With another new year now underway, let me start by offering best wishes to all readers for 2011. Now, a look back to some of the highlights in pro sports from the past 12 months…
American college football games brought in January of 2010. At the Rose Bowl in California, Ohio State defeated the Oregon Ducks 26-17. Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram rushed for a pair of touchdowns as the Alabama Crimson Tide beat the Texas Longhorns 37-21 to win the U.S. college football championship title.
In an exciting final to the world junior hockey championships in Saskatoon, the U.S.A. scored in overtime to edge Canada 6-5.
Upon firing Jim Mora after a single season, the Seattle Seahawks announced Pete Carroll from USC as their new head coach.
At age 46, pitcher “Big Unit” Randy Johnson announced his retirement after a 22-year career in baseball. Former St. Louis Cardinals slugger Mark McGwire, hired by the team as a hitting coach, admitted using steroids in 1998 when he broke the single-season home-run record of Roger Maris.
At the Canadian figure skating championships last January, Patrick Chan captured his third consecutive men’s singles title, and in the women’s final Joannie Rochette won her sixth straight crown.
The month ended with the Australian Open tennis tournament, where Roger Federer downed Andy Murray to win his 16th Grand Slam title. Serena Williams defeated Justine Henin to claim the women’s crown for the fifth time.
February brought Super Bowl XLIV, in which the New Orleans Saints overcame a 10-0 deficit to upset the favoured Indianapolis Colts 31-17. Game MVP was Saints quarterback Drew Brees, who tied a Super Bowl record with 32 pass completions. Jerry Rice and Emmitt Smith were elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility.
At the Scotties Tournament of Hearts, the Team Canada rink from Manitoba skipped by Jennifer Jones edged a young Prince Edward Island rink 8-7 to capture the Canadian women’s curling championship for a third straight year.
Also in February, the Games of the XXI Winter Olympiad opened with an impressive ceremony in Vancouver, culminating with hockey great Wayne Gretzky carrying the flame to light an outdoor cauldron.
In the 59th NBA all-star game, the Eastern Conference edged the Western Conference 141-139. Dwyane Wade had 28 points and was chosen as the game’s MVP.
The U.S. trimaran Oracle captured the 33rd America’s Cup of yacht racing.
In the NASCAR season-opener, Jamie McMurray held off Dale Earnhardt, Jr. to win the Daytona 500 auto race.
The Winter Olympics in Vancouver came to an close as the month ended, with Canada having won a record 14 gold medals. The last of those came thanks to a thrilling 3-2 overtime victory against U.S.A. in men’s hockey, with Sidney Crosby scoring the winning goal.
At the Brier last March, skip Kevin Koe and his Alberta team upset previously-undefeated Glenn Howard in the final, drawing to the button in an extra end to win the Canadian men’s curling championship 6-5.
Japanese skaters Daisuke Takahashi and Mao Asada captured the men’s and women’s titles respectively at the world figure skating championships in Italy. Canadian Patrick Chan took silver in the men’s competition.
In an exciting end to March Madness, the Duke Blue Devils held on to edge underdog Butler Bulldogs 61-59 to win the NCAA men’s basketball title. Duke forward Kyle Singler was named the Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player.
At the world women’s curling championships in Saskatchewan, the Canadian team skipped by Jennifer Jones had to settle for the bronze medal, beating Sweden in the consolation final. Veteran skip Andrea Schoepp and her German team won the gold medal, edging Scotland in an extra end. Also last April, the Randy Ferbey men’s curling team, winners of four Canadian and three world titles, announced they were disbanding. At the men’s world curling championships in Italy, the Canadian team skipped by Kevin Koe defeated Norway 9-3 in the final to win the world title.
It was an emotional victory for Phil Mickelson at the Masters, as the popular star whose wife is battling breast cancer won his third green jacket at golf’s first major of the year.
Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot of Kenya won the men’s division of the 114th Boston Marathon, while Ethiopian Teyba Erkesso was women’s champ.
To start last May, Super Saver galloped to victory at the Kentucky Derby, horse racing’s first jewel in the triple crown. Lookin At Lucky subsequently won the Preakness Stakes.
LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers was named as the NBA’s Most Valuable Player for the second straight year.
Chelsea edged Portsmouth 1-nil to capture the English Football Association Cup final at Wembley Stadium.
An underdog Czech Republic team upset Russia 2-1 in the final of the men’s world hockey championship. Canada did not qualify for the medal round.
And as May ended, Scotsman Dario Franchitti won the Indianapolis 500 auto race for a second time.
Continuing our review of pro sports highlights from 2010, we pick things up in a busy June…
The start of that month saw Ken Griffey Jr. announce his retirement from Major League Baseball, ending his career with the Seattle Mariners at fifth on the all-time home run list.
Drosselmeyer unleashed a late surge to win the Belmont Stakes, the final jewel in horse racing’s Triple Crown.
Francesca Schiavone became the first Italian to win the women’s singles title at the French Open tennis tournament, defeating favoured Australian Samantha Stosur. Spaniard Rafael Nadal returned to top form, defeating Robin Soderling to capture the men’s singles crown.
NHL hockey playoffs came to an end when the Chicago Blackhawks edged the Philadelphia Flyers 4-3 in overtime of Game 6 of the finals. The victory marked the Chicago franchise’s first Stanley Cup in 49 years. Team captain Jonathan Toews received the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.
Basketball playoffs wrapped up with the Los Angeles Lakers winning their second straight NBA title. It was the 16th title for the Lakers, who edged the Boston Celtics 83-79 in the seventh and deciding game of the close series.
Golf’s second major of the season, the U.S. Open held at Pebble Beach, was won by Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell.
At the NHL awards night held in Las Vegas, Henrik Sedin became the first Vancouver Canuck to win the Hart Trophy as league MVP. The NHL’s entry draft saw Windsor Spitfires forward Taylor Hall taken as top pick by the Edmonton Oilers.
Last July, Rafael Nadal breezed past Czech Tomas Berdych to win his second Wimbledon men’s tennis championship. In the women’s final, American Serena Williams collected her second straight title by downing Russian Vera Zvonareva.
In the final of the FIFA World Cup in South Africa, Spain defeated the Netherlands 1-0 to win soccer’s greatest prize.
Also in July, legendary New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner died of a heart attack at age 80. Major league baseball’s all-star game saw the National League down the American League for the first time since 1996. Final score was 3-1 for the Nationals, with Atlanta Braves catcher Brian McCann the game MVP.
Louis Oosthuizan of South Africa won the 150th edition of the British Open golf tournament at St. Andrews. The Canadian Open golf tournament was won by Sweden’s Carl Pettersson.
Still in July, Alberto Contador of Spain won his third Tour de France cycling race, while Victoria’s Ryder Hesjedal placed an impressive seventh overall.
Former Montreal Expos centre fielder Andre Dawson was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Martin Kaymer of Germany captured the PGA championship in a playoff against Bubba Watson.
Scottie Pippen and Karl Malone were inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame.
During September of 2010, Belgium’s Kim Clijsters won her second straight U. S. Open women’s tennis title, defeating Russian Vera Zvonareva. In the men’s final, Spain’s Rafael Nadal got past a valiant Novak Djokovic of Serbia.
October brought the 38th Ryder Cup golf competition in Wales, where the European team held on to edge the Americans.
Following the retirement of Cito Gaston, the Toronto Blue Jays named John Farrell as their new manager. Baseball news continued to start November. The San Francisco Giants won their first World Series in 56 years, beating the Texas Rangers 3-1 in Game 5 of the Major League Baseball championship. Shortstop Edgar Renteria was named World Series MVP. Hall of Fame baseball manager Sparky Anderson died at age 76.
At the New York Marathon, Ethiopian runner Gebre Gebrmariam was first to the finish line. Fastest in the ladies’ division was Kenyan Edna Kiplagat.
Dino Ciccarelli and builder Jim Devellano, along with women Angela James and Cammi Granato, were among those inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Former NHL coach Pat Burns died of cancer at age 58.
Baseball awards saw Canadian Joey Votto, first baseman with the Cincinnati Reds, named as the National League’s Most Valuable Player. Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton won the American League MVP award.
Near the end of the month, Calgary Stampeders quarterback Henry Burris was named as the Canadian Football League’s Most Outstanding Player. And for the second straight year, the Montreal Alouettes came from behind to defeat the Saskatchewan Roughriders and win the Grey Cup, edging the Riders 21-18 for the CFL title. The game’s Most Outstanding Player was Montreal receiver Jamel Richardson.
This past December, Auburn University quarterback Cam Newton won the Heisman Trophy as U.S. college football’s best player.
Winner of the Lou Marsh award was Votto. Chosen as the Canadian Press female athlete of the year was figure skater Joannie Rochette.
Just some of the memories from a busy 2010 in professional sports.
Ian Thorpe writes about sports Saturdays.
