Posted: Tuesday, 05 January 2010 9:23AM Top Stories of 2009Ann Liguori | ||
| New York, NY (WFAN) -- Happy New Year! Looking back on my top sports stories of 2009, several of the best stories in sports came in the two sports that I cover the most -- tennis and golf! They are positive stories from inspirational sports performances. No scandals or mishaps. And so, Tiger’s fall from grace doesn’t make the list! And I’m not getting into the steroid scandal involving one of baseball’s best players. We are leaving AROD off our list for that very reason. As sports fans, we can’t let negative stories bring us down! There were so many other glorious moments in sports with athletes and performances that inspired. And I am proud to say that tennis and golf provided many of the top moments and drama in sports this year. Last week, I wrote that Roger Federer was my choice for Athlete of the Decade. In 2009, he thrilled tennis fans by winning his first French Open title ever, coming from behind to beat Juan Martin del Potro in five sets and then Robin Soderling, (the guy who knocked Rafael Nadal out of the tournament in the fourth round) in straight sets in the finals to win his 14th Grand Slam title. And then he went on to Wimbledon and beat Andy Roddick in the finals in what became the longest match in Wimbledon history in number of games played, outlasting Roddick, 5-7, 7-6 (6), 7-6 (5), 3-6, 16-14 to win a record 15 Grand Slam titles! But perhaps the player who provided the most extended drama at any tennis major last year was 17-year-old Melanie Oudan of Marietta, Georgia. Oudan captured the hearts of tennis fans everywhere with her SURPRISING run to the quarterfinals on tennis’ biggest stage -- the US Open. Oudan, ranked 70th in the world, upset four higher ranked players, including three-time major champion Maria Sharapova and Beijing Olympic gold medalist Elena Dementieva, to become the youngest quarterfinalist at Flushing Meadows since Serena Williams in 1999. The teenager was full of inspiration and spunk as she beat up on players twice her size and with twice as much experience. She eventually lost to Caroline Wozniacki in the quarterfinals, but it was a special journey and she drew all of us in it as she shared her joy and exhilaration with each upset win. And another touching story at this year’s US Open was the dream return of Kim Clisters. In only her third tournament back after a two year layoff in which she had a baby, Clisters become the first unseeded woman to win the Open -- and the first mom to win a major since 1980 -- with a 7-5, 6-3 victory over No. 9 Caroline Wozniacki. Afterwards, it seemed as if the entire stadium shared her joy and were touched when she celebrated on the court with her baby daughter Jada. Golf provided some incredible stories as well. Tom Watson almost won the British Open! Watson, at 59 years of age, was an eight-foot par putt away from becoming golf's oldest major champion. He missed the putt while Stewart Cink made his 12-foot birdie on the final hole of regulation, to send it into a play-off. Unfortunately, Watson ran out of gas and Cink, who had not been on top of the leader board all week, managed to turn up the volume in a four-hole play-off and beat Watson by six strokes to win it. But for four days, Watson thrilled and inspired golfers and sports fans everywhere. The fifty and over crowd were particularly enthused as they realized, through Watson, that age is only a number. 59 is the new 39! And we can’t forget the performance of Korea’s Y.E. Yang at the PGA Championship at Hazeltine National! Yang used a hybrid club from the fairway on the 18th hole, his 72nd, and smacked one of the best shots of the year! His approach shot landed ten feet from the hole. He made the birdie for the victory and became the first man to beat Tiger, with Tiger in the lead at a Major after 54 holes. Tiger had amassed a 14-0 record leading after 54 holes, until YE Yang, ranked 110 in the world beat him. It ranks up there as one of the greatest upsets in golf history! Michelle Wie won her first LPGA event! After a decade of high expectations and publicity, Wie shot a 3-under 69 for a two-stroke victory over Paula Creamer in the Lorena Ochoa Invitational last November. Although it does not rank up there as one of the more dramatic victories of 2009, it was a very important step for the 20-year-old, who played in her very first professional tournament ten years ago and has been touted as one of the most talented young players in the game. From Melanie Oudan to Kim Clisters, Roger Federer to Tom Watson, tennis players and golfers stole the show last year with inspirational performances. That, after-all, is what sports is all about! -Be sure to order a copy of Ann’s book, A Passion for Golf, Celebrity Musings About the Game and/or a DVD copy of her television interviews with your favorite sports legends, talking about his/her success story, by visiting: http://www.annliguori.com/shop.html |
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