It is the holiday season and the year is coming to an end. It has been a year filled with everything from triumph, to tragedy and anything in between. So because I am lazy and really needed a quick column idea this week I give you the 2012 Christmas Edition of Ruttig's Rants, a year in review if you will.
Local Sports Story of the Year: Obviously Jarrett Stoll winning the Stanley Cup with the LA Kings is a no brainer for this award. Runner ups go to the YRHS Sr. Basketball and Football teams for their lengthy runs in the provincial playoffs with the basketball side finishing third and the football team losing in the MJHSFL Championship, I am sure I am missing something in what was a good year for local sports, but those are my three.
National Sports Story of the Year: I hate to bring it up at Christmas time, but the NHL Lockout has invaded our newstreams and televisions so much that it has to be the story of the year for all the wrong reasons.
Game of the Year: This one was hard to give out seeing as I watch a ton of sports and a lot gets me off my seat, but it would have to go to the Olympic Women's Soccer Semifinal between the US and Canada. It had everything from Canada taking the lead again and again.
The individual dominance of Christine Sinclair, whose three goals were the biggest of hat tricks, to the heartbreak of the nation on the controversial decisions given by the referee and the late extra time goal to pour salt in the wounds. Canada got jobbed, but the game was a rollercoaster on a August long weekend that captivated anyone in front of the television
Scrooge of the Year: Gary Bettman. Who else?
"Saint" of the Year: For the lack of a better term the opposite of the NHL story has been Indianapolis Colts head coach Chuck Pagano and his fight with cancer during 2012. Pagano's fighting spirit has inspired countless of people and in a year with so many negatives, his has been a positive with his return to coaching Monday sure to bring smiles to many during the holiday season.
Santa of the Year: This one goes to Toronto Blue Jays GM and Spellcheck Hall of Fame member Alex Anthopoulos for giving Toronto Blue Jays Fans so many early Christmas presents you might have to call it Hanukkah. Three starting pitchers and two elite hitters come into a team that was on the brink of becoming a playoff team, Jays fans have no complaints with what was under their tree this year.
Athlete of the Year: It won't be the most popular pick due to soccer's stigma in North America but Lionel Messi breaking the all-time record for goals in a single season with 90, (and still counting) can't be matched by any athlete. Sure Usain Bolt's Olympic run was great, but Messi dominated all 365 days of the 2012 calander and he is my choice for top athlete.
Canadian Athlete of the Year: Another on pitch star gets the nod, and a female as Christine Sinclair stole all of the Olympic spotlight and vaulted Canada to a bronze and a hat trick in that instant classic semifinal against the United States. Her post game comments after the controversy of the semifinal loss epitomized the Canadian spirit despite earning her punishment from FIFA, she truly was the highlight of the summer of 2012 and there is no other Canadian athlete who even came close in this discussion.
The year 2012 will go down as a year of a lot of memories for myself and in Canadian sports. I started this job and this column on June first and have never looked back, there has been a Stanley Cup brought to Yorkton, an Olympics in London, a Riders playoff loss, and everything in between. I have enjoyed filling this page with my random thoughts for the past six or so months and look forward to more in 2013.
Happy New Year!
