Category: Top 10

Top 10 of 2019: #5

by Jeremy Fernando, posted in 2019, Top 10

5. The legend of Zion Williamson.

Zion Williamson. No player has captivated NCAA basketball quite like Zion in some time. From the marvelous dunks to the breathtaking athleticism that left even world-class announcers in shock, Zion Williamson took the collegiate basketball world by storm last year. From the very first tipoff to the season-ending loss against Michigan State, all eyes were on Zion. And luckily for the fans, he did not disappoint.

 The legend of Zion began when he was in high school as his highlight reel dunks went viral in a series of YouTube videos. While he was the 3rd highest recruit in his class at Duke, he was the center of attention the minute he stepped foot on campus. In his first game against perennial power Kentucky, Zion scored 28 points with a few memorable dunks. In the following game against Army, he scored 27 points, grabbed 16 rebounds and also blocked 6 shots. He became only the 2nd player in Duke history to record at least 25 points, 15 rebounds and 5 blocks in a game. He posted other memorable games against Wake Forest and Syracuse where he dropped 30 and 35 points respectively. Every night on the floor, Zion would make some remarkable play which would end up on SportsCenter the next morning. While his legend was growing, analysts were predicting he would be the 1st pick in the 2019 NBA draft.

Video by ESPN

On February 20, 2019, Duke was set to host the University of North Carolina in what is one of the biggest rivalries in all of sports. On average, a ticket to that game would be around a couple hundred bucks. However, on this occasion the average ticket sold on StubHub prior to the game was $4,670. The cheapest ticket was listed at $2,927.  The Super Bowl is widely regarded as the most prestigious championship in all of sports and is often one of the most expensive games to attend. However, the “Get In” price for Super Bowl 53, played 2 weeks prior, was $2,900. The reason for the outrageous prices? Two words: Zion Williamson. Fans from all over the nation were chomping at the bit to watch this athletic specimen. Even former President Barack Obama was in attendance. While there was plenty of buzz before the game, all the energy was zapped from the building within 36 seconds of tipoff. Zion was forced to leave the game after his foot ripped through his Nike shoe. Duke would go on to lose the game 88-72. Nike also felt the loss of Zion as their stock dropped by $1.1 billion the next day. The legend of Zion continued.

Video by ESPN

Zion was a pivotal part of Duke’s success and the team missed his presence while he was rehabbing the knee sprain he suffered in the UNC game. When Zion was on the court, the Blue Devils were 29-3 as opposed to 3-3 when he was hurt. He made his return to the team during the ACC tournament and promptly led the team to 3 straight wins and the conference championship, one of which was against UNC where he scored 31 points. The performance earned him ACC tournament MVP. Zion was such a wonder that when the NCAA tournament began, CBS devoted a camera called the “Zion Cam” specifically to follow him throughout the tournament. Although Duke entered the tournament with championship hopes, they were eliminated by Michigan State in the Elite 8. However, Zion continued to be a man among boys on the court as he averaged 27 points and 11.6 rebounds in the tournament.

Video by Duke Basketball

I am not sure we will ever see a player take over college basketball quite like the way Zion did in 2018-2019. There were countless times during the season that I would watch a Zion highlight and think to myself “how is that humanly possible?” An athletic specimen never before seen in college basketball, the legend of Zion Williamson was certainly a memorable moment in 2019.

Top 10 of The Decade: #5

by jstuursma19, posted in Decade, Top 10

5. Chicago Cubs win World Series after 108 year drought

Photo by MLB

My Cubs roots run deep. From the moment I was born, I was immersed in the culture and fandom of the Chicago Cubs baseball team. I grew up imitating the Moisės Alou’s cockeyed stance, shaking my head to Carlos Zambrano’s temper tantrums, and living for Sammy Sosa’s homerun leaps. I still remember the gut wrenching 2003 NLCS series. Having a World Series seem like a sure thing with a Cubs game six 3-0 lead in the late innings, only to watch it slip through our fingers with the Florida Marlins eight run eighth inning. And then the absolute devastation of a game seven loss at home. I remember going to sleep in my parent’s bed that night in my Sammy Sosa jersey, crying myself to sleep with my mom. Being a Cubs fan was full of heartbreaks; that was until the 2016 World Series game 7.

I watched game 7 as a sophomore at the College of Wooster, a small college just north of Columbus. Because of the location, I watched that game in a room full of Cleveland Indians fans wanting nothing more than for the Cubs to break my heart once again. But an extra inning Ben Zobrist double and a final out from Kris Bryant to Anthony Rizzo brought me one of the best moments of my life. The room of Indians fans quickly cleared out and there I sat, long after the game was over, wrapped in my W flag, soaking in every moment of the celebration. I took that time to call all my family and friends who had faithfully stood by this team through all the tough times. I remember specifically calling my Grandpa, an 80 year old man who had dedicated his life to the Cubs franchise. He even bought a house in Arizona where he had owned season tickets to Cubs spring training for the past 25 years. He was in tears when I called him, and I couldn’t help from tearing up myself with overwhelming joy. Our lovable losers and finally become champions, a moment that will live on forever.

Photo by MLB

Top 10 of 2019: #6

by colewest86, posted in 2019, Top 10

6. Kawhi Leonard’s Incredible Playoff Run

Coming in hot at #6 is Kawhi Leonard’s incredible postseason run with the Raptors that ultimately lead to an NBA championship. Now just to jog your memory, this 2019 Kawhi’s first season in Toronto. The year before Kawhi missed most of the season due to a mysterious quadricep injury, so many people did not know how well Kawhi would play in 2019 nearly missing almost a year of basketball. Well we got our answer for sure that postseason.

Kawhi lead the Toronto Raptors to become the #2 seed in the Eastern Conference. The Raptors went on to beat the #7 seed Orlando Magic 4-1.Next they beat the hyped up #3 seed Philadelphia 76ers in 7 games where Kawhi hit game-winning magical fade away shot at the buzzer like something you only see in NBA 2k.

Then, the Raptors went to play the #1 seed Milwaukee Bucks with the leagues MVP, Giannis Antetokounmpo (aka the Greek Freak). The Raptors would beat them in 6 games behind Kawhi. The Raptors last battle would be against the #1 seed of the Western Conference, the Golden State Warriors. Even though, the Warriors were missing superstar Kevin Durant, this was still a Warriors team that had 3 championships, a two-time MVP, and the splash brothers. It turned out that the Warriors were no match for Kawhi as the Klaw dominated on offense and defense beating the Warriors in 6 games, and winning Finals MVP.

Kawhi brought Toronto their first NBA championship ever, did it dominant fashion, all while overthrowing the Warriors dynasty. Kawhi was so dominant, analysts started calling him “The Terminantor.” Leonard averaged 30.5 points, 9.11 rebounds, and 1.7 steals in the playoffs. NBA fans questioned if Kawhi would come back the same, and he definitely did not. He came back better proving he was a top-3 player in the NBA.

Top 10 of The Decade: #6

by Ethan Myers, posted in Decade, Top 10

6. Cavs 3-1 comeback against the 73-9 Warriors in the 2016 finals.

“It’s a man’s league. I guess his feelings just got hurt.”

These were the famous post-game words uttered by Golden State Warriors shooting guard Klay Thompson after Game 4 of the 2016 NBA Finals, referring to LeBron James reacting after Draymond Green swung at James’ groin. The Warriors were riding high after taking a commanding 3-1 series lead over the Cleveland Cavaliers, just one game away from capping off their legendary 73-win season with a 2nd championship. The storylines were writing themselves: the 2016 Warriors were the greatest team of all time, and LeBron James couldn’t bring the big one home to the city of Cleveland.

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Photo by Ball Memes

However, as every sports fan knows, it’s not over until it’s over. LeBron James and Kyrie Irving exploded in Game 5, with both players scoring 41 points apiece in a 112-97 Cavaliers victory that stunned the crowd at Oracle Arena. But it was just one game, right? After all, this Warriors team unstoppable, and LeBron just didn’t have what it takes. That is, until LeBron dropped 41 points again in a 115-101 victory, ending in Warriors point guard Stephen Curry fouling out and launching his mouthguard at a fan. It was all going back to Oracle Arena in California for Game 7, and there was a surprising lack of snide comments from Warriors players leading up to the game. Collars getting tight around their neck?

Game 7 was one for the ages. The match was a dogfight, with 20 lead changes between the teams. The Warriors seemed to start to pull away at halftime with a 49-42 lead, until Cavaliers shooting guard JR Smith came into the second half with back-to-back 3’s to tighten the game up. The score went back and forth until the final 2 minutes, when the Cavaliers’s Big 3 of James, Irving, and forward Kevin Love each had a massive play that will forever go down in Cleveland lore.

Image result for lebron james block
Photo by NBA

Tied at 89-all, LeBron James had the greatest block in NBA history, chasing Andre Iguodala across the court and stuffing Iguodala’s fast-break layup attempt. Next, Kyrie Irving caught Curry with his hand down and splashed a 3 over Curry to take a 92-89 lead. Finally with 30 seconds left, Kevin Love got switched onto Curry and proceeded to lock him down, causing Curry to throw up a brick. The Cavaliers got the rebound, LeBron iced the game with a free throw, and when the clock hit zero, LeBron James and the city of Cleveland were champions once again. 52 years of heartbreak wiped out, toppling perhaps the most arrogant team of all time, and coming back from a 3-1 series deficit for the first time in the history of the NBA Finals. After that series, basketball fans around the country had no choice to agree that LeBron James was truly the King, and the city of Cleveland could finally celebrate once again.

Image result for lebron james nba finals cleveland trophy
Photo by the LA Times

Top 10 of 2019: #7

by Jeremy Fernando, posted in 2019, Top 10

#7. Dirk Nowitzki Retiring from the NBA

Video by NBA

*This article was written by a contributor who wishes to remain anonymous.

“At forward in his 21st season, the greatest Dallas Maverick in franchise history, the tall baller from the G, number 41, Diiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiirk Nowitzki!!” echoed in the American Airlines Center on April 9, 2019 in what would be Nowitzki’s last home game. In typical Dirk fashion, he waited until after his last game in the house he built to let the fans know he was calling it quits. No farewell tour. No year long celebration like Kobe Bryant, Dwayne Wade and even baseball stars such as Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera. Even though many teams recognized the situation this past season like when Doc Rivers, coach of the Los Angeles Clippers, stopped the game to pay homage to to the legend, Dirk clearly never sought any special treatment. In his 21 seasons, Dirk was a professional who never sought unnecessary attention. It is because of this humility that I find it important to write this article. We must remember the retirement of the 2007 NBA MVP, the 2011 Finals MVP, the 14 time All-Star, and the 6th All-Time scorer in the history of the league.

When asked to discuss the top sports moments of 2019, Dirk Nowtizki retiring without a doubt must make the list. Not only did Dirk transform the game for big men shooters, he revolutionized the game for Europeans. Nowadays, it is not hard to find big men who can shoot such as Joel Embiid, Nikola Vucevic, Nikola Jokic, Karl Anthony-Towns, Kristaps Porzingis, and Anthony Davis. Kids growing up watching those stars today don’t see anything crazy about a seven-footer who can knock down the three. Yet, it was a rare skill in 1998 when Dirk was drafted out of Würzburg, Germany. No longer was a big man just a bully in the paint, it was now necessary to give them respect beyond the arc.

Video by Bleacher Report

Dirk was an example of the benefits that could come when drafting European talent. He created a serious interest for players in the EuroLeague and ironically paved the way for future Mavericks Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis. Without his incredible success, the respect to the European talent pool may not be there.

Dallas Mavericks Basketball GIF by NBA - Find & Share on GIPHY
Courtsey of Giphy

Lastly, Dirk did all of this with class and respect. Don’t get me wrong, he annoyed players. The fadeaway was tough to guard and Dirk knew how to sell the foul. He was also a bit of a liability on the defensive end of the court. But he never had a problem with a teammate. He was a likeable player and as a young kid from Germany, he handled becoming a celebrity in Dallas-Fort Worth well. He engaged with the community and most importantly, he remained loyal (tough to find and you may never find it again). He wanted to win with Dallas and towards the end of his career, Dirk routinely took pay cuts to try and get it done with the team who drafted him. As a kid myself born in 1996 and raised in Dallas, Dirk was a role model and I always found myself in the driveway trying to recreate his fade away. At a certain point, I even wanted him to leave the Mavericks to try and win 1 more. But he stayed. I can only hope the Mavericks provide their two big Europeans more support than Dirk had in his 21 seasons. As of right now, it looks like they have. 

Top 10 of The Decade: #7

by Jeremy Fernando, posted in Decade, Top 10

7. Dee Gordon’s home run against the New York Mets in 2016, one day after the death of teammate Jose Fernandez.

On September 25, 2016, Jose Fernandez, an MLB All-Star and one of the games most well-liked players, passed away due to a boating accident. Players and fans alike around the league were devastated. Fernandez was only 24 years old but had established himself as one of the premier pitchers in the league.

On Monday September 26, 2016, the Miami Marlins played their first game since Fernandez’s passing against the New York Mets. Dee Gordon, the 2B of the Marlins and one of Fernandez’s closest friends, was the leadoff hitter that day. Gordon, typically a left-handed hitter, stepped into the right-handed batters box wearing Fernandez’s helmet. After seeing the first pitch from Mets’ pitcher Bartolo Colon, Gordon proceeded to switch to the left-hand side of the plate. On a 2-0 fastball from Colon, Gordon promptly smacked a homerun to the right-field bleachers and began to weep uncontrollably as he rounded the bases. As he crossed home plate, he pointed to the sky in remembrance of his good friend. It was a moment that will be forever be remembered by baseball fans around the world.

Video by MLB

In the postgame interview, Gordon told a reporter “I don’t have kids, so hitting a homerun for Jose Fernandez is the best moment of my life.” It is in these moments where sports can truly bring everyone together. Dee Gordon’s homerun is one, as a baseball fan, I will never forget.

Top 10 of 2019: #8

by Alec Murray, posted in 2019, Top 10

8. Liverpool’s improbable comeback over Barcelona

Photo by DW.com

Quickly before we dive into this one, since not everyone has a great idea of how European soccer competitions, specifically the Champions League, are structured, we’ll give a quick run-down. This is pretty important background information to why this moment made our top 10 list for 2019. Feel free to skip this next paragraph if you have a decent understanding of the Champions League.

The UEFA Champions League is a tournament that sets out to crown one club as the champion of European club soccer. The structure is similar to the FIFA World Cup where 32 of the best teams from all of Europe are drawn into 8 groups. Then each group plays a home-and-home round robin schedule, and the top 2 teams from each group advance to the knockout stages. Each knockout fixture is determined over two matches, one game at each club’s home stadium, with the scores from both matches being aggregated to determine the winner. If the aggregate score is tied, then the first tie-breaker used to determine a winner is away goals. Whichever team scored more goals in their opponent’s stadium advances. If that doesn’t solve it, then extra time, and potentially penalty kicks, are utilized. The Champions League is *the* premier tournament in club soccer, with the final each year drawing 2-3x the viewership of the Super Bowl.

On to Liverpool and Barcelona. These two giants of clubs came into their semifinal tie with 5 Champions League titles a piece. This fixture was potentially the biggest headliner of the entire tournament as both teams were loaded with talent and play in two of the most famous stadiums in Europe. Barcelona, along with Lionel Messi, also featured two former Liverpool stars in its lineup in Luis Suarez and Philippe Coutinho who were sold for and €82M and €145M respectively. Liverpool, meanwhile, were seeking to avenge their loss to Real Madrid in the Champions League final in the season prior.

Liverpool played about as well as any team could in the intimidating atmosphere that is Camp Nou in Barcelona, but found themselves 3-0 down when the final whistle blew on the first leg of the tie on April 30. An opening goal by Suarez, followed by two from Messi (including an unbelievable free kick) were the difference.

Heading back home, Liverpool would need to score at least 3 goals to force extra time, but if Barcelona were to grab an ever-valuable away goal, Liverpool would then need 5 to advance. This would be a reasonably difficult feat against just about any club, but needing to accomplish it against Barcelona without the services of two of their three attackers in Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah seemed impossible.Things got off to a favorable start though as Divock Origi tapped in a follow up after a great run from captain Jordan Henderson to make the score 1-0 at halftime. Midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum was subbed on at the start of the second half and had an immediate impact, scoring twice in quick succession to level the aggregate score by the 56th minute. Having climbed all the way back, the outcome would be decided in the last half hour of the game, plus extra time/penalties if needed. They would not be needed as it turned out. Some clever thinking by Liverpool right back Trent Alexander-Arnold on a corner kick will go down in history, as he took the corner quickly, and caught the Barcelona defense napping to find Origi alone in front of the net who guided the ball into the top corner. Leading 4-3 on aggregate in the 79th minute, Liverpool would grind out the final 10 minutes to complete one of the greatest comebacks in sports history.

The Reds would go on to defeat Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 in the Champions League final, collecting their 6th European title and first since 2005.

Top 10 of 2019: #10

by colewest86, posted in 2019, Top 10

10. Joe Burrow Mania

Coming in at #10 on sports moments of 2019 is Joe Burrow’s dominance in college football this season. Not only has his performance on the field been nothing short of spectacular, but he also has an incredible story to how he got to be the Heisman QB for the undefeated LSU Tigers.

Joe Burrow, the 3-star recruit out of Ohio, attended Ohio State University. It was there where he sat on the bench his first three seasons behind quarterbacks JT Barrett, and Cardale Jones. Burrow even got the nickname, “John Burrow,” out of mockery from his other teammates since JT’s first name was Joe. In his fourth year, Burrow lost the starting job to freshman, Dwayne Haskins. That is when Burrow transferred to LSU under Coach Orgeron. Burrow immediately became the starter and lead LSU to 10-3 and 13-0 records back to back years.

2019 was history in the making for quarterback Joe Burrow. Burrow lead to LSU Tigers to an undefeated season, and a #1 seed in the College Football Playoffs. He also won the Heisman trophy after being 15,000-1 odds for the award in the preseason. Burrow’s Heisman victory featured the largest margin of victor ever. Burrow also threw for 4,715 yards (ranked 2nd), 48 touchdowns (1st), and completed 77.9% of his passes (1st). In addition, Burrow won

  • Davey O’Brien National Quarterback of the Year Award
  • Maxwell Player of the Year Award
  • Walter Camp Player of the Year Award
  • AP All-American Quartback