27 Selections from 2009 — Part 2

Yesterday I started compiling a list of 27 storylines, events, blogs, etc from 2009 that I thought I’d share with you. If you haven’t seen the first 13 entries, click here. Now it’s time for the second half.

Game-changers.

14) Twitter. Many people thought that Twitter would be a fad that quickly faded away, like Zubaz pants or half the stuff from this list. Well, guess what people, Twitter is here to stay, and celebs and athletes have embraced it the most. It’s a way for them to conveniently and safely get closer to fans, and both sides seem to be pretty into it. Players like Chad Ochocinco, Shaquille O’Neal, and Nick Swisher have jumped on board, just to name a few. In fact, entire websites are dedicated to what athletes are saying on Twitter. Now, every week on ESPN there are Twitter-related stories about how players are talking trash, reporting news that has yet to break, or even tweeting during games. Whether you like it or not, it’s here to stay.

15) Blown calls. When ESPN compiles a top ten list of blown umpire calls in the MLB’s postseason, you know there’s a real problem. However, Bud Selig is vehemently against using instant replay any more than it already is in baseball, and although I normally do not side with the bow-tied bonehead, he does have some legitimate concerns. However, enough time has gone by and he needs to set something in place so that blown calls that are blatantly obvious can be overturned.

Horrible.

16) A perfectly idiotic move. Time to throw in a recent event. In their quest for the perfect season, the Colts have come up short, thanks to Jim Caldwell’s premature benching of NFL MVP Peyton Manning. But rather than get into depth about it again here, I’m just going to direct you to Brandon’s thoughts on the subject here and here, because it pretty much sums it up perfectly. Bottom line, the Colts had a chance to do something great and threw it away, and fans should be peeved. Not to mention that sitting players rarely has the desired effect. But I digress…

Scandals.

17) Not just Tiger. I already mentioned Tiger yesterday, mostly because his celebrity combined with the shock value garnered it’s own category above and beyond all others. But let’s not forget, there were a handful of other scandals and affairs in the sports world this year. The media had a field day with the Steve Phillips affair, and then there was the less-publicized but equally offensive Eric Kuselias affair, which included another ESPN employee, Stephania Bell. Then of course there was the Rick Pitino shocker, which seemed to get more bizarre and twisted each time the story was updated. But perhaps the most shocking and definitely the saddest affair this year doesn’t even belong in this category…

Apparently ESPN employees have marriage-waiving clauses in their contracts.

Losses.

18) Steve McNair was an iconic mainstay in the NFL for more than a decade. He was considered a warrior by coaches, peers, and fans because of his ability to play through debilitating injuries and still get the job done. Unfortunately, off the field, McNair had problems with infidelity, and this led to his demise in July of this year when his 20-year-old mistress Sahel Kazemi shot McNair twice in the head and then turned the gun on herself. The tragedy sent shockwaves through Tennessee and, at least at first, impacted many NFL players who were also guilty of infidelity.

You will be missed, Steve -- hopefully your story will scare others straight.

19) Earlier this year, the Los Angeles Angels lost a pitcher who had a bright future ahead of him when a drunk driver struck and killed Nick Adenhart. In an ironic twist of fate, Adenhart’s death came just hours after an outstanding 2009 MLB debut in which he threw six scoreless innings. It was a brief flash of the potential the 22-year-old pitcher had and is another reminder of what can happen when people drive drunk. The Angels eventually went on to win their division, and celebrated out in center field where they could be close to Adenhart.

Drinking and driving caused this senseless death. RIP, Nick.

20) Chris Henry always seemed to be his own worst enemy. His talent on the field for years was offset by the fact that he had so many off-the-field problems with the law. It got so bad that he was eventually waived by the Bengals in 2008 because of his conduct, although he would eventually be given the opportunity to re-sign with the team later that year due to injuries to the rest of the Bengals receiving corps. He had people all around him trying to push him in the right direction, and just when it seemed like he might finally be turning a corner, his demons once again arose in the form of a domestic dispute with his fiance, Loleini Tonga. The dispute got to a point where Henry found himself in the back of a moving truck that Tonga was driving, and he eventually fell off and suffered head injuries that would result in his death.

21) Although the three deaths I mentioned so far were definitely surprising and tragic, none of them come close to the mystery that surrounds Arturo Gotti’s death. At first, bloodstains on his wife’s purse led investigators to charge her with murder, although later she was cleared of that charge and some reports suggest that Gotti may have even used the purse strap to strangle himself while under the influence of drugs. No one knows exactly what happened, but one things is for certain — this case has many more questions than answers.

TV

22) There were some major sports-related tv programs that knocked it out of the park in 2009. On January 1, 2009, the MLB Network was launched, and finally provided a place for Harold Reynolds to provide excellent sports insights and look the other way when it came to his on-set sexual harassment. With unique programming like Hot Stove, The ‘Pen, and 30 Clubs, 30 Recaps, the MLB Network got off to a strong start. Although I don’t see it finding the success that the NFL Network has had, the MLB Network is here to stay and provides yet another channel for MLB junkies like myself.

23) Speaking of the NFL Network, the most brilliant and innovative programming of the year, without question, is the NFL Redzone. For all you other 20-somethings out there who are constantly multitasking and in need of ADD-friendly activities, you need to look into this channel for next year’s NFL season. Whenever a team hits the redzone, the NFL will take you there, and make sure you are constantly updated on who is scoring and when. In the event that there isn’t a team in the redzone, you’ll be taken to the best matchup at that particular time. It’s also a must-have resource for avid fantasy football junkies.

24) Finally, and speaking of fantasy football, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention my new favorite tv show, The League. The first season is now over, but do yourself a favor and buy it or find it somewhere online, because it is hilarious. Essentially it’s just a bunch early 30s guys who still play fantasy football and talk endless smack to one another in the process. They also blackmail each other in real life so that they can acquire fantasy studs, and the characters in the show are crazy and ridiculous. Do yourself a favor and jump on board now.

Seriously, you need to be watching this show.

Awards.

25) Most exciting game of the year — Minnesota Twins beat Detroit Tigers in one game playoff for AL Central. This game was an unbelievable, back-and-forth dogfight that had it all.

26) Greatest individual achievement — Apologies to Randy Johnson getting his 300th win, but you just can’t top perfect. Mark Buerhle gets the nod on this one.

Sorry Randy. Maybe you should have tried pitching a perfect game for your 300th win.

27) The most captivating sports story of 2009 — Maybe I made this category a bit too broad, but it allows me to touch on a few. Is it the whole “Caster Semanya is a guy and not a girl?” What about the whole Andre Agassi/meth story? Perhaps even the Michael Phelps bong photo? Although all of these stories did captivate to some degree, none will compare to the tragic story about NFL linebacker Marquis Cooper and his friends going fishing in the Gulf Coast. I remember following this story closely for days, hoping that these men would be found, but only one, Nick Schuyler, survived, and his details of the harrowing event were astounding. This tragic story was the one that captivated me most this year. What about you?

Happy New Year, everybody. Have fun and be safe.

-SJ