The Good, Bad and Really Ugly Sports Decisions of 2015

To be great in sports, it involves good timing and good luck, but those two things don't always go hand in hand, leading to some really dumb results.

And, in 2015, we had plenty of those instances, as coaches and players reminded fans that they aren't always the sharpest tools in the shed when it comes to thinking on their toes.

While some people in sports proved to be better than others, I figured giving you the good, bad and really ugly decisions this year would remind you all that sports are fun—but can be really funny, too.

Good: Kobe Bryant Retires

As a Kobe Bryant fan, it's not necessarily a good thing that the five-time NBA champ decided that this would be his final season in the league, but, after seeing his decline over the past few seasons, it's hard to argue that it wasn't a good idea.

Bryant, who has been the gold standard for his generation since 2000, has struggled staying healthy and consistent, so walking away from a crappy Los Angeles Lakers team that's looking to rebuild is the smartest thing he could have done.

The league will miss him, but The Black Mamba doesn't have anything left to prove, so it's the right time to be hanging up the sneaks.

Bad: Chip Kelly Given Full Control of Philadelphia Eagles

Michael Perez/Associated Press

Chip Kelly as a head coach? Pretty good. Kelly as the decision-maker in the Philadelphia Eagles' front office? Well, that hasn't gone so good thus far.

The former Oregon Ducks head coach showed that, in his first two seasons, his style of uptempo play could have some success in the NFL, working defenses into the ground with a pace that gasses them and decreases time between snaps.

But Chip hasn't been great in his decision-making in terms of personnel, as he has pulled off major trades and key free-agent signing that haven't panned out.

It usually takes lots of years of success to get to the status Kelly earned from Philly in just a couple years, and the organization may be regretting handing him the keys to the franchise so early in his NFL tenure.

Ugly: Jason Pierre-Paul Lights Fireworks

Bill Kostroun/Associated Press

A two-time Pro Bowler and one of the best defensive players in the league, the New York Giants' Jason Pierre-Paul done messed up over the summer when he accidentally blew up part  of his right hand after a fireworks incident, leaving his football fate in the balance.

Pierre-Paul, who, at the time, had a qualifying offer from the G-Men worth millions, saw the offer get pulled back following the question marks regarding both his ability and future in the league.

While he has come back and played in six games, has registered 18 tackles with one sack and been treated with respect by opposing offensive lineman, JPP hasn't shown the same dominant skills that made him so feared during the first five seasons in the league without that full hand to work with.

Good: The New York Mets Trading for Yoenis Cespedes

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

Prior to the trade to acquire outfielder Yoenis Cespedes from the Detroit Tigers, the New York Mets were horrid on offense, lacking any power in the middle of their lineup and just hoping that their young pitching could carry them to a playoff berth.

My, oh, my how one guy can completely change a franchise.

Inserting Cespedes into their lineup, the Mets went from the bottom of the pack in offensive stats to the top, with him instantly providing a spark that ended with them all the way in the World Series.

While the Cuban didn't win a league MVP—mainly because voters weren't sure what to do with him after switching leagues—he showed that he is a franchise player who can do wonders for a team.

Bad: Mets Manager Terry Collins Leaves Matt Harvey in World Series Game

Joe Skipper/Associated Press

While the trade to acquire the aforementioned Yoenis Cespedes deserves credit, not everything was peachy for the New York Mets this season—and a World Series loss to the Kansas City Royals proved that.

Another instant of a bad decision came during that very Fall Classic, though, as manager Terry Collins—who was planning to pull pitcher Matt Harvey in Game 5—was talked out of the decision by The Dark Knight between innings in the dugout.

With Harvey wanting to man up and finish the game to help the Mets pull to a 3-2 series deficit, the move backfired, with the guy charged with giving up two runs—which tied the game—and, ultimately, costing his team the game when it went to extra innings.

You've got to admire the competitiveness from Harvey and the trust from Collins, but, wow, it really didn't work out.

Ugly: Chuck Pagano's 4th-Down Call Against the New England Patriots

Words can't even begin to describe just how bad this play was by the Indianapolis Colts, but the fact that many believe it to be the worst in NFL history should give an idea with how it was received by people.

Hoping to draw the New England Patriots offsides on a 4th-and-3 play late in the third quarter while trailing 27-21, Colts receiver Griff Whalen inexplicably snapped the ball to safety Colt Anderson, who was gang tackled for a 1-yard loss.

It wasn't only a bad play call in and of itself, but the fact that it happened from Indy's own 37-yard line made it even worse.

Overall, a regrettable decision that hurt coach Chuck Pagano's reputation and his team's chances of winning that night.

Good: LaMarcus Aldridge Keeps San Antonio Spurs' Reign Alive

Darren Abate/Associated Press

Widely recognized as the biggest prize in this past offseason's free agency, many knew that LaMarcus Aldridge was going to bolt the Pacific Northwest for somewhere, but no one could have seen what was coming.

After being courted by a number of teams like the Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns, Aldridge had a meeting with the San Antonio Spurs that, presumably, promised him a serious chance at an NBA title, playing alongside future Hall of Famers Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili.

Rather than be the main man on a playoff team, Aldridge made one of the best decisions in free-agent history, signing a four-year, $80 million deal to be another piece to the Spurs' dominant puzzle.

With the franchise now having Aldridge and recently re-signed Kawhi Leonard to build around for the future, the league should be just as scared of the Spurs even once the Big Three's reign comes to an end—whenever that actually is.

The Golden State Warriors are tearing up the league, but the Spurs have the firepower and experience that could prevent the mighty Dubs from even making it to the NBA Finals—and that's scary.

Bad: Manny Pacquiao Injures Shoulder, Still Decides to Fight Floyd Mayweather Jr

Isaac Brekken/Associated Press

Billed as the "Fight of the Century," it's hard to argue with Manny Pacquiao's decision to ignore the shoulder injury that plagued him prior to his bout with Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Still, it would have been nice to see what might have occurred had Pacquiao been completely healthy back in May.

Rather than postpone the fight and get Money at full strength, Manny opted to avoid excuses and take the massive paycheck, which, in the words of one USA Today writer, cost fans the chance at the real fight of the century.

Who knows if anything would have been different or the outcome would have changed. But seeing how boring the match was and the news about the injury immediately following, it was a decision that proved costly to both Manny Pacquiao and sports fans hoping to see an epic battle.

Ugly: Everything the Philadelphia 76ers Have Done

Chris Szagola/Associated Press

Currently sitting at a disgusting 1-30 on the season, can someone please explain to me what in the hell the Philadelphia 76ers' rebuilding plan actually is?

I'm not trying to sound condescending, but, c'mon, this can't be what the front office imagined when it sat down and put together a blueprint to become competitive.

Winning just 38 games in the past two-plus seasons, the Sixers are beyond pathetic, making indescribable mistakes and becoming the laughingstock of the basketball world, making me think that they'd actually lose to a college hoops team.

Hell, even NBA Commissioner Adam Silver questions what the organization is doing, so that has to tell you something, right?

Adding insult to injury, the team's top selection this year, Jahlil Okafor, isn't helping the team's rep off the floor either.

Good: MLB's New Home Run Derby Format

The MLB All-Star Game got a face-lift a few years ago when the league decided that the winner of the game would determine home-field advantage for the World Series, putting more importance on the exhibition, but the Home Run Derby got an upgrade that left people raving.

Adding a unique twist that fans and baseball pundits loved, the derby enforced a timer for each round, with participants placed in a bracket and going head-to-head against one another.

Also giving batters an extra minute of bonus time for players to earn points for moonshot dingers, the switch by MLB was a fresh one that makes the derby even more entertaining than the actual game itself—and that's why this decision was an absolute game-changer.

Bad: Robert Griffin III Gets Sacked by Washington Redskins

Patrick Semansky/Associated Press

When the Washington Redskins traded away the farm to grab the No. 2 pick in the 2012 draft to select Robert Griffin III, there was instant gratification, as RG3 won the league's Offensive Rookie of the Year Award and led the team to the playoffs.

What was thought to be a sign of things to come, though, ended abruptly during the preseason this year.

That's because the former Heisman Trophy winner was benched and sent to the sidelines, even falling all the way to third string—which is unfathomable for a talent such as Griffin.

Clashing with his head coach and failing to get respect from teammates, the entire situation in D.C. was bad and dysfunctional—and there's still no telling how it will all end up until after the season is over.

Griffin's replacement, Kirk Cousins, has done admirably as the team's starter, so the pink elephant in the room will have to be addressed in the offseason, because the Skins have turned the page on the RG3 chapter.

Ugly: Seattle Seahawks' Decision to Pass in Super Bowl

This could have been a bad decision had it happened during a regular-season game that was repairable, but the fact that it came in the Super Bowl in the most critical moment and biggest stage in sports left me with an easy decision—it was ugly!

When the Seattle Seahawks opted to overthink themselves against the New England Patriots by passing the ball rather than let their Beast Mode running back, Marshawn Lynch, try to pick up a few yards to win their second straight title, the sports world was shocked and speechless.

Go ahead and say it gutsy, but even if the play does work out and the Hawks make the difficult catch, it's still a pretty dumb call.

The fact that it failed is why it's regarded as one of the worst plays in the history of sports—and, for that, it has to be the worst decision of 2015.