2008 provided one of the most spectacular sports seasons ever!

From the highs and lows of sports in 2008, I have selected the two greatest moments/games of the year. Very tough to choose, but I intentionally did not include the overrated 2008 Summer Olympics. Really, did Michael Phelps win all eight gold medals, or did his teammates? You never saw Phelps swimming in the final legs of the team races did you? Here are my top two sports moments of 2008:

2. Tiger Woods Wins PGA Open

There is a major difference when you play hurt and when you play injured. To play injured takes a great deal of perseverance. What Tiger Woods did to win his 14th Major PGA event at the US Open at Torrey Pines was immaculate. The world watched as Tiger Woods hopelessly limped around to win in a heroic way. Woods outlasted another punishing U.S. Open golf course. He was wild off the tee all week, but when Woods needed an eagle to stop the bleeding, he made one. Three times! When he had to make birdie to stay alive, he made two. Woods outlasted a composed, resilient and sly, 45-year-old Rocco Mediate. Tiger Woods did something no other man has ever done or will ever do again. He played with a double fractured left tibia and still was able to be clutch enough to come back and win at one of PGA’s most difficult courses. Nothing less than miraculous!

1. The Super Bowl

The 2008 Super Bowl was arguably one of the best Super Bowls ever. This Super Bowl was not expected to be anything spectacular, even though it had the elements needed to be spectacular. It had the underdog team in the New York Giants and history on the line, as the New England Patriots were looking to go 19-0. It was expected to be nothing more than a cakewalk for the Patriots. But, it didn’t turn out like that at all. The heavy underdog Giants put up a fight no one expected, especially defensively. But, the Giants’ Eli Manning and David Tyree might be forever linked to the greatest play of 2008 when Eli Manning spiraled out of the Patriots swamping blitz and threw the ball to Tyree, who then caught the ball on the top of his helmet. That play was the true turning point of the game because shortly after that, Plaxico Burress truly embarrassed NE’s secondary as he blew by to get a touchdown and the Giants beat the Patriots 17-14. Maybe the arrogant Bill Belichik and the cocky stuck up Tom Brady will find better ways to videotape teams in the near future.

2008 provided unexpected sports memories and history, and it will be tough to follow, but look for great moments in 2009. Who knows what the new year holds?