Blog #5: Year in Sports Review: 2013

Hey everyone! Thanks for stepping into the CPM Sports Zone! Well, it's that time of the year. It's the final two days of 2013, and during this week's blog we will look back one last time to review and remember the year that was 2013 in sports.

2013 MLB season: BOSTON STRONG

Boston Red Sox: 2013 World Series Champions

In a memorable worst to first season, highlighted by tragedy the Boston Red Sox captured their eighth World Series crown by defeating the St. Louis Cardinals four games to two, clinching the world series crown at Fenway Park for the first time since 1918. The season was remembered more so for the horrific tragedy that occurred at the finish line of the Boston Marathon on April 15th as the Sox finished a game with the Tampa Bay Rays about a half mile from the site of the incident.

2012 NFL season: Super Harbuagh Bros.

Baltimore Ravens: Super Bowl XLVII Champions

It a battle of the Harbuagh brothers, the Baltimore Ravens used a late goal line stand to hang on to defeat the San Francisco 49ers 34-31 in Super Bowl XLVII at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The game of course was underscored by the lengthy thirty plus minutes power outage inside the Superdome in the early parts of the third quarter. Ray Lewis also went on to capture his second Super Bowl championship, and retired following the game.


2012/13 NBA season: Can you feel the Heat?!

Miami Heat: 2012/13 NBA Champions

In one of the greatest seven game NBA final series in recent memory, the Miami Heat repeated as NBA champions, pulling out the seven game series over the San Antonio Spurs. The series was highlighted by Lebron James playing without his headband that sent social media into a frenzy, and of course Ray Allen's game tying three pointer to send game six to Overtime. Miami beat San Antonio 95-88, giving them back to back titles for the first time in NBA history since the Los Angeles Lakers (1987/88-1988/89, 2009-2010) and the Houston Rockets (1994/95-1995/96)

2013 NHL season: The Lockout

Chicago Blackhawks: 2013 Stanley Cup Champions

For the fourth time in it's ninety seven year history, the NHL was once again locked out this past season as the league and the NHLPA failed to compromise on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement, or CBA that forced the season into a close knit forty eight game season. In a meeting of two members of the "Original Six" the Chicago Blackhawks captured their fifth Stanley Cup in a dramatic six game series with the Boston Bruins. The Blackhawks became just the eighth team in NHL history to capture both the Stanley Cup and the President's Trophy, which is awarded to the team with the best record in the league.

2013 MLS season: Welcome to the Blue Hell

Sporting Kansas City: 2013 MLS Cup Champions

The 2013 MLS season will be remembered for the dramatic finish in the MLS Cup game. With a bone chilling 20 degree kickoff temperature at Sporting Park in Kansas City, Missouri, and after one hundred and twenty minutes, the game came down to a Penalty Kick shootout. Sporting Kansas City emerged victorious over Real Salt Lake 7-6 in the PK shootout to capture their second MLS Cup.

2013 PASL season: The Dynasty Continues

San Diego Sockers: 2013 PASL Champions

After having their United States professional sports record for most consecutive wins ended, the San Diego Sockers captured their fourth straight Professional Arena Soccer League Championship (PASL) with an 8-6 victory over the Detroit Waza Flo. The Sockers also captured their fourteenth Indoor Championship in the teams illustrious history. Sockers Forward Kraig Chiles took home PASL MVP as well, scoring 56 goals in the season.

2013 NASCAR season: Johnson does it again

Jimmie Johnson: 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion

Jimmie Johnson drove home with yet his sixth NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship this past season, out dueling both Matt Kenseth and Kevin Harvick. Johnson finished the season with 2,419 points, finishing 19 ahead of Kenseth and 34 ahead of Harvick.


2013 WNBA season: Los Lynx on top of the mountain

Minnesota Lynx: 2013 WNBA Champions

Pretty plan simple, the Minnesota Lynx dominated the WNBA this past summer, with a league best record of 26-8 and they became the second WNBA team to sweep through the playoffs since the league adopted the best of five finals format. The Lynx mauled the Seattle Storm, Phoenix Mercury and the Eastern Conference Champion Atlanta Dream to capture their second WNBA title (2011, 2013)


2013 NCAA seasons: Football, Mens/Womens Basketball, Baseball

At the college level, AJ McCarron lead the Alabama Crimson Tide to the BCS National Championship with an impressive victory over Notre Dame. The Louisville Cardinals overcame adversity after the horrific injury to Kevin Ware to cut the nets down at the National Championship game against the Michigan Wolverines. Geno Auriemma's UCONN Huskies reclaimed their rightfully place ontop of the Women's Basketball ranks after pounding Notre Dame for the Women's national championship. And the UCLA Bruins reclaimed golden glory on the diamond, winning the College World Series, bringing another National title to sunny California.

Well, there's 2013 in the year of sports. We'll see you again in 2014!!

Thanks for stepping into the CPM Sports Zone,
Callan McClurg