Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, Happy Kwanzaa (or whatever
expression is proper when observing that holiday) and a happy and healthy New
Year to all. Perhaps I should just say Happy Holidays! That normally covers it
all in a very “PC” way. As in every year, 2011 brought us sports fans a big
dose memorable stories, events, and performances. So I thought I would take
this time to recognize athletes and such in a way befitting of an awards show.
You have the Oscar, the Grammy, the ESPY and now you have the Via, which goes
out to those across the landscape of sports. In no particular order, here we
go:
Via Award for Best Rookie – Cam Newton, QB, Carolina
Panthers: His first game is still talked about. His rookie season will be
talked about until he wins a playoff game. Cam Newton is a special talent. Most
yards thrown in a first game, by more than double. Most yards thrown in a
rookie season. Most total touchdowns by a rookie. Also, to be noted, he helped
the Panthers to win four more games than the year before, which is never easy
for a quarterback selected as the #1 overall pick.
Via Award for Most Underrated Athlete – Kevin Love, PF,
Minnesota Timberwolves: When you get mentioned in the same breath as Moses
Malone when you could be a college senior, you’re doing pretty good. NBA fans
know how good Kevin Love is. If he played for a winning team or a city other
than Minneapolis, most of the world would know how good he is. His points per
game, rebounds per game, assists per game and free throw percentage have all
improve each year. Last year he shot 41.7% from the three point arc, WHILE
AVERAGING OVER 15 REBOUNDS PER GAME! Who else can do that? In a twenty year
career, Shaquille O’Neal achieved a 30 point-20 rebound game eighteen times. In
three plus seasons, Love has done it five times already. Watch out for this
monster
Via Award for Breakthrough Athlete – Derrick Rose, PG,
Chicago Bulls: We all knew Derrick Rose was going to at least be a good NBA
player. But when you play in the same building as Michael Jordan and win the
MVP while leading your team to the best regular season record, that’s an
amazing season and a surprise nonetheless. It looks as though Rose’s star is still
climbing and when all is said and done could make his case for best point guard
of his era
Via Award for Best Coach – Tony Larussa, St. Louis Cardinals
– Going out on top is so hard to do in sports. Tony LaRussa joins a very short
list. His 3rd career World Series title was easily his finest as a
skipper. While I admit players have to go out and execute, Larussa out-coached
Rangers manager Ron Washington in the World Series. Next stop for Tony,
Cooperstown
Via Award for Comeback Player of the Year – Reggie Bush, RB,
Miami Dolphins: We know about the past, stripped Heisman Trophy and one of the
main reasons the USC football program received bans, probations and other penalties.
But also on his plate was a very underwhelming career in the NFL bordering on
draft bust. In his last three seasons with the New Orleans Saints, he rushed
for a combined 944 yards. This year, his first with the Dolphins, he rushed for
1096 yards. Couple that with starting in a career best 15 games in 2011, he may
have a second life in Miami
Via Award for Best Performance Under Pressure – Dirk Nowitzki,
PF, Dallas Mavericks: This was a close one. Why Dirk edges out Abby Wambach, 2
reasons. First, Abby did it for a stretch of a week or so. Dirk did it for a
two month stretch, although it seemed like longer after many, many clutch
baskets with ice in his veins. Second, Dirk and his team won. During the 2011 NBA playoffs, Nowitzki averaged
27.7 points and 8.1 rebounds while shooting 46% from the three point arc and
94% from the free throw line. Congrats Dirk on one helluva playoff run to your
first ring
Via Award for
Best Athlete – Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers: If your team only loses
one game in a calendar year, you’re the best player on that team, and that one
loss is not the Super Bowl, it’s an automatic bid. Rodgers played flawlessly
against the vaunted Steelers defense in the Super Bowl, winning a trip to
Disneyworld and a big ring for the fans of Green Bay. He then proceeded to lead
the Pack to a 15-1 mark and home field advantage throughout the playoffs. Aaron,
I promise no one outside San Francisco remembers that Alex Smith was taken 1st
overall and you were selected 24th.
Via Lifetime
Achievement Award – Mike Krzyzewski, Duke University: I think most people have
to stop and think what his first name is. He is known in the sporting world as
Coach K. And even though four national championships, not to mention a gold
medal, are pretty sweet, Coach K gets this award for passing his mentor Bob Knight
for most wins by a Men’s Division 1 head coach, getting number 903 in November.
If you don’t love Coach K, there is something wrong with you.
Story of the year
– Jerry Sandusky/Penn State football scandal : I try not to focus on the
negatives in life but when it comes down to this or Tim Tebow, even the hyped
QB takes a back seat to this one. The main reason all the scrutiny came down on
the program, Joe Paterno. Sure the allegations and the events following were
awful, but, and I hate to say this, it happens all across the country. Now throw
in a legendary coach in his final days at the only head coaching job he ever
knew in a community that idolized him, it becomes a much bigger and jaw
dropping moment.
Team of the Year –
Dallas Mavericks: First NBA Championship, decided underdogs versus LeBron
James, Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat. Now throw in multiple veterans like Nowitzki,
Jason Kidd, Jason Terry, Tyson Chandler, Shawn Marion and Peja Stojakovic all
coming together to reach the pinnacle of the sport. It’s not an easy call but I’m
satisfied with it
Game of the Year –
Game six, World Series, Rangers vs Cardinals: We mentioned in an earlier blog
about MLB Network’s countdown of the 20 greatest games in baseball history.
They will have to play a mulligan now. Game six had it all. Hall of Fame
players, managers and presidents, multiple lead changes, multiple runs scored
and for the first time in MLB history, a team down to their last strike in two
different innings, not to mention a walk off home run by Series MVP David
Freese, a virtual unknown til this season. Rangers fans, I’m sure the pain is
indescribable to get that close to your first championship. For the rest of us
baseball fans, it was as good as it gets
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