2019 gave us a ton of memorable sports moments; from comeback wins to classic victories. This year in sports served as a fitting end to what was the greatest decade in sports yet. From basketball to football, to soccer, to even tennis, I look to breakdown the greatest moments from this year. I dive into the last 365 days in sports to deliver you the best sports moments of 2019. Let’s dive in.
CLEMSO-N: Tigers Silence the Haters in Blowout Championship Victory vs. Alabama
2019 in college football began with a rather disappointing College Football Playoff Final. The Clemson Tigers, year in and year out, are bashed due to an easy schedule that allows them to constantly compete for a National Championship. However, that put a chip on the Tigers’ shoulders. Clemson entered the College Football Playoff as the two-seed matched up against three-seed Notre Dame. Clemson blew them out 30-3 to put the country on notice. But, once again, the excuses were that Notre Dame shouldn’t have been in the playoff in the first place. Fair point.
Now, against Alabama, the easy choice was for the Crimson Tide to raise their second straight National Championship. That ended up not being the case. In fact, the game wasn’t even close. Clemson blew out Alabama 44-16 in what was a pure clinic by then-true freshman QB Trevor Lawrence and WR Justyn Ross. We start the list off with this moment not only because it happened the earliest in the year but because Clemson took down college football’s biggest powerhouse on the biggest stage in a huge blowout.
The G.O.A.T Prevails: Patriots Outlast Chiefs & Rams for Brady’s Sixth Championship Ring
The last game of the 2018-19 NFL season included yet another Super Bowl win for Tom Brady and the Patriots. After New England suffered five losses for the first time since 2009, the doubts surrounding the dynasty were more than ever. From the Tom Brady cliff theory to the rise of Patrick Mahomes, there were multiple reasons why the Patriots wouldn’t make it close to the Super Bowl. True Patriots fans knew that when the bright lights of the NFL playoffs were on, the Patriots were just a different team.
Patrick Mahomes, who was the league’s MVP, threw for 5,000 yards, 50 touchdowns, and led the Chiefs to the top-seed in the AFC as the conference’s favorite. That didn’t phase the Patriots in the slightest. In what was the football game of the year, the Patriots beat the Chiefs, in Arrowhead, in overtime, in the AFC Championship. The team with five losses and a quarterback who was falling off a cliff managed to defeat the young MVP phenom on the road.
That brought the Patriots to the Super Bowl where the Patriots defeated the Rams. With a clutch grab from TE Rob Gronkowski, Brady captured his sixth Super Bowl ring and further immortalized himself in NFL History. This moment serves as a highlight of 2019 because, with their backs against the wall, the Patriots came through yet again.
Rock-Bottom to Mountain-Top: Virginia Earns Redemption
Virginia Men’s Basketball suffered an embarrassing loss to the 16-seed UMBC Retrievers in the 2018 NCAA Tournament. They came into the tournament as a one-seed themselves. The memes, disappointment, and news coverage that surrounded the historic loss stuck with this team for the entirety of the next season. Virginia came into the 2019 tournament, led by Kyle Guy, as a one-seed yet again.
This time, the Cavaliers steamrolled their 16-seeded opponent. En route to the National Championship game, they also topped Oklahoma, Oregon, Purdue, Auburn, and ultimately, Texas Tech to win the 2019 NCAA Men’s Division I National Championship. The thing that makes this championship win different from others is how Virginia was able to rise up from the previous year’s embarrassment. No team has ever fallen to a 16-seed just to come back and win the championship the next season. The emotion that went into this win makes it for sure one of the best sports moments of 2019.
Rise from the Ashes: Tiger Woods Wins The Masters
You can make the firm argument that this isn’t only the moment of the year, but it could be the moment of the decade. Tiger Woods has been through so many trials and tribulations that often called for his retirement. However, he’s found his way back from all of the negative things that have tried to bring him down. This Masters win was the best and most satisfying victory of Tiger’s legendary career.
The moment within the moment was what happened after Tiger secured his green jacket. He walked off the pitch and went to hug his children, as hundreds of people were shouting his name. The significance of this moment is that, just 22 years ago, Tiger became the youngest champion in Masters history and walked off to hug his father. This moment silenced the tens of thousands of haters who said that Tiger was done. It reignited the legend that is Tiger Woods and gave him a second life in regards to his career. Even if you’re not a golf fan, you have to feel some type of way seeing this man rise back to the top after all he’s been through. What a win.
End of an Era in OKC: Damian Lillard Sends the Thunder Home with All-Time Great Buzzer Beater in Game 5
This is a moment that had me screaming as the ball went into the hoop. There was 13 seconds left on the clock. Each team had one timeout. The score was 115-115, and Damian Lillard, as expected, put the ball in his hands with a chance to send the Thunder home. Paul George, who’s one of the NBA’s best defenders, took the assignment. Lillard decided to isolate George in the closing moments. Knowing that Portland had nothing to lose, he decided to take a 37-foot stepback jumper over George and hit nothing but net as the buzzer sounded. The crowd went crazy. With one shot, Lillard waved OKC both off the court and out of the playoffs.
As seen above, the shot was probably the best game-winner of the year. Lillard proved, once again, to be one of the most clutch players in the NBA. There were greater implications of the shot. It eliminated the Thunder from the playoffs. That led to the trading of Paul George and Russell Westbrook which officially ended any chance the Thunder had to compete for a championship. As crazy as it sounds, both trades can be blamed on that shot by Lillard. He cemented himself in history with this shot, and it won’t ever be forgotten.
You Will Never Walk Alone: Liverpool Comes Back from 3-0 Deficit vs. Barcelona in UEFA Champions League Semi-Finals
For all my soccer fans out there, the sport had its moments as well. The UEFA Champions League always features some of the best moments in sports. 2019 was no different. In the first leg of the semifinals, juggernaut Barcelona surprisingly tore apart English powerhouse Liverpool 3-0 at Camp Nou. Goals were scored by Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi. Liverpool were down 3-0 and needed four goals to advance to the Champions League Finals.
It’s in moments like this where soccer draws the name “The Beautiful Game”. In the second leg, at Anfield, Liverpool smacked Barcelona 4-0. Divock Origi scored two goals while Georginio Wijnaldum notched two himself. The game sent Liverpool to the finals in what was a stunning loss for Messi and Barcelona.
What makes this moment special is simply that it wasn’t supposed to happen. Barcelona is widely regarded as one of the greatest soccer clubs of all-time. It was expected that they were going to keep this lead and further cement the club’s name into history. Instead, they ended up being on the wrong side of it. Liverpool pulled off a historic and unprecedented comeback that dropped the jaws of many in the football world. This was the game that put the world on high alert that Liverpool was one of the most elite clubs.
In the Klaw We Trust: Kawhi’s Stellar Postseason Brings Toronto its First-Ever NBA Championship
Giannis Antetokounmpo won the MVP for the 2018-19 NBA Season. However, it was the year of Kawhi Leonard. Leonard led the Raptors to the two-seed in the Eastern Conference. From there, he put the league on notice. After an easy first round against the Orlando Magic, Kawhi encountered a stacked 76ers team that seemed destined to make the Finals.
Over the course of the series, Kawhi dominated everyone the team put on him, averaging 34.7 points, 9.9 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.3 steals, and 0.3 blocks. This was the series that had people wondering if Kawhi really was the best player in the world. To cap it off, Kawhi notched a game seven fadeaway buzzer-beater in the corner to send Philadelphia home. You know it was a memorable moment if Kawhi Leonard was displaying emotion afterward.
That was only the start. Kawhi now had to worry about the MVP and the Bucks. He took the fight to them as well, averaging 29.8 points, 9.5 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 2.2 steals, and 1.0 blocks. The hype during the regular season surrounded Giannis and how he rose the Bucks to be a title contender. Kawhi had other plans, though, and in a tough six-game series, he eliminated the Bucks from the playoffs. That led him to the ultimate test: the Warriors’ Dynasty.
Kawhi Leonard led the Raptors against a Warriors team that was in the middle of an unprecedented run. In a series that included a banged-up Golden State squad, Kawhi kept himself healthy. He averaged 28.5 points, 9.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 2.0 steals, and 1.2 blocks en route to taking down Golden State once and for all. Despite Kevin Durant suffering an Achilles injury and Klay Thompson tearing his ACL, this victory was sweet nonetheless. In six games, with the finale coming in Oracle Arena, Kawhi led the Raptors to the promised land; the NBA Championship.
This isn’t only one of the best moments of the year but in sports history. Kawhi put an entire city on his back. For a team that’s always been so close yet so far, Kawhi came in and did what many people saw as impossible. Kawhi’s historic postseason efforts made the year one to remember. And, to cap it off, he brought the NBA Championship overseas for the first time ever. What a season and what a moment for Kawhi Leonard and the Toronto Raptors.
New Era of Basketball: Foreign Blood Takes Over The NBA
The year 2019 saw the rise of international stars in the best basketball league in the world. Despite not being an official “moment” per se, the beauty in this lies in the tons of things accomplished by players and teams outside of the United States.
First, the Raptors became the first team located outside the United States to win the NBA Championship.
Later that month, almost every single major NBA award winner was born in a foreign country. Giannis Antetokunmpo (Greece) won the Most Valuable Player Award. Rudy Gobert (France) won Defensive Player of the Year. Pascal Siakam (Cameroon) won Most Improved Player. Luka Doncic (Slovenia) won Rookie of the Year. To round it all out, Nikola Jokic (Serbia) notched first-team all-NBA honors.
Is this a jaw-dropping play or string of great performances? No. What makes this special is how the game of basketball is forever expanding outside of the United States. As you can see, the impact is huge with the large influx of foreign players that are taking over the league. These foreign players have established themselves as stars in the NBA. That’s something to take note of.
Greatest KO of All-Time?: Jorge Masvidal Finishes Ben Askren in Record Five Seconds
Five seconds is all it took for Jorge Masvidal to knock the soul out of Ben Askren. On a card that included Jon Jones vs. Thiago Santos and Amanda Nunes vs. Holly Holm, it was Masvidal that delivered the best finish of the night. A quick knee strike to Askren’s head led to the quickest and arguably best knockout you’ll ever see. Social media couldn’t get enough of it, and neither could I. This is as great of a finish as you’re going to see in the UFC. For those who ordered a beer before the bout, I’m sorry.
Fight for Equality: Megan Rapinoe leads the USWNT to More Than a World Cup Title
The USWNT team, in terms of success, might be the best national squad the United States has. Considering the difficulty of competition that these ladies face, it’s always a spectacle to see them raise another World Cup. This past year was no different.
They eased their way through the World Cup group stage, starting their campaign off with a 13-0 win against Thailand. Following that, they notched two more victories against Sweden and Chile to send themselves to the knockout stage. There, the ladies defeated Spain, France, and England by scores of 2-1. That set-up a final bout with the Netherlands which the team handled with no problems. A 2-0 victory gave the USWNT their second straight World Cup title.
Megan Rapinoe was at the forefront of this World Cup-winning campaign, as she earned the Golden Ball (best player) and Golden Boot (leading goal scorer). This was just half the battle that the USWNT won. En route to earning their fourth star, the ladies found themselves in a battle bigger than soccer: equal pay.
Last March, 28 players on the team filed and signed a lawsuit against United States Soccer over unequal pay and bonuses. The women simply wanted to be compensated and treated in a manner equivalent to their male counterparts. This is bigger than any World Cup. This wasn’t only for the team, but it was for the women that would come after Rapinoe. Even today, the women are continuing to advocate for equal pay despite mediation breaking down last August.
Here’s the bottom line. These women have won four out of the last eight World Cup titles. In past years, they’ve brought in more revenue, higher ratings, more fans, more enthusiasm, and most of all, have won more than their male counterparts. All signs point to Rapinoe and these ladies earning equal pay. This makes for a fantastic moment in sports for all females out there who are fighting to just be equal. Rapinoe also recently won Sports Illustrated’s Sportsperson of the Year Award; a testament to the fight that she’s sparked and will continue to spark in 2019.
Balanced as All Things Should Be: NBA Ushers in New Era of Basketball
The 2019 NBA offseason was the best in league history. The power, more than ever, was put into the hands of the players. From free agency landing spots to potential trade destinations, the players chose every move they thought would benefit their career.
Los Angeles became the mecca of basketball with three stars being traded/signing with the Clippers and Lakers. Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, and Anthony Davis all made their way to the City of Angels to compete for a championship. Russell Westbrook made his departure from the Thunder only to be traded to the Houston Rockets. That reunited Westbrook with James Harden and created the only duo in the league with two MVP Award winners. Despite injury, Kevin Durant made his way to the Eastern Conference and partnered with Kyrie Irving in Brooklyn.
Those are just a few of the insane moves that were made this past summer. To add to the madness, Kemba Walker signed with Boston, DeMarcus Cousins signed with the Lakers, and no stars, not even Zion Williamson, made their way to the Knicks. NBA Basketball shifted gears in what created the most anticipation for an NBA season in a while.
All of these moves created one “bigger than basketball” moment for the NBA. The landscape was changing to the point where we could no longer expect the Warriors to make it to the NBA Finals. There are now a good five or so teams that can legitimately contend for the NBA Championship. For all parties involved, this created the balance we’ve been looking for. To see all of these elite players switch jerseys was something to marvel at. With the way the league is shaping out, it’s safe to say that it’s going to be a very competitive year.
Instant Classic: Novak Djokovic Tops Roger Federer in Greatest Wimbledon Final of All-Time
Wimbledon is the world’s most prestigious tennis tournament. It’s the place where legends keep adding to their legacy. In the 2019 edition, two legends took to battle on the grandest stage the sport has to offer. Novak Djokovic (16 Grand Slam singles titles) and Roger Federer (20 Grand Slam singles titles) squared off. The two legends have met twice before this encounter with Djokovic getting the best of Federer each time.
This bout though had everything you could want out of a tennis match. It lasted 4 hours and 57 minutes, bringing out everything that makes the sport what it is. Tension, high stakes, history, emotion, storytelling, rivalry, skill, pure competitiveness, and greatness were all on display.
If you can name a match from the past decade that was better than this one, you’re entirely wrong. It ended in a fifth-set tiebreaker at 12-12. Federer’s forehand hit went far out of court, giving Djokovic his fifth ever Wimbledon title. It ended the greatest match of tennis in recent memory and gave the fans the treat of seeing two titans face off. In the end, someone had to lose, and Djokovic showed that he’s built for this. This match is the crown jewel of tennis in 2019.
Business as Usual: Simone Biles Dominates Gymnastics World Championships in Convincing Fashion
After taking the world by storm in the Olympic Games, Simone Biles made 2019 her year. It’s crazy that at 22, Biles can already be considered the greatest of all-time in her sport. At the 49th FIG Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Stuttgart, Germany, Biles continued to drop jaws. The highlight of her performance was an amazing triple-twisting double back-flip floor in addition to dismounting the team into a double-twisting double back-flip. Reading that was probably more of a whirlwind than the moves themselves. Nevertheless, that was the greatness displayed by Biles.
By the end of the event, Biles secured gold in five of her six events. That put her career total at 25 (19 gold) which passed Vitaly Scherbo for the most all-time at World Championships. Biles elevated herself to be the most decorated gymnast of all-time this year, and it’s worth taking note. Her greatness lies in her poise and moves which translate to pure gold around her neck. Biles is one of the greatest athletes of her time.
World Series Champions: Stephen Strasburg Leads Nationals to First-Ever World Series Crown
After starting the season with a 19-31 record, the Nationals’ chances to win the World Series were just one percent. No one had faith in this team. Bryce Harper departed from the team in the offseason. Somehow, the Nationals managed to pick themselves up to a 93-69 record and a playoff berth. Even though Washington had made the playoffs, to many, they were going to have an early exit. That’s when they started to grab everyone’s attention.
They handled their business in the Wild Card round with a 4-3 victory over the Brewers which was the start of Stephen Strasburg’s impressive campaign. The Nationals went on to win a pivotal Game 5 against Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers to send them home in the NLDS. With the World Series in their sights, the Nationals had only the Cardinals to worry about. That proved to be no problem. They swept St. Louis, creating one of the best postseason stories you’ll ever see.
The World Series pit the Nationals against the Astros who were everyone’s favorites going into it. Little did everyone know, the Nationals were no fluke. And, in a seven-game thriller, the Nationals took down the Astros to capture their first-ever World Series crown. It was the first time that the road team won every game of a World Series. The Nationals scored all of their runs in the final three innings, showing how close this series really was.
As mentioned previously, the Nationals were led by Stephen Strasburg who was crowned World Series MVP. He won 18 games in the regular season which translated to an undefeated record in the playoffs and a 1.98 ERA. No one would’ve thought that a team that started off 19-31 would win the World Series. What makes the moment even more beautiful is the fact that the Nationals lost their best player in the offseason, Bryce Harper.
Everything was against the Nationals, but somehow, they overcame the challenges. Winning the World Series will always be a huge moment in sports for the year. However, this team went through tough trials and tribulations that make this championship win that much sweeter.
2019 was just an amazing year for sports. I’m sure I missed some standout moments from the year. Nevertheless, these are the ones that stood out for me. Both on the field and off it, sports continue to have a huge impact on the world. 2020 will be the start of a new decade, but it’s the continuation of the greatness, emotion, blood, sweat, and tears that go into the beauty that is sports.
What was your favorite moment in sports from 2019? Let me know on my social media. No matter how you start or end the year, always remember: Per Sources Misses Nothing.
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