Best 7 for 07 – Sport

I have taken a different approach here, rather than just identify the best sporting moments of the year, I’ve also included the biggest events, despite the negative or positive impact it might have had on the sport.

If I have missed something you know what to do, so read on:

7) Rugby League legend Andrew Johns announces his retirement following a neck injury. It is later revealed that he was arrested in London for possessing ecstasy and afterward admits to using recreational drugs throughout his career.

6) Geelong win their first AFL Grand Final since 1963, thrashing Port Adelaide by 119 points in the biggest Grand Final margin in VFL/AFL history. The final score was 163 to 44. It is also the first premiership won by a Victorian team since 2000.

5) Barry Bonds became Major League Baseball’s career leader in home runs amid a cloud of controversy regarding his suspected use of performance-enhancing drugs by hitting the 756th home run of his career, surpassing Hank Aaron’s previous mark of 755.

4) The Bathurst 1000 was won by defending champions Craig Lowndes and Jamie Whincup ahead of two other Ford Falcons. It was the first Ford whitewash of the Bathurst podium since 1988.

3) Motorcycle racer Casey Stoner gains an unbeatable lead in the MotoGP world championships when he finished third in a race in Tokyo. The new world champion then took victory at the Australian MotoGP Grand Prix at Phillip Island, the first Australian to win his home event since Mick Doohan in 1998.

2) Serena Williams, ranked 81st in the world at the time, completes an incredible run at the Australian Open by crushing No.1 seeded Maria Sharapova 6-1, 6-2 in the final. It was Serena’s 3rd Australian Open title and 8th Grand Slam overall. She also became the third-lowest ranked player in history to capture a Grand Slam title.

1) A horse is diagnosed with horse flu (equine influenza) in a quarantine station at Eastern Creek. Further horses are diagnosed at the quarantine centre, Centennial Park and outside New South Wales over the next few days, resulting in the cancellation of race meetings Australia-wide and suspension of horse transportation for 72 hours on 25 August. The 2007 Spring Racing Carnival at Randwick Racecourse is also cancelled and brings complete disarray to the horse racing and gambling industry.

Honourable Mentions

Melbourne Storm defeat the Manly Sea Eagles in the NRL Grand Final for 2007, 34-8 for their second title in the club’s history.

Tasmania win the Pura Cup (previously known as the Sheffield Shield) cricket competition for the first time ever, beating New South Wales by 421 runs at Bellerive Oval in Hobart.

The events of the NBA Playoffs 2007: The San Antonio Spurs won their fourth NBA Championship by sweeping the Cleveland Cavaliers in four games. Tony Parker was named Finals MVP and the echoes of “Dynasty” can be heard from all. The Dallas Mavericks after securing the 9th best winning percentage in the history of the NBA and the 1st seed lose to the 8th seeded Golden State Warriors in the first round of the Playoffs.