And now, here's what we didn't cover in 2017.
- LaVar Ball is one of those stage parents whose actions overshadowed the accomplishments of his children, making them all look like fools. Ball was the driving force behind eldest son Lonzo being the Los Angeles Lakers' top draft pick. His other two sons, LiAngelo and LaMelo, are playing for a pro basketball team in Lithuania. But that was only after LiAngelo and another UCLA teammate were caught shoplifting sunglasses in China while the team was there for exhibition games, They might still be there if President Trump, who was visiting Asia at the time, hadn't intervened to get them home. When the President insisted on being properly thanked for the gesture, Ball chose to pick a fight with him, resulting in Trump wishing he had just left the players in China. Whether it's promoting his overpriced sneakers and reality show, telling women to stay in their lane or clashing with his sons' coaches, the one thing LaVar Ball seems to be selling is LaVar Ball.
- The International Olympic Committee has banned Russia from the 2018 Winter Games, which are scheduled for South Korea in February, because of evidence that their athletes had been violating the IOC's anti-doping rules. This means the Russians really didn't win those medals on their own merits. Some of those athletes who tested clean will be allowed to participate, but only under the Olympic banner. While the rest of the world cheers this development, we shouldn't underestimate Russian President Vladimir Putin. If he can manipulate the results of a presidential election in the U.S., what's to stop him from trying the same thing at the Olympics?
- Like the NBA in recent years, baseball players have gotten in the habit of choosing to spend at least part of their careers with contending teams in big markets. Japanese star Shohei Ohtani, sought after by several teams, chose to go with the Los Angeles Angels, Slugger Giancarlo Stanton, using his no-trade clause to turn down offers from other teams, finally left the sinking ship that is the Miami Marlins to accept a trade with the New York Yankees. It didn't hurt that the guy who engineered the trade, former Yankees legend Derek Jeter, is now an executive of the Marlins.
- A pregnant Serena Williams sat out most of this year after winning the Australian Open. That left the door open for two African-Americans--Sloane Stephens and Madison Keys--to face each other in the U.S. Open women's final, with Stephens winning in straight sets. Guess that answers the question of where American tennis is headed in the post-Williams sisters era.
- Jordan Spieth continued his dominance in golf. Sergio Garcia finally won a major tournament by conquering Augusta National. Nobodies continued to win the other majors. And Tiger Woods is back out on the course, hoping not to throw out his back in the process.
Frank Lary, Tommy Nobis, Steve Jones, Jana Novotna, Pancho Segura, Roy Halliday, Connie Hawkins, Dave Strader, Bernie Casey, Jake LaMotta, Don Ohlmeyer, Gene Michael, Rollie Massimino, Jud Heathcote, Frank Broyles, Bryan Murray, Don Baylor, Ara Parseghian, Lee May, John Kundla, Bob Wolff, Babe Parilli, Frank Kush, Jimmy Piersall, Jack Mc Closkey, Roberto De Vicenzo, Frank Deford, Jim Bunning, Cortez Kennedy, Steve Palermo, Aaron Hernandez, Dan Rooney, Dallas Green, Jerry Krause, Charismatic, Mike Ilitch, Milt Schmidt, Ferdie Pacheco and Ralph Jon Fritz.
