Most of us sports fans received the recent ESPN 100, the 100 most important sports-related stories of the year as decided by ESPN. The number 1 story was Vince Young and Texas beating USC last year for the National Championship. I couldn't tell you, based on their qualifications, what should have been the number 1 sports story of the year, but I can tell you it shouldn't have been Vince Young.

This got me thinking, though, what really were the top 5 sports stories of the year? And, what makes a sports story important enough to receive a title like that. Well, here are my qualifications. Since it is the holiday season, a top 5 sports story must be a feel-good story. Here is why: The feel good stories about sports are stories that transcend sports. They are stories that non-sports fans can read or hear about and appreciate. They are the stories that make sports fans proud to be so passionate about sports because things like these stories happen. They are the stories that make us smile and cry. They are the stories that are the escapes sports fans have from the problems in the world, but also escapes from the stories that should not reflect what sports are about. They are the stories that are more imporatant to the world of sports than steroids, doping, cheating, head-butting, brawling, hazing, rape, and other stories ESPN felt was worthy of being on their list. Those stories are important, they need to be covered, but they aren't the stories that should be remembered.

5. Joey Cheek donates medal winnings to charity.

The real story of the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino wasn't Bode Miller's choke or Lindsey Jacobellis' showboating that cost her a gold medal, it was the role model Joey Cheek was for all athletes. Cheek won the gold and silver medals in speed skating in the Olympics, and instead of making news for sexual assualt or drunk driving, Cheek made the news for doing something unheard of in the world of American sports. He donated his winnings, all his winnings, to charities involving getting athletics into areas that are impoverished. His donation sparked other organizations to donate to this good cause. Cheek also used his celebrity to ignite more awareness over the genocides in Darfur. ESPN had this story #54, behind the other Olympic stories I mentioned. Not only was it the greatest story from the Olympics, it was the 5th best sports story of the year. Thank you, Joey Cheek, for being a role model for how athletes should truly take advantage of their celebrity.

4. Tiger Woods wins PGA Player of the Year amidst passing of father Earl Woods.

I give ESPN credit for this one, as Tiger's year was also ranked 4th in their list. But it wasn't really given justice. Tiger, arguably the greatest golfer ever, learend from his father Earl Woods. We all know the stories and have seen the videos of Earl mentoring Tiger at a young age and can understand the influence Earl had on Tiger's life. To play through that loss is something that most of us can't comprehend. The ability of Tiger to play through those emotions, and not only that, but win 2 majors, 6 straight tour wins, and PGA Player of the Year, is what makes him and him alone transcend golf and is a story worth standing among the top stories of the year.

3. New Orleans Saints' success as Superdome reopened

Again, ESPN receives some credit, as this was ranked #19. After the most detramental weather-induced disaster this country has ever seen, it was hard for anyone to think about sports. But it was also hard to ignore the holes ripped into the Superdome. With New Orleans still looking like a 3rd world country and thousands of families still displaced from their homes, Drew Brees and the new-look New Orleans Saints did their best to give people hope and show that sports can be important during trying times. The Saints blew out the Falcons at the reopening of the Superdome among many emotional New Orleans residents and fans. Not only that, but the Saints will make the playoffs and possibly get a bye. They are the #1 story of the NFL from the past year because the importance the Saints season has had on millions of New Orleansers lives and it receives the 3rd best sports story of the year.

2. Cinderella Story

So maybe the only problem I had with ESPN's 100 was their top 3 and placements of other stories, because they almost got this one right again, placing it 9th while, to my feel-good-about-sports standards, it is 2nd. I've made it clear in past blogs that college sports are better than pro sports, and it's due in part to the Cinderella stories. Yes, it was exciting to see the Dolphins upset the Bears (not for me, but other sports fans), but no one rushed the field, no one ripped up brackets, no one was standing chanting all game like college fans. Cinderella stories live in the college ranks. From Northwestern St.'s buzzer beater over #3-seeded Iowa, Wake Forest's first January bowl game in 60 years, Rutgers' undefeated start, Bradley and Wichita St.'s runs in the tournament, and most of all George Mason's run to the final 4, this was the year of the Cinderella. The glass slippers fit all these teams as they gave non-sports fans a reason to care about college events. You can't tell a non-sports fan: Here, watch this Heat vs. Clippers game, if the Clippers win, it will be an upset. No, you tell them about George Mason, the mid-major from the Colonial Athletic Association that some people didn't believe deserved to be in the tournament and then they beat Michigan St., North Carolina, and an overtime victory over Connecticut. That game was what sports are about. On paper, UConn should have blown George Mason out of the building, but in college sports you can't look at what's on paper. You can never tell what will happen when a team like George Mason receives the motivation as the underdog and gives a team like UConn a run for their money. While many College Basketball enthusiasts had to rip up their brackets due to the Colonials, everyone loved the story of Geroge Mason as them and the other Cinderellas earn the 2nd best sports story of the year.

1. Jason McElwain's 20 points in 3 and a half minutes

Jason Who? #1 sports story of the year? Are you kidding me?

When I came up with my theme for this list, the first story I could pinpoint on my list was this one. There was and is no doubt in my mind Jason's story is the #1 sports story of the year.

Just for those of you that live under a rock: Jason McElwain was the autistic manager of the Greek Athena High baketball team. When their game had gotten out of hand on senior night, Coach Jim Johnson decided to give McElwain a chance. Jason hit 6 3-pointers in 3 and a half minutes. The fans rushed the court as his team hoisted Jason out of the gym as he became a hero for people all over the country. He was on talk shows and news shows and even met with President Bush. You cannot watch video clips of Jason without feeling shivers and coming on the brink of tears. Here, give it a try: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzX6YjydLyk&mode=re
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Watching every fan, cheerleader, teammate, and supporter of Jason's team go crazy after every shot makes you realize what makes sports special. It's the once-in-a-lifetime stories like Jason. The stories that you need to see to believe. The stories that make you cry and wonder how anyone can say to you "Sports aren't everything." Try telling that to Jason. Having to grow up different than everyone else, not being to have the same oppurtunities as other students, but then becoming a National hero and an icon in his town and cheered on by everyone in the gym is what sports did for Jason. This is without a doubt the #1 sports story of the year. You can't show this story or video to any non-sports fan and not get an emotinal reaction from them. The story of Jason is what sports is all about. It's not about Zidane's headbutt, Floyd Landis' doping, or Barry Bonds' steroids. Sports are about that kid that never got a chance to play, and then hit 6 three pointers and brought sports fans and people everyone to tears.

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year