- Rookie QB Class
One of the biggest ongoing stories in the NFL this year was the presence of five rookie quarterbacks who were all taken in the 1st round. Not all of them began the season as a starter, but all five finished the season as their team’s starter. However, Lamar Jackson is the only one who will be in the playoffs.
- 2018 World Cup
Despite the United State failing to qualify, the 2018 World Cup was easily the most entertaining in recent memory. The storylines were endless, including several world powers going out of the tournament early, most notably Germany. Ultimately, France beat Croatia to cap off arguably the single greatest sporting event of the calendar year.
- LeBron in L.A.
For the second time in his career, LeBron James left Cleveland. This time around, there was a little less backlash as King James took his talent to the west coast and joined the Lakers. Of course, LeBron is now in the loaded Western Conference and doesn’t have a great supporting cast around him, so it remains to be seen whether he can deliver a championship to the Lakers.
- Supreme Court Legalizes Sports Gambling
In an absolute game changer, the U.S. Supreme Court reversed a 1992 law about sports gambling, opening the door for states to legalize sports betting if they wish. In addition to Nevada, the states of Delaware, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Mississippi, and New Mexico have legalized sports gambling with several other states likely to join the party.
Bonus: A Little Extra Burn
While not fully an on-the-field story, the story involving former Philadelphia 76ers president of basketball operations Bryan Colangelo has to be given an honorable mention. Colangelo was forced to resign after an investigation linking him to burner accounts on Twitter that criticized players and shared private team information. It doesn’t get much weirder than that.
