Greeson: Rocky start to 2016 means only one way to go

Jay Greeson
Jay Greeson

Today is the first day of the second half of 2016.

And in this view, here's hoping for a strong finish.

So far this year, we have been measured by losses more than victory.

photo Jay Greeson

The deaths of all-time legends such as Summitt and Ali and Howe. This trend stretched to the music world, too, with the deaths of Prince and David Bowie and Merle Haggard, to name but three.

It's more than just the deaths, though. In sports, the biggest events of the year were as much about who didn't win as it was about who did.

The Super Bowl was a great moment for Peyton Manning and Denver, but it was almost as much about Cam Newton's loss - and his awful handling of the postgame news conference.

Going a step beyond that, Manning has left the NFL behind. And among those filling the news-cycle vacuum left by the exit of Manning - one of the most beloved and respected superstars ever - is the sideshow-filled circus that is Johnny Manziel. (Side note: The four-game suspension given to Manziel still will be in effect next year since no NFL team anywhere will sign him any time soon.)

Of course, the other big NFL event of the first half of 2016 was the NFL draft, which featured arguably the biggest 12-hour roller-coaster ride in sports this half year.

Ole Miss left tackle Laremy Tunsil was considered the favorite at lunch to be the first pick, giving the Rebels their first No. 1 overall selection since Eli Manning more than a decade ago. Well, that was before the draft pictures of Tunsil smoking pot were leaked, and before he was done falling, his social media account was hacked and details of potential NCAA violations during his time in Oxford were revealed.

It was a slide that cost him millions and brought NCAA investigators to town.

Then there was the Masters, and while Danny Willett's win was nice, that storyline was all about Jordan Spieth's meltdown. The world's best looked like a 17-handicapper on No. 12 and was forced to sit through the champions ceremony after giving away the green jacket - both literally and figuratively.

That was followed in golf by Dustin Johnson's U.S. Open win sharing the stage with the USGA's decision and the ensuing debacle in the final round.

Heck, the biggest global sporting event of the year - the upcoming Rio Olympics - has been filled with controversy. And right when you think it couldn't get worse beyond the violence, the polluted water and dozens of high-profile athletes pulling out of the Games, news came Thursday that a foot - yes a foot - washed ashore near the beach volleyball venue.

If you had to pick the best story of the first half of 2016, the upset champions of Leicester City in the Premier League or even Thursday's dramatic College World Series clincher for Coastal Carolina.

There also was the dramatic rally for the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals last month and capturing the city's first pro sports title in 52 years.

Even LeBron's epic performance in the Finals came with the caveat that the best regular-season team in history stumbled and gave away a 3-1 lead.

Maybe that's some on us, because, man, it certainly feels like we look to blame way more quickly and with way more intensity than looking to praise.

On the side of excellence are two staples - the Alabama football team and the UConn women's basketball team.

The Tide's title was their fourth under Nick Saban. The Huskies dominated, winning another title and notching coach Geno Auriemma's record-setting 11th championship.

How's that for a halftime speech?

So it goes.

In fact, let's offer these as the five sports events we hope will reverse the 2016 momentum, at least around these parts.

The Tennessee Vols win the SEC East and face Alabama twice in the upcoming college football season.

The Mocs give Russ Huesman his fourth consecutive conference title and go even deeper into the playoffs behind a defense led by Keionta Davis and Lucas Webb.

The nation pauses on the opening night of the women's college basketball season as the NCAA names the national championship trophy after Pat Summitt.

McCallie wins the Division II-AA state football title.

UTC will make a push to get into the basketball national rankings - especially after winning at Vanderbilt in late December - and will be a team no one wants to see come tournament time next year.

Ah, next year. May the path there be smoother than the first half of 2016.

Contact Jay Greeson at jgreeson@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6343. Follow him on Twitter @jgreesontfp.

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