Benny’s Sports My Way: 2009-What A Year In Sports!!
Happy holidays everyone! Here is my last column for 2009. I have decided that it will be more like a combination of my opinion and some sports highlights. After all, I’m Benny, and this is Sports My Way! So here we go: 2009 was and is a year of rants and revelations: From Andre Agassi’s drug use and lying while on the ATP tour published in his autobiography (can we all say book sales), ex-Kansas City Chiefs and current Cincinnati Bengals running back Larry Johnson ‘s rants (now you know why he lives in Ohio instead of Kansas City), tennis great Serena Williams threatening rants at a line judge at the 2009 U.S. Open, to Tennessee Titans owner Bud Adams flipping the middle finger towards the Buffalo Bills with NFL Commissioner Rodger Goodall sitting next to him. Did you forget multi-gold Olympic Swimmer Michael Phelps photographed smoking marijuana, and President Obama and media mogul Oprah Winfrey tried their best to get the IOC to pick Chicago for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games but they selected Brazil. Los Angeles Dodger’s Manny Ramirez was suspended for 50 games during the 2009 season for violating a league drug policy, and the New York Giants released wide receiver Plaxico Burress for carrying a gun in a club-Buress is currently serving a two year prison sentence. Ron Artest of the NBA Los Angeles Lakers admits to drinking liquor during halftime. And the first athlete to earn a billion dollars in career earnings, Tiger Woods, did not play in the final golf tournament of the year, the Chevron World Challenge, his own named charity tournament due to injuries sustained in a post Thanksgiving night car accident. From being caught farting on television to other alleged escapades-Tiger, what were you thinking buddy? Good idea, take a year off and regroup! In another part of Orlando, the University of Central Florida lost a $3 million dollar sponsorship from sports company Adidas when basketball team Marcus Jordan, son of basketball legend Michael Jordan, refused to wear his teams Adidas sneakers opting to wear a pair of his father’s brand-Nike Air Jordans. Remember Spock’s dying words to Admiral James T. Kirk when he was blasted by radiation in the Star Trek movie, The Wrath of Kahn, Spock: “The needs of the many outweigh,” Kirk: “The needs of the few” Spock: “Or the one.” Who needs three million dollars anyway? Obviously Marcus is not a Trekkie. This year has had its ups and downs. Okay, some of the major highlights include the New York Yankees rebounding from last year’s poor performance to win the 2009 World Series over last year’s champ Philadelphia Phillies. Roger Federer broke Pete Sampras’ 14 Grand Slams, reaching an amazing 15 by winning the 2009 Wimbledon title over Andy Roddick, despite losing to Del Portro in the finals of the 2009 U.S. Open. And new mother Kim Clijsters makes a return to professional tennis and wins the 2009 U.S. Open Woman’s title after a lengthy absence. Remember Usain Bolt’s Olympic blazing wins in the 100 and 200 meter races? The Steelers winning the 2009 Superbowl over the Cardinals? How about Alberto Contador winning the 2009 Tour De France with a talented field that included multi tour winner Lance Armstrong who was making a comeback after being off the tour for several years and getting over prostate cancer. In hockey the Detroit Red Wings beat the Penguins to win the 2009 Stanley Cup. Shaquille leaves Phoenix and is playing with Lebron in Cleveland and Allen Iverson is, well, a Philadelphia Sixer once again. Will Lebron and Dwayne Wade hook up in New York next year-anyone’s guess? The Colts and Saints at 13 and 0- a perfect season so far! Any threat to the Dolphins? Brett Farve playing for the Vikings and loving it! All pro wide receiver Terrell Owens (T.O.) released from the Cowboys and playing for the Bills-what? The Blind Side making waves at the box office about the true story of a homeless Michael Oher, befriended by a family, he becomes an All-American College football star and professional player with the Baltimore Ravens. Rehabilitated Michael Vick, released from prison (where he was incarcerated for animal abuse) is signed by the Philadelphia Eagles to be the back up to Donavan McNab. Bobby Bowden, spending 34 seasons with the Florida State Seminoles (FSU), retires from College Football, as the second most winning coach (under Penn State’s Joe Paterno) as FSU has a poor 2009 season. Uber college quarterback and University of Florida student Tim Tebow won the 2008 Heisman Trophy and the 2009 trophy went to Alabama running back Mark Ingram. This was the first Alabama player to ever win the prestigious trophy. We have the Superbowl, Pro Bowl and lots of other incredible sports stories to catch up on. Until then, this is your old pal, Benny Nerdelman, saying see ya next year!!
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