As 2010 finishes I wanted to take a moment and look back at a few of the memorable moments from 2010.

Butler Bulldogs : Anything is Possible

Coach Brad Stevens led the Butler Bullbogs on a historic run through the NCAA tournament and captured the basketball world by guiding the Butler Bulldogs to an improbable appearance in the NCAA Championship game.  They went blow for blow with Duke in basketballs best rendition of David vs Goliath and if the dreamers ever needed more inspiration they got it.  Anything is possible: in any situation or game the outcome is never a guaruntee so compete until it’s all over because you can always win.

The “B Team”

USA brought their “B Team” and won a hard fought gold medal in Turkey, the first World Championhsip for the States since 1994.  I’m not sure if there was ever a more clear cut example of the expression “Offense wins games (Lithuania, Serbia) but Defense wins Championships (USA, Turkey).”   Without a doubt the two best defensive teams played in the final.  Coach K also showed that if you know how to coach, you know how to coach.  It can be kids, adults, pros, amateurs.  If you can coach, you can coach.

My friends dad would say referring to a baseball player’s ability to move up from one league to the next in professional baseball: “If you can hit, you can hit.”  Coach K showed us that it doesn’t matter the age, If you can coach, you can coach.

España

Living in Spain it was fun and exciting to watch Spain win their first ever World Cup Championship.  Of course led by the players from F.C. Barcelona.  Sport is sport and I love sports.  It would be hard to argue that there is a more followed sporting event than the World Cup in soccer.  It unifies people all over the globe like no other event and gives everybody a chance to “escape” their daily lives and root for their country.  Hopefully one day basketball can hold an event that can compare to the World Cup.  Nevertheless Spain was a very eserving champion and sure knew how to celebrate their victory!

Could the 2012 Olympics bring basketball to the worldwide level that the World Cup does every four years?

Celtcs vs Lakers

Other than the outcome of the series (as a Warriors fan who has spent too much time around Laker fans I would have preferred any team but the Lakers to have won the title).  That being said the series was a classic that had everything.  Absolutely everything and watching these superstars, both the players and the hall of fame staffs on each bench for 7 games was a pleasure.  This was a series to be remembered and my favorite game was game 2 and watching a legendary shooter have a career best night was fun to watch.