Sports Central's 2007 Year in Review (Pt. 1)
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 two 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!
July
Is Chris Benoit Really Sports News? — The mainstream sports media has cracked open its file on professional wrestling’s many tragedies, and SC's Greg Wyshynski tries to understand why they care and what they’re attempting to say about Chris Benoit’s place in that horrific history.
The Value of the No. 1 Pick — Greg Oden is now a Trail Blazer. But will the pick really shape the future of the franchise? Is Greg Oden the next Tim Duncan or Kwame Brown? A quick look back at the draft over the last 10 years reveals the first pick isn't always what it's cracked up to be.
Jordan vs. Beckham — Soccer superstar David Beckham has some people believing that he's bigger than Michael Jordan ever was in basketball. But in this latest edition of the Jester's Quart, SC's Greg Wyshynski respectfully begs to differ, and tells us why.
Debunking Tennis' Biggest Myths — Roger Federer, a failure on clay? Rafael Nadal can't play on any surface other than clay? Rod Laver was lucky to win his titles? It seems that if some fallacies are repeated often enough, casual tennis fans begin to view them as a fact, says SC's Mert Ertunga.
August
10 Tips For Striking Fantasy Football Gold — With the NFL's preseason schedule getting underway, SC's Matt Thomas visits the world of fantasy football, offering up his 10 secrets to creating a successful fantasy draft. These tips are not to be ignored if you are serious about winning your league.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame's Biggest Snubs — The Pro Football Hall of Fame held its annual induction ceremony on Saturday, adding six members to its storied fraternity. But many worthy players and coaches remain on the outside, looking in. SC's Brad Oremland breaks down the Hall's biggest snubs.
Hypocrisy, Culture, Murder, and Vick — It's not that what Mike Vick did was right. It's just that few of us, depending on how we kill animals for entertainment ourselves, are in a good position to condemn him. SC's Kevin Beane passes out some condemnations of his own in the Slant Pattern.
September
A Quest For Something Lost — Nearly half of NFL training camps have moved into year-round facilities, pushing the intimate campus setting to the brink of extinction. With the Giants and Jets soon to follow, SC's Bob Ekstrom takes a pilgrimage through NY and reflects on this passage of summer.
McNabb and the Racist Fans — SC's Greg Wyshynski weighs in on Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb's comments about the way black quarterbacks are treated and looks at fans who choose to use racial slurs to criticize them. Is this much ado about nothing?
Fantasy Sports Takes Another Victim — Millions of men and women play some fantasy sport. SC's Jeff DiNunzio was never one of them, until now. See how he got addicted to fantasy sports, and drafted a squad of NHL players that threatens every fantasy veteran in his league.
October
An American's Sports Odyssey Into Soccer — SC's Ross Lancaster has been a bona fide soccer nut for nearly five years. Read to see just how this happened, and what challenges following "The Beautiful Game" poses for someone who still loves the American sports traditions of football and basketball.
Farewell Baseball, From Yours Truly — Goliath got up with just a bruise, took his sword, killed David, and fed his flesh to the birds and wild animals. Sound familiar? No? Then you must not be a baseball fan. But this playoff season, SC's Alvin Chang is breaking off his relationship with baseball.
November
Tennis Match-Fixing? Don't Believe It — Betting has been the latest issue on the table for professional tennis. But did it really need to be the huge issue in the media? SC's Mert Ertunga explains why the match-fixing question is overrated and how the ATP let it become that way.
Can LeBron Average a Triple-Double? — When LeBron James was entering the NBA and analysts said he could average a triple-double, SC's Alvin Chang thought they were crazy. He thought it was just one of those things people said to emphasize how good a player really is. But LeBron just might do it.
December
Limiting the Sean Taylor Impact — In this week's Jester's Quart, SC's Greg Wyshynski believes there are three reasons why the impact of Sean Taylor's tragic death was diminished, and lays the blame on the Washington, DC media's constant Redskins saturation.
The Annual Tennis Holiday Wish List — As 2007 and another year of tennis comes to a close, SC's Tom Kosinski brings us his annual Christmas wish list as only he can. Professional tennis ended 2007 on a sour note, but maybe the holiday season can sweeten the game for 2008.
'Roid Rage: Fallout From Mitchell Report — From San Francisco to Santo Domingo, keyboards, bars, and water coolers are abuzz. Baseball's Mitchell Report has fans and sportwriters in an uproar, but the owners needn't worry about their cash cow. SC's Bijan C. Bayne explains why.
Clemens and Steroids: We Called It — The biggest name mentioned in the Mitchell Report was Roger Clemens. Last June, SC's Brad Oremland identified Clemens as a likely user of performance-enhancing substances, comparing his performances before and after he played for the Red Sox.
The NFL's Best Offense Ever — The 2007 New England Patriots are making history, at or near record-setting pace in key offensive categories at both the team and individual levels. But before we crown this year's Pats as the best offense in history, SC's Brad Oremland examines their competition.
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