As fans of sports, each year we are reminded records are meant to be broken, success is earned through hard work and at some point, everything comes to an end. This year was no exception as we saw some great icons of sports accomplish some incredible feats as well as a few that retired or passed away. Here are a few moments from the year that we will cherish and remember for years to come.
Peyton Manning goes out on top
Peyton Manning is, without a doubt, one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. Most career passing touchdowns. Most career passing yards. Most passing touchdowns in a season. Most passing yards in a season. Most wins. You name it and this guy has it. However, the big knock on Manning was always that he stumbled under pressure. With only one Super Bowl to his name, the argument many made was that he struggled in the big moments.
However, in Super Bowl 50, he knocked all of those narratives down for good, when his Denver Broncos, with the number one defense in the NFL, took down MVP Cam Newton’s Carolina Panthers and their high-powered offensive attack. The game was by no means pretty, but, with help from the defense and linebacker and eventual Super Bowl MVP Von Miller, the Broncos took home the Lombardi Trophy. It was a tough game for the MVP in a tough year for the MVPs, as the Broncos defense registered seven sacks and returned a fumble for a touchdown.
Cleveland does the impossible: Cavs break the city’s 52-year championship drought by beating the superteam Golden State Warriors
Have we (maybe) seen the crowning moment of (maybe) the greatest player ever? That’s all we can ask ourselves after the Cleveland Cavaliers, with Lebron James at the helm, came back from down 3-1 to defeat the 73-win Golden State Warriors in Game 7 of the NBA Finals. However, despite Lebron’s Finals MVP and insane stat line (29.7-11.3-8.9-2.6-2.3 on 49/37/72 shooting), two of his teammates stepped up in the big moments when he needed them to. With the game tied 89-89, Kyrie Irving hit a dagger three pointer over reigning MVP Stephen Curry and afterward, Kevin Love, normally a weaker, slower defender, locked up the shifty Curry on the perimeter, forcing a tough shot and eventual miss that guaranteed the Cavaliers’ improbable championship. The trio now will most likely have to take on a revamped Warriors squad who added former MVP Kevin Durant to their already seemingly-unstoppable offensive attack in next year’s NBA Finals.
We Said Goodbye to NBA Greats
Amidst the triumph, the NBA also said goodbye to two top-10 all-time players at the end of this past season, with most Kobe “Black Mamba” Bryant and Tim “Big Fundamental” Duncan announcing their retirements. Both players have more than their share of memorable moments on the court and will ultimately go down in history as some of the greats. Bryant was one of the more electric scorers of all time, most memorably dropping 81 points on January 22, 2006 and 60 in his final game ever, leading a forgettable Lakers team to a surprising win. Duncan kept his team always near the top, with his seemingly timeless play and rock solid demeanor. One of the smartest players to ever play the game, Duncan played a crucial role in the Spurs’ omnipresent success over the past 20 years. Both will undoubtedly be missed by NBA fans across the league, but their impacts will last a lifetime.
Golden State gets 73.
It was a packed year in the NBA, and while Golden State did not win the NBA championship, they took home a fair consolation prize: capturing the elusive 73 wins and the record for most wins in a regular season in the NBA. Steph Curry set the record for most three pointers in a season by becoming not only the first person to hit 300, but also the first to hit 400 in the midst of what was possibly the greatest statistical season in history. With company like fellow Splash Brother Klay Thompson and triple-double machine Draymond Green, the Warriors were a juggernaut until they slowed down significantly in the postseason. While many will argue “it don’t mean a thing without the ring,” it is still incredible to see the Warriors and their record-breaking season. Golden State added Kevin Durant in the offseason, so the narrative now shifts to whether this team can top last season’s incredible mark.
The Death of the Greatest, Muhammad Ali
This past year we said goodbye to an inspirational figure for so many as Muhammad Ali passed away at the age of 74. Ali grew up in Louisville, Kentucky and his passing sparked a world wide celebration of life as his funeral procession made its way through the city paying tribute to his most treasured landmarks. Ali turned to boxing after his bicycle was stolen when he was a child and began his love to the sport. As he ascended through the ranks, with some of the most memorable boxing matches ever, he grew more and more famous, all the while keeping the city of Louisville close to his heart. However, more notable maybe are Ali’s contributions out of the ring as Ali was a very vocal anti-war figure as well as someone who took an active part in the struggle for civil rights for African-Americans and human beings worldwide.
Michael Phelps Stikes Gold Again
Once again, Michael Phelps comes away from the Olympics shining bright and taking home hardware. Being portrayed as the most decorated Olympian of all time, Phelps came out of ‘retirement’ at the prime age of 31-years old to claim five golds and a silver bringing his total to 28 Olympic medals, 23 of them gold. He will adorn many top lists for years to come and be the poster boy for the United States Olympians for ever.
US Wins the Ryder Cup!
For the first time in eight years, America won the Ryder Cup! The United States Ryder Cup won the most important team competition in men’s golf and did so rather easily. Going back to 1005, the US had won the event just twice in the previous 10 competitions. This year was different. The U.S. team opened the competition with a big lead and dominated play from there. The team led by Jordan Speith, Rickie Fowler and Dustin Johnson entered the final day Sunday with a three-point lead. The group finished the competition winning 17-11 and posting the largest Amercian margin of victory in 35 years.
Arnold Palmer ‘The King’ of golf dies at the age of 87
When it comes to calling an athlete great, it doesn’t always stop on their field of play. That was evident when Arnold Palmer, ‘The King’ of golf passed away just days before the first tee shot at the 2016 Ryder Cup that would be an eventual United States victory. Palmer was a class act with a charming personality and professionalism on and off the field of play.
He was a friend to many and role model for all. His name will live on in the hearts of so many lives that he touched as well as in the record books chalking up 62 career victories including including four Masters, two Open Championships and a U.S. Open.
By Matt Willinger Twitter: @MattWillinger
