Sports Moments We Can't Wait for in 2015
Cue the "Auld Lang Syne" for a second, would you?
As we share memories and bring 2014 to a close, we can begin to enjoy 2015 and all of the major sports stories and events that await.
In a very sports-like, Nostradamus kind of a way, we're about to dust off the old crystal ball for a second and gaze wide-eyed into the future.
There's plenty to look forward to in 2015. Pick the sport, and we can rattle off a heap of possibilities. Trimming the list we manufactured down, here are 10 of the most exciting sports moments we can't for next year.
2015 NFL Draft
1 of 10
The NFL's booming, glass-shattering popularity doesn't stop when the league names a Super Bowl champion.
In fact, it continues well past that. The offseason, driven by a salient pre-draft process, is almost as exciting as what eventually unfolds on the field. Coaching changes, free-agent decisions and, of course, scouting players is a big business in its own right.
Near the end of that process, we get the NFL draft. This year's edition should be as exciting as years past.
If all goes according to plan, we'll get to see Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota land somewhere, as well as the polarizing, undefeated Florida State quarterback, Jameis Winston.
Get ready for all of the hot takes, hyperbole and more because the NFL draft is coming sooner than you think.
NBA Western Conference Playoffs
2 of 10
If any of the action we've seen lately between the top teams in the NBA's Western Conference is a sign of things to come, this season's playoffs are going to be special.
A bunch of the games have been competitive, but that triple-overtime thriller between the San Antonio Spurs and Memphis Grizzlies has already emerged as an early game of the year candidate.
When you factor in the news that the Dallas Mavericks just traded for an outstanding point guard in Rajon Rondo, per ESPN's SportsCenter Twitter account and ESPN NBA reporter Marc Stein, you have yourselves quite a battle brewing out in the Western Conference.
There's no telling who's going to emerge from all of those shards of broken glass and shattered dreams. All we know right now is that some excellent basketball is about to be played come playoff time.
The 2015 College Football Playoff National Championship
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This new college playoff system isn't perfect, but it's a whole lot better than anything we're accustomed to.
Alabama, Oregon, Florida State and Ohio State will all duke it out to seek college football supremacy in 2015. It's actually kind of cool that we're going to see four talented teams from four different conferences play each other.
Bragging rights will run amuck if the SEC team—Alabama—ultimately loses. What if Ohio State pulls it out? Does Urban Meyer's legacy become untouchable?
There are so many narratives to factor in.
Even though an expansion of these playoffs would be nice down the road, we can't really complain. For the first time since 1998, we've gotten rid of the BCS way of doing business.
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NHL Winter Classic
4 of 10
The NHL Winter Classic has quickly become the most entertaining hockey game of the year.
With crowds jammed into an outdoor stadium, fans get to experience hockey in a new light. Today, it's a part of sports fans' annual New Year's Day routine. Get up, wash your face, grab some grub and then get ready for the big game.
The Winter Classic started in 2008 when the Pittsburgh Penguins and Buffalo Sabres met at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Buffalo, New York. That day, the Penguins prevailed 2-1 in a shootout in what would set the stage for great games in January.
Next year's edition features the Chicago Blackhawks and the Washington Capitals. A game not starved for star power, it should be a high-scoring affair in Nationals Park.
There's so much to like about this type of game. It not only features a unique viewing experience, but the custom sweaters both teams rock are first-rate.
What better way is there to kick off 2015 than with the Winter Classic?
LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers
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LeBron James' return to Cleveland hasn't been an easy road, even though his Cavaliers are hanging around the usually dreadful Eastern Conference.
Since fleeing the aqua waters of Miami, King James has been busy adjusting to his new teammates and head coach back in the battleground state of Ohio. At 15-10, the Cavaliers aren't yet at the top of the conference.
All of that could change in 2015. Hopefully, as the team starts to blend and get a better feel for each other, the wins will start rolling out.
You can't tell me that watching the Cavaliers reach the playoffs and finding out where they end up won't be on the minds of just about every NBA fan. James has been the center of attention in this league for years now. Just because he left the Heat doesn't mean that's going to change anytime soon.
The Masters
6 of 10
The contours of the course, intoxicating greens and perfect air at Augusta National have turned the Masters into golf's must-watch tournament.
In sports, nothing is more relaxing or tranquil than watching golf. There's just something about listening to the announcers call the game that separates it from so many other sports.
Those thinking the Masters would fall off after Tiger Woods' recent struggles were sorely mistaken. Storylines like Bubba Watson's second win in three years make the tournament that much sweeter.
Played in the middle of April, the Masters is a fantastic way to get ready for summer.
Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao
7 of 10
Are boxing fans finally about to get the match they've wanted for over the last half-decade?
Assuming it comes to fruition, the showdown between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao would pit two of the sport's biggest rivals against one another.
The war between these two iconic boxers has been a long time coming. Brian Mazique of Bleacher Report did a great job constructing a timeline that shows exactly how long people have been patiently waiting for both sides to reach an agreement.
This fight has to happen in 2015. The fans know it, and so do the guys who put these types of deals together.
Talking to B/R's Jonathan Snowden, Showtime Sports executive vice president and general manager Stephen Espinoza expressed his feelings on the subject:
"The pressure to make the fight is all internal. Not from our CEO but from all of us as boxing fans. It's an interesting fight. It's a fight that we want," Espinoza said.
The writing is on the wall. It's time to get these two names together in the ring and settle this once and for all. Here's to 2015 and the hope that we can see Mayweather and Pacquiao exchange barrages of leather.
March Madness
8 of 10
Is there anyone out there who doesn't live for March Madness? This is the tournament that does an exceedingly good job of putting all of the other tournaments to shame.
Whether it's the women or the men out there on the court, the NCAA has done its homework when it comes to scheduling the top teams in the nation.
March Madness has become the true test for any program out to prove itself. The upsets, the brackets and the game-winning shots—it never gets old.
Assuming everything goes according to plan, the 2015 chapter of the tournament will center on John Calipari's unbeaten Kentucky Wildcats and their attempt to make it back to the championship game.
But as we've come to realize, March Madness breeds upsets.
Get excited, because before you can say, "John Calipari's latest recruit is Drake," the tournament will be here.
U.S. Open Tennis
9 of 10
Saying goodbye to summer is never easy. One way you can do it while enjoying yourself is by watching—or attending—the U.S. Open.
The tournament combines a great sport with an historic backdrop. Playing in Queens, New York, the game's top performers are just a subway ride away from the beauty and drama of Manhattan.
Sports Illustrated beautifully captured some of the best moments during the 2014 U.S. Open and published those findings online. Browsing through all of the great names like Serena Williams and Roger Federer makes you appreciate it so much more.
Even seeing the reigning men's champion, Marin Cilic, hoist the trophy is a sight tennis fans won't soon forget.
Like we said at the start of this slide, bidding farewell to the summer hurts. Thankfully, the U.S. Open helps us through it each and every year.
The New York Yankees Without Derek Jeter
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Don't let anyone tell you any differently: Life without Derek Jeter is going to be a huge change of pace for the New York Yankees.
The Captain's production may have tapered off over the years, but his impact on the culture and locker room will be sorely missed. Jeter's 20 seasons in pinstripes ended with 3,465 hits, 260 home runs and a .310 career average.
Replacing him won't be easy.
The man slated right now to step in and fill the void is Didi Gregorius, formerly of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Gregorius played 80 games last season, hitting .226 with six home runs and 27 RBI. On the surface, those numbers aren't great. But as Mark Simon of ESPNNewYork.com wrote, the world of advanced metrics led the Yankees to his doorstep.
No matter how he performs, the Yankees competing without Jeter is going to be one moment worth watching all season long.
All MLB, NBA, NHL, college football, college basketball, golf, tennis and NFL information and stats provided by ESPN.com, unless noted otherwise.
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