Year in Review: 2010
Champions of 2010:
College Football: Alabama Crimson Tide
The SEC won its fourth consecutive national title, as the Crimson Tide rolled Texas, 37-21, in a disappointing game. On the Longhorns’ fifth play from scrimmage, quarterback Colt McCoy was injured, putting them in a huge hole. He wouldn’t return as Alabama scored 24 second quarter points en route to Nick Saban’s second title.
During the summer, the story was conference realignment. At the end of all the rumors, Nebraska will head to the Big Ten; Colorado and Utah to the new Pac-12; TCU to the Big East; Boise State, Nevada, Fresno State and Hawaii to the Mountain West and BYU will be an independent starting in 2011.
During the 2010 season, Auburn and Oregon proved to be better than the rest. Auburn’s quarterback, Cam Newton, ran away with the Heisman despite rumors of his father paying universities. Less than stellar seasons from Texas (5-7), Florida (7-5) and USC (7-5) led to a new look for college football. Urban Meyer stepped down from Florida and Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp took over.
NFL: New Orleans Saints
The Saints marched to a 31-17 win in Super Bowl XLIV over the Indianapolis Colts thanks to a 32-of-39 passing performance from Super Bowl MVP Drew Brees, who threw for 288 yards. The most indelible moment was a surprise onside kick by New Orleans to start the second half, which the Saints recovered and led to a touchdown. With less than four minutes to go, the Colts were trailing, 24-17, as Peyton Manning led his team to the Saints’ 26. But Tracy Porter intercepted a Manning pass and took it to the endzone, giving New Orleans their first Super Bowl title.
The 2010 season was headlined by the NFL’s rules about head-to-head collisions, Brett Favre’s streak of starting 297 consecutive games ending and Michael Vick’s extraordinary comeback to the NFL’s elite players.
College Basketball: Duke Blue Devils
Butler forward Gordon Hayward came within three inches of making the greatest shot in basketball history, when his buzzer-beating half-court heave at the end of the national championship banked off the front of the rim. Mike Krzyzewski and the Duke Blue Devils, however, benefited from the miss and won a thrilling game, 61-59 in front of a pro-Butler crowd in Indianapolis.
Other big stories included the NCAA Tournament being expanded to 68 teams, the death of legendary coach John Wooden and the Connecticut women’s team breaking UCLA’s streak of 88 consecutive wins.
NBA: Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers defeated the Celtics in seven games in the NBA Finals, giving Phil Jackson his 11th title. But during the summer, the free agent frenzy was the big story. In the end, the Miami Heat got LeBron James and Chris Bosh, adding to the talent they had in Dwyane Wade. As the 2010-11 regular season began, the Heat struggled and the Spurs got off to the best start, going 25-3 as of Dec. 23.
Golf:
- Masters: Phil Mickelson
- U.S. Open: Graeme McDowell
- British Open: Louis Oosthuizen
- PGA Championship: Martin Kaymer
Tiger Woods made his return to golf at the Masters, causing a media frenzy at golf’s first major. He went on to tie for fourth but Phil Mickelson claimed the green jacket in the end, thanks to his eagle-eagle-birdie stretch on Saturday and his miraculous 6-iron from the pine needles on No. 13 on Sunday. It was a feel-good story for everyone who watched Phil embrace his wife, Amy, after the round.
The U.S. Open returned to Pebble Beach and for moments in the third round, Tiger looked like his old self again. But he, Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and Ernie Els fell apart on Sunday, giving way for steady Graeme McDowell’s first major championship.
At the British Open, relatively unknown Louis Oosthuizen blazed the field, winning by seven shots. St. Andrews hosted the tournament as the South African proved his talent.
Unfortunately, the final major of the year provided a heartbreak for one of its contenders on the 18th hole. Dustin Johnson, who had experienced troubles at Pebble Beach two months prior, grounded his club in an apparent bunker on the final hole, causing a two-stroke penalty and removing him from a playoff. The playoff was contested between German Martin Kaymer and American Bubba Watson at Whistling Straits. In the end, Kaymer came out on top, claiming his first major.
2010 also gave us a classic Ryder Cup, contested at Celtic Manor Resort in Wales. Despite several downpours that led to a Monday finish, the Europeans and Americans traded shots down to the final day. Graeme McDowell saved the day for the Euros, defeating Hunter Mahan in the last singles match. Europe took back the cup with its 14 1/2 to 13 1/2 victory.
Overall, golf in 2010 was headlined by Europe’s success on American soil in PGA Tour events and the emergence of young guns in today’s game. But Tiger Woods always provides a story, and 2010 gave us his toughest year as a professional. He recorded zero wins, two top-five finishes and lost his No. 1 ranking to Lee Westwood.
MLB: San Francisco Giants
It looked like a Yankees and Phillies rematch in the World Series when they were set to play the Giants and Rangers in the League Championship Series. But the underdogs came out on top, and the Giants won the Fall Classic, 4-1, their first championship since 1954.
The 2010 season proved to be the “Season of the Pitcher”, as Dallas Braden and Roy Halladay each threw perfect games, with Armando Galarraga controversially losing his on the 27th batter. Halladay would throw a no-hitter in his first postseason start as Ubaldo Jimenez, Edwin Jackson and Matt Garza each added one in the regular season.
