By MARK KNUDSON
@MarkKnudson41
Many have labeled 2016 as the Greatest Sports Year ever, and the looks back at all those highlights are ongoing.
But now it’s time to look ahead to 2017. Break out the crystal ball: What amazing things will happen this year? Can we have another great sports year? Stay tuned…
ROMO IS SUPER BOWL HERO
February 5, Houston: Tony Romo comes off the bench in relief of an ineffective Dak Prescott and leads the Dallas Cowboys to a come-from-behind 35-31 win over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl VI. Entering the game late in the third quarter trailing 28-14, Romo leads three touchdown drives of 81, 58 and 76 yards to overcome another 300 yard passing game from Tom Brady and give the Cowboys their first Super Bowl title since 1995. After the game, Dallas Owner/General Manager Jerry Jones announces that Romo will be the Dallas starter in game one of the following season.
April 3, Glendale, Arizona: Cinderella goes back to back in college basketball. Following Villanova’s nail biting win in the 2016 title game, the Baylor Bears shock the college basketball world and bring some joy to a campus rocked by scandal by blowing out Duke 96-76 to capture the National Championship in Men’s Basketball. Jonathon Motley scores 22 points for the Bears, giving long time coach Scott Drew the big prize he sought when he took over the scandal-ridden program in 2003. When asked where this moment ranks in his coaching career, Drew replies, “Well…it’s better than winning the NIT.”
April 10, Chicago. The celebration of the Chicago Cubs first World Series title in more than a century continues during the defending champ’s home opener. Behind an outstanding effort from starter Jon Lester, and backed by home runs from Anthony Rizzo and Kyle Schwarber, the Cubs treat the Wrigley faithful to a thrilling 4-3 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Lester allows just five hits and two runs over seven innings, and shocks the baseball world by picking off the Dodgers Justin Turner to squelch a 6th inning LA rally. “I still hate throwing to first,” Lester said after the game, “but I figured I had to work on it over the off season.”
June 15, San Antonio: After vanquishing the “Super Team” from Golden State in the Western Conference finals, the San Antonio Spurs end the championship reign of the Cleveland Cavaliers with a shocking 106-103 win in game six of the NBA Finals, winning the series 4-2. LeBron James scores 40 points and adds 12 rebounds and 10 assists for the Cavs, but Kyrie Irving struggles from the field against the smothering defense of Kawhi Leonard. Irving’s bid to tie the game in the final seconds is blocked by Leonard, who adds 28 points, eight rebounds and three blocks. After the game, Tim Duncan announces he’s coming out of retirement to play just home games for the Spurs in 2017-2018.
TIGER TRIUMPH AT BRITISH OPEN
July 23, Southport, England. After playing well in both the Masters and the US Open, Tiger Woods returns to the top of the golf world by winning the 146th Open Championship with a sizzling -14 score at Royal Birkdale. Playing in the final pairing with the world’s top ranked player, Jason Day, Woods shoots a final round 66 to beat Day by three strokes. Second round leader Rory McElroy fades in the final round and finishes six strokes back. The win is Wood’s first since the 2013 WGC-Bridgestone invitational and his first “major” title since the 2008 US Open. Afterwards, when pressed about his immediate future and his quest to catch all-time leader Jack Nicklaus for career major titles, Woods says, “I’m going to take the rest of this year off to spend with my kids, and I’ll be back on the tour next January.”
SABAN AS NEW CZAR WAVES AT THE CROWD
September 2, Atlanta: After announcing that 2018 will be in his final season as the head coach at Alabama, Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide beat Florida State 31-24 in the Chick-fil-a College Kickoff game. Quarterback Jalen Hurts rushes for 112 yards and passes for 201 to lead the top-ranked Tide past the Seminoles. After the game, Saban resumes his efforts to persuade the NCAA to appoint him college football Czar prior to the 2018 season, saying “this sport lacks leadership at the top. We need to make college football great again.”
October 29, Cleveland: A year after the Chicago Cubs break their century-old curse, the Cleveland Indians topple another when they win the World Series in six game over the New York Mets. It’s Cleveland’s first World Series win since 1948, but the second major sports title for the city in two years. MVP Edwin Encarnacion belts five home runs in the six game series.The new President of the United States, Mike Pence, who threw out the ceremonial first pitch, praised the Indians after the game, saying “America needs more hard working heterosexual men like these as role models for our youth.”
November 23, Dallas: Quarterback Dak Prescott, benched in the Super Bowl win over New England at the end of last season, suffers a sprained ankle in the Cowboys 23-21 Thanksgiving Day win over Philadelphia. Having traded Tony Romo to Denver in the off season, Dallas turns to new backup Trevor Siemian, who does just enough – completing 12-of-16 passes for 84 yards with no interceptions – to allow the Cowboys to hold off the Eagles in the 4th quarter. “I want to thank Gary Kubiak for believing in me and drafting me when no one else would have,” Siemian says after the game. “I shouldn’t even be here.”
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#www.markknudsonsinsidepitch.com
Mark Knudson joined WoodyPaige.com in October. He’s a former standout pitcher at Colorado State and veteran of 12 years in professional baseball. Mark earned a Journalism degree from CSU while becoming a 3rd round draft pick of the Houston Astros and spending all or parts of eight seasons in Major League Baseball. During his career he was a member of the 1986 NL West champions before being traded to Milwaukee, where he tied for the team lead in starts and innings pitched in 1990 – including a pair of shutouts – and earned the Opening Day nod in 1991. He recorded wins over Nolan Ryan, Randy Johnson and Roger Clemens, three of the four members of the “4,000 strikeout club.” In 1993 he became the first Colorado native to play for the Colorado Rockies.After retiring, Mark returned to sports writing and broadcasting, working in radio and TV where he was selected by Boulder Daily Camera as “Best Sports Talk Show Host in Denver.” He was a feature writer and contributing editor for Mile High Sports Magazine, and currently contributes twice weekly columns for the Ft. Collins Coloradoan. This year marks Mark’s 19th as a Heisman Trophy voter.