A Brief History
Every year has champions in various sports and leagues, but certain sporting events just stand out above the rest to capture the attention of the media and fans. Here are our nominations for the Top 10 Sports Stories of 2015.
Digging Deeper
10. Notable Sports Deaths.
Baseball Hall of Famer Yogi Berra (90, 3 time MVP and 13 World Series titles), Harlem Globetrotter legend Meadowlark Lemon (83), Hockey player Dickie Moore (84, twice NHL scoring champ, 5 Stanley Cups in a row), 12 time NBA All Star and Hall of Famer Dolph Schayes (87), ABA 2 time MVP and Basketball Hall of Famer Mel Daniels (71), NBA 12 time All Star and Hall of Famer Moses Malone (60), NHL Coach (4 consecutive Stanley Cups) Al Arbour (82), NASCAR Hall of Famer Buddy Baker (74), NFL Hall of Famer and Sportscaster Frank Gifford (84), Lady golfer Louise Suggs (61 wins, 11 majors, 91), NFL Hall of Famer Charlie Sanders (68), College Basketball record scorer Clarence “Bevo” Francis (82), Last NFL full time 2 way player Chuck Bednarik (89), Baseball MVP and executive Al Rosen (91), first black NBA player Earl Lloyd (86), Basketball coaching legends Jerry Tarkanian (84) and Dean Smith (83), “Mr. Cub” Ernie Banks (83). Apologies to the many others left out due to space.
9. Lebron James lead Cavaliers to NBA Finals first year back.
After returning to his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers, NBA great Lebron James led the team to the NBA finals, only to be done in by the loss of major teammates (Anderson Varajao, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love) due to injury.
8. Fight of the Century (Not!).
The Manny Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather fight was hyped as perhaps the greatest match up in boxing history, and was so rich it grossed $410 million in US pay per view television revenue alone. The 5 division undefeated champion Mayweather was paid over $179 million and the 8 division champ Pacquiao was paid over $119 million, by far the biggest purse in history. Unfortunately, the long awaited fight was a boring snoozer that went the distance to a predictable decision for Mayweather. Many fans were baffled and outraged by what they thought was a lackluster performance by Pacquiao, who’s trainers admitted had hurt his shoulder prior to the fight and had been denied permission to receive a painkilling shot. A “A” list of Hollywood and sports stars were in attendance for the 146 pound bout, and actor Jamie Foxx sang the National Anthem. Of course, Pacquiao claimed he had been robbed by the judges.
7. Ronda Rousey Lost MMA Title.
The 34 year old Holly Holm out punched the daylights out of reigning UFC Mixed Martial Arts champion Rousey (age 28)to take the UFC Bantamweight title from the previously undefeated champ. Rousey had won the hearts and attention of fans and the mass media by winning all her fights in convincing fashion, becoming a star and media darling before the boxing prowess of Holm put an end to Rousey’s reign as queen of the octagon. Rousey had never been taken beyond the first round in her championship fights until she was knocked out by Holm in the second round. The fight was not even close, which stunned the audience and bettors who had Rousey as a huge favorite.
6. University of Missouri Football Team went on Strike.
The football team threatened to boycott further football games until the president of the university resigned over a perceived lack of attention to racial issues on campus. The president agreed to resign, setting a startling not quite new precedent. Grambling University football players had previously threatened a strike over budget cuts and practice conditions, and Michigan State players threatened to quit unless black coaches were hired in 1968.
5. Football Concussions.
The evidence that the numerous concussions suffered by NFL football players leads to brain damage and early death became a hot topic, and the NFL was forced to institute a rigorous protocol covering head injuries during practice and games. A major motion picture starring Will Smith was released in December, called Concussion, and has shaken the football world to its core. Players at all levels second guessed their decision to play the game and many parents chose to keep their sons out of the sport. High school football players suffer almost double the rate of concussions than the next closest sport (lacrosse).
4. Ohio State University (OSU) Won Football and Wrestling NCAA Championships.
It is hard enough to win a national championship in any sport, but early in 2015 OSU pulled off the double win. OSU has won the Football National Championship 7 times, but the wrestling crown was the first Wrestling National Championship in school history.
3. Deflategate.
Quarterback Tom Brady and his Super Bowl winning New England Patriots were accused of submitting under inflated footballs for a playoff game, intentionally and knowing this was not permitted. The team and Brady claimed innocence, but the NFL blasted Brady with a suspension that did not hold up under appeal, giving many fans the impression that Brady et al got away with cheating.
2. FIFA Corruption and Bribery Scandal.
The world of soccer, or football as everyone not in the United States calls it, was rocked by allegations and then indictments and then some admissions of guilt by executives of the controlling body of the World Cup The president of FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association), Sepp Blatter, declared that he would not run for reelection when a new presidential election is held in February 2016. A total of 22 people were indicted along with 2 corporations, and then a second round of indictments for another 16 individuals took place. The bribery includes the rights to supply exclusive equipment to the World Cup and perhaps also where the next World Cup will be played. This story would have been #1, except that people in the US do not care about soccer. Numerous countries are separately and jointly investigating various aspects of FIFA corruption.
1. American Pharaoh Won Triple Crown.
American Pharaoh ridden by jockey Victor Espinoza became the first horse since Affirmed in 1978 to win the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes in succession in the same year. In the 140 years since all three races have been running, only 12 horses have ever managed the feat of winning all three. American Pharaoh broke the longest streak without a Triple Crown winner in history with his historic feat.
Question for students (and subscribers) to ponder: What stories would you add?
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Historical Evidence
For more information, please see…
Buckley Jr., James. Scholastic Year in Sports 2015. Scholastic Paperback Nonfiction, 2014.
