The Biggest Sports Stories of 2009

2009 is nearly another footnote in sports history while 2010 is firmly kicking on our door, begging to come in and shine for it's obligatory 365 days.

But, before we bid adieu to this mad capped year of scandal and heartbreak, I thought it fitting to remember the stories and the faces that made this 09' sports year what it was.

The slides are in no particular order and I will no doubt miss a few but I expect my scope to be bolstered by the presence of you, the reader. I welcome your additions in the comment section and appreciate your time in reading.

Enjoy and Happy New Year to you all!

1) Tiger Woods Shows Us His Dark Side

I remember sitting down on the sofa and flipping on the television. My mom was hoping that I might turn to something other than football and me being the gracious host, obliged her by turning to ESPN News.

It was at that moment that she and I found ourselves captivated by the story that Tiger Woods had been in a "serious" accident and was rushed to the hospital mere hours before—long after the Thanksgiving turkey should have been put away.

Who could have ever guessed that the golf club heard round the world would not be in Tiger's hands but in that of his wife, Elin?

The repercussions of what happened that night started with us finding out about the Escalade pictured above and will likely end long after 2009 is in the books.

2) Marquis Cooper and Two Friends Lose Their Lives

It was supposed to be a harmless fishing trip shared amongst three friends. Instead, it turned out to be the last outing these young men would ever have together.

NFL linebacker, Marquise Cooper along with friends Corey Smith, Will Bleakley, and Nick Shuyler set out in March of 2009 for a fishing trip. When the men did not return at the expected time, they were reported missing (sometime after midnight).

Some 13 hours later, Nick Shuyler was spotted clinging to what was left of the capsized vessel (pictured). The other men were never found and are all presumed dead.

It was later found that the reason for the accident was a careless anchoring job coupled with too much throttle by the driver.

The U.S. Coast Guard set out to find the men but were unsuccessful in locating them or their boat until

3) Rick Pitino's Sex Scandal

In August of 2009, legendary coach, Rick Pitino found himself in a bit of a pickle. A woman, Karen Cunagin Sypher, decided she wanted more out of life and Rick was just the man to give it to her (no pun intended).

She was charged with extortion and the matter was later handled in court while Pitino was left to deal with the embarrassment of being caught with his pants down (again, no pun intended).

The scandal doesn't appear to have affected the Louisville basketball team thus far as they are currently 9-3 in the ultra-competitive Big East. However, the fact that the team is outside of the Top 25 is a bit telling.

4) No More Fairytales: Steroids Tarnish MLB Legends

The idea that A-Rod, Manny, or Big Papi could ever be attached to performance enhancing drugs (PED's) seemed foreign to many last year but this year proved that even the baseball gods have flaws.
Manny (May 09'), A-Rod (February 09'), and Ortiz (July 09') all did the baseball walk of shame this season, putting an even deeper tarnish on the game.

5) Michael Vick Returns to Football—Atlanta

Vick was given a shot at redeeming himself and his broken image by wearing his signature No. 7 jersey again; this time for a different NFC foe.

He was rendered largely ineffective as the Eagles plugged him in sparingly for the better part of the season. However, his return to the city he left in flames proved to be his coup de grace as he punished and pummeled the Ryan and Turner-less Falcons.

Vick was recently nominated for the Ed Block Courage Award. An award given to an NFL player for being an inspiration to his team. Teammates are responsible for the nomination of any player.

6) Roger Federer Makes History—Wins 15th Grand Slam

It seems like only a moment ago that Roger Federer burst onto the tennis scene and started making mince meat of every opponent he faced.

He made it look so easy that many mistook his dominance for a weak field and lack of overall talent in the tennis game at the time.

Well, no matter what camp you sit in, be it as a fan or a hater, Federer made the most important statement of his major career when he took to Centre Court and captured a record 15th Grand Slam.

Federer, like it or not, was the new King of Tennis.

7) Usain Bolt Runs Into History

Usain Bolt became a household name after the 2008 Olympics. His dominance over the field didn't seem right. Truthfully, you either loved his swagger or thought him an annoying showboat. No matter what your stance, however, there was no doubt he was F-A-S-T.

In 2009, he continued his torrid pace, setting a new world record in the 100 meters at 9.58 and bringing many to ask this question: will anyone ever be able to beat him?

8) Caster Semanya is a?....

On the face of it, the story seems a bit ridiculous, no? However, for what was the first time in history, someone was questioning the gender of an entrant at a track meet.

Caster Semanya was blowing the field away in 800 meter competitions; winning by long shots over the opposition. Her dominance led some to question if she was actually a female at all.

Semanya was later proven to be a hermaphrodite. A fact that she, herself, says she was never made aware of prior to that point.

9) John Madden Bids The NFL Adieu

After more than 30-years of being the face of broadcasting. After countless years of bringing himself, a turkey, and the Detroit Lions to our televisions on Thanksgiving Day. And, alas, after so many years of his appearance marking the release of yet another Madden video game, John Madden said goodbye to us all.

10) Michael Jordan Gets The Last Laugh

Call it bitter. Call it bittersweet. Jordan made his last second in the NBA spotlight a lasting one.

One of basketball's true legends used his Hall of Fame speech as a platform to finally say what we all were thinking: "It's about me. It was always about me, and, don't you forget it".

The speech itself sent shockwaves as many saw it as an unnecessary means to a long since gone end.

However, it was Jordan's time to cleanse his soul and release himself from the demons within him and he did so in only the way he could.

11) Brett Favre Takes Center Stage—Again

It doesn't seem that the year is ever complete without a little: "Will he, won't he" from Brett Favre.

The NFL faithful again found themselves trapped and captive to the decision of one Brett Favre. He who had retired for yet a second time after a disappointing season with the Jets was now contemplating another return.

When it was all said and done, the No. 4 jersey landed with his original teams biggest rival, the Minnesota Vikings.

12) Michael Phelps Goes From Smokin' to Smoking

It was the snapshot seen round the world. Olympic Gold Medal winner, Michael Phelps, was caught smoking marijuana at what he thought was a private house party.

Michael learned the hard way that when you are one of the nations top athletes, fresh off a record-setting performance in the Olympics, there is no such thing as private.

His swimming license was suspended and his golden boy image took a tremendous publicity hit.

13) Jay Cutler and Josh McDaniels Get Nasty

Jay Cutler and Josh McDaniels took to arguing like a couple of drunken bar patrons prior to the start of the 2009 NFL season and the saga played out like an episode of As The World Turns. Below is how I like to think the conversation played out:

Jay: I'm the man, bow down to me.

Josh: I'm the man, get that helmet from over your eyes and you'll see that more clearly.

Jay: Trade me.

Josh: No.

Jay: I'm not gonna play if I stay.

Josh: I don't need this *bleep*, get this guy out of here.

Well, maybe it didn't go exactly like that, but their drama certainly made for an interesting off-season.

14) Adam James Gets Mike Leach Fired

After this scandal, you have to wonder if cell phones will be outlawed on the practice field.

The image that immediately comes to mind is the one of Adam James standing in an electrical closet, seemingly, dazed and confused by the idiocy of the situation.

Next thing we know, Craig James, Adam's father, and an ESPN personality, is taking to the airwaves on behalf of his son to say "we didn't want this".

The end game is Mike Leach gets fired for breaking the cardinal rule: You just don't mess with Texas.

15) Urban Meyer Resigns—Renegs

For about 18 hours, the SEC was dancing the tango upon hearing that Urban Meyer was going to step down from his coaching throne at Florida.

Well, the tango was short-lived as the resignation became a leave of absence instead.

There is still a lot to be answered as to why he ever made the decision to go public with his initial statement in the first place but, as of now, the Gator nation has let out a collective sigh of relief because the mighty one is still in charge.

The rest of the SEC East, however, has gone back to breathing into a paper bag.

16) Andre Aggasi Spills His Guts

Agassi decided that it was time to set the record straight about a few things and, in doing so, he found himself at the top of the tennis headlines yet again.

His admission to having used crystal meth while on tour in 1997 was most certainly a shock to not only Agassi fans, but to fans of the sport in general.

I was less disturbed by the fact that he used meth, after all he was a bit of a hard partier, than I was by the fact that the long mullet he became known for in the early 90's was nothing more than a wig.

Say it ain't so, Andre. Say it ain't so.

17) Plaxico Burress Goes to Jail

The talented but troubled wide receiver saw his good luck and good fortune end when he was finally sentenced for the weapons charges he received in 2008.

He will serve two years for carrying an unlicensed weapon and one can only hope that this isn't the last image we will have of him.

18) Arturo Gatti's Death

Arturo Gatti, considered a boxing legend by many thanks in large part to his trilogy of fights against Micky Ward, was found dead in a Brazil hotel room in July.

Initial reports stated that his death was a homicide. His wife was charged with first-degree murder upon finding blood stains on her purse strap. She was later cleared of all charges and the death was ruled a suicide.

Gatti's family is still not satisfied that this is the case and the conversation as to what exactly happened in that room is still up for the debate in the court of public opinion.

19) Jimmie Johnson Makes NASCAR History

For those of us who don't watch or are not familiar with NASCAR, this story hardly seems relevant in the sports world.

However, what Jimmie Johnson has accomplished by winning his fourth straight NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship is no less impressive than a golfer sweeping all four majors in one season, a tennis player winning all four slams, or a college football player actually winning the Heisman twice in a row.

So, no matter what you think of NASCAR, what Jimmie did is pretty dang impressive.

20) Nick Adenhart Loses His Life

Just hours after making his start for the LA Angels, Nick Adenhart was involved in a two-car accident that would take his young life.

The police report stated that a red Toyota Sienna ran a red light, striking the car that Adenhart was a passenger in, and sending it careening into a telephone pole.

There were five people in the car altogether, four would eventually die, including Adenhart.

In the wake of the tragedy, the Angels postponed that days game and set up a shrine to Adenhart in both the locker room and the dugout at Angels stadium. They also wore a black No. 34, Nicks number, for the remainder of the season.

21) Pittsburgh Penguins Win The Stanley Cup

The Penguins made history in so many ways, from their daring comeback after being down 3-2 to their game 7 win on the road to win their first Stanley Cup in 25 years.

They were nothing short of a wonder and with so much youth on the ice and a talented phenom in Sidney Crosby to wear the 'C' on his jersey, you have to wonder how many more Cups are in their future.

22) Santonio Holmes Tight Ropes The Steelers to SB Victory

It was the catch that sealed the victory and ended the Cinderella season for the Arizona Cardinals.

The game itself wasn't thought to be one that would incite any excitement into the NFL loving crowd. Many were hoping to see the Eagles face their in-state rivals for a shot at the crown—Arizona had other ideas.

However, to the surprise of many, this game became one of the best ever as the last two minutes saw some of the most exciting plays in Super Bowl history. None more riveting or more quintessential than that of Santonio Holmes toe-saving, championship winning grab.

23) Bengals WR Chris Henry Dies

The ending seemed too tragic to bear for this young man who seemed to finally be getting his life back on track.

Henry, the troubled, yet, talented wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals lost his life during a domestic dispute with his fiance.

24) What Was Old is Made New Again

Tom Watson, the 59-year old elder statesman of the PGA had mounted a serious challenge for the British Open Championship.


He was one putt away from being the oldest player to ever win the British Open; he missed.
The miss led to a four-hole playoff with eventual champ, Stewart Cink, but Watson sure gave everyone a run for their money.

25) Death of a Legend—Steve McNair is Murdered

I can still remember the moment so vividly. It was Independence Day and I was on my way to a cookout when the Twitter feed let loose with a curious headline stating that Steve McNair was dead.

It was curious because there were no other major news sources reporting the story.

Several hours later, this little blip on my Twitter feed became a full-blown firestorm as every major news outlet began trickling details of McNair's passing.

The sordid details that followed in the days and weeks ahead did nothing to tarnish the legacy that was Steve McNair but the infidelity added a negative footnote to a man who was seen by many as just a genuine guy.

Other Noteworthy Stories of 2009

26. UConn football player, Jasper Howard is stabbed and killed.

27. Oklahoma Sooners lose opening game and Sam Bradford.

28. Lance Armstrong mounts Tour De France comeback—finishes third.

29. Joe Torre pen's book about Yankees tenure—Yanks win 27th World Title.

30. Thierry Henry's hand-ball.

31. Rachel Alexandra becomes first filly to win Preakness in 85-years.

Breaking sports news video. MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL highlights and more.

»»  read more

Georgia Looking at LSU Assistant, John Chavis, for Defensive Coordinator

ESPN's Chris Low is reporting that LSU defensive coordinator, John Chavis, is on Mark Richt's "radar" for the still vacant Georgia job of the same name.

If that is the case, Chavis will be the fourth such candidate within the SEC that coach Richt's search has been linked to so far—Ellis Johnson (SC), Tyrone Nix (Ole Miss), and Kirby Smart (Bama) are others.

So far, there is little in the way of proof to say that Chavis would be willing to move away from Baton Rouge after just one season with the Tigers but, given his ties to both Athens and Knoxville, it wouldn't be that far-fetched to find that Chavis has accepted the job and is on his way following LSU's bowl game against Penn State.

Even still, as recently as yesterday, LSU linebacker, Kelvin Sheppard was laying the Chavis to Georgia rumor to rest; telling the press that Chavis said "I'm here with you all, I love it here, I'm not going anywhere".

That said, coaches have been known to tell a little fib every now and then to maintain focus amongst their players. Just ask Cincinnati wide receiver, Mardy Gilyard, what former coach Brian Kelly told him just days before bolting to Notre Dame.

I would venture a guess that John Chavis is a bit more honest in his dealings with players than Kelly was in that instance but where money, family, and overall convenience is concerned, loyalty to the program has been known to take a backseat to loyalty to ones family—just putting that out there.

If Chavis is willing to bolt, the Dawgs are definitely willing to pay the price for his allegiances. According to at least one report, Georgia would offer Chavis $600,000 per year for 3-years—that would trump his current haul of $450,000 per with the Tigers even with the additional $115,000 offered in bonus pay.

However, who's to say that LSU wouldn't sweeten his deal too? If nothing else, the current hub-bub around his possible departure could net him a raise, a la Bud Foster of Virginia Tech and Tyrone Nix of Ole Miss.

Either way, Georgia is continuing to tap into the best that Division I has to offer in terms of defensive coaching talent and they aren't shying away from the NFL level either. ESPN's Mark Schlabach's dropped this little nugget during a segment on ESPN Radio:

 "I think Richt makes one more run at Kirby Smart. If Smart doesn't take it, I think Dallas Cowboys DL coach Todd Grantham might be the front runner."
 

Grantham was a defensive line coach at Virginia Tech from 1990-1995.


Georgia is looking for the best man for the job and they will continue to aggressively lock in on that talent no matter what and that should speak volumes about Mark Richt's "nice guy" approach to running the Georgia football program. 

The Dawgs are serious about getting their guy, whoever that may be, and whether he is tethered to another program or not, the package that is being offered is still lucrative enough to sway even the most dedicated of men. Bud Foster was a near "get" before Tech countered with something much more substantial.  

Kirby Smart is also still within reach despite what you may have heard or read elsewhere. Until he outright says "I'm not going to Georgia", he's a candidate that fans are going to see as still open to discussion. 


Bob Sanders, defensive line coach of the Buffalo Bills, is yet another name that has been kicked around the room a few times.  He knows his way around the SEC having coached at Florida during the 90's. He was their assistant defensive coordinator from 1991-1998.


As usual, all of this is unsubstantiated speculation as neither coach Richt nor anyone else associated with the University of Georgia is willing to confirm conversations with potential candidates.  But with the end of bowl season nearing, and National Signing Day right around the corner, it is to be expected that an announcement of our new coordinator has to be coming soon.

»»  read more

Georgia Recruiting Report: Dawgs Looking to Add More Weapons at WR

At the beginning of the 2009 season, Georgia Bulldog fans heard tell of the great, young wide receivers on roster. The guys who would make reliable targets for senior quarterback, Joe Cox.

However, as the season progressed, fans only saw one stand out, freshman Orson Charles, and one beast of a player in an even more matured A.J. Green. The other big 2009 potentials went largely absent and hardly played a role all season.

So, naturally, the question was: "Where art thou, Israel, Marlon, and Rantavious"? After all, A.J. was supposed to have more help, not less, right?

Well, the answer was less about their inability to make good on their potential than it was about Joe Cox's decision to focus his efforts more on A.J. than anyone else on the field.

Next season won't change A.J.'s status as the No. 1 guy but the rise of Rantavious Wooten to go along with the steady maturation of Orson Charles will certainly make that Georgia air attack more interesting.

That said, having even more talented hands on deck wouldn't be a bad idea as we lose another senior leader in Mike Moore and will be looking for a few good men to spell r-e-l-i-e-f for Mr. Green.

Georgia is looking at quite a few guys right now but here are the ones with offers on the table:


Da'Rick Rogers (pictured*), Calhoun High School, Calhoun, GA (verbal)

6'3", 205 lbs, and affectionately nicknamed Da' Freak, Rogers is an all-world kind of talent. He's built like a defensive back but plays wide receiver with as much proficiency as you'd expect from the best of the best.

He gets good separation on post patterns and is a legitimate threat to score anytime his team is in the redzone. Playing in Calhoun's spread offense, Rogers racked up more than 1,600 yards this season and played a primary role in his teams offense.

His total dominance over the opposition won him the Georgia Player of the Year Award and started a  water-cooler debate regarding who the best player in the state may truly be—Alec Ogletree is the other candidate for said moniker (he's also a Georgia commit).

Rogers is said to be the real deal, drawing comparison's to not only Calvin Johnson, of Georgia Tech fame, but of current Georgia player, A.J. Green.

I'd say that's pretty good company.


Michael Bennett, Alpharetta High School, Alpharetta, GA (verbal)


Bennett is tall and lanky. He's built in that Kris Durham sort of mold where he's got great hands but not necessarily great speed.

However, don't let his 6'3", 187 lb, frame fool you into believing he's neither elusive nor fast because he is capable of being both at the same time.

He's smart and does everything with great precision and concentration. He's the guy you are looking for when you need those key third down yards.

His greatest strength is his route-running and his ability to make the tough plays look routine. His body control and awareness of where he is on the field is exceptional and he will definitely surprise any one who chooses to overlook his talents at the next level.


Christian Green, Tampa Catholic High School, Tampa, FL (prospect)

At present, it's anyone's guess as to who will land this talented playmaker out of Tampa. Georgia is in the running along with both Florida and Florida State for his services in 2010 and he won't say if he has a favorite. 

Green played quarterback in high school and did a fine job acting in that role as a dual-threat. That said, he should have no trouble making the transition to wide receiver.

He has tremendous body control and his foot speed is better than average. He's also got a good grasp on how to read coverages and make smart decisions with the ball in his hands thanks to his experience playing quarterback.

Many feel that Green will end up at FSU due to his family connections but the fact that Georgia is in his final three is a good sign.


Adrian Coxson, Baltimore City College, Baltimore, MD (prospect)

Coxson is currently committed to Penn State but still visited Georgia recently and has stated that on signing day, the Dawgs will factor into his decision—he will choose only one hat and the 'G' will be amongst those three.

Coxson has good size, standing at 6'2", and decent speed.  He shines the brightest when locked up against opposing corners, he's a hard guy to cover because he's so smart with his feet and always seems to get the best position on the opposition.

He's a strong player with strong hands and excellent body control. He's not shy about contact and he uses his body to his advantage on every play. A definite weapon on the field who's got the goods to back it up.


Ivan McCartney, Miramar High School, Miramar, FL

McCartney is often likened to NFL Pro Bowler, Chad OchoCinco in both his approach and his overall game. He's not devastatingly fast but he uses his body well and knows how to get open to make the big play.

At 6'2", he's got good height and his physical approach at the line makes him tough to jam. He's explosive with the ball in his hands and once he gets a whiff of daylight, he's a hard guy to catch from behind.

He's smart and plays as such by not allowing himself to be caught running imprecise routes and his footwork off the snap is above average.

He's a bit smallish at 6'2", weighing in somewhere around 180, so he will need to hit the weights hard wherever he lands so as to be prepared for the physicality of the college game but, overall, McCartney is a solid option as a slot receiver.

It's not certain where he will take his final two visits but Georgia is among the schools he is listing as a possibility.

The Dawgs are looking to continue their trend of getting big and physical at wide receiver. The SEC is a tough place to play and with the wealth of talent offered at the defensive back position, it's important to bring in guys who are able to match up with their counterparts and make the air attack more viable.

*Photo courtesy of scout.com

»»  read more