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Reactions: Stories of the Year The Sooners and Lance Armstrong share top billingPosted: Wednesday December 20, 2000 4:28 PM
CNNSI.com listed its top 10 U.S. stories of the year and users were asked to submit their "story of the year" suggestions. A sample of the responses received follows: The Sooners' recent rise to the top has to be regarded as one of the year's biggest stories. It jumpstarted a state and brought back some Sooner magic. Facing what might have been the toughest four-week stretch in history, they defeated Texas, Nebraska, and K-State, three top ten teams at the time. That in itself should be on the list.
Patrick Ewing gets traded to Seattle. He didn't bring the Knicks the title as expected but no one can say he didn't give them 15 years of hard play. One person can't win the title. They should have surrounded him with players of his caliber if the organization really wanted to win.
Coming from N.Y.C., a Subway Series is all we wanted. We were so glad to get it. But the Subway Series is nothing compared to what a real hero by the name of Lance Armstrong accomplished this year. Lance Armstrong should be story of the year.
Your list is good. However, you left out one of the biggest stories of the year -- the unbelievable rise from the cellar of the Oklahoma Sooners football team. When in history has a college football team gone from the absolute doghouse to (just two years later) the top of the mountain, all the way to No. 1? With a Heisman candidate and "Coach of the Year" honors (not to mention a host of other player awards) to boot? It is truly remarkable, whether you're a Sooner fan or not. Football has risen from the ashes in Oklahoma...
Rulan Gardner's victory over the invincible Russian wrestler in Australia giving the gold to the U.S. was the equivalent of the Toledo Mudhens beating the 1927 New York Yankees in the World Series.
Lance Armstrong's defeating cancer and winning the Tour was the top story this year! Although Tiger Woods had an incredible year, John Rocker's stupidity was entertaining, and it was great to see Bob Knight get booted ... I feel Lance Armstong's story transcended sports. LANCE BEAT CANCER! His success encouraged and acknowledged all cancer victims. God bless Lance Armstrong!
Without a doubt, you blew it by leaving out Mario's return. I mean, are greedy agents and big-mouthed players (cf. "big name trade bait") still regarded as "stories"?
The coaching fiasco in North Carolina was a big story. The week when Roy Williams was deciding between UNC and KU was a huge story, and his loyalty to KU shows there is some good in sports. This was one of the best and most important moments this year
How could probably the greatest Super Bowl ever be left off the list of the top 10 sports stories? The Tennessee Titans and St. Louis Rams played their hearts out until the very last second. Granted the first half wasn't all that exciting, but that first half was two good defenses holding the other teams' offense down. Who could forget Eddie George's power running to keep the Titans in the game? That bomb from Kurt Warner to Issac Bruce to win the game for the Rams? Or Mike Jones tackling Kevin Dyson at the ONE YARD LINE to save the game? C'mon, SHOWTIME, please!! That game was SHOWTIME!
I cannot believe that you outright ignored Pete Sampras in your stories of the year. We'll never again see a player like him in tennis, maybe in all of sports. While I understand your decision to give the Sportsman of the Year nod to Tiger Woods, you showed unfortunate nearsightedness to ignore one of history's greats. Sports Illustrated has been particularly bad to Sampras over the years (one need look no farther than the cover when he won his thirteenth major this year), but I hope that you will correct this problem before one of sports' all time greats is gone for good.
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