The 10 Most Tragic and Memorable Goodbyes of 2010

2010 is over, and with it many careers. Some were ended short, some were ended after a medium length, and some over a very long period of time.

This is a countdown of the most tragic of the year. We will miss them all. These are the ones I will miss the most, not the ones the public will miss the most. Keep that in mind before you criticize it.

No. 9: Joe Torre

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PHOENIX - SEPTEMBER 24: Manager Joe Torre of the Los Angeles Dodgers watches from the dugout during the Major League Baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on September 24, 2010 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Ge

Funny, two legendary baseball managers in a row. I rarely put in one!

Anyway, Torre was one of the best all time, bringing the then woeful Yankees to world supremacy. Unlike many other impressive managers, who would often lose their mind when they thought calls went wrong, Torre was a much more calmer presence.

With four World Series and a record of 2,326–1,997, there's no doubting a place in the HOF for him.

No. 8: George Steinbrenner

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NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 20: The monument of late owner of the New York Yankees George Steinbrenner is seen prior to the game against the Tampa Bay Rays on September 20, 2010 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Gett

I hate George Steinbrenner. I really, really do. But Yankees fans are going to get really angry at me if I don't put him here, so here he is. Not gonna say any more about him.

No.7: Urban Meyer

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TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 1: Coach Urban Meyer of the Florida Gators directs play against the Penn State Nittany Lions January 1, 2011 in the 25th Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

Nope. Nothing. Can't say anything.

N.. 6: Bob Sheppard

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NEW YORK - JULY 16: Derek Jeter #2 (2nd L) of the New York Yankees joins teammates and staff as they observe a moment of silence during the ceremony for owner George Steinbrenner and Yankee Stadium public address announcer Bob Sheppard before the game ag

Bob Sheppard wasn't the best announcer in sports, but he was definitely up there. His accent was synonymous with the voice of the Yankees. Derek Jeter embraced him so much that he makes it required for Sheppard to call out his name when he is at bat.

He was there from 1951 to last year, living up to the ripe age of 99.

No. 5: Max Gilpin

While 16-year-old Max Gilpin was not a star football player, coach or manager, it was his horrific death that makes this list. Max Gilpin, a football player for Ridge High School, literally worked himself to death. His body became severely dehydrated and eventually, the poor boy collapsed. His coach was said to have been driving him on, even when it was clear his dedication was getting dangerous. He now faces criminal charges of homicide.

No. 4: Randy Shannon

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DURHAM, NC - OCTOBER 18: Head coach Randy Shannon of the Miami Hurricanes stands on the field during the game against the Duke Blue Devils at Wallace Wade Stadium on October 18, 2008 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Randy Shannon was the man who brought Miami football back from the grave.

He was a kind person, who was well liked by his players and had very strict discipline rules. Shannon grew up in Miami, FL, in a very poor family. His father was shot and killed right in front of his eyes and his older brother became a crack addict.

Still, hard working Randy managed to get a scholarship to Miami, where he played linebacker. He was defensive coordinator for the Canes from 2000-2006, and became head coach in '06. His farewell was heartbreaking for me, and I wish him the best.

No. 3: Jerry Sloan

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LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 29: Head coach Jerry Sloan of the Utah Jazz complains to a referee in the game with the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center on December 29, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. The Jazz won 103-85. NOTE TO USER: User expressl

Jerry Sloan had the longest tenor in American sports at 23 seasons. He surprisingly never won an NBA coach of the year despite coaching Karl Malone and John Stockton.

He had retired supposedly because of a bad relationship with point guard Deron Williams who had been trashing all the plays Sloan drew up. Sloan had coached the Jazz his whole career except for three years from the 1979-1982 span when he coached his former team the Chicago Bulls.

Some highlights were making the NBA finals twice, but never winning it in 1997 and 1998.

No. 2: Ralph Freidgen

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COLLEGE PARK, MD - NOVEMBER 10: Head coach Ralph Friedgen leads the Maryland Terrapins against the Boston College Eagles at Byrd Stadium on November 10, 2007 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

The Fridge was the man who brought Martland back from the garve during it's most woeful years and led them to an Orange Bowl in his first year!

For the first time ever, people cared about Maryland, and while the team often had the consistency of a seesaw, it was still amazing. He was a pretty good offensive coordinator at Georgia Tech too.

He posted an all time record of 75-50. The decision to fire him was a greedy and selfish decision made by the MD sports commisioner, and has received much of my critisizm.

Bottom line: The Fridge will always be cool.

No.1: John Wooden

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WESTWOOD, CA - JUNE 26, 2010: Coach Wooden's pyramid of success is displayed during the memorial service for former UCLA basketball coach John Wooden on June 26, 2010 at Pauley Pavilion on the University of California Los Angeles campus in Westwood, Calif

So amazing. No words to describe.