Top Sports Stories of 2009
10 photos
<p>The Yankees won the first championship of this decade and they <a href="http://gothamist.com/2009/11/05/last_nights_action_yankees_win_world_series.php">won the last one</a>. In between, years of frustration and failure led to titanic changes, but on a November night in the Bronx, all of that was forgotten. The 2009 postseason cemented the clutch reputation of Derek Jeter and the reminded us of the invincibility of Mariano Rivera but also made a hero out of A-Rod, who erased years of postseason struggles with six home runs and 18 RBIâs and a .356 average. Add in Sabathiaâs pitching, Damonâs âdouble-stealâ and Matsuiâs Game 6 heroics and the Yankees brought title #27 to the Bronx. And, as per the custom, the team and its fans celebrated with <a href="http://gothamist.com/2009/11/06/yankees_fans_revel_in_ticker_tape_p.php">a ticker tape parade</a>.<i>- Peter Trinkle</i></p>
<p>He did it the way he always has, coming up with the big save in the waning moments to preserve a Devilsâ victory, but Martin Brodeurâs efforts on that night in March <a href="http://gothamist.com/2009/03/18/last_nights_action_552.php">set him apart from every other goaltender in NHL history</a>. With the win that night, Brodeur earned his 552nd victory and became the NHL career wins leader. In characteristic form, Brodeur didnât make a big deal out of the moment, but he did cut out the goal net as a souvenir- a task which seemed harder than actually winning the game. <i>- Peter Trinkle</i></p>
<p>With the opening of <a href="http://gothamist.com/2009/04/14/despite_loss_citi_field_officially.php">Citi Field</a> and the new <a href="http://gothamist.com/2009/04/04/yanks_opener.php">Yankee Stadium</a>, two new baseball palaces opened in New York this year and by most accounts they were well received by the fans. Yes, there were complaints about seat alignments and obstructed views, but a plethora of culinary options, shorter restroom lines and generally much more comfortable seating seemed to quell most of the complaints- except for the ticket prices. The Yankees went so far as to cut some of them in half, but the seats inside âthe moatâ still remain too expensive for all but the wealthiest fan. <i>- Peter Trinkle</i></p>
Alex Rodriguez, photographed for the April issue of Details magazine by Steven Klein.
<p>The Giants started the season 5-0 and visions of another Super Bowl victory danced in their fansâ heads. But from there, the season completely imploded. A thrashing at the hands of the Saints started the carnage and three more losses knocked them to 5-4. The recovered during their bye week and won a big game against Atlanta, but a Thanksgiving debacle at Denver was a harbinger of things to come. They won some more, they lost some more, but when they had to win their last game at Giants Stadium to stay in the playoff picture, they suffered one of the <a href="http://gothamist.com/2009/12/28/last_nights_action_touchable.php">most humiliating defeats</a> in team history. There will be a lot of changes in the coaching staff and roster before next season starts, but the sting of this implosion will take a long time to wear off. <i>- Peter Trinkle</i></p>
Photograph of Josh Boone, Sean Williams and Devin Harris by Bill Kostroun/AP
Mark Sanchez talks to the media at a press conference in Anaheim, CA
<p>It was a <a href="http://gothamist.com/2009/09/13/video_serena_williams_flips_out_and.php">bizarre ending</a> to a great match. Serena Williams was trying to serve her way into a second set tiebreaker, but a foot fault call at 15-30 drove her over the brink. Grabbing a tennis ball, Williams walked towards the lineswoman and screamed, "I swear to God I'm [expletive] going to take this [expletive] ball and shove it down your [expletive] throat, you hear that? I swear to God." Since she had already incurred a code violation, this infraction cost her a point, which ended the match. The tirade also <a href="http://gothamist.com/2009/11/30/serena_williams_fined_82500_for_us.php">cost Williams $82,500</a> and has her on probation at the next eight Grand Slam events. A âmajor offenseâ at any of those events would double her fine and bar her from the next US Open. <i>- Peter Trinkle</i></p>
Lucas Glover after winning the U.S. Open