January Sports Moments

January still remains one of my favorite months on the American sporting calendar. There are few joys greater than the high drama of the NFL playoffs. The college and professional basketballers are just hitting their stride, positioning themselves for the long and winding stretch run. The New Years Day bowl games leading up to the National Championship are always a welcome sight for sore eyes. Meanwhile, the PGA is tentatively edging itself into the collective subconscious with promises of Masters brilliance once the snow lifts for good in April. In baseball, we’ve got pitchers and catchers reporting in one month, signifying the start of my favorite season of all. Then, of course, there is a wonderful absence of NASCAR highlights on the morning Sportscenter (Greg Biffle and Matt Kenseth don’t like each other! Let’s settle this with more circles!). There is a lot to get excited about.

I’ll grant you, March and September are fine sports months. But neither hold the expectation, the raw and genuine emotion that a January can provide: ACC hoops action... Lambeau Field in the driving snow... The final percolations of the Hot Stove League... So, in honor of this fabulous month (and also because I’m trying to kill time before the first NFL game today), I’m going to countdown a personal recollection of the Top Four January Sports Moments that I can remember.

4.) January 28th, 2007 – Virginia Cavaliers vs. #17 Clemson Tigers




This game occurred during a 7-game winning streak for the Wahoos during ACC play last year. I don’t care if it’s a down year, that is damn impressive in a conference that regularly trounces the Big Ten each December. What made it more impressive was that Virginia was down 63-49 with 5:05 left in the game. They scored the final 15 points to win 64-63. I’ve always appreciated scrappy teams that played over their heads at times and earned their stripes, the 2006-07 Virginia Men’s Basketball team was one such animal. Sean Singletary for president. That is all.





3.) January 15th, 2005: Chicago Bulls vs. New York Knicks.

This was the season that my beloved Bulls started out 0-9 with rookies Ben Gordon and Luol Deng playing significant minutes. This was also my first year out of college, so I could closely watch what I thought was a promising team. I remember watching the first game of the season (an OT thriller against the Nets) in my empty apartment, getting chills during the player introductions and being pleasantly surprised with the young core of players we had built. This was back in the time when the Bulls were still considered absolute trash, not even worth following by hometown "fans". I remember telling people the following week that this was the best 0-5 team in NBA history… and meaning it. I got a lot of furrowed brows and comments such as "You still watch the Bulls?". Most of my friends and acquaintances stayed away, but I followed this tenacious and hard nosed team through the doldrums of winter and into the new year with a religious devotion. By the time New Years Day rolled around, we had a 9-17 record. Certainly respectable considering how we started the season, but nothing had prepared even the most devoted fan for the January that was about to unfold. After the dust settled, the Chicago Bulls finished the month 13-3 and had climbed back above .500 for the first time in February since the Jordan years. They finished the season 47-35. I cite the January 15th game because my buddy Shawn and I went to this matinee at the UC and were treated to an exceptional finish that will always be with me. We were sitting in the second row mere feet away from where Tyson Chandler started going nuts after the final buzzer. One of the best regular season games I’ve ever seen in person considering the context:





2.) January 21st, 2007 – Chicago Bears vs. New Orleans Saints

I’ve already gone into just how perfect this game was from a Chicago fans POV, so I’ll spare you the recap. Needless to say, there are few things as rewarding as watching your childhood team wind down the clock as a Superbowl looms in the distance. This being said, I’m officially riding shotgun on the Green Bay Packers bandwagon after one of the most amazing playoffs games I’ve ever seen. I say, let’s keep the NFC title in the Norris Division for one more year. Benny, you have my full support.




1.) January 4th, 2005 – Ryno makes it into the Hall



Ryne Sandberg was the greatest second-baseman of his era. He was an All-Star from 1984-1993. He won nine Gold Gloves from 1983-1991. He won seven Silver Slugger awards and, the crown jewel, the NL MVP in 1984. He was a tremendous player and an even better role model. When I heard that he was inducted into the Hall of Fame, I jumped with an honest joy. This man will forever be a hero.

I will always remember a game against the Pirates when I was ten years old. Barry Bonds hit a go-ahead homerun in the late innings and, as it sailed over the fence, he stopped, admired it, flipped his bat, twirled and slowly trotted around the bases. Ryno got up the next inning and hit the eventual game winning homer deep into the Pittsburgh night. He simply put his head down and ran the bases like a true professional. Ryno taught me more about class and respect than any teacher ever could.

When I heard his Hall-of-Fame speech, I cried. I cried because it was perfect. If you haven’t had the privilege, here is a transcript and the audio. It chills the baseball loving part of you to the core.

Respect.