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Rank: Sports Guru
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Yeh I'm doing a poll, who people think has been the best sporting team over the last 12 months. Going from September 2007 to the end of September 2008 and also this first week of October seeing as though Manly won the NRL Premiership. The teams will range from AFL, NRL, Soccer, NBA, Baseball and NFL. Here are my contenders for the top gong and some stats about the Nominees. There will be some tough exclusions but that is part of the job in selecting Sportal's Team of the last Year.
Nominees -
AFL - Hawthorn Hawks - Won 2008 Premiership - Win - Loss Record of 20-5
Hawthorn came in the 2008 season coming off a Semi Final defeat to the Kangaroos in 2007 and quickly established themselves as one of Geelong's main contenders for the 2008 Flag, lead by star forward Lance Franklin and the likes of Captain Sam Mitchell and Vice Captain Luke Hodge, Hawthorn defied the odds to beat Geelong in a classic Grand Final rematch of the famous 1989 Grand Final by 26 points in front of 100,012 people.
NRL - Manly Sea Eagles - Won 2008 Premiership - Win - Loss Record of 20-7
After 2007's crushing Grand Final loss to the Melbourne Storm, the Sea Eagles were out for revenge on the Storm and went hammer and tongs for all the season. It ended up coming to Round 26 where the Sea Eagles were pipped by the Storm for 1st place, this didn't matter in the end as the Sea Eagles thrashed a hapless Storm 40-0 in the Grand Final in front of 80,000+ fans.
Soccer - Manchester United - Won English Premier League, UEFA Champions League Double
United started the season off slowly and found themselves trailing a fast starting Arsenal, but lead by arguably the world's finest played Cristiano Ronaldo who scored 40+ goals, United claimed their second straight Premiership title and the pinnacle of Club Football, the UEFA Champions League, with a heart stopping penalty shootout win over arch rivals Chelsea.
NBA - Boston Celtics - NBA Champions - Win - Loss Record of 66-16
With the acquisitions of Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, Boston had the formidable Big 3 of Garnett, Allen and Paul Pierce. The Celtics dominated the Regular Season with a League best record of 66-16, and after struggling past Atlanta in the First Round of the Playoffs, the eventually proved too good for the LA Lakers in the NBA Finals winning the series in 6 games.
MLB - Boston Red Sox - MLB World Series Winners - Win Loss Record of 96-66
After winning the World Series in 2004 and breaking the hoodoo, the Red Soc proved it was no one trick pony and claimed another World Series this time sweeping the late charging Colorado Rockies, it was lead by star pitcher Joshy Beckett who lead Boston to it's second World Series in 4 years.
NFL - New York Giants - Superbowl Winners - Win Loss Record of 14-6 and 4-0 in 2008 NFL Season as of now.
The Giants went into the NFL Playoffs as underdogs at best. but proved, lead by quaterback Eli Manning that it could challenge the best ending up defeating the once undefeated New England Patriots in the Superbowl sparking mad celebrations. They have proved it was no fluke starting off the 2008 season with flying colors starting the season 4-0.
What are your thoughts?
Who is your team of the year?
Have i left anyone out?
Anyone tough to miss out?
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Rank: Sports Guru
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Joined: 5/5/2008
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Im voting for the Celtics. Mainly because I love Kevin Garnett though and was ecstatic when he finally got a ring after 10 long hard years at the Timberwolves.
It sux he had to move away from Minnesota to do so, but at least he got there in the end.
Was a great Finals Series.
All the above teams though had exceptional years. Man Utd a close second for me
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Rank: Sports Guru
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manly for me
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Rank: Sports Guru
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Location: Wollongong
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it kills me but what man utd did last year was outstanding.
hopefully the gunners will do it this year.
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Rank: Sports Guru
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Location: Australia
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I would have nominated the New England Patriots ahead of the Giants. Giants were not even in the top 3 teams last season, they just happened to be in the right place at the right time, TWICE, against a Patriots side who self-exploded on its biggest day.
Even though they never got ring, but you cannot take away from them that they were the dominant side for 24 out of 25 weeks.
My vote is the Celtics though
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Rank: Sports Guru
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Location: Wellington NZ
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usherprince wrote:I would have nominated the New England Patriots ahead of the Giants. Giants were not even in the top 3 teams last season, they just happened to be in the right place at the right time, TWICE, against a Patriots side who self-exploded on its biggest day.
Even though they never got ring, but you cannot take away from them that they were the dominant side for 24 out of 25 weeks.
My vote is the Celtics though But no way can you give it to the Pats when they capitulated in the Superbowl.
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Rank: Sports Guru
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Location: Wellaire, Magpie at heart though
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Yea would have to go with the Celtics
Pierce, Allen and Garnett are AWESOME, think back to back titles are a strong chance also
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Rank: Sports Guru
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celtics08 wrote:
But no way can you give it to the Pats when they capitulated in the Superbowl.
Yeh you couldn't give them the Team of the Year award, but they should be the nomination for the NFL imo. Oh, and I can't believe Manly are winning this. Either people are treating this as a popularity contest or they have minimal knowledge outside of Australia.
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Rank: Sports Guru
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Location: Toronto, shooting hoops with Jason Kapono.
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usherprince wrote:
Yeh you couldn't give them the Team of the Year award, but they should be the nomination for the NFL imo.
Oh, and I can't believe Manly are winning this. Either people are treating this as a popularity contest or they have minimal knowledge outside of Australia.
Personally to me it should be the Red Sox or Manchester United with United edging it because of how hard it is to win a Champions League and also winning the Premier League two years straight. But saying that the Red Sox won their division and come the Playoffs, Josh Beckett was lights out and Schilling was great too, also an MLB season is 162 games so the it's a ridiculously long season. Anyway for me it's Manchester United with the Boston Red Sox a close second and the Boston Celtics third.
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