2019 World Sports Wrap

It has been a very interesting year on the sporting front, looking back on 2019, here are our top sporting moments;

AMERICAN FOOTBALL – 6^thSuper Bowl for Brady and Patriots

Tom Brady and the New England Patriots beat the Los Angeles Rams by 13-3, giving both their 6th championship and 3rd since 2015.The 13-3 scoreline was the lowest-scoring Super Bowl and did not pick up momentum until late in the game. 

ATHLETICS

Kenyan superstar Eliud Kipchoge became the first human in history to finish a marathon is under 2 hours when he clocked a time of 1:59:40 at the Ineos Challenge in Vienna, Austria.

BASKETBALL

The big news of 2019 was the Lakers signing LeBron James. Despite a decent first half of the season, the team suffered a number of injuries and never got it together in the second half, failing to make the post-season.

Raptors become first non-American team to win NBA Finals

Following years of playoff disappointment, the Toronto Raptors with the help of superstars Kawhi Leonard and Kyle Lowryturned Canada into a full-blown basketball land with a thrilling playoff run. The Raptors finished a superb season by dethroning the Golden State Warriors in six games for their first NBA championship in franchise history.

CRICKET

If there was ever an argument for relegating Cricket to second-rate status, England’s winning of the Cricket World Cup despite not winning in the finals, has to fuel that fire.

The Proteas performance in the Cricket World Cup surely relegates them to a second-rate ODI team making any match against the Kenyan National team an interesting prospect for the minows.

GOLF – Woods wins first major in 11 years

A lot has changed since Tiger Woods last won the Masters back in 2005 – iPhones did not exist, XBOX 360 was launched and YouTube was founded – and it seemed that with all his multiple injuries getting in the way we would never see that iconic fist pump again. That would all change this year as Woods would pick up his first major golf tournament victory in 11 years. He has now won 15 major tournaments, ranking him second on the all-time list.

FIGHT SPORTS

Henry Cejudo beat Marlon Moraes at UFC 238 to become the UFC’s 4th Champ Champ, adding the 135-pound (bantamweight) belt to the already owned 125-pound title (flyweight).

The much-hyped BMF Title fight between Jorge Masvidal and Nate Diaz being decided by doctor stoppage definitely ranks as one of the biggest let-downs of 2019.

Ronda Rousey’s successful move to the WWE saw her become champion in no time. Following her title loss at WrestleMania 35 she pulled another “Casper” move and vanished from the scene, reportedly to start a family.

Andy Ruiz going from a 30-1 long-shot to becoming the Heavyweight World Champion and then losing it all on a diet of junk-food has to be this year’s “Zero-Hero-Zero” moment in global sports.

Canelo Alvarez jumping 2 weight classes to win the WBO Light Heavyweight title from Sergey Kovalev surely solidifies his name on the debate list for the all-time greatest boxer. 

FOOTBALL – USA Women’s Soccer wins second World Cup

With multiple players on the roster who were also part of the 2015 championship team, the US Women’s Soccer Team showed their continued global dominance of the sport by winning their second consecutive World Cup and their fourth overall, beating the Netherlands in the final in France.

ICE HOCKEY

The St. Louis Blues were on the road to nowhere in early January but by the end of the season they had climbed the table to win the franchise’s first ever Stanley Cup.

MOTOR RACING

Simon Pagenaud became the first Frenchman to win the Indy 500 since Rene Thomas’ superb drive back in 1914. Pagenaud battled Alexander Rossi through the final laps before finally passing Rossi to take the checkered flag.

RUGBY – Springboks make it a 12yr Trick!

SA won their 3^rdRugby World Cup Trophy becoming the only team in the history of the competition to win a World Cup despite losing a pool game. 

TENNIS
Novak Djovokic faced off against fellow tennis legend Roger Federer in a championship match that lasted five hours. In the end it was Djokovic who prevailed to win his fifth Wimbledon title.

Rafael Nadal continued his reign as the “King of Clay”winning his 12th French Open in dominant style.