2Ks Top 15 15 years... It's been 15 long years since the start of the new century. Remember when we all debated about withdrawing all our money from the bank. Admit it. How many of you still have water bottles and batteries left over from the Y2K scare? Do you remember that? Of course you don't. In the last 15 years, some of you have graduated college, started your career, lost a loved one, married, divorced, and have had your own little Y2K babies. We all sit back and reflect from time to time. The past 15 years has made me wonder and reflect about what else ...sports!!! So much has occurred over the past 15 years. I decided to create a list, a ranking of sort. What have been the top 15 moments/topics in sports over the past 15 years? I have my list locked and loaded to share with you all. Of course everyone will have their opinion of the ranking and what did or didn't make the cut. So here it goes... 15- Mayweather vs. Pacquiao I know, I know don't get all worked up. The so called fight of the century was a dud. Watching paint dry is more exciting than watching Floyd's pops shots, and defensive brilliance. You probably shelled out an extra $100 dollars on your May cable bill, so this being moment 15 leaves many scratching their heads. As the old saying goes money talks. Whether we liked it or not money did plenty of yapping on May 2, 2015. It took years of hype talking, analyzing, and debating to finally get boxing's two biggest stars in the ring. From an artistic standpoint it left much to be desired. However, there is no debating the success of the fight financially. Records were set in both gate and pay per view buys, as well as in the fighters earnings. Boxing which once captivated America's heart, had a chance to make a splash and even more importantly rank higher in my countdown. The uneventful match segues perfectly into moment number 14. 14. The emergence of Mixed Martial Arts Perhaps it's the politics, countless divisions, meaningless belts, and a lack of an American Heavyweight Champion, but boxing has took a major hit. (Pun intended) Personally I never thought such a violent sport would make it in main stream America. Much of the success of MMA is due to the popularity of the UFC and its brash and cocky President Dana White. Whether you like the outspoken White or not, there is no arguing his success. He has eliminated all the corruption and politics that have plagued boxing. One true champion for each weight class. Mandating champions to fight the top contenders or be stripped of their title. UFC has made household names like Brock Lesnar, Anderson Silva, Jon "Bones" Jones, and its newest superstar Ronda Rousey. MMA has exploded in popularity in PPV buys, to the opening of gyms for training everywhere. There is no denying that this sport will continue to kick and punch it's way to success. I'm afraid boxing may have already tapped out. 13. Shaq and Kobe Ok, so before Shaq was an analyst on TNT and Kobe a broken down veteran on his last legs, there was once a dynasty in Los Angeles. After the 1998 season, Michael Jordan won the last of six championships with the Chicago Bulls. This was followed up by the lockout which shortened 1999 season. With Michael on a golf course, the NBA was desperate for its next dynasty. A familiar face to the Bulls brilliance reemerged. Phil Jackson (relax Knicks fans I am talking about the past) left his Montana ranch for the bright lights in LA. Jackson, the master motivator, reminded Shaq that he is the biggest and most dominant force in NBA history. It didn't take much motivating for Kobe. He was a Jordan clone in both skills and drive to win. Unfortunately much like in life, pride and egos rear their ugly head in sports. Off the court bickering, Shaq's reluctance to take care of his body, and Kobe Bryant's sexual assault accusation were just part of the Lakers downfall. After the 2004 season the town wasn't big enough for both superstars. Shaq was traded in the offseason to the Miami Heat. Although the duo won three consecutive titles together and titles on their own, many were left wondering what could have been. 12. 2006 National League Championship Series Let me start off by saying this one hurts. It seriously pains me to talk about this. The 2006 NLCS was a matchup between the St. Louis Cardinals and my beloved New York Mets. It was a back and forth series that led up to a dramatic, heart pounding, and gut wrenching game 7. Much credit is given to the underdog and gutsy Cardinals. The Mets were heavy favorites at the start of the series. Tony LaRussa seemed one step ahead of Willie Randolph throughout the entire series. Game 7 was a classic. Endy Chavez in the top of 6 made probably the greatest catch in postseason history. Sadly, the Mets failed to capitalize. Leaving the bases loaded in both the bottom of the 6 and Beltran still waiting for Wainwrights wicked curve to drop in the bottom half of the 9th. The name Molina still makes me nauseous. The Cardinals will go on to the World Series and win the 2006 championship. Leaving Mets fans still waiting for that elusive title. Still heartbroken, still down… ok- enough!!! Time for number 11. 11. Serena Williams Men it’s time to take a backseat to the ladies. One woman in particular. The premier and most dominant athlete over the past 15 years is a woman and quite the lady at that. Unfortunately she is over looked because let's face it she isn't a man. Women's sports have always taken a back seat to men's. Serena however takes a backseat to no one. In a sport where at 28 you're over the hill, she is more dominating than she has ever been. Just shy of her 34th birthday, she holds 20 Grand Slam titles with a possible 21 this weekend at Wimbledon. You can play James Browns "This is a Man’s World" all you want but this world belongs to Serena. She is woman and for the past 15 years, we have all been hearing her roar. 10. 2000 Subway Series I know what you're thinking: “Subway Series? I thought 2006 was painful enough for you?” I guess I'm a glutton for pain. Yes blah, blah, blah, we all know the Mets lost in 5 games to the New York Yankees. I've heard it all over the past 15 years. However, the significance at the start of the Century can't go over looked. It was the first of its kind in 44 years. It was a fitting stamp to the Yankees dynasty with its fourth title in five years. The way sports is handled economically today, they may have been the last great dynasty. Derek Jeter winning the World Series MVP was the highlight of his magnificent career. We need to move on to number 9 because I just can't take it anymore. 9. The Shield's Biggest Challenge Strolling through memory lane dominance has been a recurring theme. Out of all the major sports no sport has been more dominant then the National Football League. Despite baseball's sentimental impact on the American audience, and the NBA's stars, America is all about football. The NFL generates monster TV ratings and billions of dollars each year. However, over the last several years the fast paced violent sport has taken its toll on former and current players. Sadly, brain trauma has caused depression, ALS, violence against women, and suicide. The NFL has tried sweeping the issues under the rug for years but there's no avoiding it. Some parents, because of recent discoveries, have prevented their children from playing the sport. The NFL has been a juggernaut especially over the last 15 years. On the other hand, with advancements in medicine and research, where will it stand in the next 15 years? 8. Social Media and fan interaction Do you remember a time when sports figures were just that? They were athletes we watched and idolized over the past 15 years. But as we watched, some fans have gone too far. One of the main reasons for this is drumroll please ...you guessed it Social Media! Fans have gone way too far on social media expressing their thoughts. Social media is not a license to insult a man’s family or sexual preference. Unfortunately hundreds of thousands of idiots each year say the most viscous things online. Another pet peeve of mine is fans interacting with the game. Hey moron no one paid to see you run on the football field and basketball court. By the way, there is a guy named Steve Bartman on my milk carton. Has anyone heard of him? 7. Performance Enhancing Drugs Back in 1999 if I were to say the names Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Alex Rodriguez, and Lance Armstrong what would pop in your head? Greatest hitter ever? Greatest pitcher ever? Most talented ever? Hero? In 2015 it's Bar-roids and BALCO, The Mitchell Report, Prince A-Fraud with his Biogenesis clinic, and Sir Lying Lancelot. PEDs have disgraced and tainted all of these great athletes incredible accomplishments on and off the field. I actually understand why certain athletes took the juice or the spike but all these guys were great. The male ego is one hell of a thing. Yellow wrist bands once meant courage and awareness of cancer research. In 2015 each sport has crackdown and stepped up their policies on PEDs. However off the field, there is another battle occurring. The constant battle of chemist trying to find new ways to beat the system. This story and the impact on past and present athletes legacies is certainly to be continued... 6. 9/11 We all remember September 11, 2001 and we'll never forget. Everyone was effected in some way. Sports, especially Americas past time, was the distraction and sense of normalcy we all needed. It all started on September 21, 2001 in Shea Stadium. The first major sporting event in New York since the horrible events ten days earlier. With the team down and the hearts of New Yorkers ailing, it took one swing from the hefty bat of Mike Piazza. Number 31's broad shoulders finally gave New Yorkers hope and something to smile about. Across town a team of grizzled veterans most of them on their last legs fought for a Championship. Although the New York Yankees fell short in a classic 7 game World Series, the team was a perfect representation of New York at the time: Never giving up, showing toughness, and all heart. The World Series kept everyone off CNN and focusing on baseball. Both teams that year made me so proud to be a New Yorker. 5. 2006 Rose Bowl The NCAA is probably the most corrupt and hypocritical governing body in all of sports. Sadly the NCAA always finds ways to make the news for all the wrong reasons. Not even their stench can take away from the love and passion their amateur athletes display each year. Their drive was on full display on January 4, 2006. The 2006 Rose Bowl was a matchup between two college football powerhouses: The Texas Longhorns and the Trojans of USC. It was a star studded game that surpassed all the hype. USC was not only the defending champions but they were led by two Heisman award winners- Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart. Texas was led by the duo running/throwing threat of Quarterback Vince Young. The game was a back and forth battle in front of over 93,000 screaming fans and millions watching on television. With 19 seconds left, it was Young's touchdown that dethroned the defending champions . Neither Young, Leinart, nor Bush lived up to their NFL hype. One thing is sure about that evening, they provided us with one of the most thrilling championship games in College football history. 4. Tiger Woods These days Tiger Woods is only in the headlines for how poorly he's performing or not making the weekend cut. There was a time however where he was without a shadow of a doubt the most recognizable figure in sports. Tiger was a cultural icon. Golf which was once a rich white man sport, now had Nike ads and kids of all races picking up golf clubs. From 2000- 2008 Tiger dominated adding to his 14 major championships each year. He was a fist pumping birdie making machine. We all wanted to wear a red polo tee on Sunday's. Then on one faithful night in November of 2009 a small fender bender to Tiger's Cadillac Escalade, turned into one bizarre sex scandal. These days he is Eldrick Woods. The once mighty Tiger has no scratch or stripes. However there is no denying on the cultural impact and dominance Woods displayed in the early 2000s. Is it all gone Or does Tiger have something left? 3. LeBron James Tiger was born on December 30th ironically enough so was this phenom -LeBron James- "the chosen one". Has anyone ever entered a sport with so much hype? From the tender age of 16, LeBron James graced the cover of Sports Illustrated and has surpassed the hype. Unfortunately for LeBron, his era of dominance is not far removed from the greatest sports figure of all time Michael Jordan. It's not fair to compare James and Jordan but it hasn't stopped everyone from doing so. Reason being, LeBron is just that damn good. He may have only two titles and is a four time finals loser, but do we really believe this man is done winning? Whether you dislike the decision, or his constant whining on the court, the man's greatness can never be questioned. He probably only has a few years left in his prime so let's not compare the man to MJ. Let's appreciate James for his own greatness. After all, at the end of the day, we are all witnesses. 2. Super Bowl XLII 18-1 Super Bowl XLII can only be described in one word: CLASSIC! Two of the NFLs most premiere and successful franchises met on this historic night. What made this game even more special was the David vs. Goliath dynamic. That year, Tom Brady and the New England Patriots were 18- 0 . They were trying to become the second undefeated team in NFL history. The Pats weren't just chasing history but vowed to silence critics. Before this years "Deflate Gate" there was "Spy Gate". Playing the role of David was the New York football Giants. A scrappy defensive team that just barely made it to the playoffs. However the Giants were no "David" in this case. The cocky over confident Patriots over looked the Giants’ heart and toughness. With 2:39 left in the game, and the Giants down 14 to 10, young Eli Manning drove the eventual champs down the field for an 83 yard drive. Although the drive was capped off by a Plaxico Burress touchdown, the signature moment of the game was Eli pulling off a magic escape act that would make Houdini jealous and David Tyree's remarkable "helmet catch". Mighty Goliath was slayed and the Patriots would forever be branded 18 and 1 that season. Although the Giants won the Superbowl, the true winners of the game were the millions of fans that watched Athletic greatness at its finest. 1. So what's number 1? 2004 Reverse the Curse! So whether we are die hard sports fans or causal ones, we all gravitate to a team. We all can't be Lakers, Patriots, and Yankees fans. No offense but to those who are, you're all spoiled. Winning is as common to those fans as a 9 to 5 is to the rest of us. I unwisely gravitated to the Mets. The last 29 years have been like being dumped at the prom. At least I'm not a Cubs fan…1908 yikes! Despite all that prior to 2004, who suffered more than Red Sox fans? Since trading Babe Ruth in 1918, the Red Sox watched the Yankees win title after title. Their biggest rival. That's like watching your worst enemy get that promotion at work and stealing your wife... over and over again. To make matters worse for the Red Sox (even when they put a team good enough to beat the Yankees in a down year) they suffered heartbreaking loses in the World Series. The Sox got to the Series in '46, '75 and yes '86 ("behind the bag, it gets through Buckner") they lost in a 7th game. In 2003, the Yankees and Red Sox played one of the greatest playoff series in baseball history. It took Aaron "bleeping" Boone's extra inning home run to seal Boston's fate yet again. During the offseason Boston looked to acquire Alex Rodriguez only to watch the Yankees steal their thunder yet again. The much hyped American League Championship Series was expected to be a classic much like the '03. During the first 3 games Boston didn't get the memo who lost the first 3 games which included a 19 to 8 pounding in game 3. Game 4 didn’t seem any different. Entering the 9th inning the Yankees were up 4 to 3 with the unstoppable Mariano Rivera on the mound it was over! No team in baseball history ever came back from a 3 games to none deficit. Nobody hit Rivera in the post season, and let's face it- it's the Yankees- Boston had no shot! Then a funny thing happened. A walk to Milliar, the pinch runner Roberts stealing second, Muller's single up the middle, and then bam Big Papi’s heroic extra inning walk off home run. The once mighty Yankees began clinching their throats in the biggest choke job in sports history. The Yankees went from the "Bronx Bombers" to A-Rod slapping the ball out of Arroyos hands with his giant Hamburger Helper glove. The bloody sock still makes the Yankees and their fans cringe. Although the Yankees blew it, credit must be given to the Red Sox heart and determination. They came back in the series winning the next four games and sweeping the Cardinals in the World Series. Ironically enough the final out of the World Series came from an opponent wearing the number 3: The Babe's number. So many years of heartbreak ended that year for" Red Sox Nation". That team’s guts, heart, refusal to lose, and determination is everything we love about sports. With that said, our heartbreak ends this year, why not? 2015 is not over yet. The Mets will win the World Series and I shall rewrite this article! Ok, ok, let me not get carried away. Anyway if you disagree with the top moments or feel I left something out, I'm all ears. Let the debating begin!
