The end of the year is approaching and there have been many performances in many different realms of the culture. During this 5 part series I'll break down who and what I think was the best athlete, best game, top songs, top albums and top music artists of the year. 2018 was a blast, one of the best years for the culture, let's find out what/who was the best.
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| The Aggies finally beat the Tigers after 7 Overtimes and some choosy refereeing. |
10. Texas A&M 74 LSU 72 November 24th
This is not a college basketball score. This was a 7OT game taken place in College Station that saw the Aggies prevail in a ping-pong action type ball game. This game had all the drama. LSU players dumped Gatorade over Coach Orgeron after thinking they caught a late game interception. Review showed that A&M QB Kellen Mond's knee was down before releasing his pass. Two plays later, with a dwindling clock, Kellen Mond spikes the football. Though it seems like there was no time left on the clock, the referees gave the Aggies one more play. The next play Mond throws one up to Quartney Davis. The two teams traded blows for 7 rounds when the Aggies finally got the last two point conversion to send the Tigers home.
9. Cleveland 87 Boston 79
May 27th, Game 7
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| The King withstood the challenge from the Celtics. |
The Cavaliers and the Celtics battled for 7 games until the Cavs outlasted the Celtics to take on the Warriors in the NBA Finals. For 3 quarters the game was lackluster and missing energy. The score 57-56 going into the 4th, both teams exploded with offense. LeBron traded baskets with Tatum, Horford all the way down the stretch until Cleveland pulled away. The game was full of great moments, from Jayson Tatum jamming on LeBron James to James making a huge foul block on Terry Rozier's challenge at the rim.
8. Minnesota 29 New Orleans 24
January 14th, Divisional Playoffs
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| Williams might not ever live his down. |
Stephon Diggs without this play would still be one of the best 5 players to play receiver in Minnesota. With this play he might've moved to 3 behind 84 and Cris Carter. In what should've been a simple routine play for the Saints Marcus Williams, turned into a miracle for Case Keenum and the Vikings and a disaster for the New Orleans Saints. Drew Brees struggled to put big numbers up against the Vikings defense, but finally mustered enough to put up a go ahead score against the Vikings with less than a minute. On a 3 and 10 from about 60 yards out Keenum delivered a pass to Diggs. Williams missed the tackle, and the clock expired. Diggs sprinted towards the end zone, giving Minnesota the playoff victory.
7. Jacksonville 45 Pittsburgh 42
January 14th, Divisional Playoffs
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| One of Fournette's 3 Touchdowns that evening. |
Jacksonville established dominance up front early and throughout this game with their offensive and defensive lines controlling the line of scrimmage. At one point the game was 21-0, but that's when the triple B's from Pittsburgh came alive. Big Ben led a spirited comeback throwing for 469 yards and 5 touchdowns, 2 touchdowns going to Antonio Brown. Overall, the Jaguars got too far down to overcome Leonard Fournette's 3 touchdowns.
6. Warriors 110 Cavaliers 102
June 6th, Game 3 of the NBA Finals
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| The Game Winning Dagger. |
Following the debacle of game 1, the Cavaliers look to have a chance to finally get a win against the Warriors in the Finals. Up 103 to 100 with 50 seconds and counting remaining, Kevin Durant started his rhythm dribble with a pick set to his left. Feeling J.R. Smith slow to close out, Durant rose for 3 and the ball went through so clean it barely touched the net. In a game where the 2nd highest scorer on the team was Steph with 11, Durant's 43 cemented his legacy with the Golden State Warriors. Despite LeBron's 33, 10 and 11, the Cavs came up short and were eventually swept to the Warriors.
5. Alabama 35 Georgia 28
December 1, SEC Championship
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| Vengeance. Perseverance. |
After being the guy after the Nat'l Championship game, Tua Tagovailoa had to come out of the game with an ankle injury. Jalen Hurts, Junior and former starter for two seasons, entered the game with Alabama 21-28. Hurts immediately made an impact with his play-making ability and running ability. He diced the Georgia defense with a dime to Jeudy in the back of the end zone to tie the game. After a stop, Hurts converted a huge 3rd and 7 and set up the game winning touchdown. On the 15 yards line, Saban and crew drew up a quarterback draw and Hurts sprinted into the end zone with a little bit over a minute left. The Tide held on at the end, and thanks to Hurts heroics they'll face Oklahoma in the semi-finals.
4. Michigan 64 Houston 63
March 17, Round of 32 NCAA Championship
A back and forth match up between a historically great program and a feisty team out of Texas. Rob Gray, from Houston had a magnificent game for Houston. The 6'1 guard scored 32 points and had 10 rebounds, playing all but two minutes. Devin Davis, the 6'10 post for Houston had an opportunity to ice the game away, but missed his two free throws. Michigan's freshman Jordan Poole caught a pass with less than a second left, turned and heaved and dropped the game winning 3 pointer. The Texas in me was cheering for Houston, but as soon as Davis missed those free throws, I knew it would come back and bite them in the end.
3. Warriors 124 Cavaliers 114
May 31, Game 1 of the NBA Finals
The score doesn't scream game of the year quality, but for those of you that watched know how intense this one was. LeBron James played like the GOAT that night. He scored at the basket at will. He was knocking down three pointers, finding open men. The Warriors looked to be the most vulnerable they've ever looked on that stage. James's 51, 8 and 8 outshone anyone from the Golden State sideline. Less than 8 seconds remaining, down by one, James has the ball with the opportunity to win the game. Draymond Green and Steph Curry are doubling James, when James spots George Hill open at the hoop. He fires the ball to Hill who's immediately fouled by Klay Thompson. Hill knocks the first one down to tie the game, and then the lowest moment of J.R. Smith's career happens. Smith does an excellent job of battling and getting the rebound off the missed free throw. 4.7 seconds left on the clock. He turns out and dribbles to the 3 point line but keeps going. 2 seconds left. LeBron points to him. Smith turns to pass to Hill. James wants a time out. Head Coach Tyrone Lue stands there with his mouth open. 1 second left. Hill heaves one at the basket as time expires. Miss. LeBron goes to the bench and explodes. J.R. says I thought we had the lead. And just like that we're robbed of one of the greatest moments for one of the league's greatest players.
2. Eagles 41 Patriots 33
February 4, Superbowl 52
This was one of the more magical playoff runs ever for a team starting their #2 quarterback. Philadelphia played like a desperate team from the jump, applying pressure to Tom Brady and taking a 22-12 lead at halftime, including "The Philly Special," a reverse pass to quarterback Nick Foles from tight end Jordan Burton. Brady battled back in the 3rd scoring two touchdowns closing the score down to 29-26. 41-33 with less than a minute left after a field goal off of a sack fumble by Brandon Graham on Tom Brady. Brady has to travel 94 yards to try to tie the game. In all honesty, I thought Brady was going to do it. On fourth and 10 he moved the chains with a pass to Amendola. A couple of plays back to back he found Gronkowski going out of bounds. 8 seconds left, Hail Mary is called. Brady does an excellent job of evading Brandon Graham making him miss. He gathers once more and heaves it down the field to Gronkowski. No time remaining, 5 Patriots and Gronkowski, the ball hits Gronk in the hands, but he's on his way down while everyone else is on their way up. The ball gets separated and hits the turf before Amendola dives on it. Game over.
1. Alabama 26 Georgia 23
January 8, College Football Playoff National Championship
For a half, this game was boring. I debated going to sleep on it. It was a traditional SEC battle in which means no offensive explosion. Georgia had the upper hand. Down 13-0 at halftime with no offensive explosion, Nick Saban decides to put in a freshman who was unproven after watching the anemic Jalen Hurts. This is where you insert the beginning of Tua Tagovaila's legend. Tua went 14/24 for 166 yards and 3 touchdowns. He added another 27 yards on the ground and with his mobility within the pocket and down field throwing prowess he changed the scope of the game. Now all of a sudden Georgia had to find a way to score in the third. Jake Fromm struck down the field when he hit Mecole Hardman on an 80 yard touchdown. Bama shut down Georgia in the fourth as Tua orchestrated 10 points in the 4th quarter to send the game in to overtime. Bama forced Georgia to a field goal. After a 1 yard loss and a 15 yard penalty, Tua found a wide open Devonta Smith in the end zone on a go route down the sideline.
4. Michigan 64 Houston 63
March 17, Round of 32 NCAA Championship
A back and forth match up between a historically great program and a feisty team out of Texas. Rob Gray, from Houston had a magnificent game for Houston. The 6'1 guard scored 32 points and had 10 rebounds, playing all but two minutes. Devin Davis, the 6'10 post for Houston had an opportunity to ice the game away, but missed his two free throws. Michigan's freshman Jordan Poole caught a pass with less than a second left, turned and heaved and dropped the game winning 3 pointer. The Texas in me was cheering for Houston, but as soon as Davis missed those free throws, I knew it would come back and bite them in the end.
3. Warriors 124 Cavaliers 114
May 31, Game 1 of the NBA Finals
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| Damn. |
The score doesn't scream game of the year quality, but for those of you that watched know how intense this one was. LeBron James played like the GOAT that night. He scored at the basket at will. He was knocking down three pointers, finding open men. The Warriors looked to be the most vulnerable they've ever looked on that stage. James's 51, 8 and 8 outshone anyone from the Golden State sideline. Less than 8 seconds remaining, down by one, James has the ball with the opportunity to win the game. Draymond Green and Steph Curry are doubling James, when James spots George Hill open at the hoop. He fires the ball to Hill who's immediately fouled by Klay Thompson. Hill knocks the first one down to tie the game, and then the lowest moment of J.R. Smith's career happens. Smith does an excellent job of battling and getting the rebound off the missed free throw. 4.7 seconds left on the clock. He turns out and dribbles to the 3 point line but keeps going. 2 seconds left. LeBron points to him. Smith turns to pass to Hill. James wants a time out. Head Coach Tyrone Lue stands there with his mouth open. 1 second left. Hill heaves one at the basket as time expires. Miss. LeBron goes to the bench and explodes. J.R. says I thought we had the lead. And just like that we're robbed of one of the greatest moments for one of the league's greatest players.
2. Eagles 41 Patriots 33
February 4, Superbowl 52
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| The Philly Special |
This was one of the more magical playoff runs ever for a team starting their #2 quarterback. Philadelphia played like a desperate team from the jump, applying pressure to Tom Brady and taking a 22-12 lead at halftime, including "The Philly Special," a reverse pass to quarterback Nick Foles from tight end Jordan Burton. Brady battled back in the 3rd scoring two touchdowns closing the score down to 29-26. 41-33 with less than a minute left after a field goal off of a sack fumble by Brandon Graham on Tom Brady. Brady has to travel 94 yards to try to tie the game. In all honesty, I thought Brady was going to do it. On fourth and 10 he moved the chains with a pass to Amendola. A couple of plays back to back he found Gronkowski going out of bounds. 8 seconds left, Hail Mary is called. Brady does an excellent job of evading Brandon Graham making him miss. He gathers once more and heaves it down the field to Gronkowski. No time remaining, 5 Patriots and Gronkowski, the ball hits Gronk in the hands, but he's on his way down while everyone else is on their way up. The ball gets separated and hits the turf before Amendola dives on it. Game over.
1. Alabama 26 Georgia 23
January 8, College Football Playoff National Championship
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| The Game Winner. |
For a half, this game was boring. I debated going to sleep on it. It was a traditional SEC battle in which means no offensive explosion. Georgia had the upper hand. Down 13-0 at halftime with no offensive explosion, Nick Saban decides to put in a freshman who was unproven after watching the anemic Jalen Hurts. This is where you insert the beginning of Tua Tagovaila's legend. Tua went 14/24 for 166 yards and 3 touchdowns. He added another 27 yards on the ground and with his mobility within the pocket and down field throwing prowess he changed the scope of the game. Now all of a sudden Georgia had to find a way to score in the third. Jake Fromm struck down the field when he hit Mecole Hardman on an 80 yard touchdown. Bama shut down Georgia in the fourth as Tua orchestrated 10 points in the 4th quarter to send the game in to overtime. Bama forced Georgia to a field goal. After a 1 yard loss and a 15 yard penalty, Tua found a wide open Devonta Smith in the end zone on a go route down the sideline.
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