Was 2008 The Best Sports Year Ever?

By Broadside Opinion Writer Brendan Murphy

How does one quantify the best sports year ever—historical significance, the impact of the year’s outcomes, entertainment value? Now, every year seems to be the best sports year ever. Our society aims in on instant history.

I am taking a to-each-his-own approach. Personally, the sports year is defined by moments of excellence and 2008 had plenty.

Facing a third-and-5 on their own 44-yard line with 1:15 remaining, quarterback Eli Manning scrambled from New England Patriots defenders completing a 40-yard pass downfield to New York Giants receiver David Tyree. Tyree’s clinching helmet catch in the Giants’ Super Bowl XLII win has been regarded as the greatest play in NFL history.

The Giants’ upset over the 18-0 Patriots was only the first of the year’s exciting championships.

We were witnesses to the University of Kansas Jayhawks’ overtime thriller over the University of Memphis Tigers in the NCAA Tournament when Mario Chalmers hit the game-tying three-pointer at the end of regulation; Rafael Nadal’s win to overtake Roger Federer, the world’s number one player, at Wimbledon in the best tennis match ever played; an old-school NBA Finals matchup between the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics, in which guard Paul Pierce helped the Celtics win in game six; the U.S. men’s basketball team’s Olympics gold medal; Fresno State’s underdog win in the NCAA Baseball tournament; and the Philadelphia Phillies’ World Series victory over the surprising American League champion Tampa Bay Rays.

The argument is strengthened further by the individual heroics of Olympic athletes Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt and Davidson University Wildcats guard Stephen Curry.

Stephen Curry reminded the fans that the undersized cannot be overlooked after the 6’3” guard averaged 32 points per contest in his four tournament games. Davidson reached the Elite Eight before losing a heartbreaker to the eventual tournament champions, Kansas.

Swimmer Michael Phelps shocked the world by winning a record eight gold medals at the Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. Usain Bolt became the world’s fastest sprinter collecting three gold medals.

Still unsure if 2008 was the best sports year ever? Do not forget about Tiger Woods’ remarkable performance at the U.S. Open in June, which arguably was the top story of the year.

Tiger Woods managed to come back from being ranked 20th to sit atop the leaderboard after round three with a 3 under par 210. He captured his 14th career major after defeating Rocco Mediate in a 19-hole playoff—all with torn ligaments in his knee.

From the clear pain on Tiger’s face with every stroke to the nights families across the world gathered to watch Michael Phelps do the unthinkable—2008 is sure to be remembered.

Did 2008 have enough moments of excellence to be the best sports year ever?
To each his own.