Every year, the sports world provides a ton of front-page material—from the inspirational to the absolute meme-worthy comical—and 2019 was no exception. What started with the buzz of an inexplicably missed call and familiar faces holding yet another Lombardi Trophy, ended with the Baseball Hall of Fame and NCAA Selection Committee getting it right.
In between were stories of impactful women providing a voice for countless other women, while fighting to change outdated cultural normalcies. There were titles challenged, first-time champs, and a knock on a trashcan that allegedly helped a baseball team send things into orbit. And there was so much more!
Whether it was on the field or off of it, these were some of the biggest sports stories of 2019.
Saints-Rams: The no-call
People were still cleaning up confetti from the New Year’s festivities when the first big-time news-maker struck. The NFC Championship Game was an overtime thriller between the New Orleans Saints and the Los Angeles Rams. But it will forever be remembered for the no-call on the blatant pass interference by Rams’ Nickell Robey-Coleman. The game ended 26-23, Rams, and though there were a few missed calls throughout the game, nothing changed the news cycle—or the NFL rulebook—like that particular blunder.
The Australian Open-Margaret Court Drama
The first Grand Slam on the tennis calendar had to deal with some more controversy in 2019, from a now-familiar culprit—one who still has her name on an Australian Open arena. Margaret Court, the 24-time Grand Slam champ (all-time record), has not been to the event in Melbourne since 2017, following her comments about same-sex marriage. However, she was back in the news in November, frustrated that Tennis Australia has not announced plans to recognize her grand slam 50th anniversary in the same way fellow Australian tennis star, Rod Laver, received last year. While both parties square off and “the attend or not attend” war carries on, the news has reignited—and to some, introduced—the issue of equality and inclusion to many tennis fans and sports in general.
Tom Brady’s six rings
While not the most must-see Super Bowl in history, the low-scoring game (Super Bowl record) between the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Rams at Mercedes-Benz Stadium did have one unarguable outcome: Tom Brady now has more Super Bowl Rings (six) than any other player in NFL history.
NFL’s suspension of Kareem Hunt
The NFL this past March, now over four years removed from the Ray Rice debacle, didn’t fumble the league’s mission to treat the player’s personal conduct policy sternly—especially towards domestic violence. Commissioner Roger Goodell handed down an eight-game suspension to Kareem Hunt, the up-and-coming running back who was seen on video punching a man in Put-in-Bay, Ohio, as well as the altercation with a woman near his apartment in Cleveland. Where usually the appeals and verbal-mud in these cases are an eye-sore, the just handling of Hunt’s case—and his decision not to appeal—made for an unexpected story and possible step in the right direction for a league that sometimes trips on its collective shoelaces.
Lindsey Vonn hangs ’em up
Following a series of injuries and setbacks, Lindsey Vonn made it official that she would retire from competitive downhill racing after the 2019 World Championships in Sweden. On February 10, 2019, with her record sixth world championship medal (bronze) in hand, the legend finally called it a career. And what a career it was—when you think of US alpine skiing greatness, it’s hard not to imagine Vonn…and it doesn’t matter if we’re talking men’s or women’s. She has been that incredible.
Kentucky Derby and the swerving horse
May 4, 2019, taught a lot of sports fans about horse racing rules when the Kentucky Derby winner—Maximum Security—was disqualified for swerving into other horses. It was the first such on-track infraction and subsequent disqualification in the history of the Derby. And while some fans were shouting “Nay!”, the crown was still given to second-place finisher, and less swerving, Country House.
Knock, knock: It’s a changeup
Making some of the more-dramatic sports news, in the final moments of 2019, the Houston Astros made headlines for an alleged sign-stealing system that helped them win the 2017 World Series—and possibly beyond that season. Former Astros pitcher, Mike Fiers broke the “Stays in Vegas” code for baseballers when the now-Oakland A’s hurler said that the Astros used a system that included a video camera, headset and a trash can to tip the hitters what was coming. The investigation isn’t closed yet, but the impact of the incident is apparently overshadowing all hot-topic rumors at the Winter Meetings
The Sean McVay Effect
A few years before the Los Angeles Rams’ Super Bowl appearance, a new and very young head coach stood on the mound at Dodgers Stadium. He wound up and threw out the ceremonial “first pitch” and waived to the crowd, as many applauded/laughed and said: “Sean, who?”
Times have changed, though.
By the start of 2019, Sean McVay was a recognizable face—especially around the NFL, where his young brilliance began to change the coaching landscape. Matt LaFleur, once an assistant to McVay, got the Packers’ vacancy. Kliff Kingsbury, a friend of McVay’s, took the Cardinals job, while Zac Taylor snagged the Bengals gig. And others who knew or worked for McVay interviewed for jobs.
Toronto Raptors: NBA champs
Not since the 1983 film, Strange Brew had such a cult classic come out of Canada. The Toronto Raptors, led by Kawhi Leonard, shocked the normalcy of Super Team dominance in the NBA by defeating the Golden State Warriors in six. It was the first NBA title for a team outside of the US and was the final hoorah for a banged-up Golden State squad. The interest level of such lopsided expectancies captured a ton of attention, and created quite a following of adoring fans from all over the sports-watching world (a mix that included Canadians, as well as those who aren’t basketball diehards or they simply despise the Warriors).
Bryce Harper’s $330 million deal
What Curt Flood, the now-infamous Cardinals player, stood to lose back in 1969 because he didn’t want to go play in Philadelphia is practically the equivalent of what Bryce Harper made per swing in 2019…because he did go play for the Phillies. Yep, baseball contracts are only growing to more massive monetary levels, and Harper’s $330 million deal with Philly set a new precedent for top-level talent and what it’ll take to get them.
The NBA’s stars realigned
It’s now called the National Buddies Association. NBA 2019 saw a breakdown and realignment of sorts among the Super Teams, with Kevin Durant splitting from Golden State to join his pal, Kyrie Irving—who split from Boston—in Brooklyn. Anthony Davis wanted out of New Orleans so he could go shoot some hoops with his friend, LeBron James. And Kawhi Leonard brushed off all their friend requests, landing with the Los Angeles Clippers alongside Palmdale, California’s Paul George.
Virginia’s NCAA tourney
The Virginia men’s basketball team went on a run in March—while trying to forget the team’s defeat to a 16 seed as the No. 1 seed the year before—and the Second Act didn’t disappoint. A stunning final-seconds win over Auburn in the semifinal segued to an overtime win for the Cavaliers against Texas Tech in the final. The victory earned the school’s first NCAA basketball championship crown while introducing basketball fans to a new word: Wahoowa!
The Nationals’ shocked the baseball world
The MLB season neared October baseball, with many expecting the final outcome to either be a Dodgers, Yankees, or Astros championship. But the Washington Nationals had other plans. Led by veteran pitchers Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg, complemented with fiery talent in Juan Soto and top-tier star Anthony Rendon, the Nationals turned things upside down in the NLDS when they defeated the heavy-favored Dodgers. After an NLCS battle with St. Loius, it was on to Houston—with many picking the Astros to win it all in the World Series. Seven games later, however, the Nationals had the franchise’s championship.
Happy Blues
Not all was championship-less in St. Louis in 2019. While the Cardinals fell short in the NLCS, the city still had a first-time champ just down the street. Although the St. Louis Blues started in the cellar of the Western Conference, the team held it together. They improved all season, eventually (shockingly) beating the Boston Bruins—including an incredible Game 7 win on the road—to earn the franchise’s first Stanley Cup.
Antonio Brown wound up as a college student
Antonio Brown’s new beginnings with the Oakland Raiders went haywire rather quickly. The star wideout had a multitude of issues—the most interesting was his frostbitten feet suffered from not wearing shoes/protective footwear during a Whole Body Cryotherapy (WBC) session. Beyond the Austin Powers-related mishaps, Brown had issues with a helmet policy and, eventually, the Raiders—which led to the team releasing him. As expected, New England picked him up and, following rape allegations, immediately released him too. Since then, Brown has fired off sun-temperature hot takes and followed them with ghost-written apologies. Through all of it, his current status is “Central Michigan student.”
Liverpool goes 2005
And here, we thought Tiger Woods fans had a long wait! Liverpool fans were basically living in a Snickers commercial since 2005, waiting for the day they could go wild when the squad brought home a title. And 2019 brought an end to the drought when the team defeated Tottenham, 2-0, and brought the UEFA Champions League trophy back to Liverpool.
Tyler Skaggs
Los Angeles Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs was found dead July 1st in his hotel room at the Southlake Hilton, where the team was staying during the series against the Texas Rangers. The tragic news of the 27-year-old lefty’s death rocked the baseball world, and also left a ton of questions. Unforentunely, some of the answers following his death have not only exposed the issues of opioids in professional sports but also the possibility the Angels executives knew of Skagg’s problems. The DEA’s report on the overdose—which involved oxycodone—exploited a possible dust-off by the Angels, with one longtime employee detailing how he would get the drugs for Skaggs…and other players. While the Angels have recently made news with the hiring of ex-Cubs skipper, Joe Maddon, and a huge land acquisition in the adjacent area surrounding the ballpark, none of it will overshadow the pending legal case from the Skagg’s death and continued unanswered questions.
Not just another no-hitter
The Angels honored Tyler Skaggs on July 12, 2019. With his family gathered on the field, the team held a touching video tribute before the game, a powerful moment that was both sad, as expected, and celebratory. What happened after that was something out of a dream-scripted Hollywood film. Not only did Tyler’s mom, Debbie, zip in a perfect strike during the ceremonial first pitch (and that’s not easy, just ask 50 Cent and countless others) but the Angels went on to throw a combined no-hitter (and that’s really not easy) in a 13-0 beatdown of the Seattle Mariners.
Even more incredible were the numerical similarities that were discovered after the game. Tyler’s birthday was 7/13/91. The Angels scored seven runs in the first, won by 13, and the last combined no-hitter in California happen in 1991…on July 13.
It also was the Angels’ 11th no-hitter—the number Skaggs wore in high school.
Wimbledon firsts
The men’s final at the 2019 Wimbledon received a ton of attention—rightfully so—with Novak Djokovic pulling off the stunning win over Roger Federer. It was an epic five-setter that, due to the new rule change, was decided by a tiebreak at 12-all—a first.
And before any of that excitement occurred, there was Coco Gauff. The 15-year-old American was the youngest to ever qualify for the main draw. And she wasn’t a one-and-done, either, advancing to the fourth round—while defeating Venus Williams along the way—before losing to eventual champ, Simona Halep.
A masterful Tiger Woods
The golf world—and, as expected, the non-golf world—was treated to a bit of nostalgia in April, when 43-year-old Tiger Woods turned back the clock at Augusta National and won his fifth Green Jacket. Woods’ 15th major was a must-see tv moment, too, a battle with Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson and Xander Schauffele that was decided by one stroke. The thrilling Masters and the overwhelming moments that directly followed was something unseen since his last major title in 2008.
Fair Pay to Play Act
The mighty NCAA is changing…sort of.
On September 30, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed State Senate Bill 206 into law, which will allow NCAA athletes the right to make money from signed endorsement deals, their likeness, name, image, the works!
To say it’s a massive step for championing the rights of college athletes doesn’t really do the moment justice—to say it’s going to change the NCAA’s business practices concretely is also a little off. As of now, the bill is set to take effect in 2023, which will allow plenty of time for the NCAA to and lawmakers the opportunity to fight, adjust, re-adjust, and yes, stall. But still, none of the future back-and-forths should take away from the fact that this groundbreaking step actually occurred.
LeBron shuts it down—and keeps it going
While LeBron James’ inaugural season in Los Angeles didn’t go according to plan—with his season cut short due to injury and the team missing the playoffs—his off-court influence didn’t miss a beat. Filming Space Jam 2 and bring his company Uninterrupted to the forefront of powerhouses in the digital world aside, James used his impactful abilities to help sway the NCAA fair pay conversation, giving the athletes a real chance at financial possibilities. The biggest such was on his show, The Shop when California Gov. Gavin Newsom was on to sign State Senate Bill 206.
USWNT: Equal pay advocates, inspirational athletes
While the talented display of athleticism was something to behold as the US Women’s National Soccer team captured another World Cup title in July—outscoring the opponents 26-3—it was the following months that really made headlines. One of the most significant topics: Equal pay.
A hugely debated issue—beyond sports—equal pay advocacy reached new heights in 2019, thanks largely to the USWNT. Where there were parades and ticker tape, there were also players using the moment to speak out about the wage gap—this included at the World Cup ceremony, too. And it seems they have made an impact, with New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signing equal pay legislation at the World Cup celebration parade, and the House of Representatives introducing a Bill that would block US men’s soccer funding in 2026 until the wage gap is solved.
There’s a long way to go. But based on the historical and cultural impact of such a topic, it was definitely one of the most prominent sports stories of the year.
