By Jon Fucile
Special contributor for WickedGoodSports.com
As the clock ticks down on 2010, we started to think about what a great year it has been for sports. We saw stories of heartbreak, triumph, dreams realized and nude pics while wearing Crocs.
Before we kiss 2010 goodbye and usher in the first year in a long time where it is going to be super hard to make those New Years glasses with two zeros for eye holes, we thought wed take a look back at some of the biggest sports stories of 2010.
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Drew Brees Leads the New Orleans Saints to Superbowl Glory
According to what the announcers said every five seconds during the Superbowl broadcast, New Orleans had angered some lady named Katrina and she messed up the city something fierce.
Still recovering years later, Brees and the Saints gave the city a huge boost when they defeated Peyton Manning and the Colts to win the Superbowl. The city proceeded to steal partying ideas from some other city I cant think of by celebrating like it was Mardi Gras
Having seen what the Superbowl victory meant to the city of New Orleans, Drew Brees jumped into a time machine and battled the Natural Disasters in a WWF ring:
He also joined the cast of Storm Chasers, vowing to never let Mother Nature have her way with his city again.
Brett Favre Gets Some Advice From Another Fallen Star
Brett Favre had a great year. He cried a river while talking about retirement. Again. He blew the NFC championship for the Vikings, throwing unnecessary interceptions at key moments. Again.
Then word came out that while he was with the New York Jets he may or may not have sent his Playgirl audition pictures to sideline reporter Jenn Sterger.
Yes, the wholesome, likeable Brett Favre texted naughty, naughty pictures to a lady who was not his wife. Of course, his either very gullible or very naive wife went on talk shows and said Bretty meant to send her the pics, despite several voicemails on Stergers phone that sounded suspiciously like Favre.
With his image on the line, Favre went to the one man he knew could help him: Tiger Woods.
Woods of course, wasnt much help but was certainly there for his new friend at a tearful press conference where Favre claimed it was not his fault because they dont have cell phones yet in the south and he did not know how to properly send pictures.
Chris Pronger Steals Pucks and Perfect Game
NHL villain and resident trouble maker Chris Pronger decided to deflect attention from his teams poor performance in Games 1 and 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals against Chicago the best way he knew how by being a big jerk.
Pronger repeatedly stole game pucks so the Blackhawks could not have them in a move that had media and fans focusing less on the Phillys 0-2 hole to start the series and more on Prongers antics. The tactic worked, temporarily anyway, as the Flyers fought back to tie the series 2-2 before ultimately losing in six games.
However, the high of stealing and angering entire cities got to Pronger and he made his way to a Detroit Tigers game. He beat up an umpire and donned the uniform. Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga was in the midst of a perfect game when Pronger struck.
A play at first, where the base runner was clearly out, should have been a simple call. Safe! was the call from Pronger, as his devilish laugh filled the air. With that simple move, he had stolen Galarragas perfect game.
Michael Vick Returns to Glory
Vicks story needs little reviewing. He was super mean and super stupid to dogs, spent some time in jail, and made his return to the NFL. His first season back, he was used sparingly but an injury to starter Kevin Kolb in 2010 gave Vick and opportunity. In true Vick football fashion, he ran with it.
Vick looked like the Vick of old with slightly better accuracy, and guided the Eagles to a playoff berth. But that was not his only return. No, Vick also made a dramatic report to the one sport he always held above all others: Dog sled racing.
Chemistry, Heart Wins over Salary in World Series
Red Sox Fans and Yankees Fans are in an eternal argument about who is better, and much of that is focused on whoever happens to have the highest salary. If the Yankees win a World Series, Red Sox fans say it was because the Yanks had the highest payroll, ignoring the fact the Red Sox are in second.
If the Red Sox win the World Series, Yankees fans claim they bought it or had the help of steroids, ignoring their own payroll and the fact that everyone in baseball iswas on steroids. Both often seem to ignore the fact that chemistry, skill and a little bit of luck are more important than who can spend the most.
The San Francisco Giants, 10th in the MLB in payroll last season, won the World Series with a team that loved playing with and for each other. Their pitching staff wasnt too shabby either.
The Red Sox had injuries. The Yankees looked like a team of individuals. And in the end it was the Giants and the Rangers battling for a world championship. Money doesnt always buy wins. It just buys players.
Ryan Miller Goes from Hero to Goat
Team USA was a surprising force at the Olympics, fueled by a super human Ryan Miller. The feisty USA squad upset the Canadians early in the tournament before eventually losing to the canucks in the gold medal game.
Miller was insane the entire tournament, embarrassing shooters from around the world with his timely saves and cat like reflexes. However, in overtime of the highly anticipated rematch Sidney Crosby found Millers weakness a simple shot through the five hole.
This was not the first time Crosby found himself with a game on the line against Miller. Crosby beat Miller in a shootout at the first official Winter Classic on a very similar move. Apparently Miller neglected to learn his lesson and he quickly went from savior to goat for USA hockey.
On the bright side, theres always next yea. Oh.
Reggie Bush Loses His Trophy
Before being a disappointing running back for the New Orleans Saints, Reggie Bush was a Heisman winning college stud. But in 2010 he would be forced to give back that funny trophy with the stiff arming man.
Bush was accused of receiving money and various other benefits while in college, a direct violation of NCAA rules. But really, who can be expected to pay attention to rules? So there was talk of making Bush give back the trophy.
The final straw was Bushs relationship with Kim Kardashian. Not only was she ruining tons of other TV shows and channels but now she was on camera any time the Saints had a game. Once sports were claimed as a victim of one of the most annoying women of all time, Bush was forced to give back his trophy.
Bush had other plans, however, and took a page out of Shooter McGavins book and ran like hell, never to be heard from again.
2010 was certainly an interesting year for sports and these were only a few of our favorite stories. We also had the Canadians womens ice hockey team get blasted for celebrating like they won a gold medal, after they had won the gold medal.
Also, the Chicago Blackhawks ended their Stanley Cup drought in the most anti-climatic game in recent memory. Kobe Bryant and the Lakers watched as the Celtics beat themselves. What a year! Hopefully 2011 is just as fun.