(Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Maybe it's my increased exposure to it since I'm copy-editing over at Bleacher Report, but 2009 appeared to have an unusually high amount of buzzworthy sports moments during its first half.
Not all of these will be considered among the most memorable when the year is all said and done, but for now they're all still strongly on the mind of sports fans.
A few guidelines first...
- This isn't a list of top performances for the year. A story could be almost entirely unrelated to what's on the field. Instead, it just generated so much attention, conversation, media buzz, etc. that it stands out among the athletic landscape this year.
- The mid-year caveat prevents a lot of usually compelling events (MLB playoffs, offseason NBA, the majority of the NFL season) from being considered.
- In general, the list is based on what I as a sports fan was genuinely interested and compelled by. Historical value, television ratings, the prize at stake can all be taken into account but they aren't necessary for a top sports moment.
Without further ado, in descending order..
5. The Cleveland Cavaliers are so damn compelling
It's easy to be a big draw when you have arguably the fastest growing athlete (in term's of popularity) on Earth playing for your squad. LeBron James is everywhere. The team was also very good last year. They finished with the league's best record and were considered a favorite to make the NBA Finals if not win them.
That's what really makes them interesting though. They didn't get there.
They Cavs had two NBA All-Stars, one NBA MVP and the NBA Coach of the Year but couldn't make it through what was perceived to easily be the weaker conference.Now LeBron has the infamous summer of 2010 looming.
The Cavs need to do whatever it takes to keep him in title-starved Cleveland and they started by signing the most media-friendly and genuinely magnetic center in NBA history. Shaq even took journalism classes because he's so natural in the spotlight.
Will it work on the court? No one knows with all the other major NBA contenders making big moves as well. Just remember this saga is far from over but it got its start in the early months of '09.
4. Great, yet meaningless, basketball games.
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