10.) Rafael Nadal wins the 2022 French Open
Nadal's win in Paris was not as routine as most prior wins. First needing five sets to beat Felix Auger Aliassime. Four sets to beat Novak Djokovic. Three hours to take a set and head to a tiebreak against Alexander Zverev before Zverev broke his ankle. But then the skies cleared, the roof was opened, and he turned away Casper Ruud easily in the final and won his 14th. The number is symbolic. When Nadal started his career, 14 was the total everyone was gunning for, the 14 slams that Sampras won. The full target shifted as Federer got his 15th in 2009, but nothing better encapsulates the sheer lunacy of Nadal on clay then him getting to what used to be the old career target at just the French Open. The only reason this isn't higher up is the weird undercurrent of injury flare-ups and the like but for that one beautiful sunny Sunday, it was all perfect.
9.) The Astros sweep the Yankees
Splitting this one up into two as the Astros sweep of the Yankees and all it did in New York, was just incredibly fun. The series itself was closer than a sweep would indicate - in only one game did the Astros really win easily. But man did the difference between the two teams look so stark. The Astros were confident. Chas McCormick and Jeremy Pena hit huge home runs as Aaron Judge got himself mired in a slump. A spunky pitcher named Christian Javier and a few flamethrowing bullpenners 1-hit the Yankees for eight innings in Game 3. Even in Game 4 as the Yankees raced out to an early lead, the Astros calmly reeled them back in. Watchign this series living in New York was a treat to see WFAN repeatedly freak out at how mentally overmatched the Yankees were. It took a long time, but the Astros earned their stripes of being an AL team by quickly becoming, as best said by Pedro himself, the Yankees Daddy.
8.) Georgia wins the National Championship
I'm not a huge college football fan, but like any sensible American, I'm of course anti-Alabama and anti-all other big schools. Of course, Georgia is a big school and as I write this on the doorstep of a 2nd straight title that will quickly enough get people to think of them as we do now of Alabama. If we go back to the start of this year, watching Georgia hold their nerve against a game Alabama team and slowly take control was incredible to watch. Their amazing defense did to Alabama what so few can in just overwhelm them with their inevitable quality. Of course, the final capper of the pick-6 was just mesmerizingly beautiful of a moment for a school that for so long, including the heartbreaking 2017 Title Loss, stood in their shadow.
7.) The Roger Federer Retirement Soiree
Roger Federer's retirement tour was fun for every reason but tennis, as Federer announced it after a prolonged absence. Federer's final gala at the Laver Cup was a perfect send-off that created so many indelible images. None better than that shot of Federer and Nadal seated, bawling their eyes out, with Federer reaching out to put an arm on Nadal's knee. The rivalry those two created and then developed into an incredible friendship was so beautiful to watch play out. Federer meant to much to the game, and the fact that he chose his last moment on court to be with his biggest rival said more about his character than anything. The other Federer moment I'll remember is his surprise appearance at Wimbledon when they did the parade of Champions to celebrate 100 years of Center Court, and the image of him appearing into the stadium, greeted to by far the loudest cheers, was something to behold. It wasn't about the tennis this year, but the moments.
6.) Bill Self gets his 2nd Title
Bill Self has had better Kansas teams before this year's that all lost in the tournament. Hell, he had ones that were quite significantly better. But this year's team was perfect for showcasing Bill Self. No truly high profile recruits, just a mix of great 2-3 star players, an outright star that was developed in the program in Agbaji, and a lot of ballers. They weren't a dominant team, but man did they have dominant stretches. Their 2nd half against Miami to win the Elite Eight (the most common Bill Self tripping point) was brutal and relentless. The entirety of their Final Four win over Villanova was terrifying. And while they played awfully in the first half against North Carolina, the stretch to take the lead midway through the 2nd half was mesmerizing. Of course, North Carolina showed a mental toughness to get back in it, and the back and forth ending was great basketball. In the end, Self got his 2nd ring that had eluded him for so long, and in a way that was earned, not given, in every way.
5.) The World Cup Final
I'm not a Messi fan, but even I couldn't deny just how special that moment was for him, but what it made it all better is that the match was about as bonkers of a soccer game that I've ever seen. The World Cup Final is rarely a great match (even the ones in say 2010 and 2014 that went extra time). This was fairly boring for 70 minutes as Argentina dominated a listless France team, but France was given half a chance and Mbappe exploded to life. The twist and turns. The goal to put Argentina in front, only ended with another Mbappe penalty. The amazing save by Emi Martinez that stopped France at the brink. The fact it was the defending champs vs the old great trying to win for the first time. The storylines were great, the game was better.
4.) The Avalanche vs. Lightning Stanley Cup Final
We so rarely get the two best teams in a Stanley Cup Final. Generally the hockey playoffs are about a cinderella, and while the cinderella almost never wins the final, it ruins these potential incredible matchups. The further out storylines, with the Lightning going for a threepeat (something that hasn't happened in hockey since the 1980's Islanders), and the Avalanche being the on paper best team, very much what the Lightning used to be. While Game 1 was an Avalanche route, the other five games were close, immensely well played, with drama of a couiple OTs, great goaltending performances, and overall the aged, tired Lightning finally relinquishing their grab of the Cup to a more than worthy challenger. Things line up so rarely like this in the NHL, but when it was given the chance, it was beautiful.
3.) The 2022 NFL Playoffs: Divisional Round through Super Bowl
The NFL playoffs are always a great time, and even years where the games are generally one side (say 2020 season) have some moments of brilliance. But what we got from the Divisional Round through the Super Bowl was just impossibly amazing. By the numbers, across those seven games, six were decided by exactly 3 points. Of those six, four of them were ended with Field Goals on the last play (the first three divisional round games, and the AFC Championship game). Oh by the way, the seventh game that wasn't decided by three points? It was a walkoff TD in overtime to end arguably the best non-Super Bowl playoff game in decades with the Chiefs beating the Bills 42-36. Football honestly had never been better. The worst of these games was either a 19-16 win by the plucky Bengals in Tennessee, or the Rams holding on for dear life against Tampa. It all ended with a well played Super Bowl ending with Aaron Donald ruining the Bengals chance at a comeback. It was beautiful, football reached a level of brilliance it never had before.
2.) The Astros win the 2022 World Series
Ever since the Astros scandal broke following the 2019 World Series, it both tarnished a bit my memories of 2017, but also made me more itchy than ever for them to win another, a clean one. I know it wasn't going to make people suddenly forgive 2017, but it would make me at peace. And seeing them do it was everything I could have wanted. From Yordan's home run to steal Game 1 against Seattle, to his majestic homer to take the lead in Game 6 against Philadelphia. All of it was great. The rise of Jeremy Pena, the brilliance of Framber Valdez's looping curveball. The incredible, dependable bullpen. The Astros title was also built off as many young players as veterans. The future is bright, but the present, and enjoying that World Series win, was every bit as great as it needed to be.
1.) Rafael Nadal wins the 2022 Australian Open
I woke up the day of the Final pretty sure Nadal was going to lose. He had played well, but lost sets in four different matches. Medvedev was playing great. As Nadal lost the first set 2-6, it seemed obvious he was about to suffer a 5th Australian Open final loss. As Nadal lost his lead in the second and then lost the tiebreak, it seemed all but assured. But then a weird thing happened - Nadal just kept fighting. He broke early in the 3rd and carried the set without too much fuss. Then same repeated in the 4th. And suddenly he was there serving for the match - before losing his nerve. More than this being the slam that would give him the career record, it would also be his 2nd Australian Open. Long awaited, having lost the final in 2012, 2014, 2017 and 2019 - with a break lead in the 5th set in both 2012 and 2017. This was his boogeyman, and he did it the most dramatic way, not even just the coming back from 0-2 down, but after being broken trying to serve out the match, he broke Medvedev right back. That final game he served out brilliantly. Nadal used to drop on his back in tears/joy when winning titles. This time he just dropped his racket, and covered his face with a giant grin. I did the same - all Nadal fans did. This was 17 years of fandom in the making. 10 years in the making in Australia. As I wrote at the time, Djokovic may easily end his career (hell, maybe end 2023) with more titles, but the torch of most slams that went from Emerson to Sampras to Federer to Nadal. And that was worth it all.
