Sometimes in sports there is just too much to take in. From stats to quotes and records to streaks, sports is a world dominated by numbers and rules.
It's a world nearly everyone enjoys on some level, while at the same time a world nearly no one understands entirely.
Sports can be heartbreaking, touching, funny, energetic and, most importantly, fun. All too often, in a world that thrives on competition, the aspect of having fun is lost in the mix.
So, for today, we will have fun.
Often the Daily News sports department prints a small piece titled "DN Awards" which names a play, a player and a quote of the week.
I do want to preface the following with this: Most of my awards are from the major sports. I am not downplaying any of the sports, but in the long run, these are the moments that will be remembered years from now. Along with a few extras, here are my picks for the DN Awards of the Year.
PLAY OF THE YEAR
The best play of the year was on the hardwood of Hawaii. It was the shot heard around the world, or at least around campus. In the closing seconds of the Ball State-Kansas game, Petie Jackson proved his crossover abilities dropping a JayHawk to the floor and driving the ball for the game-winning basket. It was the win that set the tone for what finished as one of the most successful seasons in school history.
QUOTE(R) OF THE YEAR
We refer to them as quote machines - a coach who says exactly what should be said rather than what might be most politically correct to say. The women's volleyball coach, Randy Litchfield, was just that. Among other things, the following came from Litchfield:
"This is absolutely the most wide-open conference championship I've ever seen," Litchfield said. "From top to bottom, this is a really solid group of teams. We've had some real cupcakes before in the quarterfinals rounds. There's not one of those among any of the four matches."
Any coach who successfully uses "cupcake" has to be a winner in this.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
There is no doubt in my mind about this one. Theron Smith is one of the most valuable athletes this school has seen in some time. He is a man of many maneuvers. Smith finished second, only to Drew Gooden of Kansas, in the nation in double-doubles. Any athlete who can dominate the stat book like that has got to be the best. Not only is Smith a superb athlete, he is by far one of the most personable ones at Ball State.
MOST DISAPPOINTING LOSS OF THE YEAR
Basketball wins this one too.
There is nothing worse than a buzzer-beater that falls short. Rob Robbins' near-halfcourt shot that attempted to defeat Miami (Ohio) in Millet Hall for the first time in 10 years was a shot that made time stand still. But in the end, it fell just inches short.
MOST IMPRESSIVE SEASON
All I can say about the women's basketball team is, "Wow."
The team had never played a postseason game or even made it to the final game of the Mid-American Conference Championships. The team finished 24-8 for the season, played in two games of the WNIT, and finished as the runner-up in the MAC Championships.
COACH OF THE YEAR
While were on the topic of women's basketball, I will go ahead and make my pick for coach of the year.
Congratulations to first-year coach Tracy Roller. Roller, an all-around great person to work with and a coach who strives for excellence, wins this with a landslide.
BIGGEST SURPRISE OF THE YEAR
It was on a beautiful homecoming afternoon. Ball State and Toledo faced off in what most considered a hopeless game for the Ball State football team. Corey Parchman changed those critics minds quickly with a 100-yard kickoff return which resulted in a game-winning touchdown. (That was, by the way, runner-up for play of the year.) I don't think anyone expected Ball State to defeat Toledo. The only thing expected that day was the destruction of those pretty yellow poles.
Write to Greg at gmfallon@bsu.edu
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