2009 Sports Year in Review

Unfortunately, the 2009 sports year was not as exciting what 2008 had been. With the Olympics, as well as many great championship series, 2008 was going to be a tough year to beat. Add the troubles of many of the United Sports biggest sports stars, and the 2009 sports year was a large disappointment. Note to readers: Please understand that I live in Michigan, and much of what I say reflects that. Also, if you have anything to add, or believe I missed anything, just comment at the end. Thanks. Let's start in the NFL.

2009 NFL Year in Review

The NFL has probably been one of the best sports in the U.S. this year. 2009 started with a run by the Arizona Cardinals to the Super Bowl, led by QB Kurt Warner and big play WR Larry Fitzgerald. Meeting them in the Super Bowl was the Pittsburgh Steelers with their tough defense. An exciting game saw the lead change many different times with Fitzgerald coming through many times, as he had throughout the playoffs. In the end, the Steelers were just too much. A 93 yard fumble return for touchdown by James Harrison and a late tipped-toe touchdown catch by Santonio Holmes gave the Steelers the championship. The NFL offseason was fairly quiet, with the biggest name changing teams was Terrell Owens, moving from the Cowboys to the Buffalo Bills. Of course, Brett Favre once again announced his retirement, then signed with another team, this time, signing with his long time rival, the Minnesota Vikings. This move apparently put the Vikings over the top, leading the Vikings to an 11-4 record so far in the 2009-2010 season. The new season has been exciting so far, with the Saints and Colts going late into the season with undefeated records. Both teams have lost though, and there is much question as to whether they should have gone for the undefeated record, rather than playing it safe with injuries and risks. On the other side of the spectrum, there are also many team which have struggled, including my Detroit Lions. The Lions did win their first game since 2008 however, and they have improved so far this season. Hopefully, 2010 will be just as great a year in the NFL as 2009 has been.

2009 NBA Year in Review

As a Detroit Piston fan, the year 2009 has been a real struggle. After trading Chauncy Billups for The Answer early in the 2008-2009 season, Allen Iverson was anything but the answer for the Pistons. The Pistons struggled, and were unable to keep their streak of 6 consecutive trips to the Conference finals alive. In the NBA Finals this year were the Los Angeles Lakers and the underdog Orlando Magic. The Lakers easily won the series, Kobe Bryant's first without Shaq. In the offseason, many different moves were made. The Celtics added 'Sheed, the Cavs added Shaq, and the Magic added Vince Carter. The Lakers added Ron Artest in the offseason, and recently signed Pau Gasol to an extension. The New Jersey Nets started the season 0-18, and it seems like the good are getting better, and the bad are getting worse. As 2010 comes around, I hope for a better year for the Pistons, and a more exciting year in the NBA.

2009 NHL Year in Review

The NHL was very much the same in 2009 as it had been in 2008. Not only were the same teams dominating the league, the same teams made the Stanley Cup in 2009 as they had in 2008. These teams of course, were the Pittsburgh Penguins and my favorite team, the Detroit Red Wings. The Red Wings took the series in 2008, and with the addition of the former Penguin Hossa, were expected to take the 2009 series as well. As fate would have it, the team would Hossa would lose this series as well, with the Penguins taking the series in seven games. So far this season, the NHL has been rather uneventful (or I haven't paid much attention), and the new year promises to be a much better hockey year with the winter Olympics coming up in Vancouver.

2009 MLB Year in Review

The MLB season started off with the confession of A-Rod using steroids. Also, Manny Ramirez was suspended 50 games for his use of steroids. As the season progressed, many forgave A-Rod for his steroid use, as it had been 6 years ago, and the Yankees started to dominate the AL East. The Phillies, following up their World Series season in 2008, were favorites in the NL. As the deadline rolled around, the Phillies added some top-notch talent in Cliff Lee after going after Roy Halladay for quite a while. The AL Central came down to the wire, and another game, #163 on the season, had to be played in order to decide the division champion between the Twins of Minnesota and the Detroit Tigers. Future MVP Joe Mauer and the Minnesota Twins would win the game, and as a Tigers fan, it was a heart breaker after being up multiple games with only a few to play. The playoffs went on, and the Phillies met the Yankees in the World Series. Despite the great pitching of Cliff Lee, the Phillies were unable to go back-to-back, and the Yankees took the 2009 World Series. So far this offseason, the Yankees have made a move in acquiring Curtis Granderson, a fan favorite from the Detroit Tigers, and the Phillies have finally acquired Roy Halladay from the Blue Jays, trading Cliff Lee to the Mariners in the process. The 2010 season promises to be very exciting, and at this point, a little unpredictable. As a side note, Ernie Harwell, the long time voice of the Detroit Tigers, was diagnosed with inoperable cancer, and does not have long to live. Harwell was a great broadcaster, and he will be greatly missed.

2009 NCAA Football Year in Review

The 2009 College football season started with the Championship won by the Florida Gators. In the offseason, Tim Tebow announced he would return to Florida for his senior season, and the Gators were an immediate favorite to win the championship. After winning the Heisman, Sam Bradford and the Oklahoma Sooners were also favorites to make it to the BCS Championship. Unfortunately, Bradford was hurt just a few games into the season, and the Sooners had trouble in the rest of their games. After starting 4-0, the young Michigan Wolverines, my favorite team, were the surprise of the Big Ten after going 3-9 the previous season. Unfortunately, the Wolverines were unable to keep up their early greatness, and fell to a 5-7 season. Throughout the season, the college football world has been captivated by the boy named Suh from Nebraska, the inability of fired coach Charlie Weis and Notre Dame to return to their former glory, and the struggles of the once invisible USC Trojans. Also, fairly recently, the troubles and firing of Coach Mike Leach of the Texas Tech. The upcoming and first weeks of the new year pit the Texas Longhorns versus the Alabama Crimson Tide and Heisman winner Mark Ingram in the National Championship. This game, as well as the 2010 college football season, promises to be exciting as well as unpredictable.

2009 NCAA Basketball Year in Review

The 2008-2009 college basketball season was all about Tyler Hansborough and Blake Griffin. Hansborough, a 3-time All American and fighting for the Naismith award, college basketball's Heisman, with Blake Griffin, the sophomore from Oklahoma. The year pushed on, with Griffin winning the Naismith, and Hansborough capturing his fourth All American bid. Hansborough would also top Griffin in the fact that Hansborough and his Tar Heels went on the win the National Championship versus the Michigan State Spartans, in Detroit at Ford Field. So far, in the early part of the 09-10 season, John Wall has been the rave of college basketball nation. A phenomenal freshmen, Wall has led Kentucky to an undefeated record so far this year, and a #3 ranking. Kansas, Texas, Syracuse, Purdue, and West Virginia all have undefeated records so far this season.

2009 Tennis Year in Review

This year was monumental in tennis. Federer broke Sampras' Majors record of 15, and Nadal also took the top spot from Federer for a while. Also, Serena Williams' tirade and her threatening of a ball-woman was a memory I will not forget.

2009 Golf Year in Review

Golf started out this year normal, with many good final days and some great rounds of golf. Of course, near Thanksgiving, Tiger Woods' debacle began. All I have to say about his situation is that we like Tiger Woods as a golfer, not as a human being. Leave Tiger Woods' troubles to himself, we don't need to look any farther into it than the fact that he messed up. Let's just hope he can get back to his old golfing self, winning majors and playing well.

2009 Nascar Year in Review

I don't have much to say about Nascar except Jimmie Johnson won his fourth straight championship in a row, a feat for the ages.

2009 Soccer Year in Review

I do not pay much attention to soccer, MLS really isn't that great, and I don't get to watch the English Premier League or any other European soccer because I don't have cable. All I know is that I am very excited for the World Cup, and I hope the USA can match their performances versus Spain and the first half versus Brazil earlier this year in their World Cup matches.