With 2021 coming to a close, it’s time to reflect on the storylines that rocked the sports world this year. Some were inspiring, some were mind-blowing and others were downright fun.
From the mat to the field to the vaccination site, here are my top sports moments of 2021:
On the world’s biggest stage, gymnast Simone Biles sparked a conversation about prioritizing mental health. After developing the twisties, a mental block that causes someone to lose track of where they are midair, Biles decided to withdraw from both the team and individual events at the 2020 Summer Olympics. Some people called her a quitter and others said she was abandoning her team, but Biles is everything but that. A survivor of sexual abuse from former team doctor Larry Nassar, Biles’ actions showed that even the greatest athletes in the world can struggle with their mental health. She showed that she was human and, in a time where COVID-19 has impacted so many people around the world, she became a powerful voice for many.
In February, Tom Brady won his seventh Super Bowl title and first with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a dominating 31-9 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. Despite not winning the division, Brady and the Bucs knocked off the Washington Football Team and the division rival New Orleans Saints before taking down Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship Game. Not only did Brady become the first player with seven NFL rings, but he earned Super Bowl MVP honors for the fifth time.
Now Brady, at age 44, is in year 22 and is showing no signs of slowing down. The Bucs sit at 11-4 and could be primed for yet another Super Bowl run. Can he get his eighth ring in 2022?
What Ohtani did this past season is something that we may never see again. Not only did he pitch and hit, but he shined in both areas. Ohtani was the Los Angeles Angels ace, going 9-3 with a 3.18 earned run average. At the plate, he was one of the most dominant hitters in the league. He hit 46 home runs, knocked in 100 RBI and stole 26 bases. His season-high nine wins above replacement ranked more than a full point higher than any other player.
Unsurprisingly, he received all of the first place MVP votes. After battling injuries in his first few years in the league, Ohtani is the most exciting player in baseball. While what he did on the field is remarkable, it also gave the baseball world a new superstar to rally behind.
In June, NCAA college athletes were able to start benefiting from their name, image and likeness in what was a monumental moment in collegiate athletics. For years, college athletes were unable to profit and were seen as amateurs, but this is a positive step. NIL has changed the landscape of college sports.
Alabama quarterback Bryce Young reportedly received close to $1 million in deals before even starting a game. Others have benefited from food deals and some have donated chunks of their money to charity. While much remains to be seen how much of an impact NIL will have on recruiting and the future of college sports, this was the major storyline in college sports this year.
The intersections of COVID-19 and sports have been spotlighted for more than a year now. In 2020, COVID-19 impacted crowd sizes, bubbles and mask mandates, among other protocols. In 2021, the main story was the introduction of vaccines. Whether a player was vaccinated or not had impacts on their playing ability and what measures they must take. In the NBA, Brooklyn Nets point guard Kyrie Irving has not appeared in a single game because he is unvaccinated and is not allowed to participate in home games.
In the NFL, the rules are different.
Aaron Rodgers, the Green Bay Packers’ quarterback, told reporters that he was “immunized,” but it was later revealed that he had not received a vaccine for COVID-19. For months, some athletes answered and others dodged questions surrounding their vaccine status, causing it to become one of sports’ largest storylines throughout 2021.
Honorable Mention: Giannis Antetokounmpo leads the Milwaukee Bucks to their first NBA title in 50 years
CN+R Intern Max Baker, a student at the University of Missouri, can be reached at max@chathamnr.com and @maxbaker_15.