There were numerous triumphs, tragedies and unforeseen occurrences in sports during the year that was 2008. The New York Giants pulled off one of the most memorable upsets with a victory over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII, the Boston Celtics set the foundation for an NBA dynasty by capturing the franchise’s seventeenth World Championship and the NFL mourned the untimely passing of Gene Upshaw and the unfortunate circumstances that left player Jason Collier paralyzed. With the arrival of the new year, several intriguing issues will affect the sports world in 2009–amir shaw
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1. Will a Black Coach Win Super Bowl XLIII? Tony Dungy made history in 2007 when he became the first black coach to win a Super Bowl. Dungy and his Indianapolis Colts are playoff bound and are considered to be legitimate Super Bowl contenders. However, the Colts may have to defeat Mike Tomlin and his surging Pittsburgh Steelers to get back to the Super Bowl. The Steelers have the second best record in the AFC and Tomlin is a candidate for the coach of the year award. |
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2. Will Michael Vick play in the NFL in 2009? Two years have passed since Michael Vick began his tumultuous journey from being an NFL star to serving time in a federal prison in Leavenworth, Kansas. After pleading guilty in Virginia to bankrolling a dog fighting enterprise, Vick was ridiculed by animal activists and sentenced to 23 months in prison. However, Vick’s nightmare could conclude in 2009. If Vick is allowed to be released into a halfway house this winter, he may have a chance to sign with an NFL team that is desperate for a quarterback. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell will have the final say but woeful teams such as the Detroit Lions, Oakland Raiders, and Kansas City Chiefs will consider signing Vick for his talent and mass appeal. |
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3. Will Top-Notch NCAA Football Programs Hire more Black Coaches? The fact that there are nearly as many black U.S. presidents (1) as black coaches (3) in Division 1-A football proves how much NCAA football is behind the times. Auburn University recently dropped the ball when the school failed to hire Turner Gill from the University of Buffalo and other prominent schools have yet to name a black head coach despite the recent firings. However, more black coaches may get an opportunity to interview with teams once the bowl season concludes. |
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4. Will Doc Rivers become the First Black Coach to Win Back-to-Back NBA Titles? Although a few critics predicted that the Boston Celtics would have a hangover from the 2008 championship season, they have silenced all doubters by threatening to break the Chicago Bulls’ record for the most wins in an NBA season. Doc Rivers has motivated his veteran players to remain intense and continues to manage his younger players who have added depth off the bench. Rivers’ coaching methods has led to league-wide dominance and could earn him his second NBA championship. |
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5.Can the Philadelphia Phillies Repeat as World Series Champions? The Philadelphia Phillies used power and superior pitching to capture the 2008 World Series Championship. Led by power hitters Ryan Howard, Charles Utley and Jimmy Rollins, the Phillies set scoring records and even scored 60 runs in a five-game span. After breaking a 28-year championship drought, the Phillies will be working hard in the spring for a repeat performance. |
