We live in 2011, but you’ll swear the year is 2001 when you relive these moments. My, how the time has flown.
10. MJ can’t watch from the sidelines
After taking some time off from playing the game, Michael Jordan came back at the age of 38. Jordan went out in style as a champion with the Chicago Bulls, but he came back into the league as a Washington Wizard.
Critics knocked Jordan for returning to the NBA, but he still was amongst the best in the league. MJ put up 22.9 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game.
9. Suzuki from Japan to U.S., baseball world taken aback
It’s hard to forget the Ichiro of yesteryear. Nobody could fathom his speed and canon arm in 2001. He had a chance to reach first on every ground ball. Ichiro led the Mariners to 116 wins and he batted .350 with 56 stolen bases.
Suzuki won the American League Rookie of the Year award.
8. Baltimore’s defense swallows NFL Giants whole
The Ravens were the AFC Wild Card, but you’d have sworn they were the best in the NFL all year if you just watched the Superbowl. Baltimore won 34-7. Though Trent Dilfer wasn’t exactly the most dominate quarterback in the league, the Baltimore defense more than made up for their average quarterback.
Baltimore was loaded with stars—including Jamal Lewis, Priest Holmes, Ray Lewis, Peter Boulware, Tony Siragusa, Shannon Sharpe, Sam Adams, Rod Woodson, Chris McAlister, and Michael McCrary. The Giants—led by Tiki Barber, Kerry Collins, and Michael Strahan—didn’t have a prayer.
7. 76ers have no “answer” for Shaq & Kobe
Shaquille O’Neal played well with Dwyane Wade during his years in Miami, but no center-guard duo of recent memory can even come close to that of O’Neal-Bryant. The two combined to average 58 points per game.
Allen Iverson—one of the NBA’s most notable personalities— averaged 36 points per game, but he didn’t have much help. The Lakers won the series, 4-1.
6. Miami sends college football world in a Hurricane
Just look at some of the names—Clinton Portis, Andre Johnson, Najeh Davenport, Willis McGahee, Frank Gore, Vince Wilfork, Jonathan Vilma, D.J. Williams, Kellen Winslow II, Vernon Carey, Bryant McKinnie, Jeremy Shockey, Sean Taylor, Ed Reed. Is it any wonder nobody in the NCAA could touch Miami? The Hurricanes, led by head coach Larry Coker and quarterback Ken Dorsey, went 12-0.
Miami eventually took Nebraska down in the national championship, 37-14. The 2001 Hurricanes are considered one of the best college teams of all time.
5. Lance Armstrong lives strong
Though he was the face of cycling, Lance didn’t look to have a shot at the beginning of the 2001 Tour de France. His legacy was already sealed, but he wasn’t done writing it. Jan Ullrich, Armstrong’s rival, looked to have a firm grasp on the title. Armstrong was at the back of the pack and it didn’t appear that he would have the strength to mount a comeback.
However, he stood up on his bike and overtook the leaders in a shocking display of resilience. Armstrong claimed his third straight Tour de France title.
4. Tiger takes center stage
Tiger took home the 2001 Masters, and he also won the U.S. Open, British Open and PGA Championship in 294 days. The victories were not all compiled in the same calendar year, so it isn’t considered a real Grand Slam. However, with the victories in all four majors, Tiger became a top-tier celebrity. At 25 years old, he was officially the most popular man in golf.
Needless to say, Tiger’s life nowadays is a whole lot different. He may never be the player he once was, but in 2001, there was no telling what the future could be for Tiger Woods. He had everything going for him.
3. Borque gets his due
You couldn’t help but feel bad for Ray Borque. The guy had played 22 seasons and made an NHL-record 21 playoff appearances. Borque finally reached that which he had always chased—Lord Stanley. The Colorado Avalanche—led by Borque, Joe Sakic, Patrick Roy and Peter Forsberg—defeated New Jersey 3-1 in game seven of the finals.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman gave the tradition to Sakic, the team’s captain, as per tradition. Tradition would imply that Sakic then took the captain’s skate around the rink with the cup. Instead, he handed it to Borque. Borque took his final lap around the ice with his teammates following.
2. Death of a legend
I’m the furthest thing from a NASCAR fan, but I recognize when something legendary happens in the sport. Unfortunately, in 2001, something devastating happened that sports fans will not soon forget—Dale Earnhardt died in a final-lap collision at the Daytona 500. Earnhardt was the face of NASCAR.
His son, Dale Earnhardt Jr., dominated NASCAR that year in honor of his father.
1. Barry cranks number 71
Barry Bonds was as big a star as any in professional sports in 2001. When Bonds surpassed Mary McGwire’s single season home run record, the emotion flooded through Pac Bell Park. Bonds casually trotted around the bases as his team raced to meet him at home plate.
Though his appearance is now dramatically hindered because of performance enhancing supplements, Bonds was a beloved celebrity at the time.
The Spectrum: Sports Blog 