Happy New Year from the b5media Sports Channel

In the spirit of channel-wide good cheer, let’s take a look back at some of the best (and worst) of 2007 and a quick peek ahead to 2008 . . . brought to you by b5 Sports Channel bloggers. Uncork the bubbly (go ahead, start now—we won’t tell!) and enjoy.

BCS Frenzy: The Five Best Sports Video Games of 2007

BCS Frenzy: The Ten Hottest Quarterbacks of 2007

Gossip on Sports: Best and Worst of Sports in 2007, Part I (Hey, that’s US!)

Gossip on Sports: Best and Worst of Sports in 2007, Part II (Hey, that’s us, too!)

Hockey Beat: Top NHL Plays of 2007

Hoops Fantasy: Top Ten Breakout Players for 2008

Knuckle Curve: Looking Back on 2007

The Fantasy Kickoff: Top Ten Fantasy Football Surprises of 2007

The Footie: Best Soccer Goals of 2007

More from: The b5media Sports Channel

Post from: EveryJoe

It’s Almost Time for the Countdown!

BEST

Tackle: This one is not only easy, it’s a post-Christmas gift to bloggers and bloggerettes everywhere. NFL official James Quirk pulled down linebacker Nick Barnett of the Green Bay Packers in the December 23 game against the Chicago Bears. Quirk got fined $8,150 for the incident, but at least he got a shout-out from Gossip on Sports.

(Photo by Frank Pollich, Reuters) 

Rant, First Place: This distinction goes to none other than Oklahoma State football coach Mike Gundy. At this point, the only thing worth remembering is that he was upset at a reporter for dissing one of his players. The rant took place in a press con, but the funny stuff came later. One example is this laugh-out-loud phone prank (3m, 09s). (This is YouTube, but it’s audio).

Rant, Second Place: Were it not for the Gundy parodies, this Phillip Wellman tantrum would have taken top honors. Behold, the Mississippi Braves manager in the video seen ’round the Internet (1m, 10s):

Answer to the so-called “Spygate”: Why, New York Jets coach Eric Mangini’s own little filming gig, curiously underplayed when the story broke several weeks ago. Seems Coach Belichick’s long-lost bud videotaped at the Pats’ Gillette Stadium in January 2006 during playoffs. Mangini says the Jets had permission, Belichick pulled a “WTF? News to us,” and the conspiracy theory known as Spygate slipped into the annals of irrelevant “history.”

WORST

Attempt to Mar a Team’s Achievements: Why, the so-called “Spygate,” of course. Did you notice how the whole thing was swept under the rug pretty quickly? Chances are Commissioner Roger Goodell got an NFL, ”guess who’s doing it” equivalent of the Mitchell Report and that was that.

Choke: That would be the New York Yankees in the ALCS versus Cleveland Indians. Apparently Steinbrenner & Co. didn’t think they were getting the best bang for their payroll bucks because they also get the nod for the worst . . .

Example of Throwing Someone Under the Bus: That, too, goes to the Yankees for showing manager Joe Torre the door. This Sox fan doesn’t hesitate to acknowledge what a class act Torre was (and is), and we’re happy to see that he landed on his feet with the Dodgers.

Stay tuned for Part II . . .

Post from: EveryJoe

Best and Worst of Sports in 2007, Part I