The Top 5 Stories of 2009

In continuing with my Top 5 lists, next up is the top 5 stories that were the most influential in the sports world this year.

Some of these have personal reasons, other are somewhat no-brainers, all of them though shaped the way people thought about sports in the world for 2009.

#5 – Shaquille O’Neal to the Cavaliers.

After another disappointing end to the Cleveland Cavaliers NBA playoff run, the team looked for a way to improve. With the strong possibility that superstar Lebron James might leave when he becomes a free agent at the end of the season, the front office wanted to show James that they were making an effort to win a NBA Title.

The answer, Shaquille O’Neal. Acquired in a deal with the Phoenix Suns, the Cavaliers were hoping to rekindle some of the magic that Shaq had. The Cavaliers were hoping that the four NBA titles that O’Neal won with the Los Angeles Lakers and the Miami Heat would come true for the Cavaliers. They were hoping that the way O’Neal partnered with Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade would work the same way with Cleveland.

While it is still too early to tell O’Neal’s impact, the Cavaliers are 20-8 this season, leading the Central Division and 4th in the Eastern Conference.

#4 – The New York Yankees are World Series Champions once again

It had been quite some time sense the New York Yankees had been the best baseball team in the world. The last time the Yankees won the World Series was against the New York Mets in 2000. In that time, they had lost two World Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2001 and the Florida Marlins in 2004.

Up until this year, the Yankees were trying to rebuild their farm system, and in the process lower payroll. They also made several mistakes, putting millions of dollars in players such as Gary Sheffield and Carl Pavano. At the end of the 2007 season, they let long-time manager Joe Torre go, and replaced him with former Yankees’ catcher Joe Girardi.

After several years of playing mediocre baseball and missing the playoffs, it was back to the old way of doing things in New York. They spent millions of dollars on C.C. Sabathia, Mark Teixiera, and A.J. Burnett. Once Alex Rodriguez returned from hip surgery, the Yankees were well on their way.

Led by their big named players, the Yankees beat the defending champion Philadelphia Phillies to win the World Series. Ironically, the Yankees won the World Series in the inaugural year of the new Yankee Stadium.

#3 – Jeremy Mayfield’s banishment from NASCAR

It is rare that NASCAR would get talked about on top 5 stories list, but it has nothing to do with racing. Jeremy Mayfield was indefinitely suspended by NASCAR for failing a drug test, believed to be for methamphetamines. Mayfield, initially suspended on May 9 chose to be somewhat difficult over the suspension, decided to go the legal route to have his suspension overturned, rather than the general follow NASCAR’s guidelines.

NASCAR’s drug-testing policy quickly came under fire. The current system says that drivers or crew members are randomly tested throughout the season, and drivers are subject to additional testing if there is reasonable suspicion to test. A driver or crew member is suspended indefinitely from the sport for a positive test, and must follow strict guidelines to apply for reinstatement.

Mayfield filed a lawsuit against NASCAR, saying that he did not use methamphetamines and get his suspension overturned. A judge did overturn NASCAR’s suspension, allowing Mayfield to return to the track on July 1st.

However, not longer than two weeks later, Mayfield again tested positive for methamphetamines, with the judge reversing the intial order, placing Mayfield back on suspension. Mayfield continues to fight this in court, suing NASCAR, rather than following the rehabilitation guidelines.

Mayfield, who has been forced to sell most of his racing equipment to cover legal costs, has continued to deny the positive test, maintaining that it was the mix of Claritin and Adderall that sparked the positive. Mayfield has no intention of following NASCAR’s guidelines, and for all purposes, said that his career is over.

#2 – Concussions

Concussions have always been a major part of the game of football, but in 2009, it seemed that every week we were talking about some player suffering a concussion. Whether it is Ben Roethlisberger, Tim Tebow, or Brian Westbrook, concussions have been moved to the top of the list of things that must be fixed.

While it is seemingly a part of the game, the NFL has been trying to figure out ways to eliminate the frequency of concussions by creating rules and developing safety equipment to help lessen the effects. There might not be a way to eliminate them completely, the NFL and College Football are partnering with independent studies to try and figure out how to fix this problem.

#1 – Tiger Woods

Whether it is coming back from major knee surgery or everything that has happened in the last month, Tiger Woods was the #1 story in my book for the past year. Woods did not win a major tournament this year, but he won several tournaments in his return from his heroics at the 2008 U.S. Open. After every shot, Woods was in a lot of pain.

However, what puts Tiger at number one is the developments that all came to light in the last month. After his early morning accident the day after Thanksgiving, the media frenzy that has surrounded Woods was just beginning. Allegations of numerous extra-marital affairs were revealed, as one after another, women said they were one of Woods’ mistresses.

During this time, Woods has not been seen publicly, and is taking an indefinite leave from golf to save his family and marriage. His wife, Elin Nordegren, has said that she plans to move forward with a divorce. For the world’s number one golfer, the once poster-boy for every product on the market, is now spending his time fixing the image he has now tainted.