The best of 2007 in sports

The good that went with all that bad, and ugly

Ajitpaul Mangat, Staff

Sure, the 2007 sports year will likely go down in the annals for all the wrong reasons (see: “The Bad, the Ugly, and the Juice”), but there weas still a plethora of memorable plays, games, teams, and athletes that will be remembered for all the right reasons. So here is a reminder that this past year had its fair share of highlights that shone a light, even if fleetingly, on why we cherish sport.

BEST PLAY

Statue of Liberty Play — Boise State vs. Oklahoma, 43-42, 2007 Fiesta Bowl

Choosing a single play, when a sports calendar has thousands, is generally a difficult task, but this year saw one perfectly executed play linger in sports collective unconscious unmatched for an entire year. After sending the game into overtime on a last second hook and ladder play and then matching Oklahoma’s opening touchdown of overtime, Boise State head coach Chris Petersen bravely decided to go for a two-point conversion, and the win, instead of a simple extra point kick to send the game into a second overtime. A trick play, known as the statue of liberty, was executed flawlessly, as quarterback Jared Zabransky faked a pass to his right and then quickly handed off the football to running back Ian Johnson, who ran it in untouched to the end zone for an improbable victory. Guts, drama, deception, and wonderful execution, everything you need for a great play.

BEST GAME

Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Detroit Pistons, 109-107 (2OT), Game Five 2006-07 NBA Eastern Conference Finals

No sport allows for dramatic athletic performance as well as basketball, as a single player can truly affect the fortunes of an entire team. And this year saw “LeBron’s 48” join the pantheon of great performances, along with the likes of Wilt’s 100 and Jordan’s 63. With his undermanned Cleveland Cavaliers trailing by seven points, with 3:15 left in regulation, to the favoured Detroit Pistons, in the fifth game of the 2007 NBA playoffs, and in jeopardy of going down in the series, 3-2, LeBron James simply took over. He scored all of his team’s final 25 points and 29 of their final 30, to will the Cavaliers to an improbable 109-107 double-overtime victory. They eventually won the series 4-2. That single inspiring performance was good enough to make game five of the NBA East finals the most memorable, exciting, and, simply, best game of the year.

BEST TEAM

The Indianapolis Colts

The most disrespectful term you can call an athlete, coach, or team is choker. Well, that is exactly what quarterback Peyton Manning, coach Tony Dungy, and the Indianapolis Colts franchise were labelled heading into the 2006-07 NFL playoffs. Manning had never won a bowl game in college and had failed to lead many talented Colts teams to the Super Bowl. Dungy had amassed many regular season wins with talented teams in his career as head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Colts, but was best known for losing when the playoffs started. The Colts franchise going back to its days in Baltimore was best remembered for infamously losing to the heavily underdog New York Jets in Super Bowl III. All that changed, however, when the Colts were finally able to defeat their rivals, the New England Patriots — winning the AFC Championship game, 38-34 in thrilling come-from-behind fashion. Riding the momentum of that victory the Colts exercised their demons by easily defeating the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI, 29-17. By transforming from chokers to champions, the Indianapolis Colts are the best team of 2007.

BEST ATHLETE

Roger Federer

Federer’s 2007 grand slam record speaks for itself: a fifth consecutive triumph at Wimbledon, a fourth consecutive U.S. Open victory, his third Australian Open win in four years, and runner-up at the French Open (the only slam he has yet to capture). But even more impressive is how he wins. His victories at the Australian and U.S. Opens came in straight sets, his impressive half-decade dominance at Wimbledon is nearly unmatched, and even his only loss, at the French Open, was his best showing yet. Federer does not merely win, he dominates his opposition in a never-before-seen fashion. With Federer on the verge of breaking every men’s tennis record, 2007 will likely be remembered as the year he asserted himself as the best men’s tennis player of all time.





Volume 95 Issue 17	The Official University of Manitoba Students' Newspaper Website	January 09, 2008

Home About Us Advertising Rates Contact Staff Current Issue PDF Employment Letters to the Editor Meet the Staff Online Archives Volunteer Online Classifieds St. Vincent's Academy Diaries	Font Size Respond Email Print-Friendly The best of 2007 in sports The good that went with all that bad, and ugly Ajitpaul Mangat, Staff Sure, the 2007 sports year will likely go down in the annals for all the wrong reasons (see: “The Bad, the Ugly, and the Juice”), but there weas still a plethora of memorable plays, games, teams, and athletes that will be remembered for all the right reasons. So here is a reminder that this past year had its fair share of highlights that shone a light, even if fleetingly, on why we cherish sport. BEST PLAY Statue of Liberty Play — Boise State vs. Oklahoma, 43-42, 2007 Fiesta Bowl Choosing a single play, when a sports calendar has thousands, is generally a difficult task, but this year saw one perfectly executed play linger in sports collective unconscious unmatched for an entire year. After sending the game into overtime on a last second hook and ladder play and then matching Oklahoma’s opening touchdown of overtime, Boise State head coach Chris Petersen bravely decided to go for a two-point conversion, and the win, instead of a simple extra point kick to send the game into a second overtime. A trick play, known as the statue of liberty, was executed flawlessly, as quarterback Jared Zabransky faked a pass to his right and then quickly handed off the football to running back Ian Johnson, who ran it in untouched to the end zone for an improbable victory. Guts, drama, deception, and wonderful execution, everything you need for a great play. BEST GAME Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Detroit Pistons, 109-107 (2OT), Game Five 2006-07 NBA Eastern Conference Finals No sport allows for dramatic athletic performance as well as basketball, as a single player can truly affect the fortunes of an entire team. And this year saw “LeBron’s 48” join the pantheon of great performances, along with the likes of Wilt’s 100 and Jordan’s 63. With his undermanned Cleveland Cavaliers trailing by seven points, with 3:15 left in regulation, to the favoured Detroit Pistons, in the fifth game of the 2007 NBA playoffs, and in jeopardy of going down in the series, 3-2, LeBron James simply took over. He scored all of his team’s final 25 points and 29 of their final 30, to will the Cavaliers to an improbable 109-107 double-overtime victory. They eventually won the series 4-2. That single inspiring performance was good enough to make game five of the NBA East finals the most memorable, exciting, and, simply, best game of the year. BEST TEAM The Indianapolis Colts The most disrespectful term you can call an athlete, coach, or team is choker. Well, that is exactly what quarterback Peyton Manning, coach Tony Dungy, and the Indianapolis Colts franchise were labelled heading into the 2006-07 NFL playoffs. Manning had never won a bowl game in college and had failed to lead many talented Colts teams to the Super Bowl. Dungy had amassed many regular season wins with talented teams in his career as head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Colts, but was best known for losing when the playoffs started. The Colts franchise going back to its days in Baltimore was best remembered for infamously losing to the heavily underdog New York Jets in Super Bowl III. All that changed, however, when the Colts were finally able to defeat their rivals, the New England Patriots — winning the AFC Championship game, 38-34 in thrilling come-from-behind fashion. Riding the momentum of that victory the Colts exercised their demons by easily defeating the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI, 29-17. By transforming from chokers to champions, the Indianapolis Colts are the best team of 2007. BEST ATHLETE Roger Federer Federer’s 2007 grand slam record speaks for itself: a fifth consecutive triumph at Wimbledon, a fourth consecutive U.S. Open victory, his third Australian Open win in four years, and runner-up at the French Open (the only slam he has yet to capture). But even more impressive is how he wins. His victories at the Australian and U.S. Opens came in straight sets, his impressive half-decade dominance at Wimbledon is nearly unmatched, and even his only loss, at the French Open, was his best showing yet. Federer does not merely win, he dominates his opposition in a never-before-seen fashion. With Federer on the verge of breaking every men’s tennis record, 2007 will likely be remembered as the year he asserted himself as the best men’s tennis player of all time.


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