This year went down as one of the greatest calendar years in a long time. From Alabama’s second half comeback in the National Championship with a backup quarterback to Nick Foles playing two of the greatest playoff games in the history of the NFL and hoisting the Lombardi Trophy, 2018 most certainly did not disappoint.
I could write a novel about the 2018 season from the Olympics to the Fall Classic, but for the sake of my sanity…I will limit my favorite moments from this past year to just 5.
Top 5 Greatest Sports Moments in 2018
5- Loyola-Chicago March Madness Final 4
The small catholic school from Chicago took the NCAA Tournament by storm, upsetting Miami, Tennessee, Nevada, and K-State en route to the Universities first ever Final 4 berth.
A series of upsets in their region allowed for the smooth run, but not without the help of Sister Jean! Air Jean’s prayers were answered night in and night out, helping the Ramblers take down some of the country’s top schools.
One of the coolest March Madness runs that I have witnessed in my lifetime, and I don’t think their will be another one quite like that, especially from a small school double digit seed.
4- Washington Capitals win the Stanley Cup
After so many seasons of heartbreak in the DC area, the Caps finally slayed Goliath in the second round, defeating the Penguins en route to the Cup Finals. Washington trailed in every single series during their 2018 run, and erased a 3-2 deficit in the Eastern Conference Finals against the top ranked Bolts.
After dropping the first game in Vegas, the Caps won 4 straight games to claim the franchises first ever Stanley Cup, while Alex Ovechkin FINALLY broke through and got his ring, along with the Conn Smythe in the process.
3- Philadelphia Eagles win the Super Bowl
It was a lot of firsts in 2018, but both the Caps and Eagles claimed their sports first ever championship this past season. Philly’s year took a turn for the worst in mid-December (or so everyone thought) after Carson Wentz went down with an ACL injury, and backup QB Nick Foles looked extremely rusty in his first 2 starts. BUT…the rust wore off once the NFC Championship game started.
The TRUTH not only threw all over the Minnesota Vikings’ top ranked defense, but he converted on 72 percent of 3rd downs…against one of the best 3rd down defenses in the modern era. His play didn’t stop there. Foles’ arm was just heating up as he traveled North to Minneapolis and out dueled the greatest QB of all time in the Super Bowl. His 373 yards passing, 3 passing TD and 1 Philly-Special receiving TD sealed the game for the Eagles as he took home MVP honors and handed the city of brotherly love its first ever NFL title.
2- Alabama wins the National Championship
The Crimson Tide looked lost in the first half against the SEC rival Georgia Bulldogs and could not get anything going. 2017 SEC Player of the Year Jalen Hurts was benched in favor of a lefty from Hawaii, Tua Tagavoila, and the rest is history.
The Tide stymied the Bulldogs in the second half and clawed their way back into the game. Tua set up a potential game winning FG at the end of regulation, but it was shanked worse than Mike Vanderjagt in the 2006 AFC playoffs. The Bulldogs settled for a FG in the first OT, and after a sack took the Tide out of FG range…Tua let loose for a 35 yard strike for a walk-off TD to win the Natty!
An absolute dime to cap off one of the best NCAA championship finishes since the USC-Texas tilt in 2006.
1- Tiger’s win at the Tour Championship
Tiger went 6 years without winning a PGA Tour event, but this past September was one of the coolest golf tournaments that I have ever witnessed. Tiger Woods has won again. Words that I thought I would never hear again…seriously, I did not think that he would get back to the winners chair.
But, boy was I happy that I was wrong. The scene coming up the 18th green in Atlanta was one that you cannot even describe. It looked like the scene in Happy Gilmore where everyone was chasing after Shooter McGavin for stealing the Gold Jacket…but this time, in real life, they were charging up the fairway in excitement by the thousands. You cannot make this story up. The green was surrounded by fans chomping at the bit to scream in joy once Woods tapped in his par putt for the win.
You can try and argue with me about the greatest sports moment in 2018…but you will lose.
New Year’s CFP Prediction
With all of the controversy surrounding the final four teams in the College Football Playoff, I will have to say that the committee got it right. Oklahoma getting in as the 4 seed was the correct decision, whether or not Georgia is the better team (which they are). Based on all of the criteria…OU should be in.
Georgia lost twice this season…yes to tough opponents, but they still lost twice. Two loss teams do not deserve a shot at the playoff…sorry. If you want in then take care of business in the regular season. It’s that simple.
Many have spoken up about expanding the playoff to 8 and I personally have to strongly disagree. STRONGLY disagree. Everybody is so soft these days…you can’t say this, you can’t do that, Bobby should get a participation trophy for taking 9th. Like seriously? The BCS used to take the top 2 teams based on a brutal criteria, but it was do-or-die all year long. Now, you lose once and you still have a shot. I don’t mind the 4-team playoff because, for the most part, chalk usually prevails and the top-2 teams advance.
Enough of the 8 team playoff talk…just stop it.
I won’t go into detail too much about my picks, but I do think that OU will make it a game with Bama. They are a 2 TD dog right now, but I think that they keep it within a possession. Tua is not 100 percent, and the Sooners have the most dynamic player in the game Kyler Murray. It will be a high scoring affair, but I think the difference is the Tides defense and they eventually get the critical stop they need in the 4th.
Alabama 45-37
The Clemson-Notre Dame game is interesting with the recent suspension of Dexter Lawrence. Now, without their top defensive player, the Tigers will have to find away to put pressure on Ian Book and slow down the Irish.
I love the QB matchup (in both games for that matter). Freshmen phenom Trevor Lawrence (AKA Fabio) and Book will battle it out for a chance to play for the Natty chip next month, but this game will come down to the Tigers running game where they have the massive edge.
Clemson 27-23
Colts-Titans
My guy has done it. Andrew Luck has placed the Colts in the AFC playoff picture and all they must do now is win. Win and you’re in!
The Colts are the hottest team in the NFL having won 8 of their past 9 games, and they are most likely a team nobody wants to face come January. I have said this so many times before, but Andrew Luck is my 2018 MVP so far and if he comes away with the win, in a do-or-die game on the road in Nashville… just give it to him.
Tennessee is no easy out and they were in the same spot a year ago. Marcus Mariota will likely play, but it has been the Titans defense that has carried this squad in 2018. They have a top 10 defense and they have been really good in the turnover/takeaway department the past 2 months.
The difference in this game will be Luck vs. the Titans secondary.
Prediction: Colts 23-20
2018 is almost officially in the books, but it has set the stage for what should be another great year in the sports world.
The NFL playoff picture might not include the Steelers for the first time in a long time. The Eagles look to be almost finished on their journey to repeat as champs, and the Chiefs have taken the entire league by storm.
The NHL has seen a dynamic duo in Colorado light up the Central Division with Mikko Rantanen and Nathan MacKinnon, while the Toronto Maple Leafs could be in position to hand Canada its first title since 1993.
The Bryce Harper sweepstakes are heating up and I think that everybody can predict where he lands. Being a Yankees fan, I must say that the pinstripes will look prety sweet on the Vegas product!
Golden State’s struggles in the Bay will only be short lived once Boogie Cousins returns to the lineup, but DO NOT count out the Lakers and LeBron James. The 2018 AP Male Athlete of the Year is starting to rally the purple and gold down in Hollywood and you can never bet against him when he has a few decent weapons at his side (2016, down 3-1). Don’t poke the bear!
Buckle up everybody, 2019 is going to be one hell of a ride!