Baseball 2005

1. Albert Pujols: Was the NL MVP.

He led the National League in runs (129) for the third straight season.

The Cardinals first baseman was second in the NL in average (.330), OPS, slugging, and on base.

He also was 2^nd in the league with 360 total bases and 117 RBI.

Pujols 3^rd with 41 homers and 4^th with 195 hits.

He dominated the Padres in the division series reaching base 9 of 13 plate appearances (five hits and four walks). He scored four and drove in three in the three game sweep of San Diego.

The Machine delivered one of the most unreal home runs in the NLCS off Brad Lidge.

He crushed a three run blast to put the Cardinals up one in the ninth inning of Game Five.

After winning Game Five, Pujols and the Cards would lose in six to Houston.

The MVP hit .304 with 2 HR and 6 RBI in the series vs. the Astros.

St. Louis won 100 games, the best record in baseball, and the best in the NL by 10 games.

2. Paul Konerko: Led the White Sox to their first World Series since 1917.

He was the ALCS MVP after 2 HR and driving in seven and hitting .288 in the series win over Los Angeles.

In both Game 3 and 4 he hit first inning three run homers to put Chicago up early.  The White Sox would take the series in five.

In the World Series Konerko would drill a 7^th inning Grand Slam in Game Two that would put his team up 6-4. They would go on to win 7-6.

The Chicago would sweep the series over Houston to take the title.

The Sox first baseman hit the go ahead two run shot in the clinching Game Three of the division series. The White Sox knocked out the defending champion Red Sox.

In the regular season, he finished 6^th in the MVP voting and was a an All-Star.

He was 5^th with 40 HR. He added 100 RBI, 98 runs and hit .283.

Chicago won 99 games, the best in the AL. They went 11-1 in the playoffs behind 5 HR, 15 RBI and 6 runs in the 12 games from Konerko.

3. Andruw Jones: Led the NL in HR with 51 and RBI with 128.

He finished 2^nd in the MVP voting. He was Player of the Year named by Sporting News.

He was a Silver Slugger, All-Star, and NL Player of the Month in June and August.

Jones earned his 8^th straight Gold Glove.

The Braves centerfielder hit .263 and scored 95 runs.

In the first round vs. Houston, Jones was 8-17 (.421) and had two three hit games in the four game series.

He also had five RBI and runs in the series to lead the Braves.

Atlanta won it’s 14 straight NL East dating back to 1991. They won 90 games, 2^nd most in the NL.

NBA 2005

1. Steve Nash: Was the MVP as he led Phoenix to the best record in the NBA.

Nash led the league in assists with 11.5 per game (2.5 more than second place).

He was first team All-NBA, an All-Star and November Player of the Month.

In his first season after coming over from Dallas, Nash helped the Suns to a 33 win turnaround.

Phoenix went from 2^nd to last in the West before the Nash top on the conference with 62 wins. 

The Canadian point guard also finished 6^th in the league shooting 43% on 3s and 88.7% on FTs.

He scored 15.5 points a game, while shooting 50% from the field.

With Nash out of the lineup, the Suns were just 2-5 and 60-15 with him.

In the playoffs, Nash helped finish off a sweep of Memphis with 24-9 (points-assists) in Game Four.

He torched Dallas in round two.

In the six game series win he averaged 30-6-12 (points- rebounds – assists).

The MVP poured in a career playoff high 48 in a Game Five loss.

With the series tied at 2-2, Nash powered the Suns in front with 34-13-12 triple double.

In the clincher, he had 39-9-12. along with 5-8 on threes. He scored eight points in the final minute of regulation, including tying three with just over five seconds left.

Phoenix would take the game and the series 130-126 in overtime.

He averaged 23-10 ast. in the Western Conference Finals loss in five games to San Antonio.

The Suns boasted the best offense in 10 years averaging over 110 PPG.

2. Tim Duncan: He was the Finals MVP for the 3^rd time in six years after leading San Antonio to another tile.

He was first team All-NBA for the eight straight season and first team all-defense for the 7^th time in eight years.

Duncan was 4^th in the MVP voting.

In the regular season he averaged 20 points 11 boards and 2.6 blocks (3^rd in the NBA) in 66 games.

The Big Fundamental had a double-double in 2/3 of his games (44/66).

The Spurs were 2^nd in the West and tied Miami with 59 wins and the 2^nd best record in the league.

Duncan’s presence led the Spurs the Association’s top defense allowing 88.4 points a game.

In his 23 playoff games, he averaged 23-12-2.7. His rebounding was 2^nd best in the playoffs and 5^th in blocks per game.

Timmy dropped 39-14 on Denver in the first round Game Four. San Antonio took the series 4-1.

He put up 25-10-2.5 in the second round series win over Seattle in six games.

Duncan helped close out Phoenix in Game Five of the Western Finals.

He has 31 pts., 15 rebs. and the blocks and shot 14-24 from the field.

With the Finals tied at 2, Duncan’s 26 and 19 helped the Spurs to a dramatic one point overtime win in one of the “Robert Horry game”.

The Spurs won their 3^rd title in six years over Detroit behind Duncan’s 25-11 in Game Seven.

3. Dwayne Wade: Was 2^nd team All-NBA and December Player of the Month.

He was an All-Star and finished 8^th in the MVP voting.

Wade was ninth in the league in scoring (24.1) and tenth in assists (6.8).

He was also 4^th in the NBA in free throws made.

The second year guard averaged five rebounds and 1.6 steals a game.

D-Wade recorded 16 double-doubles and triple double vs. defending champ Detroit.

Wade helped the Heat sweep New Jersey with 34 points and nine assists in the clinching Game Four.

Yet again Wade was dominating as Miami finished a second straight sweep over Washington.

He had 42 points on 13-22 FGs and 16-17 FTs. He also had seven boards.

In the Eastern Conference Finals against Detroit, Miami pulled even 1-1 behind 40-8-6 (p-r-a) from Wade.

He followed it up with 36 in a Game Three win.

The Heat’s star guard injured his ribs in Game Five. The Pistons would take Game Six and Seven with Wade on the sideline.

In the postseason, he 27.4 points, 6.6 assists, 5.7 rebounds and 1.6 steals while shooting 48% in 14 games.

The Heat had the top record in the East with 59 wins and 101.4 points a game. They finished five games ahead of second place Detroit in the final standings.

College Football 2004

1. Matt Leinart: Won the Heisman Trophy. He was Player of the Year by the AP and Walter Camp.

He was a consensus first team All-American and co-PAC-10 Player of the Year.

He was Orange Bowl MVP after throwing 5 TDs, an Orange Bowl record, as USC pounded #3 Oklahoma 55-19.

The junior QB led the Trojans to their 2^nd straight national title (AP) and a wire to wire #1 ranking.

Leinart was 18-35 for 332 yards and four of five scores in the first half.

He led the Pac-10 with 33 TD passes and had only 6 Ints.

The All-American was 8^th in the NCAA with 3,352 yards, 9^th in completion % (65.2). He also was 8^th in completions with 269.

He opened the season with three TD passes to Reggie Bush and 272 yards in a 24-13 win over #10 Virginia Tech.

USC finished 12-0 and won 22 straight games. They were 6^th in the country scoring over 38 points a game.

2. Adrian Peterson: Was the runner up for the Heisman Trophy.

He an NCAA freshman record with 1,915 yards. He was the unanimous Freshman of the Year and first team All-American.

Oklahoma went 12-0 and finished #2 in the regular season poll.

Peterson led the country in carries (339) and was 3^rd in yards.  His 15 TDs was good for 3^rd in the Big 12.

He ran for 100+ yards in his first nine games and 11 overall.

A.D ran for 225 in a 12-0 win over #5 Texas in the Red River Rivalry.

Peterson had 172 yards and 3 TDs in the Sooners rout of Colorado in the Big 12 championship game. 

In the Orange Bowl loss to USC, Peterson ran for 82 yards.

Oklahoma won the Big 12 and averaged almost 35 points per game.

3. David Pollack: Was national Defensive Player of the Year.

Pollack was the SEC Player of the Year (all players).

He was first team All-American for the 3^rd straight season.

Pollack was Outback Bowl MVP with a record tying three sacks, including a strip sack and fumble recovery.

Georgia would go on to win 24-21 over #17 Wisconsin.

The senior defensive end finished the season with 12.5 sacks, 52 tackles (17 for loss). His 12.5 sacks led SEC.

Pollack also had 3 forced fumbles and 2 blocked kicks.

Georgia went 10-2 (losses to #13 Tennessee and #2 Auburn) and finished #7 in the final poll.

The Bulldogs were ninth in country giving up 16.5 points a game.

College Basketball 2005

1.  Sean May: Was the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four.  He helped led North Carolina to its first national title in 12 years.

May went 10-11 from the field and had 26 points and 10 rebounds in the national championship game vs. #1 Illinois.

He had 22-7 in the semi win over #15 Michigan State.

In the East regional final vs. #20 Wisconsin the junior pumped in 29-12, which helped earn him regional MVP.

For the tournament, May averaged 22 points and 10.7 rebounds a game.

He was named Player of the Year by Sports Illustrated, 1^st team All-American by ESPN.

May was 2^nd team All-American by several other publications.

He helped UNC wrap up the ACC regular season title with 26-24, in a 75-73 come from behind season finale win over #3  Duke. The Tar Heels trailed by nine with under three minutes to go but scored the last 11 for the win.

The Tar Heels’ powerful forward was 3^rd in the ACC with 17.5 PPG, and field goal % (56.7). He was second in the conference with 10.7 RPG.

North Carolina finished the season #2 in the final poll and was 33-4 (13-3 in ACC). They led the country in scoring 88 points a game.  

2. Deron Williams: Was a consensus 2^nd team All-American. He was a finalist for the Wooden and U.S Basketball Writers player of the year.

He was 1^st team All Big 10.

Williams led Illinois to a 29-0 start in regular season and eventually to a 32-1 season and #1final ranking.

The junior point guard led the Big Ten in assists with 6.8 per game. He was 8^th in the conference shooting 41.7 % on threes.

He averaged 12.5 points per game.

Williams was the Midwest region MVP.   He averaged 16.5 PPG, 8.5 APG in 37 minutes per game in the four regional games.

In the regional final vs. #9 Arizona, the Fighting Illni trailed by 15 with four minutes to play.  Williams sparked a legendary comeback with eight points and the tying three pointer with 38 seconds in regulation.

   

He finished the game with 22 points, including five threes, and ten assists.

D-Will dished out nine assists in Illinois 72-57 win over #4 Louisville in the Final Four.

He played every minute of the Final against #2 UNC. Williams had 17 points and seven dimes in the five point loss to the Tar Heels.

3.  J. J Redick: Was the ACC Player of the Year and tournament MVP. 

He won the Rupp trophy for national player of the year and was a consensus All-American.

Redick led the ACC in scoring (10^th in the NCAA) with 21.8 PPG, 37.3 minutes, and 93.7 FT% (2^nd in the NCAA).

He was second in the conference hitting 40% of 3s.

He scored 20+ in 21 games and hit at least five three pointers in 11 games. That included 38 points and six threes in a 102-92 win over #5 Wake Forest.

While leading the 3^rd ranked Blue Devils to the ACC title Redick averaged 25.7 a game, including 26 in the final over #25 Georgia Tech. 

He had 35 points, seven threes , and six assists in 40 minutes in the semis vs. NC State, an eventual sweet 16 team.  

The junior guard helped Duke to it’s 8^th straight sweet 16 with 16 points, 5 rebs., and two steals in 40 minutes.

Duke went 27-6 and was the #1 seed in the South, where they fell to Michigan State in the sweet 16.

In the summer, he helped USA to an 8-1 record in the FIBA under 21 championships. He scored 22 vs. Nigeria and Argentina; hitting six threes in both games.

The US was stunned in the knockout rounds by Canada.

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.