Top Ten Best & Worst of Sports Year 2008

Dec. 28, 2008, 7 p.m. - 10. Thumbs up to Tiger Woods for another consistently breakout year in the PGA leaving everyone else in his dust. He reached #2 on Forbes top 100 celebrities list ranked by power and earnings for the year. In 2008 Tiger won his ninth PGA Player of the Year award and a seventh Vardon Trophy (given to the PGA Tour's leader in scoring average) and was the top money winner for an eighth time. He added the inaugural FedEx Cup to his credit adding a additional $10 million dollar payday. Off the links he parted ways with American Express after a decade together but before your cry for Tiger he still has big contracts with Nike, Accenture, Buick, Gillette and a five-year agreement for his own line of Gatorade drinks. I predict Tiger will claw his way into more money and success once his injury is fully healed. That’s when the party will be over for all those who flourished in his absence.

9. Thumbs down to the disorganized and horrible performance of the US Olympic Track Team in Beijing, China this year. Add another thumb down of shame if you want to include the prison release of disgraced steroid abusing track star Marion Jones. For a team that billed itself the world's best it is the first time since 1976 that the United States has competed and failed to win a sprint title at an Olympic Game. Who can remember that far back with all of the misery we are left with this time around. A few of the low lights include relay botches by both the men's and women's 4x100 metres teams. Heavy favorites Sanya Richards and Lolo Jones lost miserably as well. Richards, dominant in the 400 meters this season with a string of victories in big international meets, was in control of the Olympic final on the home straight when her right hamstring gave way. She pushed to the finish line but not before being passed by 2007 world champion Christine Ohuruogu of Great Britain and Shericka Williams of Jamaica settling for the bronze. It actually got worse with Jones as she had the best time in the world this season in the 100-meter hurdles and was leading the final before hitting the ninth hurdle with her right leg, losing her balance and staggering across the line to seventh place. The men were equally as bad as they were blown out of the water by the Jamaicans pretty much across the board. US track officials are promising to meet and get this straight before 2012. I say start now and study hard because you will need all the time you can muster to turn this debacle around before London.

8. Thumbs up to the fall movie release of 'The Express,' featuring the life and times of Ernie Davis. This is a story that needed to be told and heard by so many Blacks who take professional and collegiate football scholarship and participation for granted. It was not too far back in history when Ernest R. Davis, commonly known as Ernie, was one of the best running backs ever to play college football. He followed the legendary Jim Brown to Syracuse University, where he led the Orangemen to a national championship in 1959 and in 1961 he became the first African American to be awarded the Heisman Trophy -- the college version of the Superbowl MVP. The movie touched on some but not all of the indignities Davis experienced breaking another color barrier for other athlete’s to follow. After signing an historic contract toward a promising career with the NFL’s Cleveland Browns Davis was struck with leukemia. He never played in a single NFL game and died May 18, 1963 at the age of 23. Now many others young and old can join those who remember Davis as a superior athlete and a young man who lived and died with dignity, grace and compassion. This was a story worth telling in theaters and one that deserved to be told worldwide.

7. Thumbs down to the dwindling number of NCAA Black College Coaches and each year seems to create a worse scenario for Blacks seeking to lead a collegiate team. Some are calling for the NCAA to mirror the NFL by adopting policies requiring minorities be interviewed for any new head coach openings. Days after the election of the country's first black president a study was released revealing the number of African-American coaches in major college football is not growing. With the recent dismissals of Ty Willingham at Washington and Ron Prince at Kansas State, the number of black head coaches in the 119-school NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision was reduced to four. That’s right, I said FOUR, not a misprint! In 1997 there were eight black head coaches the most in history. In 1993 and 2005, there were only three. How about these numbers for lack of progress, 55 percent of all student athletes are minorities. Still think there is no need for affirmative action? The report by The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport at the University of Central Florida polled every major college on the ethnicity of its coaches, athletic directors, presidents, faculty, student athletes and NCAA faculty representatives to compile the data. Happy for the new president elect but we still have not found a way to overcome the obvious barriers to players leaving the gridiron or court and returning to athletics as a head coach. Maybe we need a national commission on this issue to find some change we can believe in!

6. Thumbs up to the world’s fastest man, Jamaica’s Usain Bolt. Jamaican athletes swept all four individual sprints with Usain Bolt setting world records in the men's 100 and 200 metres. According to American sprinter Lauryn Williams “They (Jamaica) brought their A-game. I don't know where we left ours.” Bolt left Beijing with three Olympic gold medals, three world records and like the USA’s Michael Phelps became a new global superstar. American star of the ’96 Atlanta Olympics Michael Johnson names Bolt as athlete of the year saying “You could argue that other people have done incredible things during 2008, but in an Olympic year it almost always comes down to Olympic athletes as my choice for athlete of the year (it’s Bolt), because there is no more difficult title to achieve and no more pressure-packed environment.” Johnson adds that it means not only being in peak physical condition at the Games themselves, but in the case of many of the athletes like Bolt, having to go through grueling trials in which only the top three finalists in that athletes national championship even gets the opportunity to participate in the Olympics. After all that -- the athlete has to make it to the Olympics healthy! Before the Olympics Bolt broke the 100 metre world record in June at the Reebok Invitational in New York, running an impressive 9.72 to break the previous record held by countryman Asafa Powell. The next step was to make the Jamaican Olympic team, which would require him to finish in the top three places in the 100m and 200m at the Jamaican trials. Bolt won both defeating Powell who has broken or equaled the world record four times in his career. Once in Beijing Bolt was nothing shy of brilliant. First was the 100m, which was billed potentially as one of the greatest sprint showdowns of all time with Bolt, Powell, and World Champion Tyson Gay. An injured Gay did not make it into the final and Powell finished outside the medals. But Bolt still put on the greatest 100m performance ever. Bolt at 6 feet 5, broke from the blocks leveled with the other competitors despite their advantage with shorter legs for the drive out of the blocks. At 30m Bolt was upright and in full stride. From 30-55m, he opened up a two metre gap. He pressed with 100 per cent effort for another 10 metres and added another couple of metres. And if winning the 100m final just over half way through wasn't enough, he still broke the world record by three hundredths of a second. Bolt followed that up with another gold medal world record combination performance in the 200m to become only the sixth man in history to complete the sprint double. That 200m record, which belonged to Michael Johnson had stood for 12 years. With little resistance one could argue Usain Bolt is the athlete of the year.

5. Thumbs down to the continuing saga of Adam Pacman Jones who can’t seem to stay out of headlines with his off the field antics even after being indefinitely banned from the National Football League in 2007 for violating the league’s personal conduct policy and reinstated in 2008 gaining another lucky break. Jones in some form or fashion has been arrested six times since being drafted by Tennessee in 2005 and there are other reports (AP) saying he has been involved in 12 incidents requiring police assistance since that time. The year began with reports that an arrest warrant had been filed for Pacman Jones in Atlanta after he was accused of striking an Atlanta defense attorney at a strip club around 3 a.m. It was eventually dropped but there was more to come. He was cut by the Titans and picked up by Dallas. Jones then announced he wanted to be known by his real name, Adam rather than his nickname claiming he wanted to do better and distance himself from a history of trouble and arrests. The name change brought little difference in his behavior. He made headlines again, although not to his doing when controversial radio talk show host Don Imus made a reference to him on air during a conversation about how many times Jones had been arrested with on air comments like “He’s Black. There you go.” Imus later explained that his remark referenced how Blacks are often profiled and arrested more often by police. One of Jones’ incidents involved a felony arrest warrant for failing to repay $20,000 in gambling debts to Caesars Palace. The warrant alleged Jones had not paid back three markers, two for $5,000 each and one for $10,000. On Oct. 7, only six weeks after being reinstated to the NFL he got into an alcohol-related scuffle with one of his bodyguards during a private party at an upscale Dallas hotel. The bodyguard was part of a security detail employed by the team to help keep the player out of trouble. Goodell suspended Jones indefinitely again a week later as a result of his most recent violation of the NFL Personal Conduct Policy. After a six game suspension, Jones returned to the field in December and is down to what many believe will be his last chance. The Cowboys defensive back must strictly adhere to the terms of his reinstatement and any missteps will lead to a lifetime ban from the NFL. Commissioner Roger Goodell relied on the recommendations of clinical specialists who oversaw Jones' 30 days in a rehab facility when deciding to reinstate him from his latest suspension. Jones must now continue intensive rehab and counseling on an outpatient basis. Even a missed appointment will mean the end of Jones' troubled career.

4. A big Thumbs up to Venus Williams approaching her 15th season and still dominant proving it ain’t over til its over! Both Williams sisters are pulling in over 18 million each in career earnings not including endorsement money but big sister Venus Williams had a comeback year earning her fifth Wimbledon championship (and seventh Slam overall) in 2008 with Martina Navratilova insisting Venus Williams deserves her place in the pantheon of Wimbledon greats after she defeated sister Serena to capture a fifth crown. The nine times champion believes the match finally silenced the critics who felt the career of the elder Williams sister was in terminal decline. Venus' back-to-back victories at the All England Club saw her become one of only four players in the modern era to lift the trophy on at least five occasions putting the 28-year-old in a group representing the likes of Navratilova, Billie Jean King and Steffi Graf. The win also put to rest conspiracy theorists who felt the showdown with her younger sibling would be an outcome decided before a ball was even struck. Many of the 15 matches between the two had been forgettable events and oddly one sided affairs favoring one sibling or the other. But anyone who doubted the validity of this encounter only had to witness the disappointment on Serena's face at the end of the competitive match. Navratilova also feels Serena can re-establish herself at the forefront of the women's game but stated even stronger beliefs for Venus. "By beating her sister, Venus has joined the small group of women to have won a Grand Slam tournament five times but in my opinion she has been a great champion for a long time. What sets this triumph apart is that Venus, the reigning champion, defended her title when really it looked like her career was over. A couple of years ago you thought she's finished because she had other business interests and was struggling with injury. I thought maybe Serena can make a comeback but Venus is probably going to focus on her fashion interests or do something else. But here she is winning back-to-back Wimbledon titles.” Despite what some haters have said, both sisters are still enjoying the game and on a path to get back to the top breathing new life into the women's game. The sisters’ dominance also continued in doubles as they also won the women’s title at Wimbledon.

3. Thumbs down to the senseless shooting of Jacksonville Jaguars’ offensive tackle Richard Collier who was critically wounded in September outside an apartment building as he and a former teammate waited for two women they had met at a nightclub. Collier, 26, and ex-Jaguars defensive end Kenneth Pettway, 25, were waiting in a Cadillac Escalade when a gunman fired into the vehicle. The 6-foot-7, 345-pound Collier was shot 14 times suffering bullet wounds to the back, left groin, left legs and right buttock. In addition, a bullet severed his spinal cord, paralyzing him from the waist down. He languished in critical condition and fighting for his life at Shands Jacksonville Medical Center. Head coach Del Rio said the organization paused, taking a break from preparing for the season opener at Tennessee to focus on what he called "a very unfortunate incident, really, really a shame. All we can do right now is pray for healing." The motive behind the attack stayed unknown for a long time as the investigation dragged on for months. Collier and Pettway had gone to the apartment complex so the women could drop off their car authorities said. Eventually Collier improved but found that too much damaged had been done to his left leg and it was amputated as the result of blood clots ending what had been a promising football career and an American story of overcoming rags to riches. In October a man authorities say was seeking revenge was arrested in the shooting. Police arrested 32-year-old Tyrone Romaro Hartsfield and charged him with attempted murder. Hartsfield is being held in the Duval County Jail without bail. Police say Hartsfield wanted revenge after he and Collier fought in April outside a nightclub. Collier was the third league player to be shot in the last two years. Sean Taylor of the Washington Redskins was fatally shot during what police said was a botched burglary attempt at his Miami-area home in November last year. Denver cornerback Darrent Williams was killed when his rented limousine was sprayed with bullets minutes after leaving a New Year's party at a club in 2007. Collier returned to the field in December for the first time since he became the victim of a shooting after being released from the hospital. At the Jaguars' last home game he took the field in front of 60,000 fans, all of whom were on their feet chanting Collier's name. As honorary captain Collier took part in the coin toss, which he won. "Oh, it's incredible. I haven't been on the field since August. I got chills. I still got chills," Collier said. "I've never had my name chanted before," He said returning to the stadium was bittersweet and although he was doing OK, he would of course rather be on the field making big plays. Collier said he even got a bit nervous before coming to the game. He said he has learned something and wanted to share some inspirational words with his teammates before the game. "I was telling people, believe it or not this is the happiest I've been in my whole life. I've learned a lot and I've grown from this situation and I've surprised myself coming out of it. I feel really good," Collier said. "If had anything to say, just live your life because it's short. Enjoy life." The Jaguar said he would not have been able to get through his situation without all of the prayers and support from his teammates and the fans. According to Collier, one of the assistant coaches told him that every night his two young daughters have added him to their prayers. He said prayers from the entire city of Jacksonville are part of the reasons he has been able to get by saying he will be a lifelong Jaguar and will return to the stadium next season.

2. Thumbs up to Myron Rolle proving that President-Elect Barack Obama is not the only smart brother who can reach an impossible dream this year. Like Obama, the Florida State safety is that once-in-a-generation type becoming only one of 32 Rhodes scholars in 2008, completing his undergraduate degree in record time and becoming a top athlete all while smashing stereotypes of the dumb Black athlete with no options but ball. His interview for the scholarship was originally scheduled at the same time Florida State was to play at Maryland. The NCAA decided to allow Rolle to take a chartered plane from his interview in Birmingham, Alabama to College Park, Maryland. He was awarded the scholarship less than three hours before the Florida State vs. Maryland game. The sports world gazed in amazement as Rolle interviewed for the award, won it and then took the field joining his teammates for the second half of the victory…talk about multitasking at its highest level. Rolle, who aspires to be a neurosurgeon and build clinics in his parents' native Bahamas, is also a potential first-round NFL draft pick. If he decided to play in the NFL, he'll follow in the footsteps of but a few well-known athletes who won Rhodes Scholarships. He graduated from Florida State University after only 2.5 years majoring in Exercise Sciences with a concentration in Pre-Med and is currently completing a Master of Public Administration degree. He became the fourth Florida State student and second school athlete to receive the honor, as well as the only FSU football player to achieve this accomplishment. Rolle has reportedly announced his intentions to forgo his senior season of eligibility and the NFL to study at Oxford, where he intends to study medical anthropology. Good ball playing runs in the family genes as he is also reportedly the cousin of Samari Rolle who plays for the Baltimore Ravens.

1. Thumbs down to OJ Simpson so we can finally put an end to this drawn out and sad American sports tragedy and hopefully 2008 will see us close the final chapter for good. Few would believe it to be true if it were played out on the big screen adapted from a work of fiction. But it is all too real as the former football hero and Heisman trophy winner was accused of violently taking two lives 13 years ago, acquitted in a botched trial with no one serving time for the act resulting in vicious and ongoing retribution of the freed defendant with an obvious set up that followed and an unsympathetic fall guy in one OJ Simpson who will spend around 15 years in prison for basically trying to steal his own property. No one’s imagination is vivid enough to write this saga even under the best circumstances. I am not saying Simpson has the right to steal his own property but the punishment should fit the crime if the system works and justice is served. Unlike the previous trial it was hard to find a victim to latch onto as the ones in this case were accused thieves who stole Simpson’s merchandise and escaped the “retrieval” with few bumps and bruises to show for it. In fact there is no investigation I am aware of taking place to find out how the merchandise came into their possession. None the less Simpson, who should have stayed quiet and low key in Florida, but much like Adam Pacman Jones does not know how to fly under the radar of trouble. It seems to follow him each time he moves or opens his mouth and because of the outrage that followed his previous acquittal he finds himself facing the rest of his life in prison. But unlike his first trial, every step of the kidnapping and assault case was conveniently captured on video or audio tape. Even the post event conversations between the accused and accuser were recorded. Unbelievable! OJ Simpson enjoyed a very successful collegiate and professional football career that afforded him all the trappings of success and wealth. Somewhere from the gridiron to the jailhouse he took some very wrong turns and he will have a lot of time to think about it as he serves out his sentence. I just hope 2008 is the last chapter but with OJ, you can never tell.