The RW Awards - 2010
Due to popular demand by athletes worldwide, this year I will be awarding the first annual RW Awards.
Game of the Year - Isner/Mahut Wimbledon 2010 (Isner wins 6-4, 3-6, 6-7(7-9), 7-6(7-3), 70-68)
I'm not even that big of a tennis fan but 70-68?! I remember Roddick/Federer going to thirty something games the year before in the fifth set. This went to 138 games! In one set! You hear of records that will never be broken, but I see Di Maggio's 56 going down before Isner/Mahut's 138. There were some great games in other sports. Two U.S. World Cup matches come to mind. But when a tennis match lasts for longer than I sleep, it's the RW Game of the Year.
P.S. Lakers/Celtics Game 7 was the anti-game of the year. That was the worst played important game I've ever seen.
Fight of the Year - Johnson/Finnegan (Johnson Round 1 TKO)
Sorry Manny Pacquiao. Sorry Sergio Martinez. You guys were impressive, but there was an entire league of wronged wide receivers cheering Andre Johnson on. And it's not like Andre has a Renardo Sidney like checkered past. Andre Johnson is arguably the best WR in the league and he never says a word. But he took one too many cheap shots from a player who strives to be the dirtiest player in the NFL, Cortland Finnegan, and here's what ensued: (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBT6MygnKKw)
Play of the Year - Third Place - Tracy Porter (Super Bowl XLIV)
Even after the Saints took the lead 24-17, there was still very little doubt in many people's minds that Peyton Manning would lead the Colts to a tying score and still likely win the game. Manning was en route to doing so when Tracy Porter jumped a route and gave New Orleans something to cheer about after all these years. Finally. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBlvjtfpPAg)
Story of the Year - NBA Free Agency
With all due respect to Tiger Woods and his epic collapse in the aftermath of the Escalade into the tree last Thanksgiving, this summer was the most watched free agency in any sport in my lifetime. Things got off to a quiet start and things seemed to be shaking into place until . . . taking my talents to South Beach. Wait, you hijacked ESPN for an hour to go on and break Cleveland's hearts live, for the whole nation to hear? And you refer to your "talents"? Has there ever been a more ego-maniacal athlete than LeBron James? I know what you're thinking, Deion Sanders. But Deion won championships. Sorry LeBron, until you prove that you're anything but the most athleticly gifted player in basketball you'll always be the LeBracle to me, or LeBronze everywhere else in the world. Decision made. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOZHlp_qYSA)
Best Innovation - NFL Red Zone Channel
No explanation needed.
Worst Innovation - Vuvuzelas
They sound like a swarm of bees and drown out the fans. No further explanation needed.
Coach of the Year - Jerry Sloan
How has this guy never won one? Well Jerry, now you've won the most important award there is. Facebook me to pick up the actual hardware.
Play of the Year - Second Place - Broderick Brown
There are very few things I've never seen on a football field and this is one of them. The presence of mind of Brown to not only go for the ball thrown well out of bounds, but to hit it directly to a teammate was mind blowing. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93RkWNK3BZc)
Dance of the Year - The Dougie
Last year's was the John Wall. We had the Soulja Boy Superman before that. The Dougie ranks right up there with both. And what better way to display the awesomeness of the Dougie than to have John Wall of the John Wall Dance demonstrate the Dougie. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pry6Cp0kSO0)
Knockout of the Year - Sergio Martinez (2nd Round TKO of Paul Williams)
These two fighters provided what most would describe as the Fight of the Year last time out. Most figured that they would provide another classic in this rematch. Both are true middleweights despite Williams' assertion that he is still a welterweight when he wants to be. And both were in the top 10 in everybody's Pound for Pound rankings coming in. Some had both in the top 5. And then Williams walked into an overhand left that came out of nowhere.
Soccer Player of the Year - Tie, Xavi and Iniesta
Some of you may be surprised that Messi isn't here and he could surely be the right choice. Messi is Barcelona's biggest playmaker and Barca is head and shoulders above the competition despite losing to Inter last year. But while Messi amazes in Europe, he no showed at the World Cup. Some of that may be a result of the coaching of Diego "Loco" Maradona (okay, I made up that nickname), but no showing at the World Cup disqualifies you from consideration for Player of the Year. Xavi and Iniesta on the other hand and the fulcrums on that same Barcelona squad and did for Spain what they do for Barca year round. Many will point to David Villa's scoring prowess, but it was Xavi and Iniesta who made the team work and the play flow. It was no surprise that Iniesta scored the World Cup winning goal.
MLB Player of the Year - Buster Posey
I hate the Giants but watching a rookie catcher do what Buster Posey did was truly remarkable. Ask any pitcher how important his signal caller is and every single one of them will tell you how crucial it is to have a good battery mate. That's why so many great pitchers have their personal catchers. Add to that what Buster Posey did and the fact that his nickname should have been Doogie Howser, MLB and you have my Player of the Year.
NBA Player of the Year - Kobe Bryant
Were you really expecting somebody else?
NFL Player of the Year - Tom Brady
It's tough to go against Drew Brees but what Tom Brady has done this season is remarkable. Quick, name his wide receivers. I'll wait. Still waiting. Tom Brady is a game away from breaking the record for most consecutive passes thrown without an interception. The Pats are 12-2. It really is remarkable he's doing all this with that hair.
Weird (and sad) Moment of the Year - Bob Huggins
It was hard to watch a guy like Da'Sean Butler go down but then things got a little uncomfortable around the :38 mark of this video: (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zUukifjhYE&feature=related)
Team of the Year - New Orleans Saints
They made a city that has so much to be down about come to life and do so united as one. The Saints completed a phenomenal season with a huge upset of the Colts in Super Bowl XLIV. And now in the '10-'11 season the Saints are quietly doing a very serviceable job defending their crowns. If the Saints can win at Atlanta Monday night, they can put themselves in prime position for another run.
Play of the Year - 1st Place - Donovan
I'll let Andres Cantor explain: (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALJu7YPMNBI)
Here's the reaction around the world: (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbn3rOPmR9w&feature=related)
I'm still happy.
Happy holidays to all of you. -RW
NFL PICKS - WEEK 16
Pittbsurgh -14 over Carolina
Dallas -7.5 over Arizona
Detroit +3 at Miami
Jacksonville -7 vs. Washington
St. Louis -2.5 vs. San Francisco
Buffalo +9 vs. New England
New York Jets +2 at Chicago
Baltimore -4 at Cleveland
Kansas City -5 vs. Tennessee
Indianapolis -3 at Oakland
Denver +3 vs. Houston
San Diego -9 at Cincinnati
Tampa Bay -6.5 vs. Seattle
Green Bay -3 vs. New York Giants
Minnesota +14 at Philadelphia
New Orleans +2.5 at Atlanta
Last Week: 8-8
Season: 104-101-1
Game of the Year - Isner/Mahut Wimbledon 2010 (Isner wins 6-4, 3-6, 6-7(7-9), 7-6(7-3), 70-68)
I'm not even that big of a tennis fan but 70-68?! I remember Roddick/Federer going to thirty something games the year before in the fifth set. This went to 138 games! In one set! You hear of records that will never be broken, but I see Di Maggio's 56 going down before Isner/Mahut's 138. There were some great games in other sports. Two U.S. World Cup matches come to mind. But when a tennis match lasts for longer than I sleep, it's the RW Game of the Year.
P.S. Lakers/Celtics Game 7 was the anti-game of the year. That was the worst played important game I've ever seen.
Fight of the Year - Johnson/Finnegan (Johnson Round 1 TKO)
Sorry Manny Pacquiao. Sorry Sergio Martinez. You guys were impressive, but there was an entire league of wronged wide receivers cheering Andre Johnson on. And it's not like Andre has a Renardo Sidney like checkered past. Andre Johnson is arguably the best WR in the league and he never says a word. But he took one too many cheap shots from a player who strives to be the dirtiest player in the NFL, Cortland Finnegan, and here's what ensued: (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBT6MygnKKw)
Play of the Year - Third Place - Tracy Porter (Super Bowl XLIV)
Even after the Saints took the lead 24-17, there was still very little doubt in many people's minds that Peyton Manning would lead the Colts to a tying score and still likely win the game. Manning was en route to doing so when Tracy Porter jumped a route and gave New Orleans something to cheer about after all these years. Finally. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBlvjtfpPAg)
Story of the Year - NBA Free Agency
With all due respect to Tiger Woods and his epic collapse in the aftermath of the Escalade into the tree last Thanksgiving, this summer was the most watched free agency in any sport in my lifetime. Things got off to a quiet start and things seemed to be shaking into place until . . . taking my talents to South Beach. Wait, you hijacked ESPN for an hour to go on and break Cleveland's hearts live, for the whole nation to hear? And you refer to your "talents"? Has there ever been a more ego-maniacal athlete than LeBron James? I know what you're thinking, Deion Sanders. But Deion won championships. Sorry LeBron, until you prove that you're anything but the most athleticly gifted player in basketball you'll always be the LeBracle to me, or LeBronze everywhere else in the world. Decision made. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOZHlp_qYSA)
Best Innovation - NFL Red Zone Channel
No explanation needed.
Worst Innovation - Vuvuzelas
They sound like a swarm of bees and drown out the fans. No further explanation needed.
Coach of the Year - Jerry Sloan
How has this guy never won one? Well Jerry, now you've won the most important award there is. Facebook me to pick up the actual hardware.
Play of the Year - Second Place - Broderick Brown
There are very few things I've never seen on a football field and this is one of them. The presence of mind of Brown to not only go for the ball thrown well out of bounds, but to hit it directly to a teammate was mind blowing. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93RkWNK3BZc)
Dance of the Year - The Dougie
Last year's was the John Wall. We had the Soulja Boy Superman before that. The Dougie ranks right up there with both. And what better way to display the awesomeness of the Dougie than to have John Wall of the John Wall Dance demonstrate the Dougie. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pry6Cp0kSO0)
Knockout of the Year - Sergio Martinez (2nd Round TKO of Paul Williams)
These two fighters provided what most would describe as the Fight of the Year last time out. Most figured that they would provide another classic in this rematch. Both are true middleweights despite Williams' assertion that he is still a welterweight when he wants to be. And both were in the top 10 in everybody's Pound for Pound rankings coming in. Some had both in the top 5. And then Williams walked into an overhand left that came out of nowhere.
Soccer Player of the Year - Tie, Xavi and Iniesta
Some of you may be surprised that Messi isn't here and he could surely be the right choice. Messi is Barcelona's biggest playmaker and Barca is head and shoulders above the competition despite losing to Inter last year. But while Messi amazes in Europe, he no showed at the World Cup. Some of that may be a result of the coaching of Diego "Loco" Maradona (okay, I made up that nickname), but no showing at the World Cup disqualifies you from consideration for Player of the Year. Xavi and Iniesta on the other hand and the fulcrums on that same Barcelona squad and did for Spain what they do for Barca year round. Many will point to David Villa's scoring prowess, but it was Xavi and Iniesta who made the team work and the play flow. It was no surprise that Iniesta scored the World Cup winning goal.
MLB Player of the Year - Buster Posey
I hate the Giants but watching a rookie catcher do what Buster Posey did was truly remarkable. Ask any pitcher how important his signal caller is and every single one of them will tell you how crucial it is to have a good battery mate. That's why so many great pitchers have their personal catchers. Add to that what Buster Posey did and the fact that his nickname should have been Doogie Howser, MLB and you have my Player of the Year.
NBA Player of the Year - Kobe Bryant
Were you really expecting somebody else?
NFL Player of the Year - Tom Brady
It's tough to go against Drew Brees but what Tom Brady has done this season is remarkable. Quick, name his wide receivers. I'll wait. Still waiting. Tom Brady is a game away from breaking the record for most consecutive passes thrown without an interception. The Pats are 12-2. It really is remarkable he's doing all this with that hair.
Weird (and sad) Moment of the Year - Bob Huggins
It was hard to watch a guy like Da'Sean Butler go down but then things got a little uncomfortable around the :38 mark of this video: (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zUukifjhYE&feature=related)
Team of the Year - New Orleans Saints
They made a city that has so much to be down about come to life and do so united as one. The Saints completed a phenomenal season with a huge upset of the Colts in Super Bowl XLIV. And now in the '10-'11 season the Saints are quietly doing a very serviceable job defending their crowns. If the Saints can win at Atlanta Monday night, they can put themselves in prime position for another run.
Play of the Year - 1st Place - Donovan
I'll let Andres Cantor explain: (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALJu7YPMNBI)
Here's the reaction around the world: (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbn3rOPmR9w&feature=related)
I'm still happy.
Happy holidays to all of you. -RW
NFL PICKS - WEEK 16
Pittbsurgh -14 over Carolina
Dallas -7.5 over Arizona
Detroit +3 at Miami
Jacksonville -7 vs. Washington
St. Louis -2.5 vs. San Francisco
Buffalo +9 vs. New England
New York Jets +2 at Chicago
Baltimore -4 at Cleveland
Kansas City -5 vs. Tennessee
Indianapolis -3 at Oakland
Denver +3 vs. Houston
San Diego -9 at Cincinnati
Tampa Bay -6.5 vs. Seattle
Green Bay -3 vs. New York Giants
Minnesota +14 at Philadelphia
New Orleans +2.5 at Atlanta
Last Week: 8-8
Season: 104-101-1
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