Sport360’s finest minds have put their heads together to come up with the 15 most memorable moments of the last 12 months in sport…
15. Australia rule the world and pay tribute to Hughes
As co-hosts and the best ODI team on the planet, Australia claiming a fifth World Cup triumph was no great surprise, what was key was the context it was played in. The death of beloved batsman Philip Hughes, a friend of so many of the 15-man squad, in November hit them hard but they channelled that emotion to dominate. The Aussies defeated New Zealand in the final at the MCG with the players wearing black armbands sporting the initials PH, and as skipper Michael Clarke said: “We are still thinking about him, we are still talking about him and we always will. We believe we played this World Cup with 16 players in our squad.”
14. Magnificence of McGregor
After a year of build-up, MMA fans would have been forgiven for how quickly Conor McGregor dispatched Jose Aldo and his 10-year unbeaten record. McGregor’s lethal left decided the contest inside 13 seconds and such is the nature of the world, in many ways its lack of longeivity was perfect for the social media generation as the clip went round the globe. As a banner at the side of the Octogon read: “The World is Yours.”
13. Mayweather ends boxing’s longest-running debate
Yes, it didn’t live up to expectations (could it ever?) and yes, it came six years too late but at least a line was finally drawn under the often-tedious Mayweather-Pacquiao debate. In truth, the bout was nowhere near as bad as perhaps first thought with Mayweather’s defensive clinic just too much for Pacquiao, whose speed has diminished with age. Along with who is the better fighter, it also proved just how boxing can still be part of the cultural landscape. The last mega-fight in history? Let’s hope not.
12. Holm derails the Rousey hype train
Whether by accident or design, it’s admirable the UFC’s biggest star of the last two years has been a female fighter. But Ronda Rousey – now a bona fide film star – was brought crashing down to earth with Holly Holm’s left kick. It’s impact in the sports world was huge, as MMA begins to finally capture mainstream attention.
11. Wilson didn’t see what the Butler saw
The debate still rages in Seattle as to whose fault it was. The Seahawks trailed New England 28-24 in the Super Bowl but were on the one-yard line with 27 seconds left. To quarterback Russell Wilson’s right was Marshawn Lynch, who had rushed for 102 yards and looked odds-on to be given the ball for a shotgun snap over the line. Instead, under insruction from coach Pete Carroll, Wilson elected to pass and instead found the grateful hands of New England cornerback Malcolm Butler who pulled off a brilliant interception. Game over.
10. Chile’s Copa America glory on home soil
Never mind the bridesmaids, Chile were rarely part of the Copa America wedding party as over 43 editions their best finish were four runners-up in 1955, 1956, 1979 and 1987. Arturo Vidal was as brilliant on the field as he was hazardous off it and La Roja finally got their hands on the trophy with a 4-1 victory on penalties over Argentina in Santiago, sealed by Alexis Sanchez’s Panenka. Cue pandemonium.
9. Vinci comes of age to ruin Serena’s grand slam dream
Such was the expectation, the women’s final at the US Open sold out well in advance of the start of the tournament. They had all come to see Serena Williams complete a calendar slam of all four majors but the American saw her challenge end in the quarter-finals at the hands of the 32-year-old Italian who had never got past the last eight in 43 grand slam appearances. World No42 Vinci turned the form book – it was only Serena’s third defeat of the year – upside down, to triumph 2-6, 6-4, 6-4.
8. Broad’s spell leaves him speechless
It was the defining image of the Ashes series this summer. England’s Stuart Broad’s hands clasped over his mouth in amazement as he claimed the wicket of Adam Voges. He finished with figures of 8-15 as Australia were all out for 60 in the first session of the fourth Test. What’s more it was all achieved at his home ground of Trent Bridge in Nottingham in front of his family and some of his closest friends. The sort of moment every sportsperson dreams of.
7. De Villiers brings the house down
As former England captain Michael Vaughan said in the wake of AB De Villiers’ record-breaking innings in January: “He’s the definition of a cricketing genius”. Records are falling all the time but this was special from the South African. De Villiers needed just 31 balls (that’s less than six overs, people) to reach triple figures against the West Indies and another 12 to finish on 149. His knock included 16 sixes and nine fours. Breathtaking.
6. Stan the man breaks Novak’s heart in Paris
Roland Garros remains Novak Djokovic’s final frontier – the one major that has eluded him. This year was supposed to be different, with Rafael Nadal struggling for form but after reaching the final he did not bank on Stan Wawrinka and his delicious back hand sending him home disappointed with the Swiss sealing a brilliant 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 triumph.
5. Barca’s brilliance is marked in Berlin
With the La Liga crown and Copa del Rey in the bag, Barca arrived in Berlin for the Champions League final having knocked out the English (Man City), French (PSG) and German (Bayern) champions before taking on Italy’s finest in Juventus. The Olypiastadion then bore witness to yet another slice of history from the Blaugrana as Luis Enrique stamped his own piece of club history with his side winning 3-1 and sealing the treble.
4. Spieth’s the Master as golf moves into a new generation
In April, America heralded a new golfing great and the official end of the Tiger Woods era. Texan Spieth was just 21 when he went wire-to-wire to land his first major (somewhat symbolically the Green Jacket) and match Woods’ record score of 18-under. Many more majors are sure to follow but this was some statement – 28 birdies was the most in Masters history – by a man who, theoretically, could be the face of the game for the next 15-20 years.
3. A lightning Bolt strikes again
The Good v Evil narrative wore a little thin at times as the duel between Usain Bolt and Justin Gatlin dominated all the talk in the lead up to the World Championships in Beijing. However, putting aside the doping past of Gatlin, what was forgotten was how Bolt was a man out-of-form and in danger of losing his grip on the sprinting world. The Jamaican, though, put pay to any concerns he was an athlete in decline with a commanding run in the final. At 9.79secs it was his ‘slowest’ gold medalwinning time of his career but Gatlin was beaten and the empire stood firm.
2. Brave Blossoms live up to their nickname
The Rugby World Cup has, over the years, struggled for an identity in the group stages as the elite regularly crushed the sport’s emerging nations. Not any more. The competition was just a day old when Japan produced with a spine-tingling 34- 32 victory over South Africa that was about heart, soul and a genuine sense of adventure. Kane Hesketh sealed the victory, running into the corner from a flowing backline move in the final seconds. Incredible.
1. The unlikely fall of football’s dictator
Unlikely, because had anyone said to you 12 months ago, by next year Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini will be serving eight-year bans with more than 30 FIFA officials and associates arrested on corruption charges, you’d have laughed them off. Over 17 years at the helm of the world’s most powerful sports’ organisation, Blatter had made himself indestructible. There were allegations but nothing would stick, yet over seven months from May to December it all came crashing down for the Swiss. What’s more, with the FBI and Swiss authorities still conducting investigations it could get even worse. All we can hope is change within the organisation is positive.
