2010 has came to an end and, for the most part, will be remembered as being an eventful year. In 2010, egotism was at an all-time high (or should I say low) with people like LeBron James and Michael Vick dividing the sports world as the argument for accomplishment vs. entitlement separated those with a conscience and those lacking the ability to tell right from wrong. Brett Favre returned for one final season and left us with memories of a broken man crawling off the field and a sex scandal to replace the one of Tiger Woods. Speaking of Tiger, all 2010 gave him was a divorce and a winless season in which he appeared to have let the golfing world pass him by. Jimmie Johnson added another Cup championship and the Ain’ts became champions while the Giants and Rangers battled in the World Series as the Yankees faded in the postseason while George Steinbrenner was busy buying a title in Heaven.
Professional wrestling suffered from the worst year in the business’ existence as Vince McMahon either fired World Wrestling Entertainment’s most popular talents (Mickie James, MVP, Matt Hardy, Kaval, Maria) or ran their popular talent into retirement (Chris Jericho, Batista) with few new stars being created in return. Meanwhile, TNA offered better matches and more talent without getting any acclaim from the majority of the wrestling world again.
Country music dominated the airwaves as Taylor Swift, Lady Antebellum, and Carrie Underwood achieved tons of crossover success while a mop-topped Canadian teenager weaseled his way into the hearts of girls everywhere with some of the worst music since the boy band epidemic of the 90s. Katy Perry represented the girls of California, Eminem and Rihanna made beautiful music out of an ugly subject, and Lady Gaga grabbed attention all year with catchy songs and bizarre outfits.
Glee put a tune in everyone’s heart despite losing its charm, Jim and Pam had a baby, zombies became cool while buying gas from BP definitely was not. South Park ripped plenty of new ones and almost got bombed in the process while American Idol imploded before our eyes (Good-bye Simon and Kara). Michelle Beadle became the sports world’s newest babe (and most credible sports commentator too) while the Hollywood box office catered to children for the majority of the year. Still, bank robberies, boxing, piranhas, Mexican mercenaries, overly complicated mind-heists, and US Marshals with true grit all found ways to entertain adults at the theaters in 2010.
There were many losses and many gains, lots of glory and lots of pain. 2010 was a wild ride. The following edition of The Highlight Reel is my attempt to sum up the best and the worst of 2010. Here is the only year in review that matters (to me): The 2010 Highlight Reel Year in Review. And it begins… now.
The Highlight Reel: 2010 Year in Review
WRESTLING
Match of the Year
4. The Undertaker defeated Shawn Michaels in a Career vs. Streak No Disqualification match - March 28th - These two had the match of the year at last year’s WrestleMania. Despite knowing The Undertaker was adding another incredible talent to his long list of “job boys,” Shawn Michaels made even the most jaded believe that the streak could really end. Sadly, even with his career on the line, Shawn Michaels could not do that this time. However, what did occur was one of the most incredible performances by a single individual in the history of professional wrestling. “The Heartbreak Kid” Shawn Michaels carried a broken-down, washed-up, overrated 6’10” 290 pound albatross to an incredible 20-minute match on the grandest stage of them all. Considering the pressure of the stage and what he had to work with, Shawn Michaels’ effort on that night proved that he is among the upper echelon of all-time greats in the world of professional wrestling. This match, the final of the legendary career of Shawn Michaels, was one of the best matches of 2010 solely based on the performance of the Heartbreak Kid.
3. Mickie James defeated Tara in a Steel Cage match - December 9th - Mickie James, in my opinion, cemented her status as the greatest female performer of all-time on the December 9th TNA Impact when she dove from the top of a 15-foot high steel cage to deliver a Lou Thesz press to Tara in the center of the ring. In what was the final encounter in the tremendous feud between the two Divas-turned-Knockouts, Mickie James and Tara squared off in the main event on Impact inside a steel cage and they delivered a match that will be looked at with fondness by wrestling fans for years to come. The match didn’t go without casualties as Tara ended up with torn ligaments in her right elbow and a broken tooth while Mickie James left with a knee and hip injury. But, in both ladies’ eyes, the injuries were a small price to pay as Mickie James and Tara culminated their intense feud with an epic cage match that will inspire future generations of female wrestlers.
2. TNA World Tag Team Champions The Motor City Machine Guns defeated Beer Money in a Two Out of Three Falls match - August 12th - Choosing just one match from the outstanding rivalry between these two teams was a difficult choice but one match stood above and beyond all others. At the special Whole F’n Show edition of TNA Impact on August 12th, the Best of Five Series between the Motor City Machine Guns and Beer Money culminated in a best Two Out of Three Falls match that was reminiscent of the great tag team battles of the British Bulldogs and the Hart Foundation of the 1980s. The high-flying, quicker than a hiccup style of Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin meshed perfectly with the ground-and-pound, brawling nature of Robert Roode and James Storm. Tied at one fall, both teams scored numerous near falls before Robert Roode fell to the “skull and crossbones” neck-breaker/top rope splash combo in the third fall to seal the victory for the Motor City Machine Guns. While both teams have moved onto new rivalries, this match was the one that cemented the statuses of both the Motor City Machine Guns and Beer Money as the best teams in the world.
1. Kurt Angle defeated Ken Anderson in a Steel Cage match - April 18th - Intense. Vicious. Violent. While all are powerful words, none of them quite described the war that Kurt Angle and Mr. Anderson had inside the steel cage on April 18th at Lockdown. The rivalry between Angle and Anderson was not the best booked feud as neither man really had a reason to fight. That said, the lack of motivation did not stop both men from delivering instant classics on a nightly basis. In the final bout of their war, Angle and Anderson shed blood and took years off their careers in a steel cage match that was simply epic. The image of Kurt Angle tossing the key from the cage in order to keep Anderson inside and limit the means of escape to climbing over the top was the picture of intensity in 2010. Kurt Angle’s moonsault off the top of the cage was poetic. Angle scored the win by escaping the cage but not before delivering a beating (and taking one in return) in what was the best match of 2010. Angle and Anderson inside the steel was absolutely incredible.
Tag Team of the Year
4. The Nexus - A group of virtual unknowns have not made as big of an impact in professional wrestling as the Nexus made in 2010. Led by perennial main event talent Wade Barrett, the entire group went from dark matches and working exclusively in Florida Championship Wrestling to being in the main event of SummerSlam and winning championship gold in the span of months. The Nexus won the WWE Tag Team Championships first with David Otunga and indentured servant John Cena at Bragging Rights before Justin Gabriel and Heath Slater won the titles from Cena and Otunga the next night on RAW. While I doubt the group will still be in existence at the end of 2011, 2010 was a wonderful year for the members of the Nexus.
3. The Hart Dynasty - 2010 was the year World Wrestling Entertainment finally gave The Hart Dynasty a chance to shine. And, 2010 was also the year WWE broke up The Hart Dynasty. Before WWE creative showed their collective stupidity, The Hart Dynasty had a terrific 2010. On April 26th, David Hart Smith and Tyson Kidd defeated WWE Tag Team Champions Big Show and The Miz to win the titles for the first time. They held onto the championships until September’s Night of Champions event when they lost to Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre. Then, Smith and Kidd split on November 15th with Natalya Neidhart going on her own as well. While WWE dropped the ball (again) in building tag team wrestling around a tremendous duo, The Hart Dynasty had a lot of bright moments in 2010 regardless.
2. Beer Money - James Storm and Robert Roode started 2010 slowly. However, by April, Beer Money was firmly back in the TNA World Tag Team Championship hunt and were also aligned with AJ Styles, Kazarian, and Ric Flair in the stable Fortune. Beer Money entered a rivalry over the summer with the Motor City Machine Guns that breathed fresh air into tag team wrestling as their Best of Five Series provided some of the best matches of 2010 while adding prestige to the tag titles and elevating both teams to legendary status. Beer Money did not win any championship gold in 2010. But, they remained among the top wrestlers in all of TNA throughout 2010 and are still among the most elite tag teams in all of the world heading into 2011.
1. The Motor City Machine Guns - 2010 was the year Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley finally broke through the glass ceiling in TNA. For years, the Motor City Machine Guns had been extremely popular for their innovative style and charisma but were unable to win the TNA World Tag Team titles. On July 11th at Victory Road, the Motor City Machine Guns finally won the gold when they defeated Beer Money to win the vacant titles. What followed was a Best of Five Series that saw both teams revitalize tag team wresting in America as the Guns and Beer Money had five epic contests that ended with the Guns victorious. Then, Sabin and Shelley battled Max and Jeremy Buck throughout the remainder of 2010 with a series of athletic encounters reminiscent of the tag battles of the Hardy Boys and Edge and Christian a decade ago. Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley firmly established themselves as the top tag team in the world in 2010 with classic matches and success unparalleled in the tag team ranks.
Diva / Knockout of the Year
4. Tara - 2010 was an up and down year for Tara. Tara started the year as TNA Knockouts Champion after defeating ODB in a two out of three falls match at January’s Genesis PPV. Tara lost the title to Angelina Love in April and entered a real-life contract dispute with TNA management. Tara ultimately lost a Title vs. Career match to Knockouts Champion Madison Rayne on May 16th and left TNA. She returned and aligned herself with Rayne in the summer. At October’s Bound for Glory, Tara won her fourth TNA Knockouts Championship with a win over champion Angelina Love, Madison Rayne, and Velvet Sky before surrendering the title to Madison Rayne the following week on Impact. Tara then entered into an epic feud with Mickie James with culminated with James defeating Tara in an incredible steel cage match on Impact in December. 2010 was a roller coaster year with more highs than lows for the Widow Peak Freak.
3. Layla / Michelle McCool (TIE) - Like them or hate them (and I personally hate one of them), Layla and Michelle McCool of Lay-Cool had a very successful 2010 in World Wrestling Entertainment. Michelle McCool lost the Women’s Championship to Mickie James at the Royal Rumble but was able to regain the title due to James’ staph infection in late February. Injury again benefited Lay-Cool in May when Beth Phoenix suffered a knee injury just days after winning the Women’s Championship leading to Layla winning her first title. In their infinite wisdom, WWE decided to have Layla and McCool walk around with two titles and refer to themselves as co-champions throughout the summer and fall. Michelle McCool eventually was granted sole possession of the title when the Women’s and Divas Championships were unified at September’s Night of Champions PPV. Despite dropping the Divas title to Natalya Neidhart at November’s Survivor Series, Lay-Cool will be champion again sooner rather than later because Michelle McCool’s death-grip on the gold is forever a constant as long as she’s married to The Undertaker. Despite my dislike for McCool, it is hard to not recognize the success of both members of Lay-Cool.
2. Mickie James - The most talked-about woman in professional wrestling in 2010 was Mickie James. While this was a transitional year for the amazing woman from Richmond, Virginia, 2010 did not go without his share of highlights. Mickie James achieved one of the biggest pops in 2010 WWE at the Royal Rumble when she won her fifth Woman’s Championship with a 20-second destruction of Michelle McCool. Sadly, that was the end of her bright moments in WWE as she was forced to drop the title in late February due to a staph infection that sidelined her for weeks. Mickie fought back and returned from her injury early but was still released on April 22nd in a move made because of pettiness and disrespect towards one of the most popular performers in the entire industry. Mickie returned to TNA Wrestling on October 7th after wrestling all over the world during the summer. She immediately found herself in a rivalry with Tara that brought women’s wrestling back to the 21st century as both ladies battled in intense matches better than their male counterparts. Mickie’s 2010 culminated with an insane dive off the top of a steel cage onto Tara in a steel cage match that fans will talk about for years to come. While not the best year of her career, Mickie James rebounded from horrible treatment in World Wrestling Entertainment to become an inspiration once again to young women in TNA Wrestling. If the end of 2010 was an indication, 2011 is going to be an outstanding year for Mickie James.
1. Madison Rayne - Madison Rayne exploded onto the scene in 2010 as the TNA Knockout was successful at whatever she tired throughout the year. Madison Rayne started 2010 as a member of The Beautiful People. On March 8th, Rayne and Velvet Sky won the vacant Knockouts Tag Team Championship. Then at April’s Lockdown PPV, Rayne became the first woman to simultaneously hold the Knockouts Championship and Tag Team title when she defeated champion Angelina Love in a tag match with all the Knockouts titles on the line. Rayne remained a dominant force in the Knockouts division throughout the summer, ending the careers of Roxxi and Tara in Title vs. Career matches, before losing the Knockouts Championship in August to Love. It was during this time where Rayne left The Beautiful People and aligned herself with former rival Tara. This union paid off in October when Rayne eventually regained the Knockouts title after Tara relinquished the title to her following Bound For Glory. Madison Rayne entered a feud after regaining the title with Mickie James that will surely headline TNA events in 2011. While the 24-year old Ohio native is the future of women’s wrestling, Madison Rayne’s 2010 showed that the future is now.
Wrestler of the Year
4. John Cena - Like him or hate him, John Cena had another successful year worthy of respect. In February, John Cena won the WWE Championship at Elimination Chamber and regained the title again from Batista at WrestleMania XXVI. Cena proceeded to dominate Batista the following months in Last Man Standing and I Quit matches before Batista legitimately quit the company. Cena eventually lost the WWE title to Sheamus in June and started a feud with the Nexus that would preoccupy Cena for the rest of 2010. Cena’s war with Wade Barrett in particular culminated at TLC with Cena squashing the Nexus leader in a Chair match. 2010 was another year filled with frustration-inducing success in the ring for the modern day Hulk Hogan as John Cena was unstoppable for a majority of the year. While I don’t like it, I do respect the accomplishments from one John Cena.
3. Sheamus - 2010 was an impressive year for the Celtic Warrior as Sheamus showed no signs of slowing down after his meteoric rise to the top of World Wrestling Entertainment in 2009. Starting the year as the WWE Champion, Sheamus held onto the gold until February’s Elimination Chamber event. Despite losing to Triple H at WrestleMania XXVI, Sheamus gained his revenge by putting Triple H out of action at Extreme Rules after a victory in a street fight. Sheamus regained the WWE Championship from John Cena at June’s Fatal 4-Way PPV and held the title until a loss to Randy Orton in September. Despite not regaining the title, Sheamus added another accomplishment to his resume in November when he defeated John Morrison in the finals to become the 2010 King of the Ring. 2010 was a tremendously successful year for the Celtic Warrior as gold and victories were not illusive for this Irishman.
2. AJ Styles / Randy Orton (TIE) - Despite working in two different promotions, TNA’s AJ Styles and WWE’s Randy Orton both had similar years in 2010. AJ Styles started 2010 as the TNA World Champion. Styles successfully defended the title against Kurt Angle in January and Samoa Joe in February while establishing a friendship with Ric Flair. Styles’ reign, which would ultimately go down as the longest in company history, ended when Rob Van Dam pinned him in April for the title. Styles attempted to regain the gold unsuccessfully before having an uneventful summer. Styles won the TNA Global Championship from Rob Terry in late July and re-christened it the TV Championship. Then, Styles feuded with Tommy Dreamer over the title in the EV.2/Fortune feud before losing the title in December to Douglas Williams in a spectacular match. Meanwhile, Randy Orton’s 2010 started slowly. Legacy imploded and Orton defeated his former co-horts at WrestleMania XXVI. Then, Orton got involved in a feud with Edge that was short-lived due to Orton suffering a shoulder injury in May. Randy Orton’s 2010 picked up momentum over the summer with wins over Edge and Chris Jericho before ultimately defeating Sheamus for the WWE Championship at September’s Night of Champions event. While Orton lost the title and subsequent rematch to The Miz in November, Randy Orton’s star has still never been higher in World Wrestling Entertainment. While both men had periods of time less than stellar in 2010, both AJ Styles and Randy Orton had more success than the majority of the counterparts as Styles and Orton were among 2010’s best.
1. The Miz - In a nutshell, 2010 for The Miz was simply “Awesome!” as the former reality TV star broke through the glass ceiling in World Wrestling Entertainment. The Miz started out 2010 with the United States Championship. While feuding with MVP over the title, The Miz added another championship in February when he and The Big Show defeated DX for the WWE Tag Team titles. ShoMiz held the gold until late April when they lost to The Hart Dynasty. Miz would lose the US title to Bret Hart in May but would be without gold only temporarily as he regained the title from R-Truth in June. At July’s Money in the Bank event, The Miz gained the biggest win of his career to date when he won the RAW Money in the Bank Ladder match. Although he lost the US title to Daniel Bryan in September, Miz continued to flirt with cashing in the Money in the Bank contract. He ultimately cashed it in successfully over Randy Orton on November 22nd to win his first WWE Championship. Successful championship defenses over Orton and Jerry Lawler along with media reaction to his reign unseen for other members of the WWE roster have many believing 2010 was not only the Year of The Miz; it was also the beginning of the Era of Miz.
SPORTS
Driver of the Year
4. Dario Franchitti / Will Power (TIE) - The 2010 Indy Car Series revolved around two men: Dario Franchitti and Will Power. For a majority of the season, Will Power led the points standings. Power, returning from an almost-career ending injury in 2009, won the first two races of the season en route to a series-high five victories. Plus, Power scored the most points on the road courses en route to becoming the inaugural Mario Andretti Trophy winning for being the Indy Car Series’ top road racer. Still, it was not enough to be the overall series champion. Dario Franchitti won his second Indianapolis 500 in May; one of three victories over the course of the 2010 season. Franchitti scored the most points on oval tracks throughout the season and earned the AJ Foyt Trophy alongside his third Indy Car Series Championship. Both drivers had tremendous seasons in 2010 as Franchitti continued to establish himself as the premiere open-wheel driver of this generation while Power firmly established himself as a star of the future in the Indy Car world.
3. Denny Hamlin - Denny Hamlin may remember 2010 as the year he choked on the sweet air of success. But, it was still a successful year nonetheless. Denny Hamlin won eight races in 2010, including three victories in the Chase of the Championship. But, leading the Chase going into the season finale in Homestead, Hamlin’s 2010 ended in a blaze of incompetence when he choked under the pressure and finished a disappointing 14th leaving him 39 points behind eventual champion Jimmie Johnson. Still, Hamlin looked as good as possible for 35 of 36 races and had a 2010 worthy of a lot of praise.
2. Kevin Harvick - Kevin Harvick will be looked at by some as the uncrowned 2010 Cup Series Champion and it is deservedly so as Harvick had a tremendous season. Harvick scored three Cup Series victories in 2010 including wins at Daytona and Talladega. Harvick’s 26 top tens and average finish of 8th led him to an overall season performance that was championship worthy. In the Chase, Harvick ultimately finished third. Harvick’s success didn’t stay in the Cup Series as he also “dumpster-dived” with three Nationwide and three Truck Series victories in 2010. While Harvick did not leave 2010 with the championship he set out for, Harvick’s 2010 was certainly a season he could be happy about.
1. Jimmie Johnson - Jimmie Johnson won his fifth Cup Championship with another spectacular run in the Chase for the Championship. But, if anybody believes that Johnson is only a championship driver because of his mastery of the Chase format, they are sadly mistaken. Johnson started the 2010 season with victories in three of the first five events. During the summer, Johnson won his first dirk track event with a win in the Prelude to the Dream charity event at Eldora Speedway. Johnson ultimately ended the season with 17 top fives, 23 top tens, and six victories including a nine race stretch with finishes no worse than ninth on the way to his fifth consecutive championship. Like him or hate him, you have to respect him and his accomplishments. Jimmie Johnson added another page to the history book he’s rewriting with a 2010 that was simply golden.
Sports Moment/Story of the Year
4. The US-Canada War finally happens - On February 28th, hockey was the biggest sport in all of America as Team USA did battle with Team Canada in the 2010 Winter Olympics tournament final in Vancouver. Despite playing on their opponent’s home ice and being outmatched to begin with, Team USA played hard and did not let the game get out of hand. The potential was there for another “Miracle on Ice” right up to the very end. Left wing Zack Parise of Team USA tied the game at 2-2 with only 25 seconds remaining in regulation before Team Canada’s Sidney Crosby scored arguably the biggest goal of his superstar career at 7:42 into overtime. Crosby’s goal gave Team Canada the 3-2 victory. Team USA may have lost the gold medal but the game itself brought hockey renewed interest and developed national pride that remained into the summer and the World Cup. This game was a remarkable moment for hockey in America.
3. Donovan saves Team USA - The World Cup was one of the biggest sporting events in all of 2010. While America usually could care less about soccer, the country was buzzing on June 23rd when the US faced Algeria. The US was riding the moment of a tie against Slovenia five days earlier and was in need of a victory to advance into the tournament stage. Tied after 90 minutes, the game went into stoppage time when left winger Landon Donovan followed Jozy Altidore’s blocked shot and put in the rebound for the eventual game-winning goal. That kick boosted the American public’s interest in the World Cup and made Donovan one of the most popular sports figures in the country. Though the US would be eliminated in the first round of tournament play, American pride was flying high after Landon Donovan scored the biggest goal in US soccer history.
2. LeBron James stabs Cleveland and his loyal fans in the back - It will be forever known as The Decision. But to anybody with a semblance of common decency or moral integrity, the moment when LeBron James joined the Miami Heat will be forever known as a moment of disgusting egotism at its worst. The way LeBron James treated his hometown team and the fans who made him the superstar he is currently was one of the most disgusting acts in sports history. Between holding an hour-long prime-time television special, a parade a day later with his new teammates, mini-movies with the help of Nike serving no purpose other than to provoke his former community, and an endless barrage of comments meant to provoke, LeBron James shattered his once-clean cut image and became the biggest pariah in the history of the NBA. The saddest part of this entire story though is how the sports media shoved this disrespectful jerk down our throats to a point where James can not be ignored. That is the biggest injustice of them all.
1. The Ain’ts win the big one - On February 7th, most of the eastern US was snowed in. But in warm and comfortable Miami, Florida, the New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts did battle in what would ultimately become the most watched game in Super Bowl history. Expected to be an offensive showcase, the Colts and Saints did battle in a see-saw match-up that went down to the final three minutes before a rare Peyton Manning mistake sealed things for the Saints. Sean Payton set the ton for the wild finish to come when the Saints opened the second half with an onside kick. The Colts fought back and were down 24-17 with 3:12 remaining when Peyton Manning threw an inception to Saints’ cornerback Tracy Porter that was returned 74 yards for a game-clinching touchdown. Drew Brees was the MVP and officially became a God to an area of the country in desperate need of something positive in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. More importantly, it was the first shinning moment for a franchise that was known for years as the Ain’ts even by their most diehard fans. Super Bowl XLIV was a victory for the little guy; a win for the team told they can’t win. The New Orleans Saints’ victory in Super Bowl XLIV was a magical moment and the best sports moment of 2010.
Athlete of the Year
4. Cameron Newton - The athletic quarterback at Auburn University had an amazing 2010 season despite a cloud of controversy that surrounded him wherever he went. Newton led the Auburn Tigers to a 12-0 record and spot in the upcoming National Championship game against the Oregon Ducks on January 10th, 2011. Newton became the first SEC player to pass for 2,000 yards and rush for 1,000 yards in a season while also becoming just the third player in college football history to pass for 20 touchdowns and rush for 20 touchdowns in a single season. Newton won the 2010 Heisman Trophy along with the AP Player of the Year honor. Sadly, Newton’s amazing season may be all for naught as his father shopped his services to other universities before Newton landed at Auburn and this scandal to eventually lead to another Reggie Bush scandal for Newton and Auburn University. That said, nothing today will take away from the outstanding 2010 campaign of Cameron Newton.
3. Tom Brady - The Golden Boy continues to get better with age as Tom Brady had a career year in 2010. Despite an early exit from the playoffs, Brady signed a huge contract extension in the off season and proved himself worth every penny with a record-breaking 2010 regular season. Brady has led the Patriots to a 14-2 record with landmarks victories coming against the New York Jets (45-3), Indianapolis Colts (31-28), and Chicago Bears (36-7). During this season, Brady has passed for 3,900 yards with 36 touchdowns and only four interceptions. Brady became the quickest to achieve 100 regular season victories with the Patriots’ 41-14 win over the Miami Dolphins on October 4th and passed the late Don Meredith’s record with his seventh consecutive game passing for at least two touchdowns without an interception on December 19th against the Green Bay Packers. Tom Brady has had plenty of record-breaking season in his illustrious career but 2010 may be his finest season to date.
2. Connecticut Lady Huskies / Duke Blue Devils (TIE) - There were two dominant college basketball programs in 2010: the UConn Lady Huskies and the Duke Blue Devils. Both were championship winners and made history as well in 2010. From November 16th, 2008 to December 30th, 2010, the University of Connecticut Lady Huskies basketball program won two national championships, two Big East titles, and 90 consecutive games in what is now the longest winning streak in the history of college basketball. Facing all comers, coach Geno Auriemma coached his girls to a winning streak that may never been seen again in our lifetime. Their success in 2010 was matched by the historic 2010 of the Duke Blue Devils. Duke won the National Championship with a thrilling 61-59 victory over Cinderella story Butler University in the tournament finals on April 5th. Along with a fourth national title for coach Mike Krzyzewski, 2010 also saw the Duke Blue Devils defeat UNC-Greensboro on December 29th for Coach K’s 880th career victory; second on the all-time coaching wins list. Both programs had tremendous success without flamboyant players or attitudes that would tarnish any of their success. Connecticut and Duke both conduct themselves like winners deserving only the utmost respect. I doubt 2011 will be any different or less successful for these two universities.
1. Roy Halladay - In 2010, there was no single pitcher in Major League Baseball more dominant or impressive than Philadelphia Phillies ace Roy Halladay. He went 21-10 with a 2.44 ERA and 219 strikeouts compared to only 30 walks in a season worthy of Halladay’s second Cy Young Award. Of course, Halladay left his mark in the annals of baseball history with two performances that won’t soon be forgotten. On May 29th, Halladay pitched the 20th perfect game in MLB history with a dynamic performance against the Florida Marlins in Miami. Then, in Halladay’s first ever postseason outing on October 6th, Halladay pitched only the second-ever postseason no-hitter when he shut down the Cincinnati Reds in Game One of their National League Divisional Series match-up. Halladay became the first pitcher since Nolan Ryan in 1973 to throw multiple no-hitters and only the seventh pitcher to have a no-hitter and perfect game in a career (the first man to do both within the same season). Roy Halladay was the premiere pitcher in a year labeled the “Season of the Pitcher” by sportswriters everywhere. In my opinion, there was no one performer more dominant in sports in 2010 that Roy “Doc” Halladay of the Philadelphia Phillies.
To be continued...
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