The baseball season is over, but an active offseason is already in full swing. The NFL football season has reached its midway point. Meanwhile, the NBA season is underway, with some talented teams stumbling out of the gates. There are tomatoes flying as far as the eye can see. It was another wild week in the world of sports, and what better way to show one’s displeasure towards certain individuals than to hurl that famous red fruit that often gets confused as being a vegetable. As always, feel free to chime in, or just sit down, grab a ladle and some toppings, and get ready to make a pizza.

Throwing Tomatoes – Volume III

“Top of the Vine” this week...
Ignorant Media Regarding Moss and Owens
I’m sick of all the stories about how Randy Moss and Terrell Owens have “turned over a new leaf”, and now are team players and overall great individuals. Why doesn’t the media instead mention the obvious? Um, hello? They’re winning! I guarantee if either player were to endure a losing streak, they will fall right back into their old antics. Fortunately for Moss, he may be in the clear. You never know with Owens, as Dallas could drop a few if they aren’t careful (starting this week in New York).

NFL

Chris Henry
Unbelievable… he’s literally hours off of his suspension and set to make his 2007 debut for the Bengals, when he gets into an altercation with a parking attendant. Some people just have a knack for finding trouble.

Don Shula
When discussing the Patriots, “Spygate”, and going undefeated, I think you have to leave well enough alone, especially when you were the coach of the only undefeated team in NFL history.

Bill Belichick
The Patriots are a great team, but their coach is a classless individual with the personality of a rock. I think Belichick is nuts to leave Brady in midway through the fourth quarter during games that are well in hand. I think it is even more crazy to pass the ball in those games, go for it on fourth down, and so on. If he isn’t careful, one cheap shot on Brady (in garbage time) could derail New England’s dream season.

Miami Dolphins and St. Louis Rams
Each of these two teams get a tomato until they win a game. Last week’s bye week for the ‘Fins and Rams must have felt like a victory. Both face teams that are playing well as of late (Miami vs. Buffalo and St. Louis at New Orleans). I better go buy more tomatoes.

San Diego’s Run Defense
Adrian Peterson is already a star in the NFL. Even so, San Diego’s run defense was the strength, allowing less than 90 yards per game going into the match against the Vikes. Not anymore. Instead, Norv and the gang are about to average a tomato per week.

MLB

Colorado Rockies and Boston Red Sox
For providing us with a completely boring World Series, and another sweep in a sport’s “final hurrah”. OK, maybe the tomato should be directed more in Colorado’s direction.

Hank Steinbrenner
For thinking that he can acquire a marquee bat (e.g. Miguel Cabrera or Miguel Tejada) without having to part with any of New York’s young talent. What do you think, teams are just giving players away?

Scott Boras and A-Rod
For announcing that A-Rod is opting out of his contract during the World Series. It sure sounds like showing up the Red Sox to me, or just stealing away some attention.

Joe Girardi
The new manager of the Yankees announced he will wear #27 on his jersey, hinting towards being present for New York’s next title, which would be number twenty seven. OK, kind of clever, but overall cheesy in my mind. So if you win one Joe, do you switch to #28 the following year? Give me a break.

College Football

Bill Callahan
It was just a few years ago that he was coaching a team in the Super Bowl. Now, he’s had a major part in taking down a former college football power. The latest blunder, allowing Kansas to put 76 points on the board. Those walking papers also come with a tomato Bill…

Charlie Weis and the Irish
Props to Navy, but incoming tomatoes for Charlie and Notre Dame. It was a battle, and the Irish fell after multiple overtimes. With how similar the team jerseys were, I almost thought I was viewing an offseason scrimmage. Yeah, it was that ugly.

Virginia Tech Hokies
The painful loss to Boston College still looms large. You can’t blow a ten point lead with only a handful of minutes left on the clock. No matter who you are playing…

Boston College Eagles
Fresh off a miracle victory against Virginia Tech, the Eagles lay an egg at home, and fall to the Seminoles. Don’t be shocked if VT exacts their revenge in the ACC conference championship.

Fans Drinking the Dennis Dixon “Heisman Haterade”
Let’s check the stats first on Dennis Dixon of the Oregon Ducks: Over 2,000 passing yards, 549 rushing yards, 20 passing TD’s, 3 INT’s, and eight rushing touchdowns… all for a team ranked third in the country. He’s a leader, he’s a force, he is the Heisman favorite as of today, and if you don’t think so, you’re drinking “Heisman Haterade”.

College Basketball

Billy Gillispie and the Kentucky Wildcats
Not only did Gardner-Webb knock off Kentucky, but they did at Rupp Arena, and by 16 points. Yikes. Can anyone even tell me Gardner-Webb’s mascot without looking it up? Yeah, I didn’t think so. Bet on Wildcats or Bulldogs… then again, Tomatoes would be a good fit.

NBA

Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls, and Washington Wizards
All three teams are supposed to contend for legitimate Eastern Conference playoff spots. Sure, it’s early, but days in, these three franchises combine for an 0-11 record. Incoming!

Honorary Tomato Throwers of the Week
Because those who found success earn a chance to sling one at their opposition

Navy Football – at Notre Dame, for ending a streak of four plus decades of losing to the Irish
Gardner-Webb – at the Kentucky Wildcats
Kansas – at the College football world, for continuing to not believe in them
Joe Torre – at the National League
Bobby Bowden – for ending Boston College’s undefeated season

This has been “Throwing Tomatoes”… now toss that pizza in the oven. I’m famished.

Cinderella never even showed up for the 2007 NCAA Men’s Tournament.  She must still be locked up in Disney’s vault.

Zero 12 seeds advanced to the second round.  While two 11 seeds did advance to round two, no double-digit seeds advanced to the Sweet 16.

Illinois was a 12 seed… Southern Illinois was a 4 seed.

Michigan State and Kentucky, two of the most dominant basketball programs, had to face a number ONE seed in the second round.

Duke was a 6 seed that never even made it to the opening weekend.

Georgetown is dominant again in March Madness… all while having a John Thompson and Patrick Ewing present in the locker room… just in a new millenium.

13 teams represented the Big Ten and ACC in the 2007 tournament, but only one in each conference made it to the Sweet 16, and both were number one seeds (Ohio State and North Carolina).

A large number of high seeds advanced, but once again, a Final Four has been announced without all four number one seeds present.

All in all, the 2007 Road to the Final Four was one less traveled compared to the tournaments of recent past.  People like me who chose to be adventurous with their brackets were in trouble, as while the games were wild, the results were fairly “vanilla”.

While no double-digit seeds made it to the Sweet 16 and no true buzzer beaters occurred all tournament long, the 2007 March Madness tournament still has lived up to its billing throughout the opening rounds, through the Sweet 16, and leading to the Final Four.  The tournament hit an early peak on the Saturday of opening weekend, where every game was close, and I personally was on the edge of my seat so much during that day, that I practically fell off my couch.  The madness continued into the following Thursday night, where the first half of the Sweet 16 games were pure madness, and a perfect example for why the tournament has the nickname that it has earned.

Over the past few weeks, I have been like a moth to the flame when it comes to watching this tournament.  I needed to break away and post something out there to discuss some of the madness that I have seen so far, present some of what I feel to be the headlines of the tournament and mention what I feel were the best games of each round.

My bracket is busted… and for the first time in many years I will finish near rock bottom in a number of pools that I entered.  Where did your picks take a hit, or are you still in the hunt?  What did you think were the best games of the tournament?  Which games tormented you, or which ones crushed your bracket?  Which games were too hard to watch, and which ones made you stand up and cheer?   While the number of great games in this year’s tournament seem endless, I give you some of the ones that stood out the most for me.  I’ll begin with the first round and go chronologically throughout the tournament up until the final spot of the Final Four was resolved.

FIRST ROUND

In recent memory, the first round has often featured a large number of upsets, including one or two Cinderella teams emerging each year.  This year’s first round of the NCAA tournament was different than many in recent past in that it was fairly tame.  While many games were entertaining, here were the ones that I considered to be the most exciting:

(4) Maryland 82, (13) Davidson 70

It is safe to say that the Davidson Wildcats certainly did not “fear the turtle”.  A gutsy 30 point performance by Davidson’s Stephen Curry was not enough for the Wildcats, as Maryland held on in the first round backed by six of its players scoring in double figures.  The game was never easy for the Terps who didn’t extend its lead until the final minutes of the contest.  This was the opening game of the entire tournament, and a great way for the Madness to begin.  As for Curry, the son of former NBA player Dell Curry, expect to see him again soon, whether it’s with Davidson, in the NBA, or perhaps as a transfer to a more prestigious collegiate program.

(11) Virginia Commonwealth 79, (6) Duke 77

Many people were happy to see Duke fall in the first round, mainly because the Blue Devils have been a staple in the tournament for years, and it was nice to see a change.  I wanted to call this upset in my bracket, but figured in the end that since many were calling it, Coach K would have Duke fired up enough to advance not just through this game, but a few rounds into the tournament.  Boy was I wrong!  This game was fairly close throughout, as Duke tried to pull away at a few different points in the game, but the Rams just wouldn’t allow it to happen.  The scrappy Eric Maynor hit the game winning shot with a few seconds left on the clock, in what would be the end of Duke’s season, making Virginia Commonwealth the closest thing we would get to a Cinderella in this year’s tournament.  Even with Josh McRoberts announcing his early departure for the NBA draft, we all know that Duke will be back.

(11) Winthrop 74, (6) Notre Dame 64

This was the other double digit seed to advance into the second round, but how much of an upset was this game considering the fact that Winthrop was ranked late in the regular season?  Either way, I was happy to admit this was one of the upsets that I did pick in my bracket.  Winthrop jumped out to a 20 point lead in the second half, but Notre Dame went on a major run to make the game close down the stretch.  In the end, Winthrop held on and advanced to play Oregon in the second round.  The firepower of the Ducks would prove to be too much in round two.

(2) Wisconsin 76, (15) Texas A&M Corpus Christi 63

Jumping out to an 18 point lead in the first half, and remaining ahead of the Badgers throughout a big chunk of the second half, Texas A&M Corpus Christi was a team emerging as the possible Cinderella darling of the tournament.  However, the Islanders, playing in its first ever NCAA tournament game, could not hold on, and eventually the powerful Wisconsin team was able to pull away in the final minutes of the game.  However, Wisconsin’s magic disappeared in round two, when UNLV was able to fend off a late Badgers run and move on to the Sweet 16.  Corpus Christi gave us hope for a stunner… at least for a little while.

(5) Virginia Tech 54, (12) Illinois 52

This game ended up being the closest that a number 12 seed came to advancing to the second round.  Illinois had the game in hand late in the second half, but faltered late, as the Hokies finished the game with a 12-0 run over the final 4 ½ minutes, eventually resulting in a two point victory and a matchup in the second round with Southern Illinois.

(9) Xavier 79, (8) BYU 77

In one of the closest first round games, Drew Lavender keyed a late surge by Xavier, who eventually held off BYU and advanced to the second round after eking out a two point victory.

SECOND ROUND

The second round of the tournament is when the Madness officially began, with every game on the 2nd round Saturday being close.  However, many of the high seeds remained in the hunt, with UNLV being the lowest seed to advance to the Sweet 16.  The seventh seeded Runnin’ Rebels were able to upset #2 Wisconsin, and that was one of many quality second round games that included the following:

(3) Pittsburgh 84, (11) Virginia Commonwealth 79 OT

This was a wild one, but not until late in the game.  For most of the contest, Pitt dominated VCU and had a comfortable lead.  That is until the gutsy VCU Rams chipped away and chipped away, eventually forcing overtime with some clutch late 3 point shots.  The Panthers would manage to regroup in overtime, and avoid a major collapse, eventually sealing a five point victory and advancing to the Sweet 16 to face former Pitt Coach Ben Howland and the UCLA Bruins.

(7) UNLV 74, (2) Wisconsin 68

This would turn out to be one of the bigger upsets of the tournament, as Wisconsin struggled for the second consecutive game of the tournament.  Another late charge by the Badgers this time would not be enough, as UNLV would have enough firepower to hold off Wisconsin and advance to play Oregon in the Sweet 16 game.  The Badgers would turn out to be the major disappointment of the tournament this year, being the only of the top eight teams (in terms of seeding) to not make the Elite 8… and the “cheeseheads” didn’t even make the Sweet 16.

(6) Vanderbilt 78, (3) Washington St. 74 2OT

This was one of the more entertaining games of the tournament.  Vandy was draining a bunch of shots, but Wazzou just wouldn’t go away, and each team traded game winning opportunities late in the game, eventually leading to a second overtime, where Vanderbilt finally pulled out the victory and advanced to the Sweet 16 to face Georgetown.

(1) Ohio State 78, (9) Xavier 71 OT

This was one of the wilder games of the tournament so far, leaving thousands and thousands of people on the edge of their seats wondering if his or her brackets would be busted on the opening weekend.  Xavier led by 9 late in the second half, and Ohio State managed to chip away at the lead as the clock continued to tick away.  With seconds remaining, controversy arose as Greg Oden had a very hard foul pushing a Xavier player to the ground in an attempt to stop the clock.  The argument was whether it was an intentional foul or not.  Either way, the call was a foul on Oden, and Xavier was at the line attempting to ice the game.  The game clinching free throw appeared to be more than half way into the basket when it rattled off the rim and bounced back out, giving the Buckeyes another shot to tie… and tie the game they did, as Ron Lewis made a three pointer with seconds to go in regulation.  Later in overtime, the talented Buckeyes team would fend off the Muskateers, even without Greg Oden who had fouled out during regulation.  The result was a collective sigh to those fans that picked Ohio State to win the title, and an Ohio State berth in the Sweet 16 against Bruce Pearl and the Tennessee Volunteers.

(3) Texas A&M 72, (6) Louisville 69

With the game being played in Lexington, KY, this one was practically a home game for the sixth seeded Cardinals of Louisville.  After a back and forth game throughout, Acie Law IV and Texas A&M managed to win this one in the end, but not without a tough fight from Rick Pitino and Louisville.  I can guarantee you that the Cardinals will be back next year… and they will be better.

SWEET 16

If you ask me, this was one of the better rounds of basketball in recent memory.  “Remember the Alamo” my behind… because of this tournament, the phrase should be changed to “Remember the Alamodome”.  Memphis fought the Law and… Memphis won?  Bruce Pearl had a 20 point lead leaving us with unwanted visions of him parading around painted neon orange among the Tennessee faithful.  But the Buckeyes had different thoughts… and overall the Sweet 16 was chock full of quality basketball, especially the following games:

(2) Memphis 65, (3) Texas A&M 64

This game was back and forth the entire way, as each team had its share of the lead.  In the end, Texas A&M had every chance in the world to win this game, but fell short.  Inside a minute, the Aggies executed a perfect cross court pass to Acie Law IV, who failed to make a layup that would have given Texas A&M a crucial three point lead with only seconds on the clock.  Instead, the lead was still one, and Memphis would have another chance to take the lead.   During the following possession, Memphis would miss its first shot, but get a much needed rebound… not once, not twice, not three times… but four times.  Finally, after the fourth rebound, Antonio Anderson was fouled with 3.1 seconds to go in the game.  Anderson was 1 for 4 on the game from the line, and overall a poor free throw shooter… but he made both of them… and when it mattered most.  Texas A&M was left with seconds to try and pull out the victory, and after a controversial out of bounds call that took over a second off the clock, the Aggies only had two seconds to attempt to win the game.  That would prove to not be enough time, and Memphis would hold on to advance to the Elite 8.  Acie Law IV came through for the Aggies all year long… but not this time, and this game was especially painful for me, as I had Texas A&M advancing to the Final Four.

(1) Ohio State 85, (5) Tennessee 84

I don’t know about anyone else, but to me it certainly looked like Tennessee was playing not to lose in the second half of this game.  After jumping out to a 20 point lead late in the first half, the Volunteers were not nearly as aggressive in the second half.  I saw a team that was continuously trying to milk the clock and hold onto its lead, therefore allowing for the Buckeyes to continuously chip away.  Late in the game, Ohio State took the lead, only to see Tennessee bury a couple three pointers to tie it up again.  In the end, the game came down to the final possession, in which Mike Conley Jr. was fouled with 6.7 seconds to go in the game.  After making the first free throw to take the lead, Conley Jr. missed the second one, and Tennessee came up with the rebound.  I honestly am not sure if the Volunteers had no timeouts left, but instead I saw them sprint down the court in a frenzy to hit the game winning shot.  I expected for Tennessee to try and get the ball to the “hot hands” on the team (e.g. Lofton as one example), but that didn’t happen.  The result was a prayer shot that was denied by two defenders, including a leaping Greg Oden.  Once again, Ohio State advanced with another victory… in what was another wild escape by the Buckeyes in this year’s NCAA tournament.

(1) Kansas 61, (4) Southern Illinois 58

I am willing to guess that many people out there didn’t give the Salukis much of a chance in this game, but Southern Illinois was in it throughout, and never allowed for the talented Jayhawks to pull away.  In fact, the Salukis had a small lead for much of the second half.  It was a nail biter down to the wire, when Southern Illinois had a prayer three point attempt to tie the game in the final seconds.  All in all, Kansas held off a scrappy and worthy four seeded mid-major team to advance to the Elite 8, and later face UCLA for a berth in the Final Four.  As for Southern Illinois, this team certainly proved that it deserved the high seed in the tournament, and I would not be surprised if some higher profile programs start making calls to Chris Lowery, the head coach of the Salukis.

(2) Georgetown 66, (6) Vanderbilt 65

Vandy had a double digit lead in the first half, and continued to lead the Hoyas throughout most of the second half.  The sharp shooters for the SEC representative Commodores were on target for the most of the game, but the depth and size of Georgetown started to close the gap later on in the contest.  With a one point lead and seconds to go, Georgetown star Jeff Green almost lost the ball while being double teamed just outside of the paint.  As time kept ticking away, Green released a turn around shot that banked off the glass and into the basket, sealing a dramatic victory for the Hoyas… and as we would later find out, the drama was just beginning for Georgetown.  As for Vandy, the players stood on the court in disbelief, some huddled on the floor with their jerseys pulled over their heads… this was the golden opportunity that slipped away.

(1) North Carolina 74, (5) USC 64

Many people had already punched in Kevin Durant and the Longhorns for this game against Carolina in the Sweet 16.  Instead, the Trojans played very well in this year’s tournament, and had a large lead on the Tar Heels until midway through the second half.  North Carolina’s depth eventually proved to be too much, and USC’s shooters went cold, in what would eventually result in a Carolina victory and a matchup with Georgetown in the Elite 8.  Still, it was an impressive performance by the Trojans, and with O.J. Mayo waiting to play in Southern California next season, this team will likely be back.

ELITE 8

The Elite 8 games are still fresh in our minds, as they occurred in the last 72 hours.  All in all, each game was competitive, and here were the results of the four matchups:

(1) Ohio State 92, (2) Memphis 76

(2) UCLA 68, (1) Kansas 55

(1) Florida 85, (3) Oregon 77

(2) Georgetown 96, (1) North Carolina 84 OT

All four of the Elite 8 games were fairly close throughout, no matter what the final scores may say.  The best game of the group, and arguably one of the best in tournament, was the final game before the Final Four, that being the matchup between Georgetown and North Carolina.  While the Tar Heels dominated on the boards and at getting to the free throw line, North Carolina was unable to pull away and make the game out of reach for the Hoyas.  However, what happened late in the second half is something that I personally never saw coming.  The Tar Heels had extended its lead to 10 points with approximately 7 minutes to go, and then the draught began.  North Carolina couldn’t hit a shot, and the rebounds that were there all game long, were this time being retrieved by Georgetown.  With that, the momentum began to shift, and Georgetown erased that ten point lead in a matter of minutes.  Down by three with inside a minute to go, a clutch three point shot was made by Georgetown guard Jonathan Wallace, tying the game.  North Carolina would later hold the ball for the last shot, hoping to escape with a victory.  The Tar Heels got the open shot they wanted, with Ellington being freed up for a three.  However, the ball clanged off the iron, and Georgetown got the rebound.  The game would later go to overtime, which would be totally dominated by the Hoyas.  The Tar Heels were laying more bricks than a mason, as Georgetown continued to pad its lead in OT.  North Carolina didn’t make a shot until seven seconds remained in the extra time, and by that point, it was way too late.  The depth of the Tar Heels and its hot shooters had failed them… and the Hoyas were back in the Final Four for the first time since the mid 1980’s.   What a crazy finish to a few weeks of basketball…

AND THEN THERE WERE FOUR…

 

 

 

With four extremely talented teams left, this is anyone’s tournament.  Who will make it to the title game?  Who will win the National Championship?  More to come… stay tuned.

 

 

Volume I

In the first ever edition of “The Sexy Seven”, I am presenting the Top 7 biggest team surprises in sports over the past year.  Between last February and today, these seven teams were all a pleasant surprise, and in my mind, overall presented a team performance that almost no one saw coming, and exceeded that of any others throughout all of sports.

And without further ado, here is my list, starting with seventh place, and moving all the way up to the top team in the category.

The Chosen Ones

7. 2006 Florida Marlins

“Swimming Upstream"

I’m fully aware that this team didn’t finish above .500 for the year.  In fact, the Marlins finished 78-84 at year’s end.  Therefore, no playoff berth was earned.  However, with a roster full of inexperienced rookies (six starting on opening day – a record), and a payroll that didn’t exceed that of single players on major market teams (e.g. Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter on the Yankees and Manny Ramirez on the Red Sox), the Marlins were written off from day one as the team that will eventually post the worst record in baseball for the 2006 season.  With all this stacked against them, you just knew that this young team was going to play hard, with heart, and that overall they were ecstatic to be competing at the Major League level.

Along the way, these Marlins would set more records.  Not only were the Fish still in the wild-card chase at the Trade Deadline, but also went above .500 after 137 games (69-68).  Led by first year manager Joe Girardi, the Marlins would complete a stretch in which the team went 58-37, setting a major league record that no team had ever gone above the .500 mark after being 20 games below it during the same season.  In the home stretch, the Marlins struggled, and could not finish its business.  However, in 2006, Florida gained a great deal of experience, which only will benefit the team coming into the 2007 season.  No significant additions were added to the Florida roster, but the talent pool is still rich, and the Marlins will not surprise anyone this time around.  Overall, many could argue that the Fish belong higher on this list, but the shear fact that they did not make the playoffs, has set them back in my mind.  However, Florida’s season was still one of the more memorable in recent history.

 

6. 2006 Florida Gators Football & 2005-06 Florida Gators Basketball 

 

“Double Your Pleasure”

 

Sticking with the state of Florida, let’s travel up north of Miami to the city of Gainesville, which is the home of the Florida Gators.  It isn’t a surprise that either of these two teams was highly competitive, but more so that both squads took home the national title in the same year.  Before Florida’s accomplishment, this feat was unheard of in collegiate athletics.  And now, as of today, the Florida Gators are the defending champions in both college football and college basketball. 

 

No one gave Urban Meyer and the Gators football team a chance against Ohio State in the BCS National Championship Game.  Yet, with exception to the opening kickoff (in which Ohio State scored a touchdown), the Gators dominated the game on both sides of the ball.  The end result was a sound 41-14 victory over the Buckeyes.

 

In basketball, Florida Head Coach Billy Donovan and his Gators came into March Madness with a solid three seed in its regional.  However, there was a tough road ahead, and the Gators had showed lapses midway through the season, only to finish strongly with 11 consecutive victories.  When March Madness rolled around, no one knew which Florida team would show up.  The Gators clicked on all cylinders, and eventually won its way into the National title game, in which Florida would take home the title by defeating the UCLA Bruins 73-57 in dominating fashion.

 

Overall, it capped off a year in which the Gators can be stated as a team in history that has its hands on two of the biggest trophies in all of collegiate sports.

5. 2005-06 Edmonton Oilers

 

“Striking It Rich”

 

Last year’s Edmonton Oilers hockey team clinched the 8th and final playoff seed in the Western Conference, by posting a respectable 95 points as a team.  The previous season’s Edmonton team (The 2003-04 team - the ’04-’05 season was cancelled due to the strike) missed out on the playoffs.  Not only did this Oilers team clinch a playoff berth, but it also shocked the world by upsetting the best team in the NHL during the regular season, that being the Detroit Red Wings.  After defeating the #1 seed in the Western Conference, many eight-seeded teams would falter as the playoff season continued on, likely not being able to overcome the emotional high that resulted from the first series.  However, the Oilers continued its improbable run by going on to defeat San Jose in the next round (in six games), and Anaheim (in five games) in the Western Conference Finals.  The result was a berth in the Stanley Cup Finals, and a matchup with the Eastern Conference representative, the Carolina Hurricanes.  However, Edmonton’s sweet run would finally end in the Finals, but not before the Oilers took the series to the seventh and final game.  While Carolina would emerge as the champions in hockey, overall, the story of the Oilers would turn out to be one of the bigger surprises in sports for the year.

4. Rutgers Football (2006)

 

“Ready Rice”

 

Thanks to a surprising and refreshing performance by the Rutgers football team this past year, the city of Piscataway, New Jersey is officially once again on the football map.  The Scarlet Knights finished its 2006 college football season with a record of 11-2, including a 37-10 Texas Bowl victory over a solid Kansas State team.  

 

The birthplace of intercollegiate football, Rutgers had not been known for much else in the sport.  However, with fiery coach Greg Schiano at the helm, and players such as running back Ray Rice, Rutgers should now compete with the best in college football for the next couple of years, and possibly more.

 

The biggest bright spots (and likely reason for the team’s success) were Schiano and running back Ray Rice.  Coach Schiano came onto the scene back in 2001, and sold his players on the team’s plan, preaching patience and hard work.  Schiano’s overall aggressive defensive playcalling confused a number of offenses, and kept his team in many games, sometimes taking over games.  On the other side of the ball was the steady Ray Rice, who with his aggressive and powerful running style was able to help the Scarlet Knights control the clock, and run away to victories.  Rice finished the season with 1,794 yards rushing, with a 5.4 yard average per carry, and 20 touchdowns.  The return of Rice and Schiano next season, among others, should mean another solid performance from a revived football program that has not had success in many years. 

 

Let’s put this achievement into perspective for a minute here.  While Rutgers posted 11 wins in 2006, the team as a whole only tallied 16 total victories between 1999 and 2004.  When Schiano took over in 2001, Rutgers went 2-9 for the season.  Following that season, Rutgers went 1-11.  Then the team’s success would start to build, as the Scarlet Knights went 5-7 in 2003 and 4-7 in 2004.  In 2005, Rutgers broke through with a 7-5 record, and a berth in the Insight Bowl.  After going 11-2 in 2006, Rutgers could easily have been the number one team on this list.  However, there were so many other good stories in sports over the past year that I feel this team fits much better in the number four slot.

3. 2006 New Orleans Saints

 

“America’s New Team”

 

Because of the unfortunate disaster of Hurricane Katrina, the New Orleans Saints were left without a home for an extended period of time.  As the 2006 NFL season began, the New Orleans Superdome had been reconstructed, and the Saints were ready to return.  But after a dismal 3-13 season in 2005, no one expected an immediate revival of the program, as new head coach Sean Payton was just getting his feet wet, and a number of youngsters would be starting for the Saints.

 

In its first game back in the Superdome, the Saints would officially be tabbed as “America’s Team” for the year, after soundly defeating the Atlanta Falcons.  As the season continued on, this victory would prove to be less and less of a fluke.  The Saints were in the middle of the NFC playoff race… and in it for good. 

Along with first year Head Coach Sean Payton, New Orleans brought in talented quarterback Drew Brees, who was coming off a horrible injury.  Brees would prove to be healthy, and anchor the offense along with promising rookies Reggie Bush and Marques Colston.  The result was the Saints posting an 11-5 record and clinching a first round bye in the NFC playoffs.  Eventually, New Orleans would move on to the NFC Championship game, where they would fall to the Chicago Bears.  All in all, this was a season to remember, not just for the way the Saints performed as a young team, but also for the way they made its fan base have a reason to cheer, and provide a necessary distraction for those that were still suffering from the effects of Hurricane Katrina. 

2. 2006 Detroit Tigers

 

“The Youth Movement"

 

What made the Tigers move past the Saints and Scarlet Knights is simple: the business of baseball.  In today’s game of baseball, the overall payrolls are significantly different among teams, due to the absence of a salary cap.  The difference in team salaries also often comes with a difference in talent levels, and the need for some teams (like the Tigers) to have to rely on younger talent within its farm system.  Don’t get me wrong, Detroit does have a higher payroll compared to many teams in baseball, but it doesn’t come close to comparing to other powerhouses such as the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees.

 

New York, Boston, and Toronto all were providing stiff competition in the AL East, while teams like Anaheim and Oakland were supposed to be strong in the west.  In its own division, the Tigers had to deal with the Minnesota Twins, Cleveland Indians, and returning champion Chicago White Sox, who were all slated to finish ahead of the Tigers.  Critics stated that there was no shot for this team at the beginning of the year, even with Jim Leyland taking over as the team manager.  Then the season started, and Detroit’s young starting pitchers flourished, while the steady and powerful bullpen held onto countless victories.  The offense was consistent, and featured solid power throughout the entire lineup.  Veterans like Kenny Rogers, Pudge Rodriguez, and Magglio Ordonez kept the team intact.  Detroit finally faltered near the end of the season, and eventually gave away the AL Central (to Minnesota) on the final day of the regular season.  Even so, Detroit earned the wild-card spot, and surprised the Yankees in the playoffs.  Immediately following, the Tigers handled the A’s, and advanced to the World Series, where Detroit would finally have its season come to an end, at the hands of the now World Champion St. Louis Cardinals.  Either way, the Tigers have a lot to be proud of, and a lot to look forward to in the year 2007. 

1. George Mason Patriots Basketball (2005-06)

 

“It Isn’t Past Midnight Just Yet…"

 

Every year, people fill out their March Madness brackets, and every year, a few teams step up and shock the world.  Each tournament, often a number 11 or 12 seed will upset a higher seeded team in the first round.  Often, these teams will run out of gas after such an emotional win, or at times, these Cinderella teams will face each other, in which one will advance to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA tournament.  However, what the George Mason basketball program completed just under a year ago was unlike anything I have seen in recent memory.  Not only did the Patriots advance to the Final Four (and become the first mid-major to make it there since 1979), but also George Mason did it in a scenario that almost no one could have predicted.  George Mason defeated four higher seeds, three of which are among the elite programs in the history of college basketball.  George Mason advanced past the first round with a 75-65 upset win over the Michigan St. Spartans.  Next in line was the #3 seed North Carolina Tar Heels, who fell 65-60 at the hands of the Patriots.  After that, another win, this time a 63-55 triumph over another Cinderella team, the Wichita State Shockers.  Finally, the feat was completed after a thrilling 86-84 victory over the top seed in the region, the Connecticut Huskies.  While the magic ended in the Final Four (in a loss to Florida), George Mason had still completed one of the most exciting Cinderella stories in the history of sports.  What was more exciting about this unbelievable and exciting run during the March Madness tournament was that the Patriots never won an NCAA tournament game in its history prior to 2006.  For these reasons above, the George Mason Patriots are not only my number one pick for the past year, but could very well be for the past decade in sports. 

Notable Omissions

 

There were a few other teams that came close to making this list, but instead barely missed the cut.  Among those teams include:

 

2005-06 Los Angeles Clippers

Normally the butt of jokes from many comedians, the Los Angeles Clippers surprised many critics by being the best NBA team in Los Angeles.  Overall, the Clippers posted a 47-35 record last year, in which not only did they make the playoffs, but also defeated the Denver Nuggets in the first round (before losing to Phoenix in seven games during the Conference Semifinals).

 

2006 New York Jets

The Jets missed this list because they have been fairly respectable in recent years.  However, what some people do not realize is that New York had lost its best defensive lineman in John Abraham, their starting running back in Curtis Martin, and quarterback Chad Pennington was a big question mark after returning from a major injury.  Combine that with a first year Head Coach in Eric Mangini, and there were next to no expectations for this team.  The result instead was a surprising 10-6 record and a playoff berth in the AFC Playoffs, in which they fell to New England on Wild Card Weekend.

 

Boise State Football (2006)

One of the wildest games of the year featured the Broncos of Boise State, in a game which it defeated the Oklahoma Sooners in the Fiesta Bowl.  While Boise State did surprise many with their upset BCS bowl game victory, this was a team that was expected to be solid throughout the year.  I realize that no one thought they would outlast Oklahoma, but it was one game in which they got it done, and I just see them barely on the outside looking in when it comes to the Top 7 in this category.

 

Inside the Crystal Ball

 

In the upcoming year, there likely will be a new set of teams that will surprise us in various ways.  Specifically, there are a few teams already off to good starts, including the Toronto Raptors, who finished 27-55 last season in the NBA.  This year, Toronto has already eclipsed their win total from last season, and currently lead the Eastern Conference Atlantic division.  Also, the Utah Jazz (who finished 41-41 last year) have posted a 35-17 record so far this season, and could be another surprise team in the upcoming year, if Utah is able to keep at its current pace.

 

In Conclusion

 

Who will be a surprise in the upcoming year?  Performances by the Toronto Raptors and Utah Jazz are examples of teams that could continue to surprise with their performances.  Also, we must not forget that March Madness is almost upon us, and there likely will be a Cinderella team or two that shocks the world with its overall performance.

 

Regarding my list, I imagine that some of you will agree with many of the teams I chose, while others will feel that different teams belong, or perhaps that some mentioned should be ranked differently.  I would be very curious to hear your feedback.  Re-rank them, trash them, praise them, or come up with picks of your own.  Everyone has an opinion, and I want to hear where you stand.

 

Overall, from my standpoint, there were a lot of great stories in the world of sports over the past year.  From baseball to basketball, college to the pros, a number of teams had a positive influence on us as fans.  In my eyes, the best story in the past year was the George Mason Patriots.  The gutsy performance of the 2006 George Mason team has me even more excited coming into this year’s March Madness tournament… which is only weeks away.  I’m already counting the days until the first tipoff…