1. May weather and Pacquiao fight
Was this the most hyped sporting event in history? Probably. It was definitely the most lucrative, even if the quality of the boxing was not what everyone had hoped for.
One of the things a disproportionate number of fans had been looking forward to was seeing Floyd Mayweather Jr finally get put on his backside in a boxing ring.
The convicted domestic abuser is near the top of every 'most hated athletes' list and Manny Pacquiao was the man charged with the difficult task of ending his unbeaten run, but it wasn't to be.
Pacquiao threw a fraction of his usual punch tally and later revealed he was battling through a busted shoulder, allowing Mayweather to dominate in his usual manner.
Pacquiao threw a fraction of his usual punch tally and later revealed he was battling through a busted shoulder, allowing Mayweather to dominate in his usual manner.
The American, who some believe avoided fighting Pacquiao until the hard-hitting Filipino icon was past his prime, was simply too fast for his opponent and constantly caught him on the counter-attack.
Some argued Mayweather's win by unanimous decision was unfair to the more aggressive Pacquiao, but those cries were coming more from the heart than the head.
2. Fifa corruption scandal
In late May, Swiss police stormed into a Zurich hotel and arrested nine people, all of them current or former FIFA officials.
It kicked off a global investigation that was still not enough to stop Sepp Blatter getting re-elected as president, though he since promised to resign and was suspended, along with possible successor and UEFA president Michel Platini.
Blatter and Platini eventually copped eight-year bans over a US$2 million payment the FIFA boss made to his UEFA counterpart in 2011.
Nothing's impossible as this saga wears on, but long-whispered rumours about alleged FIFA corruption are now coming home to roost.
Nothing's impossible as this saga wears on, but long-whispered rumours about alleged FIFA corruption are now coming home to roost.
Claims of dodgy broadcast deals and questionable tournament bids abound and the whole sordid mess has been a depressing sideshow to any actual sport that may have been enjoyed.
3. Fanning powers through pain
Mick Fanning was within touching distance of his fourth world title on the eve of his round-three heat at Pipe Masters in Hawaii.
But his stoic exterior masked his devastation as hours earlier, Fanning had received the news that his older brother, Peter, had died in his sleep.
He surfed a brilliant heat to remain in the hunt and, while he ultimately fell short of the title, he once again earned worldwide respect and admiration for his strength and skill.
It was the second time the surfing star had to deal with such a tragedy, after a friend and another brother, Sean, died in a car accident in 1998.
fightlso, a scary moment turned into a highlight when surfer Mick Fanning encountered a shark in the water during the final of a surfing competition in South Africa. The shark knocked Fanning off the board, but the surfer managed to punch the shark and swim to safety.
4. Kobe Bryant announces retirement
With the injuries piling up and his skills deteriorating, Lakers icon Kobe Bryant decided it was time to go after 20 seasons in the NBA. He announced the retirement in his own poetic words and embarked on a farewell tour. That last hurrah hasn’t always been pretty, but Kobe continues to play with the never-say-never approach that defined his career.
5. Barcelona caps off a success year with 5 trophies from a possible 6.
6. Curry breaks a 40 year drought and brings the golden warriors a title
The return of LeBron James to Cleveland was quietly, and quickly, usurped by Steph Curry turning his Warriors turning into the NBA’s top attraction. Curry took home the MVP and won a title, then led the Warriors on a record 24-game winning streak to open the 2015-16 season. The team now stands at 28-1, Curry is scoring 30.8 ppg (2.4 points more than his next closest competitor) and for as long as Golden State keeps up its high level of play, every game is a must watch as that 72-10 record from the 1995-96 Bulls looks evermore in danger of falling.
7. Klitschko dethroned by Fury Tyson
Fury ended Wladimir Klitschko’s tenure as the world heavyweight champion following a unanimous decision by the judges. With the victory, Fury inherited the WBA, IBF and WBO titles. He is poised to face Klitschko in a rematch next year.
8. Serena Williams captures second serena Slam with victory at Wimbledon
No. 1 Serena Williams took down Maria Sharapova, Victoria Azarenka and her sister Venus en route to the 2015 Wimbledon final, where she beat Spain's Garbine Muguruza to win her sixth title at the All England Club and 21st Grand Slam overall. The win also marked Serena’s fourth consecutive major title—the second “Serena Slam” of her career—and at 33, she became the oldest women’s Slam champion in the Open Era.
9. Ledecky record breaking year
The first swimmer to win the 200-, 400-, 800- and 1,500-meter freestyle events at the FINA World Championships, Ledecky won five gold medals and set three world records before being named the 2015 Female Swimmer of the Meet
10. Lewis Hamilton championship win
Lewis Hamilton's 2015 title triumph will be remembered as the most routine of the three currently to his name. Having ended his six-year wait for a title at the 2014 Abu Dhabi finale, Hamilton has made light work of Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg in a way he was unable to last season and wrapped up the championship with three races to spare.
Happy new year and I hope we see more wonderful and interesting sports highlights.
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