2008: Year of Greatly Failed Expectations (Part Three)

By: Luke Florence

In PART ONE and PART TWO, we examined how my favorite teams did this past year. Let me catch you up to speed: 2008 was an awful year for my teams (minus the Pens). But, just as we did LAST YEAR, it has come time to dish out some hardware. The biggest award will be handed out at the very end. Can Brady Quinn do the un-thinkable and repeat? Stay tuned to find out. Giddy up.

BEST GAME - Unlike two years ago, 2008 provided numerous instant-classic games. But one stood out amongst the pack, which is why this award goes to Game Five of the Stanley Cup Finals between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Detroit Red Wings. Pittsburgh had to win this game to continue the series and had to travel to the unfriendly confines of Detroit. They were trailing by one goal with under a minute to go, but they pulled their goalie and somehow managed to score the game-tying goal. Then, in triple overtime, the Penguins scored the game-winner. It was thrilling, and a game I will not soon forget.
Runner Ups: Super Bowl XLII (Giants vs. Patriots), Wimbledon Final (Nadal vs. Federer).

BEST SPORTING EVENT I ATTENDED - 2008 was spent mainly in Athens, Ohio, as I finished up my News Writing degree. Unfortunately, that meant I did not get to attend as many sporting events as I would have liked. I didn't go to a single Indians game, and only went to one Browns game. So, changes have to be made. Barnes and I went to his old stomping grounds in February to catch Frank Caliendo. Frank did not let us down. It was laugh-out-loud funny the entire time, and yes, I would go see him again.
Runner Ups: Southern Ohio Copperheads snapping Delaware's massive winning streak, Browns home opener vs. Cowboys (solely for the trip back with Lucius calling out songs on the radio like he owned the station).

BEST SPORTING EVENT I MISSED - I was fortunate enough to land an internship with the Southern Ohio Copperheads over the summer, but my very first day of work caused me to miss the conclusion of the Tiger Woods vs. Rocco Mediate playoff. However, Barnes was there to get me through it, as phone calls and text messages were sent back-and-forth, making sure I didn't miss anything. These calls and texts also allowed me to be "that guy." The one who knows the results of big sporting events before everyone else. I quickly told the likes of Jared Humphreys, Zach Swartz, and Brian Boesch. I love being "that guy."
Runner Ups: Norm Duke winning his second straight major (completely forgot about it)

BEST MOVIE I SAW IN THE THEATRE - Very strong year for movies I watched in the cinema. Lots of contenders, but similar to the Game of the Year category, one particular contender stood out. The Dark Knight was without question the best movie I saw in the theatre in 2008. Heath Ledger's performance of The Joker was undeniably the most captivating of the year, maybe even the decade. It had twists, humor, action, everything you want in a movie. The Dark Knight was perfect.

Runner Ups: Forgetting Sarah Marshall (still can't believe this didn't win), Role Models, Saw V, Tropic Thunder (Robert Downey Jr. and Tom Cruise are hilarious).

BEST MOVIE I SAW ELSEWHERE - Most movies and stories have a beginning, middle and end. And usually, most follow that order. But what if the ending was told first? And the beginning had the big twist? Well, as confusing as that may sound, Memento follows that line of thinking, as it is a movie that is told backwards. Christopher Nolan (director of The Dark Knight) also directs Memento, and is quickly becoming my favorite director (never really had one to begin with). Big props to Devin for recommending this movie, as this is the second straight year the winner of this category has been mentioned by D-Frank as a movie worth my time.

Runner Ups: Requiem For A Dream (hulu.com), Step Brothers

BEST 'IN YOUR FACE' MOMENT - I wrote in SEPTEMBER OF '06, that there was no way anyone would break Michael Johnson's 200 meter world record time of 19.32 seconds. That statement was accurate for less than two years. Enter Usain "Lightning" Bolt and the 2008 Summer Olympics and a moment I never thought I would live to see. Some people may say that the most memorable event of those Olympics was Michael Phelps, but I would disagree. It was Usain Bolt, in particular his 100 meter performance. Bolt, with his shoe laces untied, broke the previous world-record with a time of 9.69 seconds. Not only were his shoes untied, but with a quarter of the race to go, Bolt started celebrating, and let off the gas peddle. It was ridiculous. Couple that with his 19.30 running of the 200 meters, and I may want to reconsider naming this category the Usain Bolt Moment of the Year.

Runner Ups: Tiger Woods' victory at the Arnold Palmer Invite, Norm Duke winning three consecutive majors (never happened before in the history of the PBA Tour)

NEW GUY I HATE THE MOST - Plenty of ammunition for this category. The one who provided the most was none other than Braylon Edwards. It wasn't just because he led the league in drops. Geez, he has led the league the past two years in drops, and is the odds-on favorite to go for the coveted three-peat next season. No, the reason he lands this hardware is because of his mouth. It never stops and it never says anything intelligent. After another disappointing game, Braylon made comments about how fans of the Browns will never truly accept him because he went to Michigan. Later he said he would stop all his charity work in Ohio and move it all to Michigan. You stay classy Braylon. It has gotten to the point where I HOPE they trade him during the off-season. Yes, I recognize the talent, but I don't like the price tag that comes with it. I'll take Michael Crabtree with the fifth pick as long as it means Edwards is gone. Come on Mangini.
Runner Ups: Shawn Smith, Michael Phelps, Zach Hillesland

NEW GUY I LOVE THE MOST - Last year, Luke Harangody was a runner-up for this category, and this year he is up for it again, only in 2008, he is going home with the trophy. It is well-deserved. "Gody," was the Big East Player of the Year in 2008 and is on pace to repeat. I've been following Notre Dame basketball for more than a decade, and Harangody is the best player I've seen wearing the blue and gold. Better than Troy Murphy, Matt Carroll, Chris Thomas, and Chris Quinn. Hopefully he comes back for his senior year and cements his spot in ND basketball lore.
Runner Ups: Usain Bolt, Golden Tate, Michael Floyd, Cliff Lee

THE MOMENT OF THE YEAR - This is the big one. This is my Picture or Album of the Year award. This is the one game, person, and/or moment that made the biggest impact for the entire year. Sorry Barack, only sport-related matters qualify.

The Candidates are as follows:

1) Notre Dame football spanking Hawaii 49-21 in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl, snapping their massive bowl-losing streak.

2) Tiger Woods' run at the U.S. Open on one leg.

3) The Penguins/Red Wings Stanley Cup Game Five thriller.

4) Brady Quinn making his 1st career NFL start, against the Denver Broncos. (Quinn being drafted by the Browns was the 2007 Moment of the Year)

5) Cliff Lee winning the Cy Young Award and starting in the All-Star Game (in which, he was great).

The King of Arguments proudly presents the 2008 Moment of the Year Award to ...


TIGER WOODS' RUN AT THE U.S. OPEN!!!

It was the performance that gave us the answer to the ongoing question, "How good is Tiger Woods?" Well, he is good enough to win the toughest and most grueling tournament in the world ... on one leg. We won't fully grasp how incredible this victory was until Tiger's career is over. He has called it his second greatest win (behind his first Masters victory), but when it is all said and done, people will look back and call that U.S. Open the best, because of how he did it. On Saturday he found himself five strokes back with just six holes to finish in the 3rd round. Two eagles (a combined 100 feet) and a birdie later gave him the lead entering Sunday.

Ridiculously long putts, chip shots falling miraculously in, and grimaces after nearly every single shot all finally culminated on Sunday when Tiger had to make a 15-foot birdie putt to force an 18-hole playoff with Rocco Mediate. And of course ... he drilled it. The next day, he defeated Rocco, giving him 14 majors, and the moment of 2008. Thank you Tiger.

Okay, that wraps it up for me. But first, what was your moment of 2008? Anything that stood out sports wise? Something I should have mentioned but forgot?

Hope 2008 treated you well and that 2009 does you even better.

Until next time, "read it, roll it, hole it."