2008, What a Year!

2008 was a crazy year in the sports world! There were so many big stories and touching stories that it would be impossible to talk about all of them in one post. If I tried to do that, it would take me 3 hours and you would never be able to get to the bottom because it would just be too long!

I decided that hear on Jumping Offsides, I would do a countdown (I love countdowns) of the top 5 stories of the past year.

I am sure there will be some great stories left off and well, if you would like to tell me what I left off, feel free to leave a comment and I will tell you why it didn't make the countdown.

So, without further ado here is my list of the top 5 stories of 2008 starting with number 5.

5. Jimmie Johnson wins 3rd straight title

• Kyle Busch dominated the Nascar regular season this past year but when it was time to get serious, Jimmie, Chad Knaus and the rest of the 48 turned it on once again. If anyone else would've won the championship, I don't put this story anywhere near the top 5. The fact however is this: In any other sport, a team that won 3 championships in a row would be considered a dynasty. Many sports fans have been reluctant to do this for Johnson and his team but I am not. This team is a dynasty and should be considered one. To beat the best guys in the world 3 years in a row is a huge feat. Whether Nascar is a main stream sport yet or not, this story was big and winning 3 straight titles in anything is a huge huge deal.

4. The Phillies end the drought and win one for Philadelphia

• The World Series itself could be the headline here. The Phillies winning the series was a huge deal but the other half, the Rays could be just as big of a story. Winning the AL East over the Yankees and Red Sox was unbelievable. Then their run through to the World Series was just as amazing. But let's be honest, the Phillies were the much better team and the city of Philadelphia had not had a world champion since 1980. I think that fact alone really added to this story. Cole Hamels was amazing throughout the playoff run. Coming from behind and passing the Mets late in the season and then beating the Brewers, Dodgers and then the Rays and clinching the title at home was an awesome way to bring a title back to Philly.

3. Tiger Woods win the Open on One Leg

• Really? No one knew how bad the injury really was until after the tournament, but for that guy to play through that pain and force an 18 hole playoff and then win the playoff on the 19th was incredible. There really aren't words to describe how good that really was! Those are the best golfers in the world, trying to play their best golf and Tiger beat them with only one working knee. The game is hard enough with all working body parts. He is coming back better then ever in his eyes which is incredible. He could win a major this year by 20 shots but nothing will ever be better then him winning and dealing with all that pain.

2. The Giants beating the Undefeated Patriots in the Super Bowl

• The Patriots had beaten the Giants in week 17 and were heading into the playoffs undefeated. The Giants were a wildcard team and really no one thought they had a chance. Then these two teams won their conference and it was really hard for me to think this game was even going to be close. Oh it was and it may have featured the best fourth quarter in Super Bowl history. The play everyone will remember was the Eli avoiding the sack, scrambling out and completed the pass as David Tyree made an incredible catch with Rodney Harrison hanging all over him. Then the touchdown to Plax in the corner of the end zone that put the Giants up 17-14. What a game! What an upset!
  

1. Michael Phelps Wins 8 Golds and Sets a New Olympic Record

• I don't think there is any question here. The summer Olympics featured two amazing athletes. Usain Bolt and Michael Phelps. Usain Bolt proved he was and is easily the fastest man on foot on the planet but in my eyes there was no better story in the sports world this year then Michael Phelps winning all 8 gold medals, which set the Olympic Record and achieving a total of 15 career golds which is also a record. He dominated some of his races but the one I will always remember was the one where he won by about a centimeter and they showed it from underneath in the water. It was truly an amazing performance by Phelps. To be the dominate in some many different races in such a short amount of days. I don't ever expect we will see something like that again. There are no other words then Amazing!

2008 was an amazing year for sports and I am sad to see it go. 2009, I am sure will provide us with other great stories some that probably will compare to these five. There will surely be surprises, some good ones and some bad, but all in all, I expect it to be another great year and we can only hope that it is as good as 2008.

Happy New Year!