2006 NFL

1. LaDainian Tomlinson: Was the MVP, Offensive Player of the Year and NFL Man of the Year.

He set the NFL record with 31 touchdowns, including breaking Shaun Alexander’s mark with 28 rushing TDs.

LT led the NFL with 1815 yards, became just the 14^th runner to eclipse 1800 yards in a season.

He finished 4^th in the league averaging 5.2 yards per carry on 348 attempts (2^nd in the NFL)

He led the NFL in total points with 186, another NFL record.

Tomlinson’s 2,323 yards from scrimmage were 6^th most of all-time and 2^nd in 2006.

He added 56 catches.

During San Diego’s season ending 10 game winning streak, the Bolts’ RB scored at least 2 TDs in eight of those games. The Chargers finished with football’s best record at 14-2.

In the divisional round vs. New England, LT pummeled the Pats for 123 yards on the ground, 64 in the air on two catches and 2 TDs. The second put San Diego up 8 with under nine minutes to play.

The Chargers lost the lead and fell 24-21 to the Patriots.

San Diego led the NFL in scoring at over 30 points a game and was second in the league in rushing.

 2. Peyton Manning: Was Super Bowl MVP while leading the Colts to their first title in 35 years.

He threw for 247 yards and a score in the game.

He led the Colts from down 21-3 to the Patriots to an epic 38-34 victory in the AFC Championship game. He threw for 349 yards in game.

During the 3^rd quarter comeback, Manning scored a running from a yard out on the ground and threw the air. He threw the tying two-point conversion.

He was named 2^nd team All-Pro. He finished 3^rd in the MVP voting.

The Sheriff led the league in TDs (31) and rating (101.0) for the 3^rd straight season. He was 2^nd in yards with 4,397 and 3^rd in the NFL in completions and completions % (65).

He topped the league with 4 comeback wins.

Manning was AFC Offensive Player of the Week three times.

The Colts finished 12-4 and won the AFC South. They were second in the NFL scoring 26.7 points a game.

They got past Kansas City and upset 13-3 Baltimore before knocking out the Patriots.

3. Drew Brees: Led the Saints to their first NFC Championship game.

He led New Orleans from down 21-13 in the 3^rd quarter to a 27-24 win over the Eagles in the divisional round.

His 11 yard TD toss to Deuce McCallister put the Saints in front for good with just over a minute to go in the 3^rd. Brees passed for 243 yards and had a 96.2 rating in the game.

In the NFC title games at Chicago he went 27-49 for 354 yards and 2 TDs. His two TD passes in a span of less than four minutes pulled the Saints to within 16-14 after being down 16-0.

The Saints would fall 39-14.

In his first year in New Orleans, the ex-Charger, was 2^nd in the MVP voting and was 1^st team All-Pro.

He was the Man of the Year (with Tomlinson).

Brees led the league in yards (4,452), and was third in TDs (26) and rating (96.2). He also finished 4^th in completion % (64.3) and 4^th in completions and 5^th in attempts.

Brees engineered the top offense in yards gained and passing yards in the NFL. The Saints went 10-6 and won the NFC South scoring nearly 26 points a game.

2006 College Football

1. Darren McFadden: Finished 2^nd in the Heisman voting and was the Doak Walker award winner as the nation’s top running back.

He was a consensus All-American and SEC Offensive Player of the Year. 

The sophomore led the SEC in rushing and was 5^th nationally with 1,647 yards rushing and 1,796 yards from scrimmage.

McFadden also topped the conference with 16 touchdowns and 96 points scored.

He averaged 5.8 yards per carry, caught 11 passes, returned 10 kicks for 262 yards and a score.

As a part time “Wildcat” quarterback he completed 7 of 9 passes for 69 yards and 3 TDs.

Arkansas won 10 straight games in the middle of the season including over then #2 Auburn behind 145 yards and a TD from McFadden.

 

In the SEC Championship game against Florida he ran for 73 yards, had 27 yards receiving and threw a TD pass.

In the Citrus Bowl, he ran for 89 yards on 19 carries in a 17-14 loss to #6 Wisconsin.

Arkansas went 10-4 and won the SEC West. They finished #15 in the final poll. The Razorbacks finished 5^th in the country rushing over 218 yards per game.

2. Chris Leak: Led Florida to its 2^nd national championship. He was the MVP of the national championship game, a 41-14 rout of then #1 Ohio St.

 

He was 25-36 for 212 yards and a score the title game.  He started the game 9-9 passing.

In the SEC title game against #15 Arkansas,

Leak ran nine yards for a score and tossed a 37 yarder to Percy Harvin for TD that gave Florida a 17-0 lead. 

 The Gators would go on to win 38-28.

During the regular season, Leak was 4^th in the SEC with 2,942 yards and completion % (63.6).

He was 3rd in TDs with 23. 

He also ran for three scores.

Leak led an offense that scored nearly 30 PPG. Florida won its final seven games to win the title. 

The Gators remained in the top 10 all season and finished the regular season at #2 in the final poll.

3. JaMarcus Russell: He was the MVP of the Sugar Bowl as LSU routed Notre Dame 41-14.

He threw for 322 yards and two touchdowns.

Russell’s five yard scamper put LSU up 21-14 with just over a minute to play in the first half.

He was named 1^st team All-SEC and the Manning Award winner given to the nation’s top QB.

Russell was also named SEC offensive player of the week three times.

He led the SEC in rating, completion % at 67.8, and was 2^nd in yards with 3,129 and 28 TD passes.

The junior gunslinger was 3^rd in the NCAA in rating and 6^th in completion %.

LSU finished 11-2 and #3 in the final poll with Russell tossing at least two TD passes in each of the Tigers 11 victories.

LSU finished 9^th in the NCAA scoring 33.7 points a game.

He would become the #1 pick in the NFL draft by the Oakland Raiders.

2006 Baseball

1. Albert Pujols: Led the Cardinals to their 10^th World Series title and first in 24 years.

He won the Gold Glove and was 2^nd in the NL MVP voting.

In April Pujols drilled a record 14 homers on his way to being named player of the month.

 

He led the NL in WAR. He also led the league in slugging and OPS.

After the monster April, Pujols slugged 49 HRs and 137 RBI (2^nd in the NL).

The Cards first baseman had 359 total bases (3^rd in the NL), 119 runs (5^th), and was third in batting after hitting .334.

In Game 1 of the NLDS vs. San Diego his 4^th inning 2-run homer put the Cards in front in a 5-1 win.

St. Louis evened the NLCS against the Mets 1-1 behind a 2-4 and three run effort from Pujols.

In the seven game series victory over New York, Pujols was 7-22(.318) and scored five runs.

He pushed the Cardinals led to 4-1 with a 2 run shot in the 3^rd of Game One of the Fall Classic.

St. Louis won the NL Central with just 83 wins but beat Detroit in five games for the World Series title.

2. Derek Jeter: Finished 2^nd in the AL MVP voting.

     He won the Hank Aaron award for the AL’s top hitter, Gold Glove and Silver Slugger.

    Jeter led the AL in offensive WAR and times on base (296), was 2^nd in batting (.343), and runs (118).

    He was 3^rd in hits (217), 4^th in on base (.417), and 7^th in steals (34).

    The Captain knocked in 97 runs and belted 14 homers.

Jeter carried the Yanks to a Game One win in the division series over Detroit 8-4. He went 5-5 with 2 2B, a solo HR, and 3 R.

He finished the series 8-16 from the plate as New York fell in four games to the Tigers.

New York finished with the best record in the American League with 97 wins and won the division by 10 games. 

In the World Baseball Classic, Jeter was named to the All-Tournament team.

3.  Carlos Beltran: Led the Mets to the playoffs after a 6 year drought.

He finished 4^th in the MVP voting, was a Silver Slugger and All-Star.

He earned the Gold Glove and was 2^nd in the NL in WAR, 1^st in offensive WAR.

Beltran was 5^th in HR (41), 7^th in RBI (116), and 2^nd in runs (127).

The Mets centerfielder also was 4^th in slugging and 5^th in OPS.

He hit .275 and stole 18 bags.

New York led the NL with 97 wins, 9 games ahead of 2^nd place San Diego.

Beltran helped the Mets sweep the Dodgers by going 2-4 with a RBI, R, and SB in the Game Three clincher.

His 2-R bomb in the 6^th was the only scoring in the Mets 2-0 win over the Cardinals in Game One of the NLCS.

He homered twice in a 3-3 and 4 R night as the Mets pounded St. Louis 12-5 in Game Four to tie the series at 2.

New York eventually was upset by the 83 win Cardinals in Game Seven.

He was 6-21 (.286) with 2 HR, 5 RBI, and 6 R in 6 games for Puerto Rico in the WBC. 

2006 NBA

  1. Dwyane Wade: Was the Finals MVP leading the Heat to their first NBA title.

He led Miami from down 2-0 to four straight wins over Dallas to capture the championship.

D-Wade averaged 34.7 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.7 steals a game in the series and an amazing 39-8 and 2.5 steals in the final four wins.

With his team down 2-0 in the series and 13 in the Game 3 with fewer than seven minutes to play, Wade ripped off 12 points to help force overtime in the Heat’s 98-96 victory.

He scored 36 in Game 4, and 43 in 50 minutes in Game 5, including 21-25 free throws.

In Game 6 Wade filled the stat sheet with 36 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 steals and 3 blocks in the clincher.

Overall in the playoffs, Wade was 4^th in playoff scoring (28.4) and 2^nd in steals (2.2).

Flash was second team All-NBA and the player of the month in February (30-6-6 for the month.)

 

The 24 year old shooting guard started for the East All Stars.

He was 5^th in the league in scoring (27.2), 6^th in steals (1.9), and averaged over six assists and five rebounds a game, while shooting just under 50% from the field.

Wade had 16 double doubles and 2 triple doubles for the 52 win Heat, champions of the Southeast division and 2^nd seed in the East.

He averaged 24-7 in a six game series win over his hometown team Chicago in round one.

In the 2^nd round he put up 27-6-6 and 2.4 steals in five games to get past the Nets.

In a rematch in the East Finals Wade dropped 35-8 in a Game 3 win, and had 31-6-5 in Game 4. Miami would take the series in six to knock out the two time conference champions Pistons.

2. Dirk Nowitzki: Led Dallas to its first NBA Finals in franchise history in its 27 year of existence.

      

      He was first team All-NBA, All-Star and finished 3^rd in the MVP voting. Dallas finished with 60 wins, 2^nd most in the West.

      Nowitzki was 7^th in the NBA with a career high 26.6 points per game, and 4^th in free throw % at 90.1.

      He also averaged 9 rebounds a game and shot over 40% on three pointers.

      Dallas swept Memphis behind an 31-8 average from the German forward.

      Dirk had his signature game with 37-15. He hit 11-20 shots and 15-16 FTs in 50 minutes of Game Seven over San Antonio.

  It was his game tying 3 point play with less than 25 seconds to play, around Bruce Bowen, that helped Dallas get past the defending champion Spurs.

      He lit up Phoenix for 30 in a Game 2 win and 50 in Game 5 to put the Mavs up 3-2 in a series they would take in six.

      During the playoff run, the Mavericks sharp shooter averaged 27 points and 11.7 rebounds a game (2^nd in the playoffs).

3. Kobe Bryant:  Scored the most 2^nd most points in a game         in  NBA history with 81, the most ever by a guard.

He led the NBA scoring with 35.4 per game, the highest total since Michael Jordan averaged 37 per game in 1987 and second highest since Rick Berry in 1967.

The Black Mamba had 27 games scoring at least 40. 

He scored over 50 in six games, including when he went for 62 vs. the Mavericks in just 33 minutes.

Kobe was the Western Conference Player of the Month in December, January (averaged 43-5-4 for the month), and April (41-5).

He was first team All-NBA and first team All-Defense, an All-Star and 4^th in the MVP voting.

Bryant was 5^th in minutes (41) and 9^th in steals (1.8). 

The Lakers finished the season with a 45-37 record and the 7^th seed in the West.

He helped LA to a 3-1 lead against the Suns with a vintage Game 4 performance including the game winning shot. 

The Lakers fell in seven games despite 50 from Kobe in Game 6 and 28-6-5 in the series.

2006 College Basketball

1. J.J Redick: Was named the National Player of the Year by the AP, and Sporting News.

 

He won the Naismith and Wooden awards as the nation’s top player.

Redick was the ACC Athlete of the Year and conference player of the year for the second straight season.

He scored an ACC high 26.8 points a game, which was 2^nd best in country. He was second in conference shooting 86% on free throws and 42% on three pointers.

The All-American hit 139 threes on season, which topped the ACC. It the 3^rd time he led the conference in long range makes. He broke, former Virginia guard, Curtis Staples’ career record for three pointers with 457.

The Blue Devils’ guard surpassed 30 points in 14 games,including 41 on then #2 Texas, including nine threes. Duke routed the Longhorn by 31 in the Meadowlands.

Redick was the ACC tournament MVP for the second straight year after leading Duke to back to back titles. Averaged 23 PPG, 15-34 3s (44%) in over 38 minutes a game.

In the finals, he scored 26 and hit seven three balls as Duke got past #7 Boston College.

In the NCAAs, he averaged 24.5 PPG on 50% from the field in wins over Southern and #14 George Washington in the first two rounds.

Duke fell to #19 LSU in the Sweet 16 after Redick went 3-18.

The Blue Devils went 32-4 and was 14-2 in the ACC on the way the to the regular season title. They were second in the nation scoring over 81 points a game.

They finished #1 in the final poll after being ranked no lower than 3^rd all season and spent 15 of the 20 weeks on top of the polls.

2. Adam Morrison: Led the NCAA in scoring at 28.1 points a game.

He was a consensus All-American and player of the year by the US basketball writers.

Morrison was a West Coast (WCC) Player of the Year. He was the WCC tournament MVP for the 2^nd straight year.

The Montana native started his scoring spree with 44 in a 3 OT classic vs. then #12 Michigan St. in the Maui Invitational.

He added 41 vs. Oklahoma State, including a wild game winning shot.

Morrison led the NCAA in FGs and FTs made. He was 5^th in WCC shooting 49.6%.

He added 5.5 rebounds a game, and shot almost 43% from three.

In the first round of the NCAAs, Morrison dropped 35 on Xavier on 11-21 shooting, including four 3s. He had 14-9 in a 10 point win over Indiana in the second round.

He had 24 points on 10-17 shooting in the Sweet 16 vs. #7 UCLA, the eventually national runner up. Gonzaga infamously blew a 17 point lead that led to Morrison’s on-court breakdown.

The Zags went 29-4 and were a #3 seed in the West region. They finished #5 in the final poll and were never ranked out of the top 10 all season. They averaged over 80 points a game. 

        

3. Joakim Noah: Was the Most Outstanding player in the Final Four, while leading Florida to the national championship. He set a title record six blocks and a single tournament record with 29.

 In the tournament, he was named the most outstanding player of the Midwest region.

He averaged 16.5 points, seven rebounds, 6.5 assists and 5.5 blocks a game in the first two games in Jacksonville in the first two rounds of the tournament. Florida pounded South Alabama and UW-Milwaukee.

Noah helped the Gators to their first sweet 16 in six years, after Florida lost on the first weekend in five consecutive tournaments.

In the sweet 16, the Gators got past #23 Georgetown 57-53 behind 15-10 and 5 blocks from their big man.

Noah powered the Florida back to the Final Four past top seed #3 ranked Villanova 75-63 in the regional final. He had 21 points 15 rebounds and five more blocks.

He had 12-8 in the semis win over George Mason.

Florida won their first basketball national championship routing #7 UCLA 73-57. The New York City native had 16 points on 7-9 shooting and nine boards.

During the regular season, he was named first team All-SEC while leading the league shooting 62.7% (3^rd in the NCAA). He was 3^rd in blocks (2.4) and ninth in rebounds per game (7.1).

He scored 14.1 points per game.

Florida won the national championship by defeating five of six opponents by double digits in the tournament. They went 33-6, won their 2^nd straight SEC tournament title, and finished #11 in the final poll.

The Gators started the season 17-0 and rose to #2 in the polls.

2005 NFL

1. Shaun Alexander: Was the MVP of the NFL. He set the NFL record scoring 28 touchdowns, including a record 27 on the ground.

He was Offensive Player of the Year and first team All-Pro. He was offensive player of the week three times.

Alexander had the ninth most yards in a single season after leading the league with 1,880. He also topped the league with 370 carries.

The MVP scored a TD in 14 of 16 games and rushed for over 100 yards in 11 contests (six of those 140+).

In the NFC Championship game, he carried Seattle to its first Super Bowl with 34 carries and 132 yards and a pair of one yard scoring runs. The Seahawks crushed Carolina 34-14.

In Super Bowl XL Alexander ran 20 times for 95 yards (4.75 yards/carry). Seattle fell 21-10 to the Steelers. 

The Seahawks went 13-3 and had the best record in the NFC by two games.

They led the NFL in scoring at 28.2 PPG and was 3^rd in rushing yards.

2. Steve Smith: Became the third player ever to win the receiving Triple Crown. He led the league in receptions, yards and touchdowns. Only Jerry Rice in 1990 and Sterling Sharpe in 1992 have done it.

He finished with 103 catches, for 1,563 yards and 12 TDs.

This season came a year after missing nearly all of the 2004 season with a broken leg.

He was named Comeback Player of the Year. He was named first team All-Pro and a Pro Bowler.

Smith amassed over 130 yards in six games, including 201 in a win over Minnesota.

Including his return yardage, #89 finished 6^th in the NFL in all-purpose yards with 1,940.

In the wild card round, the Panthers’ receiver caught 10 balls for 84 yards. His 22 yard score put Carolina up 7-0. His twelve yard end around put his team up 17-0 in a 23-0 victory of the Giants in New York.

The Panthers became the first team to earn a shutout on the road in the playoffs in 25 years.

 The next round, Smith had his signature game with 12 catches for 218 yards and two scores.

His 218 yards were, at the time, the 4^th most in a post season game.

On 2^nd play from scrimmage Smith 58 yards to the end zone to put Carolina in front. His 3^rd quarter TD extended the Panther lead to 23-14. They would hold on 29-21 to advance to the NFC title game.

He had 5 catches for 33 yards in a 33-14 loss to Seattle. He ran back a punt 57 yards for the Panthers first touchdown.

The Panthers went 11-5 and went to their 2^nd NFC championship game in three years.

3. Peyton Manning: He was first team All-Pro (for the third straight season) and finished 2^nd in the MVP voting.

He was named NFL Man of the Year.

The 29 year old QB led the Colts to a 13-0 start and a 14-2 record. During that streak, Manning had eight straight games with at least two TD passes and a 100+ QB rating.

He was second with 28 touchdown tosses. He also was 6^th in completions (305) and 7^th in yards (3,747), and third in completion % (67.3).

The two time reigning MVP sat out most of the last two games to rest.

Manning led the NFL in passing for a second straight year with a rating of 104.1.

In the divisional round Manning threw for 290 yards, a TD and 2 point conversion. The Colts trailed 21-3 in the fourth quarter until Manning led Indy on two scoring drive to close the gap to 21-18.

The Steelers would upset the Colts on their way to a Super Bowl title.

Indianapolis was 2^nd in the NFL in scoring (27.4 PPG), and 3^rd in yards.

2005 College Football

1. Vince Young: Was the MVP of the national championship (Rose Bowl) after leading Texas to a dramatic title over two time champion and #1 USC.

The Longhorns snapped the Trojans 34 game winning streak behind a Rose Bowl record 467 total yards from Young.

He also had a BCS (1998-2013) championship game rushing record of 200 yards on the ground. He scored three TDs.

The last two came with Texas down 12 with less than seven minutes to play. His 4^th and 5 scamper with 0:19 left gave Texas the lead for good. Young also completed 30 of 40 passes.

The Houston native became the first NCAA player ever to throw for 3,000 yards (3,046) and run for over 1,000 (1,050). Only one player since has accomplished the feat.

He finished 2^nd in the Heisman voting and won the Maxwell Player of the Year award.

Young Big 12 Male Athlete of the Year and QB of the Year (O’Brien Trophy)

He led the Big 12 in passing effiecency (163.9) and was 2^nd in passing yards, 3^rd in rushing yards. His 6.8 yards per carry was 8^th best in the country.

VY’s 12 rushing TDs were 5^th most in the conference, and his 26 TD tosses were 2^nd most in the Big 12.

Texas went 13-0 and led the NCAA scoring 50.4 points a game en route to the first national title since 1969.

2. Matt Leinart: He led USC to a 2^nd straight undefeated regular season and 3^rd straight national title game.

A year after winning the Heisman, he finished 3^rd in the voting. He was also a finalist for the Maxwell player of the year award.

He was named 2005 Sportsman of the year by Sporting News.

Leinart lead the Trojans past Notre Dame in a dramatic come from behind win the “Bush Push” game.

Leinart was a consensus 2^nd team All-American.

The left handed QB led the Pac-10 in completions and yards (3,815), and was 2^nd with 28 TDs.

He was 8^th in the NCAA in passing efficiency.

Leinart also added six rushing TDs.

He threw for 315 and 3 scores in a win over #12 Oregon and three more TDs in a victory over rival #16 UCLA.

In the Rose Bowl, Leinart passed for 365 yards and a TD, as the #1 Trojans were upset.

USC finished just behind Texas in the NCAA scoring leaders; putting up over 49 a game.

3. Lendale White: Led the NCAA with 24 rushing and 26 total TDs.

He was a key part of the USC offensive machine.

White was fourth in the Pac-10 in yards (1,302), and 5^th in yards from scrimmage (1,521).

He averaged 6.6 yards a carry and over 15 yards a catch (14 receptions).

The powerful back surpassed 150 rushing yards on four occasions for the Trojans.

In the national title game, White put USC in front on all three of his TD runs.

The junior ran 20 times for 124 yards to carry USC to a 2nd half lead

.

SC finished 5th in the country in rushing yards with 260 a game. They averaged 580 yards and game, which topped the nation.