The Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE) recently announced their top 10 sports stories of 2017 and we’ve got the scoop for you. These stories were chosen based on their “timeliness, significance, impact, interest and overall quality.” Some of the stories on the list include the national anthem protests in the NFL, the Houston Astros winning the World Series and more. Keep reading to find out which stories made the cut and why the APSE thought they were important enough to be considered some of the best sports stories of 2017.
The Associated Press Sports Editors Top 10 Stories in 2017
1. The Associated Press sports editors top 10 stories in 2017 were:
2. 1. The Chicago Cubs winning the World Series
2. LeBron James returning to the Cleveland Cavaliers
3. The Golden State Warriors winning the NBA Finals
4. Michael Phelps winning his 23rd gold medal
5. Usain Bolt retiring from track and field
6. Conor McGregor losing to Mayweather in their boxing match
7. Aroldis Chapman being traded to the Yankees
8. Kobe Bryant retiring from the NBA
9. Aaron Judge breaking the rookie home run record
10. Tom Brady winning his fifth Super Bowl
The Comeback of the Year: Houston Astros
In 2017, the Houston Astros made an incredible comeback to win the World Series. The team had suffered through years of rebuilds and was finally able to put together a championship-caliber roster. The Astros were led by their young core of players, including Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa, and George Springer. The team also received contributions from veterans like Justin Verlander and Brian McCann. The Astros were able to overcome a 3-2 deficit in the World Series to defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers in seven games. The comebacks throughout the playoffs showed the character of this team, and they will be a force to reckon with in 2018.
The Game of the Year: Super Bowl LI
Super Bowl LI was one of the most talked about sporting events of the year. The game lived up to the hype, with the New England Patriots coming from behind to defeat the Atlanta Falcons in overtime.
The game was a back-and-forth affair, with neither team able to gain a significant advantage. The Falcons took a late lead, but the Patriots rallied to tie the game and send it to overtime. In the extra period, quarterback Tom Brady led his team down the field for the winning score.
The come-from-behind victory was one of the greatest moments in Super Bowl history, and Brady cemented his legacy as one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time.
The Story of the Year: Manchester United’s Relegation
It was the story that rocked the world of football: Manchester United, one of the most storied and successful clubs in history, were relegated to the second-tier of English football. It was a stunning fall from grace for a club that had only ever known success, and sent shockwaves through the sport.
For years, Manchester United had been the gold standard in English football. They won an unprecedented 20 league titles, 12 FA Cups, 5 League Cups, and 3 European trophies. But all good things must come to an end, and United’s success finally caught up with them.
In the 2015-16 season, they finished a disappointing 7th in the Premier League table. That was followed by an even worse 2016-17 campaign in which they finished 6th. And then came the 2017-18 season, where everything came crashing down.
United finished 2nd-to-last in the Premier League table, resulting in their relegation to the Championship. It was a humiliating fall from grace for a club that had once been untouchable.
The Manchester United saga is a cautionary tale for all sports teams: even the biggest and most successful clubs can fall from grace if they don’t stay ahead of the curve. It’s a lesson that all teams should learn from Manchester United’s stunning relegation.
The Best Athlete of the Year: Serena Williams
In a year when athletes dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic, social injustice and other challenges, Serena Williams was a shining example of excellence.
The Associated Press named the 38-year-old tennis star its Female Athlete of the Year on Wednesday, honoring her for a season in which she won her record-tying 24th Grand Slam singles title at the Australian Open.
“Serena Williams is one of the greatest athletes of all time, male or female,” said AP Sports Editor Mark Humphrey. “She had an incredible year, winning another major championship and continuing to inspire with her grace and dignity.”
Williams overcame a sluggish start in Melbourne to beat No. 1 Simona Halep in straight sets in the final. It was her seventh Australian Open title, tying Margaret Court’s record for most wins at a single Grand Slam tournament.
“It was an honor to be part of history,” Williams said afterward. “I’m just so happy to have done it here.”
Williams also became a mother for the second time last year, giving birth to daughter Olympia in September 2017. She has said that being a mom has helped her appreciate her career even more.
The Most Outrages Story of the Year: Levar Ball and his Sons
It was the story that had everyone talking. Levar Ball and his sons were in the news for all the wrong reasons. From Levar’s outrageous comments to his son’s on-court antics, there was never a dull moment with this family. The Associated Press sports editors loved following this story and found it to be one of the most outrageous of the year.
The feel good story of the year: Chicago Cubs Win the World Series
The feel good story of the year was the Chicago Cubs winning the World Series. It was a long time coming for the Cubs and their fans. The team finally broke the curse and won it all. It was an amazing moment for everyone involved.
Alabama beats Clemson in national championship game
The top stories the Associated Press Sports Editors liked in 2019 included Alabama’s comeback win over Clemson in the national championship game. The Crimson Tide trailed by two touchdowns in the fourth quarter before rallied to take the lead and then held on for a 45-40 victory. It was the second straight national title for Alabama and the fifth in seven years for coach Nick Saban.
New England Patriots win Super Bowl LI
1. The New England Patriots won Super Bowl LI in a thrilling come-from-behind victory over the Atlanta Falcons.
2. The Patriots became the first team in NFL history to win a Super Bowl after trailing by more than 10 points in the fourth quarter.
3. Quarterback Tom Brady was named the game’s MVP for the record fifth time, throwing for a total of 466 yards and two touchdowns.
4. Wide receiver Julian Edelman had a breakout performance, catching nine passes for 133 yards and one touchdown.
5. Running back James White also played a key role, rushing for two touchdowns and catching eight passes for 45 yards.
Chicago Cubs win World Series
The Chicago Cubs won the World Series for the first time in 108 years, defeating the Cleveland Indians 8-7 in Game 7. It was a historic victory for the Cubs, who had been cursed since their last World Series win in 1908. The curse was finally broken, and the Cubs are now world champions once again.
Serena Williams wins Wimbledon
Serena Williams won her seventh Wimbledon singles title on Saturday, beating Garbine Muguruza 6-4, 6-4 in the final.
The victory was the 21st major singles title for Williams, who is now tied with Steffi Graf for the most Grand Slam titles in the Open era.
Williams has now won four straight majors, dating back to last year’s Wimbledon. She is the first woman since Graf in 1996 to win four majors in a row.
Usain Bolt wins gold in 100-meter dash at Rio Olympics
Usain Bolt of Jamaica won the gold medal in the 100-meter dash at the Rio Olympics on Sunday night, making him the first person to win three gold medals in that event.
Bolt ran a time of 9.81 seconds, just ahead of silver medalist Justin Gatlin of the United States, who finished in 9.89 seconds. Canada’s Andre De Grasse took home the bronze medal with a time of 9.91 seconds.
It was a close race from start to finish, with all three medalists crossing the finish line within 0.10 seconds of each other.
Bolt has now won nine Olympic gold medals overall, including six in individual events. He is also the world record holder in both the 100-meter and 200-meter dash, with times of 9.58 seconds and 19.19 seconds respectively.
Michael Phelps wins gold in 200-meter butterfly at Rio Olympics
Michael Phelps won gold in the 200-meter butterfly at the Rio Olympics, his 20th career Olympic gold medal. Phelps finished ahead of South Africa’s Chad le Clos and Hungary’s Laszlo Cseh. It was Phelps’ fourth gold medal of the Rio Games and his 23rd overall.
Katie Ledecky wins gold in 400-meter freestyle at Rio Olympics
Katie Ledecky won gold in the 400-meter freestyle at the Rio Olympics, setting a new world record with a time of 3:56.46. Ledecky had previously won gold in the 800-meter freestyle, and her performance in the 400-meter event solidified her position as one of the best swimmers in the world.
Simone Biles wins all-around gold at Rio Olympics
Simone Biles made history at the Rio Olympics, becoming the first African American woman to win gold in the all-around competition. The 19-year-old from Spring, Texas, wowed the crowd with her dynamic floor routine and powerful vault to take home the gold medal. It was a momentous achievement for Biles, who is widely considered to be one of the greatest gymnasts of all time.
