Sports always has fascinating stories and 2017 was no exception. Here are the top sports and culture stories of the year in no particular order.
1) Zeke’s Suspension
Most pundits expected Ezekiel Elliott to win the Rookie of the Year award last year. He didn’t win. The award unexpectedly went to his teammate Dak Prescott. Still, it looked like the 2017 season would be a promising one for the superstar. Unfortunately, a domestic violence scandal resulted in a six game suspension, derailing his Sophomore campaign.
2) Lavar Ball
Lavar Ball splashed onto the scene in 2017. His bombastic, arrogant, and pompous style rubs many people the wrong way. He is the king of hyperbole, even claiming he could beat Michael Jordan in a one on one basketball game. Yet, he gets lots of PR. MJ even responded to him, saying he could beat him with one arm tied behind his back.
3) Jerry Jones Versus Roger Goodell
Jerry Jones was irate about the Ezekiel Elliott suspension. Taking away the Cowboys most explosive offensive playmaker derailed a promising season for America’s Team. Jerry Jones felt there wasn’t enough evidence to suspend Zeke. He reportedly said this to Roger Goodell, “I’m going to come after you.”
4) The Patriots Win Super Bowl 51
Super Bowl 51 is arguably the most epic Super Bowl in NFL History. The Patriots were losing 28-3, and they came back and won in overtime. That’s amazing, sensational, spectacular, and many other robust adjectives there isn’t room to list. The epic win also gives Tom Brady five Super Bowl wins, virtually cementing his place as the G.O.A.T (at the very least for QB’s).
5) Golden State Topples Cleveland
Golden State versus Cleveland is historical. Before the 2017 NBA Finals, no teams have ever met three times in a row in the NBA Finals. It was a hard fought match, but the addition of superstar Kevin Durant proved to be too much for the Cavaliers to handle.
via Getty Images
6) Kyrie Irving Goes to Boston
The Kyrie Irving move makes the list because its unusual. The Cleveland Cavaliers made the finals three years in a row, and Kyrie wanted out. It’s not the Shaq and Kobe breakup, but it’s closer than you may think.
7) Houston Astros Win First Title
Before 2017, the Houston Astros never won a title in MLB history. They managed to win in 2017- the year when Houston was devastated by catastrophic flooding from Hurricane Harvey. It was a fairy tale ending to the season for the Astros.
8) Mayweather Defeats McGregor in Ten Rounds
The Mayweather fight got people talking. Some said Mayweather was too old, and others said that McGregor was too inexperienced. In the end, the latter theory stood the test of time. The fight was the second biggest PPV of all time.
