This Year in Sports

Twelve months have passed so fast. A year ago, we were starting to reflect as the decade of the 2000s came to a close. Already, we’re facing the end of 2011, a year that saw worldwide political turmoil, devastating earthquakes, and the deaths of Osama Bin Laden and Kim Jong Il. 2011 has also been an eventful year in the world of sports. Cam Newton, in no time at all, earned the monikers of national champion, first overall pick, and favorite for rookie of the year. The St. Louis Cardinals won a World Series before losing their franchise coach and franchise player. The Big Three of Miami fell to Nowitzki’s Mavericks, but redefined what it meant to be an NBA free agent. And dominating the sporting news, fans discovered that the ultimate matchup in sports pitted owners against players, as two of the three most popular leagues threatened seasons with lockouts and questions of revenue. Kentucky’s born and bred rarely contribute to the sporting narrative. The most famous of Kentucky nativ...