NFL 2004

1. Peyton Manning:  Was a near unanimous MVP winner (48 of 49 votes). He was also Offensive player of the year. He was also named first team All-Pro.

The Colts QB broke Dan Marino’s 20 year old record with 49 touchdown passes in a season.

He smashed Steve Young’s 10 year record for passer rating with a 121.1 rating.

Manning was 3^rd in the league with 4,557 yards and completion % (67.6) and 4^th in completions.

He threw for 2 TDs in his first 13 games, including four games with at least 5 scoring passes.

Manning was also named Player of the Month in November.

Peyton won his 2^nd straight MVP with 47 out of the 50 votes, first team all-pro and the offensive player of the year.

The MVP lit up the Broncos for the 2^nd straight year in the playoffs. He threw for the 2^nd most yards in postseason history with 457 yards and 4 scores.

He also scored on a one yard rush to put Indy up 35-3 at the half. They would go on to win 49-24.

The Colts would go on to lose to New England in the divisional round 20-3.

Manning led Indianapolis to a 12-4 record, AFC South title and the league’s top offense (32.9 points per game).

2. Tom Brady: Led the Patriots to their 3^rd Super Bowl win in 4 years.

He finished the regular season in the top 10 in the NFL in yards (3,692), TDs (28) and rating (92.6).

Brady opened the season with 335 yards and 3 touchdowns in a win over the Colts.

He was named to the Pro Bowl.

New England went 14-2 and won the AFC East crown. The Pats were 4^th in the NFL scored just over 27 points a game.

In the divisional round vs. the Colts Brady’s 5 yard TD pass to David Givens pushed the Patriots lead to 13-3 late in the 3^rd quarter. He added TD run in 4^th.

The Patriots raced out to a 24-3 lead in Pittsburgh vs. the top seed and 15-1 Steelers behind two scoring passes from Brady.

#12 finished with 207 yards and a rating of 130.5 for the game.

In the Big Game, Brady threw two TD passes including the go ahead score in the 3^rd quarter.

He was 23-33 for 236 yards.

New England would repeat as champions 24- 21 over the Eagles in Jacksonville.

The Patriots were the 1^st team in 11 years to repeat.

3. Daunte Culpepper: Led the NFL in passing yards (4,717) and completions (379).

He was topped the NFC with 39 TDs and just threw 11 INTs.

His 110.9 rating also topped the conference. It was the 4^th highest in a single season.

Culpepper was the starter for NFC Pro Bowl team and 1^st All-NFC by Pro Football weekly.

He had a statically historic season. His yards were the 5^th most in a single season, his 39 TD passes were good for 4^th most in a season.

The Vikings QB set a NFL record and held it for nine years with 18 TDs in his first five games. That included three games with 5 TDs in those first five games.

Culpepper torched Green Bay in Lambeau Field for 284 yards and four scores. That included this TD to Randy Moss to put the Vikes up 14 in the 4^th quarter.

He threw for 316 and had a TD rushing and throwing in Minnesota’s divisional round loss to the Eagles.

The Vikings were 8-8 but were 6^th in the NFL scoring over 25 points a game.

Baseball 2004

1. David Ortiz: Put the Red Sox on his back to end the Curse of the Bambino.

He was the ALCS MVP.  He won won Games Four and Five with game winning hits.

In Game 4, after the Red Sox tied the game in the ninth, he drilled the game winning HR in the 12^th.

In Game Five Ortiz single in a run and scored in the 1^st to give Boston a 2-0 lead.  His 8^th in HR cut the New York lead to 4-3. His 14^th inning single won Game 5.

In Game Seven Big Papi homered and droved in two as Boston pounded New York 10-3 to advance to to the Series for the first time since ’86.

Ortiz in Game One of the World Series drove in four and homered.

He was .308 in Series with four walks.

Ortiz was an All-Star, Silver Slugger and was 4^th in the AL MVP voting.

He was 2^nd in the AL in HR (41), RBi (139) and total bases (351). He led the league with extra base hits (91).

He was fourth in OPS and 2^nd slugging.

In the ALDS Game 3, Papi put Boston the ALCS with a series winning HR in the 10th.

Boston ended it’s 86 year streak by dramatically winning the World Series in a sweep over St. Louis. They were the first team ever to comeback from down 3-0 to stun the Yankees.

The Sox finished with 2^nd best record in MLB with 98 wins and led the AL in average (.282) and runs per game (5.86).

2. Albert Pujols: Led the Cardinals to the World Series for the first time in 17 years. He was the NLCS MVP.

During the NLCS he was 14-28 (.500) with 4 HRs 9 RBI and 10 R in St. Louis’ seven game win over Houston.

The Machine hit a two run shot in Game One to tie the game at 2 in the 1^st. He was 2-3 with 2 BB and 2 Rs.

In Game Six, Pujols drilled a two run homer in the first to put the Cards on top. He was 3-5 on the night and scored three runs. In the 12^th he walked and scored on Jim Edmonds walk off.

The Cardinals would take the dramatic series in seven.

He put St. Louis in the LCS with a tie breaking 3R-HR in the 4^th and a RBI single in the 7^th, as the Cardinals got past the Dodgers 6-2 in Game Four to take the series 3-1.

He was an All-Star, Silver Slugger and finished 3^rd in the MVP voting.

Pujols hit .331 (5^th in NL), 46 HR (2^nd), and 123 RBI (3^rd).

The Cardinals first baseman led the NL in runs with 133 and total bases with 389. He was 2^nd in slugging % and 3^rd in OPS.

The Cardinals won 105 games, the most in baseball since the 1998 Braves. They led the NL in runs (5.28 per game) and batting average.

3. Curt Schilling: Helped Boston “reverse the curse” with his famous “bloody sock game”.

He led the AL with 21 wins and was 2^nd in the Cy Young voting.

Schill was second in the AL in ERA (3.26) and WHIP.

He was third in strikeouts with 203 and third in innings (226.7).

Schilling also led the league for the 4^th straight year in strikeout to walk ratio.

The Red Sox’s ace won Game One of the ALDS over Anaheim with 6 2/3 IP and two earned.

Schilling became a New England legend after partially tearing ligaments in his ankles in Game One of the ALCS; a loss to the Yankees.

He came back in Game Six, with the Sox down 3-2 in the series. He dominated New York for seven innings and giving up just one run.

The Red Sox would stun the Yankees in seven games after being down 3-0 in the series to advance to the World Series.

In the Fall Classic Schilling won Game Two with 6 IP and one run allowed.

The Red Sox swept the Cardinals for the first World Series win since 1918.

NBA 2004

1.  Kevin Garnett: Was the MVP of the league.

He was first team All-NBA and All-Defense.

KG was an All-Star starter for the sixth straight season.

Garnett was NBA player of the month in December, January, February, and April.

He led the league in rebounding (13.9) and FGs (804) while playing all 82 games.

Garnett was 3^rd in the NBA in scoring at 24.2 points per game.

He averaged five assists and over 2 blocks per game while shooting 50% from the field.

He had an amazing 71 double doubles in 82 games.

The Big Ticket led the T’Wolves to the best record in the West with 58 wins.

Behind Garnett, Minnesota advanced past the 1^st round for the first time in franchise history.

In Game 2 vs. Denver he posted a triple double with 20-22-10 and added three blocks.

In the 2^nd round vs. the Kings averaged 24-15 and 3.4 blocks per game.

In Game 3, Garnett had 30-15-5 blocks to led the Wolves past Sacramento by 1 to go up 2-1 in the series.

In Game 7 he carried his team to the conference finals with 32-21-5 blocks in 46 minutes. The Wolves escaped with a 3 point win.

In the West Finals he had 30-19 in Game 5 to force a Game 6.

The Timberwolves would eventually lose to the Lakers in the Western Finals. Minnesota won the Midwest Division in their best season in franchise history.

2. Tim Duncan: Was first team All-NBA and 2^nd in the MVP voting.

He was 2^nd team All-Defense and an All-Star.

Duncan finished 8^th in scoring (22.3), 2^nd in rebounding (12.4) and 4^th in blocks (2.7).

He shot 50% from the field.

Timmy lead the Spurs to the #2 seed in the West with 57 wins. They also led the NBA (tied with Detroit) in scoring defense; yielding just 84 points a game.

In a first round sweep of Memphis, the Big Fundamental put up 24-10 2.5 blocks and 59% shooting.

He opened with 20-11 in a Game One win over LA.

He put up 21-21 and 4 blocks in Game Five vs. the Lakers. Duncan canned what appeared to be the game winning fall away jumper.

The Spurs would  fall dramatically on a shot by Derek Fisher.

Duncan averaged 22-11 in the playoffs as San Antonio lost in the 2^nd round to the Lakers.

He earned a bronze medal with Team USA in the Olympics. He had three double doubles in tournament.

3. Ben Wallace: Helped led the Pistons to an unexpected NBA title.

He was first team All-Defense and 2^nd in the Defensive Player of the Year voting (Ron Artest).

Wallace was also 2^nd team All-NBA and a starter at center for the East All-Stars.

He finished 2^nd in the league in blocks (3.0), 3^rd in rebounding (12.4) and 8^th in steals (1.8).

Big Ben scored 9.5 PPG in playing 81 games.

The Pistons finished second in the East with 54 wins.

In the first round against the Bucks, Wallace averaged 10-13 3 blocks and 2.6 steals in the five game series.

In Game Seven in Round Two vs. New Jersey he went 8-10 from the field (18 points) and grabbed eight boards as Detroit advanced to the East Finals.

B-B-B-B-Ben sparked Detroit’s upset of top seed Indiana in the East Finals. He averaged 8-15-3.2 blocks, as the Pistons won in six games.

Again Detroit pulled off an upset over the Lakers behind the play of Wallace. In the title clinching game he had 18 points, 22 rebounds and 3 steals.

Wallace finished the playoffs averaging 10-14 2.4 blocks and 1.9 steals per game.

The Pistons won their first title since the “Bad Boys” 14 years earlier. They led the NBA allowing just 84 points per game.

2004 College Basketball

1. Emeka Okafor: Was the MVP the Final Four after leading UConn to the national title.

He was the NABC Player of the Year. He also was the Big East Player of the Year.

Okafor was the national defensive player of the year for the second straight year. 

He led the Big East and was 2^nd in the country with 4.1 blocks per game.

The Huskies center was a consensus All-American.

He was 6^th in the Big East in scoring (17.6)

He led the conference in rebounding (11.5) and field goal % (60%).

Okafor helped the Huskies past #9 Pittsburgh in the Big East final with 11-13 and 4 blocks.

The All-American had 14 games with at least 20 points and 10 rebounds.

Despite foul trouble in the first half Okafor powered UConn past #5 Duke in the final four with 18-7 (all 18 in the second half) in just 22 minutes. He led UConn back from down 8 in the final 3:15 to a one point win.

Okafor hit the go ahead put back with under 30 seconds to go.

UConn coasted to its second title in six years 82-73 over #14 Georgia Tech. The Huskies led by 25 with 12 minutes to in the game.  Okafor had 24-15 on 10-17 shooting.

Okafor was the only collegian named to the USA Olympic team and played briefly in two games and earned an bronze medal.

Connecticut went 33-6, 12-4 in the Big East. They won the conference tourney. They were #7 in the final poll after being #1 in 7 weeks.

2. Jameer Nelson: Was named player of the year by nearly every media service including the AP, Sporting News, US Basketball Writers.

He was a consensus All-American and Atlantic 10 Player of the Year.

Nelson was also named A-10 All-Defense team.

The player of the year was 2^nd in the A-10 in scoring (20.6), assists (5.3) and steals (2.8).

He shot 39% from three and 79% from the free throw line.

Jameer opened the season with 20-8-10 performance in a seven point win over #3 Gonzaga.  One of his nineteen 20 point games.

St. Joesph’s went 27-0 in the regular season. They became the first team since UNLV in 1991 to achieve that feat.

During the NCAA tournament Nelson averaged 24.5 points, 5 assists, and 2.8 steals per game.

He had 24 pts, and 7 asts in the Sweet 16 win over #17 Wake Forest, outplaying freshman Chris Paul.

In his last three games of the tournament he played, Nelson played 119 of 120 minutes.

The Hawks fell in the final seconds to #4 Oklahoma St. in the regional final.

St. Joe’s finished #5 in the final poll and earned a #1 seed in the NCAA tournament. They were 30-2.

3. Ben Gordon: Was the most outstanding player of the West Region of the NCAA tournament. He also was the MVP of the Big East tournament.

His 81 points (27 a game) set a Big East record for the tournament.

Gordon scored a NCAA tournament high 127 points (21.2 PPG).

He played at least 38 minutes in each of Connecticut’s first five tournament games.

He was 1^st team All-Big East and on the All-Final Four team.

The junior guard was 5^th in the Big East in scoring (18.5), and free throw % (82.9). He was 6^th in assists (4.5), while grabbing almost five boards per game.

Gordon led the conference in three point shooting; converting over 43% from beyond the arc.

In the Big East final against #9 Pittsburgh, he had 23-8 to lead the Huskies to the Big East title.

He torched Alabama for 36 in the regional final on 11-19 shooting and 10-11 free throws.

In the Final Four, he scored 18 vs. Duke and 21 in the Final vs. Georgia Tech.

UConn  won its 2^nd national title in six years.

NFL 2003

1.  Peyton Manning: Was the co-MVP.

He was consensus All- Pro first team and a Pro Bowler. 

Manning led the league in yards (4,267), completions % (67) and total completions.

He was 2^nd in the NFL in TDs with 29 and rating with 99.0.

Peyton had a “perfect game” (158.3 rating) and had 6 TD passes vs. the Saints.

Manning directed a legendary comeback on Monday Night Football. He led the Colts back from down 21 with five minutes left to an eventual overtime win. He threw for 348 and 2 TDs.

The MVP had his 2^nd perfect game vs. Denver in the Wild Card. He earned his first playoff win going 22-26 for 377 yards and five scores.  The Colts pounded the Broncos 41-10.

Manning guided the Colts to the AFC Championship game in a shootout at Kansas City. He was 22-30 for 304 yards and 3 TDs.

Manning threw four picks in the Colts loss to New England.

Indy went 12-4 and won the AFC South and advanced to the AFC title game for the first time since 1995.They were 2^nd in the league in scoring almost 28 points a game.  

2. Tom Brady: Was the Super Bowl MVP. He threw for 354 yards, 3 TDs and a Super Bowl record 32 completions.

 He led the Patriots in front twice in the 4^th quarter, including the go ahead TD pass with less than five minutes to go.

New England would win their 2^nd Super Bowl in three years on a field goal at the buzzer.

Brady would finish 3^rd in the NFL MVP voting.

He was 6^th in league in yards (3,692) and completions. He also threw 23 TD passes.

The Pats QBs led his team to 12 straight wins to finish the regular season.

He threw for 201 and a score in the Patriots divisional win 17-14 over Tennessee.

His 1^st quarter TD pass put the Patriots in front in the AFC title game.

New England went 14-2 and had the best record in football. The Patriots boasted the league’s top defense allowed less than 15 points per game.

3. Priest Holmes: Broke the single season record with 27 TDs.

He set a set a two year record with 51 total TDs from 2002-03.  His 10 multi-touchdown games also were a league mark.

He was named first team All-Pro for a third straight season.

Priest ran for 1,420 yards, caught 74 balls for 690 yards.

His 2,110 yards from scrimmage was 5^th in the NFL.

Kansas City went 13-3, won the AFC West and a 1^st round bye in the playoffs.

In the divisional round, Holmes torched the Colts for 176 yards on 24 carries and added 5 catches for 32 yards. He, as usual, found the end zone two times.

The Chiefs averaged over 30 points per game and led the league.

College Football 2003

1. Matt Leinart: Was the Rose Bowl MVP for the National Champions USC Trojans.

He threw for 3 TDs and caught another. He passed for 327 yards in the game.

He was the Pac-10 offensive player of the year. (First sophomore since John Elway in 1980)

The sophomore was 6^th in the Heisman voting.

Leinart set the Pac-10 record with 38 TD passes in a single season.

He finished 3^rd in the NCAA in passer rating. He also threw for 3,556 yards (2^nd in the Pac-10).

The Trojans QB led the conference in completion %.

USC won the Pac-10 and went 11-1. They pounded #6 Michigan in the Rose Bowl, and was named national champion by the AP. They were not included in the BCS title game.

2. Eli Manning: He won the Maxwell Award, national player of the year.

He was the SEC MVP and was 3^rd in the Heisman voting.

Manning was named 2^nd team All-American by the AP.

Manning was the Cotton Bowl MVP. He threw for 259 yards and two TDs and ran in another TD. Mississippi knocked off Oklahoma St. 31-28.

He led the SEC in completions, TDs (29), and yards (3,600). He was 2^nd in passer rating. 

Eli threw for at least 3 TDs in seven games.

The Rebels went 10-3, 7-1 in the SEC. Their only conference loss was to #2 LSU. They finished #13 in the AP poll. Ole Miss averaged 34 points per game.

3. Darren Sproles: He was a first team All-American, and was third in the player of the year voting by AP. He was 5^th in the Heisman voting.

      Sproles led the country in total rushing yards (1,986), and all-purpose yards (2,735). He was 5^th in yards per carry (6.5).

      K-State won six straight games, including a 38-9 beat down of #19 Nebraska, where Sproles ran for 140 and a score.

      Sporles torched then #1 and undefeated Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship game. He ran for 235 yards on 22 carries. He hauled in a 60 yard TD pass. The Wildcats would go on to win 35-7.

      In a 35-28 loss to #4 Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl, he had 70 all-purpose yards and a TD.

      Kansas State went 11-4 and won the Big 12 title. They were #14 in the final poll. The Wildcats were 9^th in the country scoring almost 37 points a game.

2003 MLB

1. Mark Prior: Led the Cubs to their first NLCS in 14 years.

He was an All-Star, 3^rd in the Cy Young, and 9^th in the MVP.

He was 2^nd in the NL in wins (18), strikeouts (245), and win %.

The 22 year old was 3^rd in ERA (2.43) and WHIP.

Prior went 10-1 to finish the season and lead the Cubs to the postseason.

The Cubs ace threw a two hit complete game in Game Three of the ALDS vs. Atlanta. The win would give Chicago a 2-1 series lead, in a series they would take in five games.

Prior gave up just one earned and struck out seven.

The Cubs drew even in the NLCS, behind seven innings from Prior in Game Two. He gave up just two runs.

Prior dominated the Marlins in Game Six, the potential pennant winning game, for the Cubs. He had a shutout going into the bottom of the eighth, where the” Bartman Incident” derailed him and the Cubs chances.

Chicago would fall to the upstart Marlins in seven games in the NLCS.  They won the Central and 88 games.   

2. Mariano Rivera: Was the ALCS MVP.

He saved Game Three and Five and won Game Seven. He pitched eight innings in four appearances and just have up one earned run.

Rivera had two innings saves in Game Two and Three in the ALDS vs. Minnesota; both them scoreless.

 

He finished the postseason with five saves in seven games and a 0.56 ERA.

In the regular season Rivera finished third in the AL with 40 saves.

Mo was 5-2 with a 5-2 with 1.66 ERA in 64 games.

The Yankees won a MLB high 101 games and the AL pennant for the sixth time in eight years.

Rivera was the winning pitcher in the epic Game Seven of the ALCS win over rival Boston. (3 IP)

The Yanks would be upset in the World Series by the Marlins in six games.

3. Albert Pujols: Was 2^nd in the MVP voting and an All-Star.

The Cardinals outfielder was named Player of the Year by Sporting News, and the Player’s Choice.

He was the NL Player of the Month in May and June.

He won the Silver Slugger for the outfield.

Pujols won the batting title with a .359 average.

“The Machine” led the NL in runs (139), hits (212), total bases (394), and doubles (51).

He was 4^th in the league in homers (43) and RBI (124).

Albert was 3^rd in on base %, and slugging and 2^nd in OPS.

His monster season led St. Louis to be 2^nd in the NL in batting, and runs scored.

The Cards finished with 85 wins and just three games out of the Cubs for the division title.