Jan 2, 2020
A look back at the biggest sports moments of the 2010s
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The 2010s were the decade when analytics went mainstream, forever changing how sports like basketball (three-point explosion), football (passing revolution) and baseball (launch angles, defensive shifts) are played.
The big picture: It was the decade of conference realignment, as universities played musical chairs in the name of TV revenue; and it was the decade of player empowerment, as athletes raised their voices in the name of social change.
- Everything was under review, from plays at first base (except for this one) to catches near the end zone (but they still got this wrong).
- Social media usage went up, cable subscriptions went down, the amateurism myth shrank, marijuana advocacy grew, extra points moved back and gay athletes moved forward.
- Ticket prices skyrocketed, baseball attendance plummeted, the USWNT reached new heights and the USMNT reached new lows.
- Dynasties rose (Alabama and Clemson football, Golden State Warriors) and dynasties fell (Texas and USC football, Los Angeles Lakers), while others continued to dominate, just as they had in the 2000s (New England Patriots, UConn women's basketball).
Scandals: We had doping ones (Russia, Lance Armstrong, A-Rod), sickening ones (Larry Nassar, Jerry Sandusky, Ray Rice), bribery ones (FIFA corruption, college hoops recruiting), hilarious ones (Manti Te'o's fake girlfriend), Patriots ones (Deflategate, Spygate, Spygate 2.0) and trash can-banging ones (Astros sign-stealing).
GOATs: We watched history's best swimmer (Michael Phelps), gymnast (Simone Biles) and sprinter (Usain Bolt) at the Olympics, while witnessing arguably the greatest QB (Tom Brady), basketball player (LeBron James) and tennis stars (Serena Williams and the men's "big three") win multiple titles.
2010
- Donovan's game-winner — Landon Donovan's 90th-minute goal against Algeria at the 2010 World Cup sent the USMNT into the knockout stage, and though the Americans' run was stopped by Ghana in the round of 16, his goal will live on forever. This video gives me chills. Sports!!!
- A mini-dynasty is born — The first half of MLB's decade was defined by the Giants, who won three titles between 2010 to 2014. Tim Lincecum played the hero in 2010, shutting down the Rangers en route to the franchise's first World Series since 1954 (and first since relocating to San Francisco in 1958).
2011
- Dirk delivers for Dallas — Dirk Nowitzki and a "starless band of ringless vets" delivered the first title in Mavericks history, avenged a 2006 NBA Finals loss to the Heat and denied the "Big Three" a championship in their first season together.
- "Game of the Century" — No. 1 LSU beat No. 2 Alabama, 9-6 (OT), in what was billed as the "Game of the Century." Two months later, Alabama beat LSU, 21-0, in the BCS National Championship — a controversial rematch that led to the demise of the BCS and the birth of the College Football Playoff.
2012
- Phelps makes history — 27-year-old Michael Phelps became the most decorated Olympian of all time at the 2012 London Games, winning the 18th and 19th medals on a historic Tuesday evening to break Russian gymnast Larisa Latynina's record, which had stood since 1964.
- The decision pays off — After being accused of "choking" against the Mavericks, LeBron James led the Heat past the Thunder in five games to win his first NBA Finals MVP and, more importantly, his first NBA title. He went on to win both in 2013, as well.
2013
- Tragedy in Boston — Two bombs exploded near the finish line of the 117th Boston Marathon, killing three people and injuring 260 others. The tragedy brought the city together like never before and 2012 culminated in the Red Sox winning the World Series.
- The Kick Six — "And Chris Davis takes it in the back of the end zone. He'll run it out to the 10 ... 15 ... 20 ... 25 ... 30 ... 35 ... 40 ... 45 ... 50 ... 45... there goes Davis! Davis is gonna run it all the way back! Auburn's gonna win the football game! Auburn's gonna win the football game! A truly iconic call by Rod Bramblett, who tragically passed away in May.
2014
- Yeah Jeets — In the bottom of the ninth, with a runner on second and the Yankees tied 5-5 with the Orioles, Derek Jeter knocked in the winning run in his final Yankee Stadium at-bat. It was a storybook ending for the five-time World Series champ, who will likely be voted into the Hall of Fame later this month.
- "The catch" — In late November, then-Giants rookie Odell Beckham Jr. made a jaw-dropping, one-handed TD catch that launched a bajillion GIFs and became the standard by which all other one-handed grabs are judged.
2015
- Another Serena slam — Serena Williams' 2015 win at Wimbledon meant she held all four major titles at the same time for the second time in her career. It was also her eighth straight victory in a Grand Slam finals appearance, tying Pete Sampras' Open Era record.
- Seattle blows it — On the heels of an insane Jermaine Kearse catch that would have gone down in the annals of Super Bowl history but is now all but forgotten, the Seahawks infamously went for a game-winning pass at the goal line instead of handing it off to Marshawn Lynch and had the ball intercepted by Patriots rookie Malcolm Butler.
2016
- Kaepernick kneels — The sheer magnitude of this image — what it represents, the fallout that ensued and how far beyond football it extends — make it the sports photo of the decade. In 50 years, I suspect that it will have retained its significance, while most of the other photos included here will be but distant memories.
- Cubs break the curse — It took 108 years, but the Cubs finally got the goat off their back and flew the W, beating the Indians in a dramatic World Series that required extra innings in Game 7. "It happened. It happened. Chicago, it happened," said first baseman Anthony Rizzo after the game.
2017
- Warriors get revenge — The 2016 Warriors were the best regular-season team ever (73-9 record) but fell to the Cavs in the Finals. So they signed Kevin Durant and got revenge in 2017, beating Cleveland 4-1 to win their second championship in three years and first of back-to-back titles with a healthy KD.
- McGregor v. Mayweather — Floyd Mayweather came out of a tw0-year retirement to face former UFC champion Conor McGregor in arguably the most hyped fight ever. McGregor held his own, but Mayweather ultimately prevailed by TKO and pushed his record to a perfect 50-0.
2018
- Sister survivors — At the height of the "Me Too" movement, more than 140 women accepted the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the 2018 ESPYS for speaking out about the abuse they suffered at the hands of former USA gymnastics and Michigan State doctor Larry Nassar.
- "Philly Special" — You've already seen it a million times, but you know you want to watch it again. Just an absolutely legendary play call on the world's biggest stage.
2019
- Tiger is back — In December 2009, Tiger Woods crashed his SUV outside his home, and in the ensuing months, saw his personal life and golf career hit rock bottom. Nearly 10 years later, he won the Masters — a redemption story that spanned the decade and made me cry.
- Rapinoe strikes a pose — The USWNT captured the world's attention this summer, dispatching opponents with ease — and fighting for equal pay — en route to a second straight World Cup title. Captain Megan Rapinoe won the Golden Boot (top goal scorer), as well as the Golden Ball (best player).
Go deeper ... In photos: The moments that defined a decade
