Happy New Year Sports Fans, before we turn the page on 2021 and get our popcorn ready for 2022.
Here are the Top 5 Sporting Moments of 2021.
#5 Tyson Fury Vs Deontay Wilder III (Boxing)
Fury and Wilder first fought in 2018 with the bout ending in a controversial split draw (115-111 Wilder, 114-112 Fury, & 113-113). The rematch took place on February 22, 2020 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Paradise, Nevada. Tyson Fury won this second match in the 7th round by technical knockout (TKO). After multiple cancellations due to the pandemic, injuries and a positive covid test, the trilogy fight finally took place on October 9th, 2021 once again in Nevada, this time at the T-Mobile Arena. This third fight between these Super Heavyweights did not disappoint. Wilder came out of the gates strong in the 1st round. Fury answered back and established his presence in Round 2. Fury caught Wilder with a right hook to the temple at the end of Round 3 sending him to the canvas. Wilder made it to his feet to survive the round. After going into defense mode in Round 4, Wilder caught Fury with a counter combination knocking Fury down twice in the round. Fury made it back to his feet both times. Moving into the later rounds Fury started to impose his dominance and began to take over the fight. After a knockdown in the 10th Round, Fury caught Wilder again with a clean right-hand flooring him once and for all – scoring an 11th Round (KO). Officially stamping his status as one of the best Heavyweight Boxers of his ERA – with an undefeated record of (31-0-1).
#4 Novak Djokovic 2021 ATP Season (Tennis)
In 2021 Novak Djokovic dominated the 4 Grand Slam events and cemented his ranking as the World’s number one player. In February he beat Daniil Medvedev of Russia (7-5,6-2,6-2) to win his record 9th Australian Open on hardcourt. In June he defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece in a marathon final in 5 sets (6-7,2-6,6-3,6-2,6-4) battling all the way back down 2-0, to win his 2nd French Open at Roland Garros in Paris on the slower, clay surface. In July, Novak beat Italian Matteo Berrettini in 4 sets (6-7,6-4,6-4,6-3) to win his 6th Wimbledon on grass surface and 20th Major (Grand Slam) overall. Tying him with other active Tennis legends Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal for the All-Time record. The fairy tale season was set-up perfectly at the US Open in September giving him a chance to win the Grand Slam and break the Major title record at the same time. Djokovic battled his way through the field and once again found himself in the Finals against Daniil Medvedev, who he had previously beat at the Australian Open Finals earlier in the year. Unfortunately the stars were not aligned that day and Novak lost in straight sets (6-4,6-4,6-4). Regardless, his 2021 Season will go down as one of the best ever. Once all the dust settles he in most fans eyes, will be regarded as the greatest of all-time!
#3 Shohei Ohtani (Baseball)
Major League Baseball has great pitchers. MLB Baseball has great hitters. However, since Hall Of Famer Babe Ruth in the early 1900’s – modern day Baseball has not seen a player like Shohei Ohtani (Aka) “Shotime”. In 2021 “Shotime” was selected to the MLB All-Star game as both a pitcher and hitter (DH), winning the American League MVP award with a unanimous selection. As a pitcher he finished the year with a 9-2 record, striking out 156 batters in just over 130 innings. He used 4 effective pitches including a blistering 101 MPH fastball, and his go to put away pitch, the split finger. As a batter Ohtani finished with (.257,.372,.592) averages, hitting 46 HR’s, driving in 100 RBI’s, scoring 103 runs and stealing 26 bases in 155 games and 609 plate appearances. This was one of the greatest seasons for a baseball player, ever!
#2 Giannis Antetokounmpo scores 50 Points in NBA Clinching Game (Basketball)
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s AKA (The Greek Freak) trophy case is full. He already had a league MVP, several All-Star, All-NBA and All Defense selections however he was missing the one trophy every NBA player is looking to receive. The Larry O’Brien Trophy which is giving to the Championship Team. Not only was Giannis able to add hardware to his trophy case. He did it in style with an amazing playoff run, capping it off with a NBA Finals MVP. The Greek Freak scored 50. Yes you heard me right. 50 points in the final game of the series. This after already having 2 previous 40 point game performances. Giannis finished the finals with an average stat line of (35.2 pts/13.2 trb/5.0 ast/1.2 stl/1.8 blk). His performance was definitely one of the best sporting moments of 2021.
#1 Tom Brady wins Super Bowl LV (Football)
After winning 6 Super Bowls alongside the man most consider to be the best coach ever in NFL history, Bill Belichick with the New England Patriots. Tom Brady wanted to prove that winning wasn’t solely because of the coach. He wanted history to show that the greatest football player ever had more clout – making a larger contribution to those 6 titles. Many observers would say well, if Brady didn’t have Belichick. After making the tough decision to leave New England and join a brand new team at 43 years old. Brady was a man on a mission. In his first year after leaving the Patriots, Brady guided his new team to the finals at Super Bowl LV, in his team’s home stadium in Tampa Bay, Florida. Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the previous champions Kansas City Chiefs and new star of the league Patrick Mahomes II easily 31-9 to win his 7th ring and solidify himself at the NFL GOAT!!!
Let me know which moments you have in your Top 5 in the comments section below
