Champions

What is it about sports that draws so many? Particularly, what is it about championships that gets even the casual observor involved? In the past few months some major events have held many of us breathless as we pondered the outcomes that were played out before us. Each of these championships were unique in their story lines and how they evolved. Each gave us a glimpse into the beauty of sport.

The NHL Stanley Cup: For the first time in many seasons, two marquee teams with big national followings played for the most prestigious trophy in all of sports. In a league begging for television viewers, the NHL produced the legendary Detroit Red Wings against the young exciting Pittsburgh Penguins led by the real "Next Wayne Gretzky", Sidney Crosby. Despite Crosby and the rest of his teammates enthusiasm and skating speed, it was the veteran presence of the Red Wings with their defensive prowess that wore out the Penguins. Most fans went into this series looking for Crosby to take the expected step in what will be one of the most storied careers in the history of hockey. Instead, hockey followers went away with a feeling of awe as they watched a team, the Red Wings, truly meld together to become champions.

The Triple Crown: Big Brown went into this series undefeated and easily won the first two legs of Horse Racing's spring festival, the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness. The large beautiful horse, endowed with fresh cash from corporate sponsor, UPS (the real "Brown") looked to be a lock to become the first horse in some thirty years to win the Triple Crown. Here we were watching for greatness to unfold. Unfortunately, no one told Big Brown exactly what history he was trying to accomplish. Perhaps hindered by a hoof injury (or, hush, lacking his biweekly shot of steroids), Brown had to be pulled up two thirds of the way into the demanding Belmont Stakes. Brown was the star who enticed us to watch. So even now, just weeks after the race, someone could win a trivia contest if they could name the actual winner - Da'Tara.

The U.S. Open: If Big Brown could not overcome his physical problems, perhaps Tiger Woods could. Playing the first tournament since having knee surgery, Woods would go on and have one of the most memorable victories ever. Literally having trouble just walking the 18 hole Torrey Pines course, Woods had to play not only the required four days of golf but an extra round on Monday against journeyman Rocco Mediate. And even then, the two had to go to one extra hole to determine the winner of this most important tournament. Here was the unheralded Mediate playing his heart out and there was the almost one legged superstar giving it his all in a match for the ages.

The NBA Finals: The "Next Michael Jordan", Kobe Bryant, was surrounded on a team with solid if not spectacular players. Up against Bryant's Lakers were a trio of true superstars, the Boston Celtics' Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen. If ever there was a championship that was pretty much preordained, this was the one. Holding home court advantage, the Celtics easily won the first two games. Needing only one win in Los Angeles, Boston put on a comeback that will be talked about for a long time as they overcame a deficit of twenty-four points to win the pivotal fourth game. There really was no reason for the teams to travel all the way across the country to finish this out but travel they did. And in Boston and in a new Garden, the Celtics blew out the Lakers to win the franchise's seventeenth banner. These two historic teams have combined for half of all NBA championships so watching this series was a walk down memory lane.

Reasons to watch sports: How will the young stud do? (NHL) Will a champion for the ages be crowned? (Horse Racing) Can a physical impairment stop the superstar? (U.S. Open) Are three greater than The One? (NBA) Whether your team or favorite won or lost, let us be thankful for all these incredible athletic feats that we were able to feast our eyes upon and read and think about over these past days. Not often does such drama come our way.