2007 was a monumental year for Sports Central. We published over 500 original stories and had a record 3.4 million visits. As we head into 2008 and get ready to celebrate our 10th year online in August, let's pause and remember the most memorable stories we ran in 2007.
This is part one of a two-part series. If you're new to the site, you're sure to find some hidden gems in our archives, so enjoy and happy New Year!
January
The 2026-2027 NFL Season in Review — Sure, it's easy to recap an NFL season from just a few months ago. But try recapping one 20 years into the future. SC's Ryan Day predicts what the NFL will look like 20 years from now and tells us why the Oakland Raiders will never get any better.
The Booze, Banter, Betting Theory — How do you truly rate a sport's popularity with the fans? SC's Greg Wyshynski believes by measuring three important facets of the fan experience — Booze, Banter, and Betting — a sport's true virtues become evident. So what's soccer lacking?
The Top 10 Worst Super Bowl QBs — Peyton Manning is among the best QBs in history, and every fan wants to see what he'll do now that he's finally in the Super Bowl, but his counterpart, Rex Grossman, has been derided as possibly the worst QB in Super Bowl history. Here are 10 who might be worse.
February
Tiger vs. Federer — Roger Federer and Tiger Woods are clearly beyond any competition their respective sports have to offer. With that in mind, SC's Corrie Trouw broke down the wins and losses and found a worthy adversary for both: each other. So which superstar is more dominant?
Brett Favre vs. Peyton Manning — Brett Favre and Peyton Manning are both in the headlines — Favre for announcing that he will return to the NFL in 2007, and Manning for his Super Bowl win and MVP award. SC's Brad Oremland puts both their careers in perspective and evaluates whom has been better.
Golf's Identity Crisis — SC's Ryan Ballengee has been seeing a lot of things happening in golf over the past few years that upset him. It didn't strike him until recently, though, what all of these observations had in common. Golf is facing an identity crisis in every possible area.
March
The Fictional Pacman Jones Interview — With journalist essentials in hand — paper, pen, and Kevlar vest — SC's Jeffrey Boswell dodged bullets long enough to communicate with Adam "Pacman" Jones. A surprisingly candid and jovial Jones talked about the three Fs — football, firearms, and his NFL future.
March: The Greatest Month — NFL. NCAA. MLB. NHL. NBA. UFC. Ann Coulter losing her flipping mind. The 2008 Presidential race heating up. It's going to be a crazy month and SC's Seth Doria has a few thoughts he'd like to share. Read on and share your favorite thing about March.
Diversifying a Colorless Game — The coolest game on ice struggles to reflect the myriad ethnicities of the United States. Why has hockey failed to resonate with so many groups of people? SC's Jeff DiNunzio delves into this complicated issue that includes many socioeconomic factors.
In Hollywood, Everything's Zen — Kobe Bryant was once regarded as uncoachable by the most successful coach in the NBA today. But, as SC's Bob Ekstrom reports, $30 million and a quest for his 10th ring have gone a long way in improving Phil Jackson's appreciation for his ostracized star.
The Strangest Oddities in Tennis — Oddities in the world of tennis? There are plenty. However, some of these debatable issues hardly see the light of day in visible tennis platforms. SC's Mert Ertunga brings to attention some of these topics and questions their lack of attention by the tennis media.
April
Barry Bonds and 756 — The 2007 Major League Baseball season has begin, and perhaps the biggest story will be Barry Bonds' pursuit of the sport's most famous record: Henry Aaron's 755 career home runs. SC's Brad Oremland sorts out mixed feelings as Bonds chases history.
What Imus Really Said — SC's Greg Wyshynski examines the firing of national radio personality Don Imus after his comments about the Rutgers University women’s basketball team, and wonders if the outrage by the media and the black community is misplaced.
The Sports Guy's Enforcers — In a groundbreaking edition of the Slant Pattern, SC's Kevin Beane cracks the code on a far-reaching blogdome conspiracy: real-life friends of ESPN's The Sports Guy, Bill Simmons, will defend their pal at all costs. And they're kinda losers.
The Great Mysteries of Sports — SC's Greg Wyshynski welcomes in broadcaster Gary Thorne, who recently questioned whether Curt Schilling's bloody sock from the Red Sox's championship season was actually red paint. What other sports mysteries and legends will Thorne reveal?
May
The Legend of Barry Baseball — Barry Bonds is stalking Henry Aaron's home run record, and he's going to get it. It's only a matter of time. But as you read through the morally assured dismissals of Bonds' accomplishment, remember what got us here in the first place.
Sports Cultures in Focus: Australia — In this week's Slant Pattern, SC's Kevin Beane explores the sporting characteristics and mentality of Australia in what will be the first in a series of such mental anthropological expeditions. Just why are the Aussies so successful in international sporting events?
Why Federer Still Has Something to Prove — Experts and fans are already hailing Roger Federer as the best player who ever touched a wooden or metal racket. But if Roger doesn't win the French Open this year, or in the next couple of seasons, he will finish with an ugly blemish in an otherwise spotless career.
The Sports Fan's Cable/Satellite TV Paradox — Satellite and cable TV offer such a wide variety of sports programming that even the most diehard fan can find something to watch any time of day. But SC's Adam Russell believes some of the shows border on ridiculous and it will only get worse.
Goodell: My House, My Rules — Roger Goodell has already been very active in his first year as NFL commissioner, especially in the manner he has handled off-field misconduct. See how Poppa Goodell's changes sit with SC's Kyle Jahner as he outlines other offseason moves in NFL land.
June
Donovan Backs Out of Orlando? — Florida Gator fans, you can put down the Paxil and stop sobbing. The unimaginable has happened: Billy Donovan has had (another) change of heart and wants to return to the Gators. SC's Marc James takes a look at Donovan's never-ending carousel.
How to Revive U.S. Men's Tennis — SC's Tom Kosinski is tired of listening to the excuses for American men's professional tennis and the poor performance of the men on the red clay of Roland Garros. The American game is becoming one-dimensional. But there is a way to cure it.
Are the Spurs a Dynasty? — When the San Antonio Spurs beat the Cleveland Cavaliers in last week's NBA Finals series, did they establish a dynasty? You've heard arguments both ways, but SC's Brad Oremland compares the Spurs with other NBA dynasties to see how they stack up.
Leave a Comment