100-plus sports blogs. 18,000-plus posts. Roughly 6 million visits. 2009 was a big year for the FanSided Sports Network. But it was also a big year for you sports fans out there. That’s why we’ve decided to revisit the sports year that was 2009 through our best posts (100-plus posts), as selected by our editor and our bloggers. We guarantee there’s at least something in this list of links that will entertain the bejesus out of each and every sports fan, so thank you for your support and get busy reading!
NFL
The NFL remained the sports world’s king of the jungle during the last year of the 2000s. Here’s our bloggers’ take on a gridiron year dominated by two nearly undefeated teams, the human blur named Chris Johnson and quarterback comebacks (Michael Vick and Tom Brady).
A beer for every NFL team. – FanSided
Throwback unis resemble Whataburger ones. – FanSided
Peyton Manning’s top 10 TV commercials. – FanSided
Thurman Thomas tree statue stolen. – FanSided
Unretirees Anonymous. Favre’s first meeting. – FanSided
Tony and T.O.’s Couples Retreat. – FanSided
The decade’s biggest draft busts. – NFL Mocks
Vick becomes an Eagle, as told by an Iggles fan. – Inside the Iggles
The careers of Andy Reid and Martin Scorsese collide. – ITI
Football serves as an escape for our troops. – Phin Phanatic
Mike Ditka…pitchman? – Bear Goggles On
Devin Hester’s got a thing for full moons. – BGO
Cutler Vs. Orton — The drink-off. – BGO
Packers fans set Favre jerseys ablaze? – The Viking Age
A decade of Raiders football. – Just Blog Baby
The Patriots All-Decade Team. – Musket Fire
A Chiefs fans guide for surviving the offseason. – Arrowhead Addict
Remembering Derick Thomas – Arrowhead Addict
Chiefs should switch their un-P.C. mascot? – Arrowhead Addict
A Steleer Decade in Review Part 1. Part 2. – Nice Pick, Cowher
A look back at a forgettable Niner decade. – Niner Noise
Five fake owners worse than Rush Limbaugh? – Ramblin’ Fan
Jim Mora is kinda a drama queen. – 12th Man Rising
An interview with Panthers star Jonathan Stewart. – Cat Crave Radio
Saints Hall of Fame snubs. – Who Dat Dish
The Colts are…imperfectly perfect? Yep. – Naptown’s Finest
NFL Drinking Game. – Pacman Jonesin’
The top 10 Cardinals games of the decade. – Raising Zona
The Ravens All-Decade Team. – The Ebony Bird
Ochocinco’s next name change. – Stripe Hype
Remembering Barrel Man. – Predominantly Orange
NBA/NFL lookalikes. – Predominantly Orange
Tony Romo — gulp! — good in December? – The Landry Hat
MLB
The diamond decade that began with Yankees dominance (not to mention steroid dominance) ended the same way. But the Yanks and A-Rod’s return to greatness wasn’t the only story. Here’s how our bloggers told the year in baseball.
Derek Lee injures himself celebrating. – FanSided
Jennifer Garner knows her Red Sox. – FanSided
The greatness of Grienke. – Kings of Kauffman
Saving Soria Part 1. Part 2. - Kings of Kauffman
Billy Mays won’t pitch for the D-Backs. – Venom Strikes
Ranking this decade’s Yankees teams. – Yanks Go Yard
A ton of Tigers hit the podcast. – Motor City Bengals
The Mets soap opera. – Rising Apple
It was hard being a Pirates fan this decade. – Rum Bunter
The Rays All-Decade Team – Rayhawk Review
Baseball without the Yankees? Inconceivable. – That Ball’s Outta Here
A BBA ballot for NL RoY. – Marlin Maniac
Nationals closers in question. – Teddy Never Wins
Congratulating the one and only Ichiro. – Sodo Mojo
Taken to task for Festivus. – BoSox Injection
NBA
The NBA ended the decade the way it started — with plenty of Kobe and Shaq. Kobe won his fourth championship and Shaq was the media champ of all athletes. From LeBron to to the Lakers, here are some of our NBA blog highlights of 2009.
Separated at birth: 20 NBA lookalikes. Part 2. – FanSided
NBA Preview — Halloween candy style. – FanSided
The 10 worst dunks ever. – FanSided
10 non-A.I. P.R. Sixers signings – FanSided
Top five Celtics games of the decade. – Hardwood Houdini
The Celtics All-Decade Team. – Hardwood Houdini
The NBA stars of the next decade. – We’re Bucked
A view from the Cavs locker room. – King James Gospel
Welcoming Vince Carter back to Florida. – Howard the Dunk
Magic All-Decade Team – Howard the Dunk
K.G. has no class? – Pippen Ain’t Easy
The best GIF of the NBA season. – Pippen Ain’t Easy
Kobe Bryant: Apex Predator – Lake Show Life
The Lakers parade in first person. – Lake Show Life
10 Things I Hate About You series. – Lake Show Life
Artest’s Jacko Rap. – Lake Show Life
Dirk should have listened to the Fresh Prince. – The Smoking Cuban
The Pistons sing Christmas carols. – Life on Dumars
The most hopeful Clipper moments (that didn’t pan out). – Fully Clips
The feel good Mo’ment of the decade. – Rip City Project
19 reasons why Beno Udrih sucks. – A Royal Pain
Post-Reggie Pacers not so clutch. – Always Miller Time
When is it time for an NBA player to retire? – Sir Charles in Charge
NHL
While the NBA was dominated by names like Kobe, LeBron and Shaq in 2009, the NHL was much more than just Ovie and Sid the Kid. Here’s the 2009 NHL campaign through the eyes, er, keystrokes of our bloggers.
Mike Richards almost decapitates David Booth – FanSided
The Blackhawks meet Seinfeld. – Blackhawk Up
The NHL’s hottest Ice Girls. – Blackhawk Up
Kings All-Decade Team – Rink Royalty
The best hockey uniforms ever. The worst. – Pucks and Pitchforks
An interview with Zack Smith. – SenShot
The Penguins’ five ballsiest moments of 2009. – Pen’s Labyrinth
Anderson the Olympian. – Mile High Sticking
Leafs All-Decade Team. – Editor-in-Leaf
Canucks five playoff musts. – The Canuck Way
Which Rangers jersey to buy? – Blue Line Station
Hard to be a Panthers fan. – The Rat Trick
Other
Here’s the best of the rest of the sports of 2009, brought to you by the FanSided fam (100% Tiger free!…OK, almost).
Everything Power Rankings (Daily!) – FanSided
If the greatest rappers ever were athletes. – FanSided
A decade of sports sound bites. – FanSided
The 10 best bowl games of the decade. – FanSided
The 10 best sports Hallowwen costumes of 2009. – FanSided
Six degrees of David Beckham. – FanSided
The biggest cheaters in sports. – FanSided
Sports figures with food names. – FanSided
Scariest contracts in sports. – FanSided
The best movie quarterbacks of all time. – FanSided
The UFC champions guide. – FanSided
The key to NASCAR success = meth? – Stock Car Spin
If NASCAR had a draft. – Stock Car Spin
Best drivers of the decade. – Stock Car Spin
WWE TV Network? – Daily DDT
Revisiting Hogan’s TNA signing. – Daily DDT
Most memorable golf moment of 2009. – Pro Golf Now
2009 end-of-the-year MMA P4P rankings. – Cage Pages
A sports P.R. look at TMZ Sports. – Sports P.R. 101
Boxing’s worst of 2009. – The Cruelest Sport
