As Super Bowl weekend draws near, our contributors at Grad School Sports put together a list of their NFL position rankings. Please voice both your agreements and disagreements in the comments section. As always, please email us at gradschoolsports@gmail.com if you wish to be a contributor. Let’s start with the most important position on the field, the Quarterback.
In potentially the most iconic win of Tiger’s career, “final round red” has never been so fitting. As Woods walked off the 18th green moments after winning the 2019 Masters and capping one of the greatest comebacks in sports history, he flipped his putter to the ground. Seconds later, Woods lifted and hugged his son, Charlie, bringing back memories of the emotional embrace that a young Tiger and his father, Earl Woods, shared at Augusta after Tiger won his first Masters 22 years ago.
This past year was a major season, no pun intended, for Tiger Woods. Woods beat out Dustin Johnson, Xander Schauffele, and Brooks Koepka by one stroke to attain his fifth green jacket and card his 82nd PGA Tour win. Amidst Tiger’s final putt, an NBC Golf Channel announcer stated “A Return to Glory.” There is simply no other way to put it. In one of the most emotional finishes in tournament history, the 43-year-old Woods—playing like his young self in his 1997 win at Augusta National—came from behind to win the 83rd Masters Tournament by one stroke. Woods’ fifth Masters win moved him past Arnold Palmer, and puts him one behind Jack Nicklaus for the most green jackets in PGA history.
As a big Tiger Woods fan, this was without a doubt one of my favorite career highlights of him—one that I will never forget. Growing up in an era where I get to watch the greatest golfer to ever walk the greens win his fifth Master’s Tournament and get his 82nd win is an honor I will cherish forever. Every single PGA Tour player’s life has been, in some way, impacted for the better (or worse if you’re below Wood’s name on the leaderboard). From a young Rory McIlroy watching Tiger on his dad’s TV in Ireland to an accomplished Brooks Koepka praising Woods’ talented career, Tiger Woods will forever be an icon to the game of golf at every level.
THERE GOES DAVIS!!! DAVIS IS GOING TO RUN IT ALL THE WAY BACK!!! THEY’RE NOT GONNA KEEP THEM OFF THE FIELD TONIGHT!
Even just by reading, you can hear, in your head, these words being proclaimed loud and proud in an ecstatic deep southern accent by Auburn sportscaster, Rod Bramblett, that gives you goosebumps as you recall the moment when, in the 2013 Alabama- Auburn rivalry game, Alabama attempted the last second 57 yard field goal that would literally just fall short and would project Auburn into the last National Championship of the BCS era. It is one of those moments where people remember exactly where they were and what they were doing when it occurred.
The “Kick Six,” as it has become popularly known as, while an incredible play in it of itself, can not be fully appreciated without some background information to help people fully grasp the significance of that play. First off, Gus Malzahn was in his first year of his head coaching career at Auburn, and had managed to turn an Auburn team that went 0-8 in conference play, in the previous year, to being a national title contender in the next, all in one year. The manner he did so was incredible, squeaking out wins by a score or less against multiple division opponents (24- 20 Mississippi State, 30-22 Ole Miss #24, 45-41 at Texas A&M #7), and just the week before Alabama, Auburn kept their championship hopes alive as QB Nick Marshall, on 4th & 18, with 36 seconds left, from their own 27 yard line, lobbed up a pass that was deflected off a Georgia DB but then fell into the arms of Auburn receiver Ricardo Louis for the go ahead, winning score that would send Auburn into the Iron Bowl 10-1 against undefeated Alabama for a shot at the SEC Championship and a National Championship.
Never before had an end of season rivalry game, with its history and hate already embedded into it, have so much riding on it, on a national stage. Alabama had cruised into Jordan- Hare Stadium on an 11-0 record, crushing the competition with hopes of a 3rd national title as in as many years. Auburn, while hoping to keep its miraculous season going, was projected as the underdog, at home by 10 ½ points, with most of the country picking Alabama to go in and win and preserve their undefeated season. However, once the game began, point spreads and predictions fell to the wayside as two collegiate heavy weights started trading blows as there were multiple lead changes. The game remained tight and tied going into the 4th quarter before Crimson Tide senior quarterback, A.J. McCarron, threw a 99 yard TD pass, the longest play in Alabama history, to super star wide receiver, Amari Cooper, to go up 28-21.
GIF by Bleacher Report
With 2:32, the Auburn defense made a critical stop on their own 27 yard line, as they blocked Cade Foster’s, senior Alabama kicker out of Southlake, TX, 3rd FG attempt that day, which would’ve put the Crimson Tide up by 2 possessions and made the game nigh impossible for Auburn to come back in. After six consecutive hand offs to Auburn RB Tre Mason, Nick Marshall finally pulled the ball back and sprinting to his left, drew the Alabama defenders in pursuit of him, and then tossed it to a wide open receiver Sammy Coates for a 39 yard touchdown pass, tying the game up at 28-28 with 32 seconds left. Auburn had executed the 2 minute drill to perfection and now looked poised to take the game into OT.
GIF by Bleacher Report
But then, Alabama running back, T.Y. Yelden, on 2 consecutive draw plays against Auburn in the prevent defense, ran all the way to the Auburn 38 yard line and stepped out of bounds when the clock showed 0:00, and it looked like Auburn would force the game into OT. However, Nick Saban fiercely argued that Yelden had been pushed out by Auburn cornerback, Chris Davis (recognize the name?), with a second remaining, and after further review, the clock was reset to 0:01, much to the angst of the Auburn crowd. To everyone’s surprise, Saban elected to go with a 57 yard FG attempt instead of a Hail Mary, and to everyone’s further surprise, sent in redshirt freshman kicker, Adam Griffith, instead of the starting senior, Foster, to conduct the kick. And here, the stage has now been set for the most dramatic and memorable sports moment of the decade.
Adam Griffith lined up for the kick and made a very decent kick, just falling short of the goal post into the waiting arms of deep return man Chris Davis, the same Chris Davis that had forced out T.Y. Yelden out with 1 second remaining that had set up this situation. Once Davis caught it, the rest is history as he returned the ball for 109 yards, sprinting past the Alabama players and tightroping the sideline, to send the Auburn Tigers into the SEC Championship, past the vaunted defending back-to-back nation champion Crimson Tide. The call made by Auburn sportscaster, Rod Bramblett, captured and immortalized the moment perfectly:
“ Chris Davis is going to drop back into the end zone in single safety. Well, I guess if this thing comes up short he can field it and run it out. Alright, here we go. 56-yarder, it’s got—no, it does not have the leg. And Chris Davis takes it in the back of the end zone. He’ll run it out to the 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 45—There goes Davis! (White shouts “Oh my God!”) Davis is going to run it all the way back! Auburn’s gonna win the football game! Auburn’s gonna win the football game! He ran the missed field goal back! He ran it back 109 yards! [fans streaming onto the field] They’re not gonna keep them off the field tonight! Holy Cow! Oh, my God! Auburn wins! Auburn has won the Iron Bowl! Auburn has won the Iron Bowl in the most unbelievable fashion you will ever see! I cannot believe it! 34–28! ”
Courtesy of Auburn Football
It was in that moment, when the world became Auburn fans; an improbable, unbelievable season, riddled with comebacks, tight scores, and answered prayers capped off by the most improbable of all victories. A season where being the underdog and rising to the challenge defined who they were and forged them to become who they would be. Too many, this moment and the call made was as iconic as Al Michaels “DO YOU BELIEVE IN MIRACLES” call when another massive underdog team, the 1988 United States’ Olympic hockey team took down the seemingly invincible Soviet hockey team, to put them in the gold medal round and win it all. For Auburn, and many college football fans, this might be the greatest collegiate sports moment of all time, if not in all sports. It was this game where I discovered my love for college football; as a 17 year old junior in high school, looking into the process of college applications for the first, this game set off my excitement for the sport, and while I did not end up going to Auburn (Gig Em baby), the “Kick Six” was burned into my memory for all of time. It is moments like these that makes sports so great. To see the improbable, the impossible being done. To see a collection of young people get together and work so hard, to give so much of themselves, all for just an opportunity, a chance at being great.
#2. New England Patriots Super Bowl LI comeback win against the Atlanta Falcons, February 5, 2017.
Without a doubt, this was one of the most legendary games, and probably the best Super Bowl game in NFL History.
This game featured several records being set, including largest comeback in a Super Bowl (25 points) and the first game to be won in OT.
Video by NFL
Down 28-3 with a little more than two minutes left in the third quarter, the Pats finally scored their first TD of the game. They then went on to have a 19 point fourth quarter, all the while, holding a conservative Falcons offense to zero points.
Video by NFL
The comeback and game itself was so legendary that it is tough to put into words. There’s a number of plays that stick out though; Edelman’s absurd catch (see above), Amendola’s screen pass catch for the two point conversion, James White’s multiple TDs and game winning TD, Donta Hightower’s fumble forcing sack of Matt Ryan.
I remember not being able to sleep until about four in the morning after the game. I couldn’t get over what I had just witnessed and I just kept smiling at the ceiling thinking about Tom lifting the Lombardi Trophy in Goodell’s face.
If you’ve got a free 20 minutes, I highly encourage you to watch the video below.
The night was going better than expected. In a bullpen-driven pitching outing the Astros had held the Yankees to just 2 runs through 9 1/3 innings in Game 6 of the 2019 ALCS. However, with one swing, the unstoppable DJ LeMahieu silenced 43,000 fans by launching a sharp line drive just over the right field fence. I had only witnessed a group of people that large go silent once before: 9th Inning, Game 5 of the 2005 NLCS, Cardinals vs. Astros. A hanging slider from Brad Lidge coupled with the MVP-caliber swing of Albert Pujols sent a shockwave throughout the entire city of Houston. Pujols connected for a towering 455 ft blast that cleared the train tracks at Minute Maid Park and paved the way for a Cardinals victory. Although, the Astros would win the series in Game 6, the long term damage had be done.
14 years later when LeMahieu broke Astros’ spirits with his 9th inning shot, Houston fans experienced flashbacks to that fateful night against the Cards. However, if one man could turn the tides, it was the longest tenured Astro on the team, Jose Altuve. Debuting with the team 9 years ago, Altuve had since amassed 6 all star appearances, 3 AL batting titles, and a World Series victory. If the Astros wanted to put anyone up against the dominate Aroldis Chapman in the bottom of the 9th, I couldn’t think of anyone better than our 5 ft. 6 in. slugger. On Chapman’s 4th pitch of the at bat, Tuve turned on an 84 mph off speed pitch and launched it to left-center. I originally sank in my seat in disgust because it appeared to be a long fly out, but once I saw Brett Gardner turn toward the wall, I knew it was all over. The perennial savior of Houston had come through AGAIN.
Video by Dodgers Highlights
I’m unsure if it was luck or fate that allowed me to be present at both of these landmark games, but one thing’s for sure, the legacy of Joss Altuve will remain in Houstonians’ hearts forever.
As 2019 wraps up in the coming days, so does the second decade of the 21st century. Cole West recently broke down the Top 10 CFB moments of 2019. Here, we’re going to rewind a little further and look at the most dramatic, impactful, and wild moments in college football for the 2010’s. These rankings are far from perfectly objective as different moments and stories stick with all of us differently. Let us know what moments we missed or which ones we over/under-ranked.
#10 UCF’s National Title*
This moment doesn’t make this list for the moment itself, but more because of the implications it will have on college football going forward. In 2015, the Knights were absolutely awful going 0-12 and not putting up much fight in any of their conference games. Things would turn around quite quickly though as Scott Frost and QB McKenzie Milton led UCF to an 11-0 regular season (one game got cancelled due to Hurricane Irma) and a win over Memphis in the American Athletic championship game.
The Knights were left on the outside looking in to the College Football Playoff and had to settle for a Peach Bowl match-up with #7 Auburn. After defeating the Tigers 34-27, UCF would crown themselves 2017 National Champions which would be somewhat backed up by the NCAA and the Colley Matrix (a former BCS ranking algorithm).
2018 was a similar story, as UCF would again go 11-0 with a hurricane-cancelled game and a win over Memphis in the conference championship. And yet again the selection committee refused to take them seriously, leaving them in the Fiesta Bowl against LSU.
The UCF story probably makes your average blue-blood fan pretty uncomfortable because it throws some stones at the system that they have dominated for years. Why call it an FBS championship or playoff system when there are 5 conferences that will never be allowed to compete for the title? As long as group-of-five schools continue to put together impressive undefeated seasons, the current 4-team playoff system will be challenged.
Probably one of the wildest plays of the decade, trailing by three with just seconds left on the clock, Miami lateraled the ball eight times on a kick return that eventually broke loose for a game winning touchdown.
The real story on this play was the officiating, or lack thereof. Initially, there was a flag down for a block in the back on the return team which would have negated the score (correctly so, as you can count at least three and maybe more such blocks on replays). There was also a review to see if a Miami player’s knee was down at one point. After the review, the officials incorrectly concluded not only that the knee was not down but also that the illegal block in question had come from the side and not from behind. Reminder: very few penalties are reviewable and blocks in the back are not one of them.
The touchdown stood and Miami “won.” The ACC ended up temporarily suspending the entire officiating crew and issuing a statement admitting the mistakes. This play has really begun to embody the terrible reputation that ACC refs have come to earn this decade.
#8 Jadaveon Clowney Hit
My unofficial pick for Most Satisfying to Watch Sports play of the decade, words just don’t do justice for this hit from South Carolina DE Jadeveon Clowney against Michigan in the 2013 Outback Bowl. Clowney was already starting to turn some heads, but this play really put the country on watch and was instrumental in earning himself the first overall selection in the 2014 NFL Draft.
#7 Oh he has trouble with the snap!
In college football, there are some coaches who can coach and motivate their teams in big games. Take Ed Orgeron, for example. Since taking over in Baton Rouge in 2016, Coach O has led LSU to a 15-7 record against ranked teams while picking up 11 of those wins over top 10 teams. Then there are coaches who can’t seem to get it done in big games. Jim Harbaugh comes to mind. At Michigan, Harbaugh has a 10-13 record against ranked opponents, beating just two top 10 teams in the process.
Perhaps the most heartbreaking of those losses came in 2015 at the hands of Michigan State. Punting from around midfield with a two point lead and only 10 seconds left on the clock, the Wolverines were all but guaranteed to knock off the 7th ranked Spartans. But we wouldn’t be talking about this game if that were the case. Blake O’Neill fumbled the snap and was swallowed up by Michigan State defenders before he could get any sort of punt off, and Jalen Watts-Jackson took the ball into the endzone as time expired to steal the win and providing the world with one of the more famous surrender cobras of all time:
#6 Texas is Back?
In a wild game against the 10th ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Tyrone Swoopes stretched across the goal-line to win the game for the Longhorns in double overtime. Texas football had been scuffling for the prior 5 years and was slipping from national prominence just six years removed from a trip to the national championship game. A win over a top 10 team to open the year would be huge for getting the program back on track. Thus, thanks to Joe Tessitore, the three-word phrase that has probably been used more than other in college football this decade was born. Texas is back.
The Longhorns catapulted up to #11 in the AP Poll before the country quickly realized that Texas was not, in fact, back. Texas finished the season 5-7, losing to Big 12 doormat Kansas along the way and firing head coach Charlie Strong when all was said and done. It turned out Notre Dame was pretty awful that year as well, as the Fighting Irish finished 4-8.
That one moment has lived on thanks mostly to the large contingent of college football fans across the nation who despise the Longhorns. The phrase does owe some credit for its survival to current Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger and his postgame interview after Texas beat the Georgia Bulldogs in the 2019 Sugar Bowl.
Texas would follow that up by going 7-5 in the 2019 season. Horns down.
#5 Cardale Jones and the 2014 CFP Controversy
The 4-team College Football Playoff system was introduced to produce a more systematic approach to determining a college football national champion with less controversy. So it’s only natural that the first year under the system was steeped in controversy. The controversy was multiplied thanks to the performance of an unlikely hero, Cardale Jones.
Partly famous now for the above tweet, Jones was the third string QB for the Buckeyes at the start of the season behind Braxton Miller and JT Barrett. Thrust into the starting role after Barrett went down with a leg injury in the regular season finale, Cardale Jones led Ohio State in an absolute drubbing of Wisconsin 59-0 in the Big 10 Championship. This gave the selection committee quite the difficult task. It was already pretty well decided that the first three spots in the playoff would go to Alabama, Oregon, and Florida State respectively. The last spot was expected to be given to either Baylor or TCU, whom the Big 12 had somehow declared conference co-champions despite Baylor having beaten TCU head to head. Then the Buckeyes gave the committee an out. Rather than try to disentangle the Baylor-TCU debate, the committee selected Ohio State who went on to win the title, beating Alabama and Oregon along the way.
#4 Iowa State Upsets Oklahoma State with help from Missed FG in 2011
There are very few single plays that have had the same direct impact on the landscape of College Football as a certain field goal in this game did. Ranked #2 in the nation and just two wins from the BCS National Championship game, the 10-0 Oklahoma State Cowboys were having to play just a day after receiving news that a plane crash had taken the lives of the Oklahoma State women’s basketball coach and an assistant.
After giving up a 10 point halftime lead on the road to Iowa State, Mike Gundy, Brandon Weeden, and co. had a chance to take the lead on a 37 yard field goal with less than two minutes remaining in the game. Quinn Sharp only missed 4 kicks (one of which was an extra point) all season, but unfortunately this was one of them. The ball sailed directly over the right upright and the game went to overtime where the Cyclones pulled off the upset. Watch the field goal attempt here.
After throttling Oklahoma 44-10 the following week, Oklahoma St. still lost out on the #2 ranking and a BCS championship berth by the slimmest of margins to Alabama. The controversy surrounding this decision is what sparked the conversation and reformation that brought us the current College Football Playoff system. Not to mention that without this one missed kick, we would have missed out on the rematch of the Game of the Century™, one of the most exciting* national championships in recent memory in which LSU racked up 92 whole yards of offense! (*heavy dose of sarcasm)
#3 Tua Tagovailoa Leads the Comeback over Georgia
While seeing a rematch of an SEC championship game that was just played a few weeks prior was not the most appealing national championship match up, the game itself did not disappoint. Down to Georgia 13-0 at halftime, Nick Saban benched Jalen Hurts in favor of true freshman QB Tua Tagovailoa who led the Tide back in the second half and forced overtime. After the Alabama defense held the Bulldogs to a field goal, Tagovailoa hit DeVonta Smith up the sideline for a dramatic walk-off touch down to claim Alabama’s fifth title in ten years.
#2 Deshaun Watson Sinks Alabama to Win the 2016 National Championship
There is one primary reason that the top 2 moments in these rankings are the top 2. (Spoiler) They were to beat Alabama. You can’t talk about college football in the 2010’s and not mention the absolute dominance that the Alabama Crimson Tide had on the sport. Nick Saban led the program to 4 titles in the decade while appearing in 7 of the 10 championship games. This moment, when Deshaun Watson hit Hunter Renfrow to give the Clemson Tigers the lead with two seconds to go, not only showed a crack in Alabama’s dynasty, but also cemented Clemson as a national staying power. This was also one of the more thrilling National Championship games of the decade.
#1 The Kick Six and 2013 Auburn
There really can’t be any debate here. Chris Davis’ 109 yard kick return to knock the previously undefeated Crimson Tide out of the SEC- (and consequently the National) -title race ranks in the top 10 of the most dramatic moments across all sports. Not much more needs to be said about a top 5 matchup in one of the most heated rivalries in CFB ending in one of the most ridiculous ways possible and having drastic National Championship implications. And the cherry on top is the famous radio call by the late Rod Bramblett:
The Kick Six overshadows an insane game winning TD for Auburn earlier in the year against Georgia when the Bulldogs secondary batted a deep Nick Marshall pass up for Ricardo Louis who scampered into the endzone to take a 5 point lead with 25 seconds left:
The Kick Six and Immaculate Reception were good enough to propel the Tigers to the National Championship where their luck ran out against Jameis Winston and the Florida State Seminoles.
Once every 4 years, Americans come together to partake in the viewership of the Women’s World Cup in which the U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT) attempts to bring home the gold medal. 2019 was no different. Filled with star talent such as Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe and Alyssa Naeher, the USWNT once again put on a show for the Red, White and Blue. The Americans brought home the Gold medal by winning games against other power-house teams such as Spain, France, England, and The Netherlands. With the 2-0 win over The Netherlands in the final, featuring goals from Megan Rapinoe and Rose Lavelle, the USWNT had won consecutive World Cups and captured their 4th overall win. With a swagger not seen since the days of “The U” and a confidence unrivaled by any in the tournament, the USWNT quickly captured the hearts of Americans. As the team currently holding the most World Cup titles, the USWNT have cemented themselves as the team to beat amongst the global elite.
Derek Jeter. The MLB icon who enjoyed a storybook career playing for his childhood team, the New York Yankees, decided 2014 would be his final season as a baseball player. Thus, the whole season was dedicated to Jeter’s farewell tour in which he received numerous gifts from each opposing ballpark he visited. As Jeter’s career drew to a close, his legacy as a player was discussed by analysts and fans alike. Pretty much everyone other than Keith Olbermann, marveled at the illustrious career Jeter had in Pinstripes. As Jeter’s Yankee career drew to a close in his final game at Yankee Stadium on September 25, 2014, baseball fans of all ages gathered around their T.V.’s to witness greatness one last time. And similar to the rest of his storied career, he would not disappoint.
Video by Wall Street Journal
In his 1st at-bat of the game facing Orioles pitcher Kevin Gausman, Jeter ripped a 3-1 fastball that nearly cleared the left-center field fence. The ball hit off the very top of the wall and Jeter coasted into second base with a double in front of 48,000 screaming fans. The the next 2 at-bats were less successful and Jeter stepped to the plate in the 7th inning, many fans expecting this to be his last home at-bat. With the game tied 2-2 and the bases loaded, he grounded to shortstop J.J. Hardy who, in an attempt to turn a double play, threw the ball into the outfield. 2 runs scored and Jeter arrived safely at first.
Heading into the 9th inning, the Yankees were up 5-2 with star closer David Robertson in the game. The crowd broke into “Thank you, Derek” chants expecting Robertson to end the game. However, 3 runs later and the game now tied, the Yankees came to the plate hoping to give Mr. Jeter one last at-bat in the Bronx. With a runner at second base and 2 outs, Jeter stepped up to the plate. Bob Shepherd’s legendary voice echoed through the stadium with the words “Now batting for the Yankees, No. 2, Derek Jeter, No. 2.” Yankees fans around the country did what they had done for the last 20 years: expect Derek Jeter to come up clutch. And that he did. He jumped on the first pitch from Orioles pitcher Evan Meek and hit it, in typical Jeter fashion, between the first and second baseman into the outfield for a base hit. Runner Antoan Richardson raced around third and slid in safely at home and pandemonium broke out in the stadium. Jeter leaped into the air with his smile beaming from ear to ear. A Yankee legend had once again left his mark.
Video by MLB
With Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” echoing throughout the stadium, Jeter was met by Yankee legends and former teammates Bernie Williams, Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettitte, Jorge Posada, Tino Martinez and former manager Joe Torre. A memorable exit for a truly remarkable baseball player. Derek Jeter was a figure that was larger than life whose consistent play and flare for the dramatic made him an all-time great and a crowd favorite. As a Yankees fan growing up, it was always his dream to suit up in the Pinstripes. Thus, Michael Kay’s words “Derek Jeter: Where fantasy becomes reality” rang true, especially in that final at-bat. Jeter’s last home game at Yankee Stadium will go down as one of the most iconic moments in MLB history.
4. Rams vs. Saints blown call by officials in NFC Championship game.
Where were you when the referees didn’t throw their flags on one of the most blatant pass interference calls in NFL history during the 2019 NFC Championship game between the Saints and Rams? I, for one, was on my couch in College Station, TX watching Drew Brees lead the Saints offense down the field, and about ready to cash my Saints -3 and Saints NFC Champion tickets. Then, in a flash, a blown pass interference call forced the Saints to settle for a FG on the drive, leaving just enough time for Jared Goff to lead the Rams down the field to kick a FG of their own to force the game into overtime. 10 minutes later, Greg Zuerlein kicked a 57 yard FG in OT and the Rams were headed to Super Bowl 53.
Just how bad was the call? Well, just see for yourself.
Video by Fox
Analysts and fans around the country were up in arms over the ruling on the field. Saints head coach Sean Payton looked about ready to commit first-degree murder. And the Saints fans in the Super Dome looked like they were ready to storm the field in French Revolution style. In fact, there were several lawsuits that were filed against the NFL after the game. It was a call that would live in infamy.
Video by NFL
Video by WWLTV
The significance of the no call? First, obviously it cost the Saints the chance to play in Super Bowl 53. Secondly, NFL fans were stripped of the opportunity to see a Brady v. Brees Super Bowl and instead were forced to sit in agony and watch one of the most boring Super Bowls in recent memory. Third and maybe most important to gamblers, the call cost bettors millions of dollars. Many had the Saints -3.5 and also had the Saints winning the NFC. It was a multi-million dollar blown call. One would think that after such an incredible mishap on one of the biggest stages in sports, the NFL would have found a substitute for officials. However, the 2019 NFL regular season has seen missed call after missed call from the men in stripes. Maybe a few more lawsuits from the fans down in New Orleans will help change that. A horrific blown call which cost the New Orleans Saints and Drew Brees a potential Super Bowl Ring is our 4th best sports moment of the year.
The 2013 baseball season in Boston was led by one mantra, “Boston Strong”. That April, two terrorists carried out a deadly attack during the Boston Marathon. They set off bombs, killing and wounding many innocent Americans.
Because the attacks happened at the beginning of the baseball season, the team took it upon themselves to take on the city’s sorrows and be a source of healing. In the first home game after the bombing, World Series MVP, David Ortiz, took the mic and spoke the now famous phrase “This is our f****** city”. His speech was the beginning point of healing for a city that was knocked down hard, but would come back stronger than ever that October.
When I think about the 2013 World Series and the 2013 playoffs in general, I think about a charismatic team that really gelled together and loved each other.
The pitching staff was led by Jon Lester, John Lackey, Clay Buchholz, Ryan Dempster and Jake Peavy. All five are true veterans and simply knew how to get outs. None of these guys, Lester excluded, were really in the prime of their careers, but all of them battled just like the rest of Boston did. Lackey’s performance in game six in particular stands out to me. He went 6 2/3, and gave up one run while scattering nine hits.
I also think about guys like David Ross, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Jonny Gomes, Shane Victorino, Mike Napoli, Daniel Nava, and Stephen Drew. All didn’t have long tenures in Boston, all were relatively low level free agent signings and mostly on the tail end of their careers. However, all of them found ways to come up clutch and make huge impacts during the 2013 season. Gomes in particular really had no business starting in left field for a MLB team in the World Series. He’s average at best in every metric except for the most important one, heart. Gomes and Napoli led the way with growing beards throughout the season. The beards became a rallying point for everyone associated with the Red Sox. Besides Big Papi, I’m not sure if there was anyone more clutch than Shane Victorino. In game six, Victorino hit the bases clearing three run triple to start the scoring, and he also had another hit to extend the lead. I think the most excited I’ve ever been watching a baseball game was his grand slam in the ALCS that year.
I’d be remiss to not mention the contributions of David Ortiz and Koji Uehara as well. Ortiz hit an absurd .688 in the World Series after having an abysmal ALCS in which he hit .091.
Koji led the way in the bullpen, carving people up with his patented arm side run 81 MPH splitter. He was untouchable. His last pitch in game six to Matt Carpenter will forever be etched in my mind.
In short, all World Series wins are special and mean a lot to the city and the fan base that wins it. But this one just meant more. Boston had been through so much in 2013. This Red Sox team took on all the sorrows of the city and did a damn good job erasing them with winning baseball. Stories like this one is what makes sports so special and I am thankful to have been alive for it.
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