It was a decade full of triumph and tragedy, scandal and redemption. What were the top 10 sports stories of the decade?:
10. Duke lacrosse
When a group of white lacrosse players were accused of raping a black stripper in 2006, the story pushed race and class hot-buttons and instant judgment was passed, costing coach Mike Pressler his job. When the accuser’s story fell through, many were taught a lesson about jumping to conclusions.
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For the last month, the Tiger Woods mistress scandal has been the biggest story in sports. But it’s too early to put it on this list. What seems like a huge story one day, can quickly fade into insignificance. Remember the Kobe Bryant rape allegations that dominated the news in 2003? Six years later the event has become a footnote to his career, and his image has largely been restored. Can the same happen with Woods? If he saves his marriage, becomes a good father, and resumes his domination of golf, little damage will be done. Even if he carries on without his family, he’ll have a chance to regain much of his popularity.
9. Tour de Lance
It was in the 1990s that Lance Armstrong beat cancer and won his first Tour de France title. But in this decade, Armstrong solidified his legend by extending his Tour streak to a record seven, then retiring in 2005. Armstrong returned to competitive cycling this year, finishing third in the Tour.
8. Dale Earnhardt
When NASCAR’s most iconic driver ran into a wall on the last lap of the 2001 Daytona 500 and was killed, it was a sudden jolt to the sport. On the positive side, the accident forced changes to ensure more safety for drivers. On the negative, there was an ugly rights battle between widow Teresa and son Dale Jr.
7. Patriot games
At 18-0 the New England Patriots, were on the verge of NFL history, ready to become the first team to win 19 games in a season. But with some ready to christen the Patriots as the greatest team ever, they were upset in the Super Bowl by the New York Giants — with Eli Manning leading a last-minute touchdown drive in a 17-14 win.
6. Michael Vick goes to jail
When Falcons quarterback Michael Vick was sent to jail for funding a dog-fighting operation, the spotlight illuminated an unsavory subculture and triggered debate. While some said Vick was unfairly targeted for his fame and his race, others, including many dog lovers, thought 17 months in jail wasn’t enough.
5. Pat Tillman
After 9/11, the Arizona Cardinals’ safety quit football to join the U.S. Army Rangers. On deployment in Afghanistan in 2004, Tillman was killed by friendly fire. Instead of reporting the incident accurately, the U.S. military tried to cover it up with a more heroic story. The Pac-10 later named its Defensive Player of the Year award for Tillman.
4. Red Sox break the curse
Cursed in baseball lore by the sale of Babe Ruth to the Yankees, the Boston Red Sox went 86 years without a World Series title. But in 2004, Boston broke through, becoming the first team in major league history to come back from an 0-3 postseason deficit — in the ALCS to beat their nemesis, the Yankees — before sweeping the Cardinals in the World Series.
3. Steroids in sports
From the 1980s, with track’s Ben Johnson, to the 1990s, with baseball’s home-run bump, and now a decade with a long list of steroid users (Marion Jones, Roger Clemens, Alex Rodriguez) and suspected cheaters (Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, Lance Armstrong), steroids are the sports story that won’t go away.
2. Phelps’ eight gold medals
It’s up to debate where Michael Phelps’ Olympic-record eight gold medals in the 2008 Beijing games (on top of his six gold medals in 2004) stand in the pantheon of great athletic feats. But there’s no denying his eight gold medals in eight events, with seven world-record times, is the greatest achievement in swimming.
1. Tiger Woods
With 12 major championships in this decade, Woods became the most popular and recognizable athlete in the world as he pursued Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 majors. Woods’ triumph at the 2008 U.S. Open, on a severely damaged left knee, will likely remain the signature victory of his career, defining his ability to seize the moment. Though recent news about the AP’s Athlete of the Decade has not been so positive, his ability on the golf course is undeniable.
