OK, so what else happened this year besides LeBron James moving west, another NBA title for the Golden State Warriors, Philadelphia's Eagles flying home with a Super Bowl, the Boston Red Sox winning another World Series, the Washington Capitals swigging the Stanley Cup, players taking a knee, and Colin Kaepernick does TV commercials instead of playing football?
- Larry Nasser, who was a team physician for USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University, is off to prison for sexually assaulting female athletes. Because of what this man did (and the many gymnasts who were brave enough to point him out in court), women and young girls will think twice before ever trusting their bodies to team doctors again. And unless your name is Simone Biles, the future of gymnastics in this country is in peril.
- Serena Williams, who pretty much is women's tennis these days, amazed the world with her comeback from a difficult pregnancy, She also alienated a lot of folks for her meltdown at the finals of the U.S. Open, losing points for alleged cheating and the match to newcomer Naomi Osaka.
- Even though the PGA Tour promotes its golfers in its ads as "these guys are good", there's only one who still draws crowds and spikes tournament TV ratings whenever he plays: Tiger Woods. After a decade of injuries and scandal, Woods became relevant again in winning the Tour Championship. Meanwhile, Brooks Koepka won two of the four golf majors this year (U.S. Open and PGA Championship). He's good, too.
- The U.S. Supreme Court in April struck down a 1992 federal law prohibiting states from legalizing sports betting. Who this benefits other than casinos in Las Vegas and states hoping to cash in on the possible tax revenue is hard to say. But we won't be looking at the final score the same way again.
- After the Vegas Golden Knights went to the Stanley Cup finals in their first season, the National Hockey League is hoping lightning strikes again in Seattle. That's when an expansion team will hit the ice come 2021. The enthusiasm for hockey might be there, but one wonders if the folks in the Emerald City would prefer to see the NBA Sonics return.
In Minnesota, departures were the big story.
- Lindsay Whalen ended her long playing career that included a Women's Final Four appearance as a Minnesota Gopher, gold medals as part of the U.S. Olympic women's basketball team, and four WNBA titles with the Minnesota Lynx. Whalen has returned to her alma mater as the new Gopher women's basketball coach, and so far her team is doing very well.
- Joe Mauer leaves behind a complicated legacy with his retirement as a Twins player after 15 seasons. As a catcher, he won the American League batting title (the only catcher to do so) and for being the league's most valuable player. When the Twins' fortunes soured, Mauer was moved to first base plagued by injuries and a massive contract that expired only last season. But he'll be remembered as the hometown boy from St. Paul who made good, and that's enough.
- After being a big pain in the butt in demanding to be traded at the start of the season, the Minnesota Timberwolves obliged Jimmy Butler with a trade to the Philadelphia 76ers, Since the trade, the Sixers are having a good season lodged in a playoff position (as of 12/28/18). The Wolves are struggling as an under-.500 team well short of making the playoffs.
PASSING ON: David Pearson, Willie McCovey, Dick Modzelewski, Paul Allen, Jim Taylor, Tex Winter, Dave Anderson, Stan Mikita, Tony Cloniger, Maria Bueno, Red Schoendienst, Dwight Clark, Carol Mann, Billy Cannon, Chuck Knox, Hal Greer, Rusty Staub, Roger Bannister, Ben Agajanian, Oscar Gamble, Warren Miller, Dan Guerney, Doug Harvey, Keith Jackson, Lee Leonard
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