Page 18 - ARUBA TODAY

A18 SPORTS
Tuesday 27 december 2016
LeBron’s block in The Finals is the play of 2016

TIM REYNOLDS to Kris Letang, who found started approaching the
AP Sports Writer Conor Sheary — who fired ball, stutter-stepped a
They came from many the puck between the legs bit and then finally deliv-
sports, in many countries, of oncoming defender Jus- ered the kick . Germany
with varying forms of pres- tin Braun and scored to goalie Timo Horn guessed
sure involved. give the Penguins a 2-1 win wrong, the ball went into
But if there’s one parallel in the game and 2-0 lead the net and Brazil roared in
between all the entries on in the series . The Penguins delight . Most of the crowd
this list of sports plays of the would take the Stanley stayed in the stadium for
year for 2016, it’s this: They Cup in six games. an hour afterward, many
were all unexpected, and ___ weeping in joy.
all teeming with drama. 4. For you, Jose. ___
From the NBA Finals to the Dee Gordon of the Miami 2. For the title.
Rio Olympics, the Super Marlins hit one home run in Marcus Paige might have
Bowl to a smaller-division 2016. It was of the you-can- just hit one of the big-
college playoff game, and not-make-this-up variety gest shots in NCAA men’s
whether they were offered — and it will forever live in basketball championship
up by global icons like LeB- Marlins lore. It was the first game history for North Car-
ron James or relative un- at-bat for the Marlins after olina, a double-clutched,
knowns like Kevin Rader, the death of ace pitcher acrobatic-leg-kicking
they were unforgettable. Jose Fernandez in a boat- 3-pointer with 4.7 seconds
Here, the plays of 2016: ing accident. Gordon, a left to pull the Tar Heels
___ lefty hitter, started on the into a tie with Villanova.
10. Comeback putback. right side of the plate as And then Kris Jenkins did
The scene: No time-outs part of his Fernandez trib- him one better. Jenkins
left, a big late lead hav- ute. After moving back to took a pass from Ryan Ar-
ing turned into a one-point the left side, he hit a ball cidiacono, leaped and let
deficit, and an entire are- farther than he ever has, fly from well beyond the
na in Minnesota scream- In this June 19, 2016 file photo, Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeB- while wearing a “Fernan- arc. “Bang,” Wildcats
ing for you to fail. Some- ron James (23) blocks a shot by Golden State Warriors forward dez 16” jersey . Even some coach Jay Wright said soft-
how that brought out the Andre Iguodala (9) during the second half of Game 7 of basket- of the New York Mets were ly to himself as the ball was
best in Nneka Ogwumike ball’s NBA Finals in Oakland, Calif. in tears, and the Mets in flight — and bang was
of the Los Angeles Sparks. Associated Press tweeted out “BiggerThan- right. Jenkins’ shot went in
Her basket with 3.1 sec- as time expired, and Villa-
onds left in a thrilling Game history — she became nova had just beaten the
5 of the WNBA Finals gave the first African-American Tar Heels 77-74 for the na-
the Sparks a 77-76 victo- woman to win an indi- tional title.
ry over the then-reigning- vidual swimming Olympic ___
champion Lynx. gold , tying Canada’s Pen- 1. The Block.
___ ny Oleksiak for the win. All due respect to Ky-
9. Catch it all. ___ rie Irving’s 3-pointer, The
One of the last college 7. Super strip, sack, score. Play of The Finals was of-
football plays of 2016 year Last season, but still this fered by King James. LeB-
provided one of the plays year — and still memo- ron James’ chasedown
of 2016. Kevin Rader some- rable. Denver’s Von Mill- block of Andre Iguodala
how — even with a de- er had two critical strip- with 1:51 remaining in
fender wrapped all over sacks of Carolina’s Cam Game 7 of the NBA Fi-
him — catches the game- Newton in Super Bowl 50, nals — a shot that would
winning pass from Hunter the second one just about have given Golden State
Wells, giving Youngstown sealing the game. But the the lead — wasn’t just the
State a win over Eastern first one is the one that defining moment of 2016,
Washington in the FCS na- gave the Broncos a 10-0 In this June 12, 2016 file photo, Brooke Henderson, of Canada, but perhaps the defining
lifts the championship trophy after winning the Women’s PGA
tional semifinals. Rader was lead midway through the Championship golf tournament at Sahalee Country Club in moment of James’ Hall
deemed to be in control of first quarter and setting Sammamish, Wash. of Fame career as well.
the ball, even while pinning the tone. Malik Jackson Associated Press He didn’t do it alone, as
it against the body of East- pounced on this ball in J.R. Smith helped impede
ern Washington linebacker the end zone, and Miller hole. She knocked the ap- Baseball.” Iguodala’s path and give
Ketner Kupp. wound up winning Super proach within 3 feet, made ___ James the extra split-sec-
___ Bowl MVP. the birdie putt and cap- 3. A truly “golden” goal. ond that he needed to get
8. Simone’s splash. ___ tured her first major title . Imagine the pressure. Bra- to the rim. But the enormity
Simone Manuel of the U.S. 6. Nerves of steel. “Like winning the Stanley zil, a soccer-crazed nation, of the moment made the
was trailing by 0.47 sec- On the LPGA Tour, teens Cup,” the budding Cana- is hosting the men’s gold- block even bigger: Golden
onds halfway through the aren’t afraid of the mo- dian star said. medal soccer match at State had a record-setting
women’s 100-meter free- ment. Lydia Ko, 19, and ___ the Olympics. The stadium 73-win regular season, the
style gold medal race at Brooke Henderson, 18, 5. A skate-off winner. is packed, and all the bril- series was tied 3-3, the
the Rio de Janeiro Olym- went to a playoff to decide They made it look so easy. liant young star Neymar total points in that series
pics, and a half-second is the KPMG Women’s PGA Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby needs to do to clinch the were tied at that moment
quite a bit to make up in Championship. And on the won the faceoff in over- perfect medal is make the 699-699. After that block,
such a race against the first extra hole, Henderson time of Game 2 of the final kick of a penalty-shot the Warriors wouldn’t score
world’s best. But she made stood with a 7-iron in her Stanley Cup final against tiebreaking shootout. He again. And James would
it look easy with a frantic hands, 158 yards from the San Jose, played it back found a spot to his right, soon become a three-
final 50 meters, and made time NBA champion q