WBRS Sports Blog

As the year comes to an end, I'd like to bestow a few end-of-the year awards.

Game of the Year: Rose Bowl - Texas Longhorns vs.USC Trojans

A mélange of star power and lack of controversy in the top two teams produced the best BCS title game ever. Lendale White’s powerful running but failure on 4^th-and-2, Dwayne Jarret’s burst into the national spotlight, Reggie Bush’s phantom lateral, and Vince Young’s brilliance created more talking points than any previous championship game. Young’s final drive was the perfect storm of inevitability and disbelief. The game was the definition of an instant classic.

Runner-up: NBA 1^st round Game 4 Phoenix Suns @ Los Angeles Lakers

Athlete of the Year: Vince Young

From his ethereal performance in the Rose bowl (200 rushing yards, 267 through the air to refresh your memories) to leading Tennessee from a 0-5 start to the precipice of the playoffs, no one produced more breathtaking and dramatic moments than Mr. Young.

Runner-up: LeBron James

Team of the Year: New Orleans Saints

Returning to the Katrina-ravaged Superdome with low expectations after a 3-13 season, the Saints under first-year coach Sean Payton have risen to the NFC elite. Seamlessly blending the powerful running of Deuce McAllister back from injury with the elusive Reggie Bush, Payton along with new quarterback Drew Brees has turned the Saints into an offensive power. From a rollicking week 3 win back in New Orleans, the Saints have ridden a magical air to clinching the division, a first-round bye and America’s hearts. Howie Long put it perfectly “If the Dallas Cowboys are America's team, the Saints are the adopted brother.”

Runner-up: Dallas Mavericks

And because life isn’t all sports…

Movie of the Year: Little Miss Sunshine

If you missed this little gem about a completely dysfunctional family making a cross-country trip to reach beauty pageant for their 9-year-old daughter, then shame on you. It’s one of the best made movies of the past five years with as stellar an ensemble as you’ll ever see. Alan Arkin is especially good as a cocaine-addicted grandfather and Steve Carrell plays the depressed gay uncle with deep sincerity and ultimate hilarity. This is a movie that will restore your faith in American independent filmmaking.

Runner-up: Borat

Song of the Year: “Crazy” by Gnarls Barkley

While it wasn’t my favorite song, there is no doubt that the first single from the Danger Mouse/Cee-Lo collaboration was the song of 2006. From its opening inescapable beat to the violin crescendos in the chorus, the song infiltrates the body, forcing dancing or at worst a head bob. The simple chorus lyrics invoke all sorts of car performances and dance party sing-a-longs.

Runner-up: “When You Were Young” by the Killers

All-in-all a good year, but don’t dismay; there’s a lot to look forward to next year with Daisuke Matsuzaka’s debut, a UCLA-Florida rematch in the NCAA finals and Jerry Sloan’s first NBA Championship*.

Happy New Year everybody. Have fun and be safe.

*One of these things guaranteed to occur.