Top Ten Sports Moments of 2007...So Far

The first half of 2007 has provided enough sports content to easily compile a dominant top ten list of best sports moments of the year. Even though obviously the year is only half over, this list will probably contain at least seven or eight of the top ten moments of the year because, really, what else is left except for a World Series Champion?

Simmer down, NASCAR friends, ye haven't been forgotten-- but you have to admit with the "Tony Stewart public relations fiasco" and the "Dale Earnhardt, Jr. dumping his dad's team" shocker, your cars have been more drama than sports.

Likewise PGA golf fans, you most all be dying to know who is the FedEx Champ right? Sure. The new format will undoubtedly crown Tiger or Phil and if they don't will anyone care?

So now on to the Top Ten Sports Moment of the first half of 2007:

10. BUEHRLE AND VERLANDER PITCH NO-HITTERS: Mark Buehrle of the Chicago White Sox no-hits the Texas Rangers on April 18. The first White Sox no-no since 1991 when Wilson Alverez blanked the Baltimore Orioles. 2006 Rookie of the Year, Justin Verlander of the Detroit Tigers, blanks the Milwaukee Brewers for the first Tiger no-hitter since 1984's World Champion Tiger's pitcher, Jack Morris, no-nos the White Sox. Interestingly, both pitchers hail from the same American Central Division. And they occur in the first half of the season. Baseball at it's best.

9. MIGHTY DUCKS TAKE STANLEY CUP: For the first time in their 14 year history, the Anaheim Ducks get to lift Stanley. Too bad that most folks outside of NHL fan-dome don't really care.

8. TIGER CONTINUES HIS ROAR: Tiger Woods continues to dominate the PGA. He wins three tournaments and still people comment that he is distracted, losing his swing, etc. etc. Enough about Tiger's "life drama." He is a great golfer. Period. How many people watch on Sunday unless Tiger is in contention. He's great for the game and we should just let him play regardless. Would you like someone to critique your life and job 24/7? This is number 8 but could be tied with 7 or interchanged.

7.JOHNSON TAMES TIGER AT MASTERS: When the whole world assumed Tiger would perform his usual awe-inspiring march to the 18th green at Augusta National, Zach Johnson sits in the clubhouse praising God and kissing his family. He then walks away with the green jacket and gives everyone in Iowa someone to idolize and root for. And to dispel the "it's a fluke" rumor, Johnson is victorious at the AT & T Classic at the TPC Sugarloaf in Duluth, GA less than two months later.

6. A-ROD TIES HOME RUN RECORD FOR APRIL: Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees, in one outstanding month, gets nay-sayers off of his back while smashing 14 home runs during the month of April, tying the MLB record. Not a big fan of A-Rod or the Yankees? Bet you were still cheering for him to break the record so he could stick out his tongue and go "na na na na" to the Yankee faithful. Indeed something that both sides of Yankee's "love'em or hate'em" relations could cheer for.

5. LEBRON SINGLE-HANDEDLY DEFEATS PISTONS: Lebron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers scores 48 points in double-overtime to defeat the Detroit Pistons in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Championship. As if 48 isn't enough, James scores 29 of Cleveland's last 30 points leaving the Pistons with a "deer in the headlight" look. His performance swings the tide in the series and allows Cleveland to move into the Finals after beating Detroit in Game 6. An amazing feat, of course, but isn't the NBA supposed to be a team game? To some, but this was a treat to watch.

4. GATORS CHOMP BOWL O' BUCKEYES IN BCS: Lucky to be there Florida Gators, prove they deserve to be in the National Championship as they clobber the Ohio State Buckeyes, 41-14, for the BCS National Championship. Seemingly coming out of nowhere, Chris Leak and the Gators dominate the favorite Buckeyes to take home the trophy. Technically, this has 2006 BCS Championship, but it did happen in 2007, did it not?

3. ATTACK OF THE GATORS, PART 2: Buckeyes once again fall to the defending National Championship Florida Gators in the NCAA Basketball Tournament. Florida upends Greg Oden and Ohio State to walk away with their consecutive championship. They are the first to do so since the Duke Blue Devils in 1991 and 1992. Most of Florida's team celebrates by announcing they will move on to the NBA. Oden soon follows.

2. COLTS WIN SUPER BOWL XLI: Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts win the Super Bowl by defeating the Chicago Bears, 29-17. Manning finally shakes free of the "can't win the big one" stigma and gets his first ring. A good football game that had most NFL fans wondering if Manning would choke or celebrate. Thanks to the hapless Bears, Manning wins and now the talk of repeating follows him into next season.

1. FIESTA BOWL: BOISE STATE VS. OKLAHOMA: This game will probably go down as one of the best college football games of all-time. The undefeated Boise State Broncos played the Oklahoma Sooners on January 1, 2007. An excellent way to kick of the sports season for the year. An assumed underdog, the Broncos started with an early lead but Oklahoma won't go away quietly. The Sooners charged back in the second half and tied the game at 28-28 with 1:26 remaining. On Boise's ensuing possession, quarterback Jared Zabransky was intercepted by a Sooner who rumbled down field to give Oklahoma the lead with 1:02 remaining. Faced with a 4th down and 18 yards to go and 18 seconds on the clock, Boise pulled out the trick book and stunned Oklahoma by successfully performing the ol' "hook an lateral" play which led to a touchdown with 7 seconds left on the clock. After time ran out, Oklahoma received the first possession of overtime and quickly scored a touchdown. Boise's first possession of the OT also resulted in a TD but Boise coach Chris Peterson wanted to gamble on winning with a 2-point conversion play. His gamble paid off as Zabransky pulled off the "statue of liberty" play by faking a throw, then remaining completely still while backhanding the ball to running back Ian Johnson who ran to the end zone for the one-point victory. Boise State 43, Oklahoma 42. Boise State would remain the only undefeated team for the 2006 season. A game for the history books and the number one of all sports events for 2007...so far.