2007 Baseball

1. Josh Beckett: He was the ALCS MVP and helped the Red Sox to their 2^nd World Series in four seasons.

He was 4-0 with a 1.20 ERA in his four postseason starts.

Beckett dominated Cleveland in Game Five of the LCS sparking a Boston comeback from down 3-1 to take the series in seven games. He threw 8 innings and gave up one run and struck out 11.

He also won Game One of the World Series after striking out nine Rockies in seven strong frames. He gave up just one run.

The Sox ace shutout the Angels in Game One of the Division Series, ; allowing just four hits and striking out eight.

Beckett averaged 10.5 Ks/9 in his postseason starts.

During the regular year, he led the AL in wins with 20 and had the top WAR for pitchers.  His 3.27 ERA and 1.14 WHIP was 6^th in the league. His 194 strikeouts were 7^th in the AL.

He finished 2^nd in the Cy Young voting and was the winning pitcher of the All-Star game after pitching a scoreless 3rd and 4^th innings.

Boston won 96 games and the AL East by two games over the Yankees. They swept the Angels in the ALDS and eventually swept the Rockies for their 2^nd title in four years.

The Red Sox led the American League with a 3.87 ERA.

2. Matt Holiday: He led the Rockies to their first and only appearance in the World Series. He was named NLCS MVP.

Holiday’s 13^th inning triple kept his team’s season alive in a one game playoff win over San Diego.  He tied the score on a deep drive to right. His head first slide on Jamey Carroll’s sac fly put Colorado in the NLDS.

In Game Three vs. Arizona he homered in the 1st to start the scoring.

He helped Colorado complete the sweep with a 3-run homer to extend the Rockies lead to 6-1 in the 4^th of a 6-4 win.

The Rockies swept past the Phillies in three games. Holliday homered in Games 1 and 2 in the division series.

Overall in the postseason the Colorado leftfield hit .289 with 5 HR 10 RBI and 6 R in 11 games.

He was 2^nd in the MVP voting, and All-Star, Silver Slugger and player of the month in September.

Holliday led the NL in RBI (137), and the batting title as he hit .340.

He led the league in hits (216), double and total bases.

His 36 HR were 4^th in the NL.

Holliday was 3^rd in the league in runs (120), slugging and OPS.

The Rockies won 90 games and the Wild Card for their 2^nd playoff appearance.

Colorado won 14 of its final 15 games in the regular season and seven more in a row in the postseason.

3. Mike Lowell: Was the World Series MVP as he led Boston to a sweep of Colorado.

In the clinching Game Four he was 2-4 with a HR and 2 R.

In the Series Lowell was 6-15 (.400) with 4 RBI and 6 runs and had a .500 OBP

In the first two rounds of the playoffs he hit .333 with 11 RBI and 4 runs in 10 games. That included RBIs in his first five postseason games.

The Sox third baseman had a two-run double and sac fly in Boston’s 10-3 Game One win over the Indians.  

Lowell was an All-Star and finished 5^th in the MVP voting.

He was 7^th in batting (.324) and hits with 191. His 120 RBI were 5^th in the AL.

He also hit 21 HR and scored 79 times.

The Red Sox were 3^rd in the American League scoring 5.35 runs a game.

2007 NBA

1. LeBron James: He carried the Cavaliers to their first NBA Finals in franchise history.

His Game Five performance in the Eastern Conference Finals was one for the ages.

He scored 29 of Cleveland’s last 30 points in the 4^th quarter and overtime in the Cavs 109-107 extra period win. His swooping layup broke the tie with two second left.

James finished the game with 48 points, nine rebounds and seven assists in 50 minutes.

The Cavs advanced past the Pistons to the Finals behind 20-14-8 from James in Game Six.

The 22 year old forward averaged 24 PPG, 8.5 APG and 7.3 RPG in a six game series win over New Jersey.

He had back to back 30 point games as Cleveland swept past Washington in the first round of the playoffs.

LeBron was 5^th in MVP voting and 2^nd team All-NBA. He was an All-Star and had 28-6-6 in the game.

He was the player of the month in March.

James was 2^nd in FGs, 5^th in FTs made.  He was 3^rd in scoring (27.3).

He also averaged six rebounds and assists per game.

In the regular season Cleveland won 50 games and was the #2 seed in the East.

2. Tim Duncan: Led San Antonio to its 4^th title in seven years.

He was 1^st team All-NBA and 1^st team All-Defense.

Duncan finished 3^rd in the Defensive Player of the Year voting.  He was also 4^th in the MVP voting.

Duncan scored 20 PPG and finished in the top 10 in league in rebounding (10.6), blocks (2.4) and field goal % (54.6).

The Spurs finished 58-24 and #3 seed in the West.

In round 2 against #2 seed Phoenix, the 30 year old forward propelled the Spurs to a 2-1 lead with 33-17.5-3 blocks average in San Antonio’s wins to open the series.

He helped close out the Suns in Game Six with 24-13-9 blks.

Duncan averaged 22-10 and 2.8 in the five game WCF win over Utah.

During the NBA Finals in Game One 24-13-5 blks and 23-9-8 ast in Game Two. The Spurs coasted to a 4-0 sweep of Cleveland.

San Antonio allowed just 90 points a game, which was the NBA’s best defense.

3. Steve Nash: Finished 2^nd in the MVP voting (3^rd straight year in the top 2).

He was 1^st team All-NBA and an All-Star. He was the January Player of the Month (18 PPG 13 APG).

The two time MVP led the NBA in assists for 3^rd straight season with a career high 11.6 per game. He also had a career best 18.6 PPG.

Nash had 53 double-doubles, including two 20+ assist games.

 He had the rare 50-40-90 season (53% FGs, 45.5% on 3s and 90% FTs.). His FT % was 5^th best in the NBA.

Phoenix led the NBA in scoring just over 110 points a game on their way to a Pacific Division title and 61 wins (2^nd best in the West).

The Suns cooked the Lakers in five games. Nash had 23 assists and 17 points in a Game Four win.

In the 2^nd round against the eventual champion Spurs, Phoenix battled to a 2-2 series tie through four games. Nash averaged 22-15.5 in the Suns two wins.

He finished the series averaging 21.3-12.7 and hit on 52% of his 3s.

Phoenix would fall to the Spurs in six games.

2007 College Basketball

1. Greg Oden: Led Ohio State to the National Championship game.

In that game he dominated Florida and their pair of top 10 picks Al Horford and Joakim Noah.

He had 25 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks. He hit 10 of 15 shots.

Oden saved Ohio St. for the second straight game with this block vs. #25 Tennessee to preserve an 85-84 win in the Sweet 16.

 

In the regional final against #5 Memphis, the freshman from Indianapolis had 17 and 9 on 7-8 shooting as the Buckeyes got back to the Final Four.

Oden averaged 16-11 and 2.2 blocks while shooting 62% in the NCAAs.

He was the national defensive player of the year. He also was 1^st team All-America by AP. He was the MVP of the Big Ten Tournament  (averaged 17-12-4 blocks) and All-Final Four.

During the regular season, he put up 15.7 points, 9.6 rebounds, 3.3 blocks, and shot 62% from the field.

He led the Big Ten in rebounds, blocks and field goal %. He is the only player ever to accomplish that feat.

Ohio State went to the Final Four after sweeping the Big Ten regular season and tournament titles. They knocked out #8 Georgetown 67-60 to advance to the title game.

The Buckeyes went 35-4, including 22 straight wins, to finish the regular season ranked #1. Their four losses were away from home to all top 7 teams.

2. Kevin Durant: Was the consensus national Player of the Year.

Durant was named consensus All-American and Freshman of the Year.

He led the Big 12 in scoring (25.8), rebounding (11.1) and blocks (1.9). He was 4^th in the country in scoring and rebounding.

 He was 4^th in the conference with 1.9 steals and third in free throw % (81.6%). Durant averaged nearly 37 minutes out of 40 a game.

The skinny freshman put in 27 points, including 15-16 FTs, in a 1^st round tournament win over New Mexico St.

He had 30-9 in a 2^nd round loss to #23 USC.

Durant was the MVP of the Big 12 tournament despite Texas falling in the title game to Kansas.

He was also Big 12 All-Defense.

KD had 37-10-6 blocks in the Longhorns defeat to Kansas 88-84 in overtime. KD set the tournament record with 92 points (30.7 per game).

His outburst vs. the Jayhawks was one of his three games, in which, he poured in 37 points. He had eight 30+ point games.

Durant also had 13 double doubles, including a season high of 23 in a win over Texas Tech.

Texas went 25-10 and finished the season #11. They led the Big 12 and were 6^th in the country scoring over 81 points a game.

3. Al Horford: Led Florida to a 2^nd straight national title. He had 18-12-3 in the title game.

He was named to All-Final Four team. He was 2^nd team All-American by the NABC and 3^rd team by AP.

Horford was 1^st team All-SEC.

He was 2^nd in the conference in rebounding (9.5) and 7^th in blocks (1.8). He scored 13.2 PPG and shot 61% from the field.

In the tournament run the Gators’ center averaged 13.5 points, 11.7 rebounds and 1.7 blocks a game and shot 60%.

Horford was the SEC Tournament MVP, highlighted by 18-12 in the final pounding of Arkansas.

Florida became the first team in 15 years to repeat as champions after   their 35-5 season. They won 17 straight in the middle of the season.

The Gators spent 16 of 18 weeks in the top 5 (no lower than 7), including seven at #1. They finished #3 in the final poll.

Horford became the 3rd overall pick in the 2007 NBA draft.

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.