It is safe to say that 2016 is the greatest year in the history of sports. Don’t believe me? You must not have watched what happened. Every championship game was unpredictable and was decided in the last minute. As far as sports go, it doesn’t get much better than that.
To honor the greatness we all witnessed, we remember the best games from 2016:
April 5, 2016: Villanova defeats North Carolina, 77-74, for the 2016 DI Mens Basketball Championship.
We didn't know it then, but this was the game that began the best year in sports. NRG was primed and ready for the Championship game. Villanova hadn't won a championship since 1985, while the Tar Heels program speaks for itself. Kris Jenkins' game winning shot, with only milliseconds on the clock, shocked the entire world of sports – producing a massive wave of intense and entertaining games for us to watch in the future.
DI Men's Basketball Championship 2016:
June 19, 2016: Cleveland Caveliers defeat Golden State Warriors, 93-89, to become the 2016 NBA Champions
It is safe to say that this was the most entertaining NBA Finals we have ever witnessed. Besides being the greatest comeback in Finals history, the series had one of the most iconic story lines to date. The Warriors, who set the record for most wins in a season at 83, managed let the Cav's battle back, tying a series that was once 3-1.
It began with Lebron's performance at the 2015 Finals, Steph's back-to-back MVP reign and the Warriors continued success during the regular season. The anticipation lead to most of the drama that occurred within the final, including a feud between Draymond and the King himself, which created a much anticipated Game 7 in Oakland.
After dominating all series, Lebron blocks Igodala, which leads to Kyrie's infamous shot over Steph – eventually solidifying the Cav's win over the Warriors and earning their place in eternal NBA history. King James finally brought the Larry O'Brien trophy home to Cleveland, something that has never been done.
This meant the world to the City of Cleveland, a city that hadn't seen a championship title in decades. Immediately, I could tell the importance a championship brings to a city. Lebron sat high on his throne that summer, with the whole City in his hand.
NBA Finals 2016 & Championship Parade:
November 3, 2016: Chicago Cubs defeat Cleveland Indians, 8-7 in extra innings, to become 2016 World Series Champions
That is still very sweet to say. For 108 years, you couldn't use "Cubs" and "World Series" in the same sentence without being disappointed. However, all that changed on that cold night in November. When the Indians went up 3-1 in the series, it seemed nothing would be different. Somehow, in a collective effort, the Cubbies battled back, tying the series 3-3 and sending it into Game 7. Sound familiar?
The atmosphere was something to be feared, as the fans from both cities put their heart in the game. The pressure for both teams built up to the point that America seemed to be holding their breath. With one swing of the bat, Dexter Fowler allowed Cub's fans to breath out. The Cubs went up early in the game 6-3, but the Indians eventually rallied back in the eighth. Tying the game at 6 with a two-run homer from Rajai Davis, the Indians were back in it.
Being a lifetime fan and adopting the culture from my Dad, a Chicago native, I had put my entire heart into the game. When they tied the game, my hear sank. Never before have I felt so close to winning something. But the lead diminished and my concerns grew into reality. To lose, I would have to wait until year 109.
Luckily, that wasn't in the story for 2016. This was next year. After a dramatic rain delay, immediately following the end of regulation, the Cubs' Miguel Montero and Ben Zobrist both hit RBIs, driving the score to 8-6.
In the bottom of the 10th, Montgomery forced a ground-out to Kris Bryant, making the Cubs 2016 World Series Champs. Never before have I seen an entire city come together and celebrate like the one after that game. The city streets were packed to capacity, with a roar of cheers in front of Wrigley Field.
For many, it was also a time to celebrate the family members and friends who have lived and died, never to see their team be crowned a championship. My dad, who taught me how to be a Cubs fan, never got to see that the Cubs finally won The World Series. Because of this, I made sure I didn't miss a moment of celebration, and I made sure to honor the man he was.
Much like the Cav's win in June, the Cubs championship meant everything to the city. For me, this win was more than just bragging rights. It represented not only the ability, but the desire for change in the city of Chicago. The 2016 World Series was proof that no matter the odds, no matter the history, one can do anything with the right motivation. 108 years of planning, and hiring Joe Madden.
World Series 2016 & Championship Parade:
January 9, 2017: Clemson Tigers defeat Alabama Crimson Tide, 35-31, to win the College Football Playoff National Championship
Leading up to the game, I was all Clemson. I wasn't excited to see Alabama hoist another trophy, only proving my reason to not like college footbalI. All I really wanted was a good game, and I knew that this rematch would be that.
Bama got off to a hot start. Being uninterested in seeing Coach Saban and his Tide, I fell asleep when Clemson went down 14-0. I woke up seeing the Clemson Tigers holding the trophy and I smiled. They had done the impossible with only seconds left of the clock.
The impressive part wasn't just the comeback, but that they did all of this against Nick Saban and college football's best team.
Later, watching the highlights, I saw the sequence of events that led to Clemson taking home the trophy. With only two minutes left, Clemson sat in their own side of the field, facing the toughest and most discipline defense in all of college football. That didn't stop the offensive power house, as they drove the ball sixty-eight yards in 9 plays.
The final play came from a 2 yard passing touchdown, Watson to Renfrow. In a dramatic turn of events, America witnessed the Clemson Tigers hoisting the trophy indirectly in Alabama's face. It felt good to see the Crimson Tide get out played.
However great it felt, the joy of seeing great competition was far greater. I turned to my friend saying, "It doesn't matter what happens in the Super Bowl, this is the greatest year in the history of sports." Turns out, the Super Bowl only emphasized my conclusion.
CFP National Championship 2017:
February 5, 2017: New England Patriots defeat Atlanta Falcons, 31-28, to win the 2017 Super Bowl
What began with Kris Jenkins' game winner in NRG, was finished by Tom Brady and Bill's Pats in the same building. The city I call home, Houston, Texas, hosted the greatest Super Bowl in the history of the NFL.
Atlanta was an unlikely contender, being propelled by a stone cold Matty Ice, an unstoppable Julio Jones and Culture. New England saw themselves in another championship game; riding on coaching, teamwork and the never-bending arm of Tom Brady.
As the Falcons won the first coin toss, I immediately said, "Falcons are going to win, because they won the toss." My prediction was accurate for the first half. The Patriots, for the first time in a Super Bowl, seemed out of the game. Atlanta had punched them in the mouth, leading at the half 21-3. Finally, a team to beat the Patriots like they beat other teams.
The only problem...Bill Belichick wasn't having it. I should have known when I saw pen hit paper that Bill wasn't going to fold easy. After the half, Patriots mounted the biggest comeback in Super Bowl history, pushing the game into overtime in the last minutes of the game.
OK Bill, what the hell did you write on the notepad?
I immediately thought back to my first statement of the game. "Falcons are going to win. They won the toss." In my prediction, I never accounted for the the impossible. Never before had a championship game in the Super Bowl era gone into OT, until now.
And guess what, the Patriots won the toss in OT, the rest is just history.
For once, I found myself rooting for the Pats. Somehow, they managed to stay the best team in the league and be the underdog at the same time. Somehow, they solidified their claim as the greatest dynasty in history by battling back from unexpected odds. No arguments are necessary anymore – they spoke on the field. As much as I have despised the Patriots in the past, their message was loud and clear. They are the best. Ever.
...Oh yeah, and Tom Brady is THE G.O.A.T.
Super Bowl LI & Championship Parade:
As we looked back at the championship games, it is easy to see why I consider this the greatest year in sports. Intense games that come down to the last minute? Again, it really doesn't get better than that.
If there is anything you can take from the games of 2016 it is this: First, no matter the odds, keep working towards your goals. Second, never quit in the face of failure, but rather find your motivation to complete your task. Third, and most importantly, when you are facing the impossible, redefine what is possible.
If you are down 3-1 or by 25, believe in yourself, stick to your plans and push through – because you never know when you'll be the one redefining what is possible.
