so does his record streak of 65 consecutive victories on grass.
So aside from the Lakers/Celtics nightmare, this year’s sports calendar is turning into one of the classics. And we still have the final All-Star game at Yankee stadium (new ballpark coming next year), the upcoming Summer Olympics in Beijing (the U.S. basketball teams mission to regain the gold), the World Series (Dodgers vs. Yankees fingers crossed), and the perfect game I’m going to bowl the same day I hit a hole in one. With all that being said…Greatest. Sports. Year. Ever.
Tags: sports
