We have closed 2014 and welcomed the new year with a new college football playoff system. Hey, welcome to 1928.
Still, when every new sports chapter opens, it’s hard not to look back at the previous story. And for 2014, the story was often not that enjoyable, at least completely. And when it was memorable, it often was memorable for the wrong reason.
Let’s review some of the sports moments of the 2014.
1) Mon’e Davis pitching in the Little League World Series
It was awesome and inspiring and fun to watch her pitch, and the two lasting takeaways from it are a tough defeat and the NCAA had to rule about her eligibility — she is a hoops ace who openly said she want to play for UConn — because of her new-found fame. Egad.
2) College football Tuesday nights
The idea of the college football playoff was embraced — and quickly dissected and debated about when we’re going to eight teams rather than four — because the Tuesday night poll announcement proved to be as meaningful as a Valentine’s Day present delivered on Feb. 16 wrapped in a CVS bag. Plus, we got to listen to Arkansas athletic director Jeff Long talk about the poll and use phrases like “game control” and “fluid” and realize that if the cards fall right, maybe we could still be an AD somewhere. How hard could it be — a couple of buzz words and rally cries? We’re so in. We have not played a single major college football playoff semifinal and there are more than a few people (Hi, Big 12) already wondering if this system is already too small.
3) NFL’s “No More”
We salute the NFL’s campaign to raise awareness and use its vast cultural popularity for more than lining its own pockets. The commercials are powerful — although can we make a suggestion that we add two more words to the phrase? “Know more = No more” especially if we are going to speak to the people in these types of situations who need to get involved. It’s a great start, however. Still, the lasting image from this entire, sordid mess is the video of Ray Rice and the bungling handling of the matter by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, who is the most powerful man in sports and looked like he was an assistant middle school principal answering for why he showed up late on his first day. Want to know who loves to watch Roger Goodell speak to the camera about meaningful issues? Arkansas AD Jeff Long, that’s who, because then he can dream of being the NFL commissioner one day. He’s so in.
4) Big stars in name only
Who were the biggest names in the major sports in 2014? LeBron James, Tiger Woods, Peyton Manning and Clayton Kershaw were as big as any, and collectively they won as many meaningful games/tournaments as you did, and other than Woods, they had staggeringly successful years. Sadly, it was a year that was filled with popularity more than perfection, especially in the most meaningful of moments. Here’s hoping that 2015 is better for the best on the biggest stages.
5) Storylines to cringe to
Go another step beyond the stars who fell short. Who were the most mentioned and biggest names and stories in the sports world in 2014? Donald Sterling. Rice, Goodell and the NFL domestic violence issue. (Side note: Have you noticed whenever anyone brings in a special job with a person unofficially titled “czar” like the NFL did to handle its domestic issues, well, that’s never good.) Michael Sam, who played as many NFL snaps as you did this year (well, unless you are an NFL player reading this). Johnny Manziel, who played this year but is far more renowned as a playa than a player. Richard Sherman, who made more noise with a postage rant than he did as an All-Pro on a nameless defense that may be as good as any since the Bears in 1985.
And yes, there were some stories to relive.
Cancer-fighter Lauren Hill scoring a basket and living her dream in an NCAA basketball game. Gregg Popovich proving to be on the short list of great modern-era coaches and people with his memorable in-game interview with Craig Sager Jr. during a memorable postseason run for the Spurs, who won the NBA championship for the fifth time. Odell Beckham Jr.’s eye-popping catch, which almost broke the Interweb. Kevin Durant’s amazing MVP speech that highlighted the sacrifices his mother made to get him to basketball’s individual pinnacle. Madison Bumgarner’s three-week stretch of utter brilliance that made us remember what true excellence can look like and how captivating it can be.
And of course, there was Derek Jeter’s walk into the sunset, leaving his last game at Yankee Stadium with a game-winning walk-off single to right and his last at-bat in the majors with an infield single (always hustling) at Fenway to a standing ovation from the loved/hated rival Red Sox fans.
Maybe Jeter should be the face of a puzzling 2014 year in sports and in general. A year in which we became all-to-familiar with the letters ISIS and what Ebola can do and where Ferguson, Mo., is and how many angles there are of video cameras in an elevator in Atlantic City and that not even a technology giant like Sony is safe from technological terrorism. A year in which we lost arguably the greatest comedian (Robin Williams), actor (Phillip Seymour Hoffman) and hitter (Tony Gwynn) to deaths that were either directly or indirectly self-inflicted, for the most part. A year in which we apparently have accepted that not one but two airplanes can disappear into thin air.
Maybe Jeter’s grace and retirement is that face, because in the end, the best thing about 2014 may be that both their exits came at the perfect time.
Happy New Year, everyone, and here’s to a great 2015.
Contact Jay Greeson at jgreeson@timesfreepress.com.