Winners And Losers From The Sports World In 2012
By Riley Schmitt
@Riles23
Introduction
2012 was a great sports year. I guess we can say that after every year, but I thought 2012 had an interesting mix of drama and flat out insanity. We can thank the rise of social media for making sports such a powerful entity. Since we are in 2013, I feel like it is a perfect time give you our winners and losers from sports in 2012.
It would have been way too easy to focus on teams, so most of these slides are about individual athletes or coaches. Some of these guys made our winners list for finally breaking through and becoming stars. Others set records that might last for a long, long time. Finally, one of the guys on our list is an inspiration for all of us. If he ends up winning the big one, you will remember his 2012 for a long time.
Since there are winners, there has to be a list of losers. None of the names on the list should surprise you. There are multiple guys from one team on here. I won't tell you the names or the team, but you should be able to figure it out fairly quickly. There are some guys who tarnished their reputations so badly that they lost a ton of fans. There is a sporting league that loves messing with its fans and finally, there is one school that was hit with a hammer from the governing body that looks over it.
If you feel like we missed something on this list, let us know in the comment section. This list is not comprehensive by any means, which means the debate surrounding it should make for some very fun commentary. Although if you do choose to comment, let us keep it respective. Got to start 2013 out on the right foot.
With all of that being said, it is time to dig into the list. These guys either won or lost in 2012, but it was memorable whichever way you choose to look at it.
LOSER: Mark Sanchez
2012 was not the year of the Sanchize. He struggled mightily all year, ended up getting benched but somehow got his job back. Even after all of that, it looks doubtful that he will be a starting QB in 2013.
WINNER: Johnny Manziel
Great nickname? Check. First freshman to win the Heisman? Check. A smoking hot girlfriend? Check. 2012 was the year of Manziel. Will he ever top it?
LOSER: Tim Tebow
Tebow went from a starting QB on a playoff team to a benchwarmer on a joke of a team. Not exactly how 2012 was drawn out in his book. We will see if he can rebound in 2013.
WINNER: Peyton Manning
The man who replaced Tebow had himself a pretty good year. Manning showed that he was still an elite quarterback and he looks primed to win the MVP award and possibly another Super Bowl.
LOSER: NHL
The league that loves angering its fans was at it again in 2012. A lockout that is still ongoing has taken away a lot of hockey with no end in site. Will fans come back in 2013?
WINNER: Lionel Messi
Soccer is not my sport, but even I can appreciate the skills of Messi. He set the record for most goals scored in a calendar year. That sounds like a good 2012 to me.
LOSER: Dwight Howard
Was there a bigger villain in sports than Howard in 2012? He antagonized almost every NBA fan before forcing a trade. He then proceeded to come back from injury too fast and he looks like a shell of himself.
WINNER: LeBron James
The King finally won his ring. James finally made the leap in 2012 as he captured a title. He also developed a post move and basketball fans everywhere are excited for what he can do in 2013.
LOSER: Deron Williams
Williams may have gotten paid in 2012, but his reputation took a major hit. Williams is becoming known as a coach killer and his team is looking extremely mediocre. Not a good look.
WINNER: Adrian Peterson
Coming back from a torn ACL is one thing. Missing the record for most rushing yards in a single season by nine stinking yards is incredible. Either Manning (mentioned earlier) or AD are bringing home the MVP this year.
LOSER: Mike Brown
Getting fired five games into a season is not something we see ever year. Brown simply wasn't cut out to handle the new look Los Angeles Lakers. We will see if he can bounce back in 2013.
WINNER: Usain Bolt
The fastest man alive kept his word at the 2012 Olympics. Bolt dominated every event he was in and it looks like he could still hold onto his title by the time the 2016 games roll around.
LOSER: Kurt Busch
Busch had quite the interesting year. He ended up getting suspended for threatening a reporter, which was just one of the many odd instances that happened to him. He should bounce back but will his temper hold him down?
WINNER: Robert Griffin III
RG3 had your average 2012. That is, if your average 2012 consists of igniting a fan base, taking your team to the playoffs and being the favorite for the Rookie of the Year award. Other than that, it was a pretty quiet year for him.
LOSER: Royce White
White was a risky draft pick due to his anxiety disorder. White wants to help awareness of the disease, but his public feud with his employer is not helping. His Twitter account is a walking disaster. Can White make peace with his team in 2013? I doubt it.
WINNER: Miguel Cabrera
People have come close to the elusive Triple Crown award, but Cabrera was the one to get it. He had an amazing 2012, which ended with him winning the MVP award. Can he win a World Series next year?
LOSER: Melky Cabrera
Melky went from hero to goat in the middle of 2012. He had a great start to the season, but a PED suspension blew up those hopes. He went from a possible big contract to a much smaller one while shaming the game of baseball. Not a good year.
WINNER: Mike Trout
The darling of the SABR world, Trout had himself an okay rookie year. I mean, having one of the best seasons ever according to WAR while missing a month of the season is child's play, right? Let's see if he can win his rightful MVP award in 2013.
LOSER: Penn State
Penn State football shocked a lot of people on the field in 2012, but the off the field crap is what gets them this spot. The NCAA hammered them with bowl bans, scholarship reduction and all sorts of other stuff. Currently, the state of Pennsylvania is suing to get these punishments overturned.
WINNER: Chuck Pagano
Of course, this list is going to end with #CHUCKSTRONG. Pagano missed most of the season as he was fighting cancer, but the Indianapolis Colts head coach inspired a lot of us in 2012. Can his team continue their dream ride and win the Super Bowl in 2013? I know a lot of people will be rooting for him.
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