Sports
Year in Review - 2024
Even numbered years are the best for sports fans.
With few exceptions, even-numbered years are the best because they sit at the confluence of the major tournaments that draw the biggest global audiences - the World Cup and Euros for soccer fans, and the Olympics for global sports enthusiasts. In 2024, we got two of those three, with France hosting the Olympics and Germany hosting the Euros.
2024 certainly delivered on that promise, with an incredible Euros run by Spain that featured the incredible talents of 19-year old Lamine Yamal, and an Olympics filled with dramatic moments and fantastic personalities that easily captivated for multiple weeks. Below are some of my favorite memories from the world of sports in 2024 across Tennis, Soccer, Football, and the Olympics.
TENNIS
Australian Open - Men’s Final
Daniil Medvedev has long been a fan favorite for his quick wit and hilarious interviews. He’s also known for being one of the best hard court players in the world, having dethroned Djokovic in the 2021 US Open final and gone toe-to-toe with Nadal. So when he went two sets up against Sinner with a furious speed and unforgiving ground strokes, I thought Sinner was going to have to wait just a bit longer to capture his first ever major. Instead, the Italian and now world number one showed why he is the sport’s most ascendant player, arguably even over Alcaraz. He outlasted Medvedev, whose opening sets ultimately tired himself out, and found his zone to rally through three straight sets to the champsionship.
Olympics - Serbia Triumphs
It is always a treat when Djokovic and Alcaraz share the court, and 2024 was no exception. While Alcaraz mostly got the better of an aging Djokovic, it was incredible to see the Serbian dig deep representing his country and best the Spaniard on clay. There’s no doubt the best-of-two format gave Novak more of a chance, but you could still feel the national pride that seemed to push him to super-natural levels through the course of this tournament. Alcaraz was equally emotional, demonstrating how this unique event that only comes around every 4 years has the weight of the world on it.
Soccer
Euro 2024 - Netherlands 2 Austria 3
All due respect to the World Cup, there is a cohesiveness to European football that other nations outside the continent have largely not been able to match (yes I am aware Argentina are the defending champions). I have extremely fond memories of watching Euro 2008, where I suspect my soccer addiction really kicked off, and the amazing run that Turkey made into the semifinals. Just like that 3-2 game, which Germany won, the match between Austria and Netherlands was equally thrilling.
EPL Matchweek 6 - Chelsea 4 Brighton 2
The Cole Palmer match. The first player to ever score 4 goals in a single half. Stunning stuff, not just in the volume but in the sheer quality and variety. Free kick, left foot, right foot - you name it he was doing it. I wrote about this one over on my Chelsea Blog. Though Palmer had already clearly broken out by the time of this game, this was a performance that cemented him as one of the Premier League’s most exciting young talents.
Football
NFL - Washington 38 Cincinnati 33
This was the first NFL game since 1940 that featured ZERO turnovers or punts for the entire game! Insane stat. It was also the breakout game for Commanders QB Jayden Daniels, a Heisman winner who racked up a 91.3% completion percentage on his way to winning this game. Feels like a great game to highlight given that I’m writing this as the Commanders compete in the NFC Championship Game. Daniels has already added many more highlights since this game, and looks to be a superstar in the making.
College Football - Georgia Tech 42 Georgia 44
8 overtimes?!?!?! I’m not sure I really need to say more than that, this was a thrilling battle for the crown of best in Georgia. I really feel for Haynes King, the GT QB who had an exceptional game, minus one fumble late in the 4th quarter that allowed Georgia back into the game. Sometimes, you truly need to be perfect to get to the top of the mountain.
Men’s Pole Vault
This is the great joy of the Olympics - I had close to no knowledge of pole vaulting before watching Armand “Mondo” Duplantis’s incredible record-breaking jump, and there I was transfixed and unreasonably hyped as he soared through the air. Having already captured the gold medal, the Olympics allow you to continue jumping in an effort to set new records. Duplantis was a master at getting the crowd and himself for each jump. In dramatic fashion, after hitting the bar in his first two attempts, and with only one attempt left, he did it. Cue pandemonium.
Men’s 1500m Final
As someone who runs multiple times a week, I have a certain affinity for watching these events, amazed at the breathing control and ability to power through intense fatigue for a shot at eternal glory. Cole Hocker’s story is amazing, and no one expected him to win this event. I get chills watching this.