A lot has happened in 2017 in the world of sports. With only a little less than a month left in the year, let us take a trip down memory lane and look at the top sports stories and memories of the year.
Houston Astros win World Series
The Houston Astros won their first World Series after defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers in seven games. I think it is safe to say that, unless you were a Dodgers fan, you were rooting for Houston. I have liked Houston, a small market team that develops their players and builds their team as long as I can remember.
This year, there was a special meaning with the Astros doing as well as they did and getting the whole all of MLB behind them.
As we all know, Houston suffered major city damage after being hit by Hurricane Harvey in late August. The Astros gave the city of Houston a distraction from the devastation and gave them something to rally around and come together and enjoy as a city.
J.J. Watt
Staying in Houston, Texans defensive end J.J. Watt made a huge contribution to the city of Houston when he was able to raise $37 million in Hurricane Harvey relief funds. Watt says that $30.15 million will go to AmeriCares, Feeding America, SBP and Save the Children to be distributed over the next 18 to 24 months. The remaining $7 million will be set aside for distribution in 2018 after assessing and analyzing future relief efforts.
Watt suffered a season ending tibial plateau fracture in Week 5 and was not able to help the city heal with his play on the field.
Both Watt and Jose Altuve, of the Astros, received the Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year award on Tuesday, Dec. 5.
Bridgewater is back on the field
Guess who’s back, back again. Teddy’s back, tell a friend.
Yes, I used an Eminem parody, what are you going to do about it?
Anyway, back to the story.
On Nov. 8, Minnesota quarterback Teddy Bridgewater was removed from the injured reserve and was cleared to return to live action. He was originally cleared to return to practice on Oct. 16.
Bridgewater missed the whole 2016 season after he dislocated his knee and tore his ACL on a non-contact play. He very possibly could have lost his leg if it wasn’t for the team doctors and trainers responding as quickly as they did.
Even though he hasn’t stepped on the field during game time, it is still great to see him suit up, and just knowing he could play brings joy to any sports fan.
Super Bowl LI
Atlanta, you cost me a case of root beer on this one. (Editor’s Note: Thank you very much, it was very good).
The Atlanta Falcons were up 28-3 with 6:03 left in the third and the New England Patriots would come back and win in overtime 34-28. Tom Brady was named Super Bowl MVP as he would win his fifth Super Bowl of his career.
Seriously Atlanta, run the ball! Didn’t you learn from Seattle? Even though the situation was different, the answer was still the same. Run the ball, run out the clock and take home the ring.
Honorable mention
The United States Men’s National Team failed to qualify for the World Cup. In an nation of 321 million people, the United States could not make the World Cup. Iceland qualified, and they have a population of 334,000. That is the same size as Santa Anna, California.