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.

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.